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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
First book by this author, everything I read about them seemed really promising and there are some interesting premises but after this one, I don’t know if I’ll read another.
I don’t know why I finished this. I wanted to stop so many times due to boredom.
This was very slow moving and it was mostly just telling. Telling about things that just happened, telling about things that happened in the past just a lot of recapping things that had happened.
I also didn’t think any of the characters were likable. They were all kind of terrible and I didn’t get any of the promised spooky atmosphere reviews talked about.
I don’t recommend this on audio one of the narrators that did the main female character as an adult just didn’t put much emotion in her reading, and it took away from the story. I was distracted by it.
I don’t know why I finished this. I wanted to stop so many times due to boredom.
This was very slow moving and it was mostly just telling. Telling about things that just happened, telling about things that happened in the past just a lot of recapping things that had happened.
I also didn’t think any of the characters were likable. They were all kind of terrible and I didn’t get any of the promised spooky atmosphere reviews talked about.
I don’t recommend this on audio one of the narrators that did the main female character as an adult just didn’t put much emotion in her reading, and it took away from the story. I was distracted by it.
This was a kind of uneven book - it starts off as a thriller and you think the plot threads will be neatly resolved in the end, but then we veer off into a ghost story. And the ending and resolution to the mystery - eh. It was a bit forgettable.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
A Spoiler Free Bit About The Book
Kate Cypher's back in her home town to care for her sick mother but when there's news of a young girl's murder, all she can think about is Del, her best friend who was murdered when they were children. Murdered in the exact same way as the girl.
Kate's determined to dig up old secrets about her home town and realises there's more going on than she ever suspected.
My Review
I was a little sceptical upon picking this up because it had crime and mystery written all over it. I'm not a fan of mysteries and I never have been but I decided I would give this book a go regardless. Now, having read it in only five sittings, I am so glad I did.
Promise Not To Tell stars off with a prologue in the third person, following Opal, a young girl telling ghost stories around a campfire with her friends. In my opinion this was the perfect way to introduce Del, The Potato Girl, who had become her own ghost story thirty years after her murder. It threw me into this small town and the people who lived there. I have a hatred for prologues because I think they're unnecessary and not as arty as people think but this time it was used as an excellent tool. Why can't all prologues be like this?
When Kate took over the narrative in first person I had so many questions about Del and about who killed her that I turned pages and pages, eager for any scrap of information. It's safe to say I got sucked into this book at chapter one.
I don't have much else to say other than I was obsessed with this book for the short number of days I was reading it. If I wasn't reading it, I wanted to or was thinking about it. And for a girl who doesn't like mysteries, I think that's a win for McMahon and says a lot about her skill. The whole thing was so masterfully done and kept me guessing right until the end.
The only possible critique I can give is that it took a few chapters to want to follow Kate, the protagonist. To say she was likeable would be a push but after a while I certainly wanted to follow her story. But to make up for this, I was fascinated by Del and that kept me reading at the beginning.
Evaluation
Overall 9/10
Would I recommend it? Yes. I was totally surprised by the complexity of this book.
Would I look up the author? Yes. There are a lot of similar stories based on murders and such that I may or may not get round to reading considering this isn't my favourite genre.
Promise Not To Tell was masterfully crafted and kept me guessing right until the end.
Kate Cypher's back in her home town to care for her sick mother but when there's news of a young girl's murder, all she can think about is Del, her best friend who was murdered when they were children. Murdered in the exact same way as the girl.
Kate's determined to dig up old secrets about her home town and realises there's more going on than she ever suspected.
My Review
I was a little sceptical upon picking this up because it had crime and mystery written all over it. I'm not a fan of mysteries and I never have been but I decided I would give this book a go regardless. Now, having read it in only five sittings, I am so glad I did.
Promise Not To Tell stars off with a prologue in the third person, following Opal, a young girl telling ghost stories around a campfire with her friends. In my opinion this was the perfect way to introduce Del, The Potato Girl, who had become her own ghost story thirty years after her murder. It threw me into this small town and the people who lived there. I have a hatred for prologues because I think they're unnecessary and not as arty as people think but this time it was used as an excellent tool. Why can't all prologues be like this?
When Kate took over the narrative in first person I had so many questions about Del and about who killed her that I turned pages and pages, eager for any scrap of information. It's safe to say I got sucked into this book at chapter one.
I don't have much else to say other than I was obsessed with this book for the short number of days I was reading it. If I wasn't reading it, I wanted to or was thinking about it. And for a girl who doesn't like mysteries, I think that's a win for McMahon and says a lot about her skill. The whole thing was so masterfully done and kept me guessing right until the end.
The only possible critique I can give is that it took a few chapters to want to follow Kate, the protagonist. To say she was likeable would be a push but after a while I certainly wanted to follow her story. But to make up for this, I was fascinated by Del and that kept me reading at the beginning.
Evaluation
Overall 9/10
Would I recommend it? Yes. I was totally surprised by the complexity of this book.
Would I look up the author? Yes. There are a lot of similar stories based on murders and such that I may or may not get round to reading considering this isn't my favourite genre.
Promise Not To Tell was masterfully crafted and kept me guessing right until the end.
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A three-star book in the best way. Quick, engaging, and page-turning, but also formulaic, flat, and unchallenging. However, with all of McMahon's books, there's always just enough vibey prose and plot twists that even the snobbiest of readers will probably see it through 'till the end.
I could tell that it was early McMahon writing - her later stuff is much richer in depth and style. That being said, you won't catch me saying another bad thing about her. Keep writing these addicting little ghost stories and I will continue to devour them like candy!
I could tell that it was early McMahon writing - her later stuff is much richer in depth and style. That being said, you won't catch me saying another bad thing about her. Keep writing these addicting little ghost stories and I will continue to devour them like candy!
This book was fast paced and I enjoyed the mystery part of it. I didn't care for the supernatural elements or the ending. If it would have stayed a straight mystery/thriller, I think I would have enjoyed it more.
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated