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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
This was a good book, even though it wasn't quite as intense as the other I read, Dismantled. McMahon is a really good writer though and I plan on reading Island of Lost Girls, as well as anything else she comes out with. To me this book was about forgiving yourself for past mistakes. Since Kate lives with her 10 year old mistake eating at her, believing that all the clues around her point to Del coming back for revenge. But I don't really blame her for that! :) Anyway I thought the book was good. I wonder if her and Nicky got together...hmmmm.
Meh. This was unlikeable, like all the characters in it. I really felt nothing for anyone and wasn’t invested in the story. I thought the fact that the MC was a suspect at all, was insane. Pretty contrived. Had no depth to it. And it was just kind of gross.
A possible ghost story threaded through a realistic human story.
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was very middle-of-the-road for me. I can tell that this is Mcmahon’s debut novel because the others I’ve read from her were definitely better. It wasn’t bad, it just had so many different elements to it. There was a little coming of age in seeing the time jump from past and present, a little paranormal, and definitely was murder/mystery. I love all of those so of course I picked this up when I saw it. But as I got through it, it seems to be too many for only 250 pages. Big chunks were focused on just the coming of age aspect, or just the paranormal, when really all I wanted to know what who the murderer was! And we do of course in the end, but it get rushed. There wasn’t much development in the mystery part of this until the last 50 or so pages and then suddenly all questions are answered. Again, it’s nice to not to be left with unanswered questions, I just would have liked to have thoroughly explored more or the murder/mystery, done more investigating, more clues, more suspects.
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Alright, spoiler-free review here we go.
For a debut, this was great. I feel there was just a lot going on which made the plot a little discombobulating. However not so much you can't enjoy the read. I found the description of some characters to be off-putting like they aren't described in an appealing way, yet draw the main character in. And some actions that happen early on in the childhood sections would have had me running so far so fast at that age.
Anyway, the read is easy. This was a one-day read for me, okay two, but only because I started at night and I finished just after lunch, so it was a less than 24 hour read for me. I have read two other novels by [a:Jennifer McMahon|629878|Jennifer McMahon|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] and I did like those better, however, it just shows how much she has grown as an author. I enjoyed [b:The Invited|40065317|The Invited|Jennifer McMahon|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1541824130l/40065317._SY75_.jpg|62098239], and I loved [b:The Winter People|18007535|The Winter People|Jennifer McMahon|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1377582922l/18007535._SY75_.jpg|25273993].
Back to Promise Not to Tell- What I liked
-Supernatural element (is there supernatural or are people crazy one of my fave troupes)
-two timelines (its adds to the depth for me)
-Murder (I mean, morbid yeah but still true none the less)
-I was not able to fully guess the ending (Most of it I did, but not all which was a big win for me)
What I didn't like
-The characters (They were well written but not likable. Seriously, I don't think I liked anyone by Mike)
-The setting (I spent my summers in a rundown trailer park, this reminded me of that. I think that was the intent, but I still didn't like it)
-Too Busy (Mother's health, ghost, murder, solving two mysteries, mental health, so many different interconnecting relationships, parent-child relationships, the paternity of not one but TWO characters is a dramatic point ... It's just a lot for a 250 page book)
Summary
I liked the book okay. I'm happy I read it. I probably won't read it again. I wouldn't necessarily recommend this to a friend, I would recommend The Invited or The Winter People first but it is a short read so for someone with limited free time it is a decent option.
For a debut, this was great. I feel there was just a lot going on which made the plot a little discombobulating. However not so much you can't enjoy the read. I found the description of some characters to be off-putting like they aren't described in an appealing way, yet draw the main character in. And some actions that happen early on in the childhood sections would have had me running so far so fast at that age.
Anyway, the read is easy. This was a one-day read for me, okay two, but only because I started at night and I finished just after lunch, so it was a less than 24 hour read for me. I have read two other novels by [a:Jennifer McMahon|629878|Jennifer McMahon|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] and I did like those better, however, it just shows how much she has grown as an author. I enjoyed [b:The Invited|40065317|The Invited|Jennifer McMahon|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1541824130l/40065317._SY75_.jpg|62098239], and I loved [b:The Winter People|18007535|The Winter People|Jennifer McMahon|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1377582922l/18007535._SY75_.jpg|25273993].
Back to Promise Not to Tell- What I liked
-Supernatural element (is there supernatural or are people crazy one of my fave troupes)
-two timelines (its adds to the depth for me)
-Murder (I mean, morbid yeah but still true none the less)
-I was not able to fully guess the ending (Most of it I did, but not all which was a big win for me)
What I didn't like
-The characters (They were well written but not likable. Seriously, I don't think I liked anyone by Mike)
-The setting (I spent my summers in a rundown trailer park, this reminded me of that. I think that was the intent, but I still didn't like it)
-Too Busy (Mother's health, ghost, murder, solving two mysteries, mental health, so many different interconnecting relationships, parent-child relationships, the paternity of not one but TWO characters is a dramatic point ... It's just a lot for a 250 page book)
Summary
I liked the book okay. I'm happy I read it. I probably won't read it again. I wouldn't necessarily recommend this to a friend, I would recommend The Invited or The Winter People first but it is a short read so for someone with limited free time it is a decent option.
Promise Not to Tell, a novel by Jennifer McMahon is a thrilling rollercoaster of a book.
Kate’s mom is suddenly diagnosed with dementia, causing Kate to have to pack up and move temporarily back home. She’s in her 40’s now, and wanted to leave the past in the past. She doesn’t get to do that though, when a murder takes place the night she comes back. A murder that looks all too familiar.
We travel through time with Kate as we hear about her life with “potato girl” Del in the 70’s and her life now in the 2000’s.
Full of ghosts, thrills, scares, mystery, and drama. This book kept me pretty interested, wondering what would happen next.
I was dying to figure out who did it, and just what the hell was going on.
Kate is a character I didn’t quite relate to, but she was like able enough.
Filled with interesting characters, hard hitting topics, and surprises around every corner.
Recommend!
Kate’s mom is suddenly diagnosed with dementia, causing Kate to have to pack up and move temporarily back home. She’s in her 40’s now, and wanted to leave the past in the past. She doesn’t get to do that though, when a murder takes place the night she comes back. A murder that looks all too familiar.
We travel through time with Kate as we hear about her life with “potato girl” Del in the 70’s and her life now in the 2000’s.
Full of ghosts, thrills, scares, mystery, and drama. This book kept me pretty interested, wondering what would happen next.
I was dying to figure out who did it, and just what the hell was going on.
Kate is a character I didn’t quite relate to, but she was like able enough.
Filled with interesting characters, hard hitting topics, and surprises around every corner.
Recommend!
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The 2007 debut novel of JM who is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine (just finished The Night Sister and I read The Winter People about 4 months ago). This is a quick read at 250 pages. As with many of her other books, the chapters flip back and forth between the past and present, slowly unraveling the mystery until the last 15 or so pages where the critical information is revealed and the suspense comes to a head. I enjoy JM's female characters who are often smart, resourceful, and imperfect. They are relatable.