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Broken Promise by Linwood Barclay

Broken Promise

A Thriller

by Linwood Barclay

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  • Published:
  • Jul 2015, 464 pages
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There are currently 28 reader reviews for Broken Promise
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Patricia D. (Woodland Hills, CA)

Secrets and Surprises
Linwood Barclay always writes wonderful stories. This book, Broken Promises, was another one of his books with a great plot, intriguing characters and lots of surprises. The reader is introduced to a family where nothing is as it seems. Barclay keeps the reader guessing by jumping from character to character, introducing new problems and secrets, and making the reader puzzled as to exactly where the story is headed! Just when you get to an exciting part, someone disappears, you're included in part of a family secret, or there's a murder. Something for everybody! If you like mysteries and you don't know Linwood Barclay yet, here's your chance when this book appears on the shelf. Barclay is always worth a thrilling read.
Kristen H. (Hagerstown, MD)

Promise to thrill
Very well written. This was my first book by Lin wood Barclay. I thoroughly enjoyed the way it was written, each chapter pulled me in. The way it ended I can predict a second book to continue on. Again, a good thriller mystery, that kept my attention.
David M. (Glendale, CA)

Another Page-turner from Linwood Barclay
Broken Promise definitely delivers a full plate of mystery, action, and surprises. Although the recently widowed David Harwood provides a first-person account of a vicious crime, the tension rises dramatically as Barclay begins adding further clues and background information via the perspectives of other characters. All in all, Barclay's novel is a multi-layered tale, where every character is far more than he/she seems and a myriad of unrelated incidents eventually are tied together. I advise that readers start this book when they have a little extra time on their hands ... as it is a hard novel to put aside.
Vicki R. (York, PA)

Fun read!
"Broken Promise" by Linwood Barclay is a very entertaining book to read. When an ex-journalist returns to his childhood home, he is thrown into a plot filled with murder, adultery, kidnapping and more. The action moves quickly along and makes you want to keep reading. The characters are both ordinary and peculiar and make for a good laugh once in a while. There are a few back stories throughout leading to some unanswered questions at the end. This does not take away from the main plot but makes you look forward to the next book in the series. This is a book to just sit back and savor so if you are looking for a serious literary book this is not for you. However if you want to be simply entertained pick this one up and enjoy!
Roe P. (Massapequa Park, NY)

Dont start this book if you have chores
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Linwood Barclay's new book, Broken Promise. From the moment I read the first chapter..I was hooked. Here is a story that has many back-stories attached, yet it is never complicated or difficult to comprehend. The main character is a down on his luck journalist who is trying to make his way in a new environment for him and his son. Circumstances have forced him to move back home and what he runs into when he gets there is the gist of the novel. It will keep you guessing after each page and make you want to read on. I read this book in two sittings....needless to say...nothing around my house got done till I read the last page of Barclay's entertaining new novel.
Gary R. (Bolingbrook, IL)

promise falls!
Since I received this advanced copy form BookBrowse, the greatest book site out there, I've survived a flood, a golf ball sized hail storm,and a partially torn retina, and I consider myself lucky, glad I don't live in Promise Falls! I've never experienced such a dysfunctional town. Secrets, kidnapping, murder, any other craziness you could think of this place has it. I'll have to hand it to the author, he really does make you want to find out what's going on.once I got into the book I couldn't put it down! all in all a pretty good read! Try it!
Monica G. (San Antonio, TX)

A Mystery Around Every Corner!
I haven't read a light-hearted mystery in a while and this book is definitely the ticket if you're interested in a good page-turner.

The characters are numerous so you have to pay attention as introductions are made, but the main characters are quickly fleshed out and are easy to like, or dislike, as the case may be. The mystery is an easy solve, but standby for the twist! Overall, a solid mystery with likable characters and a good beginning to what I imagine will be an ongoing series. I'm already looking forward to the next one!
Lucy B. (Urbana, OH)

Broken Promise
The author introduced a lot of characters in the beginning chapters of the book. There were several plots within the book and Mr. Barclay did a great job weaving all of the characters into the story. When I got to the end of the book, I felt that I either missed something in my reading or missed something by not having read a previous book by this author.

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