Broken Promise: (Promise Falls Trilogy Book 1)

Product Information

Cal Weaver, PI has been called to one of the more upscale neighborhoods of Promise Falls from a frantic mom, Greta, requesting some dirt on the local high school staff. Their son, Chandler apparently had written a colorful short story for one of his classes—now he finds himself being treated like some sort of psychotic degenerate. Chandler’s English teacher asked them to write something creative, and imaginative. From New York Times bestselling author Linwood Barclay comes an explosive novel set in the peaceful small town of Promise Falls, where secrets can always be buried—but never forgotten…

Did you feel this was a satisfying ending to the series?:I felt this was a satisfying ending to the story as it demonstrated the impact certain events had on individuals and the community in various ways. As a reader, I learned of the characters’ actions and reasons, both good and bad, that made them “human” as they acted or reacted to certain events and got to the truth. I’m assuming David and Barry will continue to be key characters in future novels and having solved the mystery of Marla’s baby David’s about to start working for mayoral wannabe Finley and we (like he) just know that will prove interesting. However, soon thereafter an event occurs, identical to the short story. A murder. A baseball bat. The woods. Exactly like the story. Is someone trying to frame Chandler? Motive? Revenge? He and Michael had been fighting over a girl recently, or could it be Joel? Cal Weaver has been asked to read Chandler Carson's short story. The story has gotten Chandler suspended for three days and his mother is livid. The story tells the tale of two friends who go into the woods together, but only one comes out, the other lies in the woods beaten to death with a baseball bat.There are several repeat characters which are the meat to the story. Bodies are mounting out and the sheriff is desperate to save his town. The ex-mayor is creating all sorts of havoc. Personal relationships are made and they all have secrets. As I mentioned, this book starts right after the events in the previous book which ended in a bit of a cliffhanger. This book follows a similar pattern but the cliffhanger seemed a bit more intense at the end of the book. I am so glad that the final book is scheduled to be released soon because I really need to know what is going on. As the story unfolds private detective Cal Weaver (a character in previous Barclay novels) is caught up in the drama when Adam's Chalmers' daughter, Lucy Brighton, hires him.

Broken Promise is the first installment of the Promise Falls trilogy, set in upstate New York. My only other Barclay read is Tap on the Window, but that book and this novel are enough for me to see that Mr. Barclay is a master storyteller. I really enjoyed this novel. I recommend this series very much. Do you like Harlan Coben? Then you will love Linwood Barcley's books! One morning, as a favor to his mother, David brings some prepared food to his cousin Marla - a troubled young woman whose baby died at birth nearly a year ago. When the baby's real mother is found murdered, David can't help wanting to piece together what happened — even if it means proving his own cousin's guilt. But as he uncovers each piece of evidence, David realizes that Marla's mysterious child is just the tip of the iceberg. ( From Doubleday Canada) A multi-layered plot, with an array of intriguing and well-developed characters, and a town of scandalous secrets, lies, conspiracy, murder, possibly revenge, and a list of mysterious events-and the mysterious number, "twenty-three".

Word of Mouth

I have to admit to approaching this book with a little trepidation. I did not enjoy the previous Linwood Barclay that I read. But this one? This is a completely different story. A truly explosive start to the second book in the Promise Falls trilogy, Far From True sees Linwood Barclay once again meddling with the townspeople in the unfortunate enclave of Upstate New York with a ludicrously low life expectancy. Broken Promise, the first of the series introduced the washed-up town in economic dire straits and if you read the first then there is every reason to return for this super second course. Having been introduced to many of the inhabitants of Promise Falls, regardless of how contrived they appeared (and the baddies are hideously comical), they certainly stay with the audience and Barclay concluded the first book with a number of unresolved issues. Whilst not every question that arose during the course of Broken Promise is followed through, quite a few are and more to the point, Barclay introduces a rash of new 'incidents' into the lives of his characters. Broken Promise is intriguing. It is compelling. It is fast paced and sweeps the reader along. Just as you think you know where this is heading, Mr Barclay will throw in a twist to the plot that has the book heading off in a completely unexpected direction. Of course the police suspect that Marla committed the murder, and David, concerned for his cousin, agrees to try to help her.

ITV Press Centre (25 October 2013). " Winners unmasked at Specsavers Crime Thriller Awards 2013 on ITV3". ITV Press Centre. Retrieved 19 February 2014 I have all three parts of this Promise Falls trilogy and I won't be stopping reading until I have finished all three. This one begins as a set-for-demolition drive-in theater screen blows up a week early, crashing down on cars and the occupants. When the daughter of one of those killed asks local private eye Cal Weaver to investigate a break-in at her father's house, they are astounded to find a secret room that seems to have been the scene of, shall we say, adult activities. Also apparently, some of those activities were recorded, as evidenced by signs that DVDs are missing - presumably the object of the break-in.

On one hand the many characters combined with very interesting story-lines made it a good read but on the other hand it is bit confusing having so much going on. However, once I got everyone straight things went better. Maybe part of this was due to not reading the first book? I won't know for sure. But even so there was a lot of people and a lot of action and some may find it hard to follow at times. An array of minor characters from book one also make an appearance. And - for those who like that kind of thing - the story also has a couple of budding romances. I don't like love affairs in mystery books but these aren't graphic or heavy handed. Barclay's novella (Book #1.5) Final Assignment sets us up for Cal Weaver's point of view in this novel. Cal, former cop turned private investigator, is a likeable and a character you root for so it was very easy to look forward to more of him in the next book. Far From True opens up with the a drive-in theater screen collapsing and killing four people. Cal is hired by the daughter of one of the victims to look into a break-in at her late father's place. As he investigates Cal learns that this couple has a secret room for their sexual games and it appears that DVD discs are now missing. What is on the DVD and why they were taken is Cal's next steps. How would you describe this book to a friend?:Mysterious, devious, and deadly events are occurring in the community of Promise Falls. You meet a number of the residents and learn of the ties that not only bind them but spread the rippling effects of their actions and certain events. The book opens on the 23rd of May with a fatal event, answers questions from the previous two novels as to the strange and intriguing events surrounding the number “23” and culminates with the discovery of who was responsible for the sinister happenings and why.