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Cutler, Sutter, & Salinas #2
Promise Not to Tell
Listening Length: 10 hours and 40 minutes
A painter of fiery, nightmarish visions throws herself into the sea—but she leaves her secrets behind . . .
Seattle gallery owner Virginia Troy has spent years battling the demons that stem from her childhood time in a cult and the night a fire burned through the compound, killing her mother. And now one of her artists has taken her own life, but not before sending Virginia a last picture: a painting that makes Virginia doubt everything about the so-called suicide—and her own past.
Like Virginia, private investigator Cabot Sutter was one of the children in the cult who survived that fire... and only he can help her now. As they struggle to unravel the clues in the painting, it becomes clear that someone thinks Virginia knows more than she does and that she must be stopped. Thrown into an inferno of desire and deception, Virginia and Cabot draw ever closer to the mystery of their shared memories—and the shocking fate of the one man who still wields the power to destroy everything they hold dear.
A painter of fiery, nightmarish visions throws herself into the sea—but she leaves her secrets behind . . .
Seattle gallery owner Virginia Troy has spent years battling the demons that stem from her childhood time in a cult and the night a fire burned through the compound, killing her mother. And now one of her artists has taken her own life, but not before sending Virginia a last picture: a painting that makes Virginia doubt everything about the so-called suicide—and her own past.
Like Virginia, private investigator Cabot Sutter was one of the children in the cult who survived that fire... and only he can help her now. As they struggle to unravel the clues in the painting, it becomes clear that someone thinks Virginia knows more than she does and that she must be stopped. Thrown into an inferno of desire and deception, Virginia and Cabot draw ever closer to the mystery of their shared memories—and the shocking fate of the one man who still wields the power to destroy everything they hold dear.
10 pages, Audio CD
First published January 2, 2018
1,165 people are currently reading
4,869 people want to read
About the author
Jayne Ann Krentz
375 books7,019 followersThe author of over 50 consecutive New York Times bestsellers, JAYNE ANN KRENTZ writes romantic-suspense in three different worlds: Contemporary (as Jayne Ann Krentz), historical (as Amanda Quick) and futuristic (as Jayne Castle). There are over 30 million copies of her books in print.
She earned a B.A. in History from the University of California at Santa Cruz and went on to obtain a Masters degree in Library Science from San Jose State University in California. Before she began writing full time she worked as a librarian in both academic and corporate libraries.
She earned a B.A. in History from the University of California at Santa Cruz and went on to obtain a Masters degree in Library Science from San Jose State University in California. Before she began writing full time she worked as a librarian in both academic and corporate libraries.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 777 reviews
January 12, 2018
Promise Not to Tell by Jayne Ann Krentz is a 2018 Berkley publication.
Rebound! I’m beginning to sense a little excitement with this series!!
The first book in this new series by veteran author, Jayne Ann Krentz, got off to a rocky start, or at least it did for me.
I was hoping fervently that this second installment would show some improvement, and so I am happy to say it is a much stronger effort and I really enjoyed it.
Seattle comes to life in this story, adding the right touch to set the stage for a darker, more in depth look at cults, the psychological damages of trauma, amid a fast- paced race to find a killer, before he strikes again.
Virginia is convinced her friend was murdered or at the very least driven to commit suicide, and the killer could be the cult leader Virginia escaped from as a child. Knowing Cabot Sutter will understand the gravity of the situation, she hires him to flush out their arch enemy.
But, when Virginia and Cabot come face to face there is an immediate and undeniable current between them. Their relationship development is quirky, but awesome, and I quickly grew to like them both.
The subject of cults is timely, in my opinion, mainly because of the psychology behind them and how ‘leaders’ are able to convince people to join them and remain committed to them, no matter how outlandish things become.
Of course, like in most crimes, this one boils down to the basic greed and the love of money, but, there are some unexpected twists along the way, with some crazy, jarring revelations, as well.
The book also touches on the complexities of family and the importance of forgiveness, which gives the story more depth.
There was some repetitive dialogue, here and there, but the banter and chemistry between Virginia and Cabot sizzles, and the author deftly adds a very realistic look at PTSD and anxiety attacks. The plotting is tight, fast-paced, and creepy, which is a big improvement over the first installment.
One word of caution, though- while the immediate story line is wrapped up, there is a ‘to be continued’ element at the very end- so you will definitely want to be on board for the third installment, which promises to be to a real humdinger.
If you missed the first installment, it’s no biggie. It might provide a little background, but you can start with this one and be just fine.
Overall, this a solid outing for JAK, who was beginning to really worry me. It’s good to see her get back into the groove with this one.
4 stars
Rebound! I’m beginning to sense a little excitement with this series!!
The first book in this new series by veteran author, Jayne Ann Krentz, got off to a rocky start, or at least it did for me.
I was hoping fervently that this second installment would show some improvement, and so I am happy to say it is a much stronger effort and I really enjoyed it.
Seattle comes to life in this story, adding the right touch to set the stage for a darker, more in depth look at cults, the psychological damages of trauma, amid a fast- paced race to find a killer, before he strikes again.
Virginia is convinced her friend was murdered or at the very least driven to commit suicide, and the killer could be the cult leader Virginia escaped from as a child. Knowing Cabot Sutter will understand the gravity of the situation, she hires him to flush out their arch enemy.
But, when Virginia and Cabot come face to face there is an immediate and undeniable current between them. Their relationship development is quirky, but awesome, and I quickly grew to like them both.
The subject of cults is timely, in my opinion, mainly because of the psychology behind them and how ‘leaders’ are able to convince people to join them and remain committed to them, no matter how outlandish things become.
Of course, like in most crimes, this one boils down to the basic greed and the love of money, but, there are some unexpected twists along the way, with some crazy, jarring revelations, as well.
The book also touches on the complexities of family and the importance of forgiveness, which gives the story more depth.
There was some repetitive dialogue, here and there, but the banter and chemistry between Virginia and Cabot sizzles, and the author deftly adds a very realistic look at PTSD and anxiety attacks. The plotting is tight, fast-paced, and creepy, which is a big improvement over the first installment.
One word of caution, though- while the immediate story line is wrapped up, there is a ‘to be continued’ element at the very end- so you will definitely want to be on board for the third installment, which promises to be to a real humdinger.
If you missed the first installment, it’s no biggie. It might provide a little background, but you can start with this one and be just fine.
Overall, this a solid outing for JAK, who was beginning to really worry me. It’s good to see her get back into the groove with this one.
4 stars
February 12, 2018
Review available at Under the Pages
December 20, 2017
Fast paced with lots of twists.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The author has stepped up the game in this newest offering and I am excited to share my review and thoughts on this story. One good thing, if you missed the prior book, do not dismay. This is a total standalone. The family is the tie between the books, not a story continuation.
In the prior book, I enjoyed the story but it had some flaws to me. I was so happy this this story was much more exciting and the flow was great.
Even though this is a longer story than most, I was whipping through it fast and was completely tied up in the twists and turns. Fast paced with plenty of action and even a bit of romance made this an interesting and engaging read. While I feel that there is room for more tenderness, less rigidty and matter-of-fact connections in the romance department, the author totally came through on the suspense and thriller side.
I loved the story premise and the plot. While you do somewhat know who it is that they are chasing, Krentz adds in a lot of additional plot details and twists to keep you wondering and even throws a few curves that I did not figure out until the end.
With so many novels under her belt, she is a master at storytelling in ways that will keep you enthralled to the end.
* copy received for review consideration
Full Review ~ http://amidlifewife.com/promise-not-t...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The author has stepped up the game in this newest offering and I am excited to share my review and thoughts on this story. One good thing, if you missed the prior book, do not dismay. This is a total standalone. The family is the tie between the books, not a story continuation.
In the prior book, I enjoyed the story but it had some flaws to me. I was so happy this this story was much more exciting and the flow was great.
Even though this is a longer story than most, I was whipping through it fast and was completely tied up in the twists and turns. Fast paced with plenty of action and even a bit of romance made this an interesting and engaging read. While I feel that there is room for more tenderness, less rigidty and matter-of-fact connections in the romance department, the author totally came through on the suspense and thriller side.
I loved the story premise and the plot. While you do somewhat know who it is that they are chasing, Krentz adds in a lot of additional plot details and twists to keep you wondering and even throws a few curves that I did not figure out until the end.
With so many novels under her belt, she is a master at storytelling in ways that will keep you enthralled to the end.
* copy received for review consideration
Full Review ~ http://amidlifewife.com/promise-not-t...
January 15, 2024
This is a well-written, entertaining, steamy, romantic suspense novel. It has a likable female protagonist, an engaging and caring male protagonist, murder, suspense, mystery, twists and turns and a surprise ending. My favorite quote from this novel is "happiness is overrated, but joy is a lasting gift." This is the second entry in Ms. Krentz's outstanding Cutler, Sutter & Salinas series, and it can be enjoyed as a stand alone, but is best when read in order, because a plot thread connects the entries in the series. I am looking forward to reading the next installment with great anticipation. I listened to the audio book, and the narrator, Ms. Susan Bennett, has a lovely voice and does a wonderful job depicting the characters and their personalities.
December 5, 2023
Check out all my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
PROMISE NOT TO TELL (Sons of Anson Salinas Book #2) by Jayne Ann Krentz is the engaging and fast-paced second book in the Sons of Anson Selinas trilogy. This trilogy features the now three adult men Anson Salinas rescued as children from a cult compound when the leader of the cult set it all aflame. This book can easily be read as a standalone romantic suspense, but there is an overarching crime mystery plotline connecting all the main characters in this trilogy and I feel have enjoyed the stories better by reading them in order.
Art gallery owner Virginia Troy has been battling anxiety attacks ever since the night her mother died, and she was rescued from a burning barn on a cult compound. One of the artists Virginia represents was a surviving member of the cult until she commits suicide. Virginia has doubts about the suicide after receiving a photo of the artist’s last work in her a series of paintings and hires the P.I. firm run by Anson Selinas and his sons to investigate.
P.I Cabot Sutter was raised by Anson after he rescued him from the cult compound fire. Cabot is determined to help Virginia not only with her case, but to discover if the man who is the main cause of their nightmares has returned. As Cabot and Virginia follow the clues, both find their lives endangered even as they discover an emotional connection that neither has ever had with anyone else.
I love this trilogy so far. The overarching mystery plotline of the trilogy is interesting on its own, but the way it has shaped the lives of the main characters is compelling. The romantic suspense plot has plenty of surprises and twists, and it kept me guessing all the way to the conclusion. Both Virginia and Cabot still have emotional difficulties or quirks that not everyone can understand from their childhood trauma, and it was so wonderful reading how they dealt with each other physically and emotionally and then came together romantically. There are a few sex scenes, but they are not gratuitous, and the care Cabot takes with Virginia makes them very sweet. The ending has me now anxiously waiting for the last book in the trilogy; I will finally get to meet Jack and hopefully see the demise of cult leader, Quinton Zane.
I recommend this exciting second romantic suspense in this trilogy from an author who never disappoints.
PROMISE NOT TO TELL (Sons of Anson Salinas Book #2) by Jayne Ann Krentz is the engaging and fast-paced second book in the Sons of Anson Selinas trilogy. This trilogy features the now three adult men Anson Salinas rescued as children from a cult compound when the leader of the cult set it all aflame. This book can easily be read as a standalone romantic suspense, but there is an overarching crime mystery plotline connecting all the main characters in this trilogy and I feel have enjoyed the stories better by reading them in order.
Art gallery owner Virginia Troy has been battling anxiety attacks ever since the night her mother died, and she was rescued from a burning barn on a cult compound. One of the artists Virginia represents was a surviving member of the cult until she commits suicide. Virginia has doubts about the suicide after receiving a photo of the artist’s last work in her a series of paintings and hires the P.I. firm run by Anson Selinas and his sons to investigate.
P.I Cabot Sutter was raised by Anson after he rescued him from the cult compound fire. Cabot is determined to help Virginia not only with her case, but to discover if the man who is the main cause of their nightmares has returned. As Cabot and Virginia follow the clues, both find their lives endangered even as they discover an emotional connection that neither has ever had with anyone else.
I love this trilogy so far. The overarching mystery plotline of the trilogy is interesting on its own, but the way it has shaped the lives of the main characters is compelling. The romantic suspense plot has plenty of surprises and twists, and it kept me guessing all the way to the conclusion. Both Virginia and Cabot still have emotional difficulties or quirks that not everyone can understand from their childhood trauma, and it was so wonderful reading how they dealt with each other physically and emotionally and then came together romantically. There are a few sex scenes, but they are not gratuitous, and the care Cabot takes with Virginia makes them very sweet. The ending has me now anxiously waiting for the last book in the trilogy; I will finally get to meet Jack and hopefully see the demise of cult leader, Quinton Zane.
I recommend this exciting second romantic suspense in this trilogy from an author who never disappoints.
January 14, 2018
Virginia Troy owns an art gallery in Seattle and is one of the kid survivor of the cult led by Quinton Zane. The past comes back to haunt Virginia when one of her artist leaves her a clue in a painting about the cult before committing suicide. Virginia decides to ask PI Cabot Stutter who also survived the cult when he was a child for help. As they start getting closer to solving the mystery of the painting the bodies start piling up close to home.
This is the second book in the series but can be read as a stand-alone. It is a pretty good romantic suspense and is stronger than the first one. A fast paced suspenseful story with twist and turns that makes it an entertaining read and I cannot wait for the next one in the series.
I would like to thank Berkley Publishing Group & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.
This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
This is the second book in the series but can be read as a stand-alone. It is a pretty good romantic suspense and is stronger than the first one. A fast paced suspenseful story with twist and turns that makes it an entertaining read and I cannot wait for the next one in the series.
I would like to thank Berkley Publishing Group & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.
This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
November 30, 2017
This complex, intriguing story spans more than 20 years - from the time eight young children are rescued from certain death in a barn fire deliberately set by the leader of a cult to which their parents belonged to the present, when death once again stalks the survivors. Now, one of them - an artist whose work is in an art gallery owned by another of the survivors - commits suicide. Virginia Troy, the gallery owner, suspects the death was murder; to test that theory, she hires the private investigation firm owned by Anson Salinas, a former police officer and the man who rescued the children all those years ago.
Back then, Anson adopted three of the surviving boys; one of them, Cabot Sutter (also a former cop), now works with his adopted father. Early on, Cabot and Virginia take a closer look at a few of the victim's paintings that depict the cult fire; they suggest that sociopathic leader Quinton Zane, who reportedly was killed in a boating accident years earlier, may in fact be among the living. Still other clues from the paintings suggest that the cult held many more secrets - one of which is that cult members may have embezzled a substantial amount of money right under the leader's nose.
Apparently, those secrets aren't so secret anymore - and bodies of those who may have learned the truth are starting to pile up. Can Cabot and Virginia (who, surprise, surprise, have taken a strong liking to each other) get to the bottom of things before they themselves become victims? It's a race to the finish, with plenty of action and surprises right up to the end.
Speaking of which, it makes sense to me that this book deserves at least one follow-up. If and when that happens, I hope the publisher will once again grant me the honor of reading an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. Very enjoyable!
Back then, Anson adopted three of the surviving boys; one of them, Cabot Sutter (also a former cop), now works with his adopted father. Early on, Cabot and Virginia take a closer look at a few of the victim's paintings that depict the cult fire; they suggest that sociopathic leader Quinton Zane, who reportedly was killed in a boating accident years earlier, may in fact be among the living. Still other clues from the paintings suggest that the cult held many more secrets - one of which is that cult members may have embezzled a substantial amount of money right under the leader's nose.
Apparently, those secrets aren't so secret anymore - and bodies of those who may have learned the truth are starting to pile up. Can Cabot and Virginia (who, surprise, surprise, have taken a strong liking to each other) get to the bottom of things before they themselves become victims? It's a race to the finish, with plenty of action and surprises right up to the end.
Speaking of which, it makes sense to me that this book deserves at least one follow-up. If and when that happens, I hope the publisher will once again grant me the honor of reading an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. Very enjoyable!
January 2, 2018
From the onset, I liked the chemistry and back and forth banter between Virginia and Cabot Sutter. They share a connection and played to each other's strengths.
Virginia has reached out to the firm because Hannah Brewster's recent death was ruled a suicide. As the reader, we are made privy to what occurred on the night of Hannah's death. I was immediately pulled into the investigations and loved the plot Krentz developed from the paintings to the hidden key. Twists and unexpected connections made for an entertaining and suspenseful mystery. While Krentz tends to write in a formulaic pattern, I had fun guessing her intent as I read.
Both Virginia and Cabot are strong characters left with scars from their time in the cult. Both lost their parents, Cabot was adopted, but Virginia was taken in by her grandmother a woman who refused to discuss what happened. You might have to suspend belief a little as to some of their shared dysfunctions, but I thought Virginia's intimacy and anxiety disorder to be genuine. The two worked well together, and their shared connection created a bond. I loved the story concerning Cabot's family, Virginia's gallery and details about Cutler, Sutter & Salinas.
Promise Not to Tell was a page-turner and for me, a stronger book than the first in this series. Fans of well balance romantic suspense, quests and cults will find the story contained within entertaining. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
Virginia has reached out to the firm because Hannah Brewster's recent death was ruled a suicide. As the reader, we are made privy to what occurred on the night of Hannah's death. I was immediately pulled into the investigations and loved the plot Krentz developed from the paintings to the hidden key. Twists and unexpected connections made for an entertaining and suspenseful mystery. While Krentz tends to write in a formulaic pattern, I had fun guessing her intent as I read.
Both Virginia and Cabot are strong characters left with scars from their time in the cult. Both lost their parents, Cabot was adopted, but Virginia was taken in by her grandmother a woman who refused to discuss what happened. You might have to suspend belief a little as to some of their shared dysfunctions, but I thought Virginia's intimacy and anxiety disorder to be genuine. The two worked well together, and their shared connection created a bond. I loved the story concerning Cabot's family, Virginia's gallery and details about Cutler, Sutter & Salinas.
Promise Not to Tell was a page-turner and for me, a stronger book than the first in this series. Fans of well balance romantic suspense, quests and cults will find the story contained within entertaining. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
May 26, 2020
If you enjoy romantic suspense – JAYNE ANN KRENTZ is your author.
I have read Jayne Ann Krentz for more than 10 years now and can say that with certainty. First I started by borrowing all her JAK books from the library—not nearly enough. Then I read her alter egos Amanda Quick and Jayne Castle. All in all JAK must have written 50 plus novels thus far and I have read them all.
JAK is a master storyteller!
Her romantic suspense novels are as addicting as they are entertaining. With a formula in mind she spins the most captivating stories that ALWAYS deliver a happy ending to her main characters.
In Promise Not to Tell, the second book in the Cutler, Sutter, & Salinas series, she gives us a solid and suspenseful tale that was chilling, but also touching. As always, the book was dependably entertaining and features fascinating and strong characters, male as well as female.
Virginia Troy and Cabot Sutter share a common past— a horrific event that tore their lives apart as children and changed their future in unforeseen ways. Now years later they meet again, and because of this common past it allows them to connect in a way that was genuine and bone deep. Together they hunt their mutual nightmare, a nightmare that wants to make them the hunted. What neither expects is that their mutual attraction, intuition, and trust in each other is just the beginning of a partnership that will endure any hardship.
On their search for answers Virginia and Cabot face danger on every corner. Only their inner strength and faith in each other keeps them alive and going.
Both are rather no-nonsense characters, that handle high tensions as well as nail biting terror with self-confidence and a calm demeanor. With dry humor and grace Virginia keeps a cool head in the most dire situations. Cabot, in his straightforward and pragmatic way, leads the way with confidence and controlled strength. Together they are a couple that’s hard to beat.
Sharing habits that others might not accept only cemented a relationship that was built on more than just attraction.
She went into the kitchen. “Do you think we’ll be getting up at this hour of the night for the rest of our lives?”
“I have no idea. But I have to tell you that it’s nice to know I’m not alone. One thirty in the morning is a very weird time of night. Things feel different at this hour.”
She reached up into the cupboard for the box of tea. “Tell me about it.”
Virginia and Cabot were perfectly matched and their relationship a true pleasure to see unfold. In midst of threats and danger, their relationship gets stronger with each passing day. The way they complimented and completed each others was the true highlight and result of masterful plotting and an expertly written arc that kept me turning pages until the very end.
For me, Promise Not to Tell, reminded me of classic JAK novels. Strong characters, a thrilling and a suspenseful plot, and a romance that burned slowly but intensely. Besides the two wonderful main characters, the supporting cast was as genuinely likable as interesting. Cabot’s brothers are intriguing and fascinating. His adoptive father is a stand up guy, dependable, and someone he can be proud to call father. His young cousin was adorably impressionable – in my opinion a perfect supporting cast.
The authors skill of crafting plots that captivate and fascinate in equal parts is on point and something I rely on each time I pick up one of her books.
Truly, you can’t go wrong by picking up a JAK novel.
___________________________________
Find more reviews and book recommendations on my blog.
Find me on Bookstagram.
I have read Jayne Ann Krentz for more than 10 years now and can say that with certainty. First I started by borrowing all her JAK books from the library—not nearly enough. Then I read her alter egos Amanda Quick and Jayne Castle. All in all JAK must have written 50 plus novels thus far and I have read them all.
JAK is a master storyteller!
Her romantic suspense novels are as addicting as they are entertaining. With a formula in mind she spins the most captivating stories that ALWAYS deliver a happy ending to her main characters.
In Promise Not to Tell, the second book in the Cutler, Sutter, & Salinas series, she gives us a solid and suspenseful tale that was chilling, but also touching. As always, the book was dependably entertaining and features fascinating and strong characters, male as well as female.
Virginia Troy and Cabot Sutter share a common past— a horrific event that tore their lives apart as children and changed their future in unforeseen ways. Now years later they meet again, and because of this common past it allows them to connect in a way that was genuine and bone deep. Together they hunt their mutual nightmare, a nightmare that wants to make them the hunted. What neither expects is that their mutual attraction, intuition, and trust in each other is just the beginning of a partnership that will endure any hardship.
On their search for answers Virginia and Cabot face danger on every corner. Only their inner strength and faith in each other keeps them alive and going.
Both are rather no-nonsense characters, that handle high tensions as well as nail biting terror with self-confidence and a calm demeanor. With dry humor and grace Virginia keeps a cool head in the most dire situations. Cabot, in his straightforward and pragmatic way, leads the way with confidence and controlled strength. Together they are a couple that’s hard to beat.
Sharing habits that others might not accept only cemented a relationship that was built on more than just attraction.
She went into the kitchen. “Do you think we’ll be getting up at this hour of the night for the rest of our lives?”
“I have no idea. But I have to tell you that it’s nice to know I’m not alone. One thirty in the morning is a very weird time of night. Things feel different at this hour.”
She reached up into the cupboard for the box of tea. “Tell me about it.”
Virginia and Cabot were perfectly matched and their relationship a true pleasure to see unfold. In midst of threats and danger, their relationship gets stronger with each passing day. The way they complimented and completed each others was the true highlight and result of masterful plotting and an expertly written arc that kept me turning pages until the very end.
For me, Promise Not to Tell, reminded me of classic JAK novels. Strong characters, a thrilling and a suspenseful plot, and a romance that burned slowly but intensely. Besides the two wonderful main characters, the supporting cast was as genuinely likable as interesting. Cabot’s brothers are intriguing and fascinating. His adoptive father is a stand up guy, dependable, and someone he can be proud to call father. His young cousin was adorably impressionable – in my opinion a perfect supporting cast.
The authors skill of crafting plots that captivate and fascinate in equal parts is on point and something I rely on each time I pick up one of her books.
Truly, you can’t go wrong by picking up a JAK novel.
___________________________________
Find more reviews and book recommendations on my blog.
Find me on Bookstagram.
February 2, 2018
4.5 Stars
Virginia and Cabot survived the machinations of twisted cult leader as kids, when he tried to kill them all in a fire, but their mothers weren’t so fortunate. They’re reunited when Virginia hires Cabot’s detective firm to investigate the suspicious death of one of the survivors. The police think it’s a suicide, but Virginia is convinced there’s more to her death when she receives a message in the form of a cryptic painting depicting the supposedly dead cult leader in a horror scene that looks like it was set in the present. It soon becomes apparent that Virginia is in grave danger.
Both Virginia and Cabot are haunted by the past. It’s made any romantic relationship difficult at best, so I was happy there was an immediate attraction between them, because they just got each other’s hang-ups resulting from the inevitable PTSD they experienced. I loved Cabot and Virginia working together, piecing together the clues and handling each new threat shot their way; and believe me there were plenty! It seemed there was danger at every turn! Just when they’d escape one threat another would slam them! I liked that they thought things through in the face of chaos, and handled whatever crazy thing came their way. Cabot and Virginia really made an excellent team!
I also liked the little side story of Cabot’s family and inheritance. Xavier, Cabot’s teenage cousin, was a delight and I hope we get to see him in future books.
Promise Not to Tell was page-turner! An exciting ride! Everything I love about romantic suspense: surprising twists, danger, action, and a romance you can root for!
A copy was kindly provided by Berkley books in exchange for an honest review.
This review is also posted at The Readers Den.
Virginia and Cabot survived the machinations of twisted cult leader as kids, when he tried to kill them all in a fire, but their mothers weren’t so fortunate. They’re reunited when Virginia hires Cabot’s detective firm to investigate the suspicious death of one of the survivors. The police think it’s a suicide, but Virginia is convinced there’s more to her death when she receives a message in the form of a cryptic painting depicting the supposedly dead cult leader in a horror scene that looks like it was set in the present. It soon becomes apparent that Virginia is in grave danger.
Both Virginia and Cabot are haunted by the past. It’s made any romantic relationship difficult at best, so I was happy there was an immediate attraction between them, because they just got each other’s hang-ups resulting from the inevitable PTSD they experienced. I loved Cabot and Virginia working together, piecing together the clues and handling each new threat shot their way; and believe me there were plenty! It seemed there was danger at every turn! Just when they’d escape one threat another would slam them! I liked that they thought things through in the face of chaos, and handled whatever crazy thing came their way. Cabot and Virginia really made an excellent team!
I also liked the little side story of Cabot’s family and inheritance. Xavier, Cabot’s teenage cousin, was a delight and I hope we get to see him in future books.
Promise Not to Tell was page-turner! An exciting ride! Everything I love about romantic suspense: surprising twists, danger, action, and a romance you can root for!
A copy was kindly provided by Berkley books in exchange for an honest review.
This review is also posted at The Readers Den.
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January 8, 2018It's not often you can sum up a book in one word, but that's the case with Promise Not to Tell-convoluted.
It starts with the death of an artist, Hannah, who is convinced she has been seeing a nightmare vision from her past. She does what she can to warn her vulnerable friend, then leaps to her death off a cliff on her isolated island. The friend, Virginia Troy, understands the warning and goes to the one person she know has ties to that same past-Anson????? Anson rescued Virginia and several other children from a burning barn the night Quinton Zane decided to opt out of the cult he had founded and destroy all the evidence left behind. At the meeting with Anson, Virginia meets Cabot Sutter, another one of the children saved from the barn. In fact, Anson adopted three of the boys from that night, including Cabot.
As they begin to investigate Hannah's death, they find that they share more than a physical attraction, they share the same nightmares and methods of coping-which leads them both into becoming averse to relationships. But as things progress with the case, the two find their shared coping skills mesh nicely. Can these two damaged people find happiness together before a killer stops them?
This was an exciting and interesting romantic suspense book. All of the main characters are good guys and we are promised more of them as the book's ending set up the scenario for the next chapter. The sex scenes don't dominate the book, but are hot, and the method the lover's find to overcome some of their obstacles ingenious.
Overall, a thrilling effort by a talented author.
December 28, 2017
A complex and engaging mystery, spanning 20 years, makes for some seriously intense reading especially when it comes from Krentz.
Virginia Troy, gallery owner, and Cabot Sutter, private eye, have a tragic past in common. But 20 years later that tragic past has come back to haunt them, and it has definitely turned deadly.
A set of disturbing painting, an artist’s “suicide”, and a group of children that all survived a fire that wiped out the cult their parents belong too, draw Virginia and Cabot closure to the truth than they ever imagined.
Krentz writes a detailed plot filled with intricate twist and turns vividly painting a mental picture with words.
I received this ARC copy of Promise Not to Tell from Berkley Publishing Group. This is my honest and voluntary review. Promise Not to Tell is set for publication Jan. 2, 2018.
My Rating: 4 Stars
Written by: Jayne Ann Kentz
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: January 2, 2018
ISBN-10: 0399585273
ISBN-13: 978-0399585272
Genre: Suspense | Thriller | Mystery
Itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/prom...
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Promise-Not-Te...
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/prom...
Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Virginia Troy, gallery owner, and Cabot Sutter, private eye, have a tragic past in common. But 20 years later that tragic past has come back to haunt them, and it has definitely turned deadly.
A set of disturbing painting, an artist’s “suicide”, and a group of children that all survived a fire that wiped out the cult their parents belong too, draw Virginia and Cabot closure to the truth than they ever imagined.
Krentz writes a detailed plot filled with intricate twist and turns vividly painting a mental picture with words.
I received this ARC copy of Promise Not to Tell from Berkley Publishing Group. This is my honest and voluntary review. Promise Not to Tell is set for publication Jan. 2, 2018.
My Rating: 4 Stars
Written by: Jayne Ann Kentz
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: January 2, 2018
ISBN-10: 0399585273
ISBN-13: 978-0399585272
Genre: Suspense | Thriller | Mystery
Itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/prom...
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Promise-Not-Te...
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/prom...
Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com
June 14, 2018
Reviewed for herding cats & burning soup. (posts 1/9/18)
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2BQisDL
Krentz always hits the spot and Promise Not To Tell...seriously delivered!
The Gist: Decades ago as children Virginia and Cabot were rescued from a cult. And all these years later there's a real possibility that the man behind their near deaths and their mother's murders has resurfaced and they're in his sights once again.
I loved Cabot and Virginia. Cabot has a strong sense of right and justice. Virginia a caring and fierce spirit. Both are smart, intuitive and don't give up. And they suffer from various forms of PTSD from their time in the cult. It's made their lives challenging in some regards.
They were amazing as a couple. Because of their 'issues' both have had trouble with relationships and getting close to others. Feeling damaged and inadequate, having panic attacks and strange sleeping behaviors. I loved that when they were together all those things...didn't matter. If she had a panic attack...he didn't freak out and helped her through it because he went through the same things. If he woke in the wee hours and couldn't sleep...she'd get up and sit with him because she got it, too. They complimented one another and gave each other strength. It was wonderful and sweet.
The suspense. Gah! Yeah. It was nicely done and kept me guessing as to who was behind the present day murders and attacks and how it connected to their past. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see the next piece of the puzzle fall into place.
All in all, Promise Not to Tell was excellent. Krentz has a fascinating series on her hands. I can't wait to see what happens next.
November 16, 2017
I did not know that this was book two of a trilogy, but it was good as a stand alone mystery. I also have never read Ms. Krentz so I was pleasantly surprised.
The book opens with an artist setting fire to her cabin after painting one last painting on the wall, knowing that the fire will consume it. She had a very traumatic childhood, being one of only a handful of children who were saved when a cult leader set fire to a barn housing all of the children. Hannah believed that “the monster”, Quentin Zane was alive and was coming for her. The police are not sure if she jumped off a nearby cliff or was pushed???
We are then quickly introduced to Virginia Troy, a Seattle art gallery owner who knew Hannah well, she is another survivor of the fire. Virginia is suspicious about the burning of her friend’s cabin and enlists the firm of Cutter, Sutten & Salinas, private investigators, to look into the case. Virginia has tracked down Anson Salinas as he saved her and the other children from the blazing inferno set by the cult leader Zane by crashing his truck through the barn and pulling the children into the truck and safety. Now she is here to discuss her friend’s death and what it can mean; is it a link to the past? Could Hannah just have gotten too depressed and took her own life? The other investigators, Sutten and Cutter were also survivors of the fire and Anson Salinas fostered them after the rescue, they are all very close. The firm agrees to take the case and Cabot is assigned to the case.
For me this book flowed at a steady pace from beginning to end. There were mysteries within mysteries and some romance which I felt believable in this story. I felt that Ms. Krentz was a masterful storyteller and described her characters very well. There are wonderful descriptions of Seattle and the surrounding areas, great writing. We are left at the end with the feeling that there will probably be another book, there is still a mystery to be solved and we don’t know whether Quentin Zane will insinuate himself into these women’s lives again.
All in all a very good read. I would suggest it to anyone who likes a good mystery solidly built on the stories of child survivors of a cult massacre. It was good and twisty, just the way I like my thrillers!
I was given an ARC of this book through the publisher and NetGalley.
The book opens with an artist setting fire to her cabin after painting one last painting on the wall, knowing that the fire will consume it. She had a very traumatic childhood, being one of only a handful of children who were saved when a cult leader set fire to a barn housing all of the children. Hannah believed that “the monster”, Quentin Zane was alive and was coming for her. The police are not sure if she jumped off a nearby cliff or was pushed???
We are then quickly introduced to Virginia Troy, a Seattle art gallery owner who knew Hannah well, she is another survivor of the fire. Virginia is suspicious about the burning of her friend’s cabin and enlists the firm of Cutter, Sutten & Salinas, private investigators, to look into the case. Virginia has tracked down Anson Salinas as he saved her and the other children from the blazing inferno set by the cult leader Zane by crashing his truck through the barn and pulling the children into the truck and safety. Now she is here to discuss her friend’s death and what it can mean; is it a link to the past? Could Hannah just have gotten too depressed and took her own life? The other investigators, Sutten and Cutter were also survivors of the fire and Anson Salinas fostered them after the rescue, they are all very close. The firm agrees to take the case and Cabot is assigned to the case.
For me this book flowed at a steady pace from beginning to end. There were mysteries within mysteries and some romance which I felt believable in this story. I felt that Ms. Krentz was a masterful storyteller and described her characters very well. There are wonderful descriptions of Seattle and the surrounding areas, great writing. We are left at the end with the feeling that there will probably be another book, there is still a mystery to be solved and we don’t know whether Quentin Zane will insinuate himself into these women’s lives again.
All in all a very good read. I would suggest it to anyone who likes a good mystery solidly built on the stories of child survivors of a cult massacre. It was good and twisty, just the way I like my thrillers!
I was given an ARC of this book through the publisher and NetGalley.
January 5, 2019
Promise Not to tell is cabot and virginia's story. Virginia was one of the 8 children who were victims of the fire that cult leader Quinton zane set to kill the children of his followers and Cabot was the sheriff who saved her and the other children's lives. When virginia recieves a picture of a painting hannah worked on just before her apparent suicide she's sure it was a murder and that it was Zane who killed her. When she asks Cabot Sutter now a private eye to look into her death both Cabot and virginia go on the hunt and with the clues in hannah brewsters paintings the answers are their it's just putting it all together before the murder silences all the witnesses!!! So many twist's and turns!! A real mystery full of murder,betrayal and secrets best left in the past!! Great series love it!!💖😉
April 10, 2018
This was an enjoyable story. Not riveting but a good companion audiobook for when you have stuff to do and want company. JAK has a formula and is an experienced technician in terms of putting a book together so rarely disappoints me.
December 4, 2017
Full review...
3.5 Stars. This a continuation of sorts of the first book in this trilogy about three foster brothers who survived a fire started by the crazy leader of the cult they were trapped in as children. The book is a pretty decent mystery, and just a little different from JAK's standard formula.
This time around, both Cabot and Virginia were childhood survivors of the fire. They meet again when she hires his PI firm to help her investigate the suspicious death of a former cult member; and to help her figure out a 'secret code' she has discovered. This mysterious code has something to do with the former cult leader's embezzled money. There are a couple of secondary plotlines to help stir up the mystery and (light) suspense.
The book is interesting, suitably mysterious, and well written. There is a good plot and several twists and surprises along the way. Both Virginia and Cabot were a little too odd for my taste; but I guess the strange quirks were JAK's way of showing the repercussions of their tragic childhoods. Despite a few nits here and there, I enjoyed the book. I'll read the next one, since it follows through a thread started here; but I might need to take a break from Krentz after that.
3.5 Stars. This a continuation of sorts of the first book in this trilogy about three foster brothers who survived a fire started by the crazy leader of the cult they were trapped in as children. The book is a pretty decent mystery, and just a little different from JAK's standard formula.
This time around, both Cabot and Virginia were childhood survivors of the fire. They meet again when she hires his PI firm to help her investigate the suspicious death of a former cult member; and to help her figure out a 'secret code' she has discovered. This mysterious code has something to do with the former cult leader's embezzled money. There are a couple of secondary plotlines to help stir up the mystery and (light) suspense.
The book is interesting, suitably mysterious, and well written. There is a good plot and several twists and surprises along the way. Both Virginia and Cabot were a little too odd for my taste; but I guess the strange quirks were JAK's way of showing the repercussions of their tragic childhoods. Despite a few nits here and there, I enjoyed the book. I'll read the next one, since it follows through a thread started here; but I might need to take a break from Krentz after that.
January 7, 2018
Welp, this is a lukewarm start to the year. Third book so far that hasn't really made me all that happy.
I love Jayne Ann Krentz in all her forms, I really do. But this book felt...stale. The premise was interesting: two people who had been in the same cult as kids grow up to have issues and are drawn back together by a mysterious murder related to the cult. I loved that idea.
Except it just...meandered. There were extra characters I didn't care about. The rich family of the hero felt like a forced addition. The ending of this book dragged for ages. And the characters felt superficial.
I almost felt like I could pick them up and drop them in the middle of any other Krentz novel and have the same results. And the trope of Krentz over explaining the plot at the end returns but it's way more distracting here because by the time I got to the end, I had stopped caring.
I don't know, is it possible I read too many books that's just getting harder to find an entertaining one?
I love Jayne Ann Krentz in all her forms, I really do. But this book felt...stale. The premise was interesting: two people who had been in the same cult as kids grow up to have issues and are drawn back together by a mysterious murder related to the cult. I loved that idea.
Except it just...meandered. There were extra characters I didn't care about. The rich family of the hero felt like a forced addition. The ending of this book dragged for ages. And the characters felt superficial.
I almost felt like I could pick them up and drop them in the middle of any other Krentz novel and have the same results. And the trope of Krentz over explaining the plot at the end returns but it's way more distracting here because by the time I got to the end, I had stopped caring.
I don't know, is it possible I read too many books that's just getting harder to find an entertaining one?
August 18, 2023
I really enjoyed Cabot's and Victoria's story, which continues the saga of the brothers search for the man who killed their mothers. Looking forward to hearing Jack's story next.
March 5, 2019
This was a very superficial book. None of the characters will stick with you in the years to come and nothing about the plot or the romance will drive you to read it again and again. But there was nothing wrong with it, exactly. It was just kind of meh.
January 22, 2018
Explosive! Sizzling hot read! I have hit the jackpot with my reading list so far this year.💖
January 12, 2018
I really liked this one more than the 1st in this series. The beginning was slow to interest me but it got so much better. Very intriguing and mysterious. I continue to love JAK!
April 28, 2018
I enjoyed the story in general since there was a big development since book 1 and we are getting closer and closer to the "big villain" who will reveal himself (finally) in Untouchable.
However, I found this book a bit lacking in the romance department - the chemistry between Virginia and Cabot was almost non-existent to me. I liked their first meeting but after that everything was a bit meh.
The ending was very suspenseful though and can't wait for the sequel. Hopefully the next and probably the last couple will be more interesting.
However, I found this book a bit lacking in the romance department - the chemistry between Virginia and Cabot was almost non-existent to me. I liked their first meeting but after that everything was a bit meh.
The ending was very suspenseful though and can't wait for the sequel. Hopefully the next and probably the last couple will be more interesting.
September 20, 2024
4 stars.
I thought it was quite a good RS. Personality-wise, Cabot & Virginia is a typical JAK couple, but probably more scarred than usual. Both of them are dealing with nightmares from their shared childhood experiences in a cult, but managed to accept each other's weird habits of dealing. I found this really nice.
I can't wait to see what the villain is going to do. A pity it'll probably be another year before we find out!
I thought it was quite a good RS. Personality-wise, Cabot & Virginia is a typical JAK couple, but probably more scarred than usual. Both of them are dealing with nightmares from their shared childhood experiences in a cult, but managed to accept each other's weird habits of dealing. I found this really nice.
I can't wait to see what the villain is going to do. A pity it'll probably be another year before we find out!
December 9, 2018
4.5 stars - My review cross-posted from
Wit and Sin
Promise Not to Tell is a real page-turner. It’s fast-paced, interesting, and has some great twists and turns without ever losing sight of the main couple. I absolutely hated it whenever I had to put Virginia and Cabot’s story down, and quite honestly, by the end of the book nothing could have torn me away.
Virginia and Cabot were children living in a cult until one fiery night where they lost their mothers and were rescued by the local police chief. It’s been over twenty years since the fire but both Virginia and Cabot are still haunted by the past. And when another cult survivor plunges to her death after sending Virginia an urgent message with hidden clues, she and Cabot will have to team up and face the demons of their past. Without sounding too vague, that’s about as much as I can say about the plot of Promise Not to Tell without giving away anything. Jayne Ann Krentz did an excellent job of combining mystery, suspense, and romance in this story. Cabot and Virginia may not have seen one another since they were kids, but their shared experiences and invisible scars give them an instant bond and help them easily open up to one another in a way they might not do with strangers. They’re both interesting, intelligent characters and it was easy to root for them to fall in love because they just plain fit. They had an easy chemistry that came off the page and their connection – not to mention the heightened drama around them – made their fast-paced romance work really well.
Intertwined with Virginia and Cabot’s romance is the suspense plotline involving the cult that was first mentioned in When All the Girls Have Gone, though you don’t have to have read the that book in order to follow this one. Ms. Krentz delves deeper into the history of the cult and Virginia and Cabot’s time there. The past is coming back to haunt Virginia, Cabot, and Cabot’s family in a very real way. As I said above, I’m hesitant to go into much detail for fear of spoiling the story. Suffice it to say Ms. Krentz has a lot of excellent twists and turns planned for readers and I was as taken with the cult plot as I was with the romance. While the ending of Promise Not to Tell left me a well-satisfied reader, I cannot wait to see what happens in the next Cutler, Sutter & Salinas book!
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Promise Not to Tell is a real page-turner. It’s fast-paced, interesting, and has some great twists and turns without ever losing sight of the main couple. I absolutely hated it whenever I had to put Virginia and Cabot’s story down, and quite honestly, by the end of the book nothing could have torn me away.
Virginia and Cabot were children living in a cult until one fiery night where they lost their mothers and were rescued by the local police chief. It’s been over twenty years since the fire but both Virginia and Cabot are still haunted by the past. And when another cult survivor plunges to her death after sending Virginia an urgent message with hidden clues, she and Cabot will have to team up and face the demons of their past. Without sounding too vague, that’s about as much as I can say about the plot of Promise Not to Tell without giving away anything. Jayne Ann Krentz did an excellent job of combining mystery, suspense, and romance in this story. Cabot and Virginia may not have seen one another since they were kids, but their shared experiences and invisible scars give them an instant bond and help them easily open up to one another in a way they might not do with strangers. They’re both interesting, intelligent characters and it was easy to root for them to fall in love because they just plain fit. They had an easy chemistry that came off the page and their connection – not to mention the heightened drama around them – made their fast-paced romance work really well.
Intertwined with Virginia and Cabot’s romance is the suspense plotline involving the cult that was first mentioned in When All the Girls Have Gone, though you don’t have to have read the that book in order to follow this one. Ms. Krentz delves deeper into the history of the cult and Virginia and Cabot’s time there. The past is coming back to haunt Virginia, Cabot, and Cabot’s family in a very real way. As I said above, I’m hesitant to go into much detail for fear of spoiling the story. Suffice it to say Ms. Krentz has a lot of excellent twists and turns planned for readers and I was as taken with the cult plot as I was with the romance. While the ending of Promise Not to Tell left me a well-satisfied reader, I cannot wait to see what happens in the next Cutler, Sutter & Salinas book!
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
November 20, 2017
4 stars
Synopsis: Virginia survived a fire her mother died in that was set by the leader of the cult that they belonged to. She now owns an art gallery, and has paintings by an artist who was also part of the cult. The artist dies, but manages to send Virginia a picture of her final painting. Virginia is convinced that the artist didn't die naturally, and hires a private investigator to check into it.
The firm that she hires is one that is co-owned by the man that rescued Virginia and 7 other children from that fire. Virginia was lucky enough to have grandparents that claimed her after her mother died, but other children weren't so lucky, and Anson, the man who rescued them, fostered three of the children. Cabot, one of those children, also works as a private investigator.
Because Cabot and his brothers and father don't believe that the cult leader is dead, they have kept up investigating the man for 22 years. When Virginia comes to them and believes that the artist was killed by Quinton Zane, they believe that it could be true. As Virginia and Cabot investigate the case, new clues and suspects pop up, putting everyone in danger.
What I liked: Virginia and Cabot weren't a "typical" couple, all golden and good looking and rich and perfect. I liked that they each had their own quirks, and that they understood each other and what the other person was going through. Cabot's relationship with his father was loving and solid, and I liked that they also respected each other. Cabot was very caring and thought things through, and supportive of his family and Virginia. Once he figured out that Virginia might be in danger, he tried not to leave her on her own. It was nice to have a couple who talked to each other, and who didn't just fall in to bed at the first opportunity.
What I didn't like: There were a lot of voices in this story, with everyone from the criminal to the foster father to the dog (there wasn't a dog) having a say.
Overall impression: I was not aware that this was the second book in a trilogy, but I did not feel as though I was missing anything by having not read the first book. This is a little different from the author's usual works, in that Virginia is much more contained than the heroine's usually are, but it was really well done. This was well written with an interesting mystery, and although the love happened really quickly, it didn't bother me, because it felt as though Virginia and Cabot actually got to know one another. The fact that they had a shared history might have had something to do with it.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy.
Synopsis: Virginia survived a fire her mother died in that was set by the leader of the cult that they belonged to. She now owns an art gallery, and has paintings by an artist who was also part of the cult. The artist dies, but manages to send Virginia a picture of her final painting. Virginia is convinced that the artist didn't die naturally, and hires a private investigator to check into it.
The firm that she hires is one that is co-owned by the man that rescued Virginia and 7 other children from that fire. Virginia was lucky enough to have grandparents that claimed her after her mother died, but other children weren't so lucky, and Anson, the man who rescued them, fostered three of the children. Cabot, one of those children, also works as a private investigator.
Because Cabot and his brothers and father don't believe that the cult leader is dead, they have kept up investigating the man for 22 years. When Virginia comes to them and believes that the artist was killed by Quinton Zane, they believe that it could be true. As Virginia and Cabot investigate the case, new clues and suspects pop up, putting everyone in danger.
What I liked: Virginia and Cabot weren't a "typical" couple, all golden and good looking and rich and perfect. I liked that they each had their own quirks, and that they understood each other and what the other person was going through. Cabot's relationship with his father was loving and solid, and I liked that they also respected each other. Cabot was very caring and thought things through, and supportive of his family and Virginia. Once he figured out that Virginia might be in danger, he tried not to leave her on her own. It was nice to have a couple who talked to each other, and who didn't just fall in to bed at the first opportunity.
What I didn't like: There were a lot of voices in this story, with everyone from the criminal to the foster father to the dog (there wasn't a dog) having a say.
Overall impression: I was not aware that this was the second book in a trilogy, but I did not feel as though I was missing anything by having not read the first book. This is a little different from the author's usual works, in that Virginia is much more contained than the heroine's usually are, but it was really well done. This was well written with an interesting mystery, and although the love happened really quickly, it didn't bother me, because it felt as though Virginia and Cabot actually got to know one another. The fact that they had a shared history might have had something to do with it.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy.
February 2, 2018
A painter of fiery, nightmarish visions throws herself into the sea—but she’ll leave some of her secrets behind...
Seattle gallery owner Virginia Troy has spent years battling the demons that stem from her childhood time in a cult and the night a fire burned through the compound, killing her mother. And now one of her artists has taken her own life, but not before sending Virginia a last picture: a painting that makes Virginia doubt everything about the so-called suicide—and her own past.
Like Virginia, private investigator Cabot Sutter was one of the children in the cult who survived that fire...and only he can help her now. As they struggle to unravel the clues in the painting, it becomes clear that someone thinks Virginia knows more than she does and that she must be stopped.
Thrown into an inferno of desire and deception, Virginia and Cabot draw ever closer to the mystery of their shared memories—and the shocking fate of the one man who still wields the power to destroy everything they hold dear.
My Thoughts: Two children who had escaped a burning barn fire in Quinton Zane’s cult 22 years ago are reunited in the early part of Promise Not to Tell. Cabot Sutter was one of the children, and Virginia Troy was another.
Before Hannah Brewster’s death, she had been sending paintings to Virginia, who owned an art gallery. Something in Hannah’s latest painting, of which Virginia has a photo, stirs up some questions.
Anson Salinas heads up a team of investigators, and because he raised three of the children saved from that fire, including Cabot, he has a vested interest in learning more secrets.
Set near Seattle and on one of the San Juan Islands, the story captured my interest from the beginning. There was a great mix of mysteries from the past and current attractions that kept me turning the pages.
What do Cabot and Virginia learn after another fire reveals some previously unknown connections? Why do some of the people in a high tech company show signs of nefarious intent?
I loved the mix of mystery and the hint of future normalcy, which included glimpses of other connections, like Virginia’s grandmother Octavia.
The hint that Quinton Zane might still be alive hovers over the story, and near the end, there is a suggestion of more drama and mystery ahead. A captivating 5 star read for me.
Seattle gallery owner Virginia Troy has spent years battling the demons that stem from her childhood time in a cult and the night a fire burned through the compound, killing her mother. And now one of her artists has taken her own life, but not before sending Virginia a last picture: a painting that makes Virginia doubt everything about the so-called suicide—and her own past.
Like Virginia, private investigator Cabot Sutter was one of the children in the cult who survived that fire...and only he can help her now. As they struggle to unravel the clues in the painting, it becomes clear that someone thinks Virginia knows more than she does and that she must be stopped.
Thrown into an inferno of desire and deception, Virginia and Cabot draw ever closer to the mystery of their shared memories—and the shocking fate of the one man who still wields the power to destroy everything they hold dear.
My Thoughts: Two children who had escaped a burning barn fire in Quinton Zane’s cult 22 years ago are reunited in the early part of Promise Not to Tell. Cabot Sutter was one of the children, and Virginia Troy was another.
Before Hannah Brewster’s death, she had been sending paintings to Virginia, who owned an art gallery. Something in Hannah’s latest painting, of which Virginia has a photo, stirs up some questions.
Anson Salinas heads up a team of investigators, and because he raised three of the children saved from that fire, including Cabot, he has a vested interest in learning more secrets.
Set near Seattle and on one of the San Juan Islands, the story captured my interest from the beginning. There was a great mix of mysteries from the past and current attractions that kept me turning the pages.
What do Cabot and Virginia learn after another fire reveals some previously unknown connections? Why do some of the people in a high tech company show signs of nefarious intent?
I loved the mix of mystery and the hint of future normalcy, which included glimpses of other connections, like Virginia’s grandmother Octavia.
The hint that Quinton Zane might still be alive hovers over the story, and near the end, there is a suggestion of more drama and mystery ahead. A captivating 5 star read for me.
March 8, 2018
I was trying to come up with the perfect analogy for Jayne Ann Krentz’s latest romantic suspense, PROMISE NOT TO TELL, and the first thing that popped into my head was the Wild Mouse ride at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk on the California coast. Now, this ride shut down in 1976, and I only rode on it once in the early 1960s, but I will never forget the pure unadulterated terror at the rapid-fire twists and turns, the sharp shifts of direction and that ultimate heart-in-my-throat feel as the car barreled down the rails on the final drop.
That’s this book—right up to the final twists, the unexpected but oh-so-perfect turns, and the ultimate conclusion of an absolutely exquisite plot. A gallery owner and a private investigator share a truly bizarre and terrifying history—Virginia Troy and Cabot Sutter were children caught in a cult ruled by a psychopath, locked in a burning barn and left to die. They and the other children were rescued just in time, but their mothers did not survive.
Now, years later, there are clues that the killer, thought to have died while trying to escape, is still alive, and Virginia might be his next target. I literally could not put this book down and I raced through it so quickly that it’s here by my computer so I can read it again.
PROMISE NOT TO TELL is set in the same world as WHEN ALL THE GIRLS HAVE GONE. Both are entirely standalone, but if you haven’t read the first one, I can guarantee that after you finish PROMISE NOT TO TELL, you’re going to go back and read it. Terrific characters with fascinating life stories, a beautifully drawn setting, and story telling by a true master of the genre.
That’s this book—right up to the final twists, the unexpected but oh-so-perfect turns, and the ultimate conclusion of an absolutely exquisite plot. A gallery owner and a private investigator share a truly bizarre and terrifying history—Virginia Troy and Cabot Sutter were children caught in a cult ruled by a psychopath, locked in a burning barn and left to die. They and the other children were rescued just in time, but their mothers did not survive.
Now, years later, there are clues that the killer, thought to have died while trying to escape, is still alive, and Virginia might be his next target. I literally could not put this book down and I raced through it so quickly that it’s here by my computer so I can read it again.
PROMISE NOT TO TELL is set in the same world as WHEN ALL THE GIRLS HAVE GONE. Both are entirely standalone, but if you haven’t read the first one, I can guarantee that after you finish PROMISE NOT TO TELL, you’re going to go back and read it. Terrific characters with fascinating life stories, a beautifully drawn setting, and story telling by a true master of the genre.
December 28, 2017
***ARC Provided by the Publisher/Author via NetGalley***
4.5 Stars
If you have read Jayne Ann Krentz, you have a pretty good idea what to expect from one of her titles. You are going to get interesting, charmingly quirky characters who seem all the more human for their faults and eccentricities. The writing will be sharp, the pacing will be quick. The mystery will move quickly and will end up drawing people into the mix who seemed to only be on the periphery. The pacing will be strong and the book will be enjoyable.
All of this is present in the story of Virginia and Cabot. And, really, I am not sure what else I can say about this book without giving things away. The issue, from a review standpoint anyway, of a book that is this well constructed is that it is impossible to review.
I could talk about the characters, and the plot, and I could ruin it for everyone else.
So, I am going to keep this short and say that I enjoyed this book. A lot. And that I highly recommend it.
4.5 Stars
If you have read Jayne Ann Krentz, you have a pretty good idea what to expect from one of her titles. You are going to get interesting, charmingly quirky characters who seem all the more human for their faults and eccentricities. The writing will be sharp, the pacing will be quick. The mystery will move quickly and will end up drawing people into the mix who seemed to only be on the periphery. The pacing will be strong and the book will be enjoyable.
All of this is present in the story of Virginia and Cabot. And, really, I am not sure what else I can say about this book without giving things away. The issue, from a review standpoint anyway, of a book that is this well constructed is that it is impossible to review.
I could talk about the characters, and the plot, and I could ruin it for everyone else.
So, I am going to keep this short and say that I enjoyed this book. A lot. And that I highly recommend it.
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