Broken Promise

By: Linwood Barclay

Narrated by: Quincy Dunn Baker, Brian O'Neil

Length: 13 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's Summary

From the New York Times best-selling author of No Safe House comes an explosive novel about the disturbing secrets of a quiet, small town....

After his wife's death and the collapse of his newspaper, David Harwood has no choice but to uproot his nine-year-old son and move back into his childhood home in Promise Falls, New York. David believes his life is in free fall, and he can't find a way to stop his descent. Then he comes across a family secret of epic proportions.

A year after a devastating miscarriage, David's cousin, Marla, has continued to struggle. But when David's mother asks him to check on her, he's horrified to discover that she's been secretly raising a child who is not her own - a baby she claims was a gift from an "angel" who left it on her porch. 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. Other strange things are happening. Animals are found ritually slaughtered. An ominous abandoned Ferris wheel seems to stand as a warning that something dark has infected Promise Falls. And someone has decided that the entire town must pay for the sins of its past...in blood.

©2015 NJSB Entertainment, Inc. (P)2015 Recorded Books

Broken Promise

I liked the book all the way to the end and felt a big disappointment when it ended so abruptly with no resolution of who the killer was.

Couldn't stop listening!

Great story and the narrator was spot on! No fake dialect or squeaky fake sounding character. Don't want to spoil the story....worth the purchase!

Very disappointing ending!

The story starts pretty good and flows well until the end... Well there is no ending it just stops!! Mystery is not solved loose ends not wrapped up. I am beyond disappointed.

This book cries out for a sequel!

What about Quincy Dunn Baker and Brian O'Neil ’s performance did you like?

I thought they did an excellent job narrating this book. I like to hear narrators read in a natural sounding voice, as if they were "there" and are relaying events, not simply reading a story.

Any additional comments?

This was a very good book with a few subplots surrounding the main plot. I found the central story line to be a bit predictable and had that part of the book figured out about 1/2 way through. There are clues sprinkled around through out the entire story that led no where and when the book concluded there was no resolution to the background story going on concurrently. Now that story has me totally baffled. That story is the one that ends this book with a cliff hanger that made me want another 12 hours of listening. Anyway, getting back to the core of this book, there are some very mentally unbalanced people in here! Controlling mothers, a daughter who has to be handled just the right way or it could send here over, a still born baby, a cheating father (that whole side of the family is messed up!). The other side APPEARS to be put together but I don't think they are. I think they have their screwey secrets that will come out in a sequel. Anyway, I highly Recommend this book. If you found this review helpful please indicate so. Thank You.

Great story until the end

The story was gripping and entertaining. Kept my attention BUT what a disappointing ending. Is there going to be a sequel? This just can't end with so many loose ends.

Awesome

So compelling! Couldn't put it down! Great narration! Can't wait to listen to the next one in this series.

What a waste of time

Linwood Barclay was one of my favorite authors until now. This book has a eally weak storyline with implausible, stupid actions by main characters. There was no suspense since you know from the first chapter what happened and who did everything. The worst part was all the extraneous information and characters that had nothing to do with this story. I thought these were his unsuccessful attempt to create red herrings and weave a secondary plot in. He just threw them all in to create a "cliffhanger" and ends the book abruptly- hoping to make you want to read the next book. It had the reverse affect. Was he in such hurry to get a book out he skipped the editing process?? He really disappointed me.

Broken Promises

Linwood Barclay is a master mystery writer. Each book has interesting ,well developed characters, with plot twists, and page turning devices that make it impossible to
read any of his books slowly. This one does not disappoint as it has all of the qualities that make his stories exciting from start to finish. This is book 1 of a trilogy. I will start book 2 tomorrow. Looking forward to another great fast paced suspense.

Can we say cliffhanger? What a great way to leave

Some people say it left high and dry, but what do you expect with a series. There needs to be unfinished situations to deal with in the next book.

I knew right away what was happening with the baby situation. Love that we are still guessing about the squirrels, college incidents, and murders. This will be an interesting ride. Also loved hearing about characters from his previous books.

Not my favorite

this is probably the only book by mr. Barclay that I struggled to finish. it was all over the place. not completely disappointed because the ending was somewhat ok.