Product Description

Kate Cypher has returned home to Vermont, after a telephone call from friends who are worried about her mother's failing health. On the night she arrives, a young girl is murdered, a horrific crime that eerily mirrors another from Kate's childhood. Three decades earlier, her misfit friend Del, shunned and derided by her classmates as "the potato girl", was brutally slain. Del's killer was never found, and Del achieved immortality in local legends and ghost stories. Now, as the new murder investigation draws Kate irresistibly in, her past and present collide in terrifying and unexpected ways. But nothing is quite what it seems - and the grim spectres of her childhood are far from forgotten.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #416503 in Books
• Published on: 2008-08-07
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 272 pages

Review
"creepy and convincing" (CANDIS )

"an interesting variant of American Gothic" (Carla McKay DAILY MAIL )

"A story of betrayal that will keep you guessing at every turn" (ASDA MAGAZINE )

"Part ghost story, part psychological thriller, this is a powerful novel of adolescent friendship, betrayal and murder" (LIVING NORTH )

"a gripping read" (SCOTTISH WOMAN )

About the Author
Jennifer McMahon grew up in suburban Connecticut, and graduated from Goddard College in 1991. Over the years, she has been a house painter, farm worker, paste-up artist, pizza delivery person, homeless shelter staff member, and has worked with mentally ill adults and children in a few different capacities. She lives in Vermont and Promise Not To Tell is her first novel.

Customer Reviews

Not just a murder mystery...
'Promise not to tell' tells the story of Kate Cypher, a woman who has been running from her past ever since the untimely death of friend, Del. Kate finds herself back in her hometown and facing her past and the chain of events which has lead to the death of another girl, the very night that Kate arrives back in town.

'Promise not to tell' is an interesting story, it covers various subjects, childhood friends, family, secrets, etc. Jennifer McMahon does an excellent job of presenting the characters, you feel you know the characters well, especially Kate, all through the book, she struggles with various emotions which you sympathise with.

'Promise not to tell' is not just a murder mystery story but also a story about growing up, the feelings of childhood isolation, the need to fit in. There is an excellent twist at the end which I did not expect which I am sure readers will enjoy. I did enjoy reading this book.

The only downside of the book was the way the police conducted the investigation into the most recent murder with Kate, at times, I found myself thinking, 'what are they thinking' but in all honesty it is my way of thinking, I got past it because the story is excellent.

Could have been amazing but for the ending
I have to say I disagree with you. I have read many reviews raving about how wonderful this book is but I was very underwhelmed by the ending. I expected - and wanted - Kate to find a rational explanation to everything and for the truth to be quite a horrific reality. Aside from the fact that this was not the case, lots of it doesn't make sense and I can identify several loose ends that are not tied up by the end.

I loved the book all the way until the last few chapters when I realised there were no logical solutions, it all comes under the supernatural heading which is, to say the least, disappointing, and I found the "twist" of who is the murderer quite pathetic - neither surprising, alarming, confusing or shocking. The revelation barely made a ripple on me or the storyline, not because I guessed it, because I didn't, but because it was of so little consequence to any of the characters I cared about.

That said I did enjoy it up until the ending. It's just a shame, that's all.