Promise Not To Tell by Jayne Ann Krentz – Review & Giveaway

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Description:
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.

Review:

Promise Not to Tell by Jayne Ann Krentz is a mystery thriller that is actually part of a trilogy (Cutter, Sutton & Salinas).  Promise Not to Tell is a story that covers over 20 years, which started with fire that killed most of the members of cult, with only 8 children, who were locked in a barn, having been saved by a policeman.

The story begins with a woman who was member of the cult who survived the massacre, living on island.  She has nightmares, and paints her visions, which have become very real.  When she sees an evil person from the past, she knows she must take matters into her own hands.

Virginia Troy, our heroine, is a gallery owner and one of the children who survived all those years ago; her mother also died in the fire set by the cult leader, Quinton Zane.  When Virginia discovers her artist client supposedly committed suicide, decides she must investigate the truth about that woman’s death, especially after viewing all the dark paintings she saved.  She goes to an investigation firm co-owned by Anson Salinas, a former police officer and the man who rescued the children all those years ago.

Cabot Sutter, our hero, private investigator in the firm, with his brother Max, who are also survivors of the rescued children; with Anson having adopted them when he saved them.  Cabot will take the case, since the firm has continued to quietly investigate any information on the cult leader who disappeared all those years ago. Together they view the paintings, and after looking at the villain images on the paintings, they know she was trying to leave them a clue.  The mystery: Was Quinton Zane, the evil villain, still alive?

What follows is an intense, complex mystery that will put both Virginia and Cabot in dangerous situations, as they delve closer to the truth with so many secrets discovered, with twists and turns all along the way.  I could not put the book down, so not to miss anything.  As soon as you thought you knew what was happening, new clues arose, and new suspects came to the forefront.  As we raced to the climax, there were so many surprises that changed the game. 

Virginia and Cabot were great heroes, both strong and independent. It was nice to watch their slow build romance, and I really liked them together, as they made a great team.  Krentz  always creates excellent characters in her books, and once again she gives us a wonderful couple, great  secondary characters, and evil villains. If you enjoy mystery thrillers, suspense, surprising twists and turns, then you need to read Promise Not to Tell.   Even if you have not read the first book, you can read this book very well as a standalone.  Once again, Jayne Ann Krentz has given us a wonderfully written story that keeps us engrossed from start to finish.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

Jayne Ann and her Publisher, Berkley are offering a hardcover copy of PROMISE NOT TO TELL to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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