Promise Not to Tell

Jayne Ann krentz does not disappoint in this fast paced book. Likable characters and an intricate plot, a love affair. And a happy ending with hints of another book which will see a satisfactory end to the villain (I hope!) Altogether a good read!

The characters were wonderful, I enjoyed this book from beginning to end !!! she better hurry up as I cannot wait for the last book in the series and the ending of this story!! Come on Jayne, hurry up and finish this last book!!

I am never disappointed when I read anything by Jayne Ann Krentz . She writes a story line that flips the reader in any direction she decides to take and we keep reading long past a rational time to turn out the lights and sleep. A book I would not put down and will read again. Let's thank her for taking us places we did not know we wanted to visit. So Thank You - for another good book.

Wow you out did yourself Jayne Ann Krentz!!! I love book that's why I gave it 5 stars It has mystery suspense intrigue plenty of plot twists and romance Each page captivates you to your seat which makes so don't want to put it down till the end of the book!!! I recommend this book to those who like suspense intrigue plenty of plot twists mystery and romance!!!!?

Sort of cliffhanger ending. Otherwise this was a really good book. I could not put it down because I wanted to get to the climax. Now the reader knows the 3rd book is going to be a good story because one has to have resolution. I can't wait.

This was disappointing: formulaic, predictable, boring, repetitive. Krentz's editor failed, big time, on this one.

For example, having the character say the same things repeatedly is NOT character development. Also, having the dialogue NOT advance the story but rather, rehash (repeatedly) the past of the characters is not plot.

I have read worse books, so I had to give it 2 stars. BUT, I am usually a Krentz fan (and all her pseudonyms' books, as well), so I expected better.

DO NOT BOTHER.

Promise Not to Tell is another intricate mystery that revolves around the survivors of a cult leader’s attempt to murder them over twenty years ago. This latest release from Jayne Ann Krentz is the second installment in the Cutler, Sutter & Salinas series which features three foster brothers who are convinced cult leader Quinton Zane is still alive despite evidence to the contrary.

When gallery owner Virginia Troy learns of Hannah Brewster’s death by suicide, she turns to private investigator Anson Salinas to investigate the case. Virginia and Hannah’s connection goes beyond a business relationship; both of them were members of Quinton’s cult. Hannah’s grip on reality was tenuous so she turned to art to work through her demons and although her paintings are absolutely brilliant, no one wants to purchase the disturbing artwork. Deeply troubled by Hannah’s last painting depicting the night Zane tried to murder his followers, Virginia teams up with fellow cult survivor and private investigator Cabot Sutter in hopes of uncovering the truth about the artist’s death.

Both Virginia and Cabot were rescued by Anson from the barn fire that Zane set in order to kill witnesses and destroy evidence of his illegal doings. Despite the passage of time, neither of them have managed to completely recover from the anxiety and PTSD from that horrific night. Until meeting Hannah, Virginia never suspected Zane faked his own death but once she views Hannah’s last painting, she has no doubt that he is, in fact, alive. What she cannot fathom is Quinton’s reason for stalking Hannah, but hopefully, with Cabot’s assistance, she can figure it out.

The discovery of a murder victim at Virginia’s art gallery is quite puzzling, but considering the location of the corpse, Cabot is certain the crime is somehow connected to what happened to Hannah. With Virginia as his trusty sidekick, they begin searching for the link which leads them to a start-up company that is suffering from a few financial hiccups. Going the old-fashioned route, they decide to follow an intriguing money trail that might lead back to Zane. Startling twists and turns expose shocking correlations between past and present but Virginia and Cabot quickly learn that someone will go to any lengths to keep their brazen scheme from being exposed.

Promise Not to Tell is a bit of a slow moving mystery in which readers know the identity of perpetrator early on. However, there is plenty suspense surrounding the motive for the crimes and how exactly everything is connected to cult leader Quinton Zane. Jayne Ann Krentz also sets up the perfect opportunity for romance to brew between Virginia and Cabot in the middle of their efforts to uncover the secret that Hannah was willing to die to protect. The novel’s conclusion perfectly sets up the next installment in the Cutler, Sutter & Salinas series which will most likely feature Anton’s very enigmatic third foster son, Jack Lancaster.

I received a complimentary copy for review.

PROMISE NOT TO TELL is the second novel in the “Cutler, Sutter & Salinas” mystery/thriller series about a trio of private investigators who are hunting a charismatic, manipulative cult leader (Quinton Zane). It sort of works as a standalone, but it’s hard to commit to if you don’t know the backstory. (I did not.) If you’re interested in the series, start with When All the Girls Have Gone, because the second novel is chock full of spoilers.

In the novel, a reclusive survivor of Zane’s cult (Hannah) commits suicide after spotting a person that she believes is Zane, who is apparently returning for the key to a cache of hidden cult money. Before she dies, she paints a picture on the wall of her cabin, photographs the painting, mails the camera to another cult survivor (Virginia), and torches the cabin. Virginia, who is an art gallery owner, subsequently hires the Cutler, Sutter & Salinas PI firm to determine whether Hannah was murdered, and to help unravel the meaning of Hannah’s final painting.

What follows is an extremely convoluted investigation, every bit as complicated as the one in The Da Vinci Code. The book is well-written, but the characters spend a lot of time sizing one another up, talking about motives, and discussing relationships. Also, the story skips forward and back, and repeats itself, which can be confusing to the reader, and which makes for a slow read.

The plot has lots of action, and the many threads are tied up more or less satisfactorily at the end, despite the story’s ending with a cliffhanger. However, I didn’t like any of the characters well enough to want to read any more books in the series. Jayne Ann Krentz may be a best-selling author, but I don’t care for her mystery/thriller writing style.

Virginia Troy and Cabot Sutter survived not only their childhood in an oppressive cult but the hellish end to it when cult leader Zane Quinton torched the cult compound, killing most of the adult cult members. The handful of children members locked in a burning barn were heroically rescued by police officer Anson Salinas. Three boys rescued that night, including Cabot, became Anson’s wards and later his business partners in a private investigations firm. Zane Quinton allegedly died fleeing authorities but Anson, Cabot and the other two “boys” never believed he really was dead….

Virginia was saved that night by Anson but turned over to her grandparents. Although deeply scarred by the events of that night, Virginia successfully became an art gallery owner but cannot overcome her anxiety to be successful in her romantic relationships.Her past in the cult is always lurking, especially since one of the few surviving adult cult members, artist Hannah Brewster, has befriended her and sends disturbing artwork depicting that fiery, tragic night. When Hannah sends a final “message” then dies, Virginia seeks out the services of Cutler, Sutter & Salinas to investigate…..

And so we are off and running in another great adventure created by the talented Ms. Krentz! This story is well-plotted and populated with interesting characters that have just enough quirkiness to be fascinating, not annoying.The suspense is spot on, as always, but what I really liked about this book the way the romance developed. Virginia and Cabot are so scarred and flawed by their shared past, personal relationships just never worked for them individually. But together, these two knew how to woo each other, which made for a very satisfying romance dance! And the end revelation and “cliff-hanger” only whett

Promise Not to Tell by Jayne Ann Krentz is another fabulous story from one of my favorite authors. JAK combines intrigue, action and mystery with a bit of romance. Her characters, though flawed have a code of honor that guides them. They are often misfits who find each other and find they fit together perfectly.
Virginia and Cabot, have several failed relationships between them. They are not looking for another. Virginia Troy, a gallery owner, arrives at the private detective offices of Cutler, Sutter and Salinas with a bizarre tale, one that Cabot Sutter and his partner, Anson Salinas believe. The three share a past and a common nightmare; when Virginia tells them, their shared ghost may have returned and committed murder, Cabot is convinced the Devil has returned.
Art, murder, a missing treasure, a terrifying cult leader who once tried to murder them and a bit of family drama all entwine to create a story with Ms Krentz’s signature style. Can Virginia and Cabot puzzle out the pieces of the past and unravel the present before they fall victim to the vengeance and greed of a mad man. Will the past come back to destroy them or will they discover, they are no longer victims but the heroes of their own stories?
One of the reasons I love Jayne Ann Krentz so much is her ability to weave a great story with characters who are unique and interesting. She takes a problem or a flaw and turns it into part of the solution. She gives us characters who seem unlovable and give them their perfect mate. As a reader, I finish her books knowing, this mystery could have only been solved by these two characters because they are integral to the solution. If you haven’t read any of JAK’s books before, you can’t go wrong by starting with Promise Not to Tell.

JAK does it again. Another exceptional page turner. In this case, she is writing as herself and the book takes place in present day. PROMISE NOT TO TELL follows Virginia Troy and Cabot Sutter as they try to discover who murdered an artist friend (Hannah Brewster) of Virginia’s. They soon find there is a link to their mutual past from when they were nearly killed in a fire by cult leader, Quentin Zane. Each of their mother’s had been involved in the cult and the Zane was trying to cover his tracks by killing everyone. The children including Virginia and Cabot were rescued by Anson Salinas (now Cabot’s adoptive father). Hannah and another adult cult follower also survived the blaze. The story ratchets up as Virginia and Cabot follow the clues to a remote island where they determine the Zane may indeed be alive and still pose a threat to them. I won’t go any further into the description but just know this is an exciting thriller. I must admit that I didn’t figure out whodunit right away and I loved that. JAK gives you clues and now and then a red herring. Loved this as it kept me thinking.
I found the characters both interesting and relatable. As a result of their past with the cult they are both somewhat flawed and yet they are stronger in spite of it. It was fascinating that they both had similar difficulties and had unique ways of addressing these problems. They suited each other well as a couple. There was the perfect blend of romance and suspense in this thriller.
Charlotte and Max from WHERE HAVE ALL THE GIRLS GONE were mentioned but did not show up in this book. I have a feeling there may be a third and the characters from both books will get together to solve an overarching mystery.
Thank you JAK for another great book!

While I found the mystery interesting this book just won't stick with me in the long run.

The Good: The underlying cult theme that started in the first book moved forward during this book which I actually enjoyed even though I don't gravitate towards books with cults in them. I'm looking forward to seeing how JAK wraps it up in the last book of this trilogy but having to wait until January of next year seems like such a long wait. I liked some of the supporting characters in this book especially Anson (Cabot's dad) and Xavier (Cabot's young cousin). The pacing of the book is really good as the suspense and tension starts right away and continues to grow through out the book.

The Bad: Once again, as with the first book, I found the romance just not quite right. I didn't see their attraction and despite JAK having dialogue to support it (in the form of "I want to kiss you,") it just wasn't there. There were no epiphanies of "I can't live without you". There were no instances where I just felt they had to be together.

In addition, the mystery was subpar. Although, Cabot is a PI, and we follow his methods to investigating Hannah's death they seem to jump to conclusions a lot. Even with Cabot explaining to Virginia they can't rely on speculation as facts they seem to make some conclusions just because it fits the storyline instead of relying on just the facts. "Follow the money" makes perfect sense but to draw a conclusion that the entire thing was about money with no hard evidence seemed a stretch. Also, the number of murderers in this one, similarly to the first book, seems more complex than necessary.

In a Nutshell: So, even though these are only average reads and there are way better Romantic Suspense books out there I'm going to read the last book when it comes out. I want to read how the underlying story-arc pans out.