BROKEN PROMISE, the debut novel in Linwood Barclay’s now well-known PROMISE FALLS trilogy is best described as lying in the center of a triangle bounded by suspense thriller, psychological thriller and horror! Plenty of good old-fashioned murders, extortion, kidnappings and police work, to be sure, but readers will also discover a novel full of cerebral shudders, bone-deep frissons and eye-blinking “What the hell was that all about?” moments!

Like a less surreal Twin Peaks, this is a compellingly grotesque portrait of the American dream in meltdown. * SUNDAY EXPRESS * BROKEN PROMISE is a veritable avalanche of sub-plots and storylines but, somehow, Barclay has managed to keep them all intertwined without ever being muddy or confused. What’s even more impressive is that every single story moves forward simultaneously in real-time and the inevitable cliff-hangers as Barclay moves the reader from one perspective to another are never interminable or irritating. Sneider, Jeff (19 February 2014). "Todd Phillips to direct thriller 'Trust Your Eyes' ". Variety . Retrieved 19 February 2014. Michael’s mom is a friend of the family, and Suzanne is now calling Cal for help. Michael did not come home. He is missing. Now in the middle, he is trying to help.He can’t believe Marla’s capable of such violence and finds himself believing her story about the angel so sets about trying to prove her innocence. In his youth Adam belonged to a criminal biker gang but gave it up to become a successful (and wealthy) writer....and Miriam is his beautiful third wife. This is the first book of a series and various characters seem likely to show up in future stories. These include David's mom Arlene - who's starting to show signs of dementia;

And so, I wasn't really grabbed by the plot until just after half way through when there is, and I quote the author on this, a 'holy shit' moment. It is not the last one. I did not put the book down after that - just read until I was finished. This book is the second in a trilogy. I read the first one, Broken Promise, in August of 2015. I'd kept notes on the first book, but it seems I really didn't need to because they didn't help with this book. Things that should have been remembered were mentioned in this book, and I was very surprised that I recalled them. Two cars are squashed, four people are killed, and many movie- goers are injured. As it turns out the catastrophe occurred at 11:23 P.M. (or 23:23 in military time).

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Linwood Barclay is the #1 internationally bestselling author of seventeen novels for adults, including No Time for Goodbye, Trust Your Eyes and, most recently, A Noise Downstairs. He has also written two novels for children and screenplays. Barclay's novella (Book #1.5) Final Assignment sets us up for Cal Weaver's point of view in this novel. Cal, former cop turned private investigator, is a likeable and a character you root for so it was very easy to look forward to more of him in the next book. Far From True opens up with the a drive-in theater screen collapsing and killing four people. Cal is hired by the daughter of one of the victims to look into a break-in at her late father's place. As he investigates Cal learns that this couple has a secret room for their sexual games and it appears that DVD discs are now missing. What is on the DVD and why they were taken is Cal's next steps.

I'm pretty sure I will be reading book three as there are many questions that I would like to see answered. Broken Promise is the first installment of the Promise Falls trilogy, set in upstate New York. My only other Barclay read is Tap on the Window, but that book and this novel are enough for me to see that Mr. Barclay is a master storyteller. I really enjoyed this novel. I thought this was an exceptional Barclay book. There are many threads to follow, but it's so well written, the reader doesn't get lost. The characters are so substantial they could be your neighbors. There are many twists and turns ... some of them are highly surprising. Linwood Barclay heats up the action, drama, secrets, betrayal, and scandal in the fictional Upstate New York small-town of Promise Falls, with the second installment, FAR FROM TRUE, following “Best Cliffhanger Mystery Thriller Suspense Series” Broken Promise, #1, landing on my Top 50 Books of 2015 and teaser novella, Final Assignment #1.5. I'm not going to discuss the plot. I'd have to write a book, and you wouldn't believe me if I told you anyway.A special thank you to Berkley/NAL and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. *4.5 Stars*

She thinks someone has been sneaking around her deceased father's house. Weaver makes a startling discovery in the Chalmers' home, a finding that soon interests the police as well. As a favour to his mother David drops into his cousin Marla’s place with some home-cooked meals. Marla, he knows, has been struggling since she lost her baby 10mths earlier and gets little sympathy from her own mother who’s frustrated at her daughter’s inability to move on. On arriving at Marla’s however, David finds her busy with her son… who she informs David was dropped off by an angel the day before. How about this for a bizarre grouping of plots? Animals are being ritually slaughtered; a young woman with a very tenuous mental grip on reality is found holding a baby that she claims was delivered to her doorstep by an “angel”; the baby’s real mother is murdered; a serial rapist is threatening the local college campus; a former mayor of Promise Falls is looking to return to local politics despite a past conviction for sexual assault of an under-age minor; and (as if all of the rest wasn’t enough) a local amusement park, shut down as no longer financially viable, is broken into and left with a very creepy calling card! The descent had begun five years ago, after my wife, Jan, passed away. A sad story, and not one worth rehashing here. After half a decade, there were things I'd had no choice but to put behind me. I'd grown into my role of single father. I was raising Ethan, nine years old now, on my own. I'm not saying that made me a hero. I'm just trying to explain how things unfolded.

ABOUT THE BOOK

I have to admit to approaching this book with a little trepidation. I did not enjoy the previous Linwood Barclay that I read. But this one? This is a completely different story. When his newspaper shuts down widowed journalist David Harwood and his son Ethan move in with David's parents in Promise Falls, New York.