Virginia Troy and Cabot Sutter are typical of Krantz's main characters. Both are flawed and have trouble relating to others. Their dating lives are a disaster so when they come together of course they are a very good fit. They mystery here is interesting. There are red herrings, tension filled moments and a lot of blowback from the past. The back story is very well spelled out adding additional feeling to the plot. A nice interesting read with good characters, a well plotted story line and of course a romance.

Virginia Troy has buried her past deep beneath her successful veneer as a businesswoman. She suspects foul play when an artist with whom she has deep ties in her past dies suddenly after mailing her a digital picture of a disturbing painting.  Virginia teams with PI Caleb Sutton as they search for the truth setting off a chain of events that will bring long buried secrets into the open. An excellent whodunit with a nice romantic flourish. The investigation quickly gathers arms and legs as clues on the murder site indicate possible foul play. As the two return to Virginia's apartment they learn that someone has been in her home and lo and behold left behind a dead body at the gallery in the storage area where other paintings by the artist are stored.
The dead body quickly leads to another plot which seems to be related to an embezzlement scheme in a start up tech company.  As Virginia and Caleb follow the trail there are multiple attempts on their lives and the body count around them continues to grow.  Clearly the clues are leading them into a years old mystery which involved the cult in which both their mothers died while Caleb and Virginia barely escaped with their lives.
Caleb has moved into Virginia's apartment to protect her but soon they're sharing mid night cups of tea and stories and then intimacies. The story is like a giant puzzle which needs to be slowly and painstakingly put together. The author shares certain truths with the readers but keeps other truths hidden making for an interesting read.
Some interesting characters are injected into the story like Caleb's poor little rich boy cousin, the crooked lawyer from San Francisco who's trying to steal an inheritance Caleb doesn't want, and the tech firm executives who all have their parts to play to make the story interesting and compelling.  The writing style is elegant and understated, the romance and dialogue sweet but the hook at the end will definitely bring me back for more.

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.

Virginia Troy is an art dealer in Seattle. Her artist friend, Hannah Brewster dies and Virginia feels her death is suspicious even though it has been ruled a suicide.
This suspicion prompts Virginia to hire a local private investigation firm Cutler, Sutter & Salinas to look into it. Anson’s agency is not a random choice because years ago, Salinas saved her from a burning barn after Quinton Zane, the leader of a cult compound where she was being raised, set it on fire and disappeared. Her dead friend Hannah was also part of the cult—a friend of Virginia’s mother, who died in the fire—as were three boys Anson raised as his foster children.
The plot is intriquite and well written in such a manner that there are no loose ends when the reader turns the final page. Reader beware, there are many character in this 310 page novel, so embed each one in your mind as they are introduced.

While I am not a fan of romantic books I felt the author offered up a perfect ending to this suspenseful read. Some may feel it a little too happy but this reader found it perfect. I will pick up more books by Jayne Ann Kremtz.

FINAL DECISION: A solid suspense story but I enjoyed most the relationship between these two damaged and vulnerable people.

THE STORY: Virginia Troy has struggled with the after effects of her childhood in a cult where the members deaths were orchestrated by the cult leader (who is presumed dead, but might not be). When a former cult member ends up dead under mysterious circumstances, Virginia turns to a private investigator to help learn the truth. Cabot Sutter also was a child in the cult and he also is still haunted by the events. When the investigation draws them closer together, Virginia and Cabot need to figure out who is murdering people and also whether they can overcome their pasts to build a relationship together.

OPINION: I liked this book because there was a renewed focus on the characters over the suspense plot. Not that there isn't an interesting plot, but I read these books for the relationship and so I enjoyed seeing these characters maneuver around one another.

Cabot and Virginia are both haunted by their past and in one another they find acceptance and understanding. I liked that their relationship is based upon their mutual problems that have separated them from other lovers in the past. However, that is really the only tension between them. Besides the suspense story, there is little drama in the relationship.

I liked the focus on the created family and how these survivors have dealt with a past that could have destroyed them all.

The suspense story has many twists and turns and just when it seems that the story is resolved, things go off in a different direction. Things fit together but there are many layers which was enjoyable.

I was especially excited by the ending of the book which previews the drama that is going to be present in the next book.

WORTH MENTIONING: This book also sets up the scenario for the next book in the series.

CONNECTED BOOKS: PROMISE NOT TO TELL is the second book in an apparent trilogy about three brothers. I say apparent because the publisher has chosen to not promote the fact that these books are connected (probably to not turn off casual readers who don't want to start with book 2). Goodreads has indicated these books as being the Cutler, Sutter and Salinas series so I will go with that. This book can be read as a standalone, but there are definite continuing storylines and overlapping characters.

STAR RATING: I give this book 4 stars.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in order to prepare a review. I was not required to write a review or to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.

Review to be posted on 1/2/2018

Fast paced with lots of twists.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The author has stepped up the game in this newest offering and I am excited to share my review and thoughts on this story. One good thing, if you missed the prior book, do not dismay. This is a total standalone. The family is the tie between the books, not a story continuation.

In the prior book, I enjoyed the story but it had some flaws to me. I was so happy this this story was much more exciting and the flow was great.

Even though this is a longer story than most, I was whipping through it fast and was completely tied up in the twists and turns. Fast paced with plenty of action and even a bit of romance made this an interesting and engaging read. While I feel that there is room for more tenderness, less rigidty and matter-of-fact connections in the romance department, the author totally came through on the suspense and thriller side.

I loved the story premise and the plot. While you do somewhat know who it is that they are chasing, Krentz adds in a lot of additional plot details and twists to keep you wondering and even throws a few curves that I did not figure out until the end.

With so many novels under her belt, she is a master at storytelling in ways that will keep you enthralled to the end.

Promise Not to Tell is book two in the Cutler, Sutter & Salinas detective agency series. The story of a man and woman united by a unique childhood, it’s a mystery which highlights the stuff of which modern day nightmares are made.

For Seattle gallery owner Virginia Troy there is a before and after. Before was the dark time which included nights locked in a barn; those were the years her mother spent as a thrall to cult master Quinton Zane. The after has been her life since the fire Zane set to his own compound, a fire which killed almost all the adults, including Virginia’s mother. That event left Virginia with vivid nightmares, regular anxiety attacks and a present in which she is completely devoted to her work.

For private investigator Cabot Sutter, there has been no real after. The years since his own mother died in the fire were all training for one thing: to find the escaped arsonist/murderer Quinton Zane and bring him to justice.  He has never let go of the past, whereas Virginia has never really revisited it.   All that changes in one explosive night, when Virginia’s last link to the cult mails her a camera with a clue and then dies under mysterious circumstances. When Virginia hires Cabot to find out the details surrounding the death, she gets much more than she ever bargained for, including a chance at a once in a lifetime kind of love.

AAR staffers Maggie Boyd and Shannon Dyer both read this latest offering from Ms. Krentz and are here to share their thoughts on the novel.

Maggie: I don’t know how long I’ve been a fan of Ms. Krentz but I think it safe to say it has been well over a decade. How long have you been reading her work?

Shannon: I discovered Ms. Krentz's work in the late nineties. I have fond memories of reading her books with my best friend. Both of us were wild about romances, and hers were some of our favorites.

Maggie: She’s one of those authors who had definitely stood the test of time. The characters in this novel felt very familiar, but while they seem similar to other Krentz heroes and heroines, the genius is in the details.  Cabot, like most Krentz heroes is a taciturn genius lacking in social skills but capable of great love, loyalty and kindness. Virginia, like most Krentz heroines, is clever, creative and capable of seeing the value of the silent, sexy man who just came into her life. What makes them unique is their uncommon family situations and the way their shared history has affected their personalities. I liked that they were each other’s anchor in the storm during nightmare induced insomnia. I liked that they had to work a bit to make the sex great.  I liked that they had a shared sense of subtle, sarcastic humor. And each of them had that perfect mix of  intelligent maturity that I love in romantic suspense protagonists. I found myself really enjoying the time I spent with both of them. What did you think of them?

Shannon: I was particularly impressed with Cabot's character. He is all of the things you said above, but so much more besides. I loved that he listened to his own intuition and respected the intuitions of others. He and Virginia made a great couple, complementing each other's strengths and weaknesses. They support each other through both the good and the bad times, and that was a real pleasure to see. Cabot is not the typical alpha male hero, determined to be right at all costs. He treats Virginia as his equal. As far as Virginia is concerned, I liked her, but she didn't stand out from the rest of Ms. Krentz's heroines. She's smart and creative, and she is more scarred than some of the others, but I still feel she kind of blends in with countless other heroines I've seen in previous novels.

Maggie: I think Cabot’s alpha nature reflects how wonderfully Ms. Krentz writes alphas. I really don’t remember any of her heroes being more ass than alpha, which happens to so many alpha male heroes in romance.  I thought the mystery was handled well here. I didn’t guess all the key players till near the end of the story and found myself thoroughly engrossed in trying to figure out just what the heck was happening. What did you think of the mystery?

Shannon: I agree. Ms. Krentz can definitely write a good, suspenseful mystery. I didn't guess who was behind all the wrongdoing until Virginia and Cabot figured it out. I read a lot of mysteries, and I'm often frustrated with how much I figure out before the characters in the story do. It was refreshing not to have that experience with Promise Not to Tell.

Maggie: Too true! It can ruin a book for me when I figure the whole thing out at the beginning while the characters ignore the obvious clues.  My favorite secondary character wound up being the nephew who turned up at the end of the tale. It would be easy to think of him as a deus ex machina but I didn’t feel he was there to solve a problem with the plot (I think they would have resolved everything without him) but to show another side to Cabot’s character. Regardless, I enjoyed him and the twist he represented. Who was your favorite secondary character?

Shannon: I loved the nephew too. I enjoyed watching Cabot figure out how to bond with him. Even so, my favorite secondary character has to be Cabot's foster father. I loved him in the previous installment in this series, and we got to see so much more of him here. I love his devotion to his sons and their happiness.

Maggie: Yeah, the foster dad is great. He was definitely a bright spot in the story for me. Overall, I would rate this book a solid B. It didn’t blow my mind and once you started to think too deeply about the plot there were some definite holes in it but I thoroughly enjoyed it and am eager to read the next book in the series. What about you?

Shannon: The book also gets a B from me. There were a few things that bugged me about the way the mystery was solved, but I still enjoyed the story overall. I loved the chapter at the end that gives us a glimpse of things to come. I definitely want to read the next book when it comes out.

Buy Now: A/BN/iB/K

The second book in this series is exciting and full of mystery and unanswered questions when art gallery owner Virginia Troy looks for answers from some art given to her by by one of the survivors from the fiery destruction of cult leader Quinton Zane. Did she commit suicide or was she murdered.

In order to get answers Virginia goes to the only people she believes can find the answers: Anson Salinas who rescued her along with Cabot Sutter and the other children. This investigation will bring about several murders along with some new revelations. Is the cult leader really dead?

I have loved Jayne Ann Krentz's novels from the beginning and honestly can't get enough of her books through all her pseudonyms. Promise Not to Tell is the second book following three foayer brothers and follows When All the Girls Have gone.bI honestly could not get enough of Cabot and Virginia. This story was not heavily focused on their romance but more about the mystery, but still enjoyed their romance. Virginia was sassy and took no prisoners. Likewise Cabot was alpha to the core and they both gave as good as they got.

This was another fantastic romantic suspense novel. With the suicide of one of her artists, gallery owner Virginia Troy is taken back to the demons in her past as a childhood spent in a cult. This brings her to private investigator Cabot Sutter, another child of the cult, for help. What happens when both Virginia and Cabot are forced to remember their past memories to solve a mystery and the shocking fate of the one man who still wields the power to destroy everything they hold dear?

I really enjoyed this story and the underlying mystery prevalent throughout the story. It was suspenseful and full of witty and sexy moments between Cabot and Virginia. All in all this was great and I can't wait for more from this author.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an advanced copy of this book for an honest review. Bravo! 4 stars! ~Ratula

This is the Ms. Krentz I fell in love with decades ago. We return to Seattle which is one of my favourite locales she uses for her stories. This second in the series hit me in all the right places. I loved this book. I loved the characters. The suspense adds a layer to this complicated story.

Virginia and Cabot are survivors of a horrific event in their childhood. It ties them together. There are unresolved issues which keep surfacing and doesn't let them rest. When one of Virginia's artist dies suddenly, she suspects foul play and with good reason. She goes to Cabot's private detective agency for help, against her grandmother's advice. The two reunite and they bond over their history. Cabot is social awkward but Virginia is more than able to handle his blunt answers. These characters are trademark Ms. Krentz. She writes them so well. Their interactions are funny and at times sad. They seem so real.

The suspense in this story also seems real. Ms. Krentz takes plausible events and makes a what if scenario. She plays it out masterfully and keeps a reader's attention from the very first page until the end. This end was a crushing blow for me because it opened up more questions and now I desperately want to read the next book to find out. The way each thread ties to another is skillfully done. The pace of the story kept it nice and exciting. I enjoyed the action packed dead bodies piling up. And I enjoyed Cabot's incredulous response when confronted with people he thinks are dumb. I love Cabot. And it takes a special type of person to understand and appreciate him. Fortunately he has his adoptive brothers, father and now a lover - Virginia.

The one I loved most was the Cabot's adoptive father, Anson. He is a crotchety old man with experience and wisdom. He stole the book for me with one gem that I now share with people.

<i>"If you ask me, happiness is overrated." ... "Most people don't even recognize hapiness when it hits them over the head. They only appreciate it when they find themselves unhappy. There's something a lot more important than happiness." </i> Read the book to find out what it is.

This book is highly recommended to romance readers who enjoy suspense with a silent, steady and strong male.

Not my cup of tea. I did not enjoy the narration or writing style and so did not finish it.

Title: Promise Not to Tell
Author: Jayne Ann Krentz
Series: Cutler, Sutter, & Salinas, #2
Pages: 304
Publisher: Berkley
Date: January 2, 2018

Summary:

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:

This is the second book in what will be a trilogy about three brothers who survived an early childhood in a cult. The first, When All the Girls Have gone, came out in 2016 and was wonderful. Of course, all of Jayne Ann Krentz’ books are wonderful.

In my opinion, these two books are a little darker than her earlier works. The focus is on the suspense rather than the romance. Make no mistake, the romance is there. It is just not the focus. As with all of her books, there is a strong, alpha male and a strong female that takes no guff from him. And, in my opinion, that’s where the humor comes into this book.

There is one scene where Cabot is upset with his family. He accuses Virginia of taking their side. She tells him:

“I’m not taking sides. I’m offering advice.”

“I don’t need advice.”

“Doesn’t mean I’m not going to give you some. Don’t worry, it’s free.”

In an earlier scene, Virginia is “having words” with her grandmother and Cabot proves his intelligence.

He kept his mouth shut. A smart man did not step between two quarreling lionesses.

It is these moments of lightness that I consider a trademark of a JAK book right along with her alpha males and strong females.

Although this is the second book in a trilogy, it could be read without the first. I don’t recommend it, but you could. -grin- The mystery in this book is resolved, but there is an overarching plot which is not. It all goes back to the cult.

This book was sent to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review.

A classic Jayne Ann Krentz romantic suspense. Promise Not to Tell takes the threads of the cult plot from When All the Girls Have Gone and uses that as the driving mystery and plot. A good mystery story, which kept me guessing, but one that sacrifices the romance for the mystery.

Jayne Ann Krentz is always on my list of must read authors. This book did not disappoint. Murder and mystery reign in this novel about embezzling money and survivors of a cult.

Virginia Troy and Cabot Sutter both were in a cult along with their mothers when they were just kids, until the day the cult leader, Quinton Zane, set the compound they were in on fire and killed their mothers.
They never saw each other again until one of Virginia’s artists, who also was in the cult twenty-two years ago, killed herself right after leaving Virginia one last piece that left her second guessing all her beliefs regarding the cult. Cabot, now as a private investigator, is the only one who can help her and also protect her seeing as their lives will also be in danger. Again.
Ok, so the amount of people involved in this investigation is insane. Obviously, Virginia and Cabot are the main characters, but there are so many people connected that sometimes it was honestly hard to keep track of them all and remember their names. But throughout the book, there’re moments when all the pieces fit perfectly together and you basically get blown away by the logic of it! At least, I was blown away with all the twists in the book! Which leads me to one of the things that I most appreciated about this book: the fact that the author doesn’t leave all the secrets to the end. Which turns the book into an addiction (at least for me it was)! There’s always something happening, new people coming and going, new cases! Definitely a lot of suspense! Honestly, five big stars for this investigation and all the characters involved!
Then, there’s the romance. As you can guess, Virginia and Cabot both have issues thanks to the fire they had to go through twenty-two years ago. And, even though that has always been a major deal breaker with their other relationships, between them it’s their biggest bond! They understand each other and instantly know what the other needs without words. However, there’s not a lot of coupley moments! I really wish there was more romance in the book! There’s some intimacy, not as much as I would like but still. Basically, if you can’t settle for a discreet relationship this is not the book for you. They don’t talk much about them (only the investigation basically) and they’re not the lovey-dovey kind so not expect hearts and unicorns with this book!
Still, the book is really amazing!
I didn’t read the first book of the series but I feel like there’s some unfinished business in this book so I’ll definitely want to read the next one (if there’s one).

Seattle gallery owner Virginia Troy and private investigator Cabot Sutter have their work cut out for them in this newest romantic suspense thriller. The event that took their mothers from them at a young age and left them both emotionally scarred comes back into their lives with a vengeance. Virginia believes that one of her artists did not commit suicide but was murdered. Before she dies she sends Virginia a last picture of the fire that killed her mother as well as the mothers of Virginia and Cabot. It contains hidden codes and figures Virginia can’t decipher by herself. Thrown together by fate Virginia and Cabot must solve the murder and unravel the mystery of that heartbreaking long ago night. Their investigation leads them deeper and deeper into peril as they uncover bits and pieces from their tragic past. Together despite numerous attempts to stop them, they fight to solve the mystery and heal their wounded souls. It is a roller coaster ride of love and suspense to the finish and a must read for every Jayne Ann Krentz fan.

This book had me from the first scene i could not put it down almost missed my stop going to work. I enjoyed not knowing who was the murder and was the cult leader still alive, It was a great story and enjoy that both the mystery and the romance had equal

Someone is killing the survivors of an old cult. The building was burned down but a courageous cop saved the children. Now the children are dying...

Berkley and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you). It will be published January 2nd.

When a beautiful young woman comes into their detective agency and tells them the woman who died by jumping from a cliff in the San Juan Islands didn't commit suicide, she was scared and running from danger. She was from the children in the barn and she was doing a series of paintings. The last one she painted she did it on her cabin wall. She burned the cabin before her jump.

The reason they listen to her is because the main PI is another survivor from the cult deaths. He is intrigued by her story. Every survivor believes the man that charmed them into following him did not really die in a boat fire. Is he back? What does he want?

There are a lot of threads that need to be tied before they manage to get to the truth. Virginia has found love and she's the next target. She'll need her PI before they are done with the investigation.

The bad news is that the original scoundrel is still alive. There will be another in this series I'm sure.

This author always writes an exciting novel with lot of suspense and tension. Once I start reading, I keep reading until the book is done. If you haven't tasted her work yet, do. You won't regret it.

I have read JAK before and thoroughly enjoyed her books, but I found this one to be just okay for me. There were some thrilling moments, but parts I found repetitive and I could not get into the characters.

This complex, intriguing story spans more than 20 years - from the time eight young children are rescued from certain death in a barn fire deliberately set by the leader of a cult to which their parents belonged to the present, when death once again stalks the survivors. Now, one of them - an artist whose work is in an art gallery owned by another of the survivors - commits suicide. Virginia Troy, the gallery owner, suspects the death was murder; to test that theory, she hires the private investigation firm owned by Anson Salinas, a former police officer and the man who rescued the children all those years ago.

Back then, Anson adopted three of the surviving boys; one of them, Cabot Sutter (also a former cop), now works with his adopted father. Early on, Cabot and Virginia take a closer look at a few of the victim's paintings that depict the cult fire; they suggest that sociopathic leader Quinton Zane, who reportedly was killed in a boating accident years earlier, may in fact be among the living. Still other clues from the paintings suggest that the cult held many more secrets - one of which is that cult members may have embezzled a substantial amount of money right under the leader's nose.

Apparently, those secrets aren't so secret anymore - and bodies of those who may have learned the truth are starting to pile up. Can Cabot and Virginia (who, surprise, surprise, have taken a strong liking to each other) get to the bottom of things before they themselves become victims? It's a race to the finish, with plenty of action and surprises right up to the end.

Speaking of which, it makes sense to me that this book deserves at least one follow-up. If and when that happens, I hope the publisher will once again grant me the honor of reading an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. Very enjoyable!