Jayne Ann Krentz delivered a gripping romantic suspense that is sure to delight old and new fans. Promise Not to Tell is the second novel in the Cutler, Sutter & Salinas series but will work as a standalone.  A cult, a hidden key, complex characters and murder kept me up into the wee hours hoping for a happily ever after. Full review to come.

One of the things I like most about a Jayne Ann Krentz book is that they are consistent and comforting. Her characters are always well drawn, the plot moves along quickly and the adventures are generally pretty fun. Promise not to Tell hits all those points. What keeps this book from being exceptional is that it also feels very familiar. I had read Secret Sisters not that long ago and kept feeling like I've seen some of the events of that book repeated here. Which got me thinking and I realized that I've seen a lot of the same character development happening with her characters from book to book. So much so that there were times I was wondering which book I was reading. That's not to say I didn't enjoy the book, but I do wish there was a bit more originality in her most recent publications.

I also found myself a bit annoyed by the last couple of her books when it comes to her heroines sexuality. It seems like most of her heroines have some kind of hold up when it comes to freely enjoying themselves and their relationships. While this is explained in this volume (and in others) I find the trope of the hero magically curing her issues because he is her true love a bit reminiscent of romance novels written in the 1980's and 1990's. It's 2017 and women, fictional or real, are allowed fulfilling sexual lives even if they are not involved in long term relationships.

That being said, Promise not to tell is an enjoyable story and I will recommend it to our patrons.

This book doesn’t disappoint. As always the leads are believable and not perfect.

PROMISE NOT TO TELL by Jayne Ann Krentz from NetGalley.
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!

I've been a fan of Jayne Ann Krentz since she began her writing career, and have some great memories associated with reading her books. Lately, however, her stories seem to all run together, with just a change in names and setting. I think she is a good writer, but possibly needs to step out of her comfort zone and write a different kind of story.

Promise Not to Tell
Jayne Ann Krentz

January 2, 2018
9780399585272

Another great book from Ms. Krentz! I love all her books, whether she is writing as Jayne Ann Krentz, Amanda Quick or Jayne Castle. I love her stories, strong female characters, and writing style. I recommend her every chance I get. Promise Not to Tell, is a contemporary romantic-suspense with a great plot with plenty of twists and turns. Please put her on your reading list.

The author has successfully published a multitude of well written novels utilizing three separate pen names. Those that I have been fortunate enough to read are all concisely written, capture the reader's attention, and retain it throughout the book. No problem with "Promise Not to Tell" it offers a well thought out and interesting plot, principal characters that are right on the money and an adventure that will definitely keep the reader intrigued and unable to put the book down.
Virginia Troy, an owner of an art gallery in Seattle, was one of many children caught in the machinations of a cult in their childhood. Her nightmares don't leave her as she relives a narrow escape again and again from a fire set by the Cult founder to a small building with cult members in it. Her life and the lives of others were saved when a bystander uses an auto to smash into the building and save some of those imprisoned there. Now she has been jolted when an artist she features commits suicide but not before sending a painting to Virginia. The painting causes her to doubt that the death was a suicide and additionally to further sink back into her own past.
Virginia decides to hire Cabot Sutter who is a private investigator and in addition another of the children that survived the long ago fire to look into the suicide. Ms Krentz portrays the hunt for answers by both in a logical progression towards solutions. The investigation proceeds quite realistically and in no way presents impossible actions. Both can be physically hurt, and if so do not wake up and seconds later jolt forward as if nothing has happened. That there are sparks between the two is not an impossibility. Both have the mental scars of the long ago fire and each has the patience and inherent wisdom to understand that such an event and proximity to death just doesn't go away. A very well done addition to this author's long list of good books.

Some intriguing twists and turns in the mystery. Enjoyed the shared trauma between the main characters and all the history regarding the cult.

Another great romantic suspense from Janye Ann Krentz She does not disappoint.

Jayne Anne Krentz at her finest. She continues to shine and only get better.

Gallery owner Virginia Troy still has nightmares from an ordeal she suffered as a child. Her Mother was a member of a cult. The leader of the cult burned down the buildings in the compound and Virginia’s Mother was killed. The children were kept separate from the parents at night so when the fire started Virginia and several other children were rescued. Now an artist/friend of Virginia’s has died from what is ruled a suicide. Before her death she sends Virginia a picture which causes her to question whether it was suicide. Virginia hires a local PI form to help investigate. She thinks the death of her friend could be tied to the cult. One of the PI’s, Cabot, was also a child rescued from the fire years ago. The cult leader was supposedly killed in a fire on a boat at sea several months after the cult fire but his body wasn’t found. Is Quinton Zane, the cult leader, still alive 22 years later? If so why is he back?

This book has all sorts of twists and turns, a romance and a few surprises along the way. I liked the plot and the story was well written. I will read the next book because there is a piece of the plot that could lead to another book. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy of this book. I would give it 4 1/2 stars.

Ms. Krentz has widened her writing range for her readers' enjoyment. I have enjoyed her books for years and she has provided us with another hit. This is the second offering in the search for a cult leader who murdered a large number of his adult members. Fortunately, the children were saved by a conscientious detective who wound up becoming the adoptive father to three of these children. As fate would have it, one of the other children, Virginia Troy, was claimed by her grandmother. She is now an art gallery owner who is still searching for answers and comes to the detective for help in getting this mystery solved. She has always kept in touch with the few adult members who were saved. As this story begins, Hannah, an ex-cult member feels that she has seen the cult leader long believed dead by the authorities but not by the children of the cult members. She kills herself so she would not break a promise...

Cabot and Virginia solve a portion of the mystery but not all. This was an entertaining book and for the most part can be read as a stand-alone. I really liked how Virginia and Cabot complemented and leaned on each other. The chemistry was awesome and I can't wait until the next installment so we can put an end to this evil hanging overhead. I also liked the additional members of Cabot's family and hope we see more of them in future installments. I give this book a thumbs up, 5 Star review.

Gallery owner Virginia Troy hires the PI firm headed by the man who rescued her from a cult to assess whether one of her artists (also a cult survivor) committed suicide or was murdered. Anson Salinas was a police officer at the time and drove his vehicle into a burning barn, pulled 8 children into the car, and saved their lives. He raised 3 of the boys as a single parent.

Twenty-two years ago, the leader of the cult Quinton Zane killed most of the cult (witnesses to his crimes) and then died (?) at sea. He became enraged when he discovered that a few of his captives managed to embezzle and hide some of the wealth he had stolen from them. Has Zane returned? Is someone else after the money? Who has the key to its location?

Virginia teams up with Cabot Sutter, one of Anson's rescued children, to discover the truth. Krentz lays out her tale with her trademark skill and banter. The body count is higher than usual, but no more graphic. Extended family members become involved adding both positives and negatives.

There is anxiety, suspense, love, loyalty, and action. Virginia and Cabot acknowledge their attraction early on without the usual romance dance; they work together to protect one another and to solve the mysteries. Promise Not to Tell is another successful novel by a master of her craft. Recommended.
Promise Not to Tell is linked to the novel When All the Girls Have Gone and most probably at least one more title yet to come.
Pace: Fast; Characters: Likeable; relatable; large cast of characters; Story: Intricately-plotted; character-driven; Language: Engaging; compelling; Tone: Suspenseful; Frame: Contemporary, Pacific Northwest , Seattle , Lost Island - San Juans

Readalikes/Similar Authors:
Heather Graham; Linda Castillo; Nora Roberts; Sandra Brown; Kay Hooper; Elizabeth Lowell; Sharon Sala; Kat Martin; Sella Cameron; Karen Robards; Jayne Castle; Amanda Quick; Suzanne Brockmann – Into the Fire.

Promise Not to Tell keeps you reading and guessing until the end as the plot thickens and the mystery unfolds. It would be an excellent choice for book clubs that like mystery books with an ending that promises more to come.

Another winner. I couldn't put this book down. Krentz is such a clever writer. Amazing how her multiple lines of a story come together. Looks like she left the door open for a continuation.

So...this wasn't a terrible book in my opinion, but most of the plot twists were rather dry and predictable and I found myself growing bored with the antics of the main characters. A lot of the book felt to me like it was repeating itself in theme and i grew weary of the characters having similar thoughts over and again.

There were some interesting scenes and the disaster that brought them together was exciting to read about, but that was about the only thing holding the book together for me by the end. I didn't love any of the characters particularly and it made it a bit of a struggle for me to care too much about what happened to them in the end.

It was okay, but I wasn't sorry to finish it and go on to something else.

I encourage you to read it and see what you think.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Overall, I like this book but it also felt like 3 books in one. At certain points it felt too long, lots of scenes that did not add much to the story.

Another solid romanitic suspense novel from Jayne Ann Krentz. Krentz masterfully builds the suspense through her intertwined plots and subplots. For those who read, When All The Girls Have Gone, the childhood trauma shared by the two main characters will be familar. Virginia Troy, a Seattle area art gallery owner and Cabot Suttler a private investogator hired by Virginia to investigate the death of an artist. Of course, Virginia did not choose Cabot by chance and soon they realize that the events of the past are not so distant after all. While some might think the romance side takes a little longer to unfold, the twists and turns in the plot will keep the reader hooked until the end. Clearly the second of three stories surrounding a group of boys rescued from a cult, Krentz sets herself up perfectly for a third book to wrap up the childhood mystery and bring resolution to the events of the past.

This review is actually for the print book.

The very quotable Jayne Ann Krentz has written that "Life is too short to waste time on books that end badly." Luckily for her readers, Krentz's books never do.

Promise Not to Tell, the second entry in the Cutler, Sutter, and Salinas trilogy, features quirky, flawed but likable lead characters, supported by just as quirky, flawed but likable secondary characters who all somehow manage to come together as family.

Private investigator Cabot Sutter and art gallery owner Virginia Troy share a common trauma from their childhoods, both coping with the mind bending effects of nearly having been burned to death by a crazed cult leader.

When Virginia suspects that a fellow survivor did not commit suicide but was murdered, she hires Cabot to investigate. The ensuing plot twists and turns bring the couple into the orbit of a high tech wunderkin and his shady employees, who all have secrets of their own.

Krentz is a master at romantic suspense and she has perfected her formula. Her readers aren't wasting their time, and there are no bad endings--it's the adventure and romance along the way that keeps the pages turning.

Full Disclosure--Net Gallery and the publisher provided me with a digital ARC of this book. This is my honest revi

I'm a long time fan of Jayne Ann Krentz, whether she's writing as Krentz, Jane Castle or Amanda Quick. I love that her female characters are always smart, take no crap women and that the books have happy endings - a must for me. Once I started this book I couldn't put it down...I read way too far into the night. Somehow I've missed the first in this series but will be reading it as soon as I can put my hands on a copy. If you want a book with interesting well developed characters and a fast moving plot, this one is for you.