Broken Promise

By: Linwood Barclay

Narrated by: Quincy Dunn Baker, Brian O'Neil

Length: 13 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

From the New York Times best-selling author of No Safe House comes an explosive novel about the disturbing secrets of a quiet, small town....

After his wife's death and the collapse of his newspaper, David Harwood has no choice but to uproot his nine-year-old son and move back into his childhood home in Promise Falls, New York. David believes his life is in free fall, and he can't find a way to stop his descent. Then he comes across a family secret of epic proportions.

A year after a devastating miscarriage, David's cousin, Marla, has continued to struggle. But when David's mother asks him to check on her, he's horrified to discover that she's been secretly raising a child who is not her own - a baby she claims was a gift from an "angel" who left it on her porch. When the baby's real mother is found murdered, David can't help wanting to piece together what happened - even if it means proving his own cousin's guilt. But as he uncovers each piece of evidence, David realizes that Marla's mysterious child is just the tip of the iceberg. Other strange things are happening. Animals are found ritually slaughtered. An ominous abandoned Ferris wheel seems to stand as a warning that something dark has infected Promise Falls. And someone has decided that the entire town must pay for the sins of its past...in blood.

©2015 NJSB Entertainment, Inc. (P)2015 Recorded Books

Good yarn

This is a good, solid mystery. Believable characters, just deep enough to be acceptable. I will read more of this author.

Broken Promise

I liked the book all the way to the end and felt a big disappointment when it ended so abruptly with no resolution of who the killer was.

Loving Linwood

What did you love best about Broken Promise?

The storyline was like many stories at once. Very much like King's "Under the Dome". I guess mostly I just like the plain old good writing, the style and the performance.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes mostly. Some suspects were made pretty evident, but not until well into the book.

What about Quincy Dunn Baker and Brian O'Neil ’s performance did you like?

The contrast in the sound of their two voices. One dark and commentary and the other lighthearted. They are both great! I don't know who did David's voice, but it was a perfect fit for him.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

It's not really that kind of book, but I guess you could say at the end and what happens with Marla. Also, I liked the part when she claims that an "Angel" brought her the baby.

Any additional comments?

The end could have been a lot better. That's why I give the storyline 4 stars.For me it left many things un-explained and just hanging. What was the "23" about? It almost seems like there should be a sequel. Maybe, I didn't get the little subplots, and how they related to the main plot? If some one could clue me in I would give it 5.

Not worth it

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No, it has holes in the plot, and the abrupt ending makes you feel like he needed more time to finish it. This feels like he thinks we'll all be waiting for the ending. I won't waste a credit.

What was most disappointing about Linwood Barclay’s story?

I don't know if it was a narration error or if it's in the book, but at one point it says that someone is saying something when it is clearly another character. But mostly, the book ends. Just ends. There is no reason for this and it is not one I would recommend. I won't waste my time on the sequel when he writes it.

What does Quincy Dunn Baker and Brian O'Neil bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Their narration was good.

Do you think Broken Promise needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Duh. He didn't finish it! Frankly he needed to just contain it in one book. Write another about that town or characters if you want, but don't do this to your readers. We bought a book, not a serial.

Any additional comments?

Very, very disappointed. I've always enjoyed his writing, but he's let us down with this one.

Awesome

So compelling! Couldn't put it down! Great narration! Can't wait to listen to the next one in this series.

I’m Obsessed w/Linwood Barclay Books!

This is a series of 3 books 1) Broken Promise 2) Far from True 3) The Twenty-Three. There is a previous book titled Never Look Back, although not part of this series, provides a tiny bit of backstory on the town of Promise Falls, however, it really isn’t necessary to follow this story. Previous reviews complain that Broken Promise ends with a cliffhanger, so don’t’ be left hanging, be sure to grab the next 2 books, you will NOT be disappointed! I’m obsessed with Linwood Barclay books, I’ve listened to all that are available on Audible, and I’m not so patiently standing-by for the next new book! Broken Promise is narrated by Quincy Dunn-Baker & Brian O'Neill , both are outstanding.

Disappointing

Saw the ending coming from afar. Not much suspense to this suspense novel.

I enjoyed it

Not my absolute favorite of his books, but I liked it. Some complained about the end, but most of the big events got wrapped up and I hope the next book in the series follows up. I do enjoy the style of books Linwood Barclay writes. They hold my interest.

Very confusing ending

This was an interesting book but the ending left lots of unresolved issues. I couldn’t believe it ended that way. Other books by this author weren’t like this.

Complex plot, First in Mystery Series

This is the first in a series, apparently however there is a previous book "Never Look Back" which though not part of this series, did provide some back story on the town of Promise Falls and its inhabitants.

David, having lost his wife some 5 years ago, found the life of a single parent too hard, he had little time to spend with his son Ethan. This was the reason for his return to his home town, he and Ethan moved in with David's parents as a temporary arrangement. Unfortunately on the day he started his new job at the local newspaper, it closed down. Now, with time on his hands, he became involved with attempting to prove his cousin Marla innocent of the terrible crime described in the publishers summary.

Marlas story, albeit the main one, was just one of so many, poor Detective Duckworth couldn't as much as eat another doughnut before some other crime came to his attention. Too many crimes for me, I often lost my way when yet something else took away from the main story line. These side stories did eventually link to the whole, much seemed extraneous and I kept losing track of just where all these characters meshed.

However, it is, as mentioned, the first in a series, so I suppose much of the content is setting the back stories for future books. The ending is a cliffhanger, so for those many, many readers who loved this book, the next in series is a certain purchase.

Narrators
Narrated by Quincy Dunn-Baker (David) and Brian O'Neill, two narrators that I've not previously had the pleasure of listening to prior to this book. Quincy Dunn-Baker has the smoother more polished voice, he read David just perfectly. The role of David called for many emotions, but no overacting here, just great story telling. Brian O'Neill has a slightly rougher voice, which I enjoyed, he lacks none of the talents of a good narrator, and again, no over dramatising, simply good story telling.

I did find the narration slow and had to listen at 1.25 to obtain normal speed. This, I believe is a production issue and is not related to the narration itself.

This audiobook is my own copy