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Christine A. (965 KP) rated The Promise in Books

Feb 28, 2019 (Updated Mar 1, 2019)  
The Promise
The Promise
Teresa Driscoll | 2019 | Thriller
8
7.5 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
More of a slow building suspense novel then a psychological thriller.
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

I was intrigued as soon as I read the opening of The Promise by Teresa Driscoll. The story has a few twists and turns but, based on the book's description and opening, I expected it to be much darker than it is. However, although I enjoyed the novel, I would not consider it to be dark. It is more of a slow building suspense novel then a psychological thriller.

Three girls, Beth, Sally, and Carol, were best friends at a boarding school and as close as sisters. Something happens and they make a promise to never tell the secret of what happened.

Years later, all of them have been affected by the secret in different ways. Beth and Sally are still close friends but Carol has become estranged. When they find out the boarding school is to be sold and demolished, fearing their secret will be revealed, Beth and Sally attempt to find Carol..

Driscoll wanted to establish a intense connection between the girls but did not want to make them sisters. The setting helps you to understand why the girls would keep the secret.

I have added Teresa Driscoll's I Am Watching You to my want to read list.

Published on Philomathinphila.com, Smashbomb, Goodreads, Twitter, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble on 2/28/19.
  
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Awix (3310 KP) Mar 1, 2019

What exactly is a 'physiological thriller'? Is it like a psychological thriller but with more exercise...? Sorry.

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Christine A. (965 KP) Mar 1, 2019

Haha. Oops. That might have changed my rating. Gotta love spell check. I'll fix it. A huge thanks for letting me know but mostly thank you for reading the review.

I Know Who You Are
I Know Who You Are
10
8.8 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
Aimee Sinclair: the actress everyone thinks they know but can’t remember where from. But I know exactly who you are. I know what you’ve done. And I am watching you.
When Aimee comes home and discovers her husband is missing, she doesn’t seem to know what to do or how to act. The police think she’s hiding something and they’re right, she is – but perhaps not what they thought. Aimee has a secret she’s never shared, and yet, she suspects that someone knows. As she struggles to keep her career and sanity intact, her past comes back to haunt her in ways more dangerous than she could have ever imagined.

This is an absolutely brilliant psychological thriller.
This is an interesting story set in two different time periods. The novel begins in 2017 with Aimee as an aspiring actress.
The character of Aimee is very well written, and the book flows well between the past and present.
I really enjoyed the pacing, writing and the characters. I liked that the different timelines were very easily distinguishable,.
This novel had me completely gripped from start to finish.
The ending is superb, this will keep you guessing until the end.
Tense, dark at times, quietly disturbing, massively twisty and extremely clever, this is a very good psychological Thriller.
Highly Recommended.!

Many thanks to Netgalley/Alice Feeney/HQ for a digital copy of this title.
  
The Breakdown
The Breakdown
B.A. Paris | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.0 (16 Ratings)
Book Rating
Stick with it, takes a while to like the protagonist
After reading the brilliant 'Behind Closed Doors', I was wondering how BA Paris would be able to excel expectations - and she has thankfully managed to avoid the usual psychological thriller pitfalls once again.

There was a massive red herring which provides a brilliant twist and opportunity for the ultimate revenge. Feeling claustrophobic throughout, due to the main character's apparent early onset dementia, it sets an unnerving tone from the outset. At this point I did worry it would end up with the same gaps in information such as in The Girl on the Train. However, Paris manages to steer clear of becoming another wannabe Gone Girl, and totally holds her own.

For about 75 per cent of the time, you will find the protagonist's almost neurotic personality quite annoying until the last quarter of the book where you will end up completely empathising with her. Another fantastic dark tale from BA Paris.
  
The Last Time I Lied
The Last Time I Lied
Riley Sager | 2018 | Thriller
9
8.7 (11 Ratings)
Book Rating
Not a summer camp that I'd be frequenting...
Emma Davis an artist, returns to the summer camp (Camp Nightingale) that she went to as a girl. During her last (and only) stay, the three other girls in her cabin went missing with no trace, never to be found again. Emma's artwork reflects her inability to forget what happened.
When Camp Nightingale reopens after 15 years, the owner, Frances (Franny) Harris-White, invites her along to be an art instructor. Emma goes along to try and lay her ghosts to rest.
This had a real air of menace throughout. It felt like there was a possible abductor around every corner. A great thriller, and I very much enjoyed it. I have to admit to not liking any of the characters though. I didn't even feel sorry for Emma, and believe me, she has plenty for people to feel sorry for. This story is such dark and compulsive reading though. Great stuff!
  
The Good Liar (2019)
The Good Liar (2019)
2019 | Drama
Roaringly bonkers British movie probably thinks that it's a dark and convoluted psychological thriller but is undone by a couple of overcooked lead performances and a frankly ludicrous script. Career con man Roy Courtnay (McKellen) sets his sights on rich widow Betty (Mirren). But as his activities draw near to their climax, could it be that the old rogue is suffering from pangs of conscience? Can he bring himself to go through with it?

Sounds fairly ordinary, but this does not take into account quite how nutty the various twists in the tale turn out to be, nor the sheer relish with which the stars attack their roles: to say that McKellen, in particular, carves himself off a thick slice of ham is probably to understate things considerably. Still, very easy to watch (though it has an unexpectedly hard and vicious edge to it in places), and a lot of fun, provided you don't take it too seriously.