Book Review
Promise Not to Tell
by Jayne Ann Krentz
Berkley © 2018
Sons of Anton Salinas Series Book #2
Plot Summary:
Virginia Troy is a survivor. As a child, she survived her time in a cult and the night that cult leader tried to take her life in a fire, which burned through the compound. She and four other children were saved by Anson Salinas, but the children’s mothers perished that night.
Still haunted by images of that night, Virginia fought her way to becoming a successful gallery owner in Seattle. Occasionally, she purchases paintings from another cult survivor, Hannah Brewster. Each painting depicts the fire which almost took their lives, and Virginia always considered these paintings a sort of therapy for Hannah. But, when Hannah takes her own life and burns down her home, Virginia’s suspicions are raised. Hannah sent her a picture of her final painting which depicts Quinton Zane, the cult leader who almost took their lives. Is this a message?
Virginia seeks out Anton Salinas and his son Cabot, now a private investigator, to dig into Hannah’s supposed suicide. Cabot is also a survivor of the cult and adopted by Anton after the fire took the life of Cabot’s mother. Cabot agrees to work with Virginia to get to the truth, as only a fellow survivor can.
My Thoughts:
I had not read book #1 in the Sons of Anton Salias series, and I was able to follow the story without any problems.
I am a fan of Jayne Ann Kretnz and Amanda Quick. This book is exactly what you would expect it to be. It’s a compelling story with an interesting mystery. It is well-paced with likeable characters. The romantic story does not feel forced or artificial.
In actuality, the romantic story unfolded more easily for me than the mystery. Both Virginia and Cabot are deeply scarred from their childhood experiences, and both find comfort and understanding in each other.
I struggled a little with the investigation and the paths of inquiry not taken. For me, there were some obvious questions which should have been asked that were not. For example, when a woman dies and two co-workers mention that she had recently ended a relationship, shouldn’t a good investigator try to find the former boyfriend? There were a couple of those misses (in my opinion), but there were enough suspenseful moments that it was not too bothersome.
Much like the Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, this book had three or four endings, however. In a trilogy, it is imperative to not just wrap up the current mystery, but to also drive interest and curiosity in the next book. Unfortunately, in this book it is done in a way that is choppy and inauthentic. Because it is the ending, it leaves an off taste in your mouth when you finish.
Overall, I would say this is a good read. It was compelling enough for me that I did become invested in the characters within the series…But not so compelling that I have already purchased the next book (as I did with the Amanda Quick Burning Cove series).