The Permanent Collection
Rather than reiterate the plot of this amazing mystery, this is why I recommend this book.
I was at the library looking for good reads and noticed
"Promise Not To Tell" set apart from the shelved books. I thought, I'll try.
Oh, what a marvelous book! I became so intrigued by Del, and the
myriad of characters in local Vermont color..........convinced that they were in part all real at some point in the author's life.

That is the gift of Jennifer McMahon's writing.

I will purchase this book new and it will become part of what I call my permanent collection. It was simply that exceptional.

Wonderful, Gripping, Page Turner
I absolutely loved this book! Jennifer McMahon has a true gift of mystery story-telling. I was enthralled with her back and forth (past to present to past) method of plot spacing...and truly the ghost aspects of the story, the unexplainable parts were absolutely believable! I've already passed this along to my sister and we're fast becoming fans! I've just started reading "Island of Lost Girls" and again, I am enthralled! Jennifer McMahan is a great discovery for those who love to read Jodi Picoult, Lesley Kagen and Elizabeth Flock novels.

Started strong, ended weak
The book pulled me in quickly, and I did enjoy the character development. In fact, I almost wished there were more on some of the characters, especially the home life of Del and her father and brothers.

And the middle was good too. The plot and suspense kept building and building, and I couldn't wait to get to the end and find out who and what was behind all of this.

But sadly, it ended with a pop rather than a boom. I knew who the killer was for a long time, but the killer's motivations were disappointingly weak! What? The killings happened *why*?? Blah, humbug.

The supernatural aspect of the ending was completely out of character with the rest of the book. It almost felt like the author couldn't figure out a reasonable way to end it, so she resorted to supernatural explanations. I really felt let down after the very good beginning and middle.

THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT
PROMISE NOT TO TELL

We meet Kate Cypher who has returned to her childhood home in Vermont. Her mom is suffering from Alzheimer's and decisions need to be made regarding her care.

Kate has not been home in years. Home has bad memories for Kate and she is about to add more to that particular load of luggage. Shortly after Kate has returned to New Canaan, a young teenaged girl, Tori Miller, is murdered in the woods. Everything about the murder is almost identical to the murder some thirty years earlier of Kate's friend, Del Griswold.

Much to her dismay, Kate gets totally involved and sometimes almost accused of the murder of Tori Miller. As Kate is drawn into this web, people from her past come back to haunt her -- literally! Yes, Del's ghost is involved, but people from her past are dredged up, some of them Kate is happy to see; others, she can do without.

Loved the characters -- poor, picked-on Del Griswold, who has a rotten life and meets a rotten end, Nicky, her brother who has his own secrets, Kate, of course, and the other residents of this small Vermont town.

The writing format of the book jumps from the present to the past and back again. This was not confusing. Mystery is mingled with ghosts, possessions, things that go bump in the night. Kate is smack dab in the middle of all of this mess -- and on top of all the mystery, she is dealing with her mom's illness, trying to cope with that. Mystery and the super-natural are involved and the story is always interesting and keeps the reader guessing.

I love how the author, Jennifer McMahon, writes. The dialogue flowed easily and swiftly, it was almost as if the reader was having a conversation with the characters. The writing is very true to life and actual.

Thank you and enjoy!
Pam

LOOK UP cipher
The story is even more interesting when you consider the two meanings of cipher and the two Cyphers in the story.