The Promise by Teresa Driscoll is a slow building tale of three friends who find out that the very school that they became friends as children will be demolished. So the race is on to keep the promise they made many years ago before it's discovered. It took me too long to get into the book since the story really didn't get going until half way in.

Thirty years ago, Beth, Sally and Carol make a promise to keep secret a shocking event in their lives that happened when they were a boarding school.
Now the school is due to be redeveloped and their secret exposed.
Beth is terrified of the effect that might have on her family, and along with Sally decides to employ a private investigator to help them find Carol with whom they have become estranged.
Someone is watching though and Beth receives some threatening messages which leave her terrified of people finding out and the consequences.
Interesting psychological thriller which keeps up a good pace and has an unexpected end.

I just read The Promise by Teresa Driscoll. It grabbed my attention immediately and kept me hooked until the end! It is told by the point of view of 3 crucial characters, however, I was a little surprised that it doesn't include the pov of one of the 3 main females in the book.
The three main characters have experienced a traumatic event in their youth that is now about to come to light in their adulthood. It deals with the aftermath of their choices and how they have all dealt with their emotions.
While slightly long winded, and added a twist towards the end that I didn't care for and found unnecessary, I overall enjoyed this book!

What Lengths Will They Go To Keep A Promise

The novel opens with three Catholic boarding high school friends Beth, Sally and Carol, much blood and a dead girl. After another quick background chapter the storyline starts. Sally and Beth are still close friends. Carol is estranged and living in France. Beth and Sally learn that the Catholic boarding school is going to be sold for redevelopment. They fear that the reason for their promise of silence that they made with Carol so long ago will be discovered. Beth and Sally try to locate Carol so that they can move the remains to a safer location. The main storyline proceeds from here in two threads, the present, and their high school days before that fateful day.

The author unfolds with twists and misdirections to keep a reader’s interest and even adds some hints or events, some subtle and some with the subtlety of a slap to the face. They capture my interest and made me to want to continue to read to find out how everything turns out. The story is enriched with adding a private investigator, husbands, and other boarding school roommates.

If vulgar language and graphic sex are criteria for not reading a novel, you are in luck with this novel. While reading it, I did not remember see any vulgar language. Searching for f-bombs and other common lesser vulgar language returned zero hits. As with most novels written by British authors, I highly recommend that you read this novel on a Kindle. With this novel I found many of the British informal language was not in the Kindle dictionary. Searching the Internet for the meaning of these words using the Kindle was quite easy.

I particularly liked that all the loose ends were tied up by the end of the novel. The novel did eventually capture my imagination so that I wanted to continue to read as much as possible. This is my major criterion for a high star rating. Unfortunately, the start of the novel is a little slow in the beginning so please continue to read, as I believe that the novel will capture your imagination also. Based upon my enjoyment in reading the novel and the eventual capturing of my imagination, I rate this novel with four stars. I do recommend reading it

I have received a free kindle version of this novel through NetGalley from Thomas & Mercer with a request for an honest, unbiased review. I wish to thank Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read this novel early.

The Promise was a fantastic read! I enjoyed the closeness between the friends in the story and author Teresa Driscoll’s style of writing. Beth, Sally, and Carol spent many years as roommates in a boarding school when they were young. That was when something terrible happened and they made a promise to never tell anyone about it. Now, it’s years later, and this secret is in jeopardy of being revealed. The secret has caused so much emotional turmoil for all three of the women over the years. Carol has been estranged from the others and Beth and Sally are trying to locate her. The characters are beautifully portrayed. The story is full of surprises, especially during the later parts of the story. Just when I thought I knew what was going to happen, something new would be revealed to shock me again!

Secrets from boarding school. What could they be? This book explores the secrets that three girls have been guarding since they left school. This book is full of suspense and anticipation and will have you wondering how life has been affected when difficult choices are make.

This is a really good book. Girls growing up in a boarding school go through a horrendous experience. They live with this happening for many, many years not telling anyone. It severely affects all their lives until the unraveling. The twists and turns will have you astounded!

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. Was a fab read and gripping I couldn't put it down and I fully recommended it

This is the story of three childhood friends that meet at boarding school. Beth, Sally and Carol are inseprable and do everything together including spending school holidays together. One such time together something happens and they make a promise never to discuss it again or to share it with anyone else. Move on 30 years and although Sally and Beth are still friends, Carol moved abroad to live in France and cut off all contact with her childhood friends. But now their boarding school is being demolished and the land sold on for development. Sally and Beth realise they need to find Carol and that promise they made may have to be broken.

This psychological thriller is written through the voices’ of its characters both in the past and the present. As the tale unfolds so does your feeling of unease and so the tension ramps up chapter by chapter. Just when you think you have the story sussed it moves in a different direction revealing something new. Teresa Driscoll has written an incredible book that I would highly recommend.

An amazingly intricate story of three girls and their growth into womanhood. This is a thriller with multiple storylines and many surprises await the reader up to the final page. A novel that will chill you to the bone and then pour a bucket of ice water over your head. Just as you are recovering from one incident another will slam against your psyche. Definitely a five star read!

The Promise is all about the intricacies of friendship and the secrets we all keep.

I appreciated the fact that Teresa Driscoll doesn't shy away from darker stories because in her own words, "we should not pretend these kinds of things things could never happen." The Promise is one such story. Everytime I thought I figured it out and it couldn't get worse, a twist would happen and it would! This would make a great book club pick because there's so many different issues to discuss!
At it's heart, The Promise is a story of friendship and how even if you think you know everything about your friend there's always something else they are hiding.
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⭐⭐⭐⭐🌠/5

It was their darkest secret. Three schoolgirls made a promise – to take the horrible truth of what they did to the grave.

Thirty years later, Beth and Sally have tried to put the trauma behind them. Though Carol has distanced herself from her former friends, the three are adamant that the truth must never come to light, even if the memory still haunts them.

But when some shocking news threatens to unearth their dark secret, Beth enlists the help of private investigator Matthew Hill to help her and Sally reconnect with estranged Carol ­– before the terrible act they committed as teenagers is revealed.

Beth wishes she could take back the vow they made.

But somebody is watching and will stop at nothing to ensure the secret stays buried. Now, with her beloved family in peril, can Beth still keep the promise?

This is the first book I have read by Teresa Driscoll. As soon as I saw a picture of her, I recognised her as a former local news presenter here in the South West of England.

This was a slow burning book, but it did pack a punch that I wasn’t expecting. I have the other books she has written on my Kindle and will be bringing them up as my next to read! 4*

Fans of Ruth Ware's "The Lying Game" rejoice! Although starting off a little slow, this book definitely ends with a punch! It has a familiar feel for those that may read a lot of thrillers, but was very enjoyable nonetheless.

A tale of vulnerability and the fragility of friendship sees Beth, Sally and Carol in boarding school together before their friendship is put to the ultimate test. A traumatic event that they swear to tell no-one. A promise to take the truth to the grave.

Thirty years on we discover the boarding school is to be demolished which could lead their secret being uncovered. Beth and Sally have remained close, but Carol has become distanced. How can they work together to stop the secrets of the past from unravelling? Where is Carol?

As an avid reader of psychological thrillers I have come to expect a fast paced, rollercoaster of a read, however Teresa Driscoll's The Promise was a surprising break from type. I was drawn in by rich characters, by the intriguing story and throughly enjoyed the vulnerability of the characters and the developing story of the bonds, as well as frailty of friendship. The story progresses well, had me questioning throughout and was cleverly written to keep the reader guessing. The main secret is exposed rather early in the book and fell slightly flat, I felt the story led me to expect a more dramatic climax, but maybe I read too may psychological thrillers! That said it was an enjoyable read and I will look forward to Teresa Driscoll's next offering.

The Promise is a story of three girls friendship which starts when they meet at Boarding school a Convent, The Order of St Colman’s. Beth, Sally and Carol knew from the first time they met they would be friends for life. As the girls approach their fortieth birthdays they receive an invitation to the final reunion at the convent, after the reunion builders will be knocking it down and they might discover the secret the girls have kept all these years.
The girls had made a promise to each other they would take this secret to the grave but with the builders digging the area up will they discover the girls secret.
I really enjoyed this book there was the secrets at boarding school the girlie things then we go through the ages with them until the invitation.

The Promise
by Teresa Driscoll

Thomas & Mercer

General Fiction (Adult) , Mystery & Thrillers

Pub Date 07 Feb 2019

I am reviewing a copy of The Promise through The Promise through Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley:

Thirty years prior to the opening of this book three schoolgirls made a promise that a promise that they would take the horrible truth about what they did to the grave.

Beth and Sally are still trying to put the trauma behind them. Carol has however distances herself from her former friends in an attempt to distance herself from the past. The three are adamant that the dark secret of their past must stay hidden.

After learning some shocking news that threatens to unearth their darkest secret. Beth decides to enlist the help of a private investigator Matthew Hill to help her and Sally reconnect with estranged Carol- before the horrible thing they did as teenagers comes to light.

Beth Kong’s to be able to take back the vow they had made when they were teens.

With somebody watching who will stop at nothing to keep their secret hidden Beth finds that her family is put in peril. Will she be able to keep the secret and save her family?

I give The Promise five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

EXCERPT: 'I think I put my hand over her mouth. . .'

'Don't say that. Don't even think that. You wouldn't have done that.'

They sit very still in this room of blood and sorrow - girls whose pulses burst in their veins and boom inside their ears. Their heads. Somewhere a clock ticks. A bird calls. . .

Three girls. One dead.

ABOUT THIS BOOK: It was their darkest secret. Three schoolgirls made a promise – to take the horrible truth of what they did to the grave.

Thirty years later, Beth and Sally have tried to put the trauma behind them. Though Carol has distanced herself from her former friends, the three are adamant that the truth must never come to light, even if the memory still haunts them.

But when some shocking news threatens to unearth their dark secret, Beth enlists the help of private investigator Matthew Hill to help her and Sally reconnect with estranged Carol ­– before the terrible act they committed as teenagers is revealed.

Beth wishes she could take back the vow they made.

But somebody is watching and will stop at nothing to ensure the secret stays buried. Now, with her beloved family in peril, can Beth still keep the promise?

MY THOUGHTS: While The Promise lacks some of the oomph of Driscoll's previous psychological thriller, The Friend, it still had me hooked. As you can see, I read it in twenty-four hours.

Told mainly from Beth's perspective, and occasionally from that of Sally, Carol and Matthew, it is easy to see how things that happen in our childhood color our perspective, our decisions as adults. For the three women, their decision as teenagers follows them everywhere; a shadow, a scar. I can't even begin to imagine the guilt, the fear that they have lived with, that has refused to stay buried.

There are multiple layers to the story. Nothing is simple. Nothing predictable. Just when you think all has been revealed, there is more.

Definitely an author I will be following.

💕💕💕💕

THE AUTHOR: Teresa Driscoll - a former BBC TV news presenter- is now an international #1 bestselling author. Her debut psychological suspense I AM WATCHING YOU hit Number One on Kindle in the UK, USA and Australia and sold more than half a million copies in its first year. Her second thriller THE FRIEND was also Kindle #1 in the UK and Australia and a top #10 bestseller in the USA.
Teresa also writes women's fiction. Her debut in this genre RECIPES FOR MELISSA was auctioned at the Frankfurt book fair between seven German publishers and her second women's fiction title is LAST KISS GOODNIGHT.
During her long career as a journalist, Teresa worked for newspapers, magazines and television, including 15 years presenting the BBC TV news programme Spotlight. Covering crime for so long, she was deeply moved by the haunting impact on the relatives, the friends and the witnesses and it is those ripples she explores now in her darker fiction.
Teresa's books have been sold for translation in 15 languages. She lives in glorious Devon with her husband and two sons and blogs regularly about her "writing life".

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Thomas and Mercer via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Promise by Teresa Driscoll for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my webpage sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

I received an advance proof of this book from netgalley.com in return for an honest review. This is an exceptional psychological thriller about three women who attended a boarding school in their teens. While at school, one of them is involved in a shocking incident - I don't want to give too much away - that has a lasting impact on all of their futures as well as their friendship. I really liked the characters in this book, and while Carol was not shown in a very good light throughout the book, the conclusion of the book was so satisfying to me. I especially liked Sal; she seemed resilient and straight forward. The book does move back and forth between time periods regularly, so the reader must pay close attention. There is also an additional male character, Matthew, who has his own deep, dark secret. All in all, I liked the way that all questions were answered by the end of the book. And, while there is a bit of a surprise at the end, it totally makes sense. I highly recommend "The Promise" to those who like mysteries and suspense.

Boarding school besties, Carol, Beth and Sally have made a promise to keep a secret...forever. That was 30 years ago, now they have received news that could reveal the dark secret they have kept this long. Carol has become estranged, Sally and Beth remain closer than ever, and contemplate if the time has come to reveal the terrible act the committed when they were 14 years old.

As Beth and Sally try to reconnect with Carol with the help of a private investigator, they begin to receive warnings to make sure the secret stays buried. The warnings start to involve Beth's family, and she realizes this is becoming dangerous for everyone.

The genre is a psychological thriller, I'm not quite sure I agree with it. I thought this was going to be so twisty and crazy, especially when in the few pages we are teased with " three girls...one dead" But it fell flat after that. The secret is revealed a little more than halfway through the book, and while it is definitely dark and traumatic, I was expecting more. The middle of the book kind of dragged on...blah blah blah. Then BAM...the final few chapters are CRAZY! The ending is a huge surprise as everything unfolds. The ending made everything else worth it, I wish it was just as juicy throughout the entire book.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I recieved this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. I was intrigued by the book from the beginning. It was a bit slow but I enjoyed the characters. This book was told from different characters perspectives and I normally like this type of writing but in this book it was a bit confusing at the beginning. Overall I enjoyed the book.