Book Review: The Promise by Teresa Driscoll

Last Updated: 18 September 2021

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?

Fast-paced and gripping, The Promise is an edge-of-your-seat read that will keep you turning page after page.

The story focuses on three women - Beth, Sally, and the mysterious Carol. The trio were best friends at boarding school where they were as close as sisters, but over the years, they drifted apart and Carol left her friends' lives for a glamorous life abroad. However, a spiralling series of events soon cause the past to step back into the spotlight, and the trio must face their demons together once again.

The suspense in this book is palpable, and the psychological element is really well written. Similarly, the twist was completely unpredictable and out of the blue - I certainly wasn't expecting that!

The characters are diverse and multi-faceted, each with many hidden layers beneath the surface. It was interesting to learn more about their lives - and their shared past - little by little, keeping the suspense going throughout the book.

Having said all that, the main reason why I didn't feel able to give The Promise a higher rating was because I was constantly left feeling as though I wanted more from the book. Although I have no real problems with the story itself, it just didn't excite and engage me as much as I feel it should have - I was constantly waiting for a big reveal or a shocking event to really up the pace, but it never came.

Of course, this doesn't mean that I didn't enjoy it - nor should it be a reason to put you off picking it up! All fiction is subjective, and for reasons I don't fully understand, The Promise just didn't add up to a five-star read for me.

Rating: 3 stars

The Promise is available to buy now.

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