Broken Promise - Linwood Barclay

From the New York Times bestselling author of No Safe House comes an explosive novel about the disturbing secrets of a quiet small town.… 

After his wife’s death and the collapse of his newspaper, David Harwood has no choice but to uproot his nine-year-old son and move back into his childhood home in Promise Falls, New York. David believes his life is in free fall, and he can’t find a way to stop his descent.

Then he comes across a family secret of epic proportions. A year after a devastating miscarriage, David’s cousin Marla has continued to struggle. But when David’s mother asks him to check on her, he’s horrified to discover that she’s been secretly raising a child who is not her own—a baby she claims was a gift from an “angel” left on her porch.

When the baby’s real mother is found murdered, David can’t help wanting to piece together what happened—even if it means proving his own cousin’s guilt. But as he uncovers each piece of evidence, David realizes that Marla’s mysterious child is just the tip of the iceberg.

Other strange things are happening. Animals are found ritually slaughtered. An ominous abandoned Ferris wheel seems to stand as a warning that something dark has infected Promise Falls. And someone has decided that the entire town must pay for the sins of its past…in blood.

I am a BIG Linwood Barclay fan and could not wait to read this his latest novel. I actually have two novels I haven't yet read, just in case he doesn't bring out any new ones and I still have those to look forward to. Plus I have his back catalogue shipped from the USA to read. So as I say I am a BIG fan. 

All the other books I have read by Linwood Barclay have been so densely populated with little nuances and ideas woven in and out of the storyline that you can't keep them all in your head. But at the end, it all comes together. 

This book didn't disappoint in most of those things, but unfortunately in my opinion, that coming together did not entirely happen in this novel. I can only assume that for the book to end with a cliff hanger this means there is going to be a sequel - and soon please, before I forget everything I just read and need to know the answers to. [I have just discovered that the sequel is called Far From True and is out in March 2016].

This is also the first book by Linwood that I have guessed what was happening - so either he wanted it to happen that way - as there are bigger things to come in the next book. Or, I have read so many of his books I can second guess him now! 

So overall I give this book 5 stars as Linwood is still the master of storytelling with a twist. Also those two books I am saving, turns out one of them is about the main character in this book - so proves it stands alone, but a pity I didn't realise that.

My thanks go to Netgalley and Penguin Group (USA) for allowing me an advance copy of this book to review.