Promise Not to Tell

A Novel

By Jennifer McMahon | Publisher: HarperCollins

About the book

“McMahon unfurls a whirlwind of suspense...Combining murder mystery and coming-of-age tale with supernatural elements, this taut novel is above all a reflection on the haunting power of memory.” –Entertainment Weekly

A woman’s past and present collide in terrifying ways in this explosive debut by New York Times bestselling author Jennifer McMahon. 

Forty-one-year-old school nurse Kate Cypher has returned home to rural Vermont to care for her mother, who's afflicted with Alzheimer's. On the night she arrives, a young girl is murdered—a horrific crime that eerily mirrors another from Kate's childhood. Three decades earlier, her dirt-poor friend Del—shunned and derided by classmates as \"Potato Girl\"—was brutally slain. Del's killer was never found, while the victim has since achieved immortality in local legends and ghost stories. Now, as this new murder investigation draws Kate irresistibly in, her past and present collide in terrifying, unexpected ways. Because nothing is quite what it seems . . . and the grim specters of her youth are far from forgotten.

More than just a murder mystery, Jennifer McMahon's extraordinary debut novel, Promise Not to Tell, is a story of friendship and family, devotion and betrayal—tautly written, deeply insightful, beautifully evocative, and utterly unforgettable.

Editions of Promise Not to Tell

Paperback
ISBN 9780061143311
EBook
ISBN 9780061827488

Read an Excerpt

“McMahon unfurls a whirlwind of suspense...Combining murder mystery and coming-of-age tale with supernatural elements, this taut novel is above all a reflection on the haunting power of memory.” –Entertainment Weekly

A woman’s past and present collide in terrifying ways in this explosive debut by New York Times bestselling author Jennifer McMahon. 

Forty-one-year-old school nurse Kate Cypher has returned home to rural Vermont to care for her mother, who's afflicted with Alzheimer's. On the night she arrives, a young girl is murdered—a horrific crime that eerily mirrors another from Kate's childhood. Three decades earlier, her dirt-poor friend Del—shunned and derided by classmates as \"Potato Girl\"—was brutally slain. Del's killer was never found, while the victim has since achieved immortality in local legends and ghost stories. Now, as this new murder investigation draws Kate irresistibly in, her past and present collide in terrifying, unexpected ways. Because nothing is quite what it seems . . . and the grim specters of her youth are far from forgotten.

More than just a murder mystery, Jennifer McMahon's extraordinary debut novel, Promise Not to Tell, is a story of friendship and family, devotion and betrayal—tautly written, deeply insightful, beautifully evocative, and utterly unforgettable.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Promise Not to Tell about?

“McMahon unfurls a whirlwind of suspense...Combining murder mystery and coming-of-age tale with supernatural elements, this taut novel is above all a reflection on the haunting power of memory.” –Entertainment Weekly

A woman’s past and present collide in terrifying ways in this explosive debut by New York Times bestselling author Jennifer McMahon. 

Forty-one-year-old school nurse Kate Cypher has returned home to rural Vermont to care for her mother, who's afflicted with Alzheimer's. On the night she arrives, a young girl is murdered—a horrific crime that eerily mirrors another from Kate's childhood. Three decades earlier, her dirt-poor friend Del—shunned and derided by classmates as \"Potato Girl\"—was brutally slain. Del's killer was never found, while the victim has since achieved immortality in local legends and ghost stories. Now, as this new murder investigation draws Kate irresistibly in, her past and present collide in terrifying, unexpected ways. Because nothing is quite what it seems . . . and the grim specters of her youth are far from forgotten.

More than just a murder mystery, Jennifer McMahon's extraordinary debut novel, Promise Not to Tell, is a story of friendship and family, devotion and betrayal—tautly written, deeply insightful, beautifully evocative, and utterly unforgettable.

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Promise Not to Tell?

Fiction > Crime and / or mystery fiction

Where can I read a sample of Promise Not to Tell?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780061143311

Who is/are the Author/s of the book Promise Not to Tell?

Jennifer McMahon

Who is the Publisher of the book Promise Not to Tell?

HarperCollins

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

Promise Not to Tell is available as paperback(ISBN 9780061143311) and ebook(ISBN 9780061827488)

Where can I buy Promise Not to Tell online or support local independent bookshops?

You can buy Promise Not to Tell from below

Where can I buy Promise Not to Tell?