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Promise McNeal Mysteries #1
Quiet the Dead
What readers say about Quiet The Dead... “… everything a Southern mystery should be…beautifully written…Dr. Promise McNeal is a wonderful character…great story…” Mark de Castrique, author of the Sam Blackman Mysteries, writes, “Quiet The Dead will keep you guessing until the final, surprising revelation.” Book one of the not-so-cozy Promise McNeal Mystery series introduces retired psychologist and Atlanta transplant to the Western North Carolina Mountains, Promise McNeal, who doesn’t believe in coincidences. Promise believes the universe always has a plan, and sometimes that plan may include messages from the dearly, or not so dearly, departed. Just how her dream of a hanged woman dangling over a creek fits into that plan, she isn’t sure. But when she accepts a lucrative consulting job from her fair-weather friend, Atlanta attorney Garland Wang, she has a sense she’s about to find out. Garland says the assignment is a piece of cake, though, as usual, Garland is selective in sharing information and Promise finds herself digging into something that isn’t at all like cake. But dig she does. After all, her nest egg has hatched and flown with the four winds since her move to the mountains and Garland pays well. She’s also more than curious about who killed the wealthy socialite, Stella Tournay, and why Stella haunts her dreams. But then, as Promise is within a hand’s grasp of unraveling the truth about Stella’s death and a shocking secret about the Tournay fortune, another murder pushes her into the darkness with only her intuition as armor and clues from a murdered woman as weapons.
239 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 3, 2011
371 people are currently reading
680 people want to read
About the author
Morgan James
13 books46 followersMorgan James lives in Western North Carolina. She is the author of The Promise McNeal mystery series,The Beyond Mysteries, and the contemporary novel, Sing Me An Old Song.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
March 25, 2017
I am a little bit at loss for the right words. I have to admit that I bought this book because of the main characters´name--Promise. Reading the description of the book,... and the name I knew that I had to have the book. Promise, a name that sticks and at least made me want to know what kind of person can carry the name.
I wasn't dissapointed. The author is amazingly adept at telling a good story. But what I loved the most were the descriptions of the North Carolina area where Promise was now living, and her interaction with the people there. I loved the quirky way that the character spoke. It sounded so real that I could hear them... even the southern accent!
The mystery was good--solid. I figured out "who did it and why", but have to admit was still surprised with the total outcome. There was a shot of the not expected... I recommend this book to any one who love character driven mysteries. Now I just have to get the rest of the books in this series!
I wasn't dissapointed. The author is amazingly adept at telling a good story. But what I loved the most were the descriptions of the North Carolina area where Promise was now living, and her interaction with the people there. I loved the quirky way that the character spoke. It sounded so real that I could hear them... even the southern accent!
The mystery was good--solid. I figured out "who did it and why", but have to admit was still surprised with the total outcome. There was a shot of the not expected... I recommend this book to any one who love character driven mysteries. Now I just have to get the rest of the books in this series!
May 9, 2014
Until I got to the end this was a solid 4.5 star book. Written really well, great characters and a mystery with twists I didn't see coming. The problem for me was that once the mystery was solved the book just kept going. On and on... I think there was another 10 -15% of the book left after the mystery had been solved. I like my mysteries locked up tight once it's solved. I am ready to move on. So, I didn't like the ending but it had nothing to do with the mystery (it was super). Maybe that is just completely a personal preference?
April 28, 2014
Spellbinding suspense
Spellbinding suspense
Author's love for the South shines brightly as she weaves this work with an abundance of intrigue and emotion. well written and hard to put down.
Spellbinding suspense
Author's love for the South shines brightly as she weaves this work with an abundance of intrigue and emotion. well written and hard to put down.
August 20, 2017
I really liked this book.
MURDER IN SLEEPY APPALACHIA. AND PSYCHIC CLUES FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE...
Promise McNeal is startled awake one night by a jarring dream: she sees a beautiful woman, hanging over a shallow creek, strangled to death with a red scarf. An unsettling image to say the least for a woman who recently left her lucrative job as a psychologist in bustling Atlanta for the mountains of North Carolina, hoping for some peace and quiet.
Promise begins to dig into the mystery surrounding the woman’s murder…until a brand new murder occurs. And Promise’s hoped-for peace and quiet flies right out the window.
Promise has always been a little psychic, and a little embarrassed about it. But here in the mountains, the effect seems magnified. Now making her living as a struggling country-store owner, she has to rely on her psychologist’s knowledge of what makes people tick to make her way through the thicket of intrigue within the family of the dead woman. Along the way, she makes a surprising art world find, and starts to fall in love (maybe, just a little…) with a very attractive new man...
Her tentative relationship with Daniel, the father of Susan, her semi-Goth, twenty-something employee, is one of the major delights of this slightly psychic cozy mystery. Both Daniel and Susan are renowned bluegrass musicians and, well…characters. Despite what's right in front of her nose (and what Susan tells her), Promise’s psychic abilities fail her when it comes to mountain men—because Daniel is most definitely “sweet on her,” as Susan attests. And, true to form, opposites attract here—alien as he may seem to this city girl, something deeper’s responding.
Meanwhile, there’s that murder mystery. Daniel, despite his endearing overprotectiveness, is able to help out there too, and so is Susan. Meanwhile, Promise’s amusingly sexist friend, Garland Wang, provides just the right dash of humor.
The fiftyish Promise is an attractive new female sleuth who’s sure to appeal to fans of cozies, especially those by Julia Spencer-Fleming and Louise Penny, and those with a light sprinkling of psychic suspense; admirers of amateur sleuths and their close sisters female private investigators; readers of supernatural suspense and psychic detective fiction of all sorts; and especially to fans of other great North Carolina mystery authors like Margaret Maron, Barbara Neely, Elizabeth Daniels Squire, and Vicki Lane.
MURDER IN SLEEPY APPALACHIA. AND PSYCHIC CLUES FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE...
Promise McNeal is startled awake one night by a jarring dream: she sees a beautiful woman, hanging over a shallow creek, strangled to death with a red scarf. An unsettling image to say the least for a woman who recently left her lucrative job as a psychologist in bustling Atlanta for the mountains of North Carolina, hoping for some peace and quiet.
Promise begins to dig into the mystery surrounding the woman’s murder…until a brand new murder occurs. And Promise’s hoped-for peace and quiet flies right out the window.
Promise has always been a little psychic, and a little embarrassed about it. But here in the mountains, the effect seems magnified. Now making her living as a struggling country-store owner, she has to rely on her psychologist’s knowledge of what makes people tick to make her way through the thicket of intrigue within the family of the dead woman. Along the way, she makes a surprising art world find, and starts to fall in love (maybe, just a little…) with a very attractive new man...
Her tentative relationship with Daniel, the father of Susan, her semi-Goth, twenty-something employee, is one of the major delights of this slightly psychic cozy mystery. Both Daniel and Susan are renowned bluegrass musicians and, well…characters. Despite what's right in front of her nose (and what Susan tells her), Promise’s psychic abilities fail her when it comes to mountain men—because Daniel is most definitely “sweet on her,” as Susan attests. And, true to form, opposites attract here—alien as he may seem to this city girl, something deeper’s responding.
Meanwhile, there’s that murder mystery. Daniel, despite his endearing overprotectiveness, is able to help out there too, and so is Susan. Meanwhile, Promise’s amusingly sexist friend, Garland Wang, provides just the right dash of humor.
The fiftyish Promise is an attractive new female sleuth who’s sure to appeal to fans of cozies, especially those by Julia Spencer-Fleming and Louise Penny, and those with a light sprinkling of psychic suspense; admirers of amateur sleuths and their close sisters female private investigators; readers of supernatural suspense and psychic detective fiction of all sorts; and especially to fans of other great North Carolina mystery authors like Margaret Maron, Barbara Neely, Elizabeth Daniels Squire, and Vicki Lane.
April 29, 2018
This is a series about Promise McNeal. She lives in the mountains of North Carolina. Something drew her to this place from her career of being a psychologist in Atlanta, GA. She bought a store "Grannys" which the house went with and some acres of land. Now she is struggling to meet her bills as the store is not doing all that well. So she is relieved when her friend, Garland, who is a lawyer, asks her for help. The money will definitely help.
Promise has someone running the store for her, Susan. Who you will absolutely love. Promise also has visions. All of these things, keeps Promise digging for clues and solving mysteries. The job that she takes for Garland is about a trust fund. His client is suing her son for turning over the trust to her. So Promise has to prove that the son would not to able to run the trust when it is turned over to him. But, when meeting him, Promise finds things that are so wrong with this trust.
This is a fantastic book that will keep you hooked to know the ending and along the way, Promise rescues a Mama cat and her babies (who go on to save her life), and now she has to purchase some goats to get along with the next door neighbor. Then throw in her ex-husband and a new love interest and you have a read that will grab you and keep you turning those pages!!!
Promise has someone running the store for her, Susan. Who you will absolutely love. Promise also has visions. All of these things, keeps Promise digging for clues and solving mysteries. The job that she takes for Garland is about a trust fund. His client is suing her son for turning over the trust to her. So Promise has to prove that the son would not to able to run the trust when it is turned over to him. But, when meeting him, Promise finds things that are so wrong with this trust.
This is a fantastic book that will keep you hooked to know the ending and along the way, Promise rescues a Mama cat and her babies (who go on to save her life), and now she has to purchase some goats to get along with the next door neighbor. Then throw in her ex-husband and a new love interest and you have a read that will grab you and keep you turning those pages!!!
September 22, 2020
This book Quiet The Dead book #1 in the Promise McNeal Mysteries was a read that had me on edge from the first chapter with all the twist and turns to meeting Promise's Ex-Husband the Detective at the murder scene to Promise liking very much Handsome Farmer Daniel to wanting to strangle her friend who is the lawyer that got her on this case and finally to the client who she doesn't like to her son who is gay and handsome and the victim of a break in / murder to finally the murderer to tries to kill McNeal next to almost end of story. And we can't forget the rescue of momma cat and her kittens which are in the house and to the two cute Nanny Goats she got so Herman the male Goat would stop being lonely and eating Promise's Blueberry Bushes in the field. It is all in a days work will almost in a days work for Promise McNeal. I can't wait to read the second in the series.
December 27, 2015
I'm kinda curious at first with the premise and the main character. Once I read it though, I do not wish to continue further. The main character is not too bright and doesn't seem to have a clue of what she's doing. In the case of detective books, I always find that the support characters usually are more interesting. Unfortunately, the support characters in this book felt too generic and have far too little personality. I'm not recommending this book.
December 15, 2016
Ghosts and goats.
Entertaining tale about both ghosts and goats that
has Promise McNeal reluctantly searching for the meaning of her dream about a hanging lady. Finances are tight since she left her counseling practice to run Granny's General store on western South Carolina. So when attorney Garland Wang calls to hire her to get information for his client she is off on a twisted journey for truth.
Entertaining tale about both ghosts and goats that
has Promise McNeal reluctantly searching for the meaning of her dream about a hanging lady. Finances are tight since she left her counseling practice to run Granny's General store on western South Carolina. So when attorney Garland Wang calls to hire her to get information for his client she is off on a twisted journey for truth.
October 29, 2018
Beautifully written mystery/suspense novel. I’m ready for the next Promise McNeal story.
The character’s love of the mountains of western NC is evident through the author’s almost reverent prose. I share that reverence, and enjoyed the addition of local places I recognized. The back cover’s blurb of being one foot in Appalachia with the other in Atlanta was right on, and since I have family ties in both, I felt as I were almost reading a generational diary
Very easy to read, but hard to put down
If there’s one thing, I was a little taken aback at how Promise handled the package she received at the end of the book, but soon realized, it may have been her way of moving on, something that’s hard for some to do.
The character’s love of the mountains of western NC is evident through the author’s almost reverent prose. I share that reverence, and enjoyed the addition of local places I recognized. The back cover’s blurb of being one foot in Appalachia with the other in Atlanta was right on, and since I have family ties in both, I felt as I were almost reading a generational diary
Very easy to read, but hard to put down
If there’s one thing, I was a little taken aback at how Promise handled the package she received at the end of the book, but soon realized, it may have been her way of moving on, something that’s hard for some to do.
September 21, 2020
Why Does The Dead Help Find Justice?
This is the first book I read of Morgan James and I have to admit that she is one hell of a great writer. 5 gold stars plus trillions more because Morgan James mixed paranormal dreams and feelings into the life of Promise McNeal for a special reason only known to Promise. You have to wonder if Promise was lead to her new home from reasons only known to the spirit world. This book has a great plot and holds you as you become the characters and it is clean with no sexual exploits and no cussing. I would tell any one who likes Mystery/Thriller/some Paranormal in it this book is for you and series. Can't wait to read book #2 soon.
This is the first book I read of Morgan James and I have to admit that she is one hell of a great writer. 5 gold stars plus trillions more because Morgan James mixed paranormal dreams and feelings into the life of Promise McNeal for a special reason only known to Promise. You have to wonder if Promise was lead to her new home from reasons only known to the spirit world. This book has a great plot and holds you as you become the characters and it is clean with no sexual exploits and no cussing. I would tell any one who likes Mystery/Thriller/some Paranormal in it this book is for you and series. Can't wait to read book #2 soon.
September 28, 2018
Mystery, suspense, a little paranormal
And maybe a bit of a budding romance??
Promise sometimes has visions and psychic dreams, although she doesn't always know right away what they mean. She moved to start over, and that's not quite working as well as she thought. It looks like there is enough going on to last for several books. I am looking forward to that.
A case (consulting for a lawyer friend) about a trust fund turns out to be much more, going back decades. It's such a good mystery I didn't even cheat and read the ending half way through like I do sometimes.
And maybe a bit of a budding romance??
Promise sometimes has visions and psychic dreams, although she doesn't always know right away what they mean. She moved to start over, and that's not quite working as well as she thought. It looks like there is enough going on to last for several books. I am looking forward to that.
A case (consulting for a lawyer friend) about a trust fund turns out to be much more, going back decades. It's such a good mystery I didn't even cheat and read the ending half way through like I do sometimes.
February 14, 2019
Quiet Promise
Ever had a dream that just won't go away? Synchronicity steps in, and up, in this well written mystery peopled with well rounded characters that sit nicely with the story. Kudos to the author for a lovingly written tribute to an area of America I would love to visit. If sometimes things fell a little conveniently into Promise's lap, well it's easy to forgive in such well written fiction. Nicely done, well thought out and intrinsically a good mystery full of detail and description. Recommended.
Ever had a dream that just won't go away? Synchronicity steps in, and up, in this well written mystery peopled with well rounded characters that sit nicely with the story. Kudos to the author for a lovingly written tribute to an area of America I would love to visit. If sometimes things fell a little conveniently into Promise's lap, well it's easy to forgive in such well written fiction. Nicely done, well thought out and intrinsically a good mystery full of detail and description. Recommended.
January 1, 2018
A Well Written Murder Mystery
Dr Promise McNeal, a "psychic" psychologist from Atlanta, moves to the mountains of NC for a quieter life.
A murder from long ago, comes to Promise in her dreams.
From trying to run a country store, with the help of Susan, a quirky 20 yr old, her dad, Daniel, possibly a new love for Promise, her lawyer friend, Wang who asks her to do consulting work, stolen art from France during WW2, there's lots of twists + turns with another murder.
Dr Promise McNeal, a "psychic" psychologist from Atlanta, moves to the mountains of NC for a quieter life.
A murder from long ago, comes to Promise in her dreams.
From trying to run a country store, with the help of Susan, a quirky 20 yr old, her dad, Daniel, possibly a new love for Promise, her lawyer friend, Wang who asks her to do consulting work, stolen art from France during WW2, there's lots of twists + turns with another murder.
March 12, 2017
Good Read
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Not too much romance, an interesting mystery and just a touch of the paranormal. The character of Promise McNeal is intriguing having come from being a psychologist to now being a bit of an unintentional detective. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Not too much romance, an interesting mystery and just a touch of the paranormal. The character of Promise McNeal is intriguing having come from being a psychologist to now being a bit of an unintentional detective. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
May 29, 2018
This is a series that i might be tempted to continue with.Promise is a psychic and utilises that skill to help solve legal problems with Garland Wang. There is as much about her home life and neighbours as there is about the mystery but it is an easy and enjoyable read
January 29, 2021
What a beautifully written, well named, gripping and compelling read. Morgan James has a true gift for descriptive writing, the reader is pulled into this mystery with its fab characters and exciting story line. Having read and loved Quiet The Dead, I am totally hooked on this mystery series .
September 17, 2025
thoughtful, thorough and engaging
The details and facts in this fascinating mystery kept my interest long after the initial chapter where Promise, a psychologist, described her "dream" and gave a hint of more to come. Can't wait to read the next book by Morgan James.
The details and facts in this fascinating mystery kept my interest long after the initial chapter where Promise, a psychologist, described her "dream" and gave a hint of more to come. Can't wait to read the next book by Morgan James.
March 17, 2017
Impressed
I'm a fast reader and I read a lot so I enjoy a good book and a good author, but it takes a lot to leave an impression on me. This author and this book series is the latter.
I like when the author is descriptive enough to take my mind to the location. I like when I learn interesting things within the story. I also like when the characters are smart but flawed, interesting but average. This book has it all, and I am hooked.
Promise, the main character is smart, yet refreshingly human. Although she's in her 50's and I am in my 30's, I feel like I connected with her and I understand a lot of her life trials. The other characters have a great mix of the romantic character, the savvy side-kick (who happens to be lover-man's daughter), the interesting neighbor, and the quirky friend (who happens to be male and a lawyer).
Aside from the characters, the storyline is very interesting, Promise has a PhD in psychology but got burned out and moved to a mountain-side city after buying a "sickly" farm, and a money pit convenience store. If that's not enough, she's also semi-psychic. I enjoyed this book and am going to continue to read the rest of the series.
I'm a fast reader and I read a lot so I enjoy a good book and a good author, but it takes a lot to leave an impression on me. This author and this book series is the latter.
I like when the author is descriptive enough to take my mind to the location. I like when I learn interesting things within the story. I also like when the characters are smart but flawed, interesting but average. This book has it all, and I am hooked.
Promise, the main character is smart, yet refreshingly human. Although she's in her 50's and I am in my 30's, I feel like I connected with her and I understand a lot of her life trials. The other characters have a great mix of the romantic character, the savvy side-kick (who happens to be lover-man's daughter), the interesting neighbor, and the quirky friend (who happens to be male and a lawyer).
Aside from the characters, the storyline is very interesting, Promise has a PhD in psychology but got burned out and moved to a mountain-side city after buying a "sickly" farm, and a money pit convenience store. If that's not enough, she's also semi-psychic. I enjoyed this book and am going to continue to read the rest of the series.
March 17, 2017
First Read
Excellent. I had not read from this author before. Captivating mystery. A real who done it! Looking forward to starting the 2nd one right now.
Excellent. I had not read from this author before. Captivating mystery. A real who done it! Looking forward to starting the 2nd one right now.
June 2, 2017
3 because I liked MC and story interesting. But author needs a better editor. Prologue is really chap 1. Copious wrong word errors.
July 3, 2017
Good Read
Good story and characters.. Best of all, it's a complete story in one volume.. I also appreciate the lack of graphic sex and violence.. It's a very good story
Good story and characters.. Best of all, it's a complete story in one volume.. I also appreciate the lack of graphic sex and violence.. It's a very good story
July 28, 2017
First book tried by this author
Combined history with descriptions of beautiful countryside and other subjects into one complex story. Have to admit I enjoyed it.
Combined history with descriptions of beautiful countryside and other subjects into one complex story. Have to admit I enjoyed it.
December 23, 2017
Many roads lead to truth
Great read. Dreams show the way and Promise won't let it go. Promise is like a dog with a bone. She gets to the heart of the matter by being persistent .
Great read. Dreams show the way and Promise won't let it go. Promise is like a dog with a bone. She gets to the heart of the matter by being persistent .
January 1, 2018
I couldn't finish this book. It's a slow starter with extra long paragraphs. The inability to fall into the story could be, in part, due to my own pain-related concentration issues.
March 25, 2018
Top notch read!
The characters are three dimensional. The author draws us into the story with an incredible sense of place. I can't wait to read the next book.
The characters are three dimensional. The author draws us into the story with an incredible sense of place. I can't wait to read the next book.
March 27, 2018
Enjoyed it. Reading the second book now
July 27, 2018
well written, good plot line but it just didn't retain. not my cuppa
November 5, 2018
The premise of Quiet the Dead and Promise McNeal series was interesting. The plotted mystery was engaging in some parts. The writing was not great. I felt that there was just too much backstory presented in a way that was amateurish. There were way too many words. I am hopeful that the series will have better editing as it goes forward. This is not one I would recommend to other readers.
February 9, 2019
Just a touch of ESP
The characters are interesting but flawed and believable. The story line has enough twists to make it totally believable. A good read.
The characters are interesting but flawed and believable. The story line has enough twists to make it totally believable. A good read.
January 5, 2021
Intriguing read
Enjoyed this mysterious tale of murder, betrayal, intrigue with just a smattering of a budding romance. Characters were great and easy to imagine.
tale of
Enjoyed this mysterious tale of murder, betrayal, intrigue with just a smattering of a budding romance. Characters were great and easy to imagine.
tale of
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews