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The Promise
If you break the promise, you pay the price.
Scott will do anything to protect his wife, Erin. That’s why he secretly installs a tracking app on her phone and watches her through hidden cameras in their home.
When he learns there’s a chance one of Erin’s kidneys will fail, he vows to shield her from the truth and find a donor for her at any cost.
That’s how he meets Kathleen. She is the answer to his dreams, a perfect match for Erin. There’s only one problem – Kathleen has no intention of becoming a donor. That doesn’t bother Scott – he is confident he can manipulate her into giving him what he wants.
But Kathleen isn’t as innocent as she looks, she has her own agenda. And she doesn’t care who she hurts as long as she gets what she needs.
As lives hang in the balance, Erin and Kathleen are bound together by a terrible promise. But when that promise is broken, who will pay the ultimate price?
The Promise – the stunning psychological thriller perfect for fans of Teresa Driscoll, Cathryn Grant, Daniel Hurst.
Scott will do anything to protect his wife, Erin. That’s why he secretly installs a tracking app on her phone and watches her through hidden cameras in their home.
When he learns there’s a chance one of Erin’s kidneys will fail, he vows to shield her from the truth and find a donor for her at any cost.
That’s how he meets Kathleen. She is the answer to his dreams, a perfect match for Erin. There’s only one problem – Kathleen has no intention of becoming a donor. That doesn’t bother Scott – he is confident he can manipulate her into giving him what he wants.
But Kathleen isn’t as innocent as she looks, she has her own agenda. And she doesn’t care who she hurts as long as she gets what she needs.
As lives hang in the balance, Erin and Kathleen are bound together by a terrible promise. But when that promise is broken, who will pay the ultimate price?
The Promise – the stunning psychological thriller perfect for fans of Teresa Driscoll, Cathryn Grant, Daniel Hurst.
251 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 6, 2022
606 people are currently reading
897 people want to read
About the author
Emily Shiner
32 books921 followersEmily lives in the mountains of North Carolina and loves hiking with her dogs--only when she's not thinking up twisted tales, that is. She loves books that keep you up long after you should be in bed.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
February 19, 2022
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read and review as part of the book tour hosted by Zooloos Book Tours.
The Promise is a suspenseful, slow burn read that left me questioning myself as to how far I would go as a person to save someone I love.
Erin is sick but doesn't know it yet. Her husband Scott has kept it from her and is doing all he can to get her the transplant she needs.
Kathleen is awaiting a transplant, and as the two women's lives become entwined, will either women get what they want or need?
Erin is very nieve, and Scott obviously loves her, but he makes so many alarm bells go off when I read this. The twists are superbly executed and flow so smoothly within the story. I could honestly believe this transplant situation occurring in real life, which is a scary thought. I loved the ending and found it an unexpected extra twist to the story.
The Promise is a suspenseful, slow burn read that left me questioning myself as to how far I would go as a person to save someone I love.
Erin is sick but doesn't know it yet. Her husband Scott has kept it from her and is doing all he can to get her the transplant she needs.
Kathleen is awaiting a transplant, and as the two women's lives become entwined, will either women get what they want or need?
Erin is very nieve, and Scott obviously loves her, but he makes so many alarm bells go off when I read this. The twists are superbly executed and flow so smoothly within the story. I could honestly believe this transplant situation occurring in real life, which is a scary thought. I loved the ending and found it an unexpected extra twist to the story.
January 21, 2022
The plot summary makes this book sound a lot better and a lot more interesting than it was. None of the characters are like-able and the plot is ridiculous. I kept reading to see if it would get better, or maybe it would make more sense. However, by the end of the book I realized it just continued to get more ridiculous and crazy - it made no sense. Definitely not worth reading, in my opinion.
January 15, 2022
Would you put your life in the hands of someone you met at a pub named the Angry Donkey?
Kathleen Bell has a health challenge and discovers that with a bit of money she can buy her health back with the help of Dr. Thomas.
Erin Anders has a problem, too. She just doesn’t know it. Dr. Thomas can fix it, too.
Scott Anders already fixed Dr. Thomas' problem, but now he needs the good doctor to return the favor.
This spectacular, nail-biting psychological thriller is one of the best I’ve ever read. Firstly, the dramatic irony is expertly handled. Author Emily Shiner has mastered the alternate point of view technique; it’s key to this story’s success. It’s told in the first person and the switches between the 3 characters (Scott, Erin, and Kathleen) occur with the chapter breaks. It’s done so well that the plots, climaxes and perspectives all parallel each other. One of the advantages of presenting the story this way is that readers get to know each character’s true thoughts because they have the thrill of being inside each character’s head. Another advantage is, that with a fast-paced plot, the shifting point of view lets readers shift heads, thereby keeping them on their toes. It makes for a gripping story when the reader knows more than the characters!
The character voices are what drives this story; they’re each memorable, unique voices and the dialogue is tailored to each character. I was invested in the story because I cared about what happened to each character - good or evil!
After turning the last page, I checked that there were no tracking apps on my cell phone, no hidden cameras in my home, and then I changed my password to my ehealth login. Don’t worry about me. I’ll always check someone’s credentials when it comes to asking for their help. I hope you will, too. Put on your neck brace, you need to be prepared for the twists Emily Shiner has in store for you!
“Everyone wants to save the people they love. It’s human nature to protect those closest to us, but not everyone in the world is willing to do what it takes. I am.”
I was gifted this advance copy by Emily Shiner, Inkubator Books, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Kathleen Bell has a health challenge and discovers that with a bit of money she can buy her health back with the help of Dr. Thomas.
Erin Anders has a problem, too. She just doesn’t know it. Dr. Thomas can fix it, too.
Scott Anders already fixed Dr. Thomas' problem, but now he needs the good doctor to return the favor.
This spectacular, nail-biting psychological thriller is one of the best I’ve ever read. Firstly, the dramatic irony is expertly handled. Author Emily Shiner has mastered the alternate point of view technique; it’s key to this story’s success. It’s told in the first person and the switches between the 3 characters (Scott, Erin, and Kathleen) occur with the chapter breaks. It’s done so well that the plots, climaxes and perspectives all parallel each other. One of the advantages of presenting the story this way is that readers get to know each character’s true thoughts because they have the thrill of being inside each character’s head. Another advantage is, that with a fast-paced plot, the shifting point of view lets readers shift heads, thereby keeping them on their toes. It makes for a gripping story when the reader knows more than the characters!
The character voices are what drives this story; they’re each memorable, unique voices and the dialogue is tailored to each character. I was invested in the story because I cared about what happened to each character - good or evil!
After turning the last page, I checked that there were no tracking apps on my cell phone, no hidden cameras in my home, and then I changed my password to my ehealth login. Don’t worry about me. I’ll always check someone’s credentials when it comes to asking for their help. I hope you will, too. Put on your neck brace, you need to be prepared for the twists Emily Shiner has in store for you!
“Everyone wants to save the people they love. It’s human nature to protect those closest to us, but not everyone in the world is willing to do what it takes. I am.”
I was gifted this advance copy by Emily Shiner, Inkubator Books, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
February 23, 2022
Oh my! I loved the earlier book by this author, so I picked up this one with great enthusiasm
The premise was good based on organ donation and one unscrupulous doctor, weird husband, and the unsuspecting donor.
In all this rigmarole, an innocent child and naive wife kept to their character. But no worries, the author tried to use them in the last page. The normal trend of a psychological thriller.
Then came the delivery of the plot.
Alas.
Repetitive words, the same lines told to me as if that would reinforce and add to characterization. No, they didn't. I kept telling my kindle - ya you told me that already. Get on with the story.
But no! Till 80% of the story, it was the same thing again and again and again.
An attempt was made in the last few pages to give me some thrill. But... no go. Nothing won me over
Having given anaesthesia for many renal transplants, just antibiotics and a few drugs did not work. Shifting the patient immediately did not work. A doctor who took kidney and BAM sewed it in the other patient did not work. Some research could have been done on renal transplant. Renal Artery and Ureter had to sewed back in donor and in the recipient. And where was the anaesthesia team? My team members. Nope. None. Nada.
So the book was not for me.
The premise was good based on organ donation and one unscrupulous doctor, weird husband, and the unsuspecting donor.
In all this rigmarole, an innocent child and naive wife kept to their character. But no worries, the author tried to use them in the last page. The normal trend of a psychological thriller.
Then came the delivery of the plot.
Alas.
Repetitive words, the same lines told to me as if that would reinforce and add to characterization. No, they didn't. I kept telling my kindle - ya you told me that already. Get on with the story.
But no! Till 80% of the story, it was the same thing again and again and again.
An attempt was made in the last few pages to give me some thrill. But... no go. Nothing won me over
Having given anaesthesia for many renal transplants, just antibiotics and a few drugs did not work. Shifting the patient immediately did not work. A doctor who took kidney and BAM sewed it in the other patient did not work. Some research could have been done on renal transplant. Renal Artery and Ureter had to sewed back in donor and in the recipient. And where was the anaesthesia team? My team members. Nope. None. Nada.
So the book was not for me.
February 2, 2022
The premise of this novel can be boiled down to one simple question: How far are you willing to go for someone you love? 'The Promise' by Emily Shiner is described by the publisher as a psychological thriller. The book is written in the first person, following the points of view of the three main characters: Scott, his wife Erin, and Kathleen, a single mother with some serious issues plaguing her. The storyline is pretty straightforward and easy to follow along with, as the private musings of the characters give away the twist in the first few chapters. Scott, as a powerful criminal defense attorney, saved the corrupt Dr. Thomas from imprisonment and has turned to him for a favor in return. Erin, a pretty and kind, but naive homemaker, spends her days wishing for a child and looking for ways to fulfill herself outside of being Scott's beautiful wife. She gets this chance when she meets Kathleen- a mother who is saddled with a tragic disease and desperately needs a kidney transplant to survive. The motives of these three, along with Dr. Thomas, make for an interesting glimpse into the psychoses of people who believe in doing what they want, no matter the cost.
I liked that this book was simple to understand; often with thrillers, authors tend to write these convoluted narratives with multiple POVs where readers sometimes have to fight to keep track of what happened and where it happened. Despite the alternating reflections by the protagonists, everything in 'The Promise' took place in chronological order, with no major time jumps or flashbacks.
This novel fell short of gaining a five-star rating from me for different reasons. The biggest issue I had with it was, as previously stated, the major twist was revealed pretty quickly, leaving no mystery for me to solve. I usually love to guess the 'whodunit'; who's the good guy, the bad guy, the bad guy pretending to be good...but this book did not allow for that. In essence, all the suspense and thrill were missing for me. The other problem I had was the repetitious nature of the main characters' inner thoughts; we heard on numerous occasions how Scott would do anything for Erin, how much Erin wanted to help people, and how Kathleen would do anything to get a healthy kidney and to save her daughter. Honestly, after a while, I was reminded of a certain Fifty Shades character who was always going on and on about her inner goddess...
In the end, I give 'The Promise' a rating of 3 stars as the potential for a great book is there, but the execution just fell a little short. While I enjoyed the overarching plot, I just did not connect with any of the protagonists, as they were all so insanely...insane. With the exception of Erin, everyone else was completely overdone, and the former was completely ingenuous. Otherwise, this book was professionally edited, with no major grammatical or spelling errors. This is acceptable reading for older teenagers and up, as there was no profanity or erotic content. Trigger warnings include: harm to children, borderline controlling behavior, and death. Though not my favorite, I would recommend this if you are looking for a thriller that is a simple and easy read.
*Thank you to Emily Shiner, Inkubator Books, and NetGalley for the ARC; all opinions are mine, and I was not asked to provide a review.*
I liked that this book was simple to understand; often with thrillers, authors tend to write these convoluted narratives with multiple POVs where readers sometimes have to fight to keep track of what happened and where it happened. Despite the alternating reflections by the protagonists, everything in 'The Promise' took place in chronological order, with no major time jumps or flashbacks.
This novel fell short of gaining a five-star rating from me for different reasons. The biggest issue I had with it was, as previously stated, the major twist was revealed pretty quickly, leaving no mystery for me to solve. I usually love to guess the 'whodunit'; who's the good guy, the bad guy, the bad guy pretending to be good...but this book did not allow for that. In essence, all the suspense and thrill were missing for me. The other problem I had was the repetitious nature of the main characters' inner thoughts; we heard on numerous occasions how Scott would do anything for Erin, how much Erin wanted to help people, and how Kathleen would do anything to get a healthy kidney and to save her daughter. Honestly, after a while, I was reminded of a certain Fifty Shades character who was always going on and on about her inner goddess...
In the end, I give 'The Promise' a rating of 3 stars as the potential for a great book is there, but the execution just fell a little short. While I enjoyed the overarching plot, I just did not connect with any of the protagonists, as they were all so insanely...insane. With the exception of Erin, everyone else was completely overdone, and the former was completely ingenuous. Otherwise, this book was professionally edited, with no major grammatical or spelling errors. This is acceptable reading for older teenagers and up, as there was no profanity or erotic content. Trigger warnings include: harm to children, borderline controlling behavior, and death. Though not my favorite, I would recommend this if you are looking for a thriller that is a simple and easy read.
*Thank you to Emily Shiner, Inkubator Books, and NetGalley for the ARC; all opinions are mine, and I was not asked to provide a review.*
February 22, 2022
I just need to start off by saying I don't think anyone could truly be as gullible as Erin is. Scott could've told her the sky was green and she wouldn't have questioned him!! I liked the premise of this book and while it wasn't as predictable as some other psych thrillers I've read the plot was ridiculous. The summary gives you a way better impression. I kept reading to see if maybe it would make more sense but the second half of the book felt very rushed. The book ends with nothing really resolved, with what’s meant to be a final twist and a last minute attempt to shock you. In my opinion the book had a lot of potential but it's just lacking.
March 22, 2022
The Promise By Emily Shiner
Suspenseful, shocking and surprising but Oh so GOOD!
When I read the blurb I knew I wanted to read this book.
the book starts out with Erin and Scott, who are married and very happy, except Erin wants a baby desperately.
Scott is hiding something from her, she needs a kidney since hers is failing.
She goes to the gym, eats very healthy and takes vitamins daily. She thinks she is improving her health so she can have a child.
Without her knowledge Scott and Kathleen make a deal, a promise.
Out of all the characters I identified with Erin the most, sweet and caring and giving.
Kathleen had a lot more going on than Scott knew.
Dr Thomas owed Scott but he was well true to form lol.
The twists just kept coming and coming and coming.
What a great way to spend a long rare rainy afternoon in sultry Florida, reading this twisted thrilled.
I would recommend this book to people who enjoy books that keep throwing surprises into the story.
Highly recommended
4*****
My thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for the complimentary e arc in exchange for an honest review.
review posted @ Netgalley, Goodreads, amazon and Wordpress.com.
Suspenseful, shocking and surprising but Oh so GOOD!
When I read the blurb I knew I wanted to read this book.
the book starts out with Erin and Scott, who are married and very happy, except Erin wants a baby desperately.
Scott is hiding something from her, she needs a kidney since hers is failing.
She goes to the gym, eats very healthy and takes vitamins daily. She thinks she is improving her health so she can have a child.
Without her knowledge Scott and Kathleen make a deal, a promise.
Out of all the characters I identified with Erin the most, sweet and caring and giving.
Kathleen had a lot more going on than Scott knew.
Dr Thomas owed Scott but he was well true to form lol.
The twists just kept coming and coming and coming.
What a great way to spend a long rare rainy afternoon in sultry Florida, reading this twisted thrilled.
I would recommend this book to people who enjoy books that keep throwing surprises into the story.
Highly recommended
4*****
My thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for the complimentary e arc in exchange for an honest review.
review posted @ Netgalley, Goodreads, amazon and Wordpress.com.
January 30, 2022
The Promise of a Good Story
(Orginally published on my website, https://disabledandfab.wixsite.com/be...)
Notes: This book is an advanced release copy ARC) from NetGalley. However, this does not affect my review in any way.
Content warnings for medical procedures, controlling behavior, Munchausen’s by proxy, and death.
(Orginally published on my website, https://disabledandfab.wixsite.com/be...)
Notes: This book is an advanced release copy ARC) from NetGalley. However, this does not affect my review in any way.
Content warnings for medical procedures, controlling behavior, Munchausen’s by proxy, and death.
The Promise by Emily Shiner is a thriller with an interesting and unique premise, but which ultimately falls short in its execution.
Telling a story from different characters’ viewpoints is a tricky thing to undertake. If done well, it can be absolutely fantastic (think “Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn). However, if done incorrectly, the narrative can feel very slow, even redundant.
That, in a nutshell, is the issue we see in The Promise. Shiner attempts to keep the tension going by rapidly switching between characters, but as this happens chronologically in the story as well as the book itself, readers are simply given the same scene with no real differences. Shiner also tries to end each chapter on a cliffhanger, but these, too, quickly become repetitive. They’re meant to be ominous, but they essentially boil down to each character restating their main motivation and/or feelings about the situation. These don’t change, so after the first few instances, it feels as though the same chapter is being reused.
Any sense of suspense is quickly lost, as any twist is revealed so early in the narrative that it’s not surprising, or even entertaining. For example, within the first chapter, Scott’s plan is more or less revealed. This topic is also the only thing the characters contemplate, so beyond that, there really isn’t anything else to them. Each can be summed up in a single word. Scott is controlling, Erin is naive, Kathleen is desperate.
What frustrated me the most, though, was that none of the characters face the consequences of their actions, nor learn from them. Several characters do some truly abhorrent things, but these are either forgiven or simply never addressed again. The book ends with nothing really resolved, with what’s meant to be a final twist, but what really feels like a final attempt to shock the reader, with nothing to really support it.
There’s also an odd emphasis on the fact that Kathleen should be “a good donor”. Erin actually stalks her to her place of work, to grill her and decide if she deserves a new kidney, essentially. I’m unsure if this is meant to be a way to show that Erin isn’t quite as good as she thinks she is, or if it’s genuinely what the author believes. Scott expresses similar views, though Kathleen does not.
Overall, I believe that The Promise has the potential to be a genuinely interesting novel, but with its lack of suspense, bland characters, and repetitive chapters, it’s simply a slog to get through, with no final payoff.
September 10, 2023
Scott will do anything to protect his wife Erin. That's why he has secretly installed a tracking device on her phone and watches her through hidden cameras in their home.
When he learns that one of Erin's kidneys could fail, he wants to find a donor for her at any cost.
Along comes Kathleen she could be the answer to his prayers as she is a perfect match for Erin. The only problem is Kathleen has no intention of becoming a donor but Scott is confident he can manipulate her into giving him what he wants.
Kathleen has her own agenda and is not as innocent as she seems.
Ellen and Kathleen are bound together by a terrible promise. But when that promise is broken, who will pay the ultimate price?
I simply adored this book. It made me think how far would I go to save the one I love?
I loved the idea of this plot and I was hooked from the first paragraph.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
When he learns that one of Erin's kidneys could fail, he wants to find a donor for her at any cost.
Along comes Kathleen she could be the answer to his prayers as she is a perfect match for Erin. The only problem is Kathleen has no intention of becoming a donor but Scott is confident he can manipulate her into giving him what he wants.
Kathleen has her own agenda and is not as innocent as she seems.
Ellen and Kathleen are bound together by a terrible promise. But when that promise is broken, who will pay the ultimate price?
I simply adored this book. It made me think how far would I go to save the one I love?
I loved the idea of this plot and I was hooked from the first paragraph.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 4, 2022
This was a wild ride of a book and really asks how far you'd go for someone that you love.!
We get follow the story of Erin who has volunteered to donate one of her kidneys to a woman (Kathleen) in need of one out of the kindness of her heart. What she doesn't know is that there is a lot more to it than meets the eye and this has all been arranged by her husband Scott. But what exactly does Kathleen want out of this donation and is there more to Scott being so supportive and persuasive of her donating her kidney?
This was an addictive book and I was so gripped - I had to find out what would happen and couldn't put it down. I don't want to mention too much in case it ruins the intrigue but it was definitely a fast paced addictive thriller. The only reason it's a 4 star and not a 5 star is because I did think the general concept was a little bit *too* crazy but I suppose I may have the NHS to thank for that!
A gripping read that I'd definitely recommend picking up!
We get follow the story of Erin who has volunteered to donate one of her kidneys to a woman (Kathleen) in need of one out of the kindness of her heart. What she doesn't know is that there is a lot more to it than meets the eye and this has all been arranged by her husband Scott. But what exactly does Kathleen want out of this donation and is there more to Scott being so supportive and persuasive of her donating her kidney?
This was an addictive book and I was so gripped - I had to find out what would happen and couldn't put it down. I don't want to mention too much in case it ruins the intrigue but it was definitely a fast paced addictive thriller. The only reason it's a 4 star and not a 5 star is because I did think the general concept was a little bit *too* crazy but I suppose I may have the NHS to thank for that!
A gripping read that I'd definitely recommend picking up!
June 12, 2022
This was the most unbelievable plot. This book could’ve been cut in half. I felt like I was reading the same sentences each chapter. 80% of the book was pure repetition! I can’t even say how many times I saw the words supportive, kidney, and health. None of the characters were like-able. Would not recommend!
April 25, 2022
Break Me Like A Jawbreaker! 😳😯😳🤯
Holy Cannoli! Fluff sakes! What did I just devour?! From the beginning I was a goner to this novel that entrapped me right from the first chapter. I was doomed from the start. The unique, crazy thrill ride that I became victim to. My mind is absolutely blown away by the plot, the unveiling of all things and how Shiner keeps you on the edge of your seat. I'm gobsmacked here people!
Scott is an attorney and has just won his case of the defendant who is a doctor, which has put him in the best position to get him what he wants & needs - to save his wife. He'd do anything to protect her, which is why he monitors her so closely & gives her a life of leisure. When he found out Erin needs a new kidney, not only does he keep this from her but searches for a donor. Enter Kathleen. She's a perfect match but Kathleen refuses which Scott takes as a challenge to persuade her. But Kathleen has her own itinerary that could end up costing someone's life.
As if the entire book wasn't thrilling enough for me, that ending was beyond cray-cray! Even if some parts may have seen far-fetched to some readers, I was all over it like bears on honey! I'm dealing with some book hangover right now and I don't know what to do with myself. Now I'm gonna have to go and binge all her novels. Heaven help me!
I give this 4.5 / 5 Bouquets! 💐
Holy Cannoli! Fluff sakes! What did I just devour?! From the beginning I was a goner to this novel that entrapped me right from the first chapter. I was doomed from the start. The unique, crazy thrill ride that I became victim to. My mind is absolutely blown away by the plot, the unveiling of all things and how Shiner keeps you on the edge of your seat. I'm gobsmacked here people!
Scott is an attorney and has just won his case of the defendant who is a doctor, which has put him in the best position to get him what he wants & needs - to save his wife. He'd do anything to protect her, which is why he monitors her so closely & gives her a life of leisure. When he found out Erin needs a new kidney, not only does he keep this from her but searches for a donor. Enter Kathleen. She's a perfect match but Kathleen refuses which Scott takes as a challenge to persuade her. But Kathleen has her own itinerary that could end up costing someone's life.
As if the entire book wasn't thrilling enough for me, that ending was beyond cray-cray! Even if some parts may have seen far-fetched to some readers, I was all over it like bears on honey! I'm dealing with some book hangover right now and I don't know what to do with myself. Now I'm gonna have to go and binge all her novels. Heaven help me!
I give this 4.5 / 5 Bouquets! 💐
February 15, 2022
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback. Unfortunately, I was not a fan of this one. All the characters were unlikable - Scott, massively controlling; Erin, dumb; and Kathleen, selfish. My main complaint is that the premise was really unrealistic and hard to swallow. I kept waiting for something to happen, some twist, but it did not come until the epilogue. Even then, it did not resolve anything and basically left you wondering if the characters will ever be punished/ discover secrets/ etc. I thought maybe this was a debut novel, but I see the author has quite a few others on Goodreads. I probably will not seek them out.
October 19, 2024
The epilogue was fun but the rest reads like a first novel. It’s really repetitive and the characters don’t feel very dimensional. In addition to that there’s just a lot of things that don’t make sense logistically (aka how do all these people have failing kidneys yet no one is on dialysis?)
February 16, 2022
I am a huge fan of psychological thrillers and especially those psychological thrillers that have a twist to them. I read the synopsis of ‘The Promise’ and it certainly sounded like the sort of story that I would enjoy. Well I was spot on too because I really enjoyed reading ‘The Promise’ but more about that in a bit.
It took me a little while to get into ‘The Promise’, which has a lot to do with the fact that I was tired when I started to read and finding it hard to concentrate. I did get into the story and then that was it- the rest as they say is history. I can’t say that I took to the characters as such but at the same time I cared about what happened to the two leading ladies. The male lead character was a different matter altogether as I got the impression that he wasn’t exactly who he claimed to be. I had my own theories as to what was going to happen and I had to keep reading to see if I was on the right track or whether or not I had wandered down another path entirely. The more of the story I read, the more I wanted to read and the quicker the pages seemed to turn. I soon got to the end of ‘The Promise’. I found ‘The Promise’ to be a tense, gripping and dramatic read, which kept me guessing and which kept me on the edge of my seat.
‘The Promise’ is well written. Emily has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. She certainly knows how to grab the reader’s attention and draw them into what proves to be a compelling read. The story hits the ground running and maintains a steady pace throughout. The story is told from the points of view of the three lead characters with each chapter voiced by one of the three characters. The chapters interlink well and the story flows seamlessly as a result. Reading ‘The Promise’ felt like being on a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way. I love the way in which Emily makes the reader feels as they are part of the story themselves and at the heart of the action.
In short, I really enjoyed reading ‘The Promise’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will definitely be reading more of Emily’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.
It took me a little while to get into ‘The Promise’, which has a lot to do with the fact that I was tired when I started to read and finding it hard to concentrate. I did get into the story and then that was it- the rest as they say is history. I can’t say that I took to the characters as such but at the same time I cared about what happened to the two leading ladies. The male lead character was a different matter altogether as I got the impression that he wasn’t exactly who he claimed to be. I had my own theories as to what was going to happen and I had to keep reading to see if I was on the right track or whether or not I had wandered down another path entirely. The more of the story I read, the more I wanted to read and the quicker the pages seemed to turn. I soon got to the end of ‘The Promise’. I found ‘The Promise’ to be a tense, gripping and dramatic read, which kept me guessing and which kept me on the edge of my seat.
‘The Promise’ is well written. Emily has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. She certainly knows how to grab the reader’s attention and draw them into what proves to be a compelling read. The story hits the ground running and maintains a steady pace throughout. The story is told from the points of view of the three lead characters with each chapter voiced by one of the three characters. The chapters interlink well and the story flows seamlessly as a result. Reading ‘The Promise’ felt like being on a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way. I love the way in which Emily makes the reader feels as they are part of the story themselves and at the heart of the action.
In short, I really enjoyed reading ‘The Promise’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will definitely be reading more of Emily’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.
February 17, 2022
First, I want to thank Emily Shiner, Inkubator Books, NetGalley and Zooloo’s Book Tours for providing me with this book so I may bring you this review.
O.M.G!! WOW!! Emily Shiner’s The Promise read like a movie playing in my head!! This. Book. Was. So. Good!! I was absolutely addicted to it and read it in one sitting! I just could not get enough of her twisted, jaw dropping, suspenseful, head spinning, and heartbreaking read! Oh you must put this on your TBR list as it is a 5 star must read book!
Emily Shriner you are incredibly gifted writing in this genre! This is my first time reading/reviewing for you and you just got an instant fan! I must read more of your books!
I loved how there was a medical theme to this book that definitely kept you on your toes!
Ohh there were scenes in this book that I can’t believe Emily went there! One storyline in particular that I was yelling at my kindle!
Erin and Cora were my favorite characters in the book! Erin because she had a huge heart of gold and wanted to help anyway she could. Cora my heart just ached for everything she was put through at a young age!
Scott totally creeped me out the more I gotta know his character. I know he meant well but WOW! The lengths he went to keep his wife safe!
This is one book I had no clue how it was going to end! Emily kept throwing major twists and turns! Nothing prepared me for the epilogue though! I am still shaking my head with it.
The graphic designers for the cover of The Promise must be commended! The cover brilliantly captured the book! It was one thing that lured me into seeing what the book was about.
O.M.G!! WOW!! Emily Shiner’s The Promise read like a movie playing in my head!! This. Book. Was. So. Good!! I was absolutely addicted to it and read it in one sitting! I just could not get enough of her twisted, jaw dropping, suspenseful, head spinning, and heartbreaking read! Oh you must put this on your TBR list as it is a 5 star must read book!
Emily Shriner you are incredibly gifted writing in this genre! This is my first time reading/reviewing for you and you just got an instant fan! I must read more of your books!
I loved how there was a medical theme to this book that definitely kept you on your toes!
Ohh there were scenes in this book that I can’t believe Emily went there! One storyline in particular that I was yelling at my kindle!
Erin and Cora were my favorite characters in the book! Erin because she had a huge heart of gold and wanted to help anyway she could. Cora my heart just ached for everything she was put through at a young age!
Scott totally creeped me out the more I gotta know his character. I know he meant well but WOW! The lengths he went to keep his wife safe!
This is one book I had no clue how it was going to end! Emily kept throwing major twists and turns! Nothing prepared me for the epilogue though! I am still shaking my head with it.
The graphic designers for the cover of The Promise must be commended! The cover brilliantly captured the book! It was one thing that lured me into seeing what the book was about.
February 23, 2022
I do love a psychological thriller and I absolutely found this one incredibly gripping. Told from multiple perspectives my suspicion sensors had started beeping from the moment you finish the prologue. It’s unusual to get instant opinions of characters. Scott, manipulative with one hell of an agenda. Erin, naive and has a complete heart of gold. But… psychological thrillers tend to make you feel things only to throw in a huge shocking twist. Because of this, I couldn’t put it down until I knew.
It doesn’t take long for the pieces to come together, the manipulation is there right in front of your eyes. You cannot help thinking though is Scott really this bad guy? The author is brilliant at throwing you into chaos where you start to second guess absolutely everything. I adore it when you don’t get over the top descriptions of each character to know what they’re visually like. With this I could create my own visions i only needed to understand their characteristics. How far would you go to save the woman you love? How far would you go to save your daughter or yourself?
Money can literally buy anything. I couldn’t believe what the plans were. I couldn’t believe how thought out this was. I couldn’t believe the hidden things in the house. I couldn’t believe the endless monitoring. I couldn’t believe this devil Dr Thomas. This book is absolutely fantastic. It’s well planned, fast paced, suspenseful and exciting. If you adore psychological thrillers with lots of twists you’ll absolutely love this one.
It doesn’t take long for the pieces to come together, the manipulation is there right in front of your eyes. You cannot help thinking though is Scott really this bad guy? The author is brilliant at throwing you into chaos where you start to second guess absolutely everything. I adore it when you don’t get over the top descriptions of each character to know what they’re visually like. With this I could create my own visions i only needed to understand their characteristics. How far would you go to save the woman you love? How far would you go to save your daughter or yourself?
Money can literally buy anything. I couldn’t believe what the plans were. I couldn’t believe how thought out this was. I couldn’t believe the hidden things in the house. I couldn’t believe the endless monitoring. I couldn’t believe this devil Dr Thomas. This book is absolutely fantastic. It’s well planned, fast paced, suspenseful and exciting. If you adore psychological thrillers with lots of twists you’ll absolutely love this one.
February 14, 2022
3.5 stars
Erin is doing the most selfless thing she can and is donating a kidney to a total stranger. Or so she thinks…
Her husband Scott loved her dearly; so much so he has a tracking app on her phone and cameras in their house to see her every move. He’ll do anything to keep her healthy and if that means tricking her into thinking she’s donating a kidney so that she receives the one she needs, so be it.
Kathleen needs a kidney and so does her daughter Cora. And she’s making her sick just to to prove her point.
The glue keeping them altogether is Dr Thomas - who they’re both paying to receive a kidney. Who will get it? Who will survive? Who will break their promise?
Kathleen is manipulative, Erin is gullible, Scott is bordering on gaslighting his wife and has an unhealthy obsession with keeping her safe.
As for doctor Thomas, I wouldn’t trust him as far as I could throw him. Especially as you know he’s dodgy from the outset.
A really interesting premise to a story, that kept me guessing as to the actual ‘real’ events that will take place.
I enjoyed this although my theory wasn’t correct in the end. Interesting epilogue too and a different subject to those you often find in a thriller.
Erin is doing the most selfless thing she can and is donating a kidney to a total stranger. Or so she thinks…
Her husband Scott loved her dearly; so much so he has a tracking app on her phone and cameras in their house to see her every move. He’ll do anything to keep her healthy and if that means tricking her into thinking she’s donating a kidney so that she receives the one she needs, so be it.
Kathleen needs a kidney and so does her daughter Cora. And she’s making her sick just to to prove her point.
The glue keeping them altogether is Dr Thomas - who they’re both paying to receive a kidney. Who will get it? Who will survive? Who will break their promise?
Kathleen is manipulative, Erin is gullible, Scott is bordering on gaslighting his wife and has an unhealthy obsession with keeping her safe.
As for doctor Thomas, I wouldn’t trust him as far as I could throw him. Especially as you know he’s dodgy from the outset.
A really interesting premise to a story, that kept me guessing as to the actual ‘real’ events that will take place.
I enjoyed this although my theory wasn’t correct in the end. Interesting epilogue too and a different subject to those you often find in a thriller.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 17, 2022
You can love someone deeply. You can love them to the moon and back and you would do anything to keep them safe.
You look out for them, but does it have to be this way? You lie to them, but it’s for a good cause, so it’s ok? Well, that what he tells himself anyway.
I have to be honest and say that some people might take that keeping-them-safe kind of thing a bit too far.
When someone did something big for you in the past, you want to either repay them or promise yourself you will help others as much as you can. And then suddenly there is that one big opportunity. Now you can really, really do something . It’s not without danger for yourself, but when you have the support of your loving and devoted partner, you can do anything.
You want so shout it from the rooftops, but not everybody feels the same way. There is doubt creeping in your mind, but you push it away. You are still determined, but were they right to warn you or do you keep believing in your own judgment?
You might think you have it all figured out, but in the end who won? Who manipulated who and who will have the last laugh?
A great story with more characters playing a role than honest ones. It ain’t over till it’s over though… 5 stars
Thank you, Emily Shiner and Zooloo’s Book Tours
You look out for them, but does it have to be this way? You lie to them, but it’s for a good cause, so it’s ok? Well, that what he tells himself anyway.
I have to be honest and say that some people might take that keeping-them-safe kind of thing a bit too far.
When someone did something big for you in the past, you want to either repay them or promise yourself you will help others as much as you can. And then suddenly there is that one big opportunity. Now you can really, really do something . It’s not without danger for yourself, but when you have the support of your loving and devoted partner, you can do anything.
You want so shout it from the rooftops, but not everybody feels the same way. There is doubt creeping in your mind, but you push it away. You are still determined, but were they right to warn you or do you keep believing in your own judgment?
You might think you have it all figured out, but in the end who won? Who manipulated who and who will have the last laugh?
A great story with more characters playing a role than honest ones. It ain’t over till it’s over though… 5 stars
Thank you, Emily Shiner and Zooloo’s Book Tours
February 21, 2022
How far would you go for the one you love?
This is the second book I have read by Emily Shiner and it did not disappoint! I love her writing style of multiple viewpoints. This book is told from the firsthand view of three main characters: lawyer-husband Scott, his wife Erin and Kathleen. Although she doesn't know it, Erin's kidneys are failing and Scott believes he has found the answer to their problems: Kathleen. But Kathleen has other plans.
This book had me hooked from the very first chapter. I would highly recommend this book and it's author to anyone looking for a unique thriller with a storyline like nothing you've read before.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is the second book I have read by Emily Shiner and it did not disappoint! I love her writing style of multiple viewpoints. This book is told from the firsthand view of three main characters: lawyer-husband Scott, his wife Erin and Kathleen. Although she doesn't know it, Erin's kidneys are failing and Scott believes he has found the answer to their problems: Kathleen. But Kathleen has other plans.
This book had me hooked from the very first chapter. I would highly recommend this book and it's author to anyone looking for a unique thriller with a storyline like nothing you've read before.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 13, 2022
Another great fast read, full of some dark twists and an ending that is plausible and scary AF. Read this!
January 17, 2023
I feel like this book had the potential to be good as it had a good story line, however just felt like it was a ‘back and forth’ the whole time. Only exciting thing happened in the last 3 chapters!!
January 27, 2024
Not a fan of the ending. 🤷♀️
February 11, 2025
A plot you never see coming.
May 28, 2022
Almost DNF’d multiple times. I just couldn’t quite believe Erin’s naïveté & such selflessness because of the voice of the writing, I think. I really enjoyed the premise but it just didn’t quite ring true. It’s not because I don’t believe that someone would do that - in fact, I know people who absolutely would, but there was such little internal conflict for Erin. She’s a freaking idiot & we are meant to believe that she’s a little naive but so good at heart that she can immediately be manipulated into being an organ donor and barely question the whole thing? I wanted to strangle her. I wanted there to be conflict where she DOES find out about all the cameras and apps on her phone that her psycho husband uses to keep tabs on her. I wanted her to be on the outs with him but still turn to Kathleen for comfort and friendship and still give her a kidney but wake up alone with just Scott and the truth of what happened and be furious with him and have a backbone for once. I’m sorry, “special vitamins” that are “designed just for you”?? You could have told her she needs the pills to support kidney function because she thinks she only has one now?! But she’s just fine with special vitamins, the weird fact that there were three beds, that her new bff never calls, all of the super freaking strange things around this whole scenario all because Scott is perfect and would never do anything to hurt me EXCEPT TRACK MY PHONE and WATCH ME ON HIDDEN CAMERAS WHILE IM HOME and KEEP MEDICAL RESULTS FROM ME but it’s all because he loves me!
Just felt like this had so much potential but fell flat. It would have 1 star except for the fact that I kept reading because I was drawn in enough to want to know what happens. Genuinely wanted to quit at the 15% mark when we heard for the tenth time how perfect and selfless and stupid Erin is. She could have had any decent motivation, like a sibling who was saved by organ donation or maybe needed one and died, or lost a parent to the same disease, or something that would have made me believe she had normal doubts about undergoing major surgery and living with one kidney for the rest of her life instead of a random whim that she doesn’t ever really doubt except for a few hours when her spoiled rich friends are like “wut?”
Just felt like this had so much potential but fell flat. It would have 1 star except for the fact that I kept reading because I was drawn in enough to want to know what happens. Genuinely wanted to quit at the 15% mark when we heard for the tenth time how perfect and selfless and stupid Erin is. She could have had any decent motivation, like a sibling who was saved by organ donation or maybe needed one and died, or lost a parent to the same disease, or something that would have made me believe she had normal doubts about undergoing major surgery and living with one kidney for the rest of her life instead of a random whim that she doesn’t ever really doubt except for a few hours when her spoiled rich friends are like “wut?”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 22, 2022
“The Promise,” by Emily Shiner, is about a woman named Erin who is in need of a kidney but has no idea she is ill, her husband, Scott, a high-powered criminal defense attorney, and a woman named Kathleen who is advertising for a new kidney on a roadside billboard. Scott knowingly drives by the sign and points it out, knowing it will gnaw on Erin and she will want to give back by offering her kidney to the woman desperate enough to advertise. We discover Kathleen has Alport Syndrome, which is destroying her kidney. There is also Cora, Kathleen’s sick daughter, and Kathleen is convinced Cora has early stages of Alport as well. The common denominator for all of these people is one Dr. Thomas, a shady organ transplant physician who has lost his hospital privileges. There are promises all around, but are any of them kept?
There are tremendous parts to this book, like the climax, which is very well-written. The alternating voices of the characters push the story ahead in an interesting way and from all viewpoints, and there is an open end, leading to the hope of a sequel. Overall, “The Promise” is a great guessing game and reveal.
There are some issues as well, like the wordy repetitiveness (especially in the beginning). I would like to warn readers about triggers for domestic controlling issues, and Munchausen’s Syndrome.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Inkubator Books for the ability to read and review this Arc.
There are tremendous parts to this book, like the climax, which is very well-written. The alternating voices of the characters push the story ahead in an interesting way and from all viewpoints, and there is an open end, leading to the hope of a sequel. Overall, “The Promise” is a great guessing game and reveal.
There are some issues as well, like the wordy repetitiveness (especially in the beginning). I would like to warn readers about triggers for domestic controlling issues, and Munchausen’s Syndrome.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Inkubator Books for the ability to read and review this Arc.
February 20, 2022
The promise by Emily Shiner.
If you break the promise, you pay the price.
Scott will do anything to protect his wife, Erin. That’s why he secretly installs a tracking app on her phone and watches her through hidden cameras in their home.
When he learns there’s a chance one of Erin’s kidneys will fail, he vows to shield her from the truth and find a donor for her at any cost.That’s how he meets Kathleen. She is the answer to his dreams, a perfect match for Erin. There’s only one problem – Kathleen has no intention of becoming a donor. That doesn’t bother Scott – he is confident he can manipulate her into giving him what he wants.But Kathleen isn’t as innocent as she looks, she has her own agenda. And she doesn’t care who she hurts as long as she gets what she needs.As lives hang in the balance, Erin and Kathleen are bound together by a terrible promise. But when that promise is broken, who will pay the ultimate price?
I did enjoy this book. Great story and characters. I liked Scott and Erin. Wasn't sure if I liked Kathleen. What a twist. Didn't see that coming. 5*.
If you break the promise, you pay the price.
Scott will do anything to protect his wife, Erin. That’s why he secretly installs a tracking app on her phone and watches her through hidden cameras in their home.
When he learns there’s a chance one of Erin’s kidneys will fail, he vows to shield her from the truth and find a donor for her at any cost.That’s how he meets Kathleen. She is the answer to his dreams, a perfect match for Erin. There’s only one problem – Kathleen has no intention of becoming a donor. That doesn’t bother Scott – he is confident he can manipulate her into giving him what he wants.But Kathleen isn’t as innocent as she looks, she has her own agenda. And she doesn’t care who she hurts as long as she gets what she needs.As lives hang in the balance, Erin and Kathleen are bound together by a terrible promise. But when that promise is broken, who will pay the ultimate price?
I did enjoy this book. Great story and characters. I liked Scott and Erin. Wasn't sure if I liked Kathleen. What a twist. Didn't see that coming. 5*.
February 19, 2022
The main characters in this book are Scott, a lawyer and his wife Erin. He has just defended a doctor who should have been struck off for the death of a patient on his table during surgery, and the real truth of what the doctor was doing would have seen him getting jailed instead! Scott is even taking the doctor up on the offer he made, as thanks for getting him off, but hopefully not for a while yet, as he needs to let the attention wane. He hasn’t been able to check on his wife whilst he was in court and now he needs to check his phone to see that everything is okay with her, as he is simply devoted to her. She just doesn’t know quite how much! He puts an idea into her head about donating a kidney t a stranger, but not through the donor registry, just person to person, to a woman in need who would be leaving a young daughter parentless. Erin is a people pleaser and wants to do something to help, especially as she wants kids with Scott as soon as they can and can’t imagine how much this mother is going through. She herself was only saved from death after a car accident, by a Good Samaritan pulling her free before her car burst into flames. Now she feels this is a way she could pay the favour back!
Scott has always pushed her to look after herself and even talks to her doctors to ensure that she is healthy. He is a terror in court, but the complete opposite with her. What she doesn’t know is that she is the one in danger, with a kidney that has started to fail and Scott will do anything to get her another kidney, no matter the cost or even whether it is legal! He keeps the truth from Erin as he does with everything in their lives, controlling what she actually knows and who she can talk to about it. Scoot was brought up with a mother who was always sick and he doesn’t want that for his and Erin’s children. But he also knows that if Erin knew the donor kidney was actually for her, she would refuse to take it. This way, he has persuaded her that she is doing something to help another and that it was all her own idea! Scott has already identified the perfect match for Erin, a woman called Kathleen. She is the answer to Scott’s dreams! The only problem is that unlike Erin, she doesn’t want to be a donor at all! No problem for Scott, he believes he can get her to do exactly what he wants, just like the juries he faces and his own wife.
Kathleen has her own reasons for needing a kidney and she isn’t very particular about worrying about the fact that the person she gets it from won’t survive the donation surgery. To her, it will solve all her problems and leave her worry free about the future. She isn’t innocent in what she wants and how it will happen at all. She has been on the transplant list for years and had a few people offer to donate and then pull out when they realise how complex and dangerous it really is. She doesn’t care who she hurts if it will get her what she needs. A bit like Scott with regards to his wife. She isn’t the only one that is playing a game with Erin’s life. The very doctor that Scott trusts has also made a deal with Kathleen. Which one is he going to follow and who is going to be paying the ultimate price for his actions and their own selfish needs? The story doesn’t end quite there, but goes onto an even more shocking end to the tale and certainly not one you would see coming, by a mile! I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
Scott has always pushed her to look after herself and even talks to her doctors to ensure that she is healthy. He is a terror in court, but the complete opposite with her. What she doesn’t know is that she is the one in danger, with a kidney that has started to fail and Scott will do anything to get her another kidney, no matter the cost or even whether it is legal! He keeps the truth from Erin as he does with everything in their lives, controlling what she actually knows and who she can talk to about it. Scoot was brought up with a mother who was always sick and he doesn’t want that for his and Erin’s children. But he also knows that if Erin knew the donor kidney was actually for her, she would refuse to take it. This way, he has persuaded her that she is doing something to help another and that it was all her own idea! Scott has already identified the perfect match for Erin, a woman called Kathleen. She is the answer to Scott’s dreams! The only problem is that unlike Erin, she doesn’t want to be a donor at all! No problem for Scott, he believes he can get her to do exactly what he wants, just like the juries he faces and his own wife.
Kathleen has her own reasons for needing a kidney and she isn’t very particular about worrying about the fact that the person she gets it from won’t survive the donation surgery. To her, it will solve all her problems and leave her worry free about the future. She isn’t innocent in what she wants and how it will happen at all. She has been on the transplant list for years and had a few people offer to donate and then pull out when they realise how complex and dangerous it really is. She doesn’t care who she hurts if it will get her what she needs. A bit like Scott with regards to his wife. She isn’t the only one that is playing a game with Erin’s life. The very doctor that Scott trusts has also made a deal with Kathleen. Which one is he going to follow and who is going to be paying the ultimate price for his actions and their own selfish needs? The story doesn’t end quite there, but goes onto an even more shocking end to the tale and certainly not one you would see coming, by a mile! I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
July 29, 2022
Read Full & Detailed review: https://cynthology.blogspot.com/2022/...
The book is written in the first person present tense PoV of Scott, Erin and Kathleen. The prose is tepid. It seems as if the narrative voice almost addresses us as readers, and that takes us out of the story.
I particularly hate it when characters get a "thought" that "makes me shiver" but "push it away, unwilling to give it any more of my time and energy" just to push the plot forward.
Much of the writing, in all three PoVs, is repetitive, belabouring a point long after it has been made. Over and over, we are told that Erin is good and kind. The over-explanation is extremely tedious.
The same thoughts are expressed in different ways in chapter after chapter, with very little changing in the real world. Words, phrases, plot, everything is repeated. The overall effect is that of an under-developed plot stretched thin.
None of the characters are likeable. Erin is stupid and doesn’t question anything. She comes across as holier-than-thou, babbling on and on about her desire to save Kathleen’s life, and I just couldn’t figure out what she did all day. Also, she’s just a decade older than Kathleen, yet she thinks of the latter as a daughter.
Scott spies on his wife and brags that even if his wife were to pick her nose, he’d know. He is just too controlling, and constantly repeats that he just loves her so much. Sorry, but that’s obsession, not love.
Kathleen is horrible but she doesn’t make a mark. She has the potential to be a very menacing character, but the endless repetition ends up undoing whatever effect the author strives for. Her motivations are the most ridiculous.
There are some inconsistencies and omissions. In Chapter 7, Scott tells us that Erin can’t cook, that if she made scrambled eggs, they would taste like rubber. In the same chapter, he lets on that during their courtship, she used to make hot meals for him.
Erin calls Kathleen, saying that her husband told her that she needed a kidney and that she, Erin, was willing to donate hers. In her own PoV, Kathleen keeps thanking Dr Thomas for finding Erin, when it is Erin who has sought her out.
Each of the three main characters think they are outsmarting the others, but they are only fooling themselves. In truth, there were no secrets at all. Each character insists on repeating their motivations and intentions over and over again. The chapters end on what is intended to be a mysterious note, but the effort falls short of the mark.
Some things remain unclear. How could Erin not know that she suffers from kidney failure? And why on earth does Scott want to hide it from her?
In Kathleen’s mother’s obit, which we learn that Erin put together, it is mentioned that Francine, mother of Kathleen, had heart disease and Alport Syndrome, the disease that Kathleen suffers from. Why was this fact not mentioned before? The character only harped on about her weak heart.
Also, Alport Syndrome is a genetic disease. Yet Kathleen keeps insisting that it is only a matter of time before her daughter gets it, never once mentioning the fact that her mother has it too and that it is an inherited condition.
The big reveal about the non-existent twin is pathetic.
The Prologue does a poor job of foreshadowing. The resolution is weak and the twist in the Epilogue unimpactful.
The book is written in the first person present tense PoV of Scott, Erin and Kathleen. The prose is tepid. It seems as if the narrative voice almost addresses us as readers, and that takes us out of the story.
I particularly hate it when characters get a "thought" that "makes me shiver" but "push it away, unwilling to give it any more of my time and energy" just to push the plot forward.
Much of the writing, in all three PoVs, is repetitive, belabouring a point long after it has been made. Over and over, we are told that Erin is good and kind. The over-explanation is extremely tedious.
The same thoughts are expressed in different ways in chapter after chapter, with very little changing in the real world. Words, phrases, plot, everything is repeated. The overall effect is that of an under-developed plot stretched thin.
None of the characters are likeable. Erin is stupid and doesn’t question anything. She comes across as holier-than-thou, babbling on and on about her desire to save Kathleen’s life, and I just couldn’t figure out what she did all day. Also, she’s just a decade older than Kathleen, yet she thinks of the latter as a daughter.
Scott spies on his wife and brags that even if his wife were to pick her nose, he’d know. He is just too controlling, and constantly repeats that he just loves her so much. Sorry, but that’s obsession, not love.
Kathleen is horrible but she doesn’t make a mark. She has the potential to be a very menacing character, but the endless repetition ends up undoing whatever effect the author strives for. Her motivations are the most ridiculous.
There are some inconsistencies and omissions. In Chapter 7, Scott tells us that Erin can’t cook, that if she made scrambled eggs, they would taste like rubber. In the same chapter, he lets on that during their courtship, she used to make hot meals for him.
Erin calls Kathleen, saying that her husband told her that she needed a kidney and that she, Erin, was willing to donate hers. In her own PoV, Kathleen keeps thanking Dr Thomas for finding Erin, when it is Erin who has sought her out.
Each of the three main characters think they are outsmarting the others, but they are only fooling themselves. In truth, there were no secrets at all. Each character insists on repeating their motivations and intentions over and over again. The chapters end on what is intended to be a mysterious note, but the effort falls short of the mark.
Some things remain unclear. How could Erin not know that she suffers from kidney failure? And why on earth does Scott want to hide it from her?
In Kathleen’s mother’s obit, which we learn that Erin put together, it is mentioned that Francine, mother of Kathleen, had heart disease and Alport Syndrome, the disease that Kathleen suffers from. Why was this fact not mentioned before? The character only harped on about her weak heart.
Also, Alport Syndrome is a genetic disease. Yet Kathleen keeps insisting that it is only a matter of time before her daughter gets it, never once mentioning the fact that her mother has it too and that it is an inherited condition.
The big reveal about the non-existent twin is pathetic.
The Prologue does a poor job of foreshadowing. The resolution is weak and the twist in the Epilogue unimpactful.
March 12, 2022
This story had the makings of a 5-star read but for 3 glaring holes.
Scott is a top defense lawyer, married to Erin, a naive, trusting and somewhat simplistic woman. He by contrast is unscrupulous, controlling, duplicitous and unethical. These are qualities he shares with most of the scumbags he defends. Top of this list is Dr Thomas, who he helps keep out of jail. "After I helped keep him out of jail a few years ago, I’ve been keeping tabs on him. Medical malpractice is no joke, but I took the case on and fought for him. Part of me felt bad for the family suing him over the loss of their loved one, but they didn’t just die on the table from an accident or negligence. I know the truth. I found out that Dr. Thomas actually harvested organs from his patient and gave them to someone else."
For a hefty price and unbeknownst to Erin Scott has been keeping obsessive track of her health amongst other things including watching what she does with via hidden cameras in their home and a tracker on her phone. When he discovers that her one kidney is less than perfect he concocts a plan with Dr Thomas not to let her know but to get her a matching kidney to replace the problematic one. She however will think that she is undergoing surgery as a donor of a kidney to help someone out.
Enter Kathleen, an irresponsible, deceitful, despicable woman who has herself had a transplant years earlier that is now playing up. She however, not only wants a kidney to replace her failing organ, she wants a second kidney for her daughter who she is sure will suffer from a similar disease to her, Alport syndrome, and is happy to make her daughter sick to the point of convincing Dr Thomas that her daughter requires a transplant too.
The glaring holes were:
1) The doctor convincing Scott, a sharp to the point of being an OCD shark, that Kathleen has a twin who will be the actual donor if Erin's kidney and that he a criminal can be trusted.
2) Dr Thomas writing a letter to Kathleen prior to going on the run when he could have simply given her instructions on how to care for her daughter, Cora Leaving her to believe that her daughter had received a transplant rather than confessing that he had taken one of Cora's kidneys was ridiculous.
3) No one goes home straight after a transplant, whether a donor or recipient.
I found the ending bizarre.
Three and a half stars.
Scott is a top defense lawyer, married to Erin, a naive, trusting and somewhat simplistic woman. He by contrast is unscrupulous, controlling, duplicitous and unethical. These are qualities he shares with most of the scumbags he defends. Top of this list is Dr Thomas, who he helps keep out of jail. "After I helped keep him out of jail a few years ago, I’ve been keeping tabs on him. Medical malpractice is no joke, but I took the case on and fought for him. Part of me felt bad for the family suing him over the loss of their loved one, but they didn’t just die on the table from an accident or negligence. I know the truth. I found out that Dr. Thomas actually harvested organs from his patient and gave them to someone else."
For a hefty price and unbeknownst to Erin Scott has been keeping obsessive track of her health amongst other things including watching what she does with via hidden cameras in their home and a tracker on her phone. When he discovers that her one kidney is less than perfect he concocts a plan with Dr Thomas not to let her know but to get her a matching kidney to replace the problematic one. She however will think that she is undergoing surgery as a donor of a kidney to help someone out.
Enter Kathleen, an irresponsible, deceitful, despicable woman who has herself had a transplant years earlier that is now playing up. She however, not only wants a kidney to replace her failing organ, she wants a second kidney for her daughter who she is sure will suffer from a similar disease to her, Alport syndrome, and is happy to make her daughter sick to the point of convincing Dr Thomas that her daughter requires a transplant too.
The glaring holes were:
1) The doctor convincing Scott, a sharp to the point of being an OCD shark, that Kathleen has a twin who will be the actual donor if Erin's kidney and that he a criminal can be trusted.
2) Dr Thomas writing a letter to Kathleen prior to going on the run when he could have simply given her instructions on how to care for her daughter, Cora Leaving her to believe that her daughter had received a transplant rather than confessing that he had taken one of Cora's kidneys was ridiculous.
3) No one goes home straight after a transplant, whether a donor or recipient.
I found the ending bizarre.
Three and a half stars.
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