Promises of Home

Jordan Poteet #3

by Jeff Abbott

In a small Texas town, murder brings home the unforgotten past.
Twenty years ago, as Hurricane Althea lashed Central Texas, twelve-year-old Jordan Poteet and his friends decided to ride it out in their tree house. But in the still eye of the tempest, they raced for safety--and stumbled over the body of a beautiful girl.
Now, the six schoolmates who shared the grisly sight of death so long ago are being coolly murdered, one by one, day by day. By whom? Why? Unless Jordan and Police Chief Junebug Moncrief, another survivor of the storm, can answer those questions fast, it will be their turn to die. . . .

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Crime, Cozy Mystery, Ebooks

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 31, 1996

About the author

Jeff Abbott (born 1963) is a U.S. suspense novelist. He has a degree in History and English from Rice University. He lives in Austin, Texas. His early novels were traditional detective fiction but in recent years he has turned to writing thriller fiction. A theme of his work is the idea of ordinary people caught up in extraordinary danger and fighting to return to their normal lives. His novels are published in several countries and have also been bestsellers in the United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland, and France.

Series:
* Whit Mosley
* Jordan Poteet

Reviews

[Satrajit Sanyal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twelve-year-old Jordan Poteet and his best friends decide to ride out a hurricane in a tree house. When high winds frighten them down from their perch, they run for home and discover a dead body on the way. It is presumed that the young girl died as a result of the storm, but later events cast some doubt on this conclusion.

The story continues in the present with the 12-year-olds now in their 30's. One of them is returning home after deserting his wife and son. Upon his return, his buddies begin to show up dead. Concern grows as the killer seems to get closer to Jordan and his remaining friends. Abbott's conclusions are never simple, and the dysfunctional family lives of Jordan's friends are exposed during the course of his investigation. This is another well-written book by a talented author.

[Vickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amateur sleuth n that the main character is not a private detective or associated with the police but is, in fact, a librarian by career. This is pure suspense with not much in the way of lightness that often occurs in amateur sleuth/cozy mysteries.
I really like this author and this series. Well-drawn characters without going over-the-top Texan stereotype on the reader. A small town that doesn't get featured as much as the people who live in or near it. In a lot of cozy/amateur sleuth, the town is as much a character as the people are. Not so here. The people tell the story.
It is a dark story, with a past death coming back to haunt and new deaths occurring 20 years later to the witnesses.
Jordan came home to help his sister care for their ailing mother and to take over the care of the town library. He misses the big city, but seems to find plenty to keep him busy with the library and helping his sister and girlfriend with their new business venture of reopening the town's café.
Then there are the deaths that he feels compelled to look into. His investigations don't feel forced on the reader, these are his friends who are being killed. Friends he thought he knew, but not everything is as it seems. Hidden truths that bring out the worst in someone.
Definite recommend.

[Dennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

PROMISES OF HOME is the third in the series of four Jordan Poteet mysteries by Jeff Abbott set in the small town of Mirabeau, Texas. The series is Abbott's first published novels, himself a native Texan. If you've read them from the beginning, each story is told in first person by Jordan Poteet, the town librarian and amateur detective. Of the three, this is the most complex, somewhat personal story of Jordie when, along with his group of friends, just before their teenage years, decide to ride out a hurricane in their treehouse hangout. Realizing the treehouse is no match for the storm, while running for safer territory through the woods, they stumble upon the body of a young woman. Flash forward twenty years, the men are still friends to varying degrees, their gruesome discovery nearly forgotten, until one of them is shot to death, followed quickly by another Is someone out to kill all those who had seen that girl's body? Jordie and Junebug, now the town's police chief, make it their business to find out, as their own lives could be in jeopardy. Abbott creates several new and colorful characters, along with those we've met in the previous two books. The reader will feel comfortable with Jordie, his family and friends, as the plot twists and turns to a surprising conclusion. Abbott engagingly mixes murder and humor, leaving me anticipating the final chapter in this all too brief series.

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the Jordan Poteet books, although I find that the e-book versions are the most appallingly edited I've ever read. Some are almost incomprehensible, and I find myself often having to guess what a word is meant to be.
However, the books themselves are wonderful with well rounded characters for whom my affection grows with each book. The stories are appealing and unique and each ending is a genuine surprise.
It's not deep literature, but it's good, fun reading.

[Carmen · Rating 2 out of 5]

The sequel to THE ONLY GOOD YANKEE. A very good mystery book. Jordan's childhood friends are being picked off, one by one. Why? Some new people come to town – do they have anything to do with it? Jordan, as usual, comes off as smug and judgmental, but also lost and struggling. He and his friends found a body during the tornado twenty years ago. Was she killed by the storm...or was it murder? Does that have anything to do with people dying now?

[Vicky Beltz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jordy is at it again when friends, who were involved in a childhood incident, are suddenly being murdered.

[Kelly Mcdonough · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really really like the Jordy Poteet character. I wish Jeff Abbot would write more of him...

[Jeff Dickison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy this series by Abbott, but be warned, this one is a little darker, dealing with homosexuality, fear of condemnation, psychotic episodes and husband beating. Not to mention murder. Years after a tornado hit Mirabeau, Texas Jordy's friends began to be bumped off. The only connection is that they were all present when the body of a teenage girl was found right after the tornado passed. Recommended to Jordy Poteet fans and to lovers of small town mysteries.

[Caitlin Faulkner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good Jordan Poteet book.

I really enjoy this series...this book probably the most so far. I thought I had it figured out early on(I’m unfortunately good at that),but was completely wrong. Great character development in these books. It’s like checking in with your friends.

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable mystery with Jordan again.

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad. Quick read.

[Carolyn Fagan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best is the series so far... only one left😩

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great gym workout mystery. Glad I was to the point that I "had" to finish it at home today.

[Virginia Kessen · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books keep getting better. Sorry I'm about to start the last one in the series. I'll have to try some of Abbott's other books.

[Karl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read and a real page turner of a book. Loved it and thought it was a great exploration of moral decay in a small town setting.

[Jacy Carroll-Bussman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed this one as well!

[Ed · Rating 3 out of 5]

#3 in the Jordan Poteet series shows that the series will not be content to present episodic entries against a static background. Central to the story is a twenty year flashback. Also, Jordan's family, the reason for his return to Mirabeau, TX from a much more affluent life in Boston, MA, seems about to be divided.

Jordan Poteet series - In a small Texas town, murder brings home the unforgotten past. Twenty years ago, as Hurricane Althea lashed Central Texas, twelve-year-old Jordan Poteet and his friends decided to ride it out in their tree house. But in the eye of the tempest, they raced for safety--and stumbled over the body of a beautiful girl. Now, the six schoolmates who shared the grisly sight are being murdered, one by one, day by day. By whom? Why? Unless Jordan and Police Chief Junebug Moncrief, another survivor of the storm, can answer those questions, it will be their turn to die.

[LJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

PROMISES OF HOME - G
Abbott, Jeff - 3rd in Jordan Poteet series

Twenty years ago, as Hurricane Althea lashed Central Texas, twelve-year-old Jordan Poteet and his friends decided to ride it out in their tree house. But in the still eye of the tempest, they raced for safety--and stumbled over the body of a beautiful girl.

Now, the six schoolmates who shared the grisly sight of death so long ago are being coolly murdered, one by one, day by day. By whom? Why? Unless Jordan and Police Chief Junebug Moncrief, another survivor of the storm, can answer those questions fast, it will be their turn to die.

I enjoyed this. Abbott captures central Texas and really brings his characters to life. It was lighter than I usually like, but it was good.

[Barbra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 3rd in the Jordan Poteet series. Jordy is the town librarian in a small Texas town - this is a cozy mystery and a good fun read.

Back Cover Blurb:
Twenty years ago, as Hurricane Althea lashed Central Texas, twelve-year-old Jordan Poteet and his friends decided to ride it out in their tree house. But in the still eye of the tempest, they raced for safety - and stumbled over the body of a beautiful girl.
Now the six schoolmates who shared the grisly sight of death so long ago are being coolly murdered, one by one, day by day. By whom? Why? Unless Jordan and Police Chief Junebug Moncrief, another survivor of the storm, can answer those questions fast, it will be their turn to die....

[John]

In a small Texas town, murder brings home the unforgotten past.
Twenty years ago, as Hurricane Althea lashed Central Texas, twelve-year-old Jordan Poteet and his friends decided to ride it out in their tree house. But in the still eye of the tempest, they raced for safety--and stumbled over the body of a beautiful girl.
Now, the six schoolmates who shared the grisly sight of death so long ago are being coolly murdered, one by one, day by day. By whom? Why? Unless Jordan and Police Chief Junebug Moncrief, another survivor of the storm, can answer those questions fast, it will be their turn to die.

Very good, enjoyed whole series with Jordan Poteet as the main character.

[Mina · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a small Texas town, murder brings home the unforgotten past.
Twenty years ago, as Hurricane Althea lashed Central Texas, twelve-year-old Jordan Poteet and his friends decided to ride it out in their tree house. But in the still eye of the tempest, they raced for safety--and stumbled over the body of a beautiful girl.
This story alot of people said that it was real and some people said no but in the story they end with jeff and they left the ending part as to read the next one but it was really awsome.

[David Peters · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another of my paperback pocket reads.

We get a little more character background with this mystery when Jordy Poteet's childhood friends begin dying one by one. It all begins when Jordy's ex-best friend, who also happens to be Sister's ex-husband, suddenly returns to town.

The message for me. Dark secrets seldom stay hidden without consequence.

[Nancy]

Jordan Poteet, librarian, and six friends when they were kids found a body during a hurricane. Twenty years later the friends start to be killed off. One, the ex husband of Jordan's sister, is killed. The woman who the ex husband was living with had a child and the child was the killer. He didn't want anyone else to have the man as his father. Jordan's nephew was the man's child.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before Abbott started in on his thrillers, he wrote this "cozy" series, with a great mix of southern characters. In this third in the series, Jordan finds out his friends, from when he was in grade school....had no idea how they changed after becoming adults. Full of wit and quirky folks, a fun light read.

[Ed Schmidt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really started off loving the characters and the writing style of this book. I just think the storyline a got little too crowded at the end. I honestly got tired as each new dilema was revealed. However, I will check out other tiles from this author.

[Mark · Rating 1 out of 5]

Slightly worse than the other Poteet book in The Box Under the Stairs.

The one redeeming quality I had hoped to take away was the repeated product placement of some brewery in Austin that apparently no longer exists. Oh well.

[Mary (Biblophile) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the down-home flavor of these mysteries. Wonderful sarcastic wit.

[Doug · Rating 4 out of 5]

Six friends find a dead body when they are kids and then 30 years later they all begin start to be murdered. A little far-fetched at times, but an good read

[Teddi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't quite enjoy this one as much. I'm not sure why - it was just darker.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Men and their pride! The men of Mirabeau just keep falling left and right...can Jordy Poteet find out who's bringing them down?