Promises to Keep : A Novel

Rating:
Summary: Family Drama
Review: A suspenseful and heart-wrenching novel, Promises To Keep, takes you into the lives of the Kirkwood family. An ordinary day turns tragic as Troy, a single father, comes up missing, leaving Meika, his 5 year old daughter, alone at the movies. It is later determined that Troy had been murdered, but there are no clues left behind to aid in finding the killer.

Nola and Ron, Troy's parents, ban together along with Troy's brother, Vann, to investigate the murder. Vann returns home only to become obsessed with the case, leaving his girlfriend and her children feeling abandoned. Relationships are put to the test during this stressful time and all are forced to deal with their own separate demons.

As the Kirkwoods attempt to return to a normal life another bomb shell is dropped into their lap. Meika's drug addicted mother, Cordelia, comes back into the picture demanding custody of her daughter. Once again, the family must face disappointment and pain.

Gloria Mallette pens a very descriptive novel. Although it is a little drawn out in the middle, and the end leaves you with some unanswered questions, most of the book is page-turning drama.

Tina
...

Rating:
Summary: A Families Struggle Aganist Drugs a/ The Loss of A Loved One
Review: I really enjoyed this book to it's fullest!! The characters were well thought out and they fit the parts prefectly. The family did have a lot of trying times were I didn't know what would happen after the death of Troy. Meika was put through alot for a child being forced to be with a mother she never really knew. Nola and Ron were the BOMB! Trying to fight for their grandbaby and her well being knowing that's what Troy would have wanted. Cordelia was wrong for everything she did. She knew she only wanted Meika for all the wrong reasons,that's why in the end Meika ended up back where she belonged. Sometimes in the court systems the judge only sees the law for what it is and not what it really does to the child. I glad the story ended like it did for everyone.

Rating:
Summary: A Keeper
Review: In Promises To Keep, Gloria Mallette's follow up to Shades Of Jade, we find Troy Kirkwood, a recently divorced father of a 5 year murdered in cold blood while at the movies with his daughter. What follows after this is a study of how murder, hayhem, and mystery play havoc in a close-knit African-American family. Iit's amazing how ill-will find a place to right wrongs, and in this case it shows how one family becomes unglued and the joy of seeing it put back together in a series of configurations that sets this novel apart from others ranging in the same genre.

Setting the stage for this story involves the tragic loss of a son and father, the struggle to keep the family together, and the tracking of a meticulous killer who is adept at covering his tracks. Familial obligations, the strength of love, and strong family ties give this novel a lot of flavor. The more I read, the more I surmised that it's not so much a mystery as it reads more of the resolve it took for the Kirkwoods to act as a unified force in keeping the homefront intact.

A great storyline, a moving plot, and character driven, the author does an excellent job of exploring the range of strengths and weaknesses of each family member as they wrrestle with the pain of loss. The youngest son Vann, headstrong with a temper to match, play a pivotal part with his exuberance and zeal to play the ultimate detective at the expense of the real detective originally assigned the case. Nola and Ron, parents of the deceased must face their own shortcomings displaying envious tendencies, flings of jealousy, deceit, and insecurity based on guilt feelings for not being good parents in their way of thinking.

The story moves along in the beginning at a reasonable clip but tend to slow and bog down in the middle stages when the author focuses too much on the sappy scenes depicting intra-family nuances that could have been left out all together. After reading many non-fiction books with heavy subject matter for the last few months, I was ready for the change of pace, something light---not to be confused or implied as poorly written. Promises to Keep was full and I completed the book with a good sense of satisfaction. The characters were nicely drawn. I can't argue with the logic, narrative, or direction of the story. Promises to Keep was a soundly constructed story and moved at a nice steady clip. I relished it and anxiously look forward to Mallette's next novel.

Rating:
Summary: R.E.A.L
Review: OMG. Damn(...) this book is off the hook and the best art there wasn't any slang for you to decode(although theres nothing wrong with it)and not that many curse words. This plot can be seen all around the world, the situation is so mind twisting and sad that you feel for the character Troy. Must Read.

Rating:
Summary: This Book is a Must Read! Move it Up on Your TRL!
Review: Promises To Keep by Gloria Mallette is a page turner and compelling read. The storyline is intriguing and suspenseful and tugs heavily on the heartstrings. Mallette introduces us to the Kirkwood family and takes us on an emotional rollercoaster to track down the murderer of Troy Kirkwood.

What started out as a normal day, typical father-daughter outing ended in a tragedy. Meika, already abandoned by her mother, is now left fatherless at the tender, young age of 5. Troy's parents, Nola and Ron, are in shock and left wondering who would commit such a heinous act against their eldest son. As far as anyone knew, Troy didn't have any known enemies...except for maybe his crack-addicted, ex-wife, Cordelia. With the help of their younger son, Vann, Nola and Ron must come to grips with the moment, bury their son and then search for the murderer. Along the way, life still goes on and as tempers are pushed to the limit regarding Troy's untimely death, Nola and Ron must face their own shortcomings as well as deal with the demons of envy, jealousy, deceit and insecurity. Vann must confront head-on issues that have dogged him since childhood. Will this family be able to survive the obstacles that continue to run them down? Will they ever find Troy's murderer?

Promises To Keep is a multi-dimensional story. Mallette gives us a story that is equally plot and character driven. She gives us characters that we feel-whether it be empathy, pity, sorrow, happiness, joy, or hatred-we feel something for each character presented. Promises To Keep is creatively crafted and Mallette treads topics that are rarely written about in a fictional manner-Missing Persons, Children Raised By Fathers/Paternal Grandparents, and the worst situation of all...a mother who appears to care more about the pipe rather than her own flesh and blood.

Mallette's latest novel is an entertaining and engrossing read than can be read in one sitting. Fans and newcomers alike will enjoy Promises To Keep. I recommend it to all and look forward to Ms. Mallette's next novel.

Yasmin
APOOO Bookclub

Rating:
Summary: A Fan for life
Review: So many "black" novels are love relationship novels, not that this is bad because it isn't; I was just looking for more diversity in the form of a suspense/mystery.I found such an excellent book in Promises to Keep. Rarely has a book kept me this interested. I kept looking for clues to see who the real killer was and also to see if Meika would eventually go to her grandparents or her crack addicted mother. After I finished this book I just went to the bookstore and didn't have any particular title in mind, I just wanted another book by Ms. Mallette because she has hooked me on her writing.

Rating:
Summary: OUTSTANDING!!...
Review: This is an excellent novel and Gloria Mallette is a terrific writer. I look forward to reading her next book.

Rating:
Summary: A very good read
Review: This was a very descriptive and suspenseful book.

If you are looking for a fast read this is the book for you.

Rating:
Summary: Captivating!!!! Riveting!!!!!!!Moving!!!!!!!!
Review: What more can I say,what a beautifully written book. If you are looking for a fast paced read that does not leave you when you are done reading it this is the book for you.Gloria once again has captivated me with her words this sister really can write Dayuuum,Dayuuum,Dayuuum like Florida Evans on Good Times would say. This sister held my attention page after page. I am really looking for the sequel. What a wonderful inspiration to families everywhere of how tragedy strikes and there were plenty of arguments but they still stuck together. I also loved the way Gloria incorporated the mother in law daughter in law concept into this story. Because many mother in law's don't realize that there daughter in law is a human with real feelings. Wow!!!!!! I will not tell you anything about the book because it will take away from your experience.This book is like an Eric Jerome Dickey book it keeps you wanting more and more.