The Promise of a Lie

Howard Roughan's The Promise of Lie is a sensational thriller that once it gets going you cannot put down until the end. It is a lot more unpredictable than his former novel The Up and Comer although this book does spend a bit long at the beginning of the novel setting up the scene for the plot and the main character David Remler. If it were any slower I probably would have stopped reading, but when Conrad is murdered the pace quickens to an exceptional pace for the remainder of the novel. In the Promise of a Lie famous author and psychologist David Remler has a patient who no longer requires his services so a gap opens in his hectic schedule. A Sam Grant is on the waiting list so Dr Remler books him in only to discover he is a she. She is the husband of the wealthy Conrad Kent who has told her she will not get to see their child if she divorces him. He is quickly seduced by her beauty and after spending the night in his apartment the next morning rings him and tells him she has murdered Conrad and is about to kill herself. Remler races to her house where he finds Conrad dead in bed but no sign of Samantha. Two police officers however do find him there and it is not long before he discovers Samantha Kent had no son, claims she has never heard of him and doesn't look a thing like the Samantha Kent he was falling in love with, and of course did not murder her husband. With no evidence to support his story Remler is soon on trial for murder. This is a great book. David Remler does do some stupid things that you would have imagined someone intelligent enough to become a psychologist would know not to, such as roll over a dead body. Also what would have happened if the slot never opened up for Samantha in his schedule or someone else had got it. Apart from this though, The Promise of Lie is a sensation thriller which I would highly recommend to anyone.

I really liked the characters, the storyline, the way the writer spins the characters, and the way he makes you think the story has ended and then, boom, a new twist that makes you intrigued. I hated putting the book down to take care of other responsibilities. This is a fast read. Quite a quandry that the poor main character got himself into.

Roughan's a consistant writer...another knock out! I started the book late one evening and stayed up way too late that night. I finished it the next day. It was an excellent read. I applaud the writer for being able to keep the reader on edge all of the way through the novel. I liked all the characters as well as his excellent storyline and development. I believe that this is only his second book, but I predict that there will be a lot more before he's finished! Read it........you'll be glad you did!

In Howard Roughan's thriller, "The Promise of a Lie," psychologist David Remler is still mourning the death of his beloved wife, Rebecca, who was killed in a car accident three years earlier. David is a compassionate and dedicated professional who finds comfort in his work. One day, a beautiful patient who calls herself Samantha Kent comes to see Dr. Remler. Samantha sets in motion a complicated series of events that culminate in Remler's being charged with the murder of Conrad Birch, Kent's husband. The doctor frantically tries to convince the police that he has been framed, but his protestations fall on deaf ears. Dr. Remler, the first person narrator, is an intelligent, witty, charming and sympathetic protagonist. The secondary characters are lively as well. Terry Garrett and Victor Glass are two top-notch defense attorneys who give David hope that he can escape the frame-up. Other notable characters are a crusty old judge named Lomax, a highly skilled and somewhat shady computer hacker, and an eccentric billionaire and philanthropist named Arnold Kesper. These people all play key roles in determining David's fate. Roughan writes with panache and he manages to make an improbable plot seem plausible. "The Promise of a Lie" is fast-moving and suspenseful, and I enjoyed the entertaining mix of romance, courtroom theatrics, and surprising twists and turns. This book is a winner from a very talented author.

In just his second novel, Howard Roughan is fast estabishing himself as one of the better writers in the mystery/thriller genre. Roughan's writing style is easy and fun to read, his characters are well-developed, credible and (mostly)likable, and his plot is exciting, suspenseful and filled with surprises. The Promise Of A Lie will keep you glued to the pages to see what happens next. I'd highly recommend this book to you!