The Promise Falls Trilogy is an exciting domestic thriller series set in the fictional town of Promise Falls, located in upstate New York, north of Albany. The series features a large cast of characters, but the principal detectives throughout the trilogy are David Harwood, a small-town reporter who returns to Promise Falls; private investigator Cal Weaver; and Detective Barry Duckworth. These characters first appeared in standalone novels written prior to the Promise Falls Trilogy (see below for details).
Readers appreciate the many twists and turns in the series and note that Linwood Barclay has a knack for writing gripping stories. He keeps readers on the edge of their seats with expertly woven suspense, tension, and complex, believable characters.
Although Broken Promise (Book 1) and Far From True (Book 2) are largely standalone novels with a subplot running in the background, it’s recommended to read the trilogy in order to avoid spoilers. This is especially important because Linwood Barclay intentionally wrote the three books so that the subplot “explodes” in The Twenty-Three (Book 3). He describes his “elevator pitch” for the trilogy as, “What if you had someone who wanted to get even with an entire town?” and he wrote the three novels within 15 months with the clear goal of connecting them.
There are several books related to the Promise Falls Trilogy. Final Assignment (Book 1.5) and Parting Shot (Book 3.5) are directly related to the characters and storylines in the trilogy. Parting Shot especially should be read only after finishing the trilogy to avoid spoilers, as it serves as a coda to the trilogy.
The standalone novels Never Look Away (2008), Too Close to Home (2010), and A Tap on the Window (2013) all predate the trilogy. These books are set in Promise Falls and feature characters who appear in the later trilogy. Too Close to Home focuses on Jim Cutter and introduces Barry Duckworth, Never Look Away centers on small-town reporter David Harwood and his family, and A Tap on the Window has Cal Weaver as the main protagonist.