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Promises to Keep
Librarian’s note: This is a previously-published edition of
Kindle ASIN: B07F2SP9MV.
She escaped a serial killer twenty years ago. Now he's back for revenge ... but this time, he wants her daughter.
A gripping psychological thriller with a haunting twist.
Twenty years ago, the Singing Woods Killer descended on the quiet suburban town of Dayfield to prey on sixteen-year-old girls, murdering four.
Then his fifth victim escaped, killing him in the process. Or did she?
Madeline Osborn is the girl who got away. Her ordeal left her with no memory of the week she spent with the killer, and a rare psychological disorder that preys on her mind, distorts what she sees. For years she's known that she can't trust her own thoughts.
That's why no one believes her -- including herself -- when she starts seeing the dead man who abducted her. At the supermarket. In her back yard.
But when her own sixteen-year-old daughter goes missing, Madeline begins to think she may not be crazy after all. He's back. And he wants her to suffer.
Now, if she can't uncover the truth about what happened to her twenty years ago, she'll pay the ultimate price: her daughter's life.
Powerful and captivating, PROMISES TO KEEP is an unrelenting, heart-stopping psychological thriller perfect for fans of Gone Girl, I Am Watching You, Silent Child, and The Girl on the Train.
Kindle ASIN: B07F2SP9MV.
She escaped a serial killer twenty years ago. Now he's back for revenge ... but this time, he wants her daughter.
A gripping psychological thriller with a haunting twist.
Twenty years ago, the Singing Woods Killer descended on the quiet suburban town of Dayfield to prey on sixteen-year-old girls, murdering four.
Then his fifth victim escaped, killing him in the process. Or did she?
Madeline Osborn is the girl who got away. Her ordeal left her with no memory of the week she spent with the killer, and a rare psychological disorder that preys on her mind, distorts what she sees. For years she's known that she can't trust her own thoughts.
That's why no one believes her -- including herself -- when she starts seeing the dead man who abducted her. At the supermarket. In her back yard.
But when her own sixteen-year-old daughter goes missing, Madeline begins to think she may not be crazy after all. He's back. And he wants her to suffer.
Now, if she can't uncover the truth about what happened to her twenty years ago, she'll pay the ultimate price: her daughter's life.
Powerful and captivating, PROMISES TO KEEP is an unrelenting, heart-stopping psychological thriller perfect for fans of Gone Girl, I Am Watching You, Silent Child, and The Girl on the Train.
316 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 26, 2018
555 people are currently reading
450 people want to read
About the author
S.W. Vaughn
33books138followersS.W. Vaughn lives in "scenic" Central New York, with its two glorious seasons -- winter and road construction -- along with her husband and son. An award-winning author, copywriter, and blogger, she's been writing professionally for over 15 years.
Under Sonya Bateman, she is the author of the DeathSpeaker Codex series (urban fantasy) and the Gavyn Donatti series (urban fantasy / Simon & Schuster).
Under Sonya Bateman, she is the author of the DeathSpeaker Codex series (urban fantasy) and the Gavyn Donatti series (urban fantasy / Simon & Schuster).
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 62 reviews
October 22, 2022
Rules to creating a popular book.
Check what genres sell � thrillers.
Give it a marketable protagonist � female.
Give her a perfectly nice and normal life � but a mysterious/dangerous/difficult past.
Or if you really wanna stretch your muscles � a psychological disorder, obscure if possible. Maybe some amnesia too, just because.
Now have that past rear its ugly rear in her face. Do it, shred her nice normal life. Put that damsel in distress. Yeah.
Ok, now alternate your timelines. Past and present.
The resent especially rite in a very minute way � no detail is too small. That was you’ll get your word count in.
Got it all? Ok, now twist it. Do that twist like Chubby Checker on speed. Do it until the last chapter.
It doesn’t matter if the twists are preposterous, far-fetched, or logic-defying? If you do them fast enough and the audience doesn’t go overthinking them, you got yourself a proper modern popular thriller. You’re good. You’re golden.
S.W. Vaughn obviously knows the rules. She uses every single one of them to craft this tale of a serial killer survivor who two decades later gets her own daughter taken in the same manner she was. Sure enough, it’s a fun, fast-paced, freakishly overplotted and overtwisted sort of thing, but it’s entertaining enough.
Oddly enough, a lot (and I mean, A LOT) of the plot hinges on the fact that rape victims in this book do not abort. No matter how horrific the rape, no matter how young they are. This occurs not once, not twice, but three time. WTF is up with that?
Did S.W. Vaughn base this on some old bygone medieval world’s rulebook or presciently anticipated US’s hideous return to those days? Weird.
Other than that, a perfectly decent if somewhat preposterous thriller, perfectly decent for a freebie, at any rate. Reads quickly too.
This and more at
Check what genres sell � thrillers.
Give it a marketable protagonist � female.
Give her a perfectly nice and normal life � but a mysterious/dangerous/difficult past.
Or if you really wanna stretch your muscles � a psychological disorder, obscure if possible. Maybe some amnesia too, just because.
Now have that past rear its ugly rear in her face. Do it, shred her nice normal life. Put that damsel in distress. Yeah.
Ok, now alternate your timelines. Past and present.
The resent especially rite in a very minute way � no detail is too small. That was you’ll get your word count in.
Got it all? Ok, now twist it. Do that twist like Chubby Checker on speed. Do it until the last chapter.
It doesn’t matter if the twists are preposterous, far-fetched, or logic-defying? If you do them fast enough and the audience doesn’t go overthinking them, you got yourself a proper modern popular thriller. You’re good. You’re golden.
S.W. Vaughn obviously knows the rules. She uses every single one of them to craft this tale of a serial killer survivor who two decades later gets her own daughter taken in the same manner she was. Sure enough, it’s a fun, fast-paced, freakishly overplotted and overtwisted sort of thing, but it’s entertaining enough.
Oddly enough, a lot (and I mean, A LOT) of the plot hinges on the fact that rape victims in this book do not abort. No matter how horrific the rape, no matter how young they are. This occurs not once, not twice, but three time. WTF is up with that?
Did S.W. Vaughn base this on some old bygone medieval world’s rulebook or presciently anticipated US’s hideous return to those days? Weird.
Other than that, a perfectly decent if somewhat preposterous thriller, perfectly decent for a freebie, at any rate. Reads quickly too.
This and more at
August 22, 2018
Wowsers!
Slow to start for me,but WOW, DANG,picked up very very quickly,what a twist,very good,hope to see more from this author!!!!
Slow to start for me,but WOW, DANG,picked up very very quickly,what a twist,very good,hope to see more from this author!!!!
July 18, 2019
This book was amazing. I was hooked from page one and my interested was held throughout the book. Many of the people I was able to foreshadow, but this did not detract from the book. There were also many situations that held mystery until the very end. I am not much of a mystery reader, but I would definitely suggest this book to anyone who would like to try something new.
July 2, 2022
Fascinating read that really held my interest throughout. It's about a serial killer of 16-year old girls, and the one survivor 20 years later. I only removed one star for the highly convoluted ending with a string of implausible and confusing plot twists. But if you like psychological/crime thrillers, this one is for you!
June 22, 2022
Honestly, what started as an ok story ended up with so many twists and turns, I got a little motion sickness. Half way through the book I gave up trying to figure anything out and just enjoyed the ride. The ending gave me chills and it’s definitely a book I won’t forget anytime soon.
December 30, 2018
I started reading this book as I found myself with time to spare but no paper book handy and I now wonder why I never picked this up sooner!
Once I started this story I found I could not put it down (and reading on a backlit kindle meant I could carry on reading in the middle of the night without disturbing the rest of the family) I had to keep reading to find out if Madeline was really regaining her memory from what happened to her when she was abducted by the Singing Woods Killer or was she just slowly getting more and more paranoid from this traumatic experience which has already left her with a rare psychological condition that means she can't always trust what her mind is telling her?
This book was full of twists and turns and just as I thought I had it all worked out what was happening with the storyline there was another twist and my theories came to nothing.
I am definitely looking out for more from this author, perfect if you love a good thriller.
Once I started this story I found I could not put it down (and reading on a backlit kindle meant I could carry on reading in the middle of the night without disturbing the rest of the family) I had to keep reading to find out if Madeline was really regaining her memory from what happened to her when she was abducted by the Singing Woods Killer or was she just slowly getting more and more paranoid from this traumatic experience which has already left her with a rare psychological condition that means she can't always trust what her mind is telling her?
This book was full of twists and turns and just as I thought I had it all worked out what was happening with the storyline there was another twist and my theories came to nothing.
I am definitely looking out for more from this author, perfect if you love a good thriller.
August 15, 2018
Amazing!
Wow, simply an amazing thriller, twists you would never expect! If you love a good mystery with twists you never see coming, then this is the book for you!
Wow, simply an amazing thriller, twists you would never expect! If you love a good mystery with twists you never see coming, then this is the book for you!
July 8, 2019
Maddie was abducted 20 years ago by a serial killer. Somehow she managed to escape and kill the perp, but she can't remember anything from the week she was held captive. She doesn't have a single memory between being pulled into the car and running for her life in the woods. On top of that, she's suffering from Capgras, a disorder that makes you think that people around you are imposters. So she knows that she can't always trust her own eyes and she has medication that keeps her illness under control. Suddenly she starts seeing her abductor on different places in town, and she has doubts about the new prescription pills that look different from the ones she used some years ago. Then, her own 16-year-old daughter disappears....
This is a 1st class psychological thriller, it blows your mind. The story is extremely well told and very cleverly broken into bite-sized bits of information that lead you in all directions, depending on which and how they're combined. This book was absolutely fantastic and cost me hours of sleep. I just couldn't put it down until I figured it all out. And that was impossible. Although seeing some of the storylines coming, there were so many twists and turns and red herrings pointing in the wrong direction that you have to read until the last line.
I received a free ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
This is a 1st class psychological thriller, it blows your mind. The story is extremely well told and very cleverly broken into bite-sized bits of information that lead you in all directions, depending on which and how they're combined. This book was absolutely fantastic and cost me hours of sleep. I just couldn't put it down until I figured it all out. And that was impossible. Although seeing some of the storylines coming, there were so many twists and turns and red herrings pointing in the wrong direction that you have to read until the last line.
I received a free ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
December 17, 2022
What She Forgot by S.W. Vaughn, 2018, psychological thriller
Madeline Osborn was the fifth victim of a kidnapper, rapist, murderer, but she escaped and killed her captor when she was 16. But she suffers from Capgras Syndrome, turning innocent people into killers because of hallucinations, and can't remember the week between being kidnapped and escaping.
Having an unreliable narrator (this story is in first person POV) helps to keep the reader guessing. Is she remembering correctly or is she remembering a falsehood? The story also switches between the past when Madeline was taken and the present when Madeline is married to Richard and has a 16-year-old daughter, Renata, that is the center of her life.
We learn about her friends, life, and those who turned against her after she escaped, including her best friend Carson and her boyfriend Ian. And only a week after being rescued, her father shot himself.
The story is packed with secrets, twists, and surprises and they are all woven expertly by Vaughn into a story that provides plenty of bad guys. Many of them you won't see coming. Clues are given throughout the story, but you'll have to pay attention to some of them. Not everything is as it seems, which is the goal of the story.
Madeline Osborn was the fifth victim of a kidnapper, rapist, murderer, but she escaped and killed her captor when she was 16. But she suffers from Capgras Syndrome, turning innocent people into killers because of hallucinations, and can't remember the week between being kidnapped and escaping.
Having an unreliable narrator (this story is in first person POV) helps to keep the reader guessing. Is she remembering correctly or is she remembering a falsehood? The story also switches between the past when Madeline was taken and the present when Madeline is married to Richard and has a 16-year-old daughter, Renata, that is the center of her life.
We learn about her friends, life, and those who turned against her after she escaped, including her best friend Carson and her boyfriend Ian. And only a week after being rescued, her father shot himself.
The story is packed with secrets, twists, and surprises and they are all woven expertly by Vaughn into a story that provides plenty of bad guys. Many of them you won't see coming. Clues are given throughout the story, but you'll have to pay attention to some of them. Not everything is as it seems, which is the goal of the story.
September 6, 2018
The Singing Woods Killer, he has taken 5 girls, all age 16, killed them all, but one. Madeline, she got away. She killed him, but doesn't remember anything about the week that she was held by him.
Now she is married, with a daughter of her own, and her husband, Richard. They are happy, have a good life, but the anniversary of when she killed the kidnapper is fast approaching. But, now, she is seeing him everywhere. But, it can't be, she killed him. He's dead, but is he?
When she sees a man in her backyard, she calls the police, but they are hesitant to come. She has a condition, that when she sees someone, it might be that person or not. So, the police show up, but don't really believe her.
Now her 16 year old daughter is missing. She gets a note in her mailbox that she a week to get her back before she is killed. But, will the police believe her now and help her find her daughter. This does have lots of twists in it and didn't figure out most of them A good suspense book, not be missed.
Now she is married, with a daughter of her own, and her husband, Richard. They are happy, have a good life, but the anniversary of when she killed the kidnapper is fast approaching. But, now, she is seeing him everywhere. But, it can't be, she killed him. He's dead, but is he?
When she sees a man in her backyard, she calls the police, but they are hesitant to come. She has a condition, that when she sees someone, it might be that person or not. So, the police show up, but don't really believe her.
Now her 16 year old daughter is missing. She gets a note in her mailbox that she a week to get her back before she is killed. But, will the police believe her now and help her find her daughter. This does have lots of twists in it and didn't figure out most of them A good suspense book, not be missed.
June 25, 2022
I almost didn't download this Freebie from Amazon cuz I thought the cover looked so shlocky, but I am glad i did. i devoured it in one sitting. The writing was fantastic, great descriptions and similes, metaphors and the storytelling was top notch. The characters were fully formed and the plot was twisty. There was a suspect whom I guessed early on but didn't know how they were connected and how they fit into the plot but most of the reveals took me by surprise. it was a complex story but not difficult to follow. There was a reveal towards the end, during the 'showdown', that made me roll my eyes, but that in now way took away my enjoyment of this unique and expertly crafted story. I am definitely going to check out the author's other books.
July 3, 2022
Beyond amazing
This is my first book by this author and boy am I hooked. If you're looking for a highly intense psychological thriller this is the book for you. Most of the time I figure the book out but this one I didn't. There was some parts I had to stop and re read because I was like what the h*ll, what did I just read. This story was beyond good. I loved it. I had never heard of the disorder that Madeline the main character lived with and I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy. God bless you all that do live with it. I highly highly recommend this book. It was phenomenal.
This is my first book by this author and boy am I hooked. If you're looking for a highly intense psychological thriller this is the book for you. Most of the time I figure the book out but this one I didn't. There was some parts I had to stop and re read because I was like what the h*ll, what did I just read. This story was beyond good. I loved it. I had never heard of the disorder that Madeline the main character lived with and I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy. God bless you all that do live with it. I highly highly recommend this book. It was phenomenal.
November 5, 2024
It took awhile to get started. The first 1/4? 1/3? Of the book are slow but I wanted to know the “secret� or whatever you want to call it so I muscled though. Then it started to get better and I was hooked, but at some point I came up with an idea as to who the antagonist was and the deeper we got into the book the more likely that suspect became.
By the time I got to the end I was certain I knew who would end up being the villain. I was right. But man, the ending was a hot mess of weird scenarios that I couldn’t follow and also seemed so unlikely it was comical.
The middle was good but the beginning and end + the predictability ended at a 2 of 5 for me.
By the time I got to the end I was certain I knew who would end up being the villain. I was right. But man, the ending was a hot mess of weird scenarios that I couldn’t follow and also seemed so unlikely it was comical.
The middle was good but the beginning and end + the predictability ended at a 2 of 5 for me.
June 28, 2022
This was a slow starter for me and took a bit to get involved in the story line. Madeline, with her psychological issues stemming from a kidnapping when she was 16, was emotionally overwhelming at times, yet she continued to persevere. Chapters sometimes go to the past to give Madeline's history. Relationships among the characters are complex and riddled with deceit. Plenty of twists and turns, some unexpected. I found the ending to be a bit convoluted and far fetched. Entertaining enough I finished the book and will likely try others by this author.
July 1, 2022
Strange enticing who done it
Its the 20th anniversary of Madeline escaping a killer and something strange is happening. Sadly, the week she was missing is a total blank and to thus day she remembers nothing. Now she thinks she has seen her abductor but no one believes her. Then her biggest fear happens, uh er daughter, Renata, goes missing. Madeline is left wondering how much is her imagination, what is real, and s the truth. The truth will leave you shocked. Such a great read.
Its the 20th anniversary of Madeline escaping a killer and something strange is happening. Sadly, the week she was missing is a total blank and to thus day she remembers nothing. Now she thinks she has seen her abductor but no one believes her. Then her biggest fear happens, uh er daughter, Renata, goes missing. Madeline is left wondering how much is her imagination, what is real, and s the truth. The truth will leave you shocked. Such a great read.
November 6, 2022
4.5 stars
This book gets a solid 4.5 stars from me.
After reading all of Freida McFadden’s books, pretty much back to back, I started to think I would never find another author who could do the twisty endings as well as she could. Then I came across this book and am so happy I did.
It was a very interesting, easy to read story with more than one twist. I was held captive the whole way through and didn’t fell it lagging once. I look forward to reading my next book by this author.
Highly recommended.
This book gets a solid 4.5 stars from me.
After reading all of Freida McFadden’s books, pretty much back to back, I started to think I would never find another author who could do the twisty endings as well as she could. Then I came across this book and am so happy I did.
It was a very interesting, easy to read story with more than one twist. I was held captive the whole way through and didn’t fell it lagging once. I look forward to reading my next book by this author.
Highly recommended.
January 7, 2021
Enjoyed
I enjoyed this book 📖 the characters were good and the suspense was good but it seems like more and more suspense/thrillers have to much in common. One person gets attacked, the victim can’t remember what happened and the story ends the same way,close to home. (Hopefully not giving away to much details about the book) so that’s why I gave it three thumbs
🏼🏼🏼
🤓❤️📚❣️❣️
I enjoyed this book 📖 the characters were good and the suspense was good but it seems like more and more suspense/thrillers have to much in common. One person gets attacked, the victim can’t remember what happened and the story ends the same way,close to home. (Hopefully not giving away to much details about the book) so that’s why I gave it three thumbs
🏼🏼🏼
🤓❤️📚❣️❣️
August 14, 2018
A “Nonstop� Thriller!
I have to say this is one of my favorite thrillers so far! It has so many cleverly written scenes. It has so many twists and turns and will keep you wondering what could happen next? I loved it. I am now a fan of this author and will be following what comes next!
I have to say this is one of my favorite thrillers so far! It has so many cleverly written scenes. It has so many twists and turns and will keep you wondering what could happen next? I loved it. I am now a fan of this author and will be following what comes next!
June 20, 2022
Full of twists
What a book. I tried to read this in one sitting, but didn't work out. This book grabbed my attention immediately and didn't let up until the last sentence. There are several twists you will not see coming. The writing is outstanding. I look forward to reading other books by this author.
What a book. I tried to read this in one sitting, but didn't work out. This book grabbed my attention immediately and didn't let up until the last sentence. There are several twists you will not see coming. The writing is outstanding. I look forward to reading other books by this author.
June 25, 2022
What She Forgot will keep you guessing. I jumped from person to person throughout this entire book and when it finally got to the end, I needed to put the book down for a few minutes to catch my breath because everything that was happening was even more than I could have expected. Exciting psychological thriller!
June 25, 2022
I was not a huge fan of the story line or the writing, to be completely honest. It felt a bit poorly written, more details on food being eaten than the characters feelings. There were also a few times that I stopped and asked myself if I read things correctly because...well, where did that come from, and not in a good plot twist way.
July 15, 2022
I’m literally crying in all the right ways. This book is a complete roller coaster. You think you’ve got it figured out, then the book makes you question it all. I haven’t been on a trip like this book gave me in a very long time. HIGHLY recommend if you think you’re good at figuring out plots. All I can say is WOW!
December 4, 2022
I might have liked this a bit better if there hadn’t been so many typos/wrong names. It was a good story that kept me guessing. Even though there were a lot of people having babies and it took some time to figure out whose kid was who and which ones of those were intending to kill Renata or Madeline.
June 22, 2022
WOW
Talk about a twisting, upside down, crazy roller coaster ride with so many turns. This is a book you could never discover the outcome. Even if you are a puzzle genius. I could not put this book down. Read in completely in one evening.
Talk about a twisting, upside down, crazy roller coaster ride with so many turns. This is a book you could never discover the outcome. Even if you are a puzzle genius. I could not put this book down. Read in completely in one evening.
July 5, 2022
When she finally remembers...
A haunting story of mental illness brought on by traumatic events. Love lost and Love found. You will be on the edge of your seat wondering what will happen next!
A haunting story of mental illness brought on by traumatic events. Love lost and Love found. You will be on the edge of your seat wondering what will happen next!
July 10, 2022
Fantastic book
A very well written storyline with great characters. A little too easy to figure out the who is it, who done, but still a story that reaches out and won't let go. Will be reading more of this authors work.
A very well written storyline with great characters. A little too easy to figure out the who is it, who done, but still a story that reaches out and won't let go. Will be reading more of this authors work.
July 15, 2022
Extremely Twisted Psychological Thriller
Wow! Buyer beware, extremely twisted plot. A great read with superb characters. Twists and turns that will leave you dizzy. A fantastic story line.
Wow! Buyer beware, extremely twisted plot. A great read with superb characters. Twists and turns that will leave you dizzy. A fantastic story line.
July 31, 2022
unbelievable twists.
This book is terrorizing in its twisted plot that changes everything. When you think you have things figured out be prepared to be shocked. Right to the very end!
This book is terrorizing in its twisted plot that changes everything. When you think you have things figured out be prepared to be shocked. Right to the very end!
March 27, 2023
A mother's love
A story about a woman who didn't believe her mom loved her. Her whole life was a lie. She over compensates by smothering her daughter. And not paying attention to the warning signals around her. Very suspenseful and keeps you on your toes.
A story about a woman who didn't believe her mom loved her. Her whole life was a lie. She over compensates by smothering her daughter. And not paying attention to the warning signals around her. Very suspenseful and keeps you on your toes.
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