It's here! Browse the 2024 Penguin Christmas gift guide
The Promise

The Promise

a life-affirming novel of love and loss from bestselling author Susan Sallis

Summary

Wartime memories evoke both pain and happiness in this heart-warming novel from multi-million copy seller and Sunday Times bestselling author Susan Sallis. Readers of Rosamunde Pilcher, Maeve Binchy and Fiona Valpy will not be disappointed.

'Sallis's West Country novel has the feel of Mary Wesley and character insight that is all
her own' -- Daily Mail
'The thing about Susan Sallis's books - once you pick them up, it's very hard to put them down!' -- ***** Reader review
'Brilliant' -- ***** Reader review
'Excellent read, very enjoyable' - -- ***** Reader review
'Wonderful' - -- ***** Reader review

*****

THE ONLY PROMISE WORTH MAKING IS THE ONE YOU KEEP...

There were four of the Thorpe family in the Anderson shelter the night of the raid on Coventry. Mum and Dad, Florrie and little May....

Jack was missing. He was one of those who had not come back from Dunkirk. And May had to promise to keep a terrible secret, a promise which affected the lives of all the survivors, until May herself was the only one left.

Seventy years later Daisy and Marcus, sixth formers in a Gloucestershire School, are given an A Level project on the bombing of Coventry in 1940. They go to talk to May, now living in sheltered accommodation nearby.

A friendship is forged which bridges the gap between them. The two youngsters have their own problems, but as their lives unfold they become involved in the strange history of May's missing brother and of the promise, made all those years ago, which still has its repercussions today.

About the author

Susan Sallis

Susan Sallis was the author of over twenty bestselling novels, many of them set in the West Country. She was born in Gloucestershire and lived in Somerset with her family. She died in 2020.
Learn More

Sign up to the Penguin Newsletter

For the latest books, recommendations, author interviews and more