Promise Me Eternity

By Ian Fox

Dr. Simon Patterson is a successful and well-respected neurosurgeon at Central Hospital in the town of Seattle. Married, though without children, he keeps himself so busy that one day is not much different from another. Until, that is, he saves the life of the powerful mobster Carlo Vucci.
At a dinner in honor of Dr. Patterson, Carlo Vucci introduces him to his alluring wife Christine. Simon is entranced by her beauty.
Three weeks later, Christine shows up at the hospital, complaining of terrible headaches. Dr. Patterson offers to help her, but Christine did not come to see him just because of her headaches. A series of shocking events follow that turn Dr. Patterson’s life into a nightmare. Among other things, he finds himself in court being accused of murder in the first degree ...

Author Ian Fox continues to surprise readers with his mysterious, intriguing plots that captivate you from the very first page and leave you stunned long after you’ve read the book to the end.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ian Fox
• Release date: Jan 22, 2011
• ISBN: 9781458099846

Ian Fox

Ian Fox was born in Slovenia (EU), and has also lived in the U.S.A., France, and Germany. He is fluent in English, French, and German. Because of his extensive international experience, his books are set in the U.S.A. or Europe. Ian’s books have enjoyed great success in Europe. He has published three crime (mystery) novels that have sold very well and been ranked among the top 100 most borrowed library books in Slovenia. He is currently working on two new novels. Enthusiastic readers write to him, saying they can’t put his books down and read them in a few days. Individual libraries have ranked his works among the top ten, sometimes even the top five most-borrowed books.

Book preview

Chapter 1

_________________________

Heavy gray clouds gathered and the wind blew in short, powerful gusts. Beneath the swaying tree branches, the light was faint. A tall figure, sharply outlined by the thin light, stepped from the car into the cold, dismal evening. Dr. Simon Patterson stood there a few moments waiting for his eyes to adjust to the twilight, and then headed toward the road. The thoughts churning in his head seared his brain and filled him with inexpressible fear. His heart pounded in his chest, deafening him. It was all too terrible to believe.

Even before reaching the side of the road, he turned and looked back. He wanted to make sure he remembered how to return to his car.

In the dim light the doctor stumbled over a thick, twisted tree root sticking out of the ground. Losing his balance he fell against a leafy branch that brushed his face with hundreds of tiny dewdrops. At once he wiped his face and moved on quickly.

But still he kept his right hand clenched deep in the pocket of his blue velvet sports jacket, where he had placed a thin hypodermic needle that contained a large dose of insulin.

Murderer! The word echoed in his head.

Clenching his jaw, Simon shook his head once and continued walking. I have to do this. This is for Christine and me. I have to save her.

Murderer!

No. That’s not true! Please, leave me alone.

You’ll be punished for what you’re about to do.

He stopped. A thorny plant had caught on his pant leg. I know what I’m doing. This will solve all my problems. There’s no other way. He pulled his leg free.

To get rid of the troubling voice, he focused his attention on the horrific situation he was in. The all-too-familiar dull ache spread like a weed through his gut and left a bitter taste in his mouth—an ache that signaled his fear about what was going to happen. I’ll go to prison. If I don’t do anything, I’ll go to prison. I have to do this.

For a moment, the voice grew still ….

I’ll be accused of a murder I didn’t do. This is the only way to prove to them that I am not the one who did it.

… Again, silence.

Simon looked at the sky strewn with gray clouds and peered for a few seconds at the half-moon, which draped the woods in a faint silvery curtain of light. The tall pines and broadleaf trees swayed gently, as if whispering to themselves. He lowered his eyes and stumbled onward. The closer he came to the road, the more his legs shook.

He stood still, wanting to think it through one more time. I have to stand at the side of the road and wait for him. Christine said he would definitely stop. Once I’m in his car, I’ll inject him with the insulin. After that, nobody can help him. It will all be very simple.

A gust of wind blew in his face, ruffling his hair. The doctor could hear a hollow rustling in the distance … thousands of leaves quivering on their branches. He knew this evening would be imprinted in his memory for as long as he lived.

The narrow road where he waited was empty and dark, without a single light. Every now and then a car went by. Hungrily, he took a few deep breaths of damp air.

The doctor checked his watch. If what Christine said is true, then Carlo should be driving by sometime in the next half-hour.

He walked along the edge of the road and noted the overgrowth of dense bushes.

He thought about Helen and felt sorry for his wife. Why did I have to cheat on her? I should not have done it. He wondered if it was really God inflicting this wretched punishment on him. Who is behind it?

For almost a minute no car drove past. He was trembling now and his teeth were chattering. Never before had he felt so much fear. Never before had he been in a situation where he had to kill someone.

He slipped his hand beneath his undershirt and pressed it against his stomach, which had been protesting all the while. He felt a little better as the pain eased for a moment.

The lone figure saw lights in the road that were rapidly approaching. He quickly pulled back his right hand and stuck it in his pocket. He stared into the blinding distance, listening to the sound of the engine and trying to guess what make of car it was. The booming wind in the surrounding woods only made him more nervous.

The next moment, white beams of intense light dazzled him. He felt as if he were floating in empty space. He wanted to look away but couldn’t. The light, which was growing stronger and stronger, held him transfixed.

He heard a noise behind his back. Terrified, he jerked his head to see what it was, afraid it might be a wild animal.

Seeing nothing unusual, Simon looked back toward the road. The sharp light had disappeared, replaced by the roar of an engine as a car rushed past, leaving a cloud of dust hovering over the road.

Murderer.

I am not a murderer, damn it! Stop judging me. I’m going to do something good.

Go home!

I won’t go home. I won’t let you scare me. Leave me alone. This is the only way I can fix all my problems. God will thank me for this.

Again he saw lights slicing the darkness and wondered if this could be Carlo Vucci. Dread contorted his face and he felt sick with fear. He strained his eyes as he peered into the light, praying that everything would work out.

The light became whiter and more intense. It burned his eyes but he did not want to look down. He knew this was the only way.

The car slowed.

Oh my God. This must be Carlo. What should I do?

The roar of the engine overtook his senses. Seconds later the car slowly came to a halt.

Simon knew he had to see it through to the end. He had to kill this person.

Murderer!

Chapter 2

_______________________

Dr. Simon Patterson was forty-two years old. He had dark hair with sideburns, decisive-looking eyes, and a solid chin. Everyday worries made him frown and this caused the first wrinkles to appear around his eyes, but they did not spoil his striking appearance. He was over six feet tall and the basketball playing in his younger days had broadened his shoulders and firmed up his body. In spite of his busy schedule, he took the time to exercise three times a week at his home.

Simon peered anxiously at Dorothy the white rabbit, who sat motionless inside her old metal cage. It seemed to him she lacked energy. I hope it’s not because of the vaccine, he thought. She should be feeling better, not worse.

He decided to give her an injection of vitamins. He got up from his chair and walked over to the old oak cabinet.

Simon had set up a large private laboratory in his basement where he could devote himself to his beloved research. Every day after working in a hospital as a neurosurgeon, he could hardly wait to go down there, where he’d often stay until 1:00 a.m., and then silently crawl into bed.

From a bowl on the cabinet he took a small carrot and offered it to the rabbit. She slowly bit off a tiny piece and gnawed a few sharp ruts into it. The rest of the carrot she left untouched. This really isn’t like her. She hardly ever turns down a carrot. She eats dozens. So what’s going on with her?

The laboratory was approximately 430 square feet. The walls were gray concrete and in places one could see the gleam of moisture. It of course reeked of dampness. The single window had been pasted over with cardboard from milk cartons so as to keep the neighborhood kids from spying on him. A few dusty light bulbs provided the room with all the light he needed.

Arranged on long wooden tables were the various instruments and gadgets essential to his experiments: a sterilizer, scales, water distiller, coolers, various centrifuges, layering chambers, and incubating equipment, as well as other small laboratory devices such as a whirling mixer, magnetic mixer with heating, homogenizer, sonicator, and so on. He had purchased all these things from various resellers, and in some cases from hospitals that were upgrading their equipment. Only the microscope had cost him a huge sum of money—an investment he had never regretted.

If I succeed, everyone will be grateful to me. I’ll be able to pay off all my debts and buy my wife whatever she wants. I really want to make her happy. He thought about this a lot.

For more than ten years Simon had been researching the aging process in animals. His great aspiration was to find a way to stop the aging process, or at least slow it down. To think that he might really be the one to do this took his breath away. This hope drove him forward and set his blood racing.

A month earlier he had injected Dorothy with a dose of the latest version of his antiaging vaccine and was hoping it would stop the process of aging in her.

Simon!

The voice caused a shudder through his body.

I hope you’re coming up to eat. Unless you’d rather stay down there with your darling rats and rabbits.

He ignored her sarcastic remark and picked up the hypodermic needle. He stuck it into Dorothy’s leg.

There you go, sweetie. These vitamins will make you feel better. I’ll be back to visit you later. He closed the cage and, with a dark expression on his face, went up the stairs.

*

I really don’t know how you can spend hours and hours down there in that dusty basement. It would drive me crazy, Helen Patterson said.

She was four years younger than he, slender, with shiny blond hair reaching to the middle of her neck. Her face was heart-shaped, with a pointy but unobtrusive nose, and elegant eyebrows. Her cobalt-blue eyes sparkled as if made of glass when she looked at him angrily.

He didn’t see the point in responding. He sat down at the table in the dining room and looked at what she had fixed for supper. Spaghetti with Bolognese sauce again. He must have eaten it at least six times in the last month alone. Resigning himself to his fate, he let out a deep sigh.

It’s a good thing you have me to look after you. If I didn’t cook supper for you, you’d have probably died from malnutrition a long time ago. I don’t understand how you can get so busy at work that you’re not even hungry. Seems to me you’ve lost another three or four pounds.

Well, you know I try, but sometimes—

That’s no excuse. It’s important to have regular lunchtimes. And that doesn’t mean three or four o’clock in the afternoon, but at one. Do you understand? At one o’clock.

Of course I’d like to have lunch at one, but that’s not how it works in my profession. Unfortunately, we don’t have enough surgeons. You’d understand if you worked at a hospital. You can’t let people—

It’s because you work like a dog. Nothing will ever change. When was the last time you were on vacation? Last year you took a grand total of two weeks. And even then, they made you postpone it twice.

It was bad luck last year.

There’s something every year and it’ll never get any better.

Another fight. They didn’t know anymore how to have a normal conversation. Whatever happened to those times when we were in love and rarely had fights? He remembered the years after they married, when they had enjoyed life and each other. They had a more or less perfect marriage. Helen wasn’t merely beautiful, but could also be honest, simple, and direct, and used to laugh frequently. That’s what he really liked about her. She only had one bad habit: she liked spending money, while Simon was the opposite. He liked saving more than spending. But Helen was persistent and persuasive and not a week went by without her coming up with some new wish. She had so many clothes that she didn’t have to wear the same thing more than three times a year. Though she had at least fifty pairs of shoes, her true passion was suits. Simon was earning a good salary as a surgeon, but because of Helen’s spending, his bank account was always in the red by the end of the month. However, since he was good-hearted and didn’t want to argue, he accepted her as she was. And they did well—until the accident.

He shivered at the thought of the huge amount he’d had to pay in damages. Especially since it was his own fault. He’d had an idea to decorate a Christmas tree in front of the house, and Helen was very much against it. And luck would have it that the wiring was old, it short-circuited, and the Christmas tree caught fire. To make things worse, it happened in the middle of the night so that no one noticed the fire slowly spreading to another tree in the yard next door and then to the next tree, until it reached the house. He was both lucky and unlucky that the neighbors were not at home that night, but, unfortunately, by the time the firefighters arrived there was nothing much to save.

And since the neighbors’ house had not been insured, the next day Simon was forced to take another mortgage on his own house so that he could pay for a new house to be built for his neighbors and then furnish it. After that, not much was left from his salary, and Helen was never able to come to terms with this.

Last year was especially hard. You know that Dr. Langston resigned right before our vacation. That’s why everything had to be rescheduled.

And what about the year before? Who resigned that year, Simon? I’m fed up with all your damned excuses. Every year someone quits the hospital and then everyone else has to suffer. It’ll never change!

I can’t help it, Helen.

She grabbed an empty glass, filled it with water, and drank it down in one go.

After a while she said, I wanted to move to New York, but you wanted us to stay in Seattle.

But you were born in Seattle.

Yeah, yeah, I know. It’s so much more peaceful in Seattle, you said, we’ll have more time for ourselves. Well, damn it, Simon. Do we really have more time?

Listen, Helen. Why can’t we have a normal conversation anymore? Why do we always have to argue?

Who’s arguing? I’m not. We’re having a conversation. She lowered her voice. I only wanted to tell you that it’s not like you said it would be. You said we’d have more time and more money. But where’s the money, Simon? We’re still paying for that stupid idea of yours …

Just a little longer, he thought. He dove into the spaghetti, eating as fast as he could. He couldn’t wait to get back to the basement. He said to her, My dear, I’m on the brink of an incredible discovery. If it works, I’ll be the richest man in the world. I need a few more months. In fact he himself didn’t care for money; all he wanted was to make Helen happy. His greatest desire was to be able to help people stop aging and this was the reason he was spending so much time in his basement.

She brushed back the hair that had fallen in front of her eyes. You said the same thing five years ago when you bought that microscope. We could have bought another car, but no, you had to blow the money on a microscope. She let out a silly laugh. You promised to take me on wonderful trips, you promised me a carefree life. … So tell me, Simon, why should I have to take the bus to work?

Simon had become accustomed to ignoring her constant complaining. Over the years he learned to shut her out and let his thoughts take him somewhere else. Why isn’t Dorothy feeling well? What could I have done wrong? He decided to review all his notes one more time. I must have slipped up somewhere. Unless this is a reaction?

Are you even listening to me?

He pushed his empty plate away and stood up from the table. I have to go. My work is waiting for me.

You’re not having more?

No. No, thanks.

And in a flash, he darted off to the laboratory.

Chapter 3

_______________________

Dr. Robert Miner had well-groomed hair the color of slate, a fitting aspect to his refined, aristocratic manner. He exuded a certain air of superiority, an arrogance of which he himself was not aware. He was the proprietor of a private plastic surgery clinic in Seattle. A diverse assortment of famous people from all over the world came to see him, demanding that he restore their lost youth. Robert never promised miracles, but nevertheless the results were extraordinary. Satisfied clients sang his praises everywhere they went, and this brought new clients to his door. Without any advertising, Robert had so much work that he employed more than twenty surgeons and at least two dozen nurses. As the general director of the clinic he was busy, yet he still performed operations in addition to teaching new surgeons.

Now finishing a correction to the chin of a wealthy stage actress, he examined it closely one last time and then left her to his assistant, who always worked with him. Robert was content. There had been no complications during the operation. For two hours’ work, this woman was going to pay him nine thousand dollars. He smiled.

Robert was proud of his work. In his office he ran his eyes over the photographs arranged on the wide, oval, cherry table. Looking at one in particular, he rocked his head back and forth. The skin on one woman’s face was healing very badly. Even now it was obvious to him that a few tiny scars would remain and the client would not be pleased. He frowned and shook his head. That’s the way it goes in life; things don’t always turn out the way you want.

He thought about checking in on one of his patients, but then changed his mind. He felt a sharp pain in his neck and back, the result of being on his feet and bending over all day. A glance at the wall clock convinced him that it was best for him to go home. He grabbed his car keys and left the office.

Waiting at a red light, he yawned and looked at himself in the rearview mirror. What should I do now?

To his right, the sun was reflecting off the tall, modern glass buildings. He thought about his life and felt himself giving way to gloom and loneliness.

He was almost home when he remembered a way to liven up his evening. At the thought of Monique, his whole body tingled. It had been two months since he had last seen her. Ashamed of what they had done, after their last encounter he had told himself he would stop.

As he drove along the tree-lined road he felt the blood rising to his face. He couldn’t get Monique out of his mind. He smacked his lips a few times and shook his head. No, I don’t want to do it, damn it! It’s not normal!

But a mile later, the inside of his mouth was so dry he had to do something. He picked up his cell phone.

Hello? Who’s this?

It’s me. Robert.

Oh, the little doctor! Are you missing me?

In the background he could hear a sharp slapping sound. Robert knew exactly what it was. She was doing it on purpose. He could barely manage to swallow. Ye-yeah … I w-wanted … you know …

Cat got your tongue, little doctor?

N-n-no. I’d l-like to …

I want you to get your ass over here right now! she commanded. Understood?

Y-yes. R-right away.

She hung up on him.

*

Twenty minutes later, Robert rang the doorbell of a private apartment on the third floor of an old brick building. The door was opened by a tall, slender young woman of Chinese ancestry. She had wild purple hair and wore tight-fitting, black leather pants and a top with two large holes through which her breasts protruded. Get in here! she ordered. I don’t want any of my neighbors to see me. March!

Obediently, he went into the apartment. But before he took another three steps, she slapped him on the back of the head.

Wha-a-at? What did I do?

You know the rules. You have to take your shoes off before entering. Again she struck his head with the palm of her hand.

Yes, ma’am. I’ll take them off right away.

She placed the sharp point of her boot against his backside and shoved with all her strength.

Arghh! he cried. What’d I do wrong?

Nothing. That’s extra punishment for not taking your shoes off at the door. So you’ll remember not to do it again!

He had trouble picking himself up, since he had fallen head forward with his left arm twisted beneath his body.

When he finally did right himself, he felt a slight dizziness and could barely stay on his feet. He let out a silent moan and caressed his arm. Tomorrow he would be covered in bruises again. He would have to wear a long-sleeved shirt so the people at work would not see the red marks and swellings this savage woman was about to cause. Nevertheless, he followed her into a large, dimly lit room, the walls of which were covered in metal chains and other implements designed to inflict pain. Every time he walked into this room, a thrill ran through him and the hair on his arms and legs stood on end. He wanted to be punished. He wanted her to punish him for all the sins of his past. He wanted redemption.

Get in here! she commanded. I despise weaklings. I’m going to make a man out of you! The kind who can stand on his own two feet. She cracked her whip in the air.

He trembled like a child and stared at the floor.

Damn it! Didn’t I say I don’t like weaklings? You’re standing there as if your legs were made of butter. Aren’t you a man at all? Go stand against the wall! At once, I say!

Y-yes, ma’am. This was what he wanted most of all. Now he would have to do his penance.

Strip!

Robert unbuttoned his shirt and took it off. Next came his pants and socks.

Underwear too.

I don’t know, if I … He felt gooseflesh on his arms. This was followed by a sharp pain across his chest, caused by the lash of the whip. He quickly pulled off his underwear, all the while staring at the floor.

I have never in all my life seen such a loser! She bound him to the wall with chains so he could not move. Now, have you been naughty again?

He screwed up his face and nodded. He felt like crying.

I’m going to have to punish you. Do you understand that?

Y-yes, ma’am.

Good. Now where’s your money?

My wallet’s in my right pants pocket. Take out two hundred dollars.

When she had the wallet in her hands, she said, The price of services has gone up. I’m taking four hundred.

But …

She tossed the pants to the side and picked up a thin plastic stick. How dare you speak like that to me! Do you think I’m some cheap whore? She struck him with the stick.

Reviews for Promise Me Eternity

[jasonbrownpdx · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

How to describe this book, written by Ian Fox..This is a tough one, as i would rate it 1.5 stars for plot, but 4 stars for characters. Because of this, you will find a very confused review follows below.Quick synopsis. Successful Neurosurgeon is depressed and has a home life that can only be described as extreme emotionally abusive. He is consistently ripped into, which causes him to be distant, which exacerbates his situation. Neurosurgeon saves the life of a known gangster after a car wreck, then falls head over heels for the gangsters wife. Obviously, not the brightest move, but people do stupid things for love.Anything more would be spoilers.Suffice to say that there are about ten total characters, and each has their part, though maybe not in the same story arc. This novel is more of a character exploitation in the realm of greed where love is involved. It is enjoyable, but if you are looking for action packed gripping plot line, you should look elsewhere. This is a book for Character lovers and those who enjoy a meandering stroll through the inner thoughts of people as lost as most of us fail to admit we are. The plot twist is less surprising and more “I knew that was going to happen” but the reaction of those involved is less expected. The main character blooms at that point becoming something I would not have guessed at. Again, all about the charactersPromise Me Eternity was a good read, but painful in one important (to me) regard. Taking place in Oregon, where I live, I had a rough time getting past the fact that all the characters spoke and thought like Europeans. It was off putting. Perhaps this is something that would not impact people from another part of the world, but for someone who lives here, it was very inauthentic feeling. I felt like the author had visited, but never stayed more than a couple days.Descriptions of the area were also very lackluster, seeming to be from pictures found on the internet rather than an actual live experience.I think the author would be better served in revamping and moving the location to a European location. else wise simply stating “so and so moved here from such and such after medical school”. This would not serve all characters the same though as one admitted to being born and raised local. The Euro feel to the language, thoughts, and conversation would be too difficult to fix, where relocation would be cut and paste, could even be a made up place, as the place is not important to the story.. From my view, this book could be set anywhere, the region mattered less than the characters. This in-genuine feeling took the novel and put it in an uncomfortable position. It went from plausible to “not sure if I care” multiple times per chapter.. The Grants Pass/Medford/Ashland area has a very vibrant individuality that was just “missing”.Best suggestion, read the author’s synopsis and make your own decision. It won’t be for everyone, but it was not a bomb either.Overall good work on this, worth reading, but if you are an Oregonian, you may find similar concerns.I just couldn’t get past the language issues!!--xpost RawBlurb.com

[arlenadean · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Author: Ian Fox Published By: I.F. Age Recommend: Adult Reviewed By: Arlena Dean Raven Rating: 4 Blog Review For: GMTA Review: "Promise Me Eternity" by Ian Fox was indeed good suspense mystery. The author really had a lots going on in this novel. It was a long read and if you are able to stick with it.. lots of details ....you will find its a very good read. The characters go on and on....Dr. Simon Patterson, (his wife) Helen, Anita and Jerry, Carlo and Christine, Edna, and Paul Tuttle only to name a few. All of these characters and more really prove to be very interesting people in this novel that changes a lot in each chapter. You will have to definitely keep up or you will be left wondering just what is going on. "Promise Me Eternity" was a fast paced read that took many twist and turns to that you had to follow to keep up. For you will find a lots of suspense, jealousy, affairs and murders. Truly money was of great importance in this novel. Dr. Simon Patterson was a well know neurosurgeon from Oregon, married fifteen years to is wife Helen. Simon has spent a lot of this time with trying to develop an anti aging vaccine. His wife was all about the money she can get her hands on for for her clothes, cars, vacation trips and more..she wanted it all... now. Real problems arrive from this behavior and when Simons saves a gangsters life (Carlo Vucci) who offered Simon a check for Fifty Thousand dollars and Simon refuses and this greatly upsets his wife... Helen. Then Carlo's wife (Christine) makes a play for Simon...then Simon wife (Helen) is murdered ... Who kills Helen and why is Simon accused of her murder? The story is loaded with so many twist and turns that you will you will only have get this great read to find out just what is going on. I do not want to give too much of it away. However, you will definitely be in for a good read with all of its suspense that is presented because there is never a dull moment in this read all the way to the end. As you continue to read you will find out what fate comes to Dr. Simon Patterson and how or if he will he get out this mess. Who is really responsible for what has happened to Simon? Also, what's up with those lovely beautiful roses that are in Simons's yard? I can only say if you are in for a good suspense mystery "Promise Me Eternity" will be a good read for you.

[dpappas_25 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Everybody wants something from Dr. Simon Patterson; his wife, Helen, wants him to make more money so she can have better things, his chief at the hospital wants him to just concentrate on being a neurosurgeon, and his assistant, Jerry, wants Simon to let him become an associate. With all these people harping on him for something Simon finds himself running into the arms of Christine Vucci, the wife of local mobster Carlo Vucci. In the end no one is safe from all the revenge going around. There are many characters in this book which at first had me a little confused but once I got used to all the characters I was hooked at how all their lives seemed intricately connected. While the book is mainly about Simon it does also follow the relationships of others and some glimpses into the lives of the other characters. Throughout many of the relationships in the book there seemed to be one character that was controlling and the other that seemed weak. This can be seen through the many romantic relationships, i.e Simon and Helen, Anita and Jerry, Carlo and Christine. I liked the contrasting of the controlling and weak characters. I loved the action in this book, it was fast-paced and I couldn't get enough of it. I also liked that with the action there was also some mystery, like who really killed Helen? I have to say that I was surprised when it was finally revealed who killed her. In regards to Simon's arrest and trial, from what I had read I didn't think the police really did have enough evidence to arrest them and really not enough to try him for murder. That is probably just the paralegal student in me though. I was happy to see some characters get their revenge in the end. In the end those characters who were driven to do deceitful things get knocked down a notch. Overall this is a fast-paced book that jumps into the action right away. Readers are shown characters with different wants and just how far they are willing to go get what they want. For some of these characters you'd get chills just to see how far they are willing to go. [I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.]

[paradiseporch · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Free e-book from the author received for review. Meant to be a popular fiction type murder mystery with the successful doctor on the brink of a scientific breakthrough, the mobster and his gorgeous wife. English is not the author’s first language and that is evident in the stilted conversations and in the sentence structure that sounds like a ninth grade exercise in creative writing.One star because he tied up all the plot ends. Sorry, Ian

[toast.x2 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

How to describe this book, written by Ian Fox..This is a tough one, as i would rate it 1.5 stars for plot, but 4 stars for characters. Because of this, you will find a very confused review follows below.Quick synopsis. Successful Neurosurgeon is depressed and has a home life that can only be described as extreme emotionally abusive. He is consistently ripped into, which causes him to be distant, which exacerbates his situation. Neurosurgeon saves the life of a known gangster after a car wreck, then falls head over heels for the gangsters wife. Obviously, not the brightest move, but people do stupid things for love.Anything more would be spoilers.Suffice to say that there are about ten total characters, and each has their part, though maybe not in the same story arc. This novel is more of a character exploitation in the realm of greed where love is involved. It is enjoyable, but if you are looking for action packed gripping plot line, you should look elsewhere. This is a book for Character lovers and those who enjoy a meandering stroll through the inner thoughts of people as lost as most of us fail to admit we are. The plot twist is less surprising and more “I knew that was going to happen” but the reaction of those involved is less expected. The main character blooms at that point becoming something I would not have guessed at. Again, all about the charactersPromise Me Eternity was a good read, but painful in one important (to me) regard. Taking place in Oregon, where I live, I had a rough time getting past the fact that all the characters spoke and thought like Europeans. It was off putting. Perhaps this is something that would not impact people from another part of the world, but for someone who lives here, it was very inauthentic feeling. I felt like the author had visited, but never stayed more than a couple days.Descriptions of the area were also very lackluster, seeming to be from pictures found on the internet rather than an actual live experience.I think the author would be better served in revamping and moving the location to a European location. else wise simply stating “so and so moved here from such and such after medical school”. This would not serve all characters the same though as one admitted to being born and raised local. The Euro feel to the language, thoughts, and conversation would be too difficult to fix, where relocation would be cut and paste, could even be a made up place, as the place is not important to the story.. From my view, this book could be set anywhere, the region mattered less than the characters. This in-genuine feeling took the novel and put it in an uncomfortable position. It went from plausible to “not sure if I care” multiple times per chapter.. The Grants Pass/Medford/Ashland area has a very vibrant individuality that was just “missing”.Best suggestion, read the author’s synopsis and make your own decision. It won’t be for everyone, but it was not a bomb either.Overall good work on this, worth reading, but if you are an Oregonian, you may find similar concerns.I just couldn’t get past the language issues!!--xpost RawBlurb.com

[lesleymc · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

This is the kind of review I hoped I would not have to write but I’m afraid this novel defeated me. Giving the author the benefit of the doubt, English is not his first language, something has been lost in translation. I tried very hard to find rhythm and depth in the writing but was unsuccessful and the dialogue was stilted and naïve (but not in a good way). I’m afraid I couldn’t warm to the characters either as they were unbelievable and verging on caricatures’, particularly the women. There may be a premise of a solid story in there but I couldn’t wade through to the end to discover it and I really did try.I received a copy free in exchange for an honest review.

[macygma · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

If you’re the wife of a researcher; be prepared to take the back burner to mice, rats, rabbits and other critters that come cheap and can be tossed if they die. If you’re married to Dr. Simon Patterson like Helen is; even Dorothy the rabbit upstages you. A plus might be that if his experiment works, Simon Patterson will have discovered the way to a much longer life. Not that Helen is anyone’s idea of a gem. She is shrill, nagging, shrill, beautiful, shrill, nagging….you get the idea. She wants something – ANYTHING – other than what she has. She is openly envious of all who are rich and can travel, vacation in exotic spots and tells them so with every breath. Then Simon saves the life of a very special man: Carlo Vucci and instantly is in Carlo’s inner circle. Possibly a little too in as Carlo’s wife Christine starts finding excuses to visit Simon at the hospital. Soon they have gotten closer than planned and if a comparison of Helen and Christine, Helen isn’t even on the dance card. The closeness evolves into an affair and, knowing that Carlo will kill them if he finds out, the couple go through many moves to stop that from happening. Alas, you know they never work.Simon is hiding from Carlo, Catherine is pursuing Simon, someone kills Helen in her bedroom, Simon’s chief assistant is gunning for Simon’s job. Such chaos, several murders and near riots ensue. Someone is double-crossing everyone else and there are several suspects. Figuring it out is the fun part!

[misslynn_1944 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Promise Me EternityIan FoxKindle EditionMystery; Suspense; Thriller5 StarsPromise Me Eternity is one of those novels that I found hard to put down. Not only is it filled with suspense, but greed, jealousy, affairs and murder. They say that the love of money is the root of all evil and that is surely portrayed to the fullest in this book. With a cast of many characters one will have to start to think when they are reading and watch for clues.Dr. Simon Patterson is a well known and respected neurosurgeon in Oregon. Although he has been married for 15 years they have no children. In all actuality he is married to his work, not the surgery but trying to develop an anti aging vaccine, which in turn takes time away from his wife. His wife on the other hand is a money hungry woman that wants the best of everything, clothes, cars vacations and more. When Simon saves the life of a Carlo Vucci a known gangster little does he know how is life is about to change. Accepting a dinner invitation Carlo offers him a check for Fifty Thousand dollars. When Simon turns it down, his wife hits the panic button and Carlo’s wonders, No one has ever turned down his money. Now the problems begin, Simon’s wife is going out, acting strange, Carlo’s wife is making a play for Simon and his associate is trying to take over his job and that’s just the beginning of his nightmare. His wife is murdered and all clues point to Simon. When Carlo’s wife Christine says she will help prove his innocence and say that he was with her, there was only one problem, her husband. When Carlo ends up dead after a fight with Simon, Christine confidently changes her mind about Simon. Can Simon prove he is innocent? Were they out to kill Helen Simon’s wife or did they make a mistake? As the neighbors confide will they be the straw that helps Simon get free or be condemned?There are more twists and turns in this novel that will keep you wondering throughout. There are quite a few different characters and the chapters may be about one character and then change to someone else. At times unless I kept my mind on whom I was reading about at the time I would lose track and would back track to see which one I was reading about. All in all this is a great mystery with plenty of suspense which leaves one wondering just how the story is going to end. Recommended for those who like a strong suspenseful mystery with occasional hints at sexual activity but nothing heavily sensual or erotic and no coarse language.I received this complementary copy from the author. A positive review was not required and all opinions expresses her on my own views of the novel.