Happy Wednesday, all! Today I am super excited to share my review of another book I group read, and we unanimously endorsed, Trust Me by Hank Phillippi Ryan, now available from Macmillan/Tor/Forge Books!
My Thoughts:
Wow, Trust Me gets off to a nail-biting and intriguing start!
A woman is accused of a murder she says she did not commit, while a journalist is grieving an enormous loss. These two join forces, but how and why?
If you are familiar with the Casey Anthony trial, this story will feel similar in some ways. That trial even plays a role in the book.
Mercer, the journalist, has lost her family in a tragic accident. She is having a very hard time (understandably so) when she is asked to write a book about the trial of Ashlyn Bryant, a hated woman, who may have murdered her own daughter, Tasha. Like most of America, Mercer finds Ashlyn despicable, and it’s easy to see why writing this novel would be hard for a grieving mother. Can Mercer write this book?
Ashlyn is one of those characters that makes your skin crawl at times. She is a compulsive liar and just thinking that she may be guilty makes it easy to judge her. It is uncanny how many lies she tells and how she begins to believe her own stories.
Trust Me had me doubting my feelings of Ashlyn’s guilt or innocence over and over again. In a book entitled “Trust Me,” just who can you trust?
The tension was paramount, the writing smooth…I loved to hate Ashlyn and felt compassion for Mercer’s character. Trust Me had me fully invested in demanding justice for Ashlyn’s daughter.
Thanks to the author for the complimentary book. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis:
An accused killer insists she’s innocent of a heinous murder.
A grieving journalist surfaces from the wreckage of her shattered life.
Their unlikely alliance leads to a dangerous cat and mouse game that will leave you breathless.
Who can you trust when you can’t trust yourself?
Trust Me is the chilling standalone novel of psychological suspense and manipulation that award-winning author and renowned investigative reporter Hank Phillippi Ryan was born to write.
Check out these reviews by the other Book Besties:
Berit at Audio Killed the Bookmark
Holly at Dressed to Read
Kendall at Goodreads
Mackenzie at PhDiva
Excellent review! I’m definitely intrigued by this book, sounds right up my street! 😀
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Thanks, Zuky! It was an engrossing read!
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Starting the review with a wow can only be a good thing. Lol. Sounds like a crazy, intense read. Glad you and your reading buddies enjoyed! Beautiful photo too 😊
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Thanks, Nina! It started off with a Big Bang, that’s for sure!
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Great review, this trial doesn’t sound boring at all!
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Thanks, Inge! It was very loosely similar to a trial here in the US that was emotional and had everyone talking, and the author did an amazing job having this be just as emotionally-stirring.
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Wonderful review, Jennifer. Another suspense/thriller to add to my tbr list. My favorite fall read is In Pieces.
Happy Wednesday and reading. 🌺😍📚💕😘
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Thank you, Virginia! I hope you enjoy this one, too. In Pieces is an exceptional read. Happy Wednesday to you! ♥️ xoxo
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Wonderful discussing this one and who to trust! ❤
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Thanks, Holls! 💗
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This sounds so good. It’s deffinitely going on my TBR list.
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It was entertaining and quite the nail biter! I hope you enjoy it too!
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Thanks. The more I’m hanging of my seat the better
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Great review Jen! This one sounds like a real nail biter! Happy Wednesday girlfriend!!😁☃️💕
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Thanks, Sus! It definitely was! I am stuck in an icy mess of a place! Can’t get the large chunks of ice off of anything. Ahhh! Happy Wednesday! ♥️ xoxo
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I love the way you describe Ashlyn, Jennifer! Great description. I agree, she’s awful but that doesn’t mean she’s guilty. I struggled with that right along with you girls and Mercer!!! Loved reading this together! Thank you for introducing me to this author!
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Thanks, Mack! This was a wonderful group read, and I’m so grateful Hank gave us the opportunity! ♥️
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Nail biting and intriguing sounds wonderful to me. Great review, Jennifer!
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Thanks, Marialyce! It was an engrossing read!
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Thanks for your take on this, Jennifer. The cover is intriguing too. Hugs
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Thanks, Teagan! The cover is so fun- can you see the hidden word in it? And I love the red color! ♥️
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Love the way you described Ashlyn Jennifer! She was awful haha. I loved hearing your perspective on this one and glad you enjoyed!! 🙂
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Thanks so much, Kendall! She was a tricky character and definitely hard to like! 😂 ♥️
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Sounds great! Fantastic review Jennifer!!! 💜💗
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Thank you, Lindsay! I enjoyed it! 💕 ♥️
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Wonderful review! Another book I loved reading with you!💕❄️
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Thanks, Berit! It was so fun reading with you again, too! 💜
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This is so my kind of story! I read Holly’s review first but yours would have had the same effect. On my shelf and fingers crossed 🤞 that my library will add the audiobook! Wonderful review, Jennifer.
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Fingers crossed 🤞 for you, too, Jonetta! I bet an audio of this would be super good!
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Fantastic review, Jennifer! I Can’t believe I haven’t read her yet- must change that 🙂
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Thanks, Jacquie! ♥️ Yes, you need to! She’s an investigative reporter for her day job, and I think it adds a different perspective to her novels.
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I bet it would!
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Great that this got off to such a nail-biting start and that the tension was so high. Great review!
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Thank you! That’s definitely why we read suspense right? To bite our nails down to the quick! 😂 😊
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I love the sound of this book, Jennifer. A wonderful review.
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Thanks so much, Chrissi! 💗
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Wonderful review Jen. Definitely sounds like my kind of book. I am intrigued by the trial and also Ashyln who sounds twisted. one for my TBR.
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Thank you, Diana! Yes, I think you’d enjoy so much about this one. The Ashlyn character was executed so, so well.
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Sounds intriguing!
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It definitely was, Lisa!
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Ooooh 😳 Fabulous review Jenni, looks so compelling!!
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Thanks, Beth! It was an intriguing read! 💗
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This really does sound so reminiscent of the Casey Anthony trials. 😱 I wonder if the author was influenced by that case. To this day, it still breaks my heart. 💔
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I think she was, and the author is an investigative journalist for a news channel in Boston! I think that gives her a unique spin on the books she writes! Yes, that trial was so, so heartbreaking.
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I’m guessing this is the unreliable narrator? And what was the trial you were discussing?
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Mercer, the journalist, was a reliable narrator. There was a trial in the US several years back where a mother was accused of murdering her toddler daughter. The evidence pointed to her but it was mostly circumstantial, and she was not convicted. She was a young mom seen partying multiple times while her child was “missing” but actually already murdered, so the court of public opinion was quite strong on her.
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Ah… yes – we’ve had some heartbreaking tales of child neglect and abuse this side of the Atlantic, too:(.
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Ashlyn sounds like a character I would love to hate as well, lol. Great review!
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Thanks so much, Suzanne! Yes, she stirs up all the emotions!
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Watched this documentary recently, they played parts of Casey Anthony’s interrogation. It was proper fffffd up…
So yea, i’m defo adding this book on my list!
Great review 🙂
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Thanks, Norrie! Yes, that story tends to set everyone on edge. Woo, it gets heated wherever she is concerned! I hope you enjoy this one if you end up reading it. ♥️
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I have a Ryan book that I won. I need to get to it. I’m so behind in my reading I feel like I’ll never catch up. 🤦🏽♀️
Great review, Jennifer. 😊
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Thanks, Laurie! You’ll catch up! I constantly feel behind, but I’m always adding way too many books. I hope you enjoy your Ryan book when you get around to it! ♥️
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It’s hard to believe you feel behind, Jennifer. You’re such an amazing reader and reviewer. 😊
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Thanks, Laurie! ♥️ I’m the worst at piling on the books. I don’t get myself much room to breathe, but I’m trying to be more selective starting with my March reads. My January and February got pretty full already. Thank you again for the kind words. I think the same of YOU. 🥰
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🤗🤗😘😘🥰
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