Title: Trust Me
Author: Peter Leonard
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: March 31, 2009
ISBN: 031237903X
Hardcover: 304 pages
Book supplied by and reviewed for: FSB Associates

About the book from FSB Media:

Peter Leonard showed remarkable maturity for a first-time novelist in his debut novel Quiver. In Trust Me, he reaches for new heights as he crafts a classic noir thriller loaded with double- and triple-crosses.

The first mistake Karen Delaney made was entrusting $300,000 to her boyfriend, Samir, the head of an illegal bookmaking operation. The second was breaking up with him — because Samir holds a $300,000 grudge. A few months later, Karen sees a way to get her money back when two thieves break into her house in the middle of the night. She proposes a scheme to steal Samir’s safe, but Karen soon realizes she’s in way over her head as things begin to spin out of control.

Trust Me moves at breakneck speed through the affluent suburbs of Detroit and Chicago as Karen is pursued by O’Clair, an ex-con/ex-cop who works for Samir and wants the money for his own retirement; by Ricky, Samir’s nephew, who sees the money as a way to pay off his own escalating gambling debts; by the thieves who’ve been double-crossed; and by two ruthless hit men who view the money as their stake in the American dream.

With relentless suspense, striking characters, and plot twists that will leave you white-knuckled, Trust Me marks the continuation of a powerful new voice in crime fiction and more than delivers on the promise of Peter Leonard’s talent.

My Review:

Trust Me is an exhilarating fast paced thriller that will keep the reader guessing until the last page. Leonard masterfully takes the reader through a series of plot twists at a breakneck speed while maintaining an excellent main story thread. Trust Me is a brilliantly crafted novel, where the reader is transported to the streets of Detroit and Chicago, from the very worst neighbourhoods to the wealthiest. The detail to description is equally paired with the vividly realistic characters, which paves the way for an entertaining thrill ride. As soon as I thought I had Trust Me figured out the plot would twist yet again, making me all the more determined to figure the story out before the end. I found myself quite engrossed by the many twists. Leonard has mastered the art of suspense thrillers and I was surprised to learn this was only his second novel. His first novel, Quiver, is now at the top of my reading list. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys an afternoon of fun with a good suspense thriller.