Book Review: Trust Me by Hank Phillippi Ryan

Trust Me
Author: Hank Phillippi Ryan
Publication: Forge Books (August 28, 2018)

Description: 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.

My Thoughts: Former journalist Mercer Hennessy is locked in her grief for the loss of her husband and two-year-old daughter in a car accident when her former editor comes to her with an offer: follow the current hot trial of a young mother accused of murdering her child and write a book about it.  While it hits so many of Mercer's triggers, she takes the job and finds herself immersed in the trial of Ashlyn Bryant who is accused of murdering her daughter Tasha and dumping her a body in a garbage bag into Boston Harbor.

Mercer is certain that Ashlyn is guilty and becomes more certain as she pores over all the evidence that had been collected and as she watches the trial. Mercer's writing liberally mixes in the information she has gathered and is biased by her belief in Ashlyn's guilt.

When Ashlyn is acquitted because the jury had "reasonable doubt," Mercer is first certain that the book project is dead. But then her editor Katharine brings Ashlyn to her to salvage the book and write something that will restore her reputation.

Even though Mercer is still convinced of Ashlyn's guilt, she agrees to host and interview Ashlyn and finds herself getting sucked into Ashlyn's world where reality shifts with each thing she says. She almost convinces Mercer that there is some mysterious "they" who are out to get her and who murdered her daughter.

The story was intense and almost claustrophobic. I was deeply involved in Mercer's story as she tries to untangle Ashlyn's.

Favorite Quote:

I understand why Ashlyn might have avoided Tasha's memorial. Why sit there, surrounded by sad people, all of whom are crying and mourning your loss? They'll all go home, and be happy they're not you. You'll go home and have no choice but to be you.

I know this from experience.

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.