Trust No One: A Thriller

Paul Cleave

Aug 2015 · Sold by Simon and Schuster

About this ebook

In this “outstanding psychological thriller” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) by the Edgar-nominated author of Joe Victim, a famous crime writer struggles to differentiate between his own reality and the frightening plot lines he’s created for the page.

Jerry Grey is known to most of the world by his crime writing pseudonym, Henry Cutter—a name that has been keeping readers on the edge of their seats for more than a decade. Recently diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s at the age of forty-nine, Jerry’s crime writing days are coming to an end. His twelve books tell stories of brutal murders committed by bad men, of a world out of balance, of victims finding the darkest forms of justice. As his dementia begins to break down the wall between his life and the lives of the characters he has created, Jerry confesses his worst secret: The stories are real. He knows this because he committed the crimes. Those close to him, including the nurses at the care home where he now lives, insist that it is all in his head, that his memory is being toyed with and manipulated by his unfortunate disease. But if that were true, then why are so many bad things happening? Why are people dying?

Hailed by critics as a “masterful” (Publishers Weekly) writer who consistently offers “ferocious storytelling that makes you think and feel” (The Listener) and whose fiction evokes “Breaking Bad reworked by the Coen Brothers” (Kirkus Reviews), Paul Cleave takes us down a cleverly twisted path to determine the fine line between an author and his characters, between fact and fiction.

Ratings and reviews

I love mysteries and thrillers with unreliable narrators, and there is no more unreliable narrator than one suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Well, unless the Alzheimer's patient also happens to be a bestselling author of crime fiction, with all that such an imagination entails. In Trust No One, Paul Cleave continuously shifts the point of view back and forth between Jerry Grey's "Madness Journal," written in the second person to his future, even more demented self, and third-person narration of Jerry's current situation, in which he keeps escaping from his nursing home at the same time that local women are being murdered in the ways described in Jerry's novels. Is Jerry the killer? Is someone else following his book plots, and, if so, is that person deliberately framing Jerry? And by the way, Jerry's murderous protagonist Henry Cutter has started talking, too; what does that mean for Jerry's sanity? Cleave does a terrific job in keeping all of the possibilities in play to the very end of the book. Highly recommended for fans of Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl, Alice LaPlante's Turn of Mind, and other crime fiction featuring untrustworthy protagonists. Those with loved ones suffering from Alzheimer's should be prepared for a very realistic picture of that disease from the perspectives of both the patient and his family. Those who enjoy Trust No One should also consider reading Cleave's "Christchurch Noir" series. I received a free copy of Trust No One through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The back and forth from the diary to real time each chapter will definitely keep you on your toes! So many emotions come into play throughout this story and your mind will think it knows what is going on, and then Paul throws you a huge curve ball. Have fun with this suspenseful read!

This book confused me as much as the main character was confused! Took me longer than usual to finish. It was a good plot but told in a VERY confusing manner. Was finally glad to be done with it.

About the author

Paul Cleave is the internationally bestselling author of ten award-winning crime thrillers, including Joe Victim, which was a finalist for the 2014 Edgar and Barry Awards, Trust No One and Five Minutes Alone, which won consecutive Ngaio Marsh Awards in 2015 and 2016. He lives in Christchurch, New Zealand.