Trust Me

Kelly Irvin

Feb 2022 · Sold by Thomas Nelson

About this ebook

Her best friend is murdered the same way her brother was years ago. Is there anyone she can possibly trust?

A decade ago, Delaney Broward discovered her brother’s murdered body at the San Antonio art co-op he founded with friends. Her artist boyfriend, Hunter Nash, went to prison for the murder, despite his not-guilty plea.

This morning, Hunter walks out of prison a free man, having served his sentence.

This afternoon, Delaney finds her best friend dead, murdered in the same fashion as her brother.

Stay out of it or you’re next, the killer warns.

Hunter never stopped loving Delaney, though he can’t blame her for not forgiving her. He knows he’ll get his life back one day at a time, one step at a time. But he’s blindsided to realize he’s a murder suspect. Again.

When Hunter shows up on her doorstep asking her to help him find the real killer, Delaney’s head says to run away, yet her heart tells her there’s more to his story than what came out in the trial. An uneasy truce leads to their probe into a dark past that shatters Delaney’s image of her brother. She can’t stop and neither can Hunter—which lands them both in the crosshairs of a murderer growing more desperate by the hour.

In this gripping romantic suspense, Kelly Irvin plumbs the complexity of broken trust in the people we love—and in God—and whether either can be mended.

Praise for Trust Me:

“Trust Me is an apt title for Irvin’s new suspense novel. Kelly Irvin is a master at spinning a complex story web with surprising twists and relatable characters. Highly recommended!” —Colleen Coble, USA TODAY bestselling author of A Stranger’s Game and the Pelican Harbor series

“I found I couldn't turn the pages fast enough in Kelly Irvin's latest novel, Trust Me. I promised myself just one more page and I'd stop reading for the night...just one more...just one more. At times I could barely breathe. What a fabulous story! I loved it!” —Carrie Stuart Parks, award-winning author of Relative Silence

• Clean romantic suspense novel

• A stand-alone novel

• Book length: approximately 101,000 words

• Includes discussion questions for book clubs

Ratings and reviews

Gripping and Engaging Gripping and Engaging Wow! I wasn't sure what to expect with this story, but from the onset and beyond it kept me on the edge of my seat! Ten years ago, Delaney Broward's brother, Corey, was brutally murdered, and Hunter Nash, Delaney's boyfriend at the time, was convicted of the murder. After a ten year incarceration, Hunter is released from prison. Coincidentally, Delaney's best friend, Ellie, is murdered on the same day that Hunter is released from prison. Because of the timing and commonalities in the murders, Hunter is once again the targeted suspect. With all that he's been through, Hunter finds himself on a mission to prove that he is innocent of the crime he was incarcerated for as well as maintaining his innocence in Ellie's murder. Hunter also wants to regain Delaney's trust and friendship, while maintaining the hope that they can possibly renew a relationship. And although Delaney doesn't trust Hunter's claim of innocence in the murders, she agrees to work with him on finding the truth, while insisting that a relationship beyond that is a no go. I absolutely loved and thoroughly enjoyed Trust Me! It is a wonderful mixture of romance and gripping sit on the edge of your seat intrigue and suspense. Integral elements of trust and forgiveness were also integral parts of the story that added even more to the plot. It is also very thought provoking in that it really makes you think of the sad reality that being falsely accused and convicted of a crime or any situation, doesn't just occur in fiction, but also in real life. All of these elements were flawlessly woven together in this fantastic story that will not only have you guessing all the way through, but will also touch your heart with a deep sense of what it truly means to trust and forgive. ***I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.***

Trust Me by Kelly Irvin is a Christian suspense novel. I enjoy reading Kelly Irvin’s Amish novels so I thought I would give her new suspense novel a try (I love solving mysteries). I started reading Trust Me and became intrigued by the murder at the beginning involving Ellie. The story then became a little too wordy and it moved at a sluggish pace. The book needed a faster pace that would have kept up the tension and suspense that would have kept the reader on the edge of their seat. Instead, Trust Me failed to hold my attention. I thought the characters lacked development. They came across flat. I felt that the romance between Delaney and Hunter eclipsed the mystery. I wanted more suspense (and mystery) and less about feelings. Romance lovers, though, will enjoy it. The mystery involves two crimes that occurred ten years apart. They are similar to each other. There are evident clues that will help the reader solve the crime early in the book. I kept hoping there would be a twist so I would be surprised by the reveal. Unfortunately, the whodunit played out just as I thought it would. Trust Me is a Christian novel so there are references to God, faith, and prayer. I like how faith was incorporated into the story. The author captured the setting of San Antonio. She brought the city to life with her vivid descriptions. Trust Me needed a little more oomph. Readers who enjoy romantic suspense (emphasis on romantic) will enjoy reading Trust Me. Trust Me transports readers to San Antonio with a paroled prisoner, a confusing crime, a stricken sister, a determined detective, seedy San Antonio, and a second chance romance.

An interesting title that is the theme in this good thriller by the author. Delaney and Hunter dating for several years. They had friends, were they ones that you trusted or questioned. He said he was innocent, yes they had argued he had been drinking, he wouldn’t say anything against his friends. Ellie why was she murdered ten years later, just as Hunter got out of prison. Delaney has lost so much did she also lose trust in Hunter. Good story and good flowing plot. Given ARC by Net Galley and Thomas Nelson for my voluntary review and my honest opinion

About the author

Kelly Irvin is a bestselling, award-winning author of over thirty novels and stories. A retired public relations professional, Kelly lives with her husband, Tim, in San Antonio. They have two children, four grandchildren, and two ornery cats. Visit her online at KellyIrvin.com; Instagram: @kelly_irvin; Facebook: @Kelly.Irvin.Author; X: @Kelly_S_Irvin.