Trust

by L.A. De Michiel

Olympic fencer Luke Montgomery returns home to find a stranger dying on his doorstep. The dying man begs him to “Warn her.” He grips Luke’s hand and reveals a card belonging to a Cassandra Linden pinned beneath the collar of his jacket. Scrawled on the back of the card is a short personal message: Carry my memory only in your heart. Seeing the anguish in the man’s eyes, Luke promises to call her. Later that night, he receives a cryptic phone call that makes him realise he is being framed for the murder. The slain man is noted History Professor Simon Blayne, and the weapon used was a broadsword presented to Luke by his grandfather. When Cassie’s name is found scribbled on a business card in the wallet of another man, who is murdered with the same weapon whilst she is in Luke’s company, the police demand answers that neither Cassie nor Luke can supply. Cassie, like Luke, would also like answers. Together they discover that Professor Blayne had uncovered an international cartel falsifying documents in order to legitimise stolen works of art and artefacts that have been packed away in museum basements for decades. Luke learns his father has involved the prestigious Montgomery Exports in the enterprise. His fight to clear the family name plunges them into a world dominated by thugs and directly into the path of Tolley, a ruthless killer. Abducted by Tolley, Cassie reluctantly agrees to his extraordinary terms and a bizarre relationship evolves. During the long drive into the remote Australian outback to his private burial grounds, Tolley taunts Cassie with his macabre mind games and soon learns that she is a worthy adversary. Furious and feeling guilty that he was unable to protect her, Luke is unrelenting in his race to get her back.

352 pages, Paperback

First published November 20, 2011

About the author

L.A. De Michiel was born in Sydney, Australia to Irish and Italian parents.
He lives with his wife in Sydney.

Author of TRUST and ORCHESTRATED FATE.

Reviews

[Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won L.A. De Michiel's "Trust" as a Goodreads giveaway. This is the first Austrailian novel I've read and I loved it! The main character, Luke Montgomery, is a fencing Olympian and instructor. The woman character, Cassie, is a flight attendant. The two are pulled together by unseen and unknown forces by Cassie's chance meeting with Simon Blayne. Although the plot is complicated, the novel was written in such a way that it was clear and easy to follow. The end of the novel was left as a cliffhanger. I'll be waiting and watching for the sequel!

[Marci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of Trust – Thank you to the author for sending me a copy of this book, which in no way influenced my opinion in this review. Trust is about several characters and the interactions between them. The theme, of course, is Trust. Who to trust, when to trust, and the results therefrom. This book was well written and kept you guessing as to what would happen next. You got to know and like some of the characters and dislike others. I think the author did a good job of keeping the suspense tight. I would recommend the book .

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much. It was refreshing to have a male and female hero combination, without there being a lot of sappy romance between them. It was obvious that Luke and Cassie came to care for one another by the end but it was not in a way that overshadowed the main story line in the slightest.

* I won this book in a goodreads contest.

[DW · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it.