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Trust In Me: My patient just confessed - to the crime I committed ...
She can save her client. Or she can save herself.
THE THERAPIST
Myra seems to have it all - a thriving practice as a counsellor, a million-dollar home, a loving husband and two children. A world away from her troubled childhood. She's the only one who knows that her entire life is built on a lie.
THE CLIENT
Until a new patient confesses to a crime that feels eerily familiar and Myra is thrown into a quest to hide the truth: from her family, her friends, her co-workers, and most importantly, the police.
THE CONFESSION
How can this client know about Myra's past? And how can Myra silence her before it's too late?
One thing is certain: she will do anything to keep her family safe. Even from herself.
THE THERAPIST
Myra seems to have it all - a thriving practice as a counsellor, a million-dollar home, a loving husband and two children. A world away from her troubled childhood. She's the only one who knows that her entire life is built on a lie.
THE CLIENT
Until a new patient confesses to a crime that feels eerily familiar and Myra is thrown into a quest to hide the truth: from her family, her friends, her co-workers, and most importantly, the police.
THE CONFESSION
How can this client know about Myra's past? And how can Myra silence her before it's too late?
One thing is certain: she will do anything to keep her family safe. Even from herself.
Audible Audio
First published September 14, 2023
27 people are currently reading
551 people want to read
About the author
Luca Veste
25 books465 followersLuca Veste is a writer of Italian and Liverpudlian heritage, married with two young daughters, and one of nine children. He studied psychology and criminology at university in Liverpool. He is the author of the Murphy and Rossi series, which includes DEAD GONE, THE DYING PLACE, BLOODSTREAM, and THEN SHE WAS GONE.
Part psychological thriller, part police procedural, his books follow the detective pairing of DI David Murphy and DS Laura Rossi. The novels are set in Liverpool, bringing the city to life in a dark and terrifying manner...with just a splash of Scouse humour.
"Astringent and artfully constructed." The Financial Times
"A darkly impressive novel... disturbing and intelligent." The Times
"A chilling début from a writer to watch..." Mark Billingham
"Gripping, unpredictable, genuinely shocking and impossible to put down, Dead Gone is a remarkable début." Steve Mosby
"A twisty, psychological crime debut in a gritty setting: a new favourite for police procedural lovers" Clare Mackintosh
"Tense and darkly playful." Chris Ewan
"A major new talent on the crime scene." Eva Dolan
"Fresh...original." Mel Sherratt
"Original and terrifying." Stav Sherez
He is also the editor of the Spinetingler Award nominated charity anthology 'Off The Record', and co-editor of 'True Brit Grit', also an anthology of short stories for charity.
He is a former civil servant, actor, singer and guitarist (although he still picks it up now and again), and now a full-time writer.
He can be found at www.lucaveste.com and on twitter @LucaVeste
Part psychological thriller, part police procedural, his books follow the detective pairing of DI David Murphy and DS Laura Rossi. The novels are set in Liverpool, bringing the city to life in a dark and terrifying manner...with just a splash of Scouse humour.
"Astringent and artfully constructed." The Financial Times
"A darkly impressive novel... disturbing and intelligent." The Times
"A chilling début from a writer to watch..." Mark Billingham
"Gripping, unpredictable, genuinely shocking and impossible to put down, Dead Gone is a remarkable début." Steve Mosby
"A twisty, psychological crime debut in a gritty setting: a new favourite for police procedural lovers" Clare Mackintosh
"Tense and darkly playful." Chris Ewan
"A major new talent on the crime scene." Eva Dolan
"Fresh...original." Mel Sherratt
"Original and terrifying." Stav Sherez
He is also the editor of the Spinetingler Award nominated charity anthology 'Off The Record', and co-editor of 'True Brit Grit', also an anthology of short stories for charity.
He is a former civil servant, actor, singer and guitarist (although he still picks it up now and again), and now a full-time writer.
He can be found at www.lucaveste.com and on twitter @LucaVeste
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
July 17, 2023
Sara has a comfortable life in the north-eastern United States, a good job as a counsellor, a loving successful husband and two children she adores. However, this life is a million miles away from her troubled past in the United Kingdom. This seems tucked away firmly in its sealed box, that is until she has a new client. As Ella tells her story, Sara gets a distinct sense of familiarity, a sort of déjà vu, and though Sarah does her best to deflect Ella, to throw her off, it’s clear, she’s actually telling Sara’s story. Who is Ella? How can she possibly know about Sara‘s past? One thing is for certain, Sara will do anything to protect what she has. This is a tale of dark secrets, of a life spiralling so far out of control it’s almost in orbit.
The start of this psychological mystery/thriller between Sara and Ella is utterly gripping and beyond tense. Sara’s fear almost bounces off the pages and it sure sets off a chain reaction. It leads to so many questions in your head which little by little get their answers. The pace rises and falls giving you some much needed breathing space as Sara tries to process what is going on in her rapidly imploding life. A suspenseful cat/mouse game ensues and some scenes are high octane. It’s dramatic, there are some very exciting encounters where you almost hold your breath and it’s very entertaining in a suspend your disbelief kind of a way. It does get a bit convoluted but I cannot deny there are plenty of twists that make your head spin and keep you reading on! One element of the endgame is not a total surprise, because quite simply it has to be. Just goes to show you can rarely “trust in me”.
Do I buy at all? Probably not, but it’s a very diverting read with truly awful characters who deserve all they get and that certainly keeps you glued to the pages.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Hodder and Stoughton for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
The start of this psychological mystery/thriller between Sara and Ella is utterly gripping and beyond tense. Sara’s fear almost bounces off the pages and it sure sets off a chain reaction. It leads to so many questions in your head which little by little get their answers. The pace rises and falls giving you some much needed breathing space as Sara tries to process what is going on in her rapidly imploding life. A suspenseful cat/mouse game ensues and some scenes are high octane. It’s dramatic, there are some very exciting encounters where you almost hold your breath and it’s very entertaining in a suspend your disbelief kind of a way. It does get a bit convoluted but I cannot deny there are plenty of twists that make your head spin and keep you reading on! One element of the endgame is not a total surprise, because quite simply it has to be. Just goes to show you can rarely “trust in me”.
Do I buy at all? Probably not, but it’s a very diverting read with truly awful characters who deserve all they get and that certainly keeps you glued to the pages.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Hodder and Stoughton for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
October 29, 2023
3.75 / 5
I have to admit the plot of this book is unique and different, but the execution of it was like bringing a sword to a gun fight. Too predictable from the start and too predictable at the end. This book lost its wow factor the minute the dots started to click and it just went downhill from there.
The story follows Sara from the UK who moved to USA. She is married to Jack who is successful businessman, whilst she works as a counsellor at Better lives. A new patient by the name Ella comes in, specifically requesting Sara and reveals her story that she had murdered someone. The more Ella talks about the story the more Sara becomes agitated as it’s similar to Sara story before she married Jack and moved to the US. She experiences this weird deja vu and starts to freak out, all because of what happened years ago in the UK. It becomes increasingly clear that Ella isn’t who she says she is. But Sara knows her past is catching up to her.
I have to admit this book has the psychological aspect. The fear, anxiety and tension Sara experiences almost radiates out of the book. You’ll quickly see that the level of pacing, is not consistent throughout the book, and the plot starts to plateau. This is where I think the downfall lies, it’s when the plot is low-key dead that makes it predictable. It ramps up at the end, where it’s not even a cat or mouse chase but more of a animal fight in the end. I’m kind of annoyed at this plot, I was enjoying the read thinking it was a sold banger alert at the staff, but than I started to think a lot more about the plot logically and started tie up the strings. Like let’s be real, if you and your husband have been distant asf for many years, and he’s hiding in his room because he’s too busy I’m pretty certain it’s a tale tell sign that somethings not right. Like I’m blind (my glasses prescription is too high lol) but even I can see red flags in it. It’s too predictable. Even though it’s gripping, it’s thrilling and encapsulating the plot was ultimately the down fall. I would still recommend this book, it does have its moment. But be prepared by how predictable the plot is.
I have to admit the plot of this book is unique and different, but the execution of it was like bringing a sword to a gun fight. Too predictable from the start and too predictable at the end. This book lost its wow factor the minute the dots started to click and it just went downhill from there.
The story follows Sara from the UK who moved to USA. She is married to Jack who is successful businessman, whilst she works as a counsellor at Better lives. A new patient by the name Ella comes in, specifically requesting Sara and reveals her story that she had murdered someone. The more Ella talks about the story the more Sara becomes agitated as it’s similar to Sara story before she married Jack and moved to the US. She experiences this weird deja vu and starts to freak out, all because of what happened years ago in the UK. It becomes increasingly clear that Ella isn’t who she says she is. But Sara knows her past is catching up to her.
I have to admit this book has the psychological aspect. The fear, anxiety and tension Sara experiences almost radiates out of the book. You’ll quickly see that the level of pacing, is not consistent throughout the book, and the plot starts to plateau. This is where I think the downfall lies, it’s when the plot is low-key dead that makes it predictable. It ramps up at the end, where it’s not even a cat or mouse chase but more of a animal fight in the end. I’m kind of annoyed at this plot, I was enjoying the read thinking it was a sold banger alert at the staff, but than I started to think a lot more about the plot logically and started tie up the strings. Like let’s be real, if you and your husband have been distant asf for many years, and he’s hiding in his room because he’s too busy I’m pretty certain it’s a tale tell sign that somethings not right. Like I’m blind (my glasses prescription is too high lol) but even I can see red flags in it. It’s too predictable. Even though it’s gripping, it’s thrilling and encapsulating the plot was ultimately the down fall. I would still recommend this book, it does have its moment. But be prepared by how predictable the plot is.
September 7, 2023
For a book that barely contain one likeable character, this was a quick and compelling read which I whizzed through in a couple of days.
I’ve read other books by this author and he certainly knows how to spin a good yarn-this book was no exception to that rule!
Sara is a therapist, married to Jack for 15 years with two young children. She is English but now living with her American husband in the US.
When a patient enters her office one day and tells her a story about a terrible deed from her past, Sara knows she has a problem. Ella, the patient is actually describing something she herself did, many years earlier.
As the book progresses, Sara begins to panic at what Ella knows although she cannot trace her. Sara’s perfect life starts to spiral out of control and she realises that she has a lot to lose.
I didn’t much like Sara, she’s done a terrible thing but compartmentalised it and gotten on with her life. Although she obviously feels remorse and has chosen a caring career as a counsellor, it doesn’t negate the fact that she’s behaved appallingly.
I did feel some sympathy for her in the course of the novel but ultimately felt she deserved everything she got.
However most of the other characters were not pleasant with apart from her young children and one of her other patients who only had a minor role in the plot.
Definitely not a pleasant read but it was difficult to put down and I raced through it at top speed. I just wish there had bend one nice person in the book!!!
If you like dark psychological thrillers with several twists you will enjoy this.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my advance copy.
I’ve read other books by this author and he certainly knows how to spin a good yarn-this book was no exception to that rule!
Sara is a therapist, married to Jack for 15 years with two young children. She is English but now living with her American husband in the US.
When a patient enters her office one day and tells her a story about a terrible deed from her past, Sara knows she has a problem. Ella, the patient is actually describing something she herself did, many years earlier.
As the book progresses, Sara begins to panic at what Ella knows although she cannot trace her. Sara’s perfect life starts to spiral out of control and she realises that she has a lot to lose.
I didn’t much like Sara, she’s done a terrible thing but compartmentalised it and gotten on with her life. Although she obviously feels remorse and has chosen a caring career as a counsellor, it doesn’t negate the fact that she’s behaved appallingly.
I did feel some sympathy for her in the course of the novel but ultimately felt she deserved everything she got.
However most of the other characters were not pleasant with apart from her young children and one of her other patients who only had a minor role in the plot.
Definitely not a pleasant read but it was difficult to put down and I raced through it at top speed. I just wish there had bend one nice person in the book!!!
If you like dark psychological thrillers with several twists you will enjoy this.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my advance copy.
August 24, 2023
As Sara comes face to face with someone who discovers her secret, just how far will she go to protect herself and her family? Who is this woman she has never met before, and how does she know she killed a man?
This is a well written psychological thriller that will keep you guessing. A solid 4 stars, only dropping a star because I found the middle just a little slow for me. However, the last 10% was brutal! Some utterly jaw dropping WTF moments had me turning the pages quicker than my heart was racing! This book certainly got my adrenaline pumping, and I felt like I was right there with Sara, fighting alongside her.
Three words to describe this book… EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED.
Will definitely be reading more from Luca Veste. Massive thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for my advanced copy.
This is a well written psychological thriller that will keep you guessing. A solid 4 stars, only dropping a star because I found the middle just a little slow for me. However, the last 10% was brutal! Some utterly jaw dropping WTF moments had me turning the pages quicker than my heart was racing! This book certainly got my adrenaline pumping, and I felt like I was right there with Sara, fighting alongside her.
Three words to describe this book… EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED.
Will definitely be reading more from Luca Veste. Massive thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for my advanced copy.
May 15, 2024
TRUST IN ME is a psychological thriller by bestselling author Luca Veste. This novel will grip you from the first page.
His Standalone Novels Include:
The Silence (2019)
aka The Six
The Game (2020)
You Never Said Goodbye (2022)
Trust in Me (2023)
This is my review of Trust in Me.
“My patient just confessed to the murder I committed.”
Sara had it all…She had been brought up in a small village in England, but had moved to the big city, gone to university, moved to USA, got married to Jack, and now has a comfortable home and two children, Olivia and J.J. Sara is a therapist and trauma counsellor.
But her entire life has been built on a lie. She had now lived in the USA for more than fifteen years. She needed to confess to Jack about her past.
Then one day, a new client, Ella, comes into the office to meet with Sara, and confesses to a crime that Sara knows all too well - because it's the one Sara committed many years earlier.
Who is this person and how do they know about Sara's past? Sara is afraid that Ella will tell someone else. Sara must keep her secret and her family safe.
This story is told by Sara, allocating between past and present.
Trust In Me is a fast-paced read, that will grip you from beginning to the end.
Many thank to the author and The Book Club Reviewer Request Group (FB), and NetGalley for my digital copy.
His Standalone Novels Include:
The Silence (2019)
aka The Six
The Game (2020)
You Never Said Goodbye (2022)
Trust in Me (2023)
This is my review of Trust in Me.
“My patient just confessed to the murder I committed.”
Sara had it all…She had been brought up in a small village in England, but had moved to the big city, gone to university, moved to USA, got married to Jack, and now has a comfortable home and two children, Olivia and J.J. Sara is a therapist and trauma counsellor.
But her entire life has been built on a lie. She had now lived in the USA for more than fifteen years. She needed to confess to Jack about her past.
Then one day, a new client, Ella, comes into the office to meet with Sara, and confesses to a crime that Sara knows all too well - because it's the one Sara committed many years earlier.
Who is this person and how do they know about Sara's past? Sara is afraid that Ella will tell someone else. Sara must keep her secret and her family safe.
This story is told by Sara, allocating between past and present.
Trust In Me is a fast-paced read, that will grip you from beginning to the end.
Many thank to the author and The Book Club Reviewer Request Group (FB), and NetGalley for my digital copy.
November 17, 2024
Wow!!! This was a fab book!!! Think it’s brought me out of my slump-shhhh we will see!!
Well written and the twists were really good. Didn’t see any of it coming.
Well written and the twists were really good. Didn’t see any of it coming.
December 17, 2023
I do like a Luca Veste novel. He knows how to draw me in and hold my attention, right from the start of the book. That was certainly the case when it came to Trust In Me, a book which seeks to deceive and misdirect at every turn. No matter what you think you know is happening, and, to a degree, the why of the book is pretty much explained very early on, be prepared to be surprised. This is not as straight forward as you might believe, just the way I like it.|
Now I have a very mixed history when it comes to psychological thrillers. I don't like the way in which characters, who know quite well what they have done wrong and why they are being targeted, think cryptically about said problem until somewhere around the 60% mark of a book. No-one does that. If we have sinned in such a way that it is payback time, we automatically equate that in our heads and start obsessing about it (not that I would know from experience - this is how I expect I would behave 😬) That is totally not the case in this book, where the protagonist, Sara's, sins are spelled out very early on. I say her sins but it is largely guilt by association and a very bad thing from her past is now coming to bite her on the arse - really hard. So we know the why. We also, mostly, know the who. It is the timing and the connection between who and why that is missing - a much more believable scenario for me. That mystery is what kept me reading, kept me invested in Sara's story, as much as the characters themselves.
Luca Veste is an adept storyteller. the pacing and rhythm of this book was spot on. Moments of quiet reflection when Sara took us back to the past, to the fateful night that has led to her current woes, but also moments of real jeopardy where the tension is high and the edge of the seat fear factor nearly off the charts. Whilst there is a strong air of intimidation, Sara's resilience and defiance really had me rooting for her, in spite of her past mistakes. The author has made her strangely sympathetic, maybe because of her current circumstances, and despite that fact that we know she is not entirely innocent, I wanted to see her come good. In fact, as I have come to expect from this author, the book is packed with authentic characters who we could love and hate in equal measure, some of whom managed to surprise me by their behaviour. As a therapist, Sara is used to getting to the bottom of people's fears and what is motivating them, and this is reflected perfectly in the way in which Luca Veste has created the characters on the page.
You would be forgiven for thinking that having so much of the facts of the story laid out early on would spoil the edginess or the mystery of this book. You would be wrong. There are many layers to this book, secrets being kept and a wonderful use of misdirection to keep us all guessing. There are many shock reveals after the author has led us through a succession of potential suspects for Sara's trauma, and towards the end of the book the stakes are raised even higher with the outlook seeming inescapably bleak.
The author still has some aces up his sleeve though, and it is with a wry smile that I read the closing chapters of the book. It just hit the spot for me, that mix of mystery, action, tension and brilliant characterisation that I love in my reads. If you love the author's standalone thrillers, you are really going to enjoy this one.
Now I have a very mixed history when it comes to psychological thrillers. I don't like the way in which characters, who know quite well what they have done wrong and why they are being targeted, think cryptically about said problem until somewhere around the 60% mark of a book. No-one does that. If we have sinned in such a way that it is payback time, we automatically equate that in our heads and start obsessing about it (not that I would know from experience - this is how I expect I would behave 😬) That is totally not the case in this book, where the protagonist, Sara's, sins are spelled out very early on. I say her sins but it is largely guilt by association and a very bad thing from her past is now coming to bite her on the arse - really hard. So we know the why. We also, mostly, know the who. It is the timing and the connection between who and why that is missing - a much more believable scenario for me. That mystery is what kept me reading, kept me invested in Sara's story, as much as the characters themselves.
Luca Veste is an adept storyteller. the pacing and rhythm of this book was spot on. Moments of quiet reflection when Sara took us back to the past, to the fateful night that has led to her current woes, but also moments of real jeopardy where the tension is high and the edge of the seat fear factor nearly off the charts. Whilst there is a strong air of intimidation, Sara's resilience and defiance really had me rooting for her, in spite of her past mistakes. The author has made her strangely sympathetic, maybe because of her current circumstances, and despite that fact that we know she is not entirely innocent, I wanted to see her come good. In fact, as I have come to expect from this author, the book is packed with authentic characters who we could love and hate in equal measure, some of whom managed to surprise me by their behaviour. As a therapist, Sara is used to getting to the bottom of people's fears and what is motivating them, and this is reflected perfectly in the way in which Luca Veste has created the characters on the page.
You would be forgiven for thinking that having so much of the facts of the story laid out early on would spoil the edginess or the mystery of this book. You would be wrong. There are many layers to this book, secrets being kept and a wonderful use of misdirection to keep us all guessing. There are many shock reveals after the author has led us through a succession of potential suspects for Sara's trauma, and towards the end of the book the stakes are raised even higher with the outlook seeming inescapably bleak.
The author still has some aces up his sleeve though, and it is with a wry smile that I read the closing chapters of the book. It just hit the spot for me, that mix of mystery, action, tension and brilliant characterisation that I love in my reads. If you love the author's standalone thrillers, you are really going to enjoy this one.
September 26, 2023
I like my thrillers with more depth and a realistic plot. This wasn't badly written but you could easily work out what was happening, and it was hard to believe. Reminded me if one of those 80's Murder, Mystery and Suspense or "straight to video" films.
January 13, 2025
What a great book, I really enjoyed this fast paced thriller it kept me on the edge of my seat! I didn’t know what was coming next I kept coming up with theories but my thoughts kept changing really wasn’t expecting that ending!
May 14, 2024
Successful therapist, happily married and devoted mother of two. Sara has the perfect life. That is until her next client walks in and confesses to a crime that Sara knows she can't have committed as Sara is the one who did. Moved on and the crime firmly in her past Sara thought she had got away with it but her past has finally caught up with here. How does this patient know what happened and how far is Sara willing to go to stop her from telling all?
Although I thoroughly enjoyed this, the twists, turns and secrets I couldn't seem to 'like' any of the characters which is why I gave it four instead of five stars. Even the bad gone good and the protagonist Sara even though you could physically feel her rage.
I would still recommend as a fast paced page turner and great read.
Although I thoroughly enjoyed this, the twists, turns and secrets I couldn't seem to 'like' any of the characters which is why I gave it four instead of five stars. Even the bad gone good and the protagonist Sara even though you could physically feel her rage.
I would still recommend as a fast paced page turner and great read.
October 20, 2024
Wow what a thriller of a ride this book is! The twists, the unexpected turns and that not knowing who was right or wrong! Brilliant story writing and great characters! It was good to see a strong female lead at the core in Sara, baddies caught in a never ending trap, and a cop trying to repent but with a guilty conscience.
This was a new author for me, but will definitely be looking out for his future books! 📚
This was a new author for me, but will definitely be looking out for his future books! 📚
October 24, 2024
The plot was plotting for me
July 21, 2025
Dit boek duurde zoo lang om doorheen te komen 🫠 fijn dat ie uit is! Pas op het einde werd het een beetje leuk 🙂
September 10, 2025
A very bloody good book!! Annoyingly as an avid thriller reader, I did guess the twist but enjoyed it nonetheless! Recommend to everyone!
October 2, 2024
3.75 stars
December 15, 2024
Great storyline but at times the writing let it down. My first read of this author and the unique story was clever and original. The ending wrapped everything up, made sense but still had a shock factor. Would recommend and will read more in this authors series - but it was a solid 3.5/5 for me.
July 11, 2023
What would you do if someone confessed to a murder you were guilty of?
THE THERAPIST
THE PATIENT
THE CONFESSION =
A GREAT READ
Luca Veste never fails to deliver and this book is no exception,a solid fast moving written book that unfolds nicely.
I did work out who was involved very early into the book but it didn't hold me back from continuing to read on.and there's nothing like a nice bit of comeuppance to end a book.
Recommended
Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the ARC.
THE THERAPIST
THE PATIENT
THE CONFESSION =
A GREAT READ
Luca Veste never fails to deliver and this book is no exception,a solid fast moving written book that unfolds nicely.
I did work out who was involved very early into the book but it didn't hold me back from continuing to read on.and there's nothing like a nice bit of comeuppance to end a book.
Recommended
Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the ARC.
August 5, 2025
I wouldn’t waste your time with this “thriller”. Characters was unlikeable, there was no tension or on the edge of your seat plot. You can see the plot from a mile away and overall thought it was just boring.
March 2, 2025
i genuinely enjoyed reading this and i was hooked from the beginning to the end, i did really love it. the little plot twists and everything, even though i did have my suspicions i still was shocked. i love the plot of the book, i thought that was very cool and interesting
the quote on the front of the book just gripped me instantly and i just needed to read it and im glad i did. really good read, glad i picked it up !!
the quote on the front of the book just gripped me instantly and i just needed to read it and im glad i did. really good read, glad i picked it up !!
July 15, 2024
While the storyline to this novel sounds promising, unfortunately I found the book poorly-written and predictable, while at the same time being overly-convoluted in spots. I figured out the ending at about two-thirds of the way through, if memory serves. On the plus side, it was compelling enough for me to finish it.
August 7, 2024
The concept was very interesting, but it fell off so quickly.
200 pages of just people chasing each other and beating each other up.
It was so obvious that the husband was in on this.
The ending was good, and made me think more about the main character.
200 pages of just people chasing each other and beating each other up.
It was so obvious that the husband was in on this.
The ending was good, and made me think more about the main character.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2025
Not very good, I wouldn’t recommend
September 12, 2023
Oh I do love a psychological thriller and Trust in Me is a cracker! Luca Veste uses all his psychology skills to produce a compelling portrait of a woman who will do anything to keep her family safe. From the outset we know that Sara is holding onto a huge secret; one that if revealed, could threaten everything she has worked so hard to achieve.
She’s married to Jack a successful American financier, has two wonderful children, a dream house and she has a fulfilling career as a psychological therapist. It’s a lifetime away from the young English woman who had so many reasons to escape her past.
While most things in Sara’s garden are rosy, she worries about Jack who is working long hours and she’s never really bonded with Jack’s sister, Stephanie, who looks after the kids when they’re out of school and Sara is working. Other than that though, she and Jack are happy and have everything they ever wanted.
Everything changes though, when a new client comes to the Sara’s practice, specifically asking to see Sara for a therapy session. Elle is a composed young woman and as she starts to tell Sara her story, Sara finds it very hard to believe what she is hearing, because Elle is narrating, almost word for word, the story that Sara has been keeping secret all these years. There’s no doubt about it – so who is Elle, what does she want and how did she know?
Trust In Me is told at a great pace which keeps the reader involved and on a bit of a rollercoaster as events unfurl with speed.
One of the great things about the way that Luca Veste has written this book is that as you learn more about both what went before and Sara’s actions now, you find yourself constantly questioning your feelings about Sara. She is obviously scared and clearly she adores her kids, but is her attempt to atone for her past sufficient to overcome the harm that she has done?
She is a very relatable character and as things progress she is put under ever increasing pressure her façade of the gentle loving mother and therapist does seem to start to crack.
Because you know where Sara’s guilt comes from, the threat emanating from Elle is very real and you really feel for Sara as she basically freaks out and puts her career in jeopardy. But Sara is stronger than she looks and she’s not prepared to be intimidated. She will fight tooth and nail for her family.
Luca Veste is adept at getting you to invest in his characters; he’s also plotted a course with this book that keeps you on your toes. There’s twists and misdirection that make you change your mind about what’s going on all the time. I love that kind of a read – one where the characters surprise you and challenge your perceptions of them.
Verdict: Great characters and a brilliantly twisty plot set around secrets and lies with many emotional highs and thrilling moments that keep the reader guessing all the way to the very end.
She’s married to Jack a successful American financier, has two wonderful children, a dream house and she has a fulfilling career as a psychological therapist. It’s a lifetime away from the young English woman who had so many reasons to escape her past.
While most things in Sara’s garden are rosy, she worries about Jack who is working long hours and she’s never really bonded with Jack’s sister, Stephanie, who looks after the kids when they’re out of school and Sara is working. Other than that though, she and Jack are happy and have everything they ever wanted.
Everything changes though, when a new client comes to the Sara’s practice, specifically asking to see Sara for a therapy session. Elle is a composed young woman and as she starts to tell Sara her story, Sara finds it very hard to believe what she is hearing, because Elle is narrating, almost word for word, the story that Sara has been keeping secret all these years. There’s no doubt about it – so who is Elle, what does she want and how did she know?
Trust In Me is told at a great pace which keeps the reader involved and on a bit of a rollercoaster as events unfurl with speed.
One of the great things about the way that Luca Veste has written this book is that as you learn more about both what went before and Sara’s actions now, you find yourself constantly questioning your feelings about Sara. She is obviously scared and clearly she adores her kids, but is her attempt to atone for her past sufficient to overcome the harm that she has done?
She is a very relatable character and as things progress she is put under ever increasing pressure her façade of the gentle loving mother and therapist does seem to start to crack.
Because you know where Sara’s guilt comes from, the threat emanating from Elle is very real and you really feel for Sara as she basically freaks out and puts her career in jeopardy. But Sara is stronger than she looks and she’s not prepared to be intimidated. She will fight tooth and nail for her family.
Luca Veste is adept at getting you to invest in his characters; he’s also plotted a course with this book that keeps you on your toes. There’s twists and misdirection that make you change your mind about what’s going on all the time. I love that kind of a read – one where the characters surprise you and challenge your perceptions of them.
Verdict: Great characters and a brilliantly twisty plot set around secrets and lies with many emotional highs and thrilling moments that keep the reader guessing all the way to the very end.
August 3, 2023
Sara is a happily married mother of two children. Her hectic life revolves around her family and her job as a therapist. Her first session with a new client becomes a nightmare situation when the woman claims that along with her boyfriend, she murdered a man and hid the body. Every detail fits the secret Sara has been hiding for 18 years.
I found Trust In Me by Luca Veste to be an intriguing read. The opening pages hint at a huge secret, this then jumps to a family situation, a scene where there is obviously an undercurrent of tension. We very quickly learn that hidden away in the house is a dead body. The story then switches to days before the scene with the body and we learn about Sara Edwards and her day-to-day life.
Sara is a typical flustered working mother; she's the one that makes sure the family is fed, watered and packed off to school/work each morning before rushing off to work herself. Sara comes across as a little disorganised and always in a rush, however, it's obvious that she loves her family deeply and will always put them first.
The story becomes very intriguing when Sara accepts a new client, Ella. In the first session Ella is suffering from anxiety because of something she has done, a crime she has committed. Sara eventually persuades her client to tell her all the details. Ella then explains that when she was with her boyfriend they lay in wait for a young man and beat him to death then hid the body. As Sara listens she realises that the description fits with exactly what she did 18 years before. Sara has kept this secret and wonders how a woman who is only about 25 years years old can know.
At the end of the consultation, Ella disappears. Recovering from a state of shock. Sara realises she has to track the young woman down to find out how she has discovered Sara's secret and what she wants. As Sara discovers that the details Ella has provided are fake you can feel her turmoil. She is torn between survival or finally admitting what she has done. Self-preservation for herself and her family is the overriding feeling.
I had a pretty good idea of who was responsible about a third of the way in, then changed my mind following some of the interactions. I then kept chopping and changing my mind the more I read; this indecisiveness continued for almost the rest of the book.
By the end the story has come full-circle and the conclusion shows the formidable character Sara is when her family is threatened. We also learn how manipulative people can be to get what they want.
If you enjoyed my review please check out my book blog, Reading For Leisure
https://readingforleisure.blogspot.com/
or follow me on Twitter
@Debbie_Hart_UK
or on Threads
@debbiehartuk
I found Trust In Me by Luca Veste to be an intriguing read. The opening pages hint at a huge secret, this then jumps to a family situation, a scene where there is obviously an undercurrent of tension. We very quickly learn that hidden away in the house is a dead body. The story then switches to days before the scene with the body and we learn about Sara Edwards and her day-to-day life.
Sara is a typical flustered working mother; she's the one that makes sure the family is fed, watered and packed off to school/work each morning before rushing off to work herself. Sara comes across as a little disorganised and always in a rush, however, it's obvious that she loves her family deeply and will always put them first.
The story becomes very intriguing when Sara accepts a new client, Ella. In the first session Ella is suffering from anxiety because of something she has done, a crime she has committed. Sara eventually persuades her client to tell her all the details. Ella then explains that when she was with her boyfriend they lay in wait for a young man and beat him to death then hid the body. As Sara listens she realises that the description fits with exactly what she did 18 years before. Sara has kept this secret and wonders how a woman who is only about 25 years years old can know.
At the end of the consultation, Ella disappears. Recovering from a state of shock. Sara realises she has to track the young woman down to find out how she has discovered Sara's secret and what she wants. As Sara discovers that the details Ella has provided are fake you can feel her turmoil. She is torn between survival or finally admitting what she has done. Self-preservation for herself and her family is the overriding feeling.
I had a pretty good idea of who was responsible about a third of the way in, then changed my mind following some of the interactions. I then kept chopping and changing my mind the more I read; this indecisiveness continued for almost the rest of the book.
By the end the story has come full-circle and the conclusion shows the formidable character Sara is when her family is threatened. We also learn how manipulative people can be to get what they want.
If you enjoyed my review please check out my book blog, Reading For Leisure
https://readingforleisure.blogspot.com/
or follow me on Twitter
@Debbie_Hart_UK
or on Threads
@debbiehartuk
August 5, 2023
As a therapist you meet all kinds of people and hear all kinds of stories, but when Sara hears a new patient confess to a murder, the details sound a little too familiar…
Trust In Me is a cat and mouse thriller of Sara, who has a murder hidden in her past, and Ella who seems hellbent on getting Sara to admit it. I really enjoyed the beginning of the novel, the tense scenes in the psychologist office as Ella is telling Sara’s story word for word. However, as the novel goes on it starts to get more and more convoluted and you have to suspend your disbelief in a lot of places.
The novel is mainly told from the perspective of Sara, who isn’t really much of a likeable character. She makes some silly decisions and has a tendency towards violence which makes you wonder if she might be an unreliable narrator. The plot only really works if you are rooting for Sara and I’m afraid I wasn’t. There aren’t a lot of other characters to be onside with either which might be why I wasn’t as engaged with it as I could be. Sara doesn’t like sister-in-law Stephanie, so we don’t either, Ella is shady and her husband Jack seems aloof and distant. There are also chapters from the perspective of two hitmen who have been hired into this mess as well. I didn’t really understand why these perspectives were included, they did little to advance the plot and I found myself wanting to skim past them.
The book dragged a little in the middle and there were some repetitive phrases used throughout which didn’t help the pace. I didn’t initially guess the main twist but the ending is very rushed and didn’t feel realistic at all with a lot of smaller ‘twists’ and misdirection.
Overall, Trust in Me is a cat and mouse thriller but has rather an unrealistic conclusion and unlikeable characters which hampered my enjoyment. Thank you to NetGalley & Hodder & Stoughton for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews check out www.kindig.co.uk
Trust In Me is a cat and mouse thriller of Sara, who has a murder hidden in her past, and Ella who seems hellbent on getting Sara to admit it. I really enjoyed the beginning of the novel, the tense scenes in the psychologist office as Ella is telling Sara’s story word for word. However, as the novel goes on it starts to get more and more convoluted and you have to suspend your disbelief in a lot of places.
The novel is mainly told from the perspective of Sara, who isn’t really much of a likeable character. She makes some silly decisions and has a tendency towards violence which makes you wonder if she might be an unreliable narrator. The plot only really works if you are rooting for Sara and I’m afraid I wasn’t. There aren’t a lot of other characters to be onside with either which might be why I wasn’t as engaged with it as I could be. Sara doesn’t like sister-in-law Stephanie, so we don’t either, Ella is shady and her husband Jack seems aloof and distant. There are also chapters from the perspective of two hitmen who have been hired into this mess as well. I didn’t really understand why these perspectives were included, they did little to advance the plot and I found myself wanting to skim past them.
The book dragged a little in the middle and there were some repetitive phrases used throughout which didn’t help the pace. I didn’t initially guess the main twist but the ending is very rushed and didn’t feel realistic at all with a lot of smaller ‘twists’ and misdirection.
Overall, Trust in Me is a cat and mouse thriller but has rather an unrealistic conclusion and unlikeable characters which hampered my enjoyment. Thank you to NetGalley & Hodder & Stoughton for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews check out www.kindig.co.uk
September 13, 2023
I have a chequered history with this author but, although I did have to suspend belief a tad along the way, I did quite enjoy this, his latest offering.
We start with Sara who has a pretty solid life. A good marriage, loving husband and a couple of children make up her private life. Her professional one is as a counsellor with a well respected and thriving practice. Until the day she welcomes a new patient, Ella. A patient that will tell her a story. A familiar story. Her own story. And it isn't a good one. How in the heck could Ella know what happened all those years ago. How could she know the secret that Sara has been hiding. But she does. And the more Ella says, the more details she gives, the more scared Sara becomes... And then Ella runs out of the consulting room and disappears...
And so begins a bit of a cat and mouse chain reaction of events that has Sara running around trying to track down Ella, to find out what exactly she knows and why, and how, she knows it and, more importantly, what she, or whoever, wants. Before her life comes crashing down around her.
I've already said I had to suspend belief a tad along the way. I also rolled my eyes on occasion. But, all that said, I did have a lot of fun along the way too. It does all get a bit convoluted and interconnected so you do have to have your wits about you throughout. And there are definitely plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing.
Characters are a bit hit and miss for me but I think you are not really supposed to like them and that's OK. It also means that they thoroughly deserve all that the author throws at them along the way!
And the ending, when it eventually came was worth the effort and satisfying, if a little eye-rolly! My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
We start with Sara who has a pretty solid life. A good marriage, loving husband and a couple of children make up her private life. Her professional one is as a counsellor with a well respected and thriving practice. Until the day she welcomes a new patient, Ella. A patient that will tell her a story. A familiar story. Her own story. And it isn't a good one. How in the heck could Ella know what happened all those years ago. How could she know the secret that Sara has been hiding. But she does. And the more Ella says, the more details she gives, the more scared Sara becomes... And then Ella runs out of the consulting room and disappears...
And so begins a bit of a cat and mouse chain reaction of events that has Sara running around trying to track down Ella, to find out what exactly she knows and why, and how, she knows it and, more importantly, what she, or whoever, wants. Before her life comes crashing down around her.
I've already said I had to suspend belief a tad along the way. I also rolled my eyes on occasion. But, all that said, I did have a lot of fun along the way too. It does all get a bit convoluted and interconnected so you do have to have your wits about you throughout. And there are definitely plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing.
Characters are a bit hit and miss for me but I think you are not really supposed to like them and that's OK. It also means that they thoroughly deserve all that the author throws at them along the way!
And the ending, when it eventually came was worth the effort and satisfying, if a little eye-rolly! My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
August 16, 2023
I really enjoyed this. A complex psychological thriller centred around Sara a British woman who moved to the USA with wealthy Jack, who she subsequently married and had two children. She is now working as a therapist and they live a very comfortable life. Told largely from Sara’s POV, who is at best an unreliable narrator, and not the most likeable of people. To be fair the whole book is littered with unlikeable characters! The book starts with Sara and then boyfriend Dan killing someone and disposing of the body. Well written and well constructed this is a pretty fast paced novel apart from a section near the middle where I found it a bit slow going but it soon moved up apace with a thrilling and quite shocking ending.
Briefly, when Sara has a new client, Ella, she is shocked when the client confesses to murder, because her confession is virtually a description of the events of the murder Sara was involved with. Sara has to decide what to do next as there are clearly going to be consequences.
You need to suspend belief at some of the goings on in the story, particularly when two hired ‘thugs’ join the plot, but it’s fiction, it’s ok if it’s a bit far fetched! It was a good enjoyable read with a few red herrings, a few twists, including one pretty huge one. Very cat and mouse with Sara chasing Elle and everyone chasing Sara and throw another client of Sara’s who happens to be a police detective and it almost becomes a bit of a Brian Rix type farce. Personally, I thought it was a really good entertaining read.
4.5⭐️
Briefly, when Sara has a new client, Ella, she is shocked when the client confesses to murder, because her confession is virtually a description of the events of the murder Sara was involved with. Sara has to decide what to do next as there are clearly going to be consequences.
You need to suspend belief at some of the goings on in the story, particularly when two hired ‘thugs’ join the plot, but it’s fiction, it’s ok if it’s a bit far fetched! It was a good enjoyable read with a few red herrings, a few twists, including one pretty huge one. Very cat and mouse with Sara chasing Elle and everyone chasing Sara and throw another client of Sara’s who happens to be a police detective and it almost becomes a bit of a Brian Rix type farce. Personally, I thought it was a really good entertaining read.
4.5⭐️
April 16, 2024
This was my first time reading anything by Luca Veste and I was pleasantly surprised. In fact, I found it hard to put down. Sarah is a therapist, counselling people with anxiety. She has a loving husband and two children and all seems well in her world. Then a new client called Ella arrives and confesses to a crime that Sarah knows she could not have committed because she is the culprit. Sarah has fled the UK to live in the U.S. so that her crime can never catch up with her. the only person she has ever told of her crime is her husband and that was ten years ago, so how can Ella know the details? Sarah knows she has to act before the life she has built for herself is destroyed. She will do anything to protect her children and her marriage. But all is very much not what it seems. Ella is not acting alone and Sarah finds herself threatened and attacked from several angles until the story reaches its dramatic conclusion. There are multiple twists in this story and I found myself generally guessing what they would be before they happened, right to the end. However, I still enjoyed finding out if I was right! The only problem I have with this story is there are really no genuinely good characters so there was never going to be a feel good ending Also, the story slightly lost plausibility towards the end but was nevertheless a very good read.
October 27, 2024
Author: Luca Veste
Page Count: 360 Pages
Published Date: 14th May 2024
Genre: Thriller
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Synopsis:
She can save her client. Or she can save herself. THE THERAPIST Myra seems to have it all - a thriving practice as a counsellor, a million-dollar home, a loving husband and two children. A world away from her troubled childhood. She's the only one who knows that her entire life is built on a lie. THE CLIENT Until a new patient confesses to a crime that feels eerily familiar and Myra is thrown into a quest to hide the truth: from her family, her friends, her co-workers, and most importantly, the police. THE CONFESSION How can this client know about Myra's past? And how can Myra silence her before it's too late? One thing is certain: she will do anything to keep her family safe. Even from herself.
My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this book from the beginning I thought that this book was very interesting to start with and it had me hooked. This book had me thinking from start to end what was going to happen I was right on some things but I wasn't right about the ending of this book. I also found that this book was fast paced. I really liked the main character in this book even though what she did was bad but she managed to deal with it. I really enjoyed this storyline of the book. I have rated this book 5 stars.
Page Count: 360 Pages
Published Date: 14th May 2024
Genre: Thriller
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Synopsis:
She can save her client. Or she can save herself. THE THERAPIST Myra seems to have it all - a thriving practice as a counsellor, a million-dollar home, a loving husband and two children. A world away from her troubled childhood. She's the only one who knows that her entire life is built on a lie. THE CLIENT Until a new patient confesses to a crime that feels eerily familiar and Myra is thrown into a quest to hide the truth: from her family, her friends, her co-workers, and most importantly, the police. THE CONFESSION How can this client know about Myra's past? And how can Myra silence her before it's too late? One thing is certain: she will do anything to keep her family safe. Even from herself.
My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this book from the beginning I thought that this book was very interesting to start with and it had me hooked. This book had me thinking from start to end what was going to happen I was right on some things but I wasn't right about the ending of this book. I also found that this book was fast paced. I really liked the main character in this book even though what she did was bad but she managed to deal with it. I really enjoyed this storyline of the book. I have rated this book 5 stars.
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