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The Trusted
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Expected 17 Nov 26Win a free print copy of this book!
20 days and 01:37:47
10 copies available
U.S. only
With The Trusted, New York Times bestselling author Marisa de los Santos introduces readers to their new favorite detectives, Lina Cordova and Aaron Cash.
What happens when the ones we trust the most betray us?
In the charming, tight-knit community of Sheppley, Pennsylvania, Detective Lina Cordova and her partner Aaron Cash are still reeling from their failure to get justice for Tally Frost--wife, grieving mother, and Sheppley society queen who disappeared a year earlier--when another high-profile case hits their desks.
A body is discovered in a remote hunting cabin, shot through the head. The victim was a man plagued by a controversy that once rocked Sheppley to its core. There is no shortage of suspects, and they include people Cordova and Cash know well, which makes it even more difficult to distinguish truth from lies.
The daughter of a Filipino doctor and a mother from an old-money Sheppley family, Ivy League-educated Lina Cordova is acutely aware of the social dynamics and prejudices of her hometown, while young Aaron Cash is a recent transplant, an escapee from an abusive homelife in rural Tennessee. As their twisty search for the truth takes them to ever darker and more complex places, the two are forced to grapple with their own painful losses, as well as impossibly hard How far would we go for the people we love? Are some secrets better left hidden? Can murder itself be a form of justice?
What happens when the ones we trust the most betray us?
In the charming, tight-knit community of Sheppley, Pennsylvania, Detective Lina Cordova and her partner Aaron Cash are still reeling from their failure to get justice for Tally Frost--wife, grieving mother, and Sheppley society queen who disappeared a year earlier--when another high-profile case hits their desks.
A body is discovered in a remote hunting cabin, shot through the head. The victim was a man plagued by a controversy that once rocked Sheppley to its core. There is no shortage of suspects, and they include people Cordova and Cash know well, which makes it even more difficult to distinguish truth from lies.
The daughter of a Filipino doctor and a mother from an old-money Sheppley family, Ivy League-educated Lina Cordova is acutely aware of the social dynamics and prejudices of her hometown, while young Aaron Cash is a recent transplant, an escapee from an abusive homelife in rural Tennessee. As their twisty search for the truth takes them to ever darker and more complex places, the two are forced to grapple with their own painful losses, as well as impossibly hard How far would we go for the people we love? Are some secrets better left hidden? Can murder itself be a form of justice?
400 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication November 17, 2026
About the author
Marisa de los Santos
16 books3,176 followersMarisa de los Santos is the New York Times bestselling author of LOVE WALKED IN, BELONG TO ME, FALLING TOGETHER, THE PRECIOUS ONE, and her newest novel, which continues with characters from the first two, I'LL BE YOUR BLUE SKY.
Marisa has also co-authored, with her husband David Teague, two novels for middle grade readers: SAVING LUCAS BIGGS and CONNECT THE STARS.
Marisa and David live in Wilmington, Delaware with their two children, Charles and Annabel, and their Yorkies, Finny and Huxley. Marisa is currently at work on her sixth novel for adults, I'D GIVE ANYTHING.
Marisa has also co-authored, with her husband David Teague, two novels for middle grade readers: SAVING LUCAS BIGGS and CONNECT THE STARS.
Marisa and David live in Wilmington, Delaware with their two children, Charles and Annabel, and their Yorkies, Finny and Huxley. Marisa is currently at work on her sixth novel for adults, I'D GIVE ANYTHING.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Trusted was a fabulous police procedural with a murder with links to possible pedophilia, suicide and another murder. I loved the way the story was told and how the many suspects were eliminated one by one. But what I loved most were the two detectives in charge of the case – Lina Cordova and Aaron Cash. I loved their back stories, their so different personalities, their work ethic, their interactions with each other and everything about them and their personalities. I definitely look forward to another book featuring them.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
This has the makings of a great series kick-off. Will it be just a stand-alone? The characters in this murder mystery are fantastic and well-developed. There were a few questionable bits early on but the reader is in safe hands with this author. This is a bit too much of a suspense to be a cozy mystery;however, it doesn’t rely on blood splatter for suspense. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for an advance reader copy. Release date: 11/17.
Review of advance copy received from Author
As a huge Marisa de los Santos fan, I was thrilled to receive an advanced reader copy of her first thriller, THE TRUSTED.
This might be new territory for the author, but her characters are classically de los Santos: unique and wonderful. And her dialogue is still the best. I would love to see this become a series.
THE TRUSTED is set in a tight-knit community in Pennsylvania and introduces Detective Lina Cordova and her partner Aaron Case.
Lina is in her early 40s, half Filipino, and the divorced, badass mom of two. She lives with her kids and her dad, a retired neurosurgeon who has morphed into grandparent of the century. Her son is neurodivergent and has a heartwarming relationship with his big sister, and Lina is on excellent terms with her ex, another fabulous character. (Did I mention I love the whole family?)
Aaron, who escaped an abusive homelife in rural Tennessee, is in his mid-twenties. He’s new to the area but Lina’s family has already embraced him. (Her son calls him Battery, and you’ll have to read the novel to find out why.)
Lina and Aaron are still reeling from their failure to get justice for a mother who disappeared a year earlier, when a body is discovered in a remote hunting cabin. The victim, shot three times in the head, was at the center of an older--but not forgotten--scandal that rocked the community. There are plenty of suspects, all of whom Lina knows, lots of dark twists, and some tough questions for our detective heroes to answer about trust and betrayal.
I had no idea who the killer was, but one question kept surfacing: How far would you go for the people you love?
Preorder this book now and thank me later.
This might be new territory for the author, but her characters are classically de los Santos: unique and wonderful. And her dialogue is still the best. I would love to see this become a series.
THE TRUSTED is set in a tight-knit community in Pennsylvania and introduces Detective Lina Cordova and her partner Aaron Case.
Lina is in her early 40s, half Filipino, and the divorced, badass mom of two. She lives with her kids and her dad, a retired neurosurgeon who has morphed into grandparent of the century. Her son is neurodivergent and has a heartwarming relationship with his big sister, and Lina is on excellent terms with her ex, another fabulous character. (Did I mention I love the whole family?)
Aaron, who escaped an abusive homelife in rural Tennessee, is in his mid-twenties. He’s new to the area but Lina’s family has already embraced him. (Her son calls him Battery, and you’ll have to read the novel to find out why.)
Lina and Aaron are still reeling from their failure to get justice for a mother who disappeared a year earlier, when a body is discovered in a remote hunting cabin. The victim, shot three times in the head, was at the center of an older--but not forgotten--scandal that rocked the community. There are plenty of suspects, all of whom Lina knows, lots of dark twists, and some tough questions for our detective heroes to answer about trust and betrayal.
I had no idea who the killer was, but one question kept surfacing: How far would you go for the people you love?
Preorder this book now and thank me later.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Holmes and Watson. 🕵️♂️
Benson and Stabler. 🚔
Cordova and Cash. ✨
Pop culture loves a dynamic police duo, and Cordova and Cash are the latest to win my heart.
I’ve enjoyed Marisa de los Santos’ books for years, but she took a hard left with 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗗. I don’t usually reach for police procedurals but her foray into a new genre blew me away.
The story follows Lina Cordova, an Ivy League-educated detective and divorced mom of two living with her widowed father in her Pennsylvania hometown, and Aaron Cash, her younger Tennessee-born partner who’s trying to outrun his traumatic past. As these two reluctantly close a missing woman's case, they're handed a high-profile murder that rocks their community and forces them to face challenges and demons of their own.
But I didn't devour this in one sitting just for the twisty mystery. It’s the character work that held me hostage. de los Santos writes people and connection like no one else. Watching Cordova and Cash guard their hearts during their investigation is captivating. Every side character feels so vivid and fiercely real, like they could all be people I know. And the dialogue! The only way I can describe it is Aaron Sorkin-esque banter, with an emotional undercurrent that keeps you hooked.
I didn't want this world to end and I’m crossing all my fingers that this is the start of a new series. I need more of Cordova and Cash (and Abby, Alberto, Elise, Ritchie, Lacey, Johnny, Joe, and Goldie) in my life immediately.
Thanks to Blackstone Publishing for the copy to review.
Benson and Stabler. 🚔
Cordova and Cash. ✨
Pop culture loves a dynamic police duo, and Cordova and Cash are the latest to win my heart.
I’ve enjoyed Marisa de los Santos’ books for years, but she took a hard left with 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗗. I don’t usually reach for police procedurals but her foray into a new genre blew me away.
The story follows Lina Cordova, an Ivy League-educated detective and divorced mom of two living with her widowed father in her Pennsylvania hometown, and Aaron Cash, her younger Tennessee-born partner who’s trying to outrun his traumatic past. As these two reluctantly close a missing woman's case, they're handed a high-profile murder that rocks their community and forces them to face challenges and demons of their own.
But I didn't devour this in one sitting just for the twisty mystery. It’s the character work that held me hostage. de los Santos writes people and connection like no one else. Watching Cordova and Cash guard their hearts during their investigation is captivating. Every side character feels so vivid and fiercely real, like they could all be people I know. And the dialogue! The only way I can describe it is Aaron Sorkin-esque banter, with an emotional undercurrent that keeps you hooked.
I didn't want this world to end and I’m crossing all my fingers that this is the start of a new series. I need more of Cordova and Cash (and Abby, Alberto, Elise, Ritchie, Lacey, Johnny, Joe, and Goldie) in my life immediately.
Thanks to Blackstone Publishing for the copy to review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I have been a longtime fan of Marisa de los Santos, and I was so excited to see she was branching out into the murder mystery genre. I had high hopes for this book and I was not a bit disappointed–I loved it! Lina Cordova and Aaron Cash are indeed my new favorite detectives and I hope this will be the first in a series–I would love to read more!
Set in a small town in Pennsylvania, The Trusted is about long-ago death, a failed case of a woman who disappeared, and a murder that turns all of it upside down. Lina Cordova is an outstanding detective as well as a devoted mother, which seems like a rarity in this genre, and I loved her character.
The book’s beautiful prose (customary for Marisa de los Santos, but always remarkable to me!) tackles big questions (how far would you go for the people you love?) while also being fast-paced, immersive, and thoroughly enjoyable. I didn’t want to put it down and devoured the whole thing in just a few sittings.
Thanks to Marisa de los Santos and Blackstone Publishing for the advanced reader copy. And PLEASE let this be the first in a long series!!
Set in a small town in Pennsylvania, The Trusted is about long-ago death, a failed case of a woman who disappeared, and a murder that turns all of it upside down. Lina Cordova is an outstanding detective as well as a devoted mother, which seems like a rarity in this genre, and I loved her character.
The book’s beautiful prose (customary for Marisa de los Santos, but always remarkable to me!) tackles big questions (how far would you go for the people you love?) while also being fast-paced, immersive, and thoroughly enjoyable. I didn’t want to put it down and devoured the whole thing in just a few sittings.
Thanks to Marisa de los Santos and Blackstone Publishing for the advanced reader copy. And PLEASE let this be the first in a long series!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Trusted is a top-notch police procedural that I could not put down. The story follows detectives Lina and Aaron as they investigate the murder of a brutally slain man found in a remote cabin. There are plenty of suspects, and some of the clues connect back to crimes from the past, adding even more depth to the mystery.
I found the book to be fast-paced, engaging, and full of suspense. The twists kept me guessing, and I was invested in the investigation from beginning to end. Lina and Aaron make a great detective team, and I would love to see this become a long-running series.
This was an easy 5-star read for me, and I think I may have found a new favorite author. If you enjoy police procedurals with strong characters, plenty of suspects, and a compelling mystery, put The Trusted on your to-be-read list
I found the book to be fast-paced, engaging, and full of suspense. The twists kept me guessing, and I was invested in the investigation from beginning to end. Lina and Aaron make a great detective team, and I would love to see this become a long-running series.
This was an easy 5-star read for me, and I think I may have found a new favorite author. If you enjoy police procedurals with strong characters, plenty of suspects, and a compelling mystery, put The Trusted on your to-be-read list
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Forever and always, I love de los Santos's lyrical writing and deeply empathetic characters. In The Trusted, her first mystery novel, she deftly tackles a difficult and complicated storyline (check trigger warnings if you're sensitive) that had me hooked from start to finish. In retrospect, the whodunnit should have been obvious, but I was so wrapped up in the writing and characters that I was present right along with Lina and Aaron as their investigation unfolded and didn't spend much time trying to solve the mystery. I really hope we see more of these characters. Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for a digital review copy.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
A procedural by de los Santos? Sign me up. I was stumped by the mystery, loved the characters, and, as always, appreciated the poetic writing. I hope this is only the first in a series. 4.5 stars rounded up. Spoiler alert...
(I took off half a star just because pedophilia is not fun to read about.)
*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
(I took off half a star just because pedophilia is not fun to read about.)
*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I will always read anything by Marisa de los Santos. This was a different genre but I loved it. Detectives Lina and Aaron were wonderful central characters. I hope this is the first in a new series! Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Review of advance copy received from Author
de los Santos is at the peak of her talents with this one!
Review of advance copy
Reviewing for Booklist--more to come
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a really solid police procedural. I thought it was great characters with a good mystery. I felt myself identifying with them and was really drawn to the story. I didn’t want to put it down.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What a start to a new mystery direction! I loved Lina and Aaron and their chemistry as they worked to solve the mysteries in this book and how well Lina’s family was woven in. I look forward to spending more time getting to know all of the characters and hope this series continues. 4.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews