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The Trusted
Not yet published
Expected 17 Nov 26In
The Trusted
,
New York Times
bestselling author Marisa de los Santos introduces listeners 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?
432 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication November 17, 2026
About the author
Marisa de los Santos
16 books3,165 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 - 7 of 7 reviews
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 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 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
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 - 7 of 7 reviews