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Trust Me
One phone call. Two lives. Their darkest secrets.
Lana needs to sell a holiday, fast. Stuck in Tenerife, in a dead end job, she never expected a response quite like Liam’s. Thousands of miles away a phone rings. Liam never intended to pick up, he’s too busy choosing the quickest way to die. But at least someone should know the truth before he goes, even if that someone is a stranger. As time runs out both are drawn to the other, expressing thoughts they never imagined they would share. When you’re about to die will your secrets even matter?
Lana needs to sell a holiday, fast. Stuck in Tenerife, in a dead end job, she never expected a response quite like Liam’s. Thousands of miles away a phone rings. Liam never intended to pick up, he’s too busy choosing the quickest way to die. But at least someone should know the truth before he goes, even if that someone is a stranger. As time runs out both are drawn to the other, expressing thoughts they never imagined they would share. When you’re about to die will your secrets even matter?
251 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 10, 2017
201 people are currently reading
640 people want to read
About the author
Gemma Metcalfe
4 books86 followersI am obsessed with books! I LOVE psychological and suspense thrillers.
I am a published author with Harpercollins UK and my debut thriller ´Trust Me´ has now sold over 20,000 copies since its release in March.
ONLY 99p on Amazon UK goo.gl/RyzXQm
Amazon.com- goo.gl/s8SqXn
Please join my mailing list for insights into Trust Me, short stories and iĺl drop you an email when my next book is released http://eepurl.com/cMNmmD
I am a published author with Harpercollins UK and my debut thriller ´Trust Me´ has now sold over 20,000 copies since its release in March.
ONLY 99p on Amazon UK goo.gl/RyzXQm
Amazon.com- goo.gl/s8SqXn
Please join my mailing list for insights into Trust Me, short stories and iĺl drop you an email when my next book is released http://eepurl.com/cMNmmD
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
December 8, 2019
Snappy chapters.
Unique plot.
Holds your attention (it did mine)
Compulsive reading.
I was well invested in this story.
Unique plot.
Holds your attention (it did mine)
Compulsive reading.
I was well invested in this story.
June 21, 2017
4.5 Stars
Lana is a telemarketer. She's been told to sell a holiday package before the end of her shift, or it will be her very last shift. Having a young daughter to support and needing money, she makes another phone call.
Thousand of miles away, the phone is answered by Liam. When Lana starts her spiel, he tells her not to continue, he's getting ready to kill himself.
At first, Lana thinks it is a joke. But somehow the man's earnest demeanor comes through.
As time runs out for both of them, they each have a story to tell ... a secret to share.
This is quite different from any other books I've read. Told in turn by each, the reader is transported to the past ...and to the present. This is not a mystery, per se, but it is highly suspenseful. I actually did not find Lana all the credible. But Liam found a place in my heart that hurt so much for him.
It seemed like a fast read to me, but maybe that's because I just could not put this one down. I had to see what happened next to both Lana and Liam.
The ending was so unexpected, but so fitting.
Many thanks to the author/ HQ Digital / Netgalley for the digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Lana is a telemarketer. She's been told to sell a holiday package before the end of her shift, or it will be her very last shift. Having a young daughter to support and needing money, she makes another phone call.
Thousand of miles away, the phone is answered by Liam. When Lana starts her spiel, he tells her not to continue, he's getting ready to kill himself.
At first, Lana thinks it is a joke. But somehow the man's earnest demeanor comes through.
As time runs out for both of them, they each have a story to tell ... a secret to share.
This is quite different from any other books I've read. Told in turn by each, the reader is transported to the past ...and to the present. This is not a mystery, per se, but it is highly suspenseful. I actually did not find Lana all the credible. But Liam found a place in my heart that hurt so much for him.
It seemed like a fast read to me, but maybe that's because I just could not put this one down. I had to see what happened next to both Lana and Liam.
The ending was so unexpected, but so fitting.
Many thanks to the author/ HQ Digital / Netgalley for the digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
February 8, 2017
If I could rate Trust Me 10 stars I would!
I was hooked from page 1. Gemma's style of writing made reading even better. The chapters were short and sharp.
I was hanging on to every word desperate to find out more. It was captivating, enthralling, Heartbreaking and had so many twists and turns I was left guessing at every page.
Lana and Liam connect via a telephone call that will change both of their lives forever!
When Lana calls Liam trying to sell him a holiday, Liam tells Lana he is about to kill himself.
Lana is about to lose her job if she don't make a sale but all she can think of is Liam.
She rings him back and so their journey begins
Eventually Lana persuades Liam to tell he's story to her. On doing so it opens up wounds for Lana and she too begins to confide in Liam reliving her awfull story to him and why she run away, in order to save him.
Jessica is Liam's current wife and the story is heavily centered around her manipulative, physcotic ways.
Without giving anything away, you soon learn Jessica is jealous of Liam's deceased ex wife and she does everything in her power to control and bully him.
My heart really went out to Liam he suffered so much at the hands of Jessica and carried so much guilt, tragedy and heartache, I can see why he feels he has no way out. Jessica has trapped him, there really is no escape!
Lana's story is equally as tragic. She has parents who are cruel and disown her for being pregnant at a young age and she has a drug addict brother who endangers her daughter and steals from her.
It because of her brother she ends up running away.
Throughout reading Trust Me I had so many questions and theories they changed Chapter by Chapter which I loved as it kept me on my toes craving to know the answers.
The Chapters go from past to present but Gemma has managed to make the transition seamlessly.
Normally I find this frustrating but with Trust Me it works.
It is perfect for the phone call style. Lana needs to keep Liam talking and in order to do this she asks him questions which blend into telling he's story.
I highly recommend reading Trust Me, it really is a heart racing, page turning, captivating, gripping story.
I can't wait to read more of Gemma Metcalfe books.
I would like to say Thank you to the publishers for accepting my request to read this exciting new book.
I received this book from the Publisher for a fair review via NetGalley.
I was hooked from page 1. Gemma's style of writing made reading even better. The chapters were short and sharp.
I was hanging on to every word desperate to find out more. It was captivating, enthralling, Heartbreaking and had so many twists and turns I was left guessing at every page.
Lana and Liam connect via a telephone call that will change both of their lives forever!
When Lana calls Liam trying to sell him a holiday, Liam tells Lana he is about to kill himself.
Lana is about to lose her job if she don't make a sale but all she can think of is Liam.
She rings him back and so their journey begins
Eventually Lana persuades Liam to tell he's story to her. On doing so it opens up wounds for Lana and she too begins to confide in Liam reliving her awfull story to him and why she run away, in order to save him.
Jessica is Liam's current wife and the story is heavily centered around her manipulative, physcotic ways.
Without giving anything away, you soon learn Jessica is jealous of Liam's deceased ex wife and she does everything in her power to control and bully him.
My heart really went out to Liam he suffered so much at the hands of Jessica and carried so much guilt, tragedy and heartache, I can see why he feels he has no way out. Jessica has trapped him, there really is no escape!
Lana's story is equally as tragic. She has parents who are cruel and disown her for being pregnant at a young age and she has a drug addict brother who endangers her daughter and steals from her.
It because of her brother she ends up running away.
Throughout reading Trust Me I had so many questions and theories they changed Chapter by Chapter which I loved as it kept me on my toes craving to know the answers.
The Chapters go from past to present but Gemma has managed to make the transition seamlessly.
Normally I find this frustrating but with Trust Me it works.
It is perfect for the phone call style. Lana needs to keep Liam talking and in order to do this she asks him questions which blend into telling he's story.
I highly recommend reading Trust Me, it really is a heart racing, page turning, captivating, gripping story.
I can't wait to read more of Gemma Metcalfe books.
I would like to say Thank you to the publishers for accepting my request to read this exciting new book.
I received this book from the Publisher for a fair review via NetGalley.
March 13, 2017
Wow! Trust Me is the best 99p I have spent in a long time! I saw this book had some great early reviews so got my pre order in and it magically appeared on my Kindle on Friday. And normally books then languish there for a good few weeks (months) due to my ridiculously high TBR pile but this one had intrigued me so much that I went to bed with it on Sunday night. And in the early hours of Monday morning I finally put it down with just that one word…….”wow”!
It’s hard to believe that this is a debut novel. Gemma Metcalfe has taken her inspiration from a job she knows well and woven a twisted “what if?” around it in such a unique and engrossing writing style that you will be gripped immediately. Honestly, I defy ANYONE to be able to put this book down once they start it! It had all the pace of a Hollywood blockbuster but with a thoughtful insight that you don’t much see in this genre. But the best thing about it for me was that I had absolutely no idea where it was going! I LOVE being surprised by a book, it doesn’t happen to me much nowadays so when it does I just want to scream and shout and generally rave about it to anyone who will listen!
These two main characters Lana and Liam have never met but they are about to become the most important person in each others life as their deepest thoughts and darkest secrets slowly come together. I loved that the random phone call brought them together at just the right time and from that first contact I was desperate to discover what they were both hiding. You can almost feel Lana’s desperation as she starts off trying to make the sale that will save her skin but then it becomes an agonising race against time to hear how Liams story will end. Both threads kept my attention throughout and I would get fully invested in the tragic occurrences in Liams life then be left hanging in anticipation while we switched to the chain of events explaining how Lana ended up in that dead end job in Tenerife. There were some great unexpected plot twists here as well, one of which I didn’t see until it slapped me in the face with its originality and brilliance! Very clever indeed!
And after all that build up I wasn’t disappointed by the perfectly pitched ending – the cherry on the top of an involving and well rounded thriller that is unlike anything else you will read this year. Gemma Metcalfe should be so proud of herself for this uniquely fabulous debut and I am so looking forward to seeing what other deliciously warped ideas come from Gemma’s twisted imagination. Highly recommended by me!
It’s hard to believe that this is a debut novel. Gemma Metcalfe has taken her inspiration from a job she knows well and woven a twisted “what if?” around it in such a unique and engrossing writing style that you will be gripped immediately. Honestly, I defy ANYONE to be able to put this book down once they start it! It had all the pace of a Hollywood blockbuster but with a thoughtful insight that you don’t much see in this genre. But the best thing about it for me was that I had absolutely no idea where it was going! I LOVE being surprised by a book, it doesn’t happen to me much nowadays so when it does I just want to scream and shout and generally rave about it to anyone who will listen!
These two main characters Lana and Liam have never met but they are about to become the most important person in each others life as their deepest thoughts and darkest secrets slowly come together. I loved that the random phone call brought them together at just the right time and from that first contact I was desperate to discover what they were both hiding. You can almost feel Lana’s desperation as she starts off trying to make the sale that will save her skin but then it becomes an agonising race against time to hear how Liams story will end. Both threads kept my attention throughout and I would get fully invested in the tragic occurrences in Liams life then be left hanging in anticipation while we switched to the chain of events explaining how Lana ended up in that dead end job in Tenerife. There were some great unexpected plot twists here as well, one of which I didn’t see until it slapped me in the face with its originality and brilliance! Very clever indeed!
And after all that build up I wasn’t disappointed by the perfectly pitched ending – the cherry on the top of an involving and well rounded thriller that is unlike anything else you will read this year. Gemma Metcalfe should be so proud of herself for this uniquely fabulous debut and I am so looking forward to seeing what other deliciously warped ideas come from Gemma’s twisted imagination. Highly recommended by me!
March 10, 2017
OMG,I was so hooked in by this gripping psychological thriller that when my hubby left for work at 6.30am this morning instead of just turning over and going back to sleep like I usually do I couldn't resist getting up,grabbing my kindle and finding out how this riviting thriller was going to end.Now I'm bitterly disappointed,not by how it ended but by the fact that I have finished the book.
Lana,a single mum to six year old Amber really needs to sell a holiday or she is going to lose her dead end job.Stuck in Tenerife with a overbearing boss breathing down her neck every five minutes she doesn't think her day can get any worse,that is until Liam answers the phone.
Thousands of miles away Liam never intended to answer the phone,he is too busy trying to work out the easiest and quickest way to die.Then he realises that if he shares his secrets with Lana then at least someone will the truth before he goes,even if that other person is a complete stranger.
As time ticks by and Lana desperately fights to keep Liam alive they are drawn to each other and Liam discovers that Lana has secrets of her own,after all do your secrets matter when you are going to die.
This riviting thriller is narrated in alternating chapters by Liam and Lana,the chapters also flip back and forth through time between the present and the past.The present day chapters are time stamped and count down the day as Lana struggles to convince Liam not to kill himself.The chapters are clearly labelled so you know exactly who's part of the story you are reading,the story flows along nicely and is easy to follow.Tara and Liam are realistic,believable characters who it was easy to feel sympathy for as both their stories unfolded.Their lives had been turned upside down and torn apart due to circumstances beyond their control and because they both tried to do what was right.My favourite chapters where the ones narrated by Liam,I felt that his story was more intreguing and had more twists that Lana`s.
It's a well written thriller that had me hooked from the gripping prologue and gasping out loud when I read a jaw dropping,unexpected twist towards the end.This little gem is surprisingly a debut book and I honestly look forward to reading more books by this author in the future.
Many thanks to HQ Digital for a arc of this book via netgalley in exchange for a honest review
Lana,a single mum to six year old Amber really needs to sell a holiday or she is going to lose her dead end job.Stuck in Tenerife with a overbearing boss breathing down her neck every five minutes she doesn't think her day can get any worse,that is until Liam answers the phone.
Thousands of miles away Liam never intended to answer the phone,he is too busy trying to work out the easiest and quickest way to die.Then he realises that if he shares his secrets with Lana then at least someone will the truth before he goes,even if that other person is a complete stranger.
As time ticks by and Lana desperately fights to keep Liam alive they are drawn to each other and Liam discovers that Lana has secrets of her own,after all do your secrets matter when you are going to die.
This riviting thriller is narrated in alternating chapters by Liam and Lana,the chapters also flip back and forth through time between the present and the past.The present day chapters are time stamped and count down the day as Lana struggles to convince Liam not to kill himself.The chapters are clearly labelled so you know exactly who's part of the story you are reading,the story flows along nicely and is easy to follow.Tara and Liam are realistic,believable characters who it was easy to feel sympathy for as both their stories unfolded.Their lives had been turned upside down and torn apart due to circumstances beyond their control and because they both tried to do what was right.My favourite chapters where the ones narrated by Liam,I felt that his story was more intreguing and had more twists that Lana`s.
It's a well written thriller that had me hooked from the gripping prologue and gasping out loud when I read a jaw dropping,unexpected twist towards the end.This little gem is surprisingly a debut book and I honestly look forward to reading more books by this author in the future.
Many thanks to HQ Digital for a arc of this book via netgalley in exchange for a honest review
March 15, 2017
Easily four and a half stars, bumped up to a five. The ending will blow you away. The two main characters are very different, but immediately likeable and you really feel for them both. I suspected a couple of the surprises in the end, but there were also a couple that managed to shock me. A very twisted and gripping story.
Lana is just trying to pay her rent and care for her daughter. She's stuck doing a sort of telemarketing job, trying to sell holidays. Unfortunately, she is not good at it. Her boss informs her that she needs to make a sale TODAY or she's out of a job. No pressure. As the workday begins to wind down, she gets increasingly desperate. Her final call of the day may or not be a sale... but it's certainly one she'll remember forever.
Liam is on the other end of the line, thousands of miles away. The last few years of his life have been unbelievably difficult, and he's drawn to Lana and begins to tell her his story and listen to hers. Someone should know what causes him to kill himself, right? Both fueled by anger and desperation, their secrets come out, telling each other terrible things no one else knows.
I was given an ARC of this novel from Net Galley and HQ Digital, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.
Lana is just trying to pay her rent and care for her daughter. She's stuck doing a sort of telemarketing job, trying to sell holidays. Unfortunately, she is not good at it. Her boss informs her that she needs to make a sale TODAY or she's out of a job. No pressure. As the workday begins to wind down, she gets increasingly desperate. Her final call of the day may or not be a sale... but it's certainly one she'll remember forever.
Liam is on the other end of the line, thousands of miles away. The last few years of his life have been unbelievably difficult, and he's drawn to Lana and begins to tell her his story and listen to hers. Someone should know what causes him to kill himself, right? Both fueled by anger and desperation, their secrets come out, telling each other terrible things no one else knows.
I was given an ARC of this novel from Net Galley and HQ Digital, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.
June 12, 2017
Totally enjoyed this book. A story of Lana a telesales girl trying to sell a holiday. Takes a call from Liam a man who feels he has now nothing left to live for and wants to end his life . Two strangers with deep heart breaking stories and how they try to save each other. Stories that need to be told.
Gripping with a few twists, for me it was a real page turner from start to finish.
A great read.
Gripping with a few twists, for me it was a real page turner from start to finish.
A great read.
May 18, 2017
I’m not even going to wait until I’ve finished my ramble to tell you to go and buy this book, it is 99p on Amazon and worth much, much more!
Trust Me starts with Liam receiving a phone call from Lana, a cold-caller trying to make a sale, and as a result of this phone call things will never be the same. Liam has decided to kill himself and as Lana tries to make her pitch to him he tells her that there is no point as he is going to be dead and hangs up on Lana. Completely in shock, Lana rings him back because she feels she has to stop him. As she tries to tell him that life is worth living he tells her she is far too young to know anything about life and it goes from there.
This is one of the most poignant stories that I have read in a long time. This beautifully written tale tells of something that could genuinely happen to a cold-caller, or anyone for that matter, and the subject has been dealt with wonderfully.
It is the first book in a long time that had me saying, while in bed, “One more chapter” or “Hold on, I need to find out what happens!” to my husband. A side note – he fell asleep and the first thing he asked, in the morning, was, did I finish the book, followed by how he knew it was good because usually I just stop and the end of my chapter. All this was before “Good morning my, oh so beautiful wife who I cherish for all eternity!” (OK I am delusional, I can’t imagine he has ever said that to me but come on a girl can dream!)
This is a story both apostolic and in retrospect, however, it is exceptionally easy to follow. I was gripped the whole time and the only reason I put it down the first night was because my Kindle had hit me up the face a few times. I thought I could predict how it would end but I couldn’t, in fact, I was so far off it was wonderful.
Trust Me starts with Liam receiving a phone call from Lana, a cold-caller trying to make a sale, and as a result of this phone call things will never be the same. Liam has decided to kill himself and as Lana tries to make her pitch to him he tells her that there is no point as he is going to be dead and hangs up on Lana. Completely in shock, Lana rings him back because she feels she has to stop him. As she tries to tell him that life is worth living he tells her she is far too young to know anything about life and it goes from there.
This is one of the most poignant stories that I have read in a long time. This beautifully written tale tells of something that could genuinely happen to a cold-caller, or anyone for that matter, and the subject has been dealt with wonderfully.
It is the first book in a long time that had me saying, while in bed, “One more chapter” or “Hold on, I need to find out what happens!” to my husband. A side note – he fell asleep and the first thing he asked, in the morning, was, did I finish the book, followed by how he knew it was good because usually I just stop and the end of my chapter. All this was before “Good morning my, oh so beautiful wife who I cherish for all eternity!” (OK I am delusional, I can’t imagine he has ever said that to me but come on a girl can dream!)
This is a story both apostolic and in retrospect, however, it is exceptionally easy to follow. I was gripped the whole time and the only reason I put it down the first night was because my Kindle had hit me up the face a few times. I thought I could predict how it would end but I couldn’t, in fact, I was so far off it was wonderful.
March 27, 2017
I enjoyed this book, I found it easy to read with a good storyline
August 19, 2019
Certainly an interesting concept...particularly as I wouldn’t give a telemarketer the time of day. However, this made the plot original and the premise quite believable.
Both main characters are highly flawed and in some way I felt like just giving them a good shake!
Writing style was not my favourite but definitely a great plot and intriguing twist, which was far more complex than I had expected and I certainly did not see it coming at the end!
Both main characters are highly flawed and in some way I felt like just giving them a good shake!
Writing style was not my favourite but definitely a great plot and intriguing twist, which was far more complex than I had expected and I certainly did not see it coming at the end!
September 1, 2019
Sooooo goood!!!!! Such a fast and intense novel. This book kept me glued to the pages need to know what had happened to lead these 2 characters to this extreme points in their lives. Read it in a few short hours. I just couldn't put it down. This book will really hold your attention and having you repeating OMG to yourself throughout.
REAaD THIS!!
REAaD THIS!!
May 9, 2017
The Blurb :
One phone call. Two lives. Their darkest secrets.
Lana needs to sell a holiday, fast. Stuck in Tenerife, in a dead end job, she never expected a response quite like Liam’s.
Thousands of miles away a phone rings. Liam never intended to pick up, he’s too busy choosing the quickest way to die. But at least someone should know the truth before he goes, even if that someone is a stranger.
As time runs out both are drawn to the other, expressing thoughts they never imagined they would share.
When you’re about to die will your secrets even matter?
My Thoughts :
Firstly if that blurb doesnt get you intrigued I dont know what will. I am usually a Chick Lit kind of girl but occasionally I like to indulge in the odd Thriller Suspence book.
I was gripped from the start and could not put this down as I wanted to know what was coming next for each charactor. Its safe to say I was up until 3am wanting to finish it, and thats not something I do often. I really got into the charactors of Lana and Liam, and as I read each page it made me wonder what possibly was to come that was worse than id already read.
This jumps between past and present, Lana's life and Liam's life. I was a little unsure and thought it may get confusing but it didnt. Gemma Metcalfe really worked this part of the story and made it flow perfectly. My only little niggle with the story was that would Lana of really been allowed to of been on the phone all that time without her boss really questioning it or her collegues not listening in and thinking she was nuts. But thats just something I picked out and really doesnt effect the reading in anyway. There are lots of twists and turns with a few surprises thrown in. I didnt call most of them, which is good because it shows what a great writer Gemma is. I think this would of been a 5 star review but due to the ending ive given it 4 as I was a little disappointed and I think it ends quiet abruptly which left me feeling a bit Ohh. The whole book had such depth, with the ending leaving me a bit deflated. Overall a fab book and a new author to look out for.
One phone call. Two lives. Their darkest secrets.
Lana needs to sell a holiday, fast. Stuck in Tenerife, in a dead end job, she never expected a response quite like Liam’s.
Thousands of miles away a phone rings. Liam never intended to pick up, he’s too busy choosing the quickest way to die. But at least someone should know the truth before he goes, even if that someone is a stranger.
As time runs out both are drawn to the other, expressing thoughts they never imagined they would share.
When you’re about to die will your secrets even matter?
My Thoughts :
Firstly if that blurb doesnt get you intrigued I dont know what will. I am usually a Chick Lit kind of girl but occasionally I like to indulge in the odd Thriller Suspence book.
I was gripped from the start and could not put this down as I wanted to know what was coming next for each charactor. Its safe to say I was up until 3am wanting to finish it, and thats not something I do often. I really got into the charactors of Lana and Liam, and as I read each page it made me wonder what possibly was to come that was worse than id already read.
This jumps between past and present, Lana's life and Liam's life. I was a little unsure and thought it may get confusing but it didnt. Gemma Metcalfe really worked this part of the story and made it flow perfectly. My only little niggle with the story was that would Lana of really been allowed to of been on the phone all that time without her boss really questioning it or her collegues not listening in and thinking she was nuts. But thats just something I picked out and really doesnt effect the reading in anyway. There are lots of twists and turns with a few surprises thrown in. I didnt call most of them, which is good because it shows what a great writer Gemma is. I think this would of been a 5 star review but due to the ending ive given it 4 as I was a little disappointed and I think it ends quiet abruptly which left me feeling a bit Ohh. The whole book had such depth, with the ending leaving me a bit deflated. Overall a fab book and a new author to look out for.
May 13, 2017
This debut novel was something that I began reading not really knowing what to expect; what a novel to go in blind to! Fast paced and unputdownable, I was consumed in these pages and became completely invested in this unconventional story.
First, the narrative style of this one was completely original. It had me on the edge of my seat. Two people speaking to each other over the phone, one person, a telemarketer, and the other, a man in the midst of completing suicide, in present time, begin to reveal their darkest secrets to each other. As the skeletons in their closet are revealed, told in flashbacks, time begins to run out and the question remains, if you are about to die, do your secrets even matter? Crazy right?
Told in alternating chapters and perspectives between Lana, at her call center, desperately trying to keep this man on the phone and Liam, at home completing suicide, telling his story to someone before he dies, flowed easily and I could not flip the pages quick enough.
I did find that the middle of this on lagged a little bit; it sort of began to read a little bit like a pity party. Both characters seemed to be trying to “out do” each other with the amount of strife in their lives. I feel like the story may have worked better for me if Liam was the one dealing with the issues and Lana simply was listening; her storyline worked, don’t get me wrong, but there were points where I felt like it both characters were hosting a pity party for themselves.
However, by the time the big reveals unfolded at the end, any feelings of annoyance disappeared and I was completely impressed with Metcalfe’s ability to tie the plot together. The one reveal in particular actually made me gasp.
I would highly recommend this novel; a seriously entertaining read!
I received a copy of this novel for review; it was my pleasure to do so honestly!
First, the narrative style of this one was completely original. It had me on the edge of my seat. Two people speaking to each other over the phone, one person, a telemarketer, and the other, a man in the midst of completing suicide, in present time, begin to reveal their darkest secrets to each other. As the skeletons in their closet are revealed, told in flashbacks, time begins to run out and the question remains, if you are about to die, do your secrets even matter? Crazy right?
Told in alternating chapters and perspectives between Lana, at her call center, desperately trying to keep this man on the phone and Liam, at home completing suicide, telling his story to someone before he dies, flowed easily and I could not flip the pages quick enough.
I did find that the middle of this on lagged a little bit; it sort of began to read a little bit like a pity party. Both characters seemed to be trying to “out do” each other with the amount of strife in their lives. I feel like the story may have worked better for me if Liam was the one dealing with the issues and Lana simply was listening; her storyline worked, don’t get me wrong, but there were points where I felt like it both characters were hosting a pity party for themselves.
However, by the time the big reveals unfolded at the end, any feelings of annoyance disappeared and I was completely impressed with Metcalfe’s ability to tie the plot together. The one reveal in particular actually made me gasp.
I would highly recommend this novel; a seriously entertaining read!
I received a copy of this novel for review; it was my pleasure to do so honestly!
March 22, 2017
I loved this book! It is a great writing style and concept - 2 main characters recounting events from their lives, over a long distance telephone call.
Well written short chapters, lots of twists and turns, and not a serial killer in sight!
A refreshing change, totally recommended and can't wait for the author's next book.
Well written short chapters, lots of twists and turns, and not a serial killer in sight!
A refreshing change, totally recommended and can't wait for the author's next book.
May 14, 2017
Brilliant first book. Couldn't put it down. Something a little different for a suspense. A must read
April 16, 2017
Gemma Metcalfe is amazing!!!
I loved everything about her book! I loved the way she set up the conversation between the two main characters... I don't think I've ever seen that before in a novel and for me it made it unique! I loved it!
The characters I could really relate to. They were very likeable and you could feel empathy for both their situations.
I loved the humour you injected into the story and the way you time stamped the switches between characters lives.
Overall I loved this book and from the moment I picked it up I was stealing time to read the odd page or two in between entertaining family. It was an amazing read and so pleased I discovered it. I was pulled into the stories and couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next.
I'm really hoping Gemma is currently over in Tenerife writing her second novel because she has a lovely unique way of writing and I most definitely would love to read her next one!
Anyone reading this please go over to Amazon and support Gemma so her novel can be available in paperback! It's an amazing novel! 😘 x
I loved everything about her book! I loved the way she set up the conversation between the two main characters... I don't think I've ever seen that before in a novel and for me it made it unique! I loved it!
The characters I could really relate to. They were very likeable and you could feel empathy for both their situations.
I loved the humour you injected into the story and the way you time stamped the switches between characters lives.
Overall I loved this book and from the moment I picked it up I was stealing time to read the odd page or two in between entertaining family. It was an amazing read and so pleased I discovered it. I was pulled into the stories and couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next.
I'm really hoping Gemma is currently over in Tenerife writing her second novel because she has a lovely unique way of writing and I most definitely would love to read her next one!
Anyone reading this please go over to Amazon and support Gemma so her novel can be available in paperback! It's an amazing novel! 😘 x
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 22, 2019
I had originally given this 5 stars, but after thinking about it for a day, I had to take a star away because some question arose that kinda baffled me a bit. I will suggest you quit reading after this because this is where I will discuss some spoilers within the story.
April 6, 2017
Working as a phone salesperson has to suck. The constant hang ups, verbal abuse, etc. Lana is not much different. She is pretty much harassed by her manager to make one more sale or she's fired. She then ends up calling Liam, who tells her he is about to end his life.
This book had its ups and downs, good and bad points. The story is told from Lana and Liam, and how they got to where they are now in life. There were points in the book that did make me sad and feel for Liam, but most of it was just so overdone.
Take Lana's boss. He is the biggest assbag ever, and a normal person wouldn't take that. Lana just seemed like such an idiot and her back story was a bit sad, but also felt forced. I don't know how to explain it, it was almost as if two complete strangers were competing for the biggest sob story.
Liam's story is a lot more messed up and I think his storyline would have done well even without Lana's mixed in. The ending was a little bit of a shocker, but not entirely. Overall 3.5 in my book.
This book had its ups and downs, good and bad points. The story is told from Lana and Liam, and how they got to where they are now in life. There were points in the book that did make me sad and feel for Liam, but most of it was just so overdone.
Take Lana's boss. He is the biggest assbag ever, and a normal person wouldn't take that. Lana just seemed like such an idiot and her back story was a bit sad, but also felt forced. I don't know how to explain it, it was almost as if two complete strangers were competing for the biggest sob story.
Liam's story is a lot more messed up and I think his storyline would have done well even without Lana's mixed in. The ending was a little bit of a shocker, but not entirely. Overall 3.5 in my book.
August 4, 2019
This book captured my interest from the start and had me staying up half the night to finish it.
Lana is working at a call center in Tenerife but has been warned by her drug sniffing boss that she will be fired if she cannot sell a vacation stay before the end of the day. She calls Liam, who tells her he cannot buy the vacation because he is about to commit suicide. She gets him to tell his story, but eventually he refuses to continue until she tells her own terrible, heart-breaking story
I would have given this book 5 star if I had liked the ending better. The epilogue would have made a more fitting last chapter, and they should have added another epilogue that revealed some of the details I hoped to have cleared up. The ending left me more than a little unsatisfied.
Lana is working at a call center in Tenerife but has been warned by her drug sniffing boss that she will be fired if she cannot sell a vacation stay before the end of the day. She calls Liam, who tells her he cannot buy the vacation because he is about to commit suicide. She gets him to tell his story, but eventually he refuses to continue until she tells her own terrible, heart-breaking story
I would have given this book 5 star if I had liked the ending better. The epilogue would have made a more fitting last chapter, and they should have added another epilogue that revealed some of the details I hoped to have cleared up. The ending left me more than a little unsatisfied.
March 3, 2018
This was such a fab book, straight away I was drawn in by the amazing story and the characters Lana and Liam, I just couldn't stop reading, I highly recommend this book.
March 21, 2017
WOW! So many unexpected twists and turns in this book. I couldn't put it down!
March 7, 2017
Lana lives in Tenerife with her daughter Amber. She works in a call centre selling ~”bargain holidays”and has done for the last 6 months. Her boss Damien snorts coke and treats them all badly. The trouble is Lana hasn’t sold a single one and today she will lose her job unless she manages that magic call. Meanwhile in the UK Liam has just had enough. His life has been troubled in too many ways and today is the day he decides to end it all, for him and for the sake of Elliot, the child asleep upstairs. What transpires is an un-put-down-able story that draws you in. I really struggled to put this down and could easily have read the whole thing in one sitting. A story of hope, of people who care. Of the traumas of life and that there is help out there whatever the situation. Twists and turns that you really don’t see coming. A tale to remember, a tale to make you think and shed a tear. One of the most stunning novels I have ever read and I look forward to more from this author.
I voluntarily chose to read this ARC and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. 5**
I voluntarily chose to read this ARC and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. 5**
March 14, 2017
What a great read . Hooked from the beginning as the stories of Lana and Liam evolve , strangers connected on by a chance phone call. A phone call that keeps the reader hooked to the end. Look forward to more from this author . My thanks to the publisher and netgalley for my arc which I have chosen to review
March 11, 2017
Trust me by Gemma Metcalf.
OMG what a twister of a read. Lana sells holidays she phones Liam in the hope of getting a sale because if she don't she is fired. But Liam wants to kill himself. Lana must stay on the line to try and stop him from killing himself. I just couldn't put it down until I got to the last page. I had to know what happened between lana and Liam. This is a must read and I would highly recommend this book. It will grab you and keep you spellbound until the end. 5*. Thanks to hq digital and netgalley.
OMG what a twister of a read. Lana sells holidays she phones Liam in the hope of getting a sale because if she don't she is fired. But Liam wants to kill himself. Lana must stay on the line to try and stop him from killing himself. I just couldn't put it down until I got to the last page. I had to know what happened between lana and Liam. This is a must read and I would highly recommend this book. It will grab you and keep you spellbound until the end. 5*. Thanks to hq digital and netgalley.
February 7, 2017
Trust Me is Gemma Metcalfe's debut novel and what a corker of a read it is. I was hooked from the first page and it only took me a couple of days to finish it.
Lana is working at a call center in Tenerife selling cheap holidays to British tourists. She is struggling to make that all important sale and her boss has warned her that she will be sacked if he doesn't see improvement. But when she phones a number and speaks to Liam who lives hundreds of miles away in England, she could not possibly have known how this one call will change her life forever.
Liam confesses to Lana over the phone that he is intending to kill himself but Lana tries desperately to stop him. What do you do when someone tells you something so horrific? Can Lana really afford to help him at that moment when her boss is breathing down her neck all the time demanding that she must make a sale?
Gemma will keep you turning the pages as she delves deeper into her character's lives. I wasn't sure where this story was going to go, when Liam and Lana both began to talk about their pasts but the direction it took really did shock me, the ending left me reeling, not just for Liam but for Lana as well. The twists at the end really do hit you, particularly in Liam's story.
I'm looking forward to seeing what Gemma does next. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an arc to review.
Lana is working at a call center in Tenerife selling cheap holidays to British tourists. She is struggling to make that all important sale and her boss has warned her that she will be sacked if he doesn't see improvement. But when she phones a number and speaks to Liam who lives hundreds of miles away in England, she could not possibly have known how this one call will change her life forever.
Liam confesses to Lana over the phone that he is intending to kill himself but Lana tries desperately to stop him. What do you do when someone tells you something so horrific? Can Lana really afford to help him at that moment when her boss is breathing down her neck all the time demanding that she must make a sale?
Gemma will keep you turning the pages as she delves deeper into her character's lives. I wasn't sure where this story was going to go, when Liam and Lana both began to talk about their pasts but the direction it took really did shock me, the ending left me reeling, not just for Liam but for Lana as well. The twists at the end really do hit you, particularly in Liam's story.
I'm looking forward to seeing what Gemma does next. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an arc to review.
February 15, 2021
One-Sentence Summary: A woman who is trying to sell holidays on the phone encounters a suicidal man, and she wants to save him by exchanging their misery life and dark past.
The story is full of dramas and sad lives of different people with various struggles. Although I felt the story seems slightly overdramatic and too many plot twists, the story was enthralling to read. It's a story that keeps pushing you to continue reading it because it has more to offer.
Book Review: Trust Me by Gemma Metcalfe.
The story is full of dramas and sad lives of different people with various struggles. Although I felt the story seems slightly overdramatic and too many plot twists, the story was enthralling to read. It's a story that keeps pushing you to continue reading it because it has more to offer.
Book Review: Trust Me by Gemma Metcalfe.
October 19, 2023
A decent amount of intrigue, gets a 2 purely because I read until the end. However, very little of the plot actually surprised me. There were also a number of basic fact checking errors (eg, in calpol making a child immediately drowsy and the medication referred to as being in the asthma reliever inhaler). Also, randomly, there was an editing note on the Kindle version at the end of a chapter saying, "This is the only blank page between chapters. Delete?" Felt lazy. When there are so many beautiful things out there to read, I felt frustrated to have put time into this.
August 5, 2018
OMG! This was a fantastic psychological thriller that I can't believe it was a debut! I finished it almost a week ago but I have been too busy to sit down and give the review the attention it deserves until now. I read it in two sittings, though I quite easily could have done it in one - bar for the fact I started it just before midnight and found myself dozing the first night that my Kindle hit my head a few times...hence why it took two sittings. But hey, don't let sleep get in the way of a good book! lol
The story begins with Lana, a single mum to six year old Amber, living in the sunny climes of Tenerife. With an overbearing boss breathing over her shoulder every few minutes - "why haven't you made a sale yet, Lana?" - she is a telemarketer desperately needing to sell a holiday or she will lose her job. With only hours left to make a sale, Lana didn't think her day could get any worse...until Liam answers the phone.
Hundreds of miles away in Manchester, Liam never intended to answer his phone - he was too busy thinking of the quickest and easiest way to kill himself. But he does. As Lana tries to make her pitch he absently tells Lana he won't be needing one of her holidays because in a few minutes he will be dead...then hangs up on her. Feeling that she needs to stop him, and without a thought or care for what her pigheaded boss thinks, Lana immediately calls him back. And while Liam believes she cannot possibly understand, he begins to think that by telling Lana his story then there will be someone left to retell it for him. So Liam begins his story...
Lana also has a secret that she hasn't told anyone. Running from Manchester about six months before from a terrible mistake she made, she finds herself a confidant in Liam. Hoping that by telling him her story he will begin to see that she does understand and that all is not lost; that there is hope. As time ticks away, with her boss still keeping tabs on her and how long she has been on her call ("This had better be a sale, Lana!"), Lana fights to keep Liam alive as they are drawn to each other and their secrets.
This enthralling and riveting thriller is narrated in the first person by both Lana and Liam as they retell their stories from the beginning, switching from the present day and the past. Each chapter is timestamped as each hour and minute counts down to Liam's deadline - to when "she" will be home. With each minute Lana struggles to convince Liam not to take his life, and with time running out Lana lays it all on the line to keep him alive - not caring who in her office can hear her. The entire book switches between Lana and Liam's stories, both past and present, and you feel like you are watching each of them play out. Both stories, equally heartbreaking, touch your heart as you devour every word, every page and live within those moments. I found Liam's story the most heartbreaking; the most cruel; the most intriging. Lana's was just as sad but on a different level, due to her circumstances. Liam's was something else entirely - engineered to hit where it hurts.
A well written poignant story, TRUST ME was edge of your seat from start to finish. It is incredibly easy to follow despite the different stories and timelines, and will have you gripped from the beginning. I found myself saying "Just one more chapter" after every chapter...that in the end I read until the early hours of the morning till I finished. And I was left...WOW! The Epilogue - brilliant. I love how it ended. It was like it had come full circle.
My only complaint was in Lana's story. She made mention a couple of times about one of her neighbours with a Staffordshire Bull Terrier and it was immediately made clear that it was dangerous, foaming at the mouth and the fact that it was called Princess was a "piss-take". I would have marked it down a star for that alone as a staffordshire lover and owner for years I know the breed is anything BUT the way it was portrayed in this book just as it is in the media, and it has more to do with the owners than the breed/dog itself. The other thing I didn't like was the killing of Lana and Amber's Jack Russell (a more aggressive dog than a Staffordshire, actually), though I understand why. And I saw that coming long before it actually happened. At least I was prepared...but I still found myself saying "No..no..no!" I hate it when dogs die in books or movies.
This thriller is so surprisingly good I can't believe it is a debut. I look forward to reading more by this author in the future. Totally recommend!
The story begins with Lana, a single mum to six year old Amber, living in the sunny climes of Tenerife. With an overbearing boss breathing over her shoulder every few minutes - "why haven't you made a sale yet, Lana?" - she is a telemarketer desperately needing to sell a holiday or she will lose her job. With only hours left to make a sale, Lana didn't think her day could get any worse...until Liam answers the phone.
Hundreds of miles away in Manchester, Liam never intended to answer his phone - he was too busy thinking of the quickest and easiest way to kill himself. But he does. As Lana tries to make her pitch he absently tells Lana he won't be needing one of her holidays because in a few minutes he will be dead...then hangs up on her. Feeling that she needs to stop him, and without a thought or care for what her pigheaded boss thinks, Lana immediately calls him back. And while Liam believes she cannot possibly understand, he begins to think that by telling Lana his story then there will be someone left to retell it for him. So Liam begins his story...
Lana also has a secret that she hasn't told anyone. Running from Manchester about six months before from a terrible mistake she made, she finds herself a confidant in Liam. Hoping that by telling him her story he will begin to see that she does understand and that all is not lost; that there is hope. As time ticks away, with her boss still keeping tabs on her and how long she has been on her call ("This had better be a sale, Lana!"), Lana fights to keep Liam alive as they are drawn to each other and their secrets.
This enthralling and riveting thriller is narrated in the first person by both Lana and Liam as they retell their stories from the beginning, switching from the present day and the past. Each chapter is timestamped as each hour and minute counts down to Liam's deadline - to when "she" will be home. With each minute Lana struggles to convince Liam not to take his life, and with time running out Lana lays it all on the line to keep him alive - not caring who in her office can hear her. The entire book switches between Lana and Liam's stories, both past and present, and you feel like you are watching each of them play out. Both stories, equally heartbreaking, touch your heart as you devour every word, every page and live within those moments. I found Liam's story the most heartbreaking; the most cruel; the most intriging. Lana's was just as sad but on a different level, due to her circumstances. Liam's was something else entirely - engineered to hit where it hurts.
A well written poignant story, TRUST ME was edge of your seat from start to finish. It is incredibly easy to follow despite the different stories and timelines, and will have you gripped from the beginning. I found myself saying "Just one more chapter" after every chapter...that in the end I read until the early hours of the morning till I finished. And I was left...WOW! The Epilogue - brilliant. I love how it ended. It was like it had come full circle.
My only complaint was in Lana's story. She made mention a couple of times about one of her neighbours with a Staffordshire Bull Terrier and it was immediately made clear that it was dangerous, foaming at the mouth and the fact that it was called Princess was a "piss-take". I would have marked it down a star for that alone as a staffordshire lover and owner for years I know the breed is anything BUT the way it was portrayed in this book just as it is in the media, and it has more to do with the owners than the breed/dog itself. The other thing I didn't like was the killing of Lana and Amber's Jack Russell (a more aggressive dog than a Staffordshire, actually), though I understand why. And I saw that coming long before it actually happened. At least I was prepared...but I still found myself saying "No..no..no!" I hate it when dogs die in books or movies.
This thriller is so surprisingly good I can't believe it is a debut. I look forward to reading more by this author in the future. Totally recommend!
May 11, 2017
"Trust Me" is Gemma Metcalfe's debut novel and after reading it I can say that it is a very promising beginning to her writing career. The synopsis to this novel is truly intriguing, and after seeing it I wanted nothing more than to read this book - it sounded like there is going to be a real race against time, it was unique and refreshing.
This story was full of twists and turns and I was really afraid to turn the page to see what's going to happen and what worse possibly was to come, as truly bad things have been happening to Lana and Liam. The novel jumps between Lana and Liam's stories, between their past and present and it is done in a very clear, not at all confusing way, it was flowing seamlessly and truly I didn't have problems to pick up where the previous chapter ended.
There was a depth and complexity to the characters and they were well drawn and their voices were very strong and distinctive. Their stories were not the easiest ones. Lana's life turned out to be on a very dangerous path, while Liam's relationship with Jessica was awfully hard. Because of the fact that this book actually covers the period of only few hours in which Lana must talk to Liam to save him from committing suicide, the pace is quick, and the chapters are short and there is a lot happening. Also, the chapters that focus on the characters' past are dynamic and full to the brims with events. Gemma Metcalfe's writing style is very easy to follow and I enjoyed it, and she also knew how to built the tension, because with it getting close to the end I truly wasn't sure what's going to happen, will he or won't he, and it was great to be kept in the dark for so long.
But. I am so, so sorry that there is this "but". This story, while full of tension and compelling, was not as exciting for me as I hoped it'll be. I am not sure why, because theoretically the book has it all, but it just didn't capture my attention so much and it felt somehow flat. Yes, there was drama, there was race against time and I know it couldn't have been written in a different way as then there wouldn't be the cliffhanger - effect, but I just felt tired with the chapters ending like they did and the jumping between Liam and Lana's stories, and the continuous urging to "tell me your story". Also not sure if it were possible for Lana to stay so long on a phone to one person without anybody noticing it, but oh well, call me picky. The end felt a little bit too abrupt for my liking and it left us with an open question, and sometimes this works well but here I'd really like to know how it has ended for Liam. It was a story full of emotions but I had a feeling that those feelings are forced on us, that we are supposed to fell for the characters immediately, and I felt as if we didn't have a choice of our own.
However, as I've already mentioned, I think it is a great debut novel and I will be looking for more from Gemma Metcalfe. This book had its great moments and on the whole it was a fresh, intriguing novel.
Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
May 14, 2017
Grip lit does not get any more gripping than Gemma Metcalfe’s addictive debut novel, Trust Me.
Lana should be living the dream in Tenerife – instead she is stuck in a dead end job, working for a complete tyrant of a boss and wondering whether she will ever manage to sell a holiday. Lana’s job involves her calling people and making the sort of telephone calls most people would find a complete nuisance. With her job on the line, Lana wonders whether she will ever succeed in making a sale, but when she makes yet another telephone call, she is ill prepared for the surfeit of fear, danger and jeopardy she is about to unleash!
Thousands of miles away in Manchester, Liam has had enough. Sick and tired of things going wrong for him, he has decided to call it quits as life just doesn’t seem worth living anymore. When the phone rings just when he is about to give it all up, Liam finds himself answering the call. Feeling compelled to confess the truth before his death, Liam reveals his deepest and darkest secrets to the stranger who called him.
A strange instinct within Lana forces her to reveal to Liam thoughts, emotions and feelings she has never revealed to anyone, but with time running out will she be able to save Liam from himself? Or will she be too late?
With so many new grip-lit titles being published every week, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find a fresh take and a new twist on the old traditions in an increasingly crowded genre, so Gemma Metcalfe’s debut novel, Trust Me, is a much-needed breath of fresh air. Dark, twisted and highly compelling, this jaw-dropping tale of secrets and deception will make your heart pound and chew your nails to the elbow with ingenious plot twists, gasp-inducing suspense and spine-chilling thrills.
Gemma Metcalfe certainly knows how to keep her readers on the edge of their seats and Trust Me heralds the start of an exciting career for a writer who can more than hold her own with the likes of Paula Hawkins, BA Paris and Clare Mackintosh.
Lana should be living the dream in Tenerife – instead she is stuck in a dead end job, working for a complete tyrant of a boss and wondering whether she will ever manage to sell a holiday. Lana’s job involves her calling people and making the sort of telephone calls most people would find a complete nuisance. With her job on the line, Lana wonders whether she will ever succeed in making a sale, but when she makes yet another telephone call, she is ill prepared for the surfeit of fear, danger and jeopardy she is about to unleash!
Thousands of miles away in Manchester, Liam has had enough. Sick and tired of things going wrong for him, he has decided to call it quits as life just doesn’t seem worth living anymore. When the phone rings just when he is about to give it all up, Liam finds himself answering the call. Feeling compelled to confess the truth before his death, Liam reveals his deepest and darkest secrets to the stranger who called him.
A strange instinct within Lana forces her to reveal to Liam thoughts, emotions and feelings she has never revealed to anyone, but with time running out will she be able to save Liam from himself? Or will she be too late?
With so many new grip-lit titles being published every week, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find a fresh take and a new twist on the old traditions in an increasingly crowded genre, so Gemma Metcalfe’s debut novel, Trust Me, is a much-needed breath of fresh air. Dark, twisted and highly compelling, this jaw-dropping tale of secrets and deception will make your heart pound and chew your nails to the elbow with ingenious plot twists, gasp-inducing suspense and spine-chilling thrills.
Gemma Metcalfe certainly knows how to keep her readers on the edge of their seats and Trust Me heralds the start of an exciting career for a writer who can more than hold her own with the likes of Paula Hawkins, BA Paris and Clare Mackintosh.
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