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Liam Taggart & Catherine Lockhart #4
The Trust
Er lässt sich als Held feiern, doch sie kennt sein dunkles Geheimnis »Verräter« schmiert die 92-jährige Britta Stein an die Fassade eines Restaurants in Chicago. Sie schwört, dass der Besitzer sich im Zweiten Weltkrieg als Nazi-Kollaborateur schuldig gemacht hat. Um die Behauptungen der alten Dame zu beweisen, muss die Anwältin Catherine Lockhart tief in die Vergangenheit eintauchen. Und auch Brittas Enkelin erfährt erstmals die wahre Geschichte ihrer Großmutter ... Nach dem Erfolg von »Karolinas Töchter«: der neue Fall von Catherine Lockhart und Liam Taggart
367 pages, ebook
First published September 19, 2017
1422 people are currently reading
5787 people want to read
About the author
Ronald H. Balson
13 books1,868 followersWhen he’s not writing books, Ron is a practicing attorney with the firm of Stone, Pogrund & Korey in Chicago. He has been a civil litigation attorney for forty-three years. He was an adjunct professor of business law at the University of Chicago, Graduate School of Business for twenty-five years and was a frequent lecturer in the federal bar certification course and in trial advocacy seminars.
The demands of his legal practice have taken Ron into courts all across the United States and Canada, and for deposition testimony all across Europe and Asia. A few years ago, Ron became involved in a commercial dispute concerning telephone service in Poland. Numerous trips to Warsaw and southern Poland provided the inspiration for his first novel, Once We Were Brothers. Ron’s love of history and his travels to the Middle East provided the motivation for his second novel, Saving Sophie.
During the Once We Were Brothers book tour, Ron was introduced to several survivors of the World War II concentration camps. Of all the stories of courage and determination, one woman’s story was so moving that it formed the basis for Karolina’s Twins, Ron’s third book due out in 2016.
Ron was a finalist for the Harper Lee Award for Legal Fiction in 2014 and a finalist for the Premio Bancarella Italian Literature Award in 2014. He was an honoree at the Chicago Public Library Foundation’s Carl Sandburg Literary Award dinner.
The demands of his legal practice have taken Ron into courts all across the United States and Canada, and for deposition testimony all across Europe and Asia. A few years ago, Ron became involved in a commercial dispute concerning telephone service in Poland. Numerous trips to Warsaw and southern Poland provided the inspiration for his first novel, Once We Were Brothers. Ron’s love of history and his travels to the Middle East provided the motivation for his second novel, Saving Sophie.
During the Once We Were Brothers book tour, Ron was introduced to several survivors of the World War II concentration camps. Of all the stories of courage and determination, one woman’s story was so moving that it formed the basis for Karolina’s Twins, Ron’s third book due out in 2016.
Ron was a finalist for the Harper Lee Award for Legal Fiction in 2014 and a finalist for the Premio Bancarella Italian Literature Award in 2014. He was an honoree at the Chicago Public Library Foundation’s Carl Sandburg Literary Award dinner.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 622 reviews
September 30, 2017
Liam Taggert hasn't been back to his home in Ireland for seen years. He became estranged from his family, the aunt and uncle who raised him, feeling betrayed when they found out what his actual job was. It was the time of the Trouble, an intense time, a time when nothing could he counted on and there was danger everywhere. Now married, with a young son, he returns to Ireland, after a phone call from his cousin Janie, informing him his Uncle's had passed. What he finds in Ireland, opens them all to hidden danger, he being informed his uncle was n fact murdered. He himself has been appointed the executor of his Uncle's trust, a trust that cannot be dispensed to the heirs, until the murder is solved.
This one was fantastic, a wonderful mix of history, character and thriller. Who is picking off members of this family? Is it one of the family members, or someone from the past, a revenge motive? Everyone is in danger, and the stress begins to tell on the family. There is much going on here, but it is seamlessly interwoven into the storyline. Interesting characters, family dynamics, and it was quite suspenseful. I have read all but one of this series, and this was by far my favorite. Definitely exceeded my expectations.
ARC from Netgalley.
This one was fantastic, a wonderful mix of history, character and thriller. Who is picking off members of this family? Is it one of the family members, or someone from the past, a revenge motive? Everyone is in danger, and the stress begins to tell on the family. There is much going on here, but it is seamlessly interwoven into the storyline. Interesting characters, family dynamics, and it was quite suspenseful. I have read all but one of this series, and this was by far my favorite. Definitely exceeded my expectations.
ARC from Netgalley.
September 7, 2017
Liam Taggart is a PI, after having spent 6 or so years in the CIA. Five of those years were undercover in Northern Ireland, spying on the Nationalists, including members of his own family. Needless to say, when they discovered his clandestine operation, he was bid a not so fond farewell. Now, 16 years later, his uncle is dead and he's invited back for the funeral. Turns out, his uncle was murdered and some of the family want his help finding the killer.
The uncle was expecting to be killed and has placed all his assets in a trust with Liam named as the trustee. This doesn't go over well with Liam or other family members. Balson nails the discord that can develop when a family member dies and inheritances are at stake.
Balson uses remembrances to provide you with the background of The Troubles and it works well. This is a gripping story and really held my interest. There’s no shortage of suspects here, from old family enemies to actual members of the family. There are lots of secrets and Liam struggles to unravel them. He seems a bit dense to me and I felt McLaughlin and Dooley had a much better grasp of the situation. I had a strong suspicion as to who was to blame, but that just kept me intrigued to see if I was correct.
I was not a huge fan of Karolina’s Twins, but this book worked for me.
My thanks to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.
The uncle was expecting to be killed and has placed all his assets in a trust with Liam named as the trustee. This doesn't go over well with Liam or other family members. Balson nails the discord that can develop when a family member dies and inheritances are at stake.
Balson uses remembrances to provide you with the background of The Troubles and it works well. This is a gripping story and really held my interest. There’s no shortage of suspects here, from old family enemies to actual members of the family. There are lots of secrets and Liam struggles to unravel them. He seems a bit dense to me and I felt McLaughlin and Dooley had a much better grasp of the situation. I had a strong suspicion as to who was to blame, but that just kept me intrigued to see if I was correct.
I was not a huge fan of Karolina’s Twins, but this book worked for me.
My thanks to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.
September 19, 2017
Being away from Ireland for 16 years had not eased the feelings a few of Liam Taggert's cousins had for him.
Liam had moved to Chicago from Ireland 16 years ago on bad terms, and now that his uncle had been murdered, he returned for the funeral.
What Liam returned to was his being chosen as the Trustee of his uncle's will and a task that was both dangerous for Liam as well as his family. There were a lot of stipulations set in the last will and testament for distribution of the estate as well as hard feelings because Liam had been out of touch and was now in charge.
Liam now wished he hadn't answered that phone call not more than a week ago. If he had ignored it, he may not be in the legal predicament he was put in by his uncle nor the danger it was causing the entire family both in Ireland and the United States.
Being Trustee carried a lot of responsibility as well as legalities family members didn't want to understand. The family also couldn't understand why Liam wouldn't break the rules and tell them the details of the last will and testament of Uncle Fergus.
To further complicate things, the Taggert family was getting threats and notes indicating payback time. No one was sure who was murdering members of the Taggert family, but forty years of hatred, vengeance, and fighting still ran deep among the Northern Ireland residents.
The Taggert family was an interesting lot, and the murders and family mystery were intriguing.
THE TRUST is beautifully written and so well written that you smoothly move along and become captured in the story line and the characters.
If you enjoy books set in Ireland, mysteries, murders, and family drama, you definitely do not want to miss reading THE TRUST.
I truly enjoyed the book and found it difficult to put down. 5/5
This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review.
September 14, 2017
Five top reasons you should read the Trust by Ronald H. Balson:
1. You love a good setting and what could be better than the lush land of Ireland?
2. Characters that are fleshed out, captivating and completely complex but still down to earth and believable.
3. You love a good murder mystery.
4. You like a little bit of history mixed in with your fiction. I love how this story interwove the mystery of Liam's uncles death and the horrible chaos and strife that still runs rampant through Ireland.
5. You never know what to expect. Just when you think you've learned it all, that all has been revealed, something new surfaces and you feel like you are right back at the beginning of the mystery but in a very good way.
Overall this story was riveting and not at all what I was expecting. I am definitely intrigued to try the others he has written that involve both Liam and his wife Catherine.
*ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
1. You love a good setting and what could be better than the lush land of Ireland?
2. Characters that are fleshed out, captivating and completely complex but still down to earth and believable.
3. You love a good murder mystery.
4. You like a little bit of history mixed in with your fiction. I love how this story interwove the mystery of Liam's uncles death and the horrible chaos and strife that still runs rampant through Ireland.
5. You never know what to expect. Just when you think you've learned it all, that all has been revealed, something new surfaces and you feel like you are right back at the beginning of the mystery but in a very good way.
Overall this story was riveting and not at all what I was expecting. I am definitely intrigued to try the others he has written that involve both Liam and his wife Catherine.
*ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
August 9, 2017
If you ask my opinion, this novel could easily have been at least one hundred pages shorter. Of all the characters trying to solve the mystery and catch the killer going on a killing spree, none have the ability to think rationally. Maybe Catherine could be a better PI than Liam who is lost and whiny for more than half the novel. The premise of the novel is great; too bad the characters ruined it.
For starters, Liam, allegedly the great PI, has missed it grandly with his instincts. Although he hasn't seen his Irish family in 16 years, he's so sure that Aunt Deirdre, his cousin Janice and her boyfriend Charles are innocent, despite Inspector McLaughlin's suspicions about each family member, and of course he thinks the cousin with a bad temper must be the killer. For most of the novel Liam wastes time and makes excuses, rarely acting like a PI. And even when he goes into action mode he's reckless and acts like an amateur. His wife Catherine has a better grip on things than he does. However, what I have to say against her is that if there are to be future books in the series, she seriously needs to drop the heroic attitude: when someone prank calls your house, throws rocks through your window, your husband's tires are slashed, his hotel room is ransacked - lady, you need to leave your place and go somewhere safe. Despite all the threats, she claims she's fine and oh, so busy; too busy to think about your life and your kid's? Seriously.
The reader is offered different options for who the killer might be, but they obviously turn out to be the wrong ones. If proper investigation and background check would have been done earlier in the case instead of drinking all that tea and eating so much of Aunt Deirdre's (quote) "yummy food", maybe we wouldn't be so shocked that in the last 60 or so pages every character suddenly becomes good, and only the overlooked character turns out to be the killer. The great Liam looks only into the suspects he fancies, is not at all objective, and he is unprofessional. Makes no sense to me, and I'm not a PI.
I think the novel would have been better written in third person. The main character's actions would gain less criticism, in my opinion. Can I mention that he refers to his Aunt Deirdre's house as Fortress Deirdre? The first time I understand - it's a joke, but the second and third time it's not. Also, I would like to focus on Annie, who thinks it's a good time to keep a promise she made Fergus. Sure, dear, never-mind that there's a killer out there. Unsurprisingly, the big secret turned out to have no relevance to the case. Shocker.
I felt cheated by this novel. It took me more than two weeks to finish it. A mystery novel should make you hold your breath and make you want to read it faster and eagerly. It would have been more appealing if it had been shorter, with characters with a better ability to deal with everything going on.
However, read Karolina's twins. That story is well told and makes more sense.
I received a free e-book copy of the novel from the publisher via Net Galley. All these thoughts expressed here in such a gentle way are mine.
For starters, Liam, allegedly the great PI, has missed it grandly with his instincts. Although he hasn't seen his Irish family in 16 years, he's so sure that Aunt Deirdre, his cousin Janice and her boyfriend Charles are innocent, despite Inspector McLaughlin's suspicions about each family member, and of course he thinks the cousin with a bad temper must be the killer. For most of the novel Liam wastes time and makes excuses, rarely acting like a PI. And even when he goes into action mode he's reckless and acts like an amateur. His wife Catherine has a better grip on things than he does. However, what I have to say against her is that if there are to be future books in the series, she seriously needs to drop the heroic attitude: when someone prank calls your house, throws rocks through your window, your husband's tires are slashed, his hotel room is ransacked - lady, you need to leave your place and go somewhere safe. Despite all the threats, she claims she's fine and oh, so busy; too busy to think about your life and your kid's? Seriously.
The reader is offered different options for who the killer might be, but they obviously turn out to be the wrong ones. If proper investigation and background check would have been done earlier in the case instead of drinking all that tea and eating so much of Aunt Deirdre's (quote) "yummy food", maybe we wouldn't be so shocked that in the last 60 or so pages every character suddenly becomes good, and only the overlooked character turns out to be the killer. The great Liam looks only into the suspects he fancies, is not at all objective, and he is unprofessional. Makes no sense to me, and I'm not a PI.
I think the novel would have been better written in third person. The main character's actions would gain less criticism, in my opinion. Can I mention that he refers to his Aunt Deirdre's house as Fortress Deirdre? The first time I understand - it's a joke, but the second and third time it's not. Also, I would like to focus on Annie, who thinks it's a good time to keep a promise she made Fergus. Sure, dear, never-mind that there's a killer out there. Unsurprisingly, the big secret turned out to have no relevance to the case. Shocker.
I felt cheated by this novel. It took me more than two weeks to finish it. A mystery novel should make you hold your breath and make you want to read it faster and eagerly. It would have been more appealing if it had been shorter, with characters with a better ability to deal with everything going on.
However, read Karolina's twins. That story is well told and makes more sense.
I received a free e-book copy of the novel from the publisher via Net Galley. All these thoughts expressed here in such a gentle way are mine.
September 19, 2017
Ex CIA agent and private investigator Liam has been asked to return home to Northern Ireland for his uncle Fergus’s funeral. He reluctantly goes even though he has been estranged from his long-distance family due to a significant betrayal 16 years prior. Upon arrival, he learns his uncle died under mysterious circumstances and that he has been named Trustee. He agrees to stick around and investigate the murder and in doing so, uncovers a tumultuous past and family conflict. The Trust has rich, complex characters and enough believable suspects, twists and mystery to keep me guessing until the end.
Having recently been to Ireland, I appreciated the author’s meticulous research, the descriptive settings and the reminder of the historical reality of Northern Ireland’s Troubles conflict.
Having recently been to Ireland, I appreciated the author’s meticulous research, the descriptive settings and the reminder of the historical reality of Northern Ireland’s Troubles conflict.
July 12, 2020
Probably my least favorite of the series. In fact, I am growing to dislike Catherine and Liam, and that's not a good thing. I must admit I don't like reading large print books. But this one was hard to find in any other form, and I think somehow without knowing for sure, that my complaint was supported by others, and that is why the book is not easily found.
In this rendition, there is old Ireland politics and a family is being murdered one by one. Liam must go home to resolve conflicts from his past, and... Well that is truly about it.
I am still looking forward to the Girl from Berlin. The Last in the series.
In this rendition, there is old Ireland politics and a family is being murdered one by one. Liam must go home to resolve conflicts from his past, and... Well that is truly about it.
I am still looking forward to the Girl from Berlin. The Last in the series.
December 11, 2017
I won an ARC of this book in a goodreads drawing.
Private Eye Liam Taggart is called back to Northern Ireland after his uncle dies, and leaves Liam in charge of his trust. The will states that nobody gets anything until the uncle's murder is found. Liam starts poking around and finds links to his and his family's past, not to mention a lot of danger.
Pretty decent.
Private Eye Liam Taggart is called back to Northern Ireland after his uncle dies, and leaves Liam in charge of his trust. The will states that nobody gets anything until the uncle's murder is found. Liam starts poking around and finds links to his and his family's past, not to mention a lot of danger.
Pretty decent.
November 12, 2017
Unlike the previous three books in this series, which have Catherine as the protagonist, Balson's fourth book is really about Liam, and his life growing up in Northern Ireland. After his father and sister were killed in a Catholic-Protestant feud, Liam was raised by his uncle Fergus and his pseudo-wife, Deirdre. When Liam's role as a CIA mole became known, he and his uncle exchanged harsh words and did not speak for 16 years. Then his uncle is murdered, and Liam travels back to Ireland for the funeral, only to be named executor following the identification of the killer. There is bitter family acrimony, which escalates as the killings continue. Liam, as a trained PI, aligns himself with the local constabulary, and the suspect list is large: family, retaliation for old killings. Unfortunately, the culprit was a little too obvious and Balson should know to use the word, shite, for his Irish characters.
September 28, 2017
This was my first Liam and Catherine book. It's the fourth in the series, but the Trust can definitely be read as a stand alone novel.
I really liked the characters of Liam and Catherine. Their happy marriage/family life was refreshing. I also enjoyed the not-so-happy dynamics between Liam and the family he left behind in Ireland. Liam was shunned from his family 16 years ago after they discovered he was a spy for the CIA. His uncle has now passed away, and Liam must return to the family as the trustee to his uncle's estate.
Liam's uncle basically knew he was going to be murdered, and he set up his trust so that his assets wouldn't be distributed to the family until the murder was solved. Answer me this: why do dead people always leave behind the most vague letter possible? Trust no one. I'm no expert, but I feel pretty strongly that it would help solve a lot of mysteries if they included some details in their departing letters.
Liam - who happens to also be a private investigator - must uphold his uncle's estate wishes (and withhold the estate from the family) while simultaneously working to solve his murder.
While I enjoyed the writing and I was interested in what was happening, I didn't really have a reason to care who the murderer was. I realized during the reveal that I had stopped guessing pretty early on.
In the end, The Trust delivered on its promises and I enjoyed reading it, but it didn't particularly stand out from the crowd.
I really liked the characters of Liam and Catherine. Their happy marriage/family life was refreshing. I also enjoyed the not-so-happy dynamics between Liam and the family he left behind in Ireland. Liam was shunned from his family 16 years ago after they discovered he was a spy for the CIA. His uncle has now passed away, and Liam must return to the family as the trustee to his uncle's estate.
Liam's uncle basically knew he was going to be murdered, and he set up his trust so that his assets wouldn't be distributed to the family until the murder was solved. Answer me this: why do dead people always leave behind the most vague letter possible? Trust no one. I'm no expert, but I feel pretty strongly that it would help solve a lot of mysteries if they included some details in their departing letters.
Liam - who happens to also be a private investigator - must uphold his uncle's estate wishes (and withhold the estate from the family) while simultaneously working to solve his murder.
While I enjoyed the writing and I was interested in what was happening, I didn't really have a reason to care who the murderer was. I realized during the reveal that I had stopped guessing pretty early on.
In the end, The Trust delivered on its promises and I enjoyed reading it, but it didn't particularly stand out from the crowd.
October 16, 2017
I really liked the concept of this book, and the first third of the book was alright while it was setting up the story. But then it just...stalled. I thought the author's efforts to advance the story were for the most part unoriginal and repetitive. The other thing, which probably bothered me more than anything, was the protagonist was supposed to be some sort of ace investigator. He never lived up to that in my estimation. He came off more as indecisive, not incredibly motivated and shortsighted. Not traits I'd look for in an investigator.
The other thing that really got to me was there were a few gigantic holes that the author tried to plug up at the very end. The killer just so happened to be the guy who was the most obvious suspect from very early on, but the protagonist didn't really consider him until after about 100 pages of it being completely obvious. Just felt like he was prolonging the book for the sake of prolonging the book, which achieved the purpose of annoying me much more than making me enjoy it. The other hole was the mysterious trust for the person no one seemed to know. Our investigator never really paid it much mind, although it was never really apparent why.
All in all, this just was a real dud for me.
The other thing that really got to me was there were a few gigantic holes that the author tried to plug up at the very end. The killer just so happened to be the guy who was the most obvious suspect from very early on, but the protagonist didn't really consider him until after about 100 pages of it being completely obvious. Just felt like he was prolonging the book for the sake of prolonging the book, which achieved the purpose of annoying me much more than making me enjoy it. The other hole was the mysterious trust for the person no one seemed to know. Our investigator never really paid it much mind, although it was never really apparent why.
All in all, this just was a real dud for me.
September 19, 2017
This is the first book I have read in this series. It can be read as a stand alone novel. However, for me, I think having not read the prior novels hurt me a little. Not in the sense of taking anything away from the storyline but more in character development and connection. I did not feel a close connection towards Liam or any of the other characters that much. Therefore, I struggled to stay emotionally invested in this book. Additionally, I found that the storyline seemed to move slowly. Although towards the end it did pick up. Reading all of the different character's opinions on who they thought was the killer was interesting. Yet, it was easy to weed out some of the choices. This book may not have been a good match with me but I would try this author again.
October 11, 2017
International bestselling author, Ronald H. Balson returns with his powerful Liam and Catherine series, following (2016) Carolina’s Twins (#3), (2015) Saving Sophie (#2), and Once We Were Brothers (#1) with THE TRUST — (#4) A riveting murder mystery mixed with history, and dark family secrets, set in Northern Ireland.
Liam Taggart a private investigator receives the news his uncle has died and gets called away to attend the funeral. His childhood home in Northern Ireland. He has not returned since a family disagreement years ago.
His life was comfortable now. A routine. His new baby, a happy marriage with Catherine, and a solid investigation practice. However, the one call from his cousin may change things entirely.
Uncle Fergus. He had feared this day would come and he knew he had to make amends before it did. Now it was too late. They had unfinished sentences. Words left unsaid. They had shared so much to end this way. Now he was gone.
Their last words, sixteen years earlier. They were never supposed to be the last words. His estranged Irish family. Janie wants him to come and he would rather not.
He had not left under the best of circumstances. He had a falling out with his uncle and returned to America. He was living a lie and got caught. He should not have accepted a posting in Northern Ireland that was bound to end in a betrayal. At the time he was young and he thought it was the right thing to do.
He was the uncover spy who was going to help bring an end to the war. What he did not realize was that he had chosen to alienate himself from the family he loved.
The job directed him to use his family to spy on the Catholic community. He had done some good. He returned to American in 1999. When his uncle learned he really was and what he had done behind their back. A fraud. He had betrayed his family.
He was with the CIA when he pretended to be working for a whiskey exporter. His family took him in and he conned them. It ended badly. He does not want to attend the funeral and face everyone. He had thought his decision courageous and for the right reasons.
He decides to return to made amends. He goes alone since Catherine has the baby to look after. A white envelope. His aunt Deirdre found in the mailbox the day Fergus was killed. A photograph.
“May you never forget what is worth remembering, nor ever remember what is best forgotten.”
They go through his belongings and in his box was a sealed envelope with Liam’s name with a handwritten letter. It mentions in the letter if the cause of his death is suspicious or the result of a homicide, then the person responsible must be identified and brought to justice before his estate is distributed.
He will be in charged with handling his estate. Executor. His legacy will be in Liam’s hands. “You’re the only one I can trust. My warning to you: be careful and do not trust anyone?" With love, Uncle Fergus
His uncle was proud of him. How he wished they had been close so he could have reached out to him earlier. What was so dangerous that Fergus’s words, “threatens everything I value?”
Death threats? The inheritance will be postponed until the killer is prosecuted. After everything is paid, the remainder of Mr. Taggart’s estate is left to a testamentary trust. The trustee named is Liam Taggart.
The trust remains sealed to all but the trustee, pending the occurrence of a certain condition set forth in the instrument.
Some family members are not happy about this turn of events. Until the son’s killer is caught and prosecuted, no one gets anything. It sits in trust until decided how to be maintained and final distribution.
Did his Uncle know he was going to be murdered? Why didn’t he identify his murderer in the trust?
Motive? The Taggart connection to the IRA and Fergus must have made a lot of enemies back in the day. An old vendetta? Money was also a strong motivator.
Who coveted Fergus’s property so strongly that they would kill him for it. The beneficiaries? His two sons, Conor and Riley, seemed well off, but you never know. Robert and Eamon would never have killed their brother for money. Would they? Janie was also a beneficiary. It couldn't be Deirdre. What about Bridget?
Now, will other family members be in danger? Then the threats. “Payback time Taggarts.”
Old doors are opened and secrets are revealed.
From the stunning front cover, the first page, to the last. Riveting dark hidden family secrets. A blending of history, suspense, and gripping mystery murder thriller.
As always Balsom’s books are well-researched, with well-developed characters and infused with intriguing historical events. I enjoyed catching up with Liam and Catherine and learning more about The Troubles, an ethno-nationalist conflict in Northern Ireland during the late 20th century. The conflict was primarily political and nationalistic, fueled by historical events. Unionists and the British government referred to the long-running political violence as a law and order problem of ‘terrorism’.
For fans of intelligent, compelling and intriguing historical suspense thrillers.
A special thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy. I also purchased the audiobook narrated by Fred Berman for an engaging performance.
JDCMustReadBooks
Liam Taggart a private investigator receives the news his uncle has died and gets called away to attend the funeral. His childhood home in Northern Ireland. He has not returned since a family disagreement years ago.
His life was comfortable now. A routine. His new baby, a happy marriage with Catherine, and a solid investigation practice. However, the one call from his cousin may change things entirely.
Uncle Fergus. He had feared this day would come and he knew he had to make amends before it did. Now it was too late. They had unfinished sentences. Words left unsaid. They had shared so much to end this way. Now he was gone.
Their last words, sixteen years earlier. They were never supposed to be the last words. His estranged Irish family. Janie wants him to come and he would rather not.
He had not left under the best of circumstances. He had a falling out with his uncle and returned to America. He was living a lie and got caught. He should not have accepted a posting in Northern Ireland that was bound to end in a betrayal. At the time he was young and he thought it was the right thing to do.
He was the uncover spy who was going to help bring an end to the war. What he did not realize was that he had chosen to alienate himself from the family he loved.
The job directed him to use his family to spy on the Catholic community. He had done some good. He returned to American in 1999. When his uncle learned he really was and what he had done behind their back. A fraud. He had betrayed his family.
He was with the CIA when he pretended to be working for a whiskey exporter. His family took him in and he conned them. It ended badly. He does not want to attend the funeral and face everyone. He had thought his decision courageous and for the right reasons.
He decides to return to made amends. He goes alone since Catherine has the baby to look after. A white envelope. His aunt Deirdre found in the mailbox the day Fergus was killed. A photograph.
“May you never forget what is worth remembering, nor ever remember what is best forgotten.”
They go through his belongings and in his box was a sealed envelope with Liam’s name with a handwritten letter. It mentions in the letter if the cause of his death is suspicious or the result of a homicide, then the person responsible must be identified and brought to justice before his estate is distributed.
He will be in charged with handling his estate. Executor. His legacy will be in Liam’s hands. “You’re the only one I can trust. My warning to you: be careful and do not trust anyone?" With love, Uncle Fergus
His uncle was proud of him. How he wished they had been close so he could have reached out to him earlier. What was so dangerous that Fergus’s words, “threatens everything I value?”
Death threats? The inheritance will be postponed until the killer is prosecuted. After everything is paid, the remainder of Mr. Taggart’s estate is left to a testamentary trust. The trustee named is Liam Taggart.
The trust remains sealed to all but the trustee, pending the occurrence of a certain condition set forth in the instrument.
Some family members are not happy about this turn of events. Until the son’s killer is caught and prosecuted, no one gets anything. It sits in trust until decided how to be maintained and final distribution.
Did his Uncle know he was going to be murdered? Why didn’t he identify his murderer in the trust?
Motive? The Taggart connection to the IRA and Fergus must have made a lot of enemies back in the day. An old vendetta? Money was also a strong motivator.
Who coveted Fergus’s property so strongly that they would kill him for it. The beneficiaries? His two sons, Conor and Riley, seemed well off, but you never know. Robert and Eamon would never have killed their brother for money. Would they? Janie was also a beneficiary. It couldn't be Deirdre. What about Bridget?
Now, will other family members be in danger? Then the threats. “Payback time Taggarts.”
Old doors are opened and secrets are revealed.
From the stunning front cover, the first page, to the last. Riveting dark hidden family secrets. A blending of history, suspense, and gripping mystery murder thriller.
As always Balsom’s books are well-researched, with well-developed characters and infused with intriguing historical events. I enjoyed catching up with Liam and Catherine and learning more about The Troubles, an ethno-nationalist conflict in Northern Ireland during the late 20th century. The conflict was primarily political and nationalistic, fueled by historical events. Unionists and the British government referred to the long-running political violence as a law and order problem of ‘terrorism’.
For fans of intelligent, compelling and intriguing historical suspense thrillers.
A special thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy. I also purchased the audiobook narrated by Fred Berman for an engaging performance.
JDCMustReadBooks
September 21, 2017
There are so many good things going on in this book. I sped right through it. Not only was there suspense, action, and great plot twists, you also got to learn a little history of the "Troubles" in Ireland.
I went back and forth guessing the suspect so many times I thought I would get dizzy. Always a good thing when you are reading a "Whodunit".
I really grew to like Liam and his family and I was a little sad when it was over.
A great read with action, suspense, great character development, history of Ireland and totally unputdownable.
Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for providing me with a free galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
I went back and forth guessing the suspect so many times I thought I would get dizzy. Always a good thing when you are reading a "Whodunit".
I really grew to like Liam and his family and I was a little sad when it was over.
A great read with action, suspense, great character development, history of Ireland and totally unputdownable.
Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for providing me with a free galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
August 10, 2017
This book is one that is difficult to put down. Liam Taggart, who was introduced in the book Once We Were Brothers, returns to Northern Ireland to attend the funeral of his beloved uncle Fergus. Once he gets there he is told that he has be named by his uncle as the executor of his uncle's estate which has been put into a trust. None of the other family members are allowed to know the contents of the trust, which causes much friction. It soon becomes obvious that someone wants to kill the members of the Taggart family. Since Liam is a private investigator in Chicago some of the family asks him to stay and solve the mystery of why family members are being killed.
The mystery may have to do with The Trouble which plagued Northern Ireland from the 70's through the 90s. Everyone is a suspect and a possible target.
If you like a good mystery while also learning about the history of a region, this book is for you.
The mystery may have to do with The Trouble which plagued Northern Ireland from the 70's through the 90s. Everyone is a suspect and a possible target.
If you like a good mystery while also learning about the history of a region, this book is for you.
November 6, 2017
Solid effort plot-wise but nearly as strong as his others. I give it two and a half stars. But .......
This book gets one star for its accurate representation of modern Northern Ireland (and maybe past for that, too). It takes more than 200 pages to acknowledge that the Troubles was not a religious dispute. I also felt that modern Belfast and the rest of the country was not true. I’d suspect someone from Northern Ireland to disagree with many of the items he casually describes in this book. And, I actually have a hard time believing the author travelled to Northern Ireland before writing this book. His description of the peace wall was just one note that made me angry because it didn’t at all align with the people I met in Belfast. I’d say the Troubles are a bit more complicated than the casual nature described in this book.
This book gets one star for its accurate representation of modern Northern Ireland (and maybe past for that, too). It takes more than 200 pages to acknowledge that the Troubles was not a religious dispute. I also felt that modern Belfast and the rest of the country was not true. I’d suspect someone from Northern Ireland to disagree with many of the items he casually describes in this book. And, I actually have a hard time believing the author travelled to Northern Ireland before writing this book. His description of the peace wall was just one note that made me angry because it didn’t at all align with the people I met in Belfast. I’d say the Troubles are a bit more complicated than the casual nature described in this book.
May 25, 2018
This book was just O.K. to me--intriguing enough to complete the book, but not with the same eagerness to have to story unfold as I did in book one of the series. This book is book #4 in the Liam Taggert series ( I did not know that from the outset) You need not read the previous novels to get to know the characters. However, the story line was not as compelling to me as it should have been. A murder mystery that reads like an old "B" movie--where the "crack" P.I. makes a number of missteps and just doesn't quite see clues that are right under his nose to solve the crime earlier. Just O.K..
September 18, 2017
A brilliant book. Such a really well written, strong thriller that beautifully portrays Northern Ireland's rich culture, family values and violent past. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
December 4, 2018
Phew! Finished just in the nick of time! The author, Ron Balson, is coming to my house in two days to join my bookclub in discussing this book! How cool is that?!?! Thank YOU Stacy Lipshutz for entering my name as the winning ticket in the raffle that I will always remember as one of my most embarrassing moments. I was a little worried at first as this is not my genre of choice. I will say though that it sucked me in very quickly. I was sure to pay close attention at the beginning when all the history was covered. I figured it might have something to do with solving the crime. I also happened to like the characters which, if you read any of my reviews, that's of huge importance for me. I know very little about Northern Ireland and its history, and I feel that I learned a lot. There were a couple plot lines that I think I figured out the tail end of somewhat early on, but I didn't quite know how the author was going to get there. It was fun watching how it all unfolded, and there were plenty of surprises along the way. I can't wait to chat with Ron Balson and hear what went into researching this and another favorite, Karolina's Twin. I wish I could write so I could travel the world for my research. Now THAT would be something!
August 3, 2017
Having read and thoroughly enjoyed Karolina's Twins and Once We Were Brothers, I was excited to see another book featuring Liam and Catherine. This one was centered around Northern Ireland’s sectarian wars, which I admit I really knew very little about other than remembering the violence of the period. In previous books, Liam and Catherine were active in investigating secrets for other families. This time the mystery revolves around Liam's family and subsequently putting everyone in the Taggart family in danger.
Once again, Ronald Balson has written an intriguing story centered around family secrets and a mystery that will keep readers guessing until the end. Even once I figured out who the culprit was (before Liam), I was still surprised at both the motive and the ultimate ending. Great read for fans of historical fiction.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this novel.
Once again, Ronald Balson has written an intriguing story centered around family secrets and a mystery that will keep readers guessing until the end. Even once I figured out who the culprit was (before Liam), I was still surprised at both the motive and the ultimate ending. Great read for fans of historical fiction.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this novel.
December 21, 2017
4.5 stars
Every now and then, a novel (or a movie) comes out in which an inheritance is withheld until a certain monumental task is completed. In the case of The Trust, that task involves solving a crime, a murder, and our hero, private investigator Liam Taggart, is perforce right in the middle of everything and it's a most uncomfortable place to be.
Years ago, Liam had been an agent for the CIA and spent some time in Northern Ireland watching some of his own family, eventually leading to a deep estrangement, including with his uncle, but his cousin, Janie, called to ask him to come to the funeral. As it turns out, Uncle Fergus apparently knew he was going to be murdered and who better to solve the case than Liam? As he soon discovers, fighting over potential inheritances is greatly exacerbated by longlasting resentments going back to his activities during the Troubles so his task is much more difficult.
The story is rife with red herrings and with a plethora of suspects among family and others, enough to set my head spinning as well as there's this obligation Liam feels, a burning need to make things as right as he can with the late Uncle Fergus and the rest of his family. The core of the story lies in the events during the Troubles and how they still affect the family years later but there's also a good deal of character development with all of these people, to the point where I could envision myself among them. Even the Belfast police, Sergeant Megan Dooley and Inspector McLaughlin, are well-rounded and important players in the tale and, in the end, Liam learns something that's life-changing for himself.
Interestingly, Liam's P.I. instincts don't work well this time, perhaps because he's too caught up in family dynamics, and readers may be a bit put off by his...and his wife, Catherine's...seeming inability to develop and follow the clues but I found it made this couple and the case more intriguing. I wouldn't want it to happen often or even occasionally but it worked in The Trust because of the family and national history. All in all, this was a very engaging read.
Every now and then, a novel (or a movie) comes out in which an inheritance is withheld until a certain monumental task is completed. In the case of The Trust, that task involves solving a crime, a murder, and our hero, private investigator Liam Taggart, is perforce right in the middle of everything and it's a most uncomfortable place to be.
Years ago, Liam had been an agent for the CIA and spent some time in Northern Ireland watching some of his own family, eventually leading to a deep estrangement, including with his uncle, but his cousin, Janie, called to ask him to come to the funeral. As it turns out, Uncle Fergus apparently knew he was going to be murdered and who better to solve the case than Liam? As he soon discovers, fighting over potential inheritances is greatly exacerbated by longlasting resentments going back to his activities during the Troubles so his task is much more difficult.
The story is rife with red herrings and with a plethora of suspects among family and others, enough to set my head spinning as well as there's this obligation Liam feels, a burning need to make things as right as he can with the late Uncle Fergus and the rest of his family. The core of the story lies in the events during the Troubles and how they still affect the family years later but there's also a good deal of character development with all of these people, to the point where I could envision myself among them. Even the Belfast police, Sergeant Megan Dooley and Inspector McLaughlin, are well-rounded and important players in the tale and, in the end, Liam learns something that's life-changing for himself.
Interestingly, Liam's P.I. instincts don't work well this time, perhaps because he's too caught up in family dynamics, and readers may be a bit put off by his...and his wife, Catherine's...seeming inability to develop and follow the clues but I found it made this couple and the case more intriguing. I wouldn't want it to happen often or even occasionally but it worked in The Trust because of the family and national history. All in all, this was a very engaging read.
June 20, 2017
What an amazing and captivating novel,"The Trust" by Ronald H. Balson is. Ronald H. Balson is the author of "Once We Were Brothers" and "Karolina's Twins." If you are a Ronald H. Balson fan, this latest novel will not disappoint. The genres of this novel are Fiction, and Mystery.
The author describes his characters as complicated and complex. The two main characters, Private Investigator Liam Taggert and his Attorney wife Catherine are involved in this novel. Liam gets a phone call that his Uncle Fergus has died and heads to Northern Ireland. Liam and his Uncle Fergus had a falling out sixteen years prior, and have had no contact. Liam had once been very close to his Uncle, and has deep regrets that he hadn't reached out to him.
It seems that Uncle Fergus anticipated his death, and has been murdered. Liam finds himself in the position of executor of his Uncle's trust. Uncle Fergus has a provision that his killer be found before his estate can be inherited. Many of the Taggert family view Liam as an outsider, and want him to leave. Threatening notes start showing up in Liam's and other relatives' mailboxes. There are threats, and other murders.
Ronald H. Balson describes the political history in Ireland, and the past conflicts. I appreciate that the author has done much research in the history of Ireland. Could these murders be revenge from a rival family? Could these murders be from a family member?
There are twists and turns in this story. The author's storytelling is intriguing and descriptive giving us certain clues. There is adventure, and danger. Who can be trusted?
I enjoyed reading this novel and didn't want to put the book down. I would recommend this story to Ronald H. Balson fans and for those who like a great mystery, complex characters and motives. I received a copy of this ARC for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
The author describes his characters as complicated and complex. The two main characters, Private Investigator Liam Taggert and his Attorney wife Catherine are involved in this novel. Liam gets a phone call that his Uncle Fergus has died and heads to Northern Ireland. Liam and his Uncle Fergus had a falling out sixteen years prior, and have had no contact. Liam had once been very close to his Uncle, and has deep regrets that he hadn't reached out to him.
It seems that Uncle Fergus anticipated his death, and has been murdered. Liam finds himself in the position of executor of his Uncle's trust. Uncle Fergus has a provision that his killer be found before his estate can be inherited. Many of the Taggert family view Liam as an outsider, and want him to leave. Threatening notes start showing up in Liam's and other relatives' mailboxes. There are threats, and other murders.
Ronald H. Balson describes the political history in Ireland, and the past conflicts. I appreciate that the author has done much research in the history of Ireland. Could these murders be revenge from a rival family? Could these murders be from a family member?
There are twists and turns in this story. The author's storytelling is intriguing and descriptive giving us certain clues. There is adventure, and danger. Who can be trusted?
I enjoyed reading this novel and didn't want to put the book down. I would recommend this story to Ronald H. Balson fans and for those who like a great mystery, complex characters and motives. I received a copy of this ARC for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
August 31, 2021
I like the author and enjoyed the plot, but I loathe Liam! He was the protagonist in this story, #4 in the series. Thus, I knocked off a couple of stars. He is a whiny 40 year old who comes across as a spoiled teenager. He even describes himself as frustrated, confused and exhausted - he loses his temper and rants and raves like a lunatic- is this the private investigator you’d want working for you? He mooned over his wife and baby page after until I wanted to slap him and then he constantly put them in danger.
The story dragged until the final chapters, same scenes over and over, like I didn’t get it the first time! I will say that this could be a standalone - Mr Balson does not rehash his previous plots ad nauseam like most series do.
It was an interesting look into the trials and tribulations of Northern Ireland, a subject I knew little about. I Googled (of course) Dunluce Castle and it gave the final scenes in the book a good perspective.
The story dragged until the final chapters, same scenes over and over, like I didn’t get it the first time! I will say that this could be a standalone - Mr Balson does not rehash his previous plots ad nauseam like most series do.
It was an interesting look into the trials and tribulations of Northern Ireland, a subject I knew little about. I Googled (of course) Dunluce Castle and it gave the final scenes in the book a good perspective.
June 4, 2017
What better way is there to spend a Saturday then spending it with Liam and Catherine in Ron Balson's newest mystery! He did it again. It's another page turner and even when you think it's over - just wait a few pages - there's more. If you are a Ron Balson fan you will enjoy reading Liam and Catherine's latest adventure which is set mostly in Ireland, while learning a bit about Ireland's history and The Troubles - their civil war that lasted for thirty years and just ended in the late 90s. If you haven't yet read one of Ron's books and you like David Baldacci, Vince Flynn, Brian Meltzer, Michael Connelly or others like them, try this one. I highly recommend it.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early release of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early release of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 20, 2017
This is a $26.99 reminder of why I prefer to pick up new (to me) authors from the library.
The Trust has all the makings of a great mystery with the added bonus the Belfast setting. An estranged nephew, the murder of his uncle, mysterious activities. Could've been great. Unfortunately, this writer clipped down my list of pet peeves one by one in the first couple of chapters. Characters info dumping in the form of multi-paragraph monologues. Lots of telling not showing. Women in the story serve only to provide information or support the main hero - or at least that was the case in as far as I cared to read. Despite buying the book, it's a big fat DNF for me.
The Trust has all the makings of a great mystery with the added bonus the Belfast setting. An estranged nephew, the murder of his uncle, mysterious activities. Could've been great. Unfortunately, this writer clipped down my list of pet peeves one by one in the first couple of chapters. Characters info dumping in the form of multi-paragraph monologues. Lots of telling not showing. Women in the story serve only to provide information or support the main hero - or at least that was the case in as far as I cared to read. Despite buying the book, it's a big fat DNF for me.
May 2, 2020
This was painful. Filled with every thriller cliché in the world and I figured it out five minutes in, I kept reading because I wanted to know who did it but come on, they barely had any red herrings. The narrator is a private investigator who doesn't actually do any investigating.
The writing is also atrocious. No one actually talks to friends and family in such formal language, it was bizarre. Would have been better set in the 30s if he wanted to write like that. I can't believe people actually gave this four stars.
The writing is also atrocious. No one actually talks to friends and family in such formal language, it was bizarre. Would have been better set in the 30s if he wanted to write like that. I can't believe people actually gave this four stars.
October 2, 2017
Although 'thrillers' are not my usual & preferred genre, Ronald Balson's The Trust was a fabulous read that kept me turning pages well into the night Hours. This international set book transported me from Chicago to Northern Ireland, the characters & story will crawl into your heart .. a do not miss which I highly recommend!
January 4, 2020
This is the 4th in this series and I have to say I didn't like it as much as the other 3. What I can say is if you like historical fictions -start with book number 1 in this series - you will enjoy them! I have number 5 here- so looking forward to reading that one as well ! x
January 16, 2018
I figured out too late that The Trust is 4th in a series after I was about 1/3 of the way in. I’d like to go back and pick up books 1-3 but the book wasn’t so riveting that I have to put them on my list next week. Liam Taggert returns to Northern Ireland, where he lived for several years during his childhood, to attend his uncle’s funeral. After the funeral he discovers that he has been named the Trustee if his uncle’s estate. The history of “the troubles”, the conflict between the Protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland, plays a role in the plot and was interesting to me as I’ve never fully grasped what was happening at that time. The story is a murder mystery and it was obvious to me who was behind the murders so there wasn’t a lot of suspense until the very end. Also, granted I work in the legal field, but some of the characters seemed dense in their inability to understand the rules of the trust documents. The rules were stated and restated and stated again as family members tried to find loopholes, which became tedious. Has anyone else read this series?
November 25, 2017
I can't believe all the positive reviews for this--it had me shaking my head a few pages in because the main character spends two pages telling his life history to his wife. In dialogue. Whaaaat???? Who does that? Why all the telling? Why couldn't it have been done within his own head or something or with an all-knowing narrator? It seemed so unrealistic and just poor storytelling. I kept checking to make sure the quotation marks were still there.
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