A brilliantly conceived psychological thriller that gets better with every page.
What could be more romantic for a blissful wedding celebration than a scenic oceanfront setting? Beth Sullivan and David Cheshon may not have everything in common, but they hit it off from their first date. Falling fast for one another was the easy part. Convincing their families that they’re truly in love with no ulterior motives guiding their relationship is a different story. And so, what could have been a grand wedding between one of Baltimore’s most desirable single men and a cautious, guarded woman with a keen desire to start her own family ends up as an isolated seaside elopement. Despite the negativity and doubt coming from their loved ones, the new couple makes every effort to build a happy life together. But before the ink has dried and the moving boxes have been fully unpacked, tragedy strikes in the form of a brutal murder. Everybody said the wedding was premature, and that truths had yet to be revealed. Now, with Beth’s sister dead, a rushed wedding is the least of her concerns. Close friends and old acquaintances take center stage as Beth is forced into the fight of her life to prove her innocence. Old money and a new opportunity could be a sound motive, but when it comes to family secrets, blood runs thicker than water. And money is often tainted with somebody’s blood.
If you’re looking for a brilliantly conceived psychological thriller that gets better with every page, you’ll love Trust. There are so many relatable aspects and quandaries to work through, especially with the risks of online matchmaking. Readers will immediately feel a kinship with either Beth, a down-to-earth woman who always has a plan, or David, a man who was born into a powerful family and is often guided by familial expectations. To call the supporting characters secondary feels like a misnomer. These ancillary characters are extremely well-defined, bringing their own flavor and complexity to a story overflowing with suspense and twists. But the engaging cast is only one facet of this smart, suspenseful drama. Shifting points of view and abrupt changes in time add a deliciously chaotic feel to an increasingly frenzied plot. Forming a tangled web of pretexts, relationships, alibis and manipulations, Lee Chappel’s Trust is a literary blockbuster you won’t want to miss.
