Wow. Flynn Berry is brilliant. These books, thrillers about the IRA, are brilliant and take you right into the heart of Ireland and its troubles. I’ve recently read another very good series on crime in Ireland, but these are much more gripping. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book. It will be my book club selection very soon!

“Being in the water is gathering my attention from all the places it has scattered today.”

Trust Her shattered me the same way Northern Spy did. We meet Tessa as a new mom in Northern Spy. Walking down the lanes in her tiny village in Northern Ireland, with her nearly one year old son, Finn, strapped to her chest in a carrier, his feet gently knocking against her thighs. This first introduction made me fall in love. I fell in love with Tessa and her version of motherhood, which so closely mirrors my own, it often took my breath away. My oldest son was the same age as Finn when I read Northern Spy, and when we meet Tessa and Finn again, three years have gone by. Finn is now four. And so similar to my own four year old that I often felt winded, observing the comparison. I felt like I’ve grown with Tessa over these few years, so her anxiety and suffocation, and even her happiness and appreciation, felt like my own.

We follow Tessa and her sister, Marian, after they have built a new life in Dublin. Trust Her is thrilling, to say the least. I had my hand over my mouth in fear the last few pages, goosebumps up and down my arms. Thrilling, yes, being set in a futuristic Ireland where there was no permanent ceasefire at the end of the 1990s, but this book is ultimately about love. Tessa says of her son, “I’m exhausted, and I’d do it every day for the rest of my life, I’d do it for a million years,” and that is the epitome of this book. Every decision she made was made with heart, made with love in mind, her son’s face at the forefront. Trust Her was an ode to motherhood and how beautifully all consuming it is. How mothers will do things they never imagined for a better future for their child. It’s powerful. This book was powerful.

Great thriller story with plenty of twists to keep you invested through the entire story. Great family dynamic and interesting characters

I enjoyed Berry's Northern Spy, so I was eager to pick up the sequel. To start, I would have enjoyed hearing more about the sisters and how their transition to Dublin went, but the book does start the action right away. It felt more rushed than the first book, and I think I'll probably re-read for another review.

Flynn Berry's "Trust Her" is a gripping follow-up to her bestseller, "Northern Spy." Set three years after Tessa and Marian Daly escape the clutches of the IRA, the sisters have started anew in Dublin. Despite their fresh start, shadows from their past threaten to unravel their fragile peace. Tessa, now a mother, juggles her new life with the haunting memories of her old one. The tranquility is shattered when Tessa is kidnapped and coerced into a dangerous mission: turn her old MI5 handler into an IRA informant or risk losing her family.

Berry's writing excels in building a tense atmosphere that keeps readers on edge. Tessa's internal struggle is portrayed with emotional depth, making her a relatable and sympathetic character. The novel delves into themes of loyalty, family, and the moral complexities of survival. Tessa's interactions with Eamonn, her former handler, add layers of intrigue and emotional conflict as past feelings resurface and long-held secrets threaten to come to light.

While "Trust Her" isn't action-packed, its strength lies in the underlying tension and the psychological depth of its characters. Berry skillfully captures the complexities of a life torn between conflicting loyalties, where every decision carries a heavy weight. The novel's setting in a modern-day Ireland still grappling with the remnants of the Troubles adds a rich backdrop to the story.

The ending delivers unexpected twists, wrapping up the narrative in a satisfying and poignant manner. "Trust Her" stands out not just as a thriller but as a profound exploration of human resilience and the bonds that tie us together.

Recommended for fans of atmospheric thrillers with well-crafted characters and intricate plots. While it can be read as a standalone, reading "Northern Spy" first will enhance the experience and understanding of the characters' backgrounds. Flynn Berry continues to prove her mastery in creating suspenseful and emotionally resonant stories.

Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you, NetGalley and publishers.

Trust Her is the sequel to Northern Spy. Continuing the story of the sisters and also Ireland, this page turner will please readers wanting to continue the story as well as new readers. Living under new names in Dublin, Marian and Tessa think they’ve escaped to build new lives and raise their children. But the past has a long reach and there’s always a price to be paid.

Rounded up from 3.75 ⭐️'s

Trust Her is a fast-paced political thriller/family suspense novel. Although technically the sequel to Northern Spy, it can definitely be read as a stand-alone novel. There is enough backstory provided to fill in any comprehension gaps.

What I Liked:
📚 Easy to read, super fast-paced writing style
📚 Hard to put down
📚 More character-driven than Northern Spy (book 1)

What I Disliked:
📚 Several crucial plot points were skimmed over - the book had the potential to be a much twistier, darker story.
📚 The ending was "meh"
📚 Just like in the first book, Marian's voice is silenced. I understand Tessa is the main character, but given her sister's pivotal role in the plot, I think her POV would have significantly impacted the story.

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley & the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

This novel covers the IRA and some members turned informants. But who are they reporting to? No one is really who they say they are. The story is character driven as it follows Tessa and her younger sister through a maze of Political loyalties. I wish there had Been more historical references to better understand the characters and their positions. Love of family and especially children is certainly a motivator in this portrayal of consequences. Love of country not as much as hate for another government.

Copy provided by the publisher and Netgalley

I absolutely loved this story. The characters were relatable and the drama kept me coming back for more and more. The bond between the sisters and their determination to make it out of any situation was amazing. A story of hard choices and the strong women who overcome everything thrown their way.

Hands down I loved this book!! This was my first time reading any work by this author and I may have to make them an auto buy!! The premise and plot were so interesting and the amazing twists and turns were amazing! Highly recommend this one.

A young woman who joins the IRA endangers her sister, and the situation leafs to their relocation and changes in their identities. Years pass, and the past comes back to haunt them and their children.

Thrilling from beginning to end. Two sisters who worked for the IRA and then became informers and are now moving on with their lives with new names and new homes trying to not get involved in the politics of the day. One of them is kidnapped and forced to do get back into the game to protect her son and her sister's family. Great twist at the end of the book.

Anything by Flynn Berry is an automatic read for me, and this might be her best work yet. The way she writes about women’s interior lives is unmatched. A thrilling, beautifully written, and satisfying sequel.

I'm not sure I would have picked up Trust Her by Flynn Berry on my own, but I'm so glad that I was pre-approved for it and and picked it up. Trust Her follows Tessa and her sister trying to make a life after it was discovered they had been informing on the IRA. Tessa is a highly relatable character, I found the relationships described in the book to be rich and nuanced. I particularly enjoyed how Berry explored motherhood in the context of the conflict.

I learned so much from this book about the IRA and the current conflict in Northern Ireland. I confess that I am woefully uneducated on this topic, but felt that this book provided context and piqued my interest enough to send me off down my own research rabbit hole. Berry created an immersive experience. I found myself on the edge of my seat and often couldn't put the book down.

Thank you to Flynn Berry and Penguin Group Viking for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This long awaited sequel draws you un even deeper. It's a riveting page turner that will fill you with emotion as you get to know the characters. Flynn Berry has a gift and writes in a way that gives the each person complex depth characteristics.

When I finished “Northern Spy” back in 2021, I was left with a feeling of unease even though I felt it was a brilliantly written book that totally immersed me in the modern day horror that is still present in Ireland. I was happy that the sisters made it out. “Trust Her” brought back that psychological tension. Instead of being able to continue on with their lives, Tessa and Marion are violently drawn back into The Troubles. Three years later, the IRA is still out for revenge and now threatening their children. I wish the sisters had just totally left the island and found some nice Irish neighborhood in America where they don’t ask you what your religion is right away. This is a convoluted story of mothers and sisters love — walking the lines of blackmail and betrayal again. I think you really need to read “Northern Spy” before “Trust Her” and then make the decision “why do I want to experience this uneasiness in a sequel?” Again, this is beautifully written, but stories where children’s lives are in the balance are just too off-putting and depressing for me. 3.5 stars.

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): NO Only a detective’s eye color (“almost aquamarine”) are described.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO There are black yews mentioned (darker than common yews), prevalent in Ireland and a symbol of death.

Thank you to Penguin Viking and NetGalley for a free advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

Excellent book about two sisters who were apart of the IRA in their early 20’s who three years after turning informants for the other side are dealing with the repercussions of the choices they made years ago. The IRA comes back into their lives and wants Tessa to recruit her M15 contact to their cause. Tessa tries to figure out how to keep her young son safe from everything going all while she and her sister get sucked back into their old life

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. I love Flynn Berry's books and was thrilled to get this copy. Once again, thrilling, intriguing and surprising story. I couldn't put this was down. Grab a copy now!! Highly recommend

absolutely riveting and excellent book!!! very fast paced and easy to read. i would def love to read more from this author now!!!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review the book
This was an ok read about the troubles in Ireland and the IRA . I liked it overall but feel that I want remember it in a month