Thank you, PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for the copy of Trust Issues. I started this book a number of months ago and never finished it. I would have completely forgotten, but someone recommended it to me and I found a draft of my early review. I’m glad I did, because this time I really enjoyed the book. The characters were all unlikeable but the story was engaging and I was invested in how it would end. THere were some good but not all totally unexpected reveals, The conclusion was great and a couple of little reveals at the end were amazing. If you want an engrossing, quick read, this is the book for you! 4 stars

3 stars! 💫 Okay, let’s talk about this one! It was a fun ride, but definitely took me a minute to get through. This is my first ARC of 2025 (yay me!) so thanks to Penguin Group Dutton and NetGalley for the advanced copy! Now, don’t get me wrong, the plot had me hooked with all its suspense and twists, but the characters? Whew. They were a lot. Honestly, none of them were exactly my faves (Hazel and Kagan? Spoiled brats! 🙄), and that made it tough to get into their heads. But hey, the drama was chef’s kiss 😅.

✧ Sibling Rivalry ✨
✧ Family Secrets 🤫
✧ Revenge 👊
✧ Unlikely Allies 🤝
✧ Shady Con Artists 💸
✧ Inheritance Drama 💰

I mean, there were SO many moments where I just wanted to shake Hazel and Kagan and scream, "Come on, grow up!" because their immaturity had me questioning their age. They acted like they were still in their 20s, not 40s! 🙄 But hey, that’s kinda the point, right? The whole messiness of it was part of the charm. Their self-centered behavior definitely added to the drama (and the frustration), but it also kept the plot interesting. The mystery of their mom's death and the missing fortune kept me on my toes, and the twists? Let’s just say, that ending caught me off guard (kind of)! 😜

Would I recommend it? Yeah, sure! If you love family drama, conmen, and characters you secretly (or not-so-secretly) love to hate, then this book might be right up your alley. It’s full of messy, suspense-filled chaos! But if you need characters you can root for, this one might not be your cup of tea. All in all, it’s a solid 3-star read! 💫📚

This was another solid read from an author duo that I’ve enjoyed in the past. I liked the premise and how you never really knew who was trustworthy and since pretty much all of the characters are unlikable it’s easy to side eye them all. While there were some small surprises along the way the ending was really great for me and pretty unexpected. If you like con stories, domestic suspense, unlikable characters and vengeance thrillers try this!

First time reading this author duo and it was a good read. Hazel and Kagan sucked. They were so juvenile and entitled for their big ole age and it was off putting. I wanted to shake some sense into them as well. There were plenty of twists along the way and don’t trust ANYONE in this story at all. Reading this story also gave me a better understanding as to why people end up getting scammed and conned. 😩

Great weekend read. The characters were very interesting. Storyline had me keep wanting to read more. I didn’t hate the ending but I just wish we were giving more of one.

This was an enjoyable, quick read. Engaging characters, a fast paced plot and enough twists to keep me reading late into the night. A couple of the characters were intentionally annoying but I would love to see Ava return as part of a series - I would definitely read that. Highly recommended

Thanks to NetGalley and Dutton for an advanced reader copy.

This book hooked me from the beginning. I gasped when I hit P2. The surprises kept coming. An overall enjoyable story.

A clever, unputdownable cat and mouse thriller about estranged siblings who find out their dead mother hasn’t left them in her will. When they realize their mom died under suspicious circumstances, and her second husband has absconded with their inheritance, the siblings decide to find out who exactly he is—and get their money back.

Deliciously gripping and stylishly written, Trust Issues is a fascinating look at trust, asking how well you ever really know someone, even if they are family. Gorgeously disturbing, ferociously smart and full of tension, this one shines.

This story started out really intriguing but unfortunately got a bit far fetched and boring by the end. I did enjoy the really unlikeable characters and seeing how everything came together.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Dutton for this arc. I received this book in exchange for my honest review. My thoughts are entirely my own.

In the beginning of this book Peter finds out that his wife Janice was found dead at the Cloisters the place she worked and Janice was also very wealthy. Turns out that Peter is a grifter who takes advantage of older women who don’t have any family and lots of money. Hazel and her brother Kagen have both been supported by their mother for years and they learn after her death that they will not be getting anything or any family heirlooms that they later learned that Peter/Walter stole. Months pass and they locate Peter’s daughter that he says died in a fire that he apparently set. Peter’s daughter Ava used to be part of his schemes until she got out and had been avoiding him since. Ava, Hazel, and Kagen find out that Peter is swendeling a woman named Ivy in Florida in Boca Raton and they go there and spoil his plans. Ava steals his money from him and leaves him with only his birth certificate and a fake obituary for Walter. Ava decides to follow Janice’s wishes and sends Hazel and Kagen to rehab where after finishing the mandatory time they will get their family heirlooms and some money to help them until they get proper jobs.

I am a sucker for a domestic thriller! This one was great! I really enjoyed the storyline! The characters were awful, but that was sort of the point! I loved to hate them! I enjoyed the format and the conclusion was done so well for me!! I was so happy to see karma come in! I was surprised and delighted by this one!

This was a twisty book about siblings wanting revenge for their mother’s death which included their stepfather skipping town with all the money. I enjoyed this story and kept waiting to see what twists would come up next. Thanks to NetGalley and Dutton books for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

This is an engaging story involving family dynamics, a mysterious murder, a con artist and many twists and turns. The siblings were both not very likeable, and were only interested in their inheritance but they made it lively and fun to read.

It was a quick and enjoyable read.

Trust Issues by Elizabeth McCullough Keenan is a compelling read with a strong mix of suspense and emotion. The characters are layered and relatable, and the story kept me hooked with its twists and turns. While a few parts felt a bit slow, the overall plot was engaging and delivered a satisfying conclusion. A great pick for anyone who enjoys a good domestic thriller!

An estranged pair of siblings team up after
their mother passes and their mysterious step father takes off with the inheritance.

I was not bored for a single moment of this one, an that’s really how I determine a five star read. This was a fun cat and mouse chase that really makes you want things to end right. I loved Ava and wish we got even more of her childhood; maybe a prequel would be great! The ending shocked me and certainly made me laugh in an ironic way.

“It’s hard to spot the red flags when you’re wearing rose-colored glasses.”

Trust Issues comes out 1/28.

This is a twisted tale of two siblings who have nothing in common other then when their mother dies, they find out that not only has their mother cut them out of her will, but that she died in a way they find suspicious. In trying to research their mysterious stepfather they find out that maybe not everything is quite on the up and up. In hopes of tracking their stepfather down they recruit his daughter who is straight out of jail. Readers will be taken on an adventure into the world of con artists and will have to decide if they truly can trust anything happening. This is a great read for those looking for twists and turns but no blood or gore.
Thank you so much to Penguin Group Dutton and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

Who can you trust when family inheritances are on the line?

When Janice Thornhill is found at the foot of an overlook in Fort Tryon Park, near the Cloisters where she is a volunteer tour guide, her estranged adult children are surprised to learn they have been cut out of her will. Expecting a sizable inheritance which would solve their various financial problems, both Hazel, a social media influencer with a taste for extreme wealth, and her brother Kagan, an addict who can’t hold a job or stay married, suspect their new stepfather, Perry, is to blame for their change in fortune. As if that’s not enough, the police suspect foul play and begin to focus on Hazel and Kagan. Perry, meanwhile, has an airtight alibi.

So begins this con artist/revenge tale that builds suspense dramatically until an action-packed finale with a satisfying twist at the end. McCullough Keenan and Wands weave a tight plot, told through multiple points of view and chock full of sketchy characters you will love to hate and whom you certainly can’t trust.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

This book is a frustrating read from start to finish. The plot is muddled, and the characters feel more like caricatures than fully developed people, making it hard to care about any of them. The dialogue is often stilted, and the pacing drags on unnecessarily, leaving the story feeling repetitive and drawn out. The central themes of trust and betrayal are overshadowed by poorly executed plot twists that feel contrived and unrealistic. Overall, it lacks emotional depth, and instead of building tension, it leaves you more annoyed than engaged. A disappointing experience, especially for readers who enjoy character-driven stories with substance.

Such a fun read! Laugh aloud humor and shocking gasps with several of the most despicable characters ever! The authors have created a spinning book of odd circumstances, cons and chaos resulting in an entertaining story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Janice Walters, tragically, plunges to her death leaving her husband, Perry, in charge of her wealth and her children, Hazel and Kagan, desperate to get their hands on their shares. Sadly, Hazel, a MeTube influencer, has already spent through her trust fund. Kagan spent all of his on his addictions. Both kids are entitled and bratty and old enough to know better. When they appeal to Perry for their inheritance, it is not forthcoming. Even more sinister, they quickly come to believe that Perry isn’t who he claims to be. To complicate matters, the police don’t think their mother’s death was an accident and Perry has a watertight alibi, while the kids fall under suspicion. Going broke and desperate to get their hands on their mother’s money, they seek out Perry’s daughter, Ava. In her they hope to find help in getting to their money and clarity on the real Perry Walters but, instead, the siblings quickly fall under her spell as they compete for her affection. In the end, it’s anyone’s guess who will end up with Janice’s fortune.

This story is full of suspense and surprises. If you love sketchy characters then this one is for you!

Thank you Netgalley, Penguin Group Dutton, and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available for purchase on January 28, 2025