On the surface it feels like a mystery about whether Janice was murdered. In reality it is a fascinating study on the personalities of the characters. Every time you think you know who Hazel and Kagan really are you learn something more. You aren't sure who you want to like and who you feel sorry for and whether you really should. It could be super heavy but doesn't really come across that heavy.

I read "Trust Issues" on NetGalley. Hazel & Kagan are sister & brother who are thrown into shock when their mother is murdered. At first suspects themselves they soon realize that their mother was "conned" by her current husband and they have no inheritance. This book shows how deceitful family can be and follows them on the search for their mother's killer.

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

What a twisted web of lies and deceit within a family and the con artist that infiltrates them. A wild ride indeed!

If you enjoy stories about sibling rivalries, non likable characters that you kind of want to root for anyway, con artists, family drama, inheritance issues and just unadulterated messiness then read this book. It has a little something for everyone!

Thank you to Netgalley, Dutton Books, and the author for the gifted ARC.

I loved the morally grey characters, siblings you love to hate, the messy family dynamics, the superb writing and the unpredictable ending.

This is a 3 1/2 star read for me. I think because the characters of Hazel and Kagan were so horrible. They were so horrible because their mother was an enabler and would always give them money when they asked even though they had scrounged through their trust funds. But their poor mother, Janice was lured into a relationship with a con artist/serial killer. Perry (who he called himself when he was with Janice), liked to find women with money and then get the women to fall head over heels in love with him, put their money in a joint account and then they would meet an unfortunate accident and die and he would inherit all their money. So this happened to Hazel and Kagan where they had lost their inheritance and everything of value that was their mother's. They were devastated and decided to find out more about Perry. That is when the book takes off. They uncover some of his past and that he has a daughter. The daughter decides to help them get their money back from Perry. He had used her from the time she was little to help scam people. She knew his tricks and she was also a good computer hacker. It definitely is a different book than what I am used to but it did keep my interest. There is a great twist in the end that leaves you shaking your head but in a good way.
Thanks to #netgalley, #duttonbooks and @lizandgregwrite for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

A page-turning book that keeps you on your toes with its suspenseful writing and one twist after another. The siblings were obnoxious. I found myself rooting for the character of Ava. She was resilient, intelligent, and managed to rebuild her life after a tumultuous beginning. The author’s storytelling style was strong throughout the narrative and kept the readers attention.

This review is entirely voluntary, and all opinions expressed reflect my personal views.

Thank you Netgalley & Dutton for an eARC ♥️

This was my first time reading this author duo, and I have to say, I'm hooked. The way they weave together a complex web of secrets, lies, and double-crosses is pure magic.
The story follows Hazel and Kagan Bailey, two adult siblings who are forced to team up and track down the person responsible for their mother's mysterious death and the theft of their family's fortune. I loved how the authors explored the complexities of family dynamics, making the characters feel relatable and real.
As I turned the pages, I found myself getting more and more invested in the story.🤩
What I appreciated most about Trust Issues was its unique take on the classic conman chase novel. The addition of the sibling dynamic added an extra layer of complexity to the story, making it feel fresh and exciting.
If you're a fan of twisty, turny stories with complex characters and pulse-pounding suspense, then Trust Issues is the book for you. And if you're new to this author duo like I was, then get ready to discover your new favorite writers!♥️

I was pulled into this book from the start and it had me guessing all the way until the end! It is filled with a great cast of characters, family relationships, and deception. This was a twisty ride- be careful of cons out there!

This was very intriguing, kept me guessing all the way through the book, i thought some part could have been written a bit simplier but overall the book was amazing!

Definitely recommend!

At the heart of this book is an unforgettable cat-and-mouse chase, featuring a cast of characters you can never quite decide if you like or not. The authors did a phenomenal job striking the perfect balance between character-driven depth and fast-paced, plot-driven action.

The story unfolds as two siblings race against time to prevent another unsuspecting woman from suffering the same tragic fate as their mother at the hands of her deceptive husband. The pacing is exhilarating, keeping me on edge as I tried to piece together who was truly guilty.

If you’re looking for a suspenseful, well-paced read with an ending that makes you reflect on the power of karma, this book is a must-read!

"...each of those smaller issues now feels like the drop in the bucket that finally causes the whole mess to overflow. It could almost be funny, if it weren't so tragic."

Everyone in this story has trust issues. And everyone needs someone to trust them. As the mystery of Janice's death winds and unwinds, each character's story spins into view. And with four main characters, each as sketchy as the others, it's truly a flood of untrustworthy proportions. Though the story starts slow, it reaches hurricane force by the end! What a whirlwind.

"[Hazel] hoped the internet would do what it did best and storm the virtual castle."

How trusting are you? Do you normally trust until someone gives you a reason not to? Or do you have your walls up and slowly bring them down as time passes? Siblings Hazel and Kegan have every reason to have their walls up. Their father was a cruel man. The entire family breathed a sigh of relief the night he had a heart attack. Their mother has since remarried. They do not know him very well. Hazel has not seen her mom for two years and Kegan makes appearances. They both know that their new stepfather has been putting nonsense into their mother's ear about them. Until their mom ended up dead at the bottom of a cliff they had no idea why. Now they do, their inheritance. Their mom has left them nothing. As more information becomes known the siblings are more determined to get to the bottom of what happened to their mother and to get their inheritance back.

This book is filled with unlikable characters that had me yelling at them. It is hard to imagine that Kegan and Hazel are pushing forty. I kept imagining mid-twenties. Yet this is what made the book messy and believable that their mom cut them off. I loved the entire premise that their mother married another horrible man. Posing as someone who is at one with nature. When really all he wanted was her money. I was entertained and if I ever come into any money I will not be marrying. Thank you to Elizabeth McCullough Keenan and Dutton for my gifted read.

"Trust Issues" delivers a riveting blend of suspense and family drama as estranged siblings Hazel and Kagan Bailey are forced to confront their shared past. After their mother’s mysterious death and the disappearance of the family fortune, the Baileys embark on a tense hunt for answers—and a con artist they once called “family.”

The story’s fast-paced twists and layered revelations pull readers into a tangled web of lies, betrayal, and long-buried secrets. As Hazel and Kagan race against time, they not only chase justice but also face the painful truths about their fractured relationship. This gripping novel keeps you hooked until the last page with its emotional depth and masterful suspense.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced ARC in exchange for my honest review

Murder? Theft? This is a tale of a long con game by Perry who was married to Janice when she, ahem, died, Perry thinks he's safe after stealing the inheritance of his step children Hazel and Bailey but he didn't count on the fact that his own daughter Ava would join forces with them. This has some nice twists (and some you might see coming) and some not so nice characters. I gotta say- Hazel and Bailey convey as much younger than they are meant to be and they're a little whiny. However, they're also clever and that's what will keep you reading this cat and mouse game novel. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. No spoilers from me!

Thank you so much NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in advance in exchange for an honest review! This was a quick, fast paced book, that was a true page turner! 3.75 stars

3.5 rounded up!

Kagan and Hazel haven't been close since becoming adults, but when their mother dies in a suspicious manner and their names rocket to the top of the suspect list, they have to set aside their issues and come together. Neither of them were ever particularly close to their stepfather, but the further the siblings dig, the more things start coming up "conman." They'll do anything to get their inheritance back and out his endgame.

TRUST ISSUES by Elizabeth McCullough Keenan and Greg Wands is a cat and mouse thriller full of lavish lifestyles, sibling rivalries, and rich women getting conned.

I really enjoyed the premise of this book and the amateur sleuthing was such a hit for me! The beginning of the story is also set in New York (and the Cloisters!), which is always a fun thing to see.

Despite this story having some of my favorite things, the characters were extremely immature for being in their late 30s and the slow pacing didn't have a payoff that felt worth the arduous journey.

A cool cover with an interesting plot, but the execution just wasn't fully there for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dutton for the early copies for review!

Publication Date: January 28

Thank you so much to Dutton for my gifted copy!

Trust Issues is one hell of an intelligent thriller. This is the type of book you stay up late to finish. I could not put it down.

We meet this cast of truly unlikeable characters, except for our Gray Hat Hacker, Ava. She was a relief to experience after my last disaster of a read. I love a strong female lead, unable to be swayed or manipulated.

The craziest part of this story is that aspects of it were taken from the author duo’s friends’ experiences (Jeez, that’s a mouthful, sorry). I am eternally paranoid after working in finance, and seeing financial elder abuse first hand, but this book proves that truth is stranger than fiction. Some people are so damn diabolical. It makes you wonder how much more improved the world would be if that kind of cunning intelligence was used for good.

All of that said, this was a book I have been looking forward to for a very long time, and it did not disappoint. I absolutely loved it and all of its twenty-five cent words. Chefs kiss.

I really enjoyed this novel. Crazy great characters that kept me up late into the night. This was so easy to fall into and get lost in. Lots of twists and turns that left me gobsmacked.
Thank you NetGalley, Elizabeth Keenan, Greg Wands and Dutton Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book

Trust Issues by Elizabeth McCullough Keenan; Greg Wands was gripping and so hard to put down.
There are some good twists in the story and it kept me engaged, wanting to know what would happen next.
I really enjoyed reading this book, it was very intriguing. It gripped me from the start and I read it in two sittings. It was well written and very descriptive.
The storyline was great and I flew through this book in one sitting. Kept me turning the pages late into the night.
The authors manages to keep the writing compelling and full of suspense.

Thank You NetGalley and Dutton for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Thank you to Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton | Dutton for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I did enjoy this book and read it in one day.. But I felt like it moved a little slow in some spots. I would still recommend this book.