TELL ME YOU TRUST ME is a great thriller for anyone who loves a character driven plot fully of mystery, drama,

I loved the format of the book- the days with a time really helped me to center the plot and to know how the plot relates.

The writing was excellent- it was well organized, the plot was clear, and the twists were slowly revealed in such a satisfying way. The clues in the music- mmm, such an unique way to reveal the plot that left me wanting more.

The storyline was a good one, but had some moments where it dragged a little bit. Not too twisty and quite predictable.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

One sitting read. The premise and execution were great! The mystery is enough to keep you reading in hopes of solving it. Thank you to Netgalley, the Publisher and the Author for the opportunity to read and review this prior to publication.

'Tell me you trust me' are the last words Marissa's husband says as he walks out of their house one morning before vanishing without a trace. The mystery around his disappearance deepens when Marissa discovers her parents, who employ her husband, know more than they're letting on. Who should she trust? Him or them?

This is the kind of thriller you might expect from an award-winning romance author, which this author is (under a different name). For me, the scale tipped more towards exploring vulnerabilities and relationships than edge-of-the-seat tension and suspense. That said, I enjoyed it, especially the use of song titles as a way for Marissa to communicate with her missing husband. Very clever!

A fun and easy read, but a little too predictable for the veteran thriller reader.

Holy Banana's! This was perfect thriller, where you literally do not know who to trust. It was roller-coaster of WTF! I loved all the songs and using them to tell a story. It was genius, who would have thought to do that, I loved it and even though I knew what happened, it didn't matter because the main character was relatable and mother trying to protect her child no matter the cost.

Missing husband, telling her through music to trust him. But can she and what does her family have to do with his disappearance? Can she find her husband and trust her heart or was everything she thought she knew a lie?

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for copy of this story for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book, a great thriller but I felt it dragged a bit and some of the story was really hard to follow. However, saying that, I can see a lot of people really enjoying this book!

This debut thriller had me hooked with a fast-paced plot and loads of entertaining drama! Marissa's life unravels when her husband vanishes, leaving behind a trail of cryptic clues. The intense level of suspense keeps you guessing until the very end of this bingeable read. Marissa’s intelligence at deciphering the clues was impressive and had me rooting for her throughout. If you love a cat-and-mouse thriller with exceptional character development and a level of emotional depth, this book is definitely a MUST READ!

From the very first page, this book throws you into a web of deception where nothing is as it seems. The protagonist, driven by a need for answers, gets tangled in a dangerous game—one that keeps escalating with every chapter. Every character is hiding something, and just when you think you’ve figured it out, the story flips on you.

The atmosphere is tense, the pacing is relentless, and the twists? Unpredictable. The final reveal left me questioning everything I had assumed, proving that the author knows exactly how to play with the reader’s mind. If you love books that keep you on edge, this one won’t disappoint.

Elle Owens' debut thriller delivers a gripping exploration of trust, deception, and the tangled web of relationships. When Marissa Creighton’s husband, Ethan, disappears without a trace, she’s left with only one cryptic clue: a song titled “Trust Me” that mysteriously appears on their shared playlist. As Marissa struggles to make sense of his disappearance, she begins using their playlist to communicate with him in a coded back-and-forth, but the deeper she digs, the more she uncovers unsettling secrets.

The novel skillfully builds tension, with each chapter ramping up the suspense as Marissa discovers more about Ethan’s possible betrayal, hidden documents, and even an affair. But it’s not just Ethan’s secrets at play. Marissa’s overprotective family, with its ties to a surveillance business, also harbors its own mysteries, and their involvement makes Marissa question who she can really trust. The author does an exceptional job of layering suspense with emotional complexity, keeping readers questioning the truth at every turn.

Character development is one of the novel's standout features. Marissa is a flawed and vulnerable protagonist who grapples with grief, guilt, and the growing realization that everyone in her life may be hiding something. Her determination to uncover the truth, despite the constant shifting of trust, makes her journey both compelling and relatable. The relationships around her, whether with family, friends, or strangers, are steeped in tension and uncertainty, which keeps you hooked as the plot twists and turns.

The pacing is meticulous, with the tension rising steadily as secrets are slowly revealed. Every chapter feels charged with suspense, and the well-timed plot twists leave readers questioning what they know. The stakes build to a thrilling conclusion that will leave you breathless, and the final twist is both satisfying and haunting.

Owens’ writing is sharp and atmospheric, capturing the fragile nature of trust and betrayal in a way that feels both personal and universal. This psychological thriller is an intense, edge-of-your-seat read that will have you thinking about the blurred lines between loyalty and deception long after you turn the last page. Fans of high-stakes thrillers and complex characters won’t want to miss it.

ARC provided by Thomas & Mercer

A pulse-pounding psychological thriller that will have you questioning every decision, this novel takes the concept of trust to its breaking point. The story centers around a complicated web of relationships, where nothing is as simple as it initially seems. From the first page, you’re immersed in a world where trust is fragile, and every character seems to be concealing their own secrets.

The author excels at building tension. Each chapter feels like a slow burn, but with every word, the pressure builds. The atmosphere becomes increasingly charged as you realize that every interaction is fraught with hidden motives. The plot unfolds in such a way that nothing feels quite as it should—whether it's a small, seemingly insignificant detail or a major revelation, every element contributes to the feeling that you're never fully in control of what’s coming next.

Character development is one of the strongest aspects of the story. The protagonist is incredibly well-crafted—flawed, vulnerable, and yet determined. You’ll find yourself rooting for them as they struggle to navigate a complex maze of lies and manipulation. The relationships they have with others are layered and filled with tension, and as the plot twists and turns, you realize that no one is truly who they appear to be. The author does a brilliant job of making you question everyone’s motives—friends, family, and even strangers.

The pacing is expertly executed, maintaining a steady rhythm of suspense while also providing deeper moments of reflection. As the characters’ darkest secrets are slowly revealed, the stakes become higher, and the tension is palpable. Every revelation feels earned, and the twists are well-placed, making the journey just as thrilling as the end result.

The writing itself is sharp and engaging, with the author capturing the fragile nature of trust in a way that feels both personal and universal. There’s a dark undercurrent to the entire story, one that leaves you uneasy even as you continue turning the pages. Every moment feels charged, and it’s clear that the stakes go beyond the central mystery—they explore the very nature of betrayal, manipulation, and human weakness.

By the time the final twist lands, the story has kept you on edge in the best possible way. The unpredictable turns, coupled with the complex characters and mounting suspense, make this a standout in psychological thrillers. You’ll be thinking about the nature of trust long after the book ends, and questioning just how far you'd go when the lines between loyalty and deception begin to blur.

This is a must-read for anyone who enjoys high-stakes thrillers filled with psychological depth, characters you can’t quite figure out, and an ending that will leave you breathless.

Missing person mystery with the original idea of using song titles for clues! Marissa's husband Ethan left for work one day after saying to her "Tell Me You Trust Me". She didn't think much about that until he failed to come home that night and she found his car in the driveway, he never made it to work. This book had a terrific start and the author did a good job of describing the exhaustion and terror Marissa felt as she tried to take care of her toddler son and deal with her overbearing family who wanted to take over her life. Then she looked at the couple's shared Spotify list and noticed a new song added by Ethan and the song title was a clue.

The song clues were fun but she also begin finding clues in other places like inside books, random websites and emails and even in an envelope left in the library. It became to seem more like a scavenger hunt then a plea for help as it would have been. much easier to buy a burner phone and call her with the information or to leave a folder with everything in one place. There are no real twists as it becomes apparent what is going on fairly quickly. Marissa must summon up all her courage to go against her sexist father and mother who don't want to let her handle things on her own. Marissa seemed like a smart woman and I wondered why she would ever buy into their ideas that women can't be smart or deal with business. There was a fair amount of repetition such as someone digging their nails into her arms which was mentioned five or six times. Overall a fun read! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this ARC for review.

It was okay but a bit too much like all the other books of its genre. It's starting to be hard to tell them apart, and then I feel like I don't know which book is which.

I enjoyed this! This is one of the most unique thrillers I've ever read! It is fast paced and very entertaining. The ending was satisfying. This was an entertaining mystery that I would recommend! Special Thank You to Elle Owens,Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Domestic thrillers more often than not end up being disappointing for me. However there was something about the synopsis of this particular book that made me want to pick it up and it certainly gets going from the word go. I was so invested in the story from the very beginning and I loved the character arc of Marissa. From being someone who is constantly gaslit by her extremely conservative and sexist parents and not saying anything in her defence to finally standing up for herself and trying to figure out on her own what has happened with her husband, it was a journey worth reading about. I really want to say a lot of things about this book but most of them would be at least mild spoilers. So I am not going to do that but I do have to say that there are elements in this book that were innovative and worked well. I was scared about the ending because it could have gone in 3 directions and I was dreading it going in at least one of them. But the ending that we got was satisfactory and I am kind of ok with that.
There were a few things that weren't explained well and I wish we had answers to those as well. But other than that it was good and I definitely recommend this one if you like domestic thrillers.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a review copy.

Who do you trust when you've been told to trust no one?! When you're worried, confused & all you want is answers! Your husband who told you to trust him as he leaves the house then disappears without a trace? Your family? The evidence right in front of you or the detectives investigating a missing persons case? This one takes you to the edge & back giving you little breadcrumbs to devour as well as fun little clues to decipher with the FMC.

The premise was a new one for me...to communicate through Spotify playlists by song titles! That was the most interesting concept & such an innovative approach to a storyline I've ever read. If it's been done before, I haven't read a story using it before so it was a first for me. What was even more fun was that they were all real song titles & artists so that was even more fun recognizing all of the different songs & wondering which ones would come next.

There were so many twists & turns that you didn't know who to believe or how it was going to turn out & those are always my absolute favorite. I thoroughly enjoyed this suspenseful thrill ride & will be anxiously awaiting more from this debut author! Bravo!!

HONEST ARC REVIEW!

I wanted to like this more but I mostly found it frustrating. The writing felt amateur and the storytelling was chaotic. The concept was unique—husband disappears and only communicates with the wife through adding music to their Spotify playlists. However, you really had to suspend your sense of reality to go along with the story. Every clue was unnecessarily complicated and confusing. For a majority of the book I had no idea where the story was going, but I liked how it wrapped up in the end.

I enjoyed the premise of this book, but I feel that we went from 0 to 60 with the husband going missing and the family very obviously lying and being suspicious to our female main character. I really enjoy where we ended up, but the pacing was off.

📚: Tell Me You Trust Me by Elle Owens
⭐️: 4/5

Imagine this: you’re getting ready for the day ahead. Your husband says, “tell me you trust me,” as he walks out the door to work.

…And then he doesn’t come home.

This is such 👏🏼 a 👏🏼 great 👏🏼 debut 👏🏼 thriller 👏🏼 novel. Seriously - it hooked me from the first page and is so inventive with the use of song titles as code. Looking forward to reading more from Elle Owens in the future!

Big thanks to Thomas & Mercer via @netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. Tell Me You Trust Me is out now!

Tell Me You Trust Me has all the elements I love in a great story: it’s packed with mystery, plenty of deception, lives led in secret, innocent folks getting caught in the crossfire, and a character who’s always been underestimated. Good triumphs over evil. The pacing is quick, the writing is solid, and I’m thrilled to have found a new author to follow. Can’t wait to dive into more of her work! Big thanks to Elle Owens, the publishers, and NetGalley for this ARC.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #Thomas&Mercer for the book #TellMeYouTrustMe by #ElleOwens. This book is full of lies, secrets and spotify playlist that ties it all together. Marissas husband, Ethan, left this morning with only these words, "Tell me you trust me". Now he is missing and Marissas world is turned upside down. While her family is there to help, they seem strange and very over protective to the point that she doesn't tell them that she is communicating with Ethan over their spotify playlist. Can she find out why Ethan disappeared and why her family is suddenly against him?