I hadn't read a good thriller in a while so was so excited when I got this ARC. This was such a twisty story of Marissa, a woman whose husband went missing and as the story unfolds, just like her, you have no idea who to trust. Couldn't put this down, would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a novel that will hook them right away!

This one was easy to figure out. I’ve read a lot of books about family business crime. They always end the same. But I did like the character development on this one.

Marissa Creighton is enjoying another pleasant morning with her young son and ready to send her husband, Ethan, off to work for the day. Strangely, Ethan is not dressed in his usual work attire and as he lingeringly says “goodbye” for the day, his final words, before stepping through the door are, “Tell me you trust me”. “Of course I trust you” she exclaims! And he disappears through the door for the last time.

When Marissa realizes her husband is missing, her parents and brother come over to offer help and support. But something is off about her family. To add to the mystery, Ethan works for Marissa’s father. But she doesn’t even know what they do, not really. To deal with her anxiety, Marissa seeks out her music and discovers that Ethan has added a new song to her playlist titled “Trust Me”. She quickly realizes that her husband has left secret clues and messages for her to find to explain his absence. But, instead of finding answers, she begins to uncover a web of lies, secrets and deceit. And she has no idea who to trust.

This was fast paced and easy to read. The plot line was mysterious but the ending was a bit of a letdown and I never really connected to the characters. Nevertheless this was a pretty good debut and I would read this author’s next book.

Thank you Netgalley, Thomas & Mercer, and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available for purchase on February 11, 2025

I enjoyed this book! I love the plot and was able to follow along even in the middle of the night! It was fast paced and had a twist that I did not see it coming!

This book is absolutely PHENOMENAL!! I had a really difficult time even putting it down haha as it was a very busy week in my life

this book started on a downtick for me. the writing is loose, there are fundamental grammar mistakes (I vs me), but in Owen’s’ defense I read an uncorrected ARC.

the story is entertaining & a very quick read. would recommend to fans of the genre!!

I really enjoyed this and I had trouble figuring out what was going on. It’s an easy read and the writing flows well. I enjoyed the main character and her growth throughout the novel a lot. I think that this is a great debut and I thought the Spotify tracks was an interesting thing to use in the plot. I definitely recommend adding this one to your list!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. This will be out in February of 2025!

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

I can't remember the last time I was so frustrated by a character that I wanted to reach into the book and shake them. That's what Marissa made me feel. I couldn't get over how unbelievably clueless she was about everything in her life. She doesn't know what her father's company does. Her husband works for her father, but she has no idea what his job entails. She has no idea about the finances within her own marriage. She doesn't know anything about her husband before they met. She's a complete doormat for her parents and brother to walk all over her. I thought the premise was good but the Spotify playlists quickly became redundant and took me right out of the story. I didn't care about a single character and found myself skimming way too much early on. DNF at 25%.

Elle Owens delivers an incredible domestic suspense with Tell Me You Trust Me, a gripping novel packed with tension, twists, and an undercurrent of creeping dread. From the very first chapter, the story takes off at full speed and doesn’t let up, keeping readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish.

The use of song lyrics and playlists as clues adds a unique and creative layer to the mystery. Combined with chilling discoveries like hidden cameras in the protagonist’s home and the gnawing uncertainty of whom to trust—even among family—it creates a deeply unsettling atmosphere.

Owens masterfully balances fast pacing with a sense of foreboding, and there isn’t a single dull moment in this book. With its eerie vibes and unpredictable twists, it’s impossible to put down. Tell Me You Trust Me releases on February 11, 2025—make sure it’s on your radar for an unforgettable reading experience!

I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read & review via ARC. I enjoyed reading this and it kept me interested and anxious to see what happens next. I liked the writer's style & would love to read more by them.

When her husband goes missing, Marissa Creighton fears the worst. Tell me you trust me was the last thing Ethan said to her, and she’d shrugged it off. Now she can’t get those words out of her head.

Marissa’s family has always been her rock. But when they come to help her with two-year-old Logan, their overprotectiveness borders on oppression—occupational hazard of the family’s surveillance business, or is it? Seeking comfort in the playlist she and Ethan share, Marissa is shocked to find a new song “Trust Me.” She’s certain it’s a message.

Using song titles as code, she and Ethan start communicating back and forth. But she still doesn’t understand why he left. While his messages point to incriminating documents, her family uncovers evidence of an affair. But their discoveries come with their own baggage, including personal threats, secret bank accounts, and dusty surveillance devices. All the while Marissa wonders whether she’ll ever learn the truth—or see her husband again.

Loved it. WIll recommend to others.

Thank you Thomas & Mercer for the copy of Tell Me You Trust Me by Elle Owens. What an amazing thriller debut! I loved how song titles were incorporated into the narrative and music lovers will also love how cleverly it was done. Maybe it’s realistic that Marissa is so removed from her family finances and business because of how she was raised, but it felt strange. As the book went on, it got too complex and my interest started to falter, but the writing style kept me reading. Marissa finds out who the villains are right away, so we don’t need much more proof, and some of what occurred felt like overkill. I really enjoyed reading this book though and I look forward to Owens’ next book. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

A missing husband trope is my favorite so this was an automatic must read for me! When a woman’s husband goes missing after saying “tell me you trust me”, usually something suspect is going on.

This was a very fast-paced, well written, and twisty! Perfect for thriller lovers!

A wonderful twist and turny thriller that keeps on the edge of your seat! This was a fast paced, mind bending thriller with great plot twists that were hard to predict. I do wish the characters were developed a little more throughout the story and some dialogue was wrapped better at the end, but this was a wonderful debut for any fans of mystery/thrillers.

This book has a lot of potential! I have not read a book quite like this; it gave me a similar feel to Succession with more of a thriller edge. While I really enjoyed the read, there were some parts of the storyline, particularly towards the end, that I feel could have been fleshed out a bit more. There also were several times throughout the book where a sentence would repeat, or would lack proper grammar to where it became somewhat confusing. With some minor edits, this could easily be a 3.5-4 star book, but for me at this point, I have to give it a 3.

I have always loved books about missing spouses, and this one was no exception. I was engaged within the first few pages, and the story was not only intense but so emotional that I could feel it pouring through the pages. The music incorporated throughout, and the meaning behind each song was genius. What I loved most was that the wife was smart and cunning and didn't fold no matter what was thrown her way. This story was well crafted and delivered with an intricate hand, and it definitely left its mark. Four solid stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for this ARC.

Instantly this book pulls you in. I loved the suspense and intensity we got right off the bat. It held my attention and made me want more. I loved Marissa and loved how much she grew throughout the book!

There was a lot going on, and sometimes was hard to keep track of.

I will say, thriller isn’t typically my go to read, so it was a little out of my comfort zone, but I really enjoyed it!

A great twisty psychological thriller. I loved the concept of a playlist being used to communicate and the twists and turns were like nothing that I have ever read before. I really enjoyed it. 3.5 stars rounded up.

Thanks to Thomas and Mercer for this ARC copy.

Tell me you trust me really hooked me from the beginning, I was so invested. Every time a chapter would end I'd have to keep reading to see what happened next even when it meant only getting 3 hours of sleep!

This was such a great debut thriller ! It kept me interested the whole way through and there were lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing. I really enjoyed the musical references used as clues, that was definitely a unique concept. I look forward to hopefully reading another thriller from this author in the future. Give this one a read !

Thank you Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the digital arc in exchange for my honest review.