Trust Me

Karen Delaney leaves her unstable marriage with $300,000 of her husband's illicit cash, hoping to start a new life. Her ex-husband Samir, a career criminal with dangerous connections, begins tracking her down to reclaim his money. Karen's attempt at escape leads her to Detroit, where she meets restaurateur Bobby Gallagher and starts building a different future. The situation grows complicated when Samir's criminal associates become involved in the pursuit. As Karen tries to protect herself and the new relationships she's formed, she must confront decisions from her past while staying ahead of those who want to find her. Multiple parties converge in their pursuit of the money, raising the stakes of Karen's choices. The novel explores themes of trust, redemption, and the price of freedom, questioning whether one can truly escape the consequences of past actions. Through Karen's journey, the story examines how desperation can lead to both destruction and transformation.

Readers describe Trust Me as a fast-paced crime thriller that keeps them engaged but lacks depth in character development. Readers appreciated: - Quick pacing and short chapters - Unpredictable plot twists - Realistic dialogue between characters - Detroit setting details Common criticisms: - Characters feel one-dimensional - Some plot points strain credibility - Writing style can be choppy - Too many coincidences in the story Review Stats: Goodreads: 3.5/5 (254 ratings) Amazon: 3.9/5 (43 ratings) Notable Reader Comments: "The action moves at breakneck speed but I never connected with any of the characters." - Goodreads reviewer "Strong dialogue and pacing, weak character motivations." - Amazon reviewer "Detroit comes alive but the plot relies too heavily on chance encounters." - LibraryThing review Several readers note similarities to Elmore Leonard's style but find it lacks the same level of character complexity.

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🔹 Peter Leonard is the son of acclaimed crime fiction writer Elmore Leonard, and he followed in his father's footsteps after a 20-year career in advertising. 🔹 The book explores themes of betrayal and redemption through the story of Karen Delaney, who steals $300,000 from her boyfriend, a New Jersey mob-connected loan shark. 🔹 The novel takes place primarily in Detroit, Michigan, which is both the author's hometown and a signature setting in many of his father's crime novels. 🔹 Trust Me was Peter Leonard's second published novel, following his debut Quiver, and demonstrates his development of the fast-paced, dialogue-driven style that his father was famous for. 🔹 The book received praise for its authentic portrayal of criminal enterprises and the Detroit underworld, drawing from research and connections the Leonard family developed over decades of crime writing.