Thank you PRH Audio, partner for the ALC of Trust Issues & Dead Money, in exchange for my honest reviews.
I have been leaning heavily into audiobooks lately, especially for thrillers. There is something so exciting about listening to a story that’s fast-paced, thrilling & one that keeps you guessing…& both of these do just that.
TRUST ISSUES by Elizabeth McCullough Keenan & Greg Wands
Published: January 28, 2025, PRH Audio
Summary:
A fresh take on the classic conman chase novel following two adult siblings forced to play nice in hopes of tracking down the man they believe killed their mother and ran off with their sizable inheritance.
Siblings Hazel and Kagan Bailey haven’t been close for a long time, but when their mother passes under mysterious circumstances an investigation quickly follows, and the siblings are high on the list of possible suspects. As they deal with the emotional tragedy of losing their only living parent, brother and sister are forced to team up against a master con man—someone they once called “family”.
After the silver-tongued trickster disappears with the family fortune, Hazel and Kagan must put aside their differences to track him down. Along the way, they encounter a host of secrets, lies, and double-crosses as they dive into the murky waters of their family’s past. With an unlikely ally by their side, the siblings race against time, unraveling a web of deceit that’s more tangled than they ever imagined.
Packed with pulse-pounding suspense and sharp insights into the complexities of family, Trust Issues delivers shocking twists at every turn.
My thoughts:
This is my first time reading anything by this writing duo, previously known as E.G. Scott. And you better believe I’ll be reading their others books ASAP! I loved this modern-day take on a conman story that delves into sibling relationships and greed. The cat and mouse game keeps you on your toes and the morally grey characters we meet will have you wondering just who can be trusted. I also love when the title plays into the storyline and there’s so many ways to look at how it does in this story!
Audio thoughts:
This was a fun one to listen to and Beth Hicks does a fantastic job with all the voices!
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DEAD MONEY by Jakob Kerr
Published: January 28, 2025, PRH Audio
Summary:
“A stone-cold banger of a novel—a twisty journey through Silicon Valley’s dark side, wrapped in a stunning mystery package with some wild surprises along the way.”—Blake Crouch, New York Timesbestselling author of Dark Matter
Don’t call me a fixer. This isn’t HBO.
In her job as unofficial “problem solver” for Silicon Valley’s most ruthless venture capitalist, Mackenzie Clyde’s gotten used to playing for high stakes. Even if none of those tech-bro millions she’s so good at wrangling ever make it into her pockets.
But this time, she’s in way over her head—or so it seems.
The lightning-rod CEO of tech’s hottest startup has just been murdered, leaving behind billions in “dead money” frozen in his will. As the company’s chief investor, Mackenzie’s boss has a fortune on the line—and with the police treading water, it’s up to Mackenzie to step up and resolve things, fast.
Mackenzie’s a lawyer, not a detective. Cracking this fiendishly clever killing, with its list of suspects that reads like a who’s-who of Valley power players, should be way out of her league.
Except that Mackenzie’s used to being underestimated. In fact, she’s counting on it.
Because the way she sees it, this isn’t an investigation. It’s an opportunity. And she’ll do anything it takes to seize it.
Anything at all.
Featuring jaw-dropping twists and a wily, outsider heroine you can’t help rooting for, Dead Money is a brilliant sleight-of-hand mystery. Written by a longtime insider, it is also a dead-on snapshot of the Valley’s rich and famous—and a glimpse at the darkness lurking behind the tech world’s cheery facade.
My thoughts:
A layered, smart murder mystery that felt fresh and original. I loved that this follows a female fixer in the Tech world. In all honesty, I wasn’t sure about this and was going to pass on this one but saw some good reviews for it and am so glad I gave it a try. It was not what I expected at all! There were so many twists & turns and just when I thought I had some things worked out, a new twist would throw me off course. The way this story is structured kept me fully engaged, with the backstory being fed to us bit by bit. It all comes together in a way I didn’t see coming!
Audio thoughts:
I think audio was the way to go here, with Rachel Music doing an amazing job bringing the story to life. Given the length of the story, I felt she was able to keep me involved in the story the entire time!
Have you read either of these two books or do you plan to?
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