Julia was Kara’s BFF before she became Livy’s friend. When her younger sister Kara was killed, Livy initially resented Julia’s attempts at friendship and her desire to remain in the lives of Livy and her family. However she soon realised they were grieving a shared loss and the pair became firm friends.

Almost twenty years later Livy’s married to rising corporate star Will. They have two children and if Livy could forget the affair Will had years before, they’d be happy.

Despite their very different lives Julia and Livy remain besties.

The book opens one evening with Livy nervous about facing her husband’s former lover at a business dinner and ignoring urgent messages from Julia.

The next morning Livy and her children arrive at Julia’s for their regular Sunday lunch, only to find her (lifeless*) body. The police and Julia’s estranged family are more than happy to accept the coroner’s finding of suicide, but Livy disagrees.

She’s surprised however, to find her best friend’s secret lover agrees with her and forced to pair with Damian, despite her own suspicions about him.

Livy soon discovers that Julia had never been able to let go of Kara’s murder and had recently uncovered information which might lead to the killer.

I read so much that I rarely remember the names of books. In fact, I often can’t recall the names of authors I’ve read unless I’ve consumed a large number of their books.

So it wasn’t until I was adding this book into Goodreads I discovered I’d read a previous adult novel written by author Sophie McKenzie… Close Your Eyes.

Sadly it was after I started documenting my reads in Goodreads, but before I started writing reviews. I did however take the time to give it 3.5 stars – which is pretty good for me. Of course I remember absolutely nothing about it now but I must have liked it.

In Trust in me  we’re introduced to a cast of characters – friends and extended family – so it’s obvious the murderer will be amongst them. I actually picked it pretty easily but not until near the end, so I enjoyed sifting through the clues and misdirections offered up earlier.

Trust in me  could have been a run-of-the-mill whodunnit, but McKenzie added a few touches to provide some additional texture.

Livy’s struggle with her feelings for her husband and fears of his ongoing infidelity added some complexity, along with her attraction towards Damian. However, I particularly enjoyed the inclusion of Livy’s children and exposing readers to impact Julia’s death had on them, particularly older daughter Hannah – who’d seen Julia as a role model and confidante.

Having both mother and daughter grieving but unable to reach out and console the other offered something a bit different; along with Livy’s obsession to learn what happened, possibly ignoring her own family to do so. I note Sophie McKenzie has a heap of YA novels under her belt and her confidence in writing Hannah and her grief showed.

Trust in me  was an easy and addictive read and I inhaled it in a night. It was published in Australia by Simon and Schuster and is now available.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes.

* Okay, so I needed the word but realise it’s oh-so-redundant. And trite.