Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book was a rollercoaster. I had no idea what to expect other than a con artist and murder. It delivered on that front, but the ending left me wanting more.
I absolutely loved the character dynamics in this book. Siblings Kagan and Hazel truly got on like brother and sister, and their interactions were so entertaining.
The introduction of Ava was interesting. She was a mysterious character added to the mix later on in the story, and her purpose seemed to be to progress the story. I liked her, but I felt like we could have gotten some more depth to her like we did Kagan and Hazel.
Perry is a whole other can of worms. He is the con artist, and the book ends up following the siblings on their chase to find him and end his con artist ways. They basically want revenge on him for all the terrible things he has done - like kill some of their family members.
The ending of this book was very underwhelming. I was expecting some big thing to happen or blow up in someone's face, but we didn't get that. It was kind of a let down, to be honest.
I'm not really sure what genre I would classify this as. This was a very character driven novel and was entertaining for the most part. It had the revenge theme and leaned into the mystery of Perry, but I don't think I would classify this as a thriller. Mystery seems like the obvious genre, but there's just something about this book that gives me pause to classify it as that.
Overall, entertaining read but falls flat at the end. If you're looking for a purely character driven novel with a side of mystery and a need for revenge, this book is for you.

A sudden death turns into a murder investigation by two siblings who believe their mom has brushed against a con artist.

It intros with the death and it's pretty shocking. The kids are told individually and they instantly reach out to each other and start to game plan. Both of them have been cut of from their mom and her supply of money for months now - and they blame that disconnect on this new guy her mom met, had a very fast whirlwind love affair with, then married. They blame their current poor financial situation on him, Perry, the husband. Now, with their mom gone, they stand to finally get their hands on their inheritance and to better their lives.

But imagine their surprised when both the police and the husband seem to hint that they wonder if the kids had something to do with it - shocking and enraging both of them.

Part 1 is all about the kids and their current life and then their investigation. Part 2 is when they find someone to help them. I really liked the addition to Ava. The kids were hard to like - selfish, money-hungry, and overly-competitive with each other, Ava was a nice calm to their chaos. Part 3 wrapped it all up and I loved the nice twists at the end. It is every time I feel good about an ending but this one was just like having your cake and eating it, too. Everyone got their just desserts.

It was a quick read, easy to jump right into and follow the line. It wasn't a huge page-turner but I felt compelled to know how it all ended. It kept me entertained, I liked it!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

The characters in this were quite immature and super unlikable. It took me a bit to get through this one, and I didn’t end up loving it

The blurb was interesting, and as a former Estate Paralegal, any book that deals with estate matters is catnip to me. This is the first book by this author, so since I tend to stay in my rut this should be interesting. This is a multi-layered mystery that is slow to give up its' secrets. I loved the path that the authors led me on, although I really didn't like any character in this book. It made it really tough to slog through it when they were such nasty people.

Kagan, Hazel are deeply flawed siblings tied together by the tragic death of their mother, Janice. Throw into this volatile family situation is Perry, Janice's husband. But as divergent as the sibling's life paths, they are united in seeing that their mother's death is avenged. Perry, Janice's husband, is a con man who excels in the long game, and he thinks Kagan and Hazel are no match for him. He would be right, at least until Kagan and Hazel hook up with Perry's estranged daughter, Ava. Ava is one really smart reformed hacker. She has her own reasons to want revenge on Perry and is willing to put up with the bickering siblings to get it.

My thanks to the Publisher, and Author, for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.

This book was an enjoyable and thrilling journey. While the twists were fairly easy to predict, I still had a great time reading it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing the advanced reader's copy!

What would you do if your mother was found dead and you discovered the newer husband wasn't who he portrayed to be?

This was an intriguing tale about a con man and how siblings sought to bring him down. However, it was not without effort because the situation was way above their heads, and the help they enlisted had more knowledge and experience with him than they did. It is also about family, and discovering that despite differences, it is best to band together with family to resolve issues.

Hazel and Kagan are unlikable. They are spoiled brats who have never really worked for much in their life. It is a shame that their mother didn't expect more from them. Or maybe she did, which is why she cut them out of her will. They had trust funds but managed to blow through that in no time, long before their mother was found dead. However, the help they enlist from Ava, who is the most interesting character in the whole book, at least to me. She has a fascinating past and computer skills that I sometimes wish I had!

I liked how the book ended. I can't tell you more, or it will spoil the story, but I will say that, all things considered, everything is resolved in the best way possible.

We give this book 3 1/2 paws.

Siblings come together in this thrilling ride to figure out who their ‘father’ really is. After their mom died, all they want is their money, but reality hits them hard, and they finally see who their mother was in love with. I’m indifferent when it comes to the two siblings, they are great characters, but are really annoying at times.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

The beginning of this book sucked me in. These authors really know how to write unlikeable characters in a way that you don't know who to root for. The siblings, Hazel and Kagan, were some of the most entitled individuals I think I've ever read from the perspective of. I hated them in a good way. However, one issue I did have with them is that they were written way younger than they actually were, or at least that's how it felt to me. They were nearing 40, yet one was obsessed with making MeTube (read YouTube) videos that mixed ASMR and a fictional version of OnlyFans, and the other was an alcoholic divorcee. Neither can admit anything is their fault and after their mom dies, they only seem to care that they get an inheritance.

The actual cat-and-mouse game was very compelling and this book was a page-turner. It was hanging on a solid high 4 stars up until the ending. For sake of not spoiling what happens, the ending just felt slapped together. The whole book was wrapped up in what felt like 5 pages. Also, tell me why a woman who refused a boat ride earlier in the book because she has a fear of open water would suddenly go on a boat later on. I just wanted more explanation rather than what felt like a summary of how the characters ended up.

Trust Issues had an interesting premise. A mother dies suspiciously and her adult children work to find proof that her husband was in fact at fault. In doing so, they discover that her husband was actually a con man. While it was a fast paced book that kept my interest, it was hard for me to get into. The main characters are very spoiled and often unlikeable, which made it difficult at first. As the story progressed and there were more characters involved, I got into it more. Would definitely be interested in reading a related book about Ava!

This was a cool premise and had solid execution. There were a ton of twists that helped make for good surprises. Even with this, the book had a lot of unlikeable characters who were written in an interesting way and did not always match up with their character descriptions and actions. I would still recommend this book to fans of cat and mouse thrillers.

Elizabeth McCullough Keenan and Greg Wands deliver a sharp, gripping thriller in Trust Issues, a story that masterfully explores betrayal, consequences, and the ultimate reckoning of karma. With a fresh perspective and a tight, engrossing narrative, this novel is a standout in the genre.

The story’s intrigue lies in its exploration of the ripple effects of deceit and betrayal, painting a vivid picture of how actions—and their consequences—come full circle. The writing is crisp and immersive, drawing readers into a tense, emotionally charged atmosphere. Keenan and Wands skillfully alternate perspectives, adding layers to the plot and keeping the reader guessing until the very end.

The theme of karma serves as a powerful undercurrent throughout the novel, giving the story both a moral edge and a sense of justice. The characters are flawed yet compelling, and their choices drive a narrative that is as thrilling as it is thought-provoking.

For fans of thrillers with psychological depth and an element of poetic justice, Trust Issues is an exceptional read. Keenan and Wands have crafted a story that is not only suspenseful but also deeply satisfying, making it impossible to put down.

Loved this book! I love books with family secrets so this was right up my alley. The plot had me hooked!

The plot of the book is so juicy: two adult children express more bafflement at not being included in their suddenly dead mother's will than grief at her being gone. They are convinced her husband at the time is their mother's murderer, and possible reason for them being missing from the will and set out to catch him and make hip pay.

I loved the unlikeable characters - I think all of them are literally unlikeable, which was fun and new to me! Most abhorrent were the siblings: Hazel an Kagan who were supposedly in or near their 40s, but acted like 20 year olds throughout. I also enjoyed the many "mini twists" throughout, about 1/2 of which I didn't anticipate!

I do feel like the siblings' flaws seemed superficial and could have used more depth, especially to make some plot lines flow a little better.

Thanks to Netgalley, Dutton Books, and PRH Audio for the ARC and ALC.

I thought this was a pretty good thriller. It did take me a minute to get into, but once I was involved, I was HOOKED.

I also thought that the narrator of the audiobook, Beth Hicks did a fantastic job.

Many thanks to PRH Audio, Dutton Books, and Netgalley for the ARC/ALC.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the eARC.

Maybe I need to stop with the inheritance plot based books. I didn't like these characters either and that just did the book a disservice for me. It was okay, but not one I'd go back for.

I’m probably sitting at a 3.5-3 idk.

It’s about Hazel and Kagan after their mom dies and they become people of interest and they are very invested in finding out who really killed their mom so they can get their inheritance back.

Things I liked:
The mystery of it all. The conman’s ruse. Figuring out who’s winning the conman game. The ending.

Things I didn’t care for:
All the characters- they are suppose to be unlikeable but goddddd were they ever. I rooted for no one. I wanted everyone to get karma slapped. The pacing was a little slow in the middle and took a whiiiile to finish because interest was waning.

Overall I probably would have enjoyed it on audio (narrator dependent). It was enjoyable but not earth shattering.

Thanks to netgalley and penguin group for an eARC.

Thank you, PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for the copy of Trust Issues. I started this book a number of months ago and never finished it. I would have completely forgotten, but someone recommended it to me and I found a draft of my early review. I’m glad I did, because this time I really enjoyed the book. The characters were all unlikeable but the story was engaging and I was invested in how it would end. THere were some good but not all totally unexpected reveals, The conclusion was great and a couple of little reveals at the end were amazing. If you want an engrossing, quick read, this is the book for you! 4 stars

3 stars! 💫 Okay, let’s talk about this one! It was a fun ride, but definitely took me a minute to get through. This is my first ARC of 2025 (yay me!) so thanks to Penguin Group Dutton and NetGalley for the advanced copy! Now, don’t get me wrong, the plot had me hooked with all its suspense and twists, but the characters? Whew. They were a lot. Honestly, none of them were exactly my faves (Hazel and Kagan? Spoiled brats! 🙄), and that made it tough to get into their heads. But hey, the drama was chef’s kiss 😅.

✧ Sibling Rivalry ✨
✧ Family Secrets 🤫
✧ Revenge 👊
✧ Unlikely Allies 🤝
✧ Shady Con Artists 💸
✧ Inheritance Drama 💰

I mean, there were SO many moments where I just wanted to shake Hazel and Kagan and scream, "Come on, grow up!" because their immaturity had me questioning their age. They acted like they were still in their 20s, not 40s! 🙄 But hey, that’s kinda the point, right? The whole messiness of it was part of the charm. Their self-centered behavior definitely added to the drama (and the frustration), but it also kept the plot interesting. The mystery of their mom's death and the missing fortune kept me on my toes, and the twists? Let’s just say, that ending caught me off guard (kind of)! 😜

Would I recommend it? Yeah, sure! If you love family drama, conmen, and characters you secretly (or not-so-secretly) love to hate, then this book might be right up your alley. It’s full of messy, suspense-filled chaos! But if you need characters you can root for, this one might not be your cup of tea. All in all, it’s a solid 3-star read! 💫📚

This was another solid read from an author duo that I’ve enjoyed in the past. I liked the premise and how you never really knew who was trustworthy and since pretty much all of the characters are unlikable it’s easy to side eye them all. While there were some small surprises along the way the ending was really great for me and pretty unexpected. If you like con stories, domestic suspense, unlikable characters and vengeance thrillers try this!

First time reading this author duo and it was a good read. Hazel and Kagan sucked. They were so juvenile and entitled for their big ole age and it was off putting. I wanted to shake some sense into them as well. There were plenty of twists along the way and don’t trust ANYONE in this story at all. Reading this story also gave me a better understanding as to why people end up getting scammed and conned. 😩