Thank you NetGalley for the advance reading copy.

When I initially started reading Tell Me You Trust Me, I felt a bit hesitant to continue after the first chapter. The absence of dialogue and the way Ethan’s disappearance was presented left me feeling somewhat confused. I thought there needed to be additional context before jumping into the narrative. However, as you progress, you begin to understand the story better, and by around chapter four, I was thoroughly engaged.

I do think the storytelling could have been much more descriptive, because this is a very captivating novel as I found myself not being able to put it down. I did, however, find it quite predictable and lacking the unexpected twists commonly found in thrillers, instead, it was packed with continuous suspense—which I actually did not mind at all. There were several aspects that I thought were not explained and I found some sections a bit hard to believe.

Owens has done a commendable job on their debut thriller novel, and would recommend to anyone after something fast paced filled with suspense. The story was a fun and exciting ride and I thought the ending was wrapped up quite nicely.

This was a wonderful thriller! It’s under 300 pages, so a nice, quick read. And I love the modern twists in a husband gone missing story. I am definitely excited to read more by this author!

Tell Me You Trust Me by Elle Owens is a highly recommended debut mystery/thriller following a woman's search for her missing husband.

As he was leaving in the morning her husband Ethan implored Marissa to trust him. Now Ethan has disappeared, leaving Marissa and their eighteen-month-old son Logan behind. She contacts the police and her family is there to support and help her, but they are more demeaning to her than comforting. When she turns to the playlist she shared with Ethan, she sees a new song added by Ethan, "Trust Me," and the two begin to communicate through song titles.

Ethan worked for her father, who subsequently presented her with evidence that Ethan was having an affair. Marissa doesn't know what to believe, after her brother Peter privately pointed out that their father has fabricated videos before. As her parents become increasingly controlling and dismissing of her capabilities, Marissa manages to slowly uncover the incriminating documents Ethan was hiding from her as well as the surveillance devices installed by her family.

Once I started reading Tell Me You Trust Me it was impossible to stop. Communicating through song titles was unique and the mystery was increasingly interesting as the plot unfolded. Following Marissa as she discovers new clues held my complete attention. There are a whole lot of hidden clues and evidence along the way.

Admittedly, you have to suspend some disbelief, which I easily did, and the identity of the antagonists is clear early in the novel. Don't expect any shocking twists. The fast pace along with the amount of clues and evidence she discovers will hold your attention, which makes up for the lack of twists.

Marissa does experience growth in the novel and manages to care for and protect her son through the whole ordeal. It is satisfying to see her finally get a backbone and stand up for herself, however some of her cluelessness can be challenging to understand.

Thanks to Thomas & Mercer for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Edelweiss, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

Tell Me You Trust Me then disappears, it is up to Elle to figure out what he means.

Communicating through Spotify was a trip!

Marissa couldn’t think straight, she was concerned: did his car break down, was he having an affair, did he choke, dead in the hospital, or even kidnapped so many thoughts going through her mind.

Finding someone through Spotify was crazy, I never would’ve thought.
I would’ve loved hearing this on audio, so once it’s ready on Audible I’ll be sure to revisit this one.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer Publishings for this arc

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer Publishings for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

From the start of the book jumps into action with Ethan going missing and Marissa and her family trying to find him. I really enjoyed how we immediately got right to it but because of that I feel like the story was lacking a little. The whole finding him through music was unique as hell but that was about it I wasn’t even surprised to find out what actually happened overall I think this is a good fast paced read for someone who wants to start reading thrillers.
Rating 3⭐️

When Elle's husband says these words to her "Tell Me You Trust Me" then disappears, it is up to Elle to figure out what he means. With their only communication through their joint Spotify list, they begin communicating through song titles unbeknownst to anyone else. Can Elle work out what Ethan is telling her and will she be able to trust him after what is revealed?

This book started out really well, I was hooked from the start and needed to know more. There were so many twists in this story though that I did kind of feel it was a little over the top and unrealistic. I was happy with the ending but wonder if I was in the same position, whether I would act the way Elle did at the end. I enjoyed this author's writing style.

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.