I’ve been a fan of Kiersten Modglin’s books for quite a while now, so when I come across another one of her psychological thrillers, it doesn’t take much convincing for me to pick it up. I’ve reviewed several of her books here on Sharing Life’s Moments already, and one of the things I enjoy most about her writing is never quite knowing where she’s going to take the story. Just when I think I have everyone figured out, there’s usually another secret, another questionable decision, or another twist waiting around the corner.
That made You Can Trust Me an easy choice for my reading list. Going into it, I already had expectations because I know what Modglin can do with suspense and unreliable characters. Of course, being a fan can work both ways. I’m excited to read the book, but I’m also comparing it in the back of my mind to the stories of hers that have already kept me glued to the page. So the real question became: would You Can Trust Me give me another one of those Kiersten Modglin reading experiences where I think I know what’s happening… only to discover I really don’t?
About You Can Trust Me by Kierston Modglin
For two happy couples, the cruise of a lifetime may cost their lives.
Mae Barlowe’s annual beach trip is anything but a vacation.
It’s the anniversary of the worst day of her life.
When her husband and best friend surprise her with a last-minute itinerary change in the form of a couples’ cruise, she struggles to hide her reservations about the new plan.A week spent cruising around in a tropical paradise sounds like a dream come true to everyone else, but for Mae, it’s an eerie reminder of chilling memories from her past.
Once on board the ship, a mysterious stranger causes confusion among the group, leading them to ask unsettling questions of one another.
Before they can get real answers, tragedy strikes.
Trapped on the vessel as it ventures toward their first destination, the friends struggle to come to grips with their new reality.
How do they stay safe when danger seems to be lurking around every corner?
Who can be trusted when nothing is quite what it seems?
How far will they go to protect the ones they love?
Sun, sand, and secrets await on this cruise to die for.
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My Review of You Can Trust Me by Kiersten Modglin
Kiersten did not disappoint me with You Can Trust Me. She gave me just enough hints to make me think I had figured out who the guilty party was, but there was always enough doubt hanging around to keep me reading. I wanted to know if I was right, if I had completely missed something, or if she was getting ready to pull the rug out from under me again. That uncertainty is one of the things I enjoy most about her books.
I also appreciated that human trafficking played such an important role in the story. It is a very real and heartbreaking issue, and one that seems to keep growing. While this is a fictional story, I was glad to see Kiersten bring attention to the subject in a way that fit naturally within the suspense of the book.
Read more: Still Hope movie review, which looks at a true life human trafficking story and the difficult road toward recovery.
One of my favorite things about this book was getting the story from the perspectives of the different characters. Each point of view added another layer and gave me a little more information without revealing too much too soon. It helped shape the story into what I felt was one of the strongest parts of the book.
More than anything, You Can Trust Me lives up to its title. It makes you think about how well we really know the people around us. Someone can look trustworthy, sound convincing, and still be hiding something you never saw coming. In this story, the biggest question isn’t simply who is guilty. It’s whether you can truly trust anyone to be telling you the whole truth.
As a mother of a teenage daughter, this part of the story hit a little closer to home for me. Human trafficking is one of those things I genuinely worry about because I know how quickly a seemingly normal situation can become dangerous. I’ve tried my best to educate my daughter about what to watch for, to stay aware of her surroundings, and to question things when something doesn’t feel right.
She definitely questions just about everything anyone tells her now, which sometimes makes me wonder if I’ve made her a little too cautious. But then I think about the alternative. I would much rather have her be overprepared, ask too many questions, and trust her instincts than assume everyone has good intentions. As a parent, you can’t protect your children from everything, but you can do your best to give them the awareness and confidence to recognize when something feels off.
Talk to us in the comments:
What do you think is the line between teaching our kids to be cautious and making them afraid of the world around them?
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Learn More About Kiersten Modglin
