Jack Quick is a TV producer of a true crime docuseries about a four-year old murder case that sent Curtis Wade to prison. When Jack insinuates that flimsy evidence and police bias convicted an innocent man, Curtis Wade is granted a retrial and walks free. Despite what he showed in his highly successful show, Jack has doubts about Curtis Wade's innocence. And when another victim turns up dead, Jack realizes that the truth is his last chance. He may have sprung a killer from jail, but he's also the one who can send him back.
In TRUST ME WHEN I LIE, Benjamin Stevenson uses the world of true crime podcasts and television docuseries as the backdrop for this cleverly written mystery. He shines a harsh spotlight on how often the media has differing goals from those of law enforcement. Entertainment value and ratings sometimes takes precedence over delivering the whole story to an audience.
The protagonist, Jack Quick, is a fascinating, damaged character with his own secrets. He is adept at creating a compelling story by twisting the fact just enough to not be lying, but not necessarily telling the whole truth. While Jack struggles with the truth behind the murders, his own life, and the secrets he carries, begin to unravel. Jack, as well as the other characters, are well-developed and come alive on the page.
The book does get off to a rocky start, and some readers may dislike the protagonist at first. But if you press through those first few pages, you'll be rewarded. TRUST ME WHEN I LIE is filled with lies, half-truths, secrets, red herrings, and double-crosses, as well as a subtle commentary of our obsession with true crime. It is a twisted tale with a finale that is worth waiting for.
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