Trust: The riveting thriller from the award winning author of Scrublands Paperback – 8 July 2021

a good read, much enjoyed.

I would have given this five stars but it was sold as a hard cover but it turned out to be a paperback. However, this didn't detract from what was a very good read.

Journalist Martin Scarsden may just be on to the story of his life. Problem is, he needs to ensure that it isn’t told posthumously. Martin’s wife, Mandalay Blonde, once worked in a bank. A fairly lowly position, but it’s not her status that matters; it’s what she learnt, what she heard, what secrets she holds. For Martin knows only too well that his wife has always carried secrets.From the first page, there is an urgency to the narrative. The dialogue is refreshingly spare; Aussie blunt. The cast is small and beautifully put together. Goodies or baddies, and as you would expect, the lines are blurred, you are never short changed on understanding where the players fit in. I loved the simplicity of the plot. There are intricacies and extraneous factors that get roped in but the kernel of the story is a simple one and masterfully delivered. You know that there will be casualties, bloodshed is assured.The best book in the trilogy by a country mile. On the strength of this offering, it is most definitely Hammer time.

Nothing really wrong with the plot of this book and as a standalone story it would be OK but for me the charm of the previous Martin Scarsden books was their setting in a small town in the Australian outback. By setting this one in Sydney it becomes just another crime thriller.The plot felt a bit convoluted at times and the book felt like it was dragging on a bit by the end but the location was by far and away the biggest issue. OK but not a patch on Scrublands or Silver in my opinion.

The third outing for the two main characters and, while the plot was convoluted to put it mildly, it was certainly gripping. As others have outlined it, I will not revisit the story; suffice it to say that it kept me hooked and I finished the last quarter in one sitting. Yes, it involved corruption at a high level and that is always tricky in crime fiction, but reality has shown us that such things are not unknown. I note several reviewers have suggested the author moves on to new characters; I feel mixed about that as lengthy series can become stale but equally there is the opportunity for characters to develop. If CH does return to Mandy and Martin, it might need to be about a crime/ situation more external than simply mining their personal histories, particularly as both seem to consider their pasts in this book. Give them a chance to go forward with their new insights. Perhaps, somewhat unrealistically, I was glad that the Covid pandemic was tangential to the plot. I know that nobody is going to be able to write in future without taking this into account, but stuck in the middle of it, I want my crime fiction to be free of it and part of my daily escape, so thank goodness this is from Australia, which, as a country, has spared its citizens the appalling outrages that the British government has not been competent enough to do.Overall, I enjoyed this considerably and I will be keeping my eyes open for his next work.

I had not read any Chris Hammer before April, as i was going to the Harrogate Crime Writing Festival I thought I would read as many of the authors attending as I could before attending. I so enjoyed the first Martin Scarsden book that I read the next almost straight away. I never managed to read a book by each author because this was one of three I read the next to, whoops. It is well written, keeps you trying to work out who did what, has well rounded characters and a great plot. Although this is a standalone novel I would recommend reading the series in order to get the most out of it.

Whilst I enjoyed the book I felt it was the weakest of the three novels in the series.I thought the plot became extremely convoluted towards the end which spoiled the overall impact for me.

'Trust' is Chris Hammer's third thriller in which the main characters are journalist Martin Scarsden and his girlfriend Mandy Blonde. Like the two previous books in the series, which I thoroughly enjoyed, it's exciting, and very well-written. My only criticism is that's it's also rather complicated, with a lot of different characters and a fast-moving plot. Although it is a stand-alone story, I should imagine that anyone who hadn't read the previous books in the series might find it a little confusing. However, in my opinion it still merits a five star rating.

I bought and started this a month or so ago, didn't like the beginning so I stopped. Then, I ran out of books to read so picked it up again. I'm very glad I did because I think it may even be the best of the three books - all of which are excellent.

It does start slowly and in a 'll no, that's been done before' kind of way. I don't remember Mandalay being so annoying in the previous book but she didn't really shine for me in this one. The plot though will take you by the hand and whirl you around until you feel giddy. And what a ride!

Loved it and hoping there will be another to follow

It had it all. I loved the three books in the series. Thanks Chris Hammer for writing a great book.

I would have given this book 5 stars BUT I found at the end of the story when we learnt of the complicity - where was the money - where did she find it. Help please