The Ones We Trust by Kimberly Belle

Posted 13 August, 2015 in Reviews / 0 Comments

I received this book from Author for review consideration.

The Ones We Trust by Kimberly Belle
Published by Harlequin MIRA on July 28th 2015
Genres: Fiction, Suspense
Pages: 304
Format: eARC
Source: Author
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A moving and evocative exploration of grief and guilt in the wake of one family's devastating loss.

When former DC journalist Abigail Wolff attempts to rehabilitate her career, she finds herself at the heart of a US army cover-up involving the death of a soldier in Afghanistan -- with unspeakable emotional consequences for one family. As the story of what happened comes to light, Abigail will do anything to write it.

The more evidence she stumbles upon in the case, the fewer people it seems she can trust, including her own father, a retired army general. And she certainly never expected to fall in love with the slain soldier's brother, Gabe, a bitter man struggling to hold his family together. The investigation eventually leads her to an impossible choice, one of unrelenting sacrifice to protect those she loves.

Beyond the buried truths and betrayals, questions of family loyalty and redemption, Abigail's search is, most of all, a desperate grasp at carrying on and coping -- and seeking hope in the impossible.

Kimberly Belle’s debut novel, The Last Breath, was one of my favorite books of 2014 so her next book was going to come with some level of expectation. Of course, I had been anticipating The Ones We Trust since Kimberly shared some brief details about it last November. Did it meet those expectations? Well, I read it in a day! The only book I have read in a day in a long, long time.

When reading The Last Breath, I guessed one of the twists quite early on but it didn’t deter my enjoyment of the book. While reading The Ones We Trust, I also played the guessing game, trying to figure out how the two leads Abigail was investigating were linked.

Early on we learn that Abigail has given up investigative journalism after uncovering a scandal which lead to a suicide. Quite happily curating links for a health and well-being website and redesigning her bathroom, Abigail is content with never writing another story again. That is until two quite juicy leads show up on her door step – literally in one case.

New information could lead to the truth behind the career-ending scandal, and after running in to a familiar face at the home improvement store, Abigail is faced with uncovering the truth behind a soldier’s death. A death that the Army have gone to great lengths hiding the truth.

The familiar face is Gabe, brother of actor-turned-soldier Zach. Abigail had never met Gabe before but the likeness to his brother is uncanny, and Abigail had interviewed Hollywood’s Golden Boy when he enlisted and recalled the numerous news stories following his premature death.

And so Abigail attempts to uncover the truth behind both stories. One is a bit too close to home, her father is a retired Army General, and the military plays a big part in her life.

There is a lot going on in The Ones We Trust, one reason I read it so fast. The plot was compelling and the characters intriguing, I just had to know how it all played out. Who came out on top, and how far would Abigail go to uncover the truth even if it meant betraying her father.

I have a feeling that come the end of the year, Kimberly Belle will be on my best of the year list again!