Trust No One

November 3, 2014
The always reliable Krentz (River Road) pairs up a traumatized woman with a helpful millionaire in this solid romantic thriller. After Grace Elland’s boss, Sprague Witherspoon, doesn’t turn up for work, his worried staff deputizes her to visit his home, where she discovers his apparent suicide. Grace is saddened by the loss of the motivational guru and shaken by memories of a terrible experience when she was 16 and a murderer trapped her in a basement with his wife’s corpse. Her nightmares begin again when Sprague starts sending her emails from beyond the grave. Enter Julius Arkwright, a successful businessman who’s eager to help Grace any way he can: seduce her, fix her career, and help her figure out the link between Sprague’s death and the earlier killing. As he supports Grace, she helps keep him humble. Two appealing protagonists, a mysterious enemy, and a twisty plot provide all the necessary ingredients for a satisfying story. Agent: Steven Axelrod, Axelrod Agency.

Starred review from November 15, 2014
When Grace Elland finds her murdered boss's body, she comes to the attention of the police, a sexy new neighbor and an apparent stalker who seems linked to both this crime and a violent event from Grace's past.After years of searching for the right professional fit, Grace has fallen into her dream job as the behind-the-scenes inspiration for self-help guru Sprague Witherspoon. Discovering his body throws her life into chaos, since not only is she suddenly out of a job, under a subtle cloud of suspicion from the police, and feeling the wrath of Witherspoon's difficult and jealous daughter, but details of the crime scene echo elements of a traumatic brush with a murderer she experienced in her teens. Even more disturbing are the threatening emails she starts receiving from Witherspoon's address and, in an entirely different way, the arrival in her life of Julius Arkwright, a successful businessman who realizes Grace is in danger and becomes her self-appointed bodyguard. There are plenty of suspects from Witherspoon's staff, family and past, and the more Grace, Julius and the police dig, the more layers of misdeeds they find, including embezzled funds, con artistry and more attempted murder. But where Grace is concerned, the violence is escalating, and the events seem personal and vindictive. No amount of positive thinking or motivational affirmations can keep a determined killer at bay, so Julius will do everything humanly possible to keep her safe and put the predator away for good. And if she falls in love with him along the way, so much the better, since he's already hooked on her. Krentz never disappoints, but this title shines with authentic characters, an unusual setting in the motivational business world, and a creative arc that ratchets up sexual and psychological tensions. An intriguing, textured mystery that perfectly layers humor, suspense and romance.

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December 1, 2014

There's nothing like finding your boss murdered to get your day off to a great start. After marketing expert Grace Elland discovers motivational guru Sprague Witherspoon dead, she also ends up suspected of embezzlement. Then bizarre texts and a vodka bottle with links to a past murder bring things into focus, and it soon becomes clear that Grace is the key--and she needs protection. Fortunately, ex-marine and current venture capitalist Julius Arkwright is on the scene and determined to keep Grace safe. VERDICT Zingy dialog, superb sensuality, and a pair of protagonists meant for each other drive the twisted plot of this clever page-turner to its gratifying conclusion. Krentz (River Road) lives in the Seattle area.

Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from November 1, 2014
Grace Elland is positive that no motivational saying exists for helping one cope with finding the boss' dead body. The first thing Grace notices when she stumbles across Sprague Witherspoon is the bottle of vodka. On its own, it's innocent enough, but Grace knows that Sprague's killer is clearly referencing the first time Grace discovered a corpse. And as if that isn't enough, once Grace arrives home, she begins receiving e-mails from Witherspoon's personal e-mail account, containing his inspirational sayings. Clearly, Sprague's killer is targeting her, and no amount of positive thinking is going to keep her safe. Fortunately for Grace, Julius Arkwright, the venture capitalist with whom Grace just shared a less-than-spectacular first date, is not only interested in seeing her again, he just happens to possess the unique skills she needs to deal with a very determined murderer. Clever plotting, complex pacing, and a compelling cast of characters propel Trust No One to its dynamite finish. Factor Krentz's (River Road, 2014) deliciously dry sense of wit into the story and you have another flawlessly executed novel of romantic suspense from one of the genre's most reliable literary stars.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)