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A review by thebritishbibliophile
Public Trust by Tess Shepherd
5.0
Public Trust is book one in Tess Shepherd's series 'The City of Dreams', kicking off the series with Lola Michaels, artist extraordinaire and seasoned LAPD Lieutenant, Jacob 'Jake' Simmone.
Thank you to Tess who sent me a paperback copy to read and review. I don't get book mail at all, so it was a pleasure to receive it in the mail and your book now has official pride of place on my bookcase! I hope to continue adding to it from now on.
*As this book is available, this is NOT a spoiler-free review. If you don't want to have anything spoiled before you read Public Trust, scroll away now*
The story opens exactly as the blurb describes, with our main character Lola Michaels, in bed with a pair of hands wrapped around her throat. I've not come across a book with such an immersive start, or a start outlined in the blurb. Usually it takes a bit of reading into a book to get to what the blurb depicts, but Public Trust puts you right at the forefront of the action from the very first page. Literally.
It isn't long from that throat-gripping moment until both us as readers, and Lola, get to meet LAPD's Jacob Simmone, an officer with over 20 years experience in the force, and a striking figure in his uniform that both Lola and myself, cannot resist. The unusual nature that brings Jacob and Lola together is what makes this story an interesting and different one away from the norm, as is stated within the novel itself. The LAPD are not usually so personally involved, but the forced proximity is what makes things interesting. Resisting temptation, fierce independence and fear all play a part and Tess has executed each seamlessly.
After the two have met and from the very first chapter, the hunt is on to find the mystery strangler--later deduced to be a serial killer--and who that person is within the players in the story as it progresses. From the outset I tried my best to get ahead of the chase and guess who the person who broke in to Lola's place was, but by the genius of Tess' writing it made it impossible to guess until the person was revealed much later on in the book. As frustrated as I was that I wasn't able to guess correctly, I can't not applaud Tess for keeping it so well-hidden until the last minute. And to make it someone that wasn't easily guessable or expected. Bravo!
Moving in with Lola on a 'short-term' basis--which Jacob willingly volunteers to do--Jacob sets himself up for an inevitable fall into a head-over-heels in ending. His career has been his focus for so long, that when Lola comes into his life in less than ideal circumstances, pushed together to keep her safe, he starts to think of things other than the badge, his uniform and the career he's built up. Lola is taking that most important spot in his life, even if he doesn't want to acknowledge it at first, fighting the feeling until the last possible moment of realisation.
As the story progressed, I was surprised at every turn at just how much was packed into its pages not just with the storyline, but the amount of tropes that are scattered throughout is admirable in its flawlessness. If you're a reader who tends to stick to a specific trope or two, prepare to have your literary socks blown well and truly off. Tess does noting by halves with Public Trust. You want romance? She and Jacob give it to us in spades and then some. Talk about fanning the flames of passion! Mystery & intrigue? Yes to that too, and so much so that before the first chapter is read and done, we're Sherlock Holmes in charge of solving our latest mystery. Suspense? To complete the top trio of tropes, there are no nails left on hands as we nibble at the bits that have our hearts in our throats, in our stomachs and gasping in shock. I think at this point, we all need to stand up and give Tess a round of applause for her literary craftsmanship. Hard work, time and effort has truly paid off.
My only criticism of this entire read if you can even call it that, comes within the opening of the book itself. Specifically in reference to one 'tea kettle', used on a stove, to boil Lipton tea. TESS!!! As a fellow book lover, as a Brit and as a tea connoisseur, this moment floored me. It's just a kettle, as it can be used to make more than one drink, it plugs into a wall not used on a stove, and LIPTON?!?! Spring for the good stuff girl! English Breakfast Tea. Okay, this isn't a criticism at all and doesn't discredit the book in any way, just a harmless bit of teasing. I'll forgive the slip this time, but only because I absolutely love you and your work. Blind eye, turned ;)
Tea rant aside, there's more to love about this book than I could ever include in any review. Instead of an alpha-male, bombastic male character pushing his weight around because he's in uniform, we have this sweet, caring, true-to-life man in Jacob and someone who I honestly would champion as a top-tier book boyfriend. On top of that, we have a polar-opposite to the stereotypical female book character in Lola. She's no wallflower, she's a strong, independent artistic female who is the yin to Jacob's yang. Both compliment one another perfectly.
I had the best time reading this book, getting to know its characters and everything that came with them. I'm so glad that they're getting a feature in the next book in the series--which I also cannot wait for!--, because Jacob and Lola and Public Trust has crept their way up into my top ten reads of 2021. Where though, you'll have to wait until Dec 31st to find out.
Five stars (although I'd honestly give it ten) for Tess & Public Trust!
Thank you to Tess who sent me a paperback copy to read and review. I don't get book mail at all, so it was a pleasure to receive it in the mail and your book now has official pride of place on my bookcase! I hope to continue adding to it from now on.
*As this book is available, this is NOT a spoiler-free review. If you don't want to have anything spoiled before you read Public Trust, scroll away now*
The story opens exactly as the blurb describes, with our main character Lola Michaels, in bed with a pair of hands wrapped around her throat. I've not come across a book with such an immersive start, or a start outlined in the blurb. Usually it takes a bit of reading into a book to get to what the blurb depicts, but Public Trust puts you right at the forefront of the action from the very first page. Literally.
It isn't long from that throat-gripping moment until both us as readers, and Lola, get to meet LAPD's Jacob Simmone, an officer with over 20 years experience in the force, and a striking figure in his uniform that both Lola and myself, cannot resist. The unusual nature that brings Jacob and Lola together is what makes this story an interesting and different one away from the norm, as is stated within the novel itself. The LAPD are not usually so personally involved, but the forced proximity is what makes things interesting. Resisting temptation, fierce independence and fear all play a part and Tess has executed each seamlessly.
After the two have met and from the very first chapter, the hunt is on to find the mystery strangler--later deduced to be a serial killer--and who that person is within the players in the story as it progresses. From the outset I tried my best to get ahead of the chase and guess who the person who broke in to Lola's place was, but by the genius of Tess' writing it made it impossible to guess until the person was revealed much later on in the book. As frustrated as I was that I wasn't able to guess correctly, I can't not applaud Tess for keeping it so well-hidden until the last minute. And to make it someone that wasn't easily guessable or expected. Bravo!
Moving in with Lola on a 'short-term' basis--which Jacob willingly volunteers to do--Jacob sets himself up for an inevitable fall into a head-over-heels in ending. His career has been his focus for so long, that when Lola comes into his life in less than ideal circumstances, pushed together to keep her safe, he starts to think of things other than the badge, his uniform and the career he's built up. Lola is taking that most important spot in his life, even if he doesn't want to acknowledge it at first, fighting the feeling until the last possible moment of realisation.
As the story progressed, I was surprised at every turn at just how much was packed into its pages not just with the storyline, but the amount of tropes that are scattered throughout is admirable in its flawlessness. If you're a reader who tends to stick to a specific trope or two, prepare to have your literary socks blown well and truly off. Tess does noting by halves with Public Trust. You want romance? She and Jacob give it to us in spades and then some. Talk about fanning the flames of passion! Mystery & intrigue? Yes to that too, and so much so that before the first chapter is read and done, we're Sherlock Holmes in charge of solving our latest mystery. Suspense? To complete the top trio of tropes, there are no nails left on hands as we nibble at the bits that have our hearts in our throats, in our stomachs and gasping in shock. I think at this point, we all need to stand up and give Tess a round of applause for her literary craftsmanship. Hard work, time and effort has truly paid off.
My only criticism of this entire read if you can even call it that, comes within the opening of the book itself. Specifically in reference to one 'tea kettle', used on a stove, to boil Lipton tea. TESS!!! As a fellow book lover, as a Brit and as a tea connoisseur, this moment floored me. It's just a kettle, as it can be used to make more than one drink, it plugs into a wall not used on a stove, and LIPTON?!?! Spring for the good stuff girl! English Breakfast Tea. Okay, this isn't a criticism at all and doesn't discredit the book in any way, just a harmless bit of teasing. I'll forgive the slip this time, but only because I absolutely love you and your work. Blind eye, turned ;)
Tea rant aside, there's more to love about this book than I could ever include in any review. Instead of an alpha-male, bombastic male character pushing his weight around because he's in uniform, we have this sweet, caring, true-to-life man in Jacob and someone who I honestly would champion as a top-tier book boyfriend. On top of that, we have a polar-opposite to the stereotypical female book character in Lola. She's no wallflower, she's a strong, independent artistic female who is the yin to Jacob's yang. Both compliment one another perfectly.
I had the best time reading this book, getting to know its characters and everything that came with them. I'm so glad that they're getting a feature in the next book in the series--which I also cannot wait for!--, because Jacob and Lola and Public Trust has crept their way up into my top ten reads of 2021. Where though, you'll have to wait until Dec 31st to find out.
Five stars (although I'd honestly give it ten) for Tess & Public Trust!