Author: Caroline Overington
ISBN: 978-1-4607-5582-2
RRP: $29.99
Publication Date: 20 August 2018
Publisher: Harper Collins
Copy: Courtesy of the Publisher
Wow! What an intense introduction to Australian author Caroline Overington.
Emma Cardwell is a celebrity mum, one of the hosts of a top-rating morning show. She seems to have it all, and the whole world knows it. Her life has been in the spotlight for as long as she’s had a spot on the couch. Her schedule is hectic; contrary to popular belief her day isn’t over when the show finishes, after that she has meet and greets, advertiser functions, and pre-recorded story shoots. Often her work day starts before the sun comes up and runs right through until it’s down again.
Monday October 12 was one of those days. Out of the house at 3.45am and not back until 8pm, it is also the day of the week that Emma tries to pick her youngest up from day-care for some special mummy-daughter time. A string of things went terribly wrong on Monday October 12 and 17 month old Fox-Piper ended up missing from day-care.
It isn’t long before every aspect of Emma’s life is under scrutiny as the police try to discover what became of Fox-Piper. We are fast led to question what we know about all of the characters as we wonder just who can be trusted. Once the police are involved the media aren’t far behind and we watch from both sides as Emma’s own network cashes in on the drama and the heartbreak for her family as they fear for what might become of Fox-Piper.
Morning show Cuppa has had the top spot for many years but recently the new show Brew on a rival network is started to affect their ratings. They have a young and perky reality show contestant as the host and audiences are switching to Brew. The team at Cuppa are feeling the pressure and know that they need a ratings boost.
The boost is certainly delivered by the breaking news story that is the kidnapping/disappearance of Fox-Piper. We watch the media circus set up camp outside her house, at the same time as the publicity manager for the Stellar network (home of Cuppa) Maven is inside the house trying to make sure that Stellar gets the best of the coverage to deliver the boost they so desperately need.
Overington has expertly woven the suspense through this story to leave us no clear direction to theorise in. I had suspicions throughout and it turned out I was way off, and there was a big twist saved right for the very end that totally hit me from left field and I love that.
The Ones You Trust takes an intimate look inside the lives of the celebrities but also the way that the media machine can work, and it’s far from pretty. There is definitely a big difference between the public persona and who these people really are.
Overington has written a gripping fictional tale that rings true. It’s a disturbing reflection of the state of the world that this does ring so true. It is topical, contemporary life in a digital world and it really is sad to think that this could happen.
I am very conscious of spoilers because there are some delicious twists in this one so I need to be careful. The Ones You Trust leaves you questioning whether it’s wise to trust anyone, especially when it comes to the safety of your children. The police investigating the case are determined to leave no stone unturned; no-one is above suspicion and lead detective is suspicious that something isn’t adding up but he can’t put his finger on what it is either.
Well developed characterisation, unfortunately realistic scenarios and an insightful look at the media from the inside. I actually found it quite interesting to read the perspective of a paparazzi photographer and the massive changes to the industry now that we live in such a digital world with smartphones boasting high quality cameras.
I’m actually going to leave it at that, I recommend you get your hands on a copy for yourself if you love a gripping psychological thriller that will keep you guessing. I will be adding Caroline Overington to my list of authors to watch after this one.
The Ones You Trust is book #41 for the Australian Women Writer’s Challenge 2018.
Caroline Overington can be followed on Facebook, Twitter and her Website.
Thanks to Harper Collins 15 of our Beauty and Lace Club Members are reading The Ones You Trust and I look forward to hearing what they think. Please be aware there may be spoilers in the comments below.
I devour books, vampires and supernatural creatures are my genre of choice but over the past couple of years, I have broadened my horizons considerably. In a nutshell – I love to write! I love interacting with a diverse range of artists to bring you interviews. Perhaps we were perfect before – I LOVE WORDS!
I must admit this wouldn’t usually be my first choice in a book but the blurb just pulled me in and I had to know what happened!
Each twist that was thrown at you left you on the edge of your seat making you second guess your opinions on each of the characters! There were many times when I thought I knew exactly what was going to happen then bang another twist!
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to experience this story and for making me step out of my comfort zone in book choice!
Sometimes we take it for granted that the people we see on TV have a perfect image and a perfect life. In actual fact it’s far from the truth!
The Ones You Trust tells the story of Emma, a well known host on a Breakfast Show. On the surface she has everything but the reality is that she is a 40 something mum of 3 kids with a marriage that is far from perfect.
On a normal busy work day, Emma’s husband forgets to pick up their youngest child Fox-Piper from day care. It’s not until 8pm when Emma gets home from work that they both realise that their daughter is missing!
Soon everyone that Emma knows becomes a suspect. Do we really know the people around us? This is what Emma finds out.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was an easy read and such a page turner with a shocking twist at the end. I highly recommend it!
Thank you Beauty and Lace and Harper Collins for allowing me to read it.
From start to finish this book had me hooked! Loved the fast pace, reminds me of Mathew Reilly books : )
The worst nightmare a parent could imagine, their child goes missing and everything that follows keeps you in suspense until the last page.
Emma, a hard working morning TV host expects her husband to collect her daughter from day care, but when she gets home she’s nowhere to be seen and her husband Brandon had no idea that he was supposed to collect her. Someone has taken her, but who? Suspicion lands on everyone, is the husband involved? The sister? The Nanny?
The twists and turns will keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat But can I say I was not expecting that ending! Masterfully written, I have nothing but praise for Caroline Overington.
Loved it, a definite read : )
Thank you for the opportunity to review The Ones You Trust, by Caroline Overington. This book was an absolute page turner and one I highly recommend.
Emma Cardwell, the central character, is the host of a morning TV show and also the mother of three young children. Her life, from the outside, is a whirlwind of excitement, including celebrity events, charity functions, and life in a seemingly perfect family. Despite the frenetic pace of life, everything appears to be running smoothly, until the moment when Emma learns that her toddler daughter, Fox, has disappeared from daycare. CCTV footage from the shopping centre in which the daycare centre is located shows Fox with a mystery woman, and an unidentified woman collected Fox from daycare, but that is the extent of available information. Nobody knows where Fox was taken and why. What follows is a rollercoaster ride through the events of the following days, with one heart-stopping revelation after another, culminating in a conclusion that definitely was not predictable.
This book is well paced, giving the reader the sense of being in the midst of the action. The characters are relatable, despite the “celebrity” aspect; I could relate to Emma as a fellow mum, trying to do the best by her family then facing a parent’s worst nightmare. The world of the media adds an element of intrigue to the storyline, highlighting the sense that all is not as it appears. I read this book in every available minute, as I needed to know how it ended, and I was not disappointed. The Ones You Trust is a five-star pleasure to read.
I really loved this book and couldn’t put it down. It kept me on the edge of my seat trying to guess who had picked Fox up from day-care thinking it could be anyone. With lots of twists it definitely kept me guessing. Great read.
Thank you to Beauty and Lace and Harper Collins for allowing me to review “The Ones you Trust” by Caroline Overington.