Another enjoyable crime novel from Chris Hammer, third in the Martin Scarsden series. I enjoyed this one more than Silver, the 2nd in the series, which I felt had too many convoluted sub plots. This story is set in the city of Sydney, and I particularly enjoyed being able to visualise scenes set in streets and locations I was familiar with.
However, I feel that the series should finish here. It simply isn’t credible that so much bad fortune and crime follows Mandy and Martin, the two main protagonists, around. ( )

Another fine book of crime fiction from Chris Hammer.
Well paced plot, a little more character development that in the first two books, and plenty of action.
Thoroughly enjoyable. ( )

I didn't think this was as good as the first two. There was less sense of place - Sydney seemed like a generic big city really. Mandy and Martin kept secrets from each other or simply found things out while they were apart, so there was a lot of duplication as secrets were revealed and information passed between them and to the (two different branches of the) police. Poor Liam was entirely forgotten about after the first day - I hope he had fun with his cousins. The actual plot was extremely complicated and I'm still not sure I completely grasp it. The scene towards the end where all the characters present in a room with Martin end up dead was borderline farcical. I get the feeling this might be the end of the trilogy... ( )

This series gets better with every book. Trust by Chris Hammer was a terrific read and I loved it. Martin Scarsden and Mandalay Blonde have been getting on with their lives until Mandalay is abducted and so starts their next adventure which rolls along at a frenetic pace. Where Martin and Mandalay are, trouble is not far away. ( )

One of the joys of being an avid reader is following character journeys across book series; their close calls, wins and losses, their moments of realisation, personal growth and maturation. And, one of the great privileges of being a book reviewer is witnessing authorial talent shine and refine. In Trust, the third title in his Martin Scarsden Series, Chris Hammer has more than delivered on both counts.

From the evocative opening line of the Prologue,

"The realisation swells within him, like a birthing. It’s happening right now today, in this moment of time, in this sliver of history…"

Hammer’s wonderfully accessible yet lyrical prose style is back. In Silver (Book 2) I admired his capacity to set a scene and mood, and in this outing he has raised that bar even higher.

This novel’s setting, and its layered resonant theme of ‘trust’ is very much ‘of this moment, in this sliver of history’ and in some respects, ahead of its time. Post-bushfires post-COVID Sydney is as much a character in Trust as its leads Martin Scarsden and Mandalay Blonde. And yes, I said leads, plural. Continue reading >> https://www.bookloverbookreviews.com/2020/10/trust-by-chris-hammer-martin-scarsd... ( )