Julie's Review: Trust No One

Summary: Hurwitz (Last Shot) blasts new life into a well-worn theme—the prominent politician trying to hide a dark incident from his past—in this intelligent thriller. Late one night, the Secret Service snatches 36-year-old Nick Horrigan, who's led a quiet life since making a fatal mistake in his teens, and whisks him to the San Onofre, Calif., nuclear plant. There a terrorist threatens to set off a bomb unless he can talk to Nick, who hasn't got the slightest idea why he's been summoned. After the terrorist gets his head blown off, Nick realizes this and subsequent events are connected to the death years earlier of his Secret Service agent stepfather. Working with his homeless pal, Homer, and his computer whiz ex-girlfriend, Induma, Nick pieces together a string of clues that point to a paternity case against either the U.S. president, Andrew Bilton, or Sen. Jasper Caruthers, Bilton's opponent in an upcoming election. While more astute readers may intuit the bad guy, Nick's ethical dilemmas, girlfriend dramas and sleuthing provide plenty of excitement. ~amazon.com

Review: This book has been sitting on my nightstand for a few months. It's not that I didn't want to read it, but I had other things I wanted to read first. Trust No One is a fast-paced political thriller without making it about politics. I've read some reviews where they compare Caruthers to Obama but I don't see it. Sometimes characters are just characters. Nick Horrigan has been carrying some massive guilt. He feels responsible for his step-dad's death 17 years prior and has been on the run since. He was forced to leave his grieving mom so that she wouldn't be hurt in this massive plot to blame Nick in his step-father's death.

So 17 years later Nick gets pulled into a situation where he's called in to deal with a terrorist because the terrorist asked for him. This starts his on a search for why he was wanted at the nuclear plant and how this all link's back to his step-dad's murder.

I really can't say much else without giving away the plot but it's really an excellent plot. Nick Horrigan is someone you cheer for right from the start. You feel that he's been dealt a wrong hand for the last 17 years and is about to make it right. There is a whole cast of characters where you don't know who to trust. Mr. Hurwitz does a very good job of making you guess the ending up until the end.

I would put Mr. Hurwitz in company with Michael Connelly and David Baldacci regarding style and ability to keep you guessing.

If you are looking for a good thriller that calls into question our need for political heroes, then pick up Trust No One.

Final Take: 4/5