kbranfield's review against another edition
4.0
As with previous novels written by Ronald H. Balson, his newest mystery, The Trust, is well-researched and historically accurate. Set in Ireland, the Taggart family and its history with the IRA are under the microscope after Liam's estranged Uncle Fergus dies under mysterious circumstances.
Although Liam is conflicted about his cousin Janie's request that he attend his uncle's funeral, his wife Catherine easily him to make the trip. He is stunned to discover that Fergus made him the executor of his estate which has been placed into a trust. Equally shocking are the terms of the will and Liam finds himself on the opposite side of his cousins Conor and Riley as they attempt to remove him as the trust administrator. In between the legal maneuvering, Liam teams up with the police inspector assigned to the case to try to solve his uncle's murder.
Liam is quite upset that he never made the effort to mend the sixteen year rift with Fergus and he is utterly confused about his uncle's conviction that he is the only person he can trust to carry out his wishes. The terms of the will are clear but unfortunately, everything about the last few months of his uncle's life is rather murky. Liam quickly discovers Fergus was convinced someone was going to kill him, but he was deliberately vague about who the killer might be or why he might targeted. Liam's family is certain his murder is a vendetta from forty years earlier, but local police Inspector Farrell McLaughlin is equally convinced the killer is most likely related to Fergus.
The investigation is slow moving and Liam also must contend with inner family squabbles, overt threats and memories of his distant past. He vacillates back and forth between abdicating his responsibilities and returning home, but his remorse over his role in the longstanding estrangement is a powerful inducement to carry out Fergus's last wishes. He is also a bit angst-ridden over Catherine and their baby's safety but his wife is equally certain the threats she is receiving are nothing more than a bothersome nuisance. Even when the killer begins targeting other family members, Liam and the police are still unable to discern a motive for the murders and without a motive, it is even more difficult to narrow down the suspect list.
Rich with historical details, The Trust is an intriguing mystery that old and new fans of the Liam and Catherine series will enjoy. Although the investigation into Fergus's murder is interesting, readers might a little frustrated with the lack of progress and the narrow focus on a list of very obvious suspects while glaring inconsistencies with other characters are ignored. Catherine is a little blasé about her and their baby's safety and Liam comes across as rather unfocused as he deals with the emotional aspects of his unexpected family reunion. Despite a few minor irritations with the mystery aspect of the storyline, Ronald H. Balson provides a fascinating look into Ireland's deeply troubled past between Protestants and Catholics that still reverberates amongst its citizens today.
Although Liam is conflicted about his cousin Janie's request that he attend his uncle's funeral, his wife Catherine easily him to make the trip. He is stunned to discover that Fergus made him the executor of his estate which has been placed into a trust. Equally shocking are the terms of the will and Liam finds himself on the opposite side of his cousins Conor and Riley as they attempt to remove him as the trust administrator. In between the legal maneuvering, Liam teams up with the police inspector assigned to the case to try to solve his uncle's murder.
Liam is quite upset that he never made the effort to mend the sixteen year rift with Fergus and he is utterly confused about his uncle's conviction that he is the only person he can trust to carry out his wishes. The terms of the will are clear but unfortunately, everything about the last few months of his uncle's life is rather murky. Liam quickly discovers Fergus was convinced someone was going to kill him, but he was deliberately vague about who the killer might be or why he might targeted. Liam's family is certain his murder is a vendetta from forty years earlier, but local police Inspector Farrell McLaughlin is equally convinced the killer is most likely related to Fergus.
The investigation is slow moving and Liam also must contend with inner family squabbles, overt threats and memories of his distant past. He vacillates back and forth between abdicating his responsibilities and returning home, but his remorse over his role in the longstanding estrangement is a powerful inducement to carry out Fergus's last wishes. He is also a bit angst-ridden over Catherine and their baby's safety but his wife is equally certain the threats she is receiving are nothing more than a bothersome nuisance. Even when the killer begins targeting other family members, Liam and the police are still unable to discern a motive for the murders and without a motive, it is even more difficult to narrow down the suspect list.
Rich with historical details, The Trust is an intriguing mystery that old and new fans of the Liam and Catherine series will enjoy. Although the investigation into Fergus's murder is interesting, readers might a little frustrated with the lack of progress and the narrow focus on a list of very obvious suspects while glaring inconsistencies with other characters are ignored. Catherine is a little blasé about her and their baby's safety and Liam comes across as rather unfocused as he deals with the emotional aspects of his unexpected family reunion. Despite a few minor irritations with the mystery aspect of the storyline, Ronald H. Balson provides a fascinating look into Ireland's deeply troubled past between Protestants and Catholics that still reverberates amongst its citizens today.
alsudik's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ashwathy's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
This book could have made shorter. The protagonist who is a Private Investigator hardly does any investigation.
cynthia828's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars. Another fast-paced adventure with Liam Taggert in the center. It was a little predictable but kept my attention. While I enjoyed it, I would say that this is my least favorite in the series (although I do have the last one to read still).
gr8reader's review against another edition
4.0
Despite my being able to predict who the culprit was and feeling that Liam could have figured things out a bit sooner than he did.....the build up of suspense, characters becoming undone, the character development (Balson always does well with his characters).......kept me turning those pages. I enjoyed that this story was built around Liam and his family back in Ireland. One of the reasons IO'm a Balson fan is his way of including history in his stories.....after hearing him speak once, I know how thorough he researches his subject matter. Balson then shares it in a way that it is seemly woven into the fabric of the story, you don't ever feel that it is an appliqué added onto the surface. I would have given it 5 stars, but I thought the culprit became a bit glaring, smacking them in the face kind of glaring a bit too soon in the story to not be investigated more at the time, but the writing was still good. I also kept thinking about the theme of family, repairing of rifts, coming back together......it related to one of my Rabbis' sermons over the holiday.
gr8reader's review
4.0
Despite my being able to predict who the culprit was and feeling that Liam could have figured things out a bit sooner than he did.....the build up of suspense, characters becoming undone, the character development (Balson always does well with his characters).......kept me turning those pages. I enjoyed that this story was built around Liam and his family back in Ireland. One of the reasons IO'm a Balson fan is his way of including history in his stories.....after hearing him speak once, I know how thorough he researches his subject matter. Balson then shares it in a way that it is seemly woven into the fabric of the story, you don't ever feel that it is an appliqué added onto the surface. I would have given it 5 stars, but I thought the culprit became a bit glaring, smacking them in the face kind of glaring a bit too soon in the story to not be investigated more at the time, but the writing was still good. I also kept thinking about the theme of family, repairing of rifts, coming back together......it related to one of my Rabbis' sermons over the holiday.
cjeanne99's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Liam Taggart gets a phone call in his Chicago home that uproots his life. His Uncle Fergus Taggart was murdered - and his cousin Janie wants him to come to the funeral. Liam hasn’t spoken to his relatives in Northern Ireland for 16 years, since they found out he was a CIA operative - he left the country and returned to Chicago.
At the reading of the will, the family learns that Fergus suspected his murder, and had named Liam as the Trustee of his estate. His murderer had to be brought to justice before the estate could be settled. Liam’s cousins resent his being there - try to fight the Trust in court. Arguments ensue - threats are made against other family members - more people die. Liam’s home in Chicago is firebombed - cousin Riley is under a tremendous amount of stress due to a business adventure his father financed. Lot of red herrings. While I suspected <spolier> Janie’s boyfriend - I did not suspect that he was actually a Lafferty. His psychotic behavior at the end was a bit melodramatic.</spoiler?
At the reading of the will, the family learns that Fergus suspected his murder, and had named Liam as the Trustee of his estate. His murderer had to be brought to justice before the estate could be settled. Liam’s cousins resent his being there - try to fight the Trust in court. Arguments ensue - threats are made against other family members - more people die. Liam’s home in Chicago is firebombed - cousin Riley is under a tremendous amount of stress due to a business adventure his father financed. Lot of red herrings. While I suspected <spolier> Janie’s boyfriend - I did not suspect that he was actually a Lafferty. His psychotic behavior at the end was a bit melodramatic.</spoiler?
jlrasa23's review against another edition
4.0
I will definitely be reading more by Ronald H. Balson.