Review: Trust No One

Trust No One by Paul Cleave
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was an Advanced Reader Copy provided to the library by the Ataria books.

Paul Cleave's Trust No One is a real treat. Jerry Grey, the real name of author, Henry Cutter, suffers from early onset Alzheimer's. As his memories fade and bleed into each other, his ability to differentiate between the Real World and his fictional creations breaks down. Jerry begins to confess to the crimes his characters committed. While his caretakers, friends, and family try to convince him that it's all in his head, Jerry Grey always said "write what you know."

The most powerful aspect of Cleave's novel is the shifting and elusive nature of Jerry's narrative. As his memories fade in and out, his perspective on the narrative changes. In less capable hands, it could quickly become tired, but Cleave manages to pull it off expertly. The central mystery--did he or didn't he?--might not keep every reader guessing to the end, but the fascinating, disorientating exploration of Jerry's rapidly degenerating memories is worth the trip alone.

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