(Reviewed by JD Jung)
Half-brothers Peck and Al, launder money for a local crime lord through a bar and hardware store. They have been partners in petty crime since childhood, but adulthood has only deepened their dependence on each other. When Al’s home is partially destroyed in a fire, and his computer’s hard drive goes missing, he not only suspects Peck, but threatens to kill him.
Al was never the same since his wife died of cancer. Peck, meanwhile, is struggling with his own abandonment issues after his wife left him. Peck not only depends on Al for advice and emotional support, but also his sixteen-year-old daughter, Sara. As tensions mount and dangerous events unfold, we find that there is more for them to worry about than each other.
The novel alternates perspectives between Peck and Sara, a narrative choice that deepens the emotional complexity of the story. The small-town setting is drawn with a vividness that makes their world seem authentic.
Though fast-paced and tightly written, All We Trust is more than a crime thriller. It’s also an exploration of grief, loyalty, and the fragility of human connection. Readers drawn to crime fiction with a strong emotional core will enjoy this quick read.