Introduction

When life is murder, who can you trust?

One minute Mia Quinn is in her basement, chatting on the phone with a colleague at the prosecutor’s office. The next minute there’s a gunshot over the line, and Mia listens in horror as her colleague and friend Colleen bleeds to death.

Mia’s a natural for heading up the murder investigation, but these days she has all she can do to hold her life together. As a new widow with a pile of debts, a troubled teenaged son, and a four-year-old who wakes up screaming at night, she needs more time with her family, not less—and working Colleen’s case will be especially demanding. But Colleen was her friend, and she needs to keep her job. So she reluctantly teams up with detective Charlie Carlson to investigate Colleen’s death. But the deeper they dig, the more complications unfold—even the unsettling possibility that someone may be coming after her.

Lis Wiehl’s signature plot twists and relatable characters shine in this absorbing series debut . . . with an intriguing cameo from her best-selling Triple Threat series.

“Dramatic, moving, intense. A Matter of Trust gives us an amazing insight into the life of a prosecutor—and mom. Mia Quinn reminds me of Lis.” —Maxine Paetro, New York Times best-selling author

"This suspenseful first in a new series from Wiehl and Henry opens with a bang . . . a story full of twists and turns that also offers a hint of future romance for Mia." —Publishers Weekly

"Wiehl begins an exciting new series with prosecutor Mia at the center. The mystery is engaging and not easy to figure out. The side storyline about bullying is timely and will hit close to home for many. Four stars." —Romantic Times

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Excerpt

Chapter One
If life was like a play, then the director had the ultimate power. The power to blight men's lives, or to give them what they most longed for. Even the power to utter the ultimate yes or no.

Tonight was a special engagement. One night only. Never to be repeated. The stage was a hundred-year-old two-story house, lit from top to bottom as if electricity cost nothing. The director watched from the quiet residential lane. At the director's side was the killer. It was a walk-on role with no dialogue. ... view entire excerpt...

Discussion Questions

1. On her eHeartMatch profile, Colleen lies about her weight and age. Vincent lies about his appearance and occupation. Do you feel that you have a different level of trust for what you read on the Internet as opposed to what someone tells you or what you see in the newspaper or on TV? Do you think that the truth has become more malleable in your lifetime? Or is it perhaps easier to discover?

2. Her husband’s death made it necessary for Mia to go back to work. Many women juggle duties both at home and at a job. Is it really possible to have it all? How can we find balance? Have you ever felt torn between competing needs?

3. Nate says about his son Darin, “A long time ago, I realized I
could spend all my time wishing for the son I never had or I
could love the son who was standing right in front of me.” Have you ever struggled with loving someone just the way they are? Do you think in some cases it’s not possible?

4. Teens these days interact with so many different kinds of social media: Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest. They can access social media on their phones, computers, tablet computers, or netbooks. If you have kids, how have you tried to manage or oversee this? Have you put the computer in a common area? Do you look at their texts, their Facebook posts, their e-mails—or is that any different than eavesdropping or reading their diaries? Is it even possible to successfully monitor their interactions? Would you ever consider putting spyware on your child’s phone
or computer?

5. Darin was bullied. Were you ever bullied as a kid—or perhaps even on the other side? Do you think that bullying is more prevalent today or is it something we are simply more aware of? What do you think are the best ways to help prevent bullying?

6. Gina’s and Martin’s adopted child might be autistic. Doctors
say he needs thousands of dollars worth of therapy. Have you
known anyone who has struggled with autism?

7. Gabe’s coach keeps him on the bench instead of putting him in to play. Do you think high school sports should focus on winning or on letting more kids on the team play? Does that change if you’re talking about a JV team?

8. Mia discovers that Scott has left their family in debt. Do you
think she should have pursued bankruptcy? Do you know someone who has been affected by foreclosure or overwhelming debts?

9. Brooke has night terrors. Have you ever known a child with
night terrors? Have you dealt with a child who had a mysterious illness?

10. One of the main themes of A Matter of Trust is that appearances can be deceiving. Ronni is homeless yet determined to finish school. One of the boys who tormented Darin turns out to have also been his friend. Do you think as you have gained more experience in life that you have gotten better at seeing below the surface? Or are we all so busy that we are often forced to rely on the surface and to make snap judgments?

Weblinks

»	Author Lisa Wiehl's web site

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