Trust & Doubt

Believing in people, institutions, or the spiritual world requires an act of trust. What happens when that trust is shaken, either by our own wavering commitments or an act of betrayal? Can trust ever be regained once it is lost? These are some of the ideas explored in this thematic collection.

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Psychological Fiction


Publication year 2022

Genre Novella, Fiction

Themes Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Flora/plants, Natural World: Place, Society: Class, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt

Tags Fantasy, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Historical Fiction, Gothic Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction


Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction

What She Knew is the debut novel of British author Gilly Macmillan. First published in 2015, it was a New York Times best-selling mystery novel, nominated for both an Edgar Award and an International Thriller Writers award. Subsequent works by Macmillan feature the cast of Bristol detectives introduced in What She Knew. Titles include The Perfect Girl, Odd Child Out, I Know You Know, and The Nanny. Macmillan’s novels have been translated into more than... Read What She Knew Summary


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Society: Colonialism, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt

Tags Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Action / Adventure, History: World, Romance


Publication year 2024

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Race, Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Climate, Natural World: Environment, Society: Class, Society: Education, Society: Immigration, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Humor, Politics / Government, Arts / Culture


Publication year 1673

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Society: Nation

Tags Lyric Poem, Disability, Metaphysical, Education, Education, Classic Fiction


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Marriage, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Society: Colonialism, Society: Economics, Society: Globalization, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Mystery / Crime Fiction, History: World


Publication year 2019

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Identity: Disability, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: The Past, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Relationships: Family, Society: War, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Relationships: Fathers, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Society: Nation

Tags Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, Drama / Tragedy, WWII / World War II, Holocaust, Military / War, History: World


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Fantasy


Publication year 1998

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt

Tags Self Help, Business / Economics, Leadership/Organization/Management, Inspirational, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy

Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson, MD, is an inspirational advice book on how people and businesses can respond to changing times and situations by learning how to adapt quickly and successfully. The book centers on a parable about two mice and two people who live in a maze and search for cheese—the things each wants in life—and what happens when the cheese they’ve been enjoying disappears. First published in 1998, the book proved... Read Who Moved My Cheese? Summary


Publication year 1990

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Incarceration


Publication year 2009

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Mothers, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Natural World: Food, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Relationships: Fathers, Natural World: Appearance & Reality

Tags Realistic Fiction, Mental Illness, Grief / Death, Depression / Suicide, Modern Classic Fiction

Wintergirls is a young-adult novel by Laurie Halse Anderson published in 2009 by Penguin Books. Wintergirls is the winner of the 2010 Milwaukee County Teen Book Award and has received several other award nominations. Wintergirls follows the mental health journey of Lia Overbrook as she attempts recovery from anorexia, depression, and other mental health issues. Lia spends the weeks during Thanksgiving and Christmas struggling to gain closure over her former best friend Cassie’s death. Lia... Read Wintergirls Summary


Publication year 1952

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt

Tags Southern Gothic, Gender / Feminism, Religion / Spirituality, Christian literature, American Literature, Southern Literature, Gothic Literature, Classic Fiction

Wise Blood is Flannery O’Connor’s first novel, and it is concerned with the journey of a young man named Hazel Motes. At the beginning of the narrative, Motes is traveling to Taulkinham, Tennessee, after fighting for four years in World War II. Before his military service, Motes had always intended to become a preacher like his grandfather before him, but his war experiences cause Motes to become an anti-religious nihilist.After arriving in Taulkinham, Motes encounters a young... Read Wise Blood Summary


Publication year 2000

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Relationships: Family

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, History: World, Drama / Tragedy, Historical Fiction

Wish You Well (October 2000) is a semi-autobiographical novel by crime writer David Baldacci. The book falls into the categories of Family Saga, Coming of Age Fiction, and Historical Mystery and is a departure from Baldacci’s thrillers, which he is primarily known for. Baldacci is the author of more than 40 novels, most of which became international bestsellers. Several have also been adapted for film. His first book, Absolute Power (1996), was adapted into a... Read Wish You Well Summary


Publication year 2001

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Femininity, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Relationships: Friendship

Tags Historical Fiction, Health / Medicine, British Literature, History: World

Year of Wonders (2001) is a historical fiction novel by Geraldine Brooks, tracing the 1666 outbreak of the bubonic plague in the English town of Eyam. When the town’s zealous rector, Michael Mompellion, and the community submit to a voluntary quarantine, young widow Anna Frith serves with the rector and his wife Elinor to minister to the townsfolk as the plague wreaks havoc. Through the eyes of 18-year-old Anna, the novel explores what happens when... Read Year of Wonders Summary


Publication year 2019

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

Tags LGBTQ, Love / Sexuality, Narrative / Epic Poem


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt

Tags Romance, Modern Classic Fiction, Mental Illness, Humor


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Romance, Modern Classic Fiction