Trust Me

A Tale of Eros, Enlightenment—and Embezzlement

Bruce Forman

“A Faustian frolic, an operatic adventure story told through jazz, mysticism, and human folly. Imagine Don Quixote as a be-bopper and you'll understand Sam Mann's compelling and poignantly comedic quest. Besides the fun, there's real humanity here—the characters' and ours.”

— Peter Coyote, Actor, and author of Sleeping Where I Fall: A Chronicle

“A tongue-in-cheek romp through the seamy side of the jazz music scene on the West Coast. The story carries overtones of Faust, coupled with Native-American shamanism. An excellent read, especially for the author’s characterizations and intimate knowledge of jazz guitar. We rate it four hearts.”

— Heartland Reviews

Jazz guitarist Sam Mann has been paying his dues for years; now he's ready for a little fame and fortune. When smooth-talking talent agent Jim Dibbook offers him an irresistible package deal, Sam goes for it, violating his own first rule of sensible behavior: Never trust a guy who says, “Trust me.” So begins Sam's best shot at realizing his dreams, and his journey of self-discovery through romantic love, betrayal, vengeful obsession, and ultimate redemption in the bittersweet acceptance of his own common humanity and his humble place in the grand cosmic scheme.

“Trust Me is a look at contemporary jazz musicians, and is also a fine first novel. The characters are solid, the dialogue is true to life, and in-depth detail is given to each relationship.The jazz audience will find this novel a fast-paced and entertaining reading experience. Blunt, honest, and surreal at times, Trust Me is a novel that's hard to put down!”

— JazzReview.com, 2003

“Sam definitely has a lot going for him. Over the years, he's attained a moderate degree of success as a jazz guitarist, which enables him to book fairly decent gigs. Something, however, seems to be missing: Sam wants a little more. So when talent agent Dibbook approaches, promising fame and fortune, Sam jumps at the opportunity, even though things don't seem completely on the level. So begins Bruce Forman's recently published novel, Trust Me. Forman, like his character, Sam, carved a niche for himself in the jazz world with his impressive guitar playing. He provides a compelling story that never loses the reader's attention. Of course, a novel needs more than an interesting plot to make it really good. Forman obviously knows this. He creates believable characters and provides thought-provoking situations. Throughout the book, he also shows a definite skill for writing humor. Several scenes in Trust Me are downright hilarious. There's more here than just humor, though. Trust Me delivers on many different levels. All during the time Sam was on his journey, Dibbook was taking him for a ride. Now a new quest begins, this time for revenge. This solid and well-crafted work takes its readers along on Sam Mann's journey. In the long run, though, they might find themselves reconsidering their own priorities. For a writer, that's definitely a wish come true.”

— Book Review from All About Jazz by Kyle Simpler

Bruce Forman is a distinguished jazz musician, an award-winning educator, and founder/director of JazzMasters Workshop, a nonprofit music-mentoring program. Bruce lives in central California. Trust Me is his first novel.

Available from Baker & Taylor, Ingram, New Leaf, Partners/West

Published by Lost Coast Press

ISBN 1-882897-75-7 · Paperback · 288 Pages · 5.5 X 8.5