Blue Mercy (Kay Delaney, Book 1)

Once in a while a book comes along that is a sure-fire keeper, a book that you don't dare loan out because you know you'll want it back for future reads, a book that you wish you could experience again for the very first time. Ms. Haus's Blue Mercy is just one of those books. And Kay Delaney is definitely a character to embrace, to remember, and to look forward to in future instalments of the series. It won't be long before Haus is compared to some of the finest: Sandford, Connolly, Deaver, Crais, and Kellerman. This is top-notch police procedural / psychological-thriller writing. Haus is clearly at the cutting edge of research into her genre, forensics, procedures, as well as the psychpathology of a killer's mind. Graphic and gorey only where it needs to be, Haus draws you into the dark underbelly of Baltimore and the obsession of a psychopath and won't let you go until the heart-stopping conclusion. Dark, gritty, riveting, nail-biting...with characters you can care about, damaged and real, sensitive yet tough as nails. An absolute keeper!

Blue Mercy was a great read - gripping from beginning to end. Kay Delaney is exactly the kind of "kick butt" heroine I admire, and Haus' writing is exactly the kind of writing that will keep me coming back for more. The writing is taut and intelligent, and the story clips along at the speed of light! I couldn't put it down.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Gritty, exciting, and well researched, with just the right amount of detail. Kay Delaney and Illona Haus will be two names to remember.

Blue Mercy is a great combination of good writing, good crime research, and imaginative storytelling. Unlike some of my favourite crime authors, whose latest books have become bogged down in esoteric investigative procedureres (or worse yet, the ones who make mistakes in their research that distract you from the story), Haus strikes a readable balance in Blue Mercy. Kay, the main character, is slowly revealed as a female cop who goes beyond the usual stereotypes. She likes to dress up in girlie clothes, and loses herself in classical music, but can kick (...) when she needs to. The secondary characters are multi-dimensional. No single character comes off as all bad or all good and that's what keeps the reader guessing right up until the final chapter. The plot twists are made more believable because of the great characterization. The only negative? Reading the teaser for the next book in the series and finding out it hasn't yet been released! I want to read more about Hollywood, Kay's hot new partner.

I loved this book! Blue Mercy grabs you from the first page and holds you on the edge of your chair until the very end. I gasped out loud while reading it and was literally shaking when I finished. Haus is a master of her craft. Her pacing is impeccable. Her characters ring true -- three-dimensional, flawed human beings like all of us. Kay Delaney is spunky, intelligent and brave. I can't wait to meet her again!