Cry Mercy: A Mercy Street Novel

This book had you from page one! I could not put it down and am waiting on the second book that I ordered the SAME day and it is NOT here yet!

I absolutely love this series, although I didn't think this book was as good as the first one. Too many things didn't sit right with me, the most being that Mallory was so suspicious of Emme/Ann right from the start, but she hired her anyway, mainly because the other characters didn't seem to take her concerns seriously. It just wasn't plausible that someone like Robert Magellan would turn the hiring and administration of this new foundation over to someone and then brush them off when they expressed legitimate concerns about a potential hire, especially because there were hundreds of other resumes sitting on her desk. And it was even less plausible that Emme/Ann would lie and deceive, show up at an interview with her daughter, still get the job and then think nothing of getting involved with the person who hired them. One would expect her to have a bit more professionalism and to tread much more lightly considering the thin line she was walking to begin with. The character of Nick also didn't sit well with me because it seemed like he was more interested in getting into Emme/Ann's pants than in finding his niece, which made it a bit hard to really care about the case. Add that to the fact that it became apparent early who the culprit was, and this book just wasn't as good as "Mercy Street." However, I do look forward to more books in this series, especially now that Susanna's work is done and there's a whole new in-house mystery to work with.

Yet another great novel from the desk of Mariah Stewart. As with most of the novels before this one, I couldn't put it down until I had read it completely. I wish she could write a little faster ... I can't wait for the next book to come out!!!

Ms. Stewart has done it again. Although this book can be a stand alone book, I suggest reading MERCY STREET first. I am looking forward to the next installment. Keep writing Ms. Stewart!!!!

California cop Ann Nolan learns that her adopted daughter, Chloe, is being searched for by her biological father. Anthony Navarro is a big time drug lord and has a large reward out for Chloe. Fearing her daughter will be kidnapped, Ann changes her name to Emme Caldwell and flees across the country to begin a new life as an investigator for the Mercy Street Foundation (MSF) in Conroy, Pennsylvania. Emme's first case is to find nineteen-year-old Belinda "Belle" Hudson who disappeared from her sorority house. Debra Newhouse, can only tell Emme that Belle had not taken her computer with her but it vanished shortly afterward. Nick Perone restores classic automobiles. He is grateful when MSF accepts locating his niece as their first official case. Belle had been communicating on a forum board with her donor-siblings. These are other people born by the same sperm donor from a fertility clinic. Belle had been trying to learn who her biological father is, Donor 1735. Emme and Nick's search for Belle will lead them to a serial killer that may very well be as dangerous as Navarro. ***** The Mercy Street Foundation has officially opened its doors and this new series has officially begun. There is more than one secondary plot running in the background. They will spill over into future novels. The main focus in this installment is Emme and Chloe getting settled with the foundation and solving the first case. It is obvious the author did a lot of research for this story. I am amazed at how much I learned about fertility clinics and donor-siblings. An exciting story that successfully solidifies a strong foundation for the series. (No pun or tongue twister intended.) ***** Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.