Evidence of Mercy

EVIDENCE of MERCY is Terri Blackstock's first book in her new "Sun Coast Chronicles. Once again Blackstock has penned a memorable narrative to introduce her new series. Lynda Barrett, busy attorney, has to sell her beloved airplane to cover the debt left by her father's death. Reluctantly she agrees to let Jake Stevens, shallow, handsome, carefree playboy and potential buyer, test flight her small Piper. While in the air they discover a mutual animosity that doesn't disappear when sabotage downs the plane. Jake wakes up in the hospital with a marred face, a missing eye and no feeling in his legs. Lynda soon realizes that someone wants her dead. The captivating narrative that follows as Lynda fights for an abused client, befriends a suicidal Jake and fights to stay alive will stay long term in your memory. If EVIDENCE of MERCY is any indication of the rest of the "Sun Coast Chronicles" series, it is sure to be Blackstock's best. Beverly J Scott author of "Righteous Revenge" and "Ruth Fever." Reviewer for Intriguing Authors and Their Books at http://www.funeralassociates.com/authors.htm

My first time into a Terry Blackstock book has me reading everything she has written. She writes the kind of book you have to stay up and read because you can't put it down. This series is terrific but maybe not quite as good as the series she writes with Mrs. Lahay. What a great team they make. God is good and Terry leaves you happy that you know and are known by Him.

A Christian version of suspense queen Mary Higgins Clark? Terri Blackstock's skill at writing suspense fiction reminded me much of the mystery queen. "Evidence of Mercy" (available as a separate novel, or as one of four best-selling Blackstock novels in the "Suncoast Chronicles" anthology) is a humdinger of a suspense story, revolving around the lives of three main characters. The main protagonist, Lynda, is a Christian lawyer whose life is threatened by an unknown killer. The second central character is the atheist Jake, who becomes a paraplegic after crashing on Lynda's sabotaged plane while test-flying it as a prospective buyer. The third main character is one of Lynda's clients, Paige, a single parent trying to avoid her abusive ex-husband. Suspense mounts as the mystery killer and his motive remain unidentified in the first half of the story. It's a terrific and captivating story that draws you in, and at the same time gives you much to think about, because the characters not only battle a mysterious killer, but also their own personalities and weaknesses. Much Christian fiction falls into the trap of featuring an artificial conversion story. Terri Blackstock shows that writers can craft a mouth-watering Christian story without artificially sprinkling it with an obvious theological twist of this kind, and yet retain a deeper spiritual significance. In the afterword, Blackstock explains that the idea of her book came after a personal struggle with her faith, and the growing awareness that faith needs to be put into action. "I thought I believed, I said I believed - but I did nothing to put the belief into action. I was neither hot nor cold, but luke-warm, and absolutely fruitless." The title "Evidence of Mercy" describes this important spiritual theme that Blackstock wants to convey. The struggles of the three characters mirror Blackstock's own struggles, as she explains: "the characters interested me because their own spiritual battles were so much like my own: Lynda, a lukewarm Christian who would let someone die without witnessing to him; Jake, an agnostic who couldn't give up the pilot's seat in his life until it was taken from him; and Paige, a spiritual infant on the verge of belief, who lacked the faith to make the final plunge." For instance, Lynda comes to conclude "she'd made a god of an airplane, an altar of her job, and an idol of her ego" (p.38), and Jake realizes the folly of relying on his good looks: "If I'd known I was going to be left with just my character, I'd have worked harder at building some." (p.135) Without taking on an preaching tone that many Christian writers unwittingly do, Blackstock brings out these important spiritual truths by showing them in the lives of her characters in a convincing and persuasive manner.Terri Blackstock's novels are a welcome addition to the ranks of Christian fiction. The genre has been dominated especially by the historical romance, much of it inferior to secular fiction

I am a "left behind" groupie and was looking for something to fill the void til the next book in left behind is released. While browsing, I found a new hero. Terry Blackstock has captured fiction and christianity in a wonderful, suspenseful adventure! The characters are realistic, and most of us can identify with the moment of question that they experience. Her ability to show faith after seperation in Lynda's life, and bring Jake around to understanding brought me to tears. (Not that it takes much to bring me to tear!) I would recommend this book to believers and especially for those that aren't sure. What I mighty God we serve!