The Mercy Seat

Martyn Waites is my favorite new author of 2009. I never heard or read anything by this author until this past year. I stumbled upon his work during one of my visits to my local library. While looking at the book, the librarian came over and mentioned that if I like Michael Connelley, I will love this book. Upon her recommendation, I borrowed it. Boy, could she not have been more right. The story (series) revolves around four characters, Joe Donovan being the main character. Joe was an ex-reporter who is contemplating suicide ever since the day he lost his son while shopping. He blames himself and is constantly searching for his son, not believing he is dead until he finds the body. Because of this, he loses his job, marriage and his daughter comes to hate him. Joe is a beaten man until a deal comes his way that will renew his efforts in the search of his son. The other three characters are just as deep and interesting as Joe. Where Martyn beats Michael is in the continuity of story. Each book (currently 3 books released) contains a single story to entrall the reader, but Martyn never forgets to move the main story arc along, Joe's search for his son. I never liked how Hieronymus Bosch in Michael's story never seemd to grow and evolve. Every time Michael would start to change Bosch's world, he would always undo it by the next book. So far, I like the direction where Martyn Waites has been going and I hope he continues it.

Just ignore that Jerry Guy's review he is a nob The Mercy Seat is the best Thriller Debut this year John Wiffler

As a non-stop hard hitting, realistic, and action packed thriller set in present day England, this is probably hard to beat. A really burnt out, even suicidal, ex-newsman becomes involved with about every crooked low life type that one may imagine, from bad cops to child molesters, and sadistic killers. Great descriptions of England's seamy urban side, and a really motley assortment of personages, mostly bad, make this a solid US debut! Thankfully, most of the gruesomeness and perversions are not described in detail, another feather in the cap of the author. Only four stars because, some of the characters and situations become almost cartoon-like, and an editor could have cut down on some repetitive phrases like "He Smiled", which are way over-done.

Martyn Waites' The Mercy Seat is a thrillingly ugly portrayal of a big city's underbelly--full of crime, abandoned children, thugs, lawyers, etc. A 14-year-old rent boy steals a mini-disc player; and when he listens to the mini-disc that happened to be inside the player, he realizes he's stumbled onto something very important. Some people are dying over the contents of this disc, and some good guys are trying to figure out the who, what, and why of the crimes described on the disc. Yes, some of the characters are a bit formulaic. Yes, there's a lot of sick violence. But it really lends verisimilitude to the bleak landscape Waites want us to believe is real. I was convinced! The story is a little too long; but the author has put enough thought into the subplots and supporting characters so that they do not sink the story. They may weigh it down a bit, but you won't be sorry you picked up this scary and sometimes horrifying thriller. I will definitely read any other of Martyn Waites' novels I can get my hands on.

This was my first book by Martyn Waites. It's part of the popular Joe Donavan series and the book starts by coaxing Joe out of retirement. From the first few pages the book picks you up, throws you into the seat, and tells you to stay there. The book takes you on an intercity rollercoaster journey between Newcastle (incidently my home town)and London and introduces characters so believable that I'm convinced I've met a few of them. The story is first class and keeps you hanging on until you find out what happened to our hero's kidnapped son. (No I'm not gonna spoil it for you.) But hey, Martyn! Newcastle aint that bad!