Review - Mercy

Julia Klein’s life has begun to unravel—her daughter Amy has been suspended from school, Julia is about to lose her job, and her boyfriend Garrett is being transferred thousands of miles away. Overwhelmed, she and Amy leave for a weekend at a rambling old colonial inn. Julia never suspects that Garrett, desperate to find a way to keep Julia in his life, has decided to surprise her by joining them. Nor does she expect her daughter to befriend a mischievous ghost...or that she herself would be possessed by the malevolent spirit of a long-dead mother.

As a dark secret emerges, Julia, Amy, and Garrett find themselves pitted in a fight for survival against a savage presence that intends to resurrect/repeat/relive a horrible crime committed two centuries ago. And this time, Amy and Julia will be the victims.



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My Review:

This was one of those short quick reads that are perfect for taking a break in between longer novels.  It also sets the tone to get you read for Halloween if you like spooky stories around that time.

Julia is raising her daughter alone after a terrible accident that killed her husband and has psychologically scarred her daughter. After events hit a breaking point she decides they have to get away for a couple of days and books a room at an old inn. Garrett, Julia's boyfriend, comes up to surprise them and convince Julia that he wants to find a way to stay in their lives even though he has to relocate. 

Early on in the stay, Amy befriends a little girl who is haunting the inn.  After Garrett arrives the haunting escalates and soon the ghost girls mother makes an appearance as well.  The three must work together to show the truth about the past to the ghosts and to keep another tragedy from happening.

For such a short story, not all the characters are as developed as they would be in a full length novel.  However, you do get a sense of who they are during this brief time and it is enough to make them likable and you want them to solve the mystery and be able to move on and be happy.

I did enjoy this story and it was a great introduction to this author.  I will be looking out for more from her in the future.