Mercy

by David L. Lindsey

Book Overview

Houston is shattered by a shock wave of unbelievably vicious sex killings. And this time the pattern is unique--way out of line with traditional violent-crime psychology. In Detective Carmen Palma's experience, a psychopath always chooses anonymous targets. But the Houston victims know and trust their killer: They meet willingly in hotel rooms, even in their homes. They don't fight when the leather cuffs are fastened to their wrists and ankles. They...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 038524813X
• ISBN13: 9780385248136
• Release Date: January 1990
• Publisher: Doubleday Books
• Length: 513 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.7" x 6.6" x 9.7"

Customer Reviews

Powerful, literate, disturbing work

David Lindsey is one of the most underrated authors in the field today. His novels are always intelligent and interesting and most emerge from authentic FBI case histories. MERCY is not so much a routine who-dun-it mystery as an exploration of the psychology of fetishes and sex, particularly kinky sex - that is assuming one doesn't consider masochism, sadism, cross-dressing, and dominatrix luncheons slightly off.There is another story beneath the obvious one and that is the practice of such behavior within the confines of polite society. The "victimes" are upper-class women of a certain type - the country club, suburban, once-a-week therapist type. Lindsey has a real knack for looking at events through the eyes of the disturbed individual, again calling on his real-life experience (FBI profiling). The prose is rich and sweeping, the organization superb, the entire story always a little on edge. This is deeply disturbing novel but an important one.

Mercy

I read Mercy a few years ago, as did my Mom and about 10 other women friends, and we all loved it, even though it was about certain things we had never been involved in, it is riveting. The best thing about this book is the main character, Carmen, whose life is as interesting in her personal life with the interplay with her Mother as is her exciting life in her job. David Lindsay, if you ever read these reviews, are you ever going to write a book with Carmen in it? I have waited years for a book with her in it. Please, let us hear from her again. Your writing is wonderful, but this book was really the one that women liked.

If only all novels I read were this good...

This is set in swealtering Houston where a female police officer is investigating a series of murders. All the victims were upper class ladies who had paid for S & M services. I could not put this down. I've recommended this novel to three female friends and they all enjoyed it very much. A great cast of characters, I can't recommend this highly enough. Do yourself a favour and READ IT!

A refreshingly original and unique mystery thriller

I didn't expect to be overwhelmed by this book, thinking it would be the typical albeit entertaining murder-mystery novel. Instead I encountered an exceedingly well written story with a warm, likeable protagonist and a plot that truly keeps you wondering until the last chapter. After reading this novel, I have since sought out and read all of Lindsey's novels. If you like a good, gory thriller, you have to read this book.

This is a keeper. I've already reread this book twice.

I read this book years ago and it still ranks in my all-time top 10 list. I shared the book with numerous co-workers and we all agreed that we would like to meet these women (and we're all heterosexual). It's amazing that a man has such insight and sensitivity in depicting the emotions of his female characters. It just goes to show that the rules of love apply to all relationships. I recommend this book highly.