Without Mercy

By Lisa Jackson

Book Overview

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Jackson comes a pulse-pounding thriller that goes behind the doors of an exclusive academy with a terrifying secret. Ever since her father was stabbed to death in a home invasion, Julia "Jules" Farentino has been plagued by nightmares. Her half-sister, Shaylee, now seventeen, has had her own difficulties since the tragedy, earning a rap sheet for drug use, theft, and vandalism. Still, when Jules learns of her mother's decision to send Shay to an elite boarding school in Oregon, she's skeptical. The Academy has a reputation for turning wayward kids around--but one of its students went missing six months ago and her body has never been found. There are rumors she may have died during one of the school's questionable treatments. Once enrolled, Shay grows fearful, convinced her every move is being watched. And the deeper Jules digs, the more concerned she becomes. On impulse, Jules applies for a teaching job at the Academy. Though the facility boasts state-of-the-art equipment and a breathtaking campus, Jules senses cracks in the director's do-good demeanor. Shortly before Jules arrived, a student was found hanged, and a hysterical Shay believes it was murder. Staff members are wary and unwelcoming--all except Cooper Trent, another recent hire who has his own suspicions, and his own secrets. Then another girl goes missing, and yet another is found dead. There's no doubt something sinister is at hand--but Jules may be too late to stop it. Behind the Academy's idyllic veneer lurks an evil force on a brutal and terrifying mission. And Jules has become the next target of a bloodthirsty killer without limits, without remorse, without mercy.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0758225644
• ISBN13: 9780758225641
• Release Date: January 2010
• Publisher: Kensington Pub Corp
• Length: 424 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 1.3" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

Mystery/Thriller

One of the best mystery/thriller books I’ve read. This was the first book I’ve read by Lisa Jackson. I love how she wrote the book. It was not even the slightest boring. Definitely a good page turner. I found myself not realizing how much I’ve read each time I picked the book up. I will definitely be reading books from Lisa Jackson again.

Without Mercy

Excellent book! I highly recommend it. This is the first Lisa Jackson novel I have read; I will now be looking into her other novels.

Definitely a "must read"

This is one of the absolute best mystery/thriller books that I have ever read!! I had so much trouble putting it down that I found it difficult to go to bed at night. The "twists" near the end are absolutely amazing! My only cricitism would be that it is "wordy;" however, stick with it to the end. You won't be disappointed!

Edge-of-your-seat thriller

I was eager to read "Without Mercy"; Lisa Jackson is one of my favorite authors. I was not disappointed. In her latest thriller, we meet Julia Jules Farentino and her 17 year old half-sister Shaylee. Shaylee is a troubled teen forced to attend Blue Rock Academy in Oregon. The school is run by Reverend Tobias Lynch. In an effort to help Shaylee, Jules takes a teaching position at the school. A missing student, a suicide, a murder, and a cult are just a few of the frightening events taking place at the school. Jackson has a talent for writing thrillers. The characters are well developed. The plot is an edge-of-your-seat thriller with more than a bit of romance. This plot has more twists than a pretzel. I was guessing throughout the book. The ending is a cliff hanger. Don't keep us waiting MS Jackson!

A page-turner!

Originally posted at [...] Can someone change the decisions in life just by being sent to a special place? Can someone embrace a love lost due to a misunderstanding? And can this all happen while a murderer runs free? Read Without Mercy and get the whole story! I must confess I've never picked up a book by Ms. Jackson before now. I've seen her other work in the store and just never got around to it. Now I will make the time. Without Mercy is a thrill-ride you won't be able to put down. The characters are compelling and the twists and turns will keep the reader firmly in his or her seat. I felt like I'd known all the characters well, and when I finished the book, I felt like I'd said goodbye to close friends. Jules is a superb heroine. She wants nothing more than to save her sister who she feels was unjustly placed in the Blue Rock Academy. I liked her strength and determination. She wants to help her sister because both witnessed the tail end of an ungodly murder. Both are damaged in soul. Jules moves on with grace--until she meets up with her ex. And my, my, is her ex quite a dish. Trent Cooper has his own demons, but he never really quit loving her. He's on the trail of the killer who keeps attacking students at Blue Rock. The chemistry between Trent and Jules is unmistakable and powerful. I wanted to see them make a second go at the relationship even when they wanted to rip each other's eyeballs out. Honestly, what I liked the best about this book were the plot twists. About the time I thought I had the story figured out, the characters and the plot took an entirely different direction that kept me voracious to read the next part. Needless to say, I didn't sleep until I finished this book. The subplots do slow it down a tad, but not enough to hinder the story. If you want a page-turner, then I'd suggest nabbing a copy of Without Mercy. You won't regret it.

pulse pounding thriller

The Blue Rock Academy is the last chance for troubled delinquents who have had run-ins with the law. Seventeen year old Shaylee was ordered there by a judge after a string of crimes to include theft and possession, etc. Her sister, unemployed teacher Julie "Jules" Farentino, knows Shaylee needs help, but fears Blue Rock may not be the answer. One of students Lauren Conroy disappeared from their school and she has never been found. Acting on her feelings especially after consulting with her cousin's husband, who was a T.A. at Blue Rock, Jules applies for a teaching position at the academy. Posing as a teacher at Blue Rock is Cooper Trent who was hired by Lauren's parents to find out what happened to their daughter and to Jules' chagrin the only man she ever loved. When Jules arrives at the exclusive Oregon school, she finds the place in an uproar as two bodies were found. As Trent and Jules team up, their feelings emerge though they try to deny them. If they can survive the dangerous undercover cloak and dagger, each wonders whether their relationship will endure afterward. Lisa Jackson can always be counted on to deliver a pulse pounding original thriller. Jules is an ordinary woman who loves her disturbed half-sister so much she places herself at risk to learn what is going on at the academy that put her sibling over the edge. Filled with surprising twists, fans will be stunned and entertained throughout as Ms. Jackson provides a tense undercover romantic suspense. Harriet Klausner