His daughter was taken. He’ll never get her back.Set in the near future, Matt Deal is a British businessman married into a wealthy Florida family.Mercy, his fifteen-year-old daughter, is the glue in his rocky marriage to Lorey. His life is changed forever after Mercy is brutally sexually assaulted on a Destin beach leaving her in a persistent vegetative state.Trusting the local detectives to … state.
Trusting the local detectives to bring the rapists to justice, mixed martial arts expert Deal concentrates in vain on his Florida gym business, only to have his world further explode on learning the men responsible for his daughter’s injuries may escape justice. Deal feels isolated after his rich father-in-law sends death threats blaming him for all these ills.
Who can he turn to? Where can he go? What will he do? Who can he trust?
Will he return to a post-Brexit Britain or ultimately will he seek revenge?
Fans of movies like ‘Taken’ or any vigilante justice novel will love this book.
*** Trigger Warning ***
Contains a scene of sexual violence and some scenes of explicit consensual adult sex.
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Not for the easily offended because the violence and sex are quite graphic. True to life one can only imagine what pain a parent must endure to know ho brutally their child was treated. A strong protagonist, a lush for a wife, a controlling father-in-law and finally, a good friend willing to help, make this first in a new series a must read. It’s all here and waiting for your to enjoy Highly Recommended.
What a way to start a series! Stephen Bentley very graphically presents an intense, suspenseful and steamy book. It is very fast pace and keeps your interest throughout. It keeps you wondering what Matt and Anna will do in the several scrapes that get themselves into. A must read!
Interesting read. In Mercy, Matt Deal’s life is changed forever when he essentially losses his fifteen year old daughter who is brutally assaulted and left for dead on the beach, her assailants walking free. What will Matt do now that his world has fallen apart: run or seek revenge??? Find out in Mercy.
Mercy: A Detective Matt Deal Thriller Introducing Wolfie Jules by Stephen Bentley is a wonderful story that I have read. This is book number one in this wonderful start to a brand new series that I have fallen in love with. I highly recommend this story to everyone who loves reading about mysteries and thrillers.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Most of my review of this book is criticism. I want to say at the start, I enjoyed this book very much and I recommend it. It’s a great thriller. That being said….
I’m not fond of the use of the word faggot. While it’s a dysphemism some people still use, it was used by the protagonist which didn’t help to make him any more likable.
The second thing I really disliked about this story was the usage of the word “silencer” to refer to a suppressor. But even more than that was the misrepresentation of what they do. They don’t silence gunfire, they suppress it.
The third thing that annoys me was the cliffhanger ending. It ends right in the middle of a scene. There was no attempt to wrap it up. The summary doesn’t give you any indication that you need to read multiple books to get the full story. When you compare it to Sherlock Holmes stories, for example, they’re all standalone stories and you don’t need the full set to enjoy them. This has always annoyed me about books. The book cover, title, something should give an indication and say “part 1”.
While sites like Audible say “Detective Matt Deal Thrillers, Book 1”, that doesn’t always mean that the book is split. Look at Sherlock Holmes stories for example. They may be referred to as “Sherlock Holmes #5”, but they’re standalone.
This book is full of gratuitous violence and sex, murder, deceit and so much more. The sex scenes are a bit cringey if I’m being honest, they could really use some work. Everybody is just horny all the time. The hung protagonist doesn’t seem to encounter a woman who doesn’t want him. But it’s all good fun.
For the most part, the narrator sounds emotionless as he’s reading. Some of the story is set in the U.K. but nobody has even a hint of an accent. The only time an accent is even hinted at is when one character makes fun of another for it.
Despite all my complaints, I enjoyed this story very much. It’s fun, action-packed and, intense. It’s one of those books that reads like you’re listening to an action movie. Give it a read (or listen).
NOTE: This copy was provided to me free of charge as a digital review copy. The opinions stated in this review are mine and mine alone, I was not paid or requested to give this book a certain rating, suggestion, or approval.
I received an offer of a review copy of the Mercy audiobook through StoryOrigin and after reading in the title it was a Detective thriller I jumped on the opportunity. This story takes off right out of the gate with some very intense action that readers who prefer “clean” thrillers may find offensive or off-putting. So for anyone reading this review if you prefer not to read thrillers with adult subject matter maybe you are better off looking elsewhere, however if it’s not an issue for you, the intense action in this story starts right off the bat and stays on the same pace throughout the story. I honestly could see this as a Jason Statham movie. The dialogue throughout the story reminded me of old school detective stories which brought back a feeling of nostalgia. The only issue I had with the audiobook was the narration – Matt Deal and several other characters are British, sadly there was no British accent in the narration – and this really would have made this audiobook more enjoyable.
Boom, your imagination runs wild with this explosive start to the series. This is an action-packed story with easily imaginable characters. I like the way the issue with Brexit and the UK is merged into the storyline.
Stephen Bentley has a talent for writing that really drags you in and keep you reading into the early hours.
I received this book from the author for free and wanted to give an honest review.
Mercy: Detective Matt Deal Thrillers, Book 1, my first highly enjoyable read from author Stephen Bentley, An author I’d not heard of before getting the opportunity to read & review this book.! December seemed to be my month for new authors, January continued the trend, and now February. A well written, entertaining read, with intriguing, well-developed characters. A bit slow to start but when it took off I couldn’t turn pages fast enough. Chris Defazio”s outstanding narration added greatly to a good book’s enjoyment. “I received a free review copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.” I look forward to reading more from this author. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 – July 24, 2018).
After what happens to his daughter, Matt Deal goes back to the UK and becomes a hard hitting detective. A lot happens while he’s there and eventually comes back to the US. Having lived in the areas of Fort Walton Beach and Destin I liked the specific accurate details about the area. Now Matt has a partner in Wolfie and they become vigilantes to give justice for his daughter. This story brings you in and has you turning the pages til you’re done.
This book drew me in and held me delightfully-captive from beginning to end. The plot keeps you guessing, the characters are realistic, likable and identifiable and the scenery is described in such a way as to make you feel that you are an actual bystander in every scene. Once I started reading this story, the desperate need for sleep is the only thing that made me put my Kindle down. I am SO excited to move on to the next book in the series!
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
EBook Review: MERCY by Stephen Bentley
(M) urder
(E) valuated…
(R) egarding
(C) hewed
(Y) anked
MERCY speaks of compassion, none applied to her.
Callously left to die, can’t reveal who did.
One at the top, knew her quite well.
But that didn’t matter, left her as is.
Lots of intimate games, crossing paths and impacting.
Being one in charge, was part of fun.
Was met with resistance, working together were many.
I’m rooting for them, hoping all works out.
Portions in here, for me gets X-rated.
Still I worked through, read to the end!
The opening scene is gruesome and very descriptive but relevant to the whole story and its character building and the very purpose of Matt Deal and his justice that he needs to serve!
Matt Deal just doesnt seem to catch a break whether it be his wife and his overbearing father in law who blames him for everything that has happened. But the truth will be revealed and Matt Deal will seek bloody revenge on all who has done himself and his daughter wrong. They say revenge is a dish best served cold……but for Matt Deal it is a dish best served with justice. Anyway he can get it!
Great book written well. Intense and an emotional rollercoaster. Read it in one sitting and i think that says enough about how i view this book. Big fat 5 stars .
A thriller to the end and beyond. Matt Deal is seeking revenge for his daughter’s rape and destruction. Great plot. Great characters. Great action. Well written. Looking forward to more of these characters.
I listened to Audible version and was sometimes lost with so many different characters. But once sorted out it was very entertaining.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from Story Origin.
I found this book exciting and surprising in equal measure. Set in a post Brexit world was a novel idea. The characters were strong and believable. The plot was suspenseful. The end of the book left me hanging onto the cliff edge with my fingertips waiting for the next episode.
I have read more books by this author fact and fiction I recommend them all.
Matt Deal has a lot going on in this thriller and he handles them spectacularly. This story is hard to believe in some spots but even those do not detract from the thrill factor. I totally enjoyed this read and think you will too.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Stephen Bentley’s new book, Mercy, A Detective Matt Deal Thriller, is the first in this series. Matt Deal is a business man in Florida who is married to a woman who drinks all the time. His life is changed forever after his daughter, Mercy is brutally sexually assaulted on a Destin beach leaving her in a persistent vegetative state. There are lots of twists, turns and action in the book. This book has well-developed characters, plot and fast-paced story. Looking forward to the next one.
This book will grab you and hold you from start to finish. You’ll find yourself on the edge of your seat as you turn the pages. Suspense, mystery and intrigue and woven throughout and the characters are strong and well developed. It’s a fast paced action thriller with some violence, vengeance and a vendetta against those who did wrong.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was a really great book. My interest was grabbed and kept throughout. The story is well written and developed. I recommend reading this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I know this author is one of my favorites and then this book just continues to prove what good taste I have (haha). So this book is a new thriller series with a character I just love! Matt Deal is amazing and I am thrilled to know there will be more!! The brutal rape of his daughter caught me emotionally even though I knew it was coming, and Matt’s reaction to all of it is stunning. I am excited for the next book in the series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
An evening that starts with an eager fifteen year old sneaking off to see a handsome college kid ends much more darkly.
Tangled motives, lives, loyalties and betrayals collide.
New beginnings find bloody interruptions.
Skilled warriors have begun to fight. Justice is not guaranteed. More sadness and death lies ahead.
Intense action adventure and psychological thriller.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.