Mercy is a moving, pacey tale that takes Baldacci lovers on a previously unexpected emotional, action-packed journey to fulfilment.
David Baldacci’s latest novel is the culmination of a quartet which follows FBI Field Agent, Atlee Pine, as she searches for the truth about herself and her missing twin sister. If you haven’t read the preceding three—Long Road to Mercy, A Minute to Midnight and Daylight—it is highly recommended you do, to maximise your understanding.
Over the course of the previous three novels, Atlee Pine has slowly pieced together the truth about the tragic events which tore her family apart. Within each of the novels, a new piece of the puzzle has been revealed and, finally, Atlee Pine will discover the truth about what became of her sister, Mercy, in the novel of the same name. What begins as parallel storylines of Atlee and Mercy Pine soon intersects as the result of a series of unrelated incidents. This brings the long-separated sisters back together, fighting for their lives and the life of Atlee’s friend, Carol Blum.
The key to Baldacci’s latest novel is a fine balance between action and emotion. From the moment we are introduced to Mercy Pine, a no-nonsense realist who takes life as it comes, she has become aware that the FBI is looking for her and begins a journey that will ultimately bring her back to her sister. As Mercy travels along, she flashes back to the remnants of her early life in emotion-charged detail. The emotion is heightened when the sisters reunite, especially as their differences far outweigh the similarities, despite being twins.
Combined with the reunion story is the action-packed tale of a former member of a right-wing cult, who has a very personal axe to grind with Mercy Pine. Baldacci’s scenes involving the pursuit and capture of the three central characters are guaranteed to get your heart racing. Into this mix is thrown an additional strong female character who provides added pace and a catalyst for the sisters to come together.
Mercy wraps up the ‘Atlee Pine’ series with a surprising climax, which provides a satisfying conclusion to the series and a deservedly happy ending for the traumatised twin girls.
Reviewed by Glen Christie
Distributed by: Pan Macmillan Australia
Released: October 2021
RRP: $32.99
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