1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
showing mercy can be very dangerous, January 2, 2012
This review is from: Dangerous Mercy: A Novel (Secrets of Roux River Bayou) (Paperback)
In this novel, the second in the Secrets of the Roux River Bayou series, eighty-five year old Adele Woodmore has moved to Les Barbes. She is a wealthy woman and has downsized to a much smaller home, having lost her husband some years before. She routinely hires men from Father Vince's half-way house nearby to do maintenance and repairs.
Then a series of murders rock the small community. Someone is murdering CEOs of companies who have had to lay off employees during the recent recession. Then the CEO of a bank noted for its foreclosures is murdered.
One of the men from the half-way house comes under suspicion. Adele is convinced he is innocent, continuing to believe even when her housekeeper and companion quits, believing Adele to be too naive in the midst of such evil.
But Adele has a heart of compassion. She knows she is exercising "dangerous mercy," helping those who are down and out. "Mercy is risky," Adele says. "I guess that's what makes it mercy. There's always a chance someone will abuse it." (254)
And abuse it someone does. The murder kidnaps Adele when it becomes clear the authorities are on to him. Yet Adele continues to have compassion for the man, sharing the gospel with him in the midst of her own pain. Will she be rescued before he murders her?
I like the way Herman writes, and this one did not disappoint. We learn who the murderer is about three quarters of the way through the novel so the last part is the tension of kidnapped Adele and the now reluctant murderer. This is a great story of trust, trusting humans and trusting God. Sometimes humans betray our trust, but God never does. It was through pain and deep hurt that Adele learned to trust God. Now she wants to share that with others God has put in her path.
Herman has added a great Afterword, reminding us that Adele never forgot God's mercy to her. She didn't hesitate to extend that mercy to those who needed it most. It was a dangerous mercy. How often, Herman asks, do we fail to extend God's mercy because of our own fear?
There is a discussion guide at the end of the book so this would make a fine choice for book groups. There would be much to discuss about trust, mercy, discernment, etc.
I received an egalley of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Depth and a Great Message, December 27, 2011
This review is from: Dangerous Mercy: A Novel (Secrets of Roux River Bayou) (Paperback)
Kathy Herman's Dangerous Mercy is the sequel to False Pretenses, the second novel in the Secrets of the Roux River Bayou series, published October 1, 2011, by David C. Cook. While the first novel was good, this one is better with more satisfying depth. I loved Adele Woodmore, an elderly lady who moved to Les Barbres, Louisiana, to be near the Broussards, characters from the first novel in the series. Noah and Murray are two men from a halfway house Adele befriends, thinking she's helping them get back on their feet. Five deaths occur in a week's time, and the murder is dubbed the Bathtub Killer. Adele thought the community would be peaceful and quiet, much safer than the Big Easy, as did tourists and guest to Langely Manor. Despite being warned about employing the two handymen, Adele continues to use them and has a private investigator complete background checks. My favorite character is Adele. While the ending was predictable, Herman has created believable, well-rounded characters in Adele and Murray. I loved the ending and depth of feeling and emotion in this story, and I look forward to the third novel in the series. I also loved the play on words Dangerous Mercy.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
exciting serial killer thriller, October 14, 2011
This review is from: Dangerous Mercy: A Novel (Secrets of Roux River Bayou) (Paperback)
Octogenarian Adele Woodmore left her large mansion to move to Les Barbes to be near her friends, the Broussard clan. She especially enjoys her time watching two years old Grace. Adele hires homeless patrons from Father Vince's halfway house to do handy work for her. She is satisfied with Noah who does her lawn and Murray who is renovating the inside of her new home. Only Flynn makes her uneasy but she knows God would want her to give him a second chance.
The serene Saint Catherine parish hamlet is shook when someone murders banker Darveau by drugging him before drowning him in his tub with him unable to move but alert to what was happening. He was # 1. Soon afterward CEO Gautier became the number 2 victim of The Bathtub Killer. Sheriff Prejean struggles with the case that lacks any concrete evidence but implies more homicides will follow; his assumption is the killer is on a vendetta connected to the recent economic downturn. The Broussard and other townsfolk suspect one of Father Vince's homeless is the killer with Noah being a person of interest. Fearing for her safety, her friends begs Adele to stop hiring Father Vince's homeless, but she refuses as she believes God wants her to help these men find their way to the Lord.
The second Secrets of Roux River Bayou (see False Pretenses) is an exciting serial killer thriller with the townsfolk in a panic, the sheriff and Police Chief Norman frantic, and Adele calmly doing the Lord's mission. Her warm tenderness in the midst of a raging deadly storm makes for a strong inspirational whodunit. Once again readers will appreciate visiting the Bayou with Ms. Herman as our guide.
Harriet Klausner
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