Dying for Mercy CD [Audiobook, Unabridged] [Audio CD]

Mary Jane Clark (Author), Isabel Keating (Reader)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 28, 2009

When death shatters the serenity of the exclusive moneyed enclave of Tuxedo Park, New York, Eliza Blake, co-host of KEY to America, is on the scene. While attending a lavish gala at her friends' newly renovated estate, Pentimento, Eliza's host is found dead—a grotesque suicide that is the first act in a macabre and intricately conceived plan to expose sins of the past involving some of the town's most revered citizens.

Determined to find the truth, Eliza and her KEY News colleagues discover that Pentimento holds the key. The glorious mansion is actually a giant "puzzle house", filled with ingenious clues that lead them, one by one, to the victims of a fiendish killer.

As Pentimento gives up its secrets it becomes clear that no amount of wealth or privilege will keep the residents of Tuxedo Park safe. But just when she unearths one final surprise, Eliza comes face to face with a murderer who believes that some puzzles should never be solved.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

At the start of bestseller Clark's smooth third Eliza Blake puzzler (after It Only Takes a Moment), the KEY to America TV host is looking forward to attending a party to celebrate the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi at Ennis and Valentina Wheelock's newly renovated villa in Tuxedo Park, N.Y. Soon after Ennis's suicide by stigmata in the villa's greenhouse puts an end to the party, someone begins killing anyone who knows too much about the Wheelocks' connection to a 20-year-old cold case involving an abandoned convertible and its missing owner, landscaper Martin O'Shaughnessy. Each murder mimics aspects of the Passion of Jesus Christ. As Eliza and her three KEY co-workers, who have dubbed themselves the Sunrise Suspense Society, swing into action, Eliza must fight to avoid becoming headline news herself as the killer's next victim. Those curious about Tuxedo Park will appreciate the well-researched portrait of the real-life exclusive community. (Aug.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

Clark’s latest rivals Christie’s best. Her short, to-the-point chapters, lucid prose, numerous suspects and faceless murderer’s creepy monologues keep the suspense at its chilliest level — and move the story forward at a brisk clip. One of Clark’s — and the genre’s — best. (Associated Press )

As always, Clark gives the reader a strong trail of red herrings. This is another satisfying look at the behind-the-scenes world of television network news tied around an intriguing puzzle (Booklist )

“smooth . . . Those curious about Tuxedo Park will appreciate the well-researched portrait of the real-life exclusive community.” (Publishers Weekly )

“Clark has perfected the suspense novel . . . in classic Christie fashion.” (Booklist ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: HarperAudio; Unabridged edition (July 28, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061768189
• ISBN-13: 978-0061768187
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 5.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,722,355 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mary Jane Clark is the New York Times bestselling author of fourteen novels: 12 KEY News media thrillers and 2 Piper Donovan/Wedding Cake Mysteries. A former writer and producer at CBS News in New York City, Clark is the daughter of an FBI agent and mother of two. She lives in Florida and New Jersey.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clark's Best Thriller Yet, July 30, 2009

By 

A Longtime Mystery Lover (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dying for Mercy: A Novel of Suspense (Hardcover)

Mary Jane Clark's latest, Dying for Mercy, is her most imaginative suspense novel yet. Beginning with a gruesome suicide, the story just gallops forward as Eliza Blake, Clark's savvy heroine, begins an investigation and soon comes across an intricate puzzle left behind by the dead man - a puzzle meant to expose the perpetrators of a long-forgotten crime. Eliza is joined by her KEY News colleagues, Annabelle Murphy, B.J. D'Elia and Margo Gonzalez - dubbed the Sunrise Suspense Society - and as each puzzle piece is unearthed, a killer is hiding in the shadows to make sure that a 20-year-old mystery never comes to light. Eliza's on-again, off-again romance with Mack McBride seems to be deepening, but as the killer closes in on Eliza, Mack becomes "collateral damage." The Associated Press review says it all: "As Agatha Christie did with her classic `And Then There Were None,' Clark . . . deftly combines the clue-searching and puzzle-solving fun of mysteries with the action-packed, emotion-driven narrative thrust of thrillers." This is a fast-moving and inspired tale that takes place in New York State's Tuxedo Park, a walled-in enclave for the rich and famous - and in Clark's latest, no amount of wealth or status can keep these pampered residents safe. The killer thinks that some puzzles probably shouldn't be solved, but Mary Jane Clark fuels this page-turner with enough puzzle-solving fun - and menace - that getting to the explosive finale is a nail-biting joyride!

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, August 21, 2009

By 

Barb P (Columbus, Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dying for Mercy: A Novel of Suspense (Hardcover)

I have read all of Mary's books,and impatiently waited for my pre-ordered copy of Dying for Mercy. I found the book to be cryptic in many ways. I thought that the suicide was even more bizarre when I discovered his reasons for doing it. The puzzle and its pieces seemed contrived, and their discovery too coincidental. The links and relationship of the clues had to be explained because the reader could surmise nothing on his or her own. As I approached the last few chapters, I couldn't wait for the story to be over because it just didn't all come together for me. Not being familiar with the saga of Francis of Assisi also restricted my appreciation for the story.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fast, fun mystery, July 30, 2009

By 

Lunajumper (Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dying for Mercy: A Novel of Suspense (Hardcover)

I found this mystery to be very engrossing. The way the mystery was revealed bit by bit kept my interest going. I love a good puzzle, and the way that the mystery was laid out as a large puzzle/treasure hunt was very appealing. From the start, it was unclear even what sort of mystery we were dealing with, which made it all the more intriguing. I enjoyed getting to know the characters, and the Italy themes that were incorporated added a nice touch. Overall I really enjoyed this book.