Without Mercy (Five Star First Edition Mystery) [Hardcover]

Toni L. P. Kelner (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Someone's killing off the former cast members of '70s sitcom Kissing Cousins in Kelner's fab first Where Are They Now? mystery. Boston-based celebrity journalist Tilda Harper loves exploring America's fascination with old TV programs and cult films. After Tilda's nostalgic article Curse of the Kissing Cousins in Entertain Me! mentions the curious deaths of two former cast members, the murder of a third suggests a serial killer with a show-specific agenda. Vincent Peters, one of Tilda's tipsters and a huge Kissing Cousins fan, believes star Mercy Ashford will be next. Tilda's investigation reveals Mercy walked off a movie set and vanished not long after Kissing Cousins was canceled. Is Mercy already dead, or is she the murderous psychopath? Kelner (Wed and Buried) depicts Tilda's search for the elusive actress as a merry chase through cyberspace and stacks of dusty magazines, adding in a little romance with sexy bodyguard Nick Tolomeo to keep things humming. (Jan.)
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Product Details

• Hardcover: 281 pages
• Publisher: Five Star (January 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594144788
• ISBN-13: 978-1594144783
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,737,751 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Clever and entertaining, January 22, 2008

By 

Charlaine Harris "Charlaine Harris" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Without Mercy (Five Star First Edition Mystery) (Hardcover)

Toni L.P. Kelner's new book, the debut of a promising series, is well-written and entertaining. Her protagonist, a journalist who tracks entertainment has-beens, is a lot of fun. I loved this book.

Charlaine Harris

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great new mystery series, March 27, 2008

By 

Debra English "reading queen" (Ohio,USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Without Mercy (Five Star First Edition Mystery) (Hardcover)

I just finished this book yesterday and I loved it. I read it very fast, it's one that is really hard to put down. My only complaint is that Ms. Kelner needs a better editor because there were too many simple mistakes in the book that should have been fixed before publishing. I am looking forward to the next book in this new series. As someone who grew up watching reruns of The Facts of Life, Charlies Angels, and the Brady Bunch I could truly appreciate the old time tv show aspect of the mystery. The writer uses great dialogue with very interesting characters. I figured out who the bad person was but I really enjoyed the how and why of the whole story which was written perfectly.

I can't wait to read what's next for Tilda and the hottie Nick.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars enjoyable journalistic investigative tale s, January 26, 2008

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Without Mercy (Five Star First Edition Mystery) (Hardcover)

Boston based freelance celebrity author Tilda Harper recently wrote a where are they now article on the former cast members of '70s sitcom Kissing Cousins. Her article published in prestigious Entertain Me magazine focuses on the "Curse of the Kissing Cousins"; as two former cast members starring respectively as Brad the jock and Damon the freak recently died. When paranoid fanboy Vincent Peters claims a third cast member starring as Sherry the cheerleader was murdered and that a serial killer is bumping off the cousins, Tilda takes him seriously as he is her best tipster when he insists Mercy Ashford is next as they are being killed in chronological order.

Tilda's first investigation into the cousins led to her easily finding everyone except Mercy, who walked off a movie set and disappeared without a trace; she has never picked up her rerun checks. However, this time going through her boxes of 1970s fan junk Tilda considers a different approach to finding the missing cousin who was her idol when the reporter was a teen. Tilda is unaware that someone is watching her moves following her to New York because she is the best chance of finding the fourth victim.

WITHOUT MERCY is an enjoyable journalistic investigative tale starring a likable heroine. Her behavior towards Vincent and her sister shows she is a caring person; her actions towards an obnoxious last Entertain me reporter is amusing and on target. Fans who appreciate the Scooby Doo mysteries will enjoy this fun homage to Geeks and Freaks.

Harriet Klausner