Without Mercy [Hardcover]

Lisa Jackson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2010

Ever since her father was stabbed to death in a home invasion, Julia “Jules” Farentino has been plagued by nightmares. Her half-sister, Shaylee, now seventeen, has had her own difficulties since the tragedy, earning a rap sheet for drug use, theft, and vandalism. Still, when Jules learns of her mother’s decision to send Shay to an elite boarding school in Oregon, she’s skeptical. Blue Rock Academy has a reputation for turning wayward kids around — but one of its students went missing a few months earlier and her body has never been found. On impulse, Jules applies for a teaching job at the Academy. Shortly before Jules arrives, a student is found hanged, another near death, and a hysterical Shay believes it’s murder. Then another girl is found dead. There’s no doubt something sinister is at hand. And Jules has become the next target of a bloodthirsty killer without limits, without remorse, without mercy…

--This text refers to the MP3 CD edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. The murder of Julia Jules Farentino's father creates a bond with her younger half-sister, Shaylee Stillman in this juicy creep-a-thon from bestseller Jackson (Chosen to Die). That bond is tested years later when 17-year-old Shaylee is shipped off to Blue Rock Academy, an Oregon school in the middle of no-damned-where for at-risk teens. Run by iron-fisted Rev. Tobias Lynch, Blue Rock recently had a student, Lauren Conway, go missing and a female teacher dismissed for inappropriate behavior with a student. When Jules takes a teaching position at Blue Rock to rescue Shay, she discovers Cooper Trent, her ex-boyfriend, working there as an undercover PI looking into Lauren's disappearance. The scary suicide strangulation of Shay's roommate and the murder of her teaching assistant boyfriend throw the school into further uproar. Meanwhile, the Leader, the head of a secret cult at Blue Rock, plots more mayhem. This campy cool thriller builds to a surprising cliffhanger ending. (Apr.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

'WITHOUT MERCY blends murder mystery with romance and religious conspiracy and should appeal to fans of all three.' -- West Australian 20100401 'A fast-paced and surprisingly complex story... . The depiction of the protagonist... reaches an unusual depth, and the crisp, skillful language infuse every sentence with suspense...will keep readers riveted.' -- Publisher's Weekly 20100401 'Spine-tingling ... turbo-charged.' -- Publisher's Weekly on ABSOLUTE FEAR 20100401 'Suspenseful ... shocking ... will leave readers on the edges of their seats.' -- Booklist on ABSOLUTE FEAR 20100401 '[ALMOST DEAD contains an] excellent subplot revelation that few readers will see coming' -- Sydney Morning Herald on ALMOST DEAD 20100401 'A fast moving thriller with plenty of twists and turns, and an easy flowing style that readily catches the reader up in its thrall.' -- Canberra Times on MALICE 20091001 --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: Kensington; 1 edition (April 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0758225644
• ISBN-13: 978-1616642792
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.2 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #658,605 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

#1 NYT and USA TODAY bestselling author Lisa Jackson started writing after her sister read an article in TIME Magazine in 1981 about how young mothers were making money writing romance novels. Both Lisa and her sister, Nancy Bush, began their writing careers right then, and lo, these many years later Lisa has published seventy-five plus novels and has no plans to slow down anytime soon.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not like the others..., June 6, 2010

By 

WeekendMarian (San Antonio, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Without Mercy (Hardcover)

Lisa Jackson books are must-reads for me and yet I truly struggled to get through this one. The plot was fast-moving and complicated enough to keep the reader interested, but the characters just didn't make sense to me at all. It isn't a good sign when you find yourself agreeing with the evil mother in book instead of your heroine! Likewise, it was clear why I was supposed to find the hero attractive but I had no idea why our heroine was in love with him other than...she just never got over him? Why??? This book was okay to kill time but didn't keep me interested enough to pay all that much attention. I would definitely rather go back and read some of her other novels.

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An edge of the seat read, March 31, 2010

By 

Cheryl Koch (CO) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Without Mercy (Hardcover)

Jules Farentino's half sister, Shay is such a trouble maker. Unfortunately, Shay has used up all of her chances. Their mother sends Shay to Blue Rock Academy. A school for troubled teens. Jules has a bad feeling about Blue Rock Academy. Jules's mother tells Jules there is nothing to worry about. Yeah then why has Lauren Conway, a student at Blue Rock Academy been missing for six months and no one knows of her whereabouts? Jules must find a way to get Shay out of Blue Rock Academy before she becomes the next victim.

Without Mercy really packs the punches and the adrenaline rush. I am a big fan of Lisa Jackson's and have read almost all of her books. I have to admit that it has been a little while since I have enjoyed myself reading one of her books, until now. The ending for this book leaves much to be desired. I know it is intentional as there will be a follow up book. I just finished this one and already am impatient for the next one. Julies is a fighter. She is the best big sister anyone could ask for. Shay turned out to be a huge surprise. I don't want to get on her bad side. Without Mercy will make you scream mercy for more!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Really? This is a best selling author?, September 2, 2010

By 

B. Legar - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Without Mercy (Hardcover)

I think this is probably the worst book I've ever read and I average 12-15 books a month. The characters aren't developed or likable. The dialogue is unbelievably juvenile. The book drags on forever and is just repeating things you already learned in the first few pages. I read maybe the first third of it and skimmed the rest because it was just so tedious.

Spoiler alert.....

Page 115 (Nona's death scene) "She scrabbled, trying to dig at her attacker's wrists, force HIM off her, gain a little room so that she could drag in a breath......

Talk about a surprise ending, the author must have changed her mind at the last minute!!!