Mercy Tyler is London's newest private investigator. Having inherited one half of a detective agency from her father, her first case couldn't be more personal.
Who killed her dad?
Although Ray Tyler's death appears to be accidental, Mercy believes he was killed by an unseen hitman she heard him conspiring with when she was still a child. Now, determined to find out what really happened, Mercy delves into a world of tarnished PI's, vicious gangsters, cheating spouses and a mysterious assassin known only as the Long Needle.
The first in an exciting new crime series, Ask for Mercy introduces readers to a brand new detective who is more than she first appears.
Follow Mercy in her quest for truth, no matter how dark and emotionally complex it might prove to be.
It's such a pleasure to be sharing my review of Ask for Mercy today. Huge thanks to James Benmore for sending me an advance copy of the novel.
I thoroughly enjoyed James Benmore's historical Dodger series when I read it several years ago and so approached Ask for Mercy with a mix of anticipation and trepidation. Would I enjoy this contemporary thriller – the first in a planned new series – as much? I'm delighted to say that within a few pages I was hooked, it's always such a treat to embark on a series which is clearly going to become a favourite and my only complaint here is that I have to wait now for the next instalment.
The opening briefly introduces Ray Tyler, a private investigator and despite meeting his end within the first few pages, his tainted legacy looms large throughout the book. His last words result in his daughter, Mercy returning from Spain after she inherits his half of the detective agency Ray owned with his best friend, Bill Mance, Contrary to expectations, she has no plans to become a silent partner; more importantly though, she is also determined to find out if her father's death really was accidental or if, as she believes, he was murdered.
James Benmore cleverly includes a well-developed, authentic backstory which establishes the intertwined relationships between key characters. Although much of their work now involves spying on spouses to uncover proof of cheating, Mance & Tyler Investigations have a decidedly murky past and are irredeemably bound to gangland boss, Victor Neale. As the novel progresses, the extent of this unholy alliance becomes clear, with dramatic revelations and surprising twists. Mercy realises her dad was involved in a merciless assassination which almost certainly resulted in his own murder many years later. With just her memory of an overheard conversation years ago and Ray's mention of the mysterious, 'Long Needle', she doesn't have much to go on and as she doggedly tries to figure out who killed him and why, she is drawn into a dangerous, convoluted world of dark deception and bitter revenge.
The characterisation is superb and in a novel which is teeming with secrets, the shady cast of ruthless villains and apparent protagonists becomes almost interchangeable until it's impossible to know who can be trusted. It's the intriguing Mercy herself who undoubtedly makes the biggest impression; as a bereaved daughter determined to find out the truth, despite the risks to her own life, her story is compelling. Beyond that, however, there's also her complicated relationship with her parents, particularly her father, the trials she had endured and the changes she has undergone. Without giving anything away, it's evident throughout Ask for Mercy that James Benmore has researched his subject diligently and sensitively; consequently Mercy's story is told with understanding and empathy and she is a fully-rounded, utterly convincing creation. Meanwhile, the complex Bill Mance, repugnant Vincent Neale and his chaotically violent nephew Nick, and the gossipy, opinionated and rather observant secretary, Barbara also stand out.
With its fiendishly twisty plot, Ask for Mercy is a gripping, rollercoaster read packed with tension, violence and intrigue but it's also emotional, witty and insightful. The atmospheric sense of place is excellent too and there are some breathtakingly nerve-racking set-pieces as well as clever little moments which only reveal their secrets later in proceedings. The exciting, satisfying conclusion leaves just enough loose ends to promise more to come and I can't wait to discover what lies in store for Mercy next. Ask for Mercy is an absolute cracker of a thriller, I loved it!
Ask for Mercy will be published on 19th October and can be pre-ordered here.
About the Author
His debut novel Dodger followed the further adventures of Jack Dawkins from 'Oliver Twist' by Charles Dickens. It was published by Quercus in 2013 and two sequels followed, Dodger of the Dials and Dodger of the Revolution. During this period he also had short stories published in anthologies such as the Fiction Desk.
Ask for Mercy is his latest novel. It's a mystery thriller set in modern London which introduces a brand new detective to the crime fiction scene named Mercy Tyler. Published by Top Sawyer Books, James is hoping to write a sequel if the first book proves popular.
Over the next few months Top Sawyer will also be republishing revised editions of his Dodger series under a new name The Dodger Papers. A fourth volume, entitled Dodger of the Yard is also underway.
James is currently writing his fifth novel, a gothic thriller called Hauser and the Vultures which will also be published next year.
As well as all this, he has written many scripts for several popular true crime and history podcasts for the award winning Noiser Productions, such as Scotland Yard Confidential and Detectives Don't Sleep.
Comments
Post a Comment