Cry for Mercy

by Karen Long

Genres: General Fiction; Mystery; Hard-Boiled; Police Procedurals; Private Investigators; Traditional Mysteries; Female Sleuths; Noir; Romantic Suspense; Thrillers; Crime Fiction; Psychological Thrillers; Suspense

Synopsis

Eleanor closed her eyes tightly against the image in front of her. Another innocent life taken, another family left grieving. Detective Inspector Eleanor Raven arrives at the derelict power station briefed on the murder scene inside. A beautiful young woman has been found, her body posed and a cherry-red lipstick painted across her mouth. But when she catches sight of the engagement ring crusted with blood on her delicate finger, Eleanor pushes back on the grief it provokes. Lydia Greystein had so much to live for. The only way Eleanor can help now is to find the killer responsible, and she and her team immediately set to work. And when another woman is found, bound in the same ritualistic stance and wearing the same bright red lipstick, Eleanor’s case becomes more twisted and urgent than ever. But struggling to unpick the killer’s motivations, the team is at a loss until Eleanor finds a link between the victims and a cold case, an unsolved death with a connection to her own personal life. To follow the clues now risks bringing her secrets into the open. But as Eleanor begins to understand the killer, he starts to understand her too. Eleanor must solve this case before more women are taken. Could the secrets she keeps from those closest to her be the final clue in this case… or will they ultimately cost Eleanor her life? A fast-paced, tense and completely gripping mystery thriller that will keep you hooked until the final page. Karen Long will be the newest favourite crime author for fans of Lisa Regan, Angela Marsons and Robert Dugoni. Cry for Mercy was previously published as The Safe Word.

Readers love Cry for Mercy:

“Unputdownable… Eleanor Raven is an amazing female character.” Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

“I absolutely loved it… OMG what an opening talk about being hooked… The words ‘OH WOW’ left my mouth when I realized I had finished it! That’s how much I enjoyed it. This is a must read for all crime fans it ticked all the boxes for me. I highly recommend this book giving it 5 massive stars.” Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

“Eleanor Raven is quite easily one of my favourite female characters this year… Gritty, suspenseful and captivating.” Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

“Excellent!!!… Fantastic read!!! Do yourself a favour… read it… NOW! ” Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

“Loved, loved, loved this book.” Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

“This book had me gripped with suspense from page one. I couldn’t put this book down. Such a perfect serial killer thriller. Fantastically written.” Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

“One of the most gripping books I have read… From the off the action was fast-paced and exciting… I cannot recommend it enough.” Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

“Absolutely brilliant I could not put it down.” Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

“Without a doubt, one of the best crime books I have read all year!” Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

“Couldn’t put the book down… kept you guessing in the action all the way to the end.” Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

“I don’t give out 5-star reviews lightly… I’m so glad I stumbled across this gem.” Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

“Excellent thriller… Eleanor Raven is not your average detective by any stretch of the imagination!!” Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

Release date: November 16, 2020

Publisher: Bookouture

Print pages: 298

Sample

One

Eleanor Raven had used the room before, but not with the same guy. That would have been a mistake, and she didn’t make mistakes: there was too much at stake. The room smelled of damp carpets, and the beige flock wallpaper was peppered with an ominous green mould in the corners, which all added flavour to the upcoming event.

Eleanor sat on the bed, looked around nervously and ran through the procedures once more. Her identify her were safely stowed in the bottom drawer of the dressing table. This room was way too cheap to have a safe, which would have been preferable, but she’d carried out her risk assessment and let that pass. She had placed shampoo, conditioner, hand sanitiser and antibacterial body wash in travel-sized containers on a glass shelf in the small bathroom. There was also an emergency first aid kit, mouthwash and antiseptic wipes wrapped in her own towel and secured in a plastic bag next to the shower unit. She was scrupulous when it came to cleansing after the event, and over the past few years this was beginning to take on almost ritualistic proportions.

Eleanor took out the ledger-sized sheet that contained the rules and, in block capitals, ‘THE SAFE WORD’. She had thought long and hard about the ‘word’ before finally committing to something old-fashioned that possessed legal and authoritarian implications, which gave it gravity. It had two syllables, which meant that its rhythms would grab attention in a way that ‘Stop’ or ‘No’ did not. It was also easy to spit the syllables out if she was gagged in any way. It put her back in control, kept her safe. But most importantly, it could not be misinterpreted as a plea for more rather than less.

The rules were efficient, succinct and binding. If they were abused or transgressed on any level, there would be consequences. Only one individual had ever stepped outside what had been considered acceptable by Eleanor, and he was very unlikely to break any rules again.