Scan barcode
paulabrandon's review against another edition
1.0
Something is wrong with your thriller when the main plot point divulged in the book's blurb - Julia Farentino working undercover as a teacher at Blue Rock Academy to rescue her sister - doesn't actually happen until nearly halfway through the book. Up until then, Jules is discussing with friends and relatives how she doesn't trust the school, or taking forever to actually fucking drive there, or having migraines and repeated dreams about the murder of her father five years earlier.
Her younger half-sister, Shay Stillman, has been sent to Blue Rock Academy because she has gone off the rails, committed serious crimes, and is generally a petulant, spoilt brat. This is due to a court order, and can't be reversed. Which doesn't actually make sense to me, unless the judge actually specified which facilty Shay got sent to, which wasn't the case. So I didn't understand why Jules, or Shay's mother, of their lawyer, couldn't simply find another facility, so long as it still met the terms of Shay's release.
If that wasn't silly enough, things just get sillier. Once Jules finally makes it to the school, she discovers that one the staff members is Cooper Trent, a former rodeo cowboy turned police officer turned private investigator, who is also undercover at the school to find out what happened to a teaching assistant there who vanished without a trace. AND he's her ex-boyfriend, who she broke up with and hates for reasons that don't make a great deal of sense. (She broke up with him because her father died, and hates him because he went along with what she asked?) I think. It was very fuzzy.
Before Jules arrives at the school - because it takes half the fucking book for her to get there - a student is murdered, and her boyfriend left fightng for his life. Worse still, Shay was the last one to see the girl alive, as she was Shay's roommate. Jules is determined to get Shay out of the school, but finds she has to work with Cooper, as they both don't want to blow the other's cover. She starts to fancy him again, and fights these feelings while seeking the truth in the most inept way possible, as she has no idea what she's doing.
This was terrible on every level.
For a 424 page book with tiny, tiny font, barely anything really happened. As I said, Jules doesn't even get to the school until nearly halfway through the book. She has zero game plan in regards to finding out what she needs to know. She behaves like a nitwit throughout the entirety of the book. She carries on and on about her poor sister needing protection, though it's clear that Shay can look after herself. I don't understand the utility of following around a character who essentially has no idea what they're doing.
This goes for Cooper Trent too. He's almost a romantic suspense hero parody. Former rodeo cowboy, former law enforcement offical, and now a private investigator! It was just several levels of dumb and unlikely. And Trent didn't come across as being particularly cluey or good at his job either.
The plot doesn't hold together. It's unclear how The Leader drafted all his acolytes so easily, or exactly what their missions were. It made no sense for It's not clear at all what was motivating any of the acolytes. Even The Leader's motive was iffy and hard to follow. There's a final dumb twist that you would only get from an author who is throwing a bunch of words at the page until she reaches her required word count and can call it quits.
Overlong, with a plot that didn't hold up to scrutiny, dumb characters with dumb pasts making dumb decisions, repetition that slowed the pacing down to a crawl, this book really showed no mercy whatsoever to any reader wanting a fast, punchy romantic suspense read.
Her younger half-sister, Shay Stillman, has been sent to Blue Rock Academy because she has gone off the rails, committed serious crimes, and is generally a petulant, spoilt brat. This is due to a court order, and can't be reversed. Which doesn't actually make sense to me, unless the judge actually specified which facilty Shay got sent to, which wasn't the case. So I didn't understand why Jules, or Shay's mother, of their lawyer, couldn't simply find another facility, so long as it still met the terms of Shay's release.
If that wasn't silly enough, things just get sillier. Once Jules finally makes it to the school, she discovers that one the staff members is Cooper Trent, a former rodeo cowboy turned police officer turned private investigator, who is also undercover at the school to find out what happened to a teaching assistant there who vanished without a trace. AND he's her ex-boyfriend, who she broke up with and hates for reasons that don't make a great deal of sense. (She broke up with him because her father died, and hates him because he went along with what she asked?) I think. It was very fuzzy.
Before Jules arrives at the school - because it takes half the fucking book for her to get there - a student is murdered, and her boyfriend left fightng for his life. Worse still, Shay was the last one to see the girl alive, as she was Shay's roommate. Jules is determined to get Shay out of the school, but finds she has to work with Cooper, as they both don't want to blow the other's cover. She starts to fancy him again, and fights these feelings while seeking the truth in the most inept way possible, as she has no idea what she's doing.
This was terrible on every level.
For a 424 page book with tiny, tiny font, barely anything really happened. As I said, Jules doesn't even get to the school until nearly halfway through the book. She has zero game plan in regards to finding out what she needs to know. She behaves like a nitwit throughout the entirety of the book. She carries on and on about her poor sister needing protection, though it's clear that Shay can look after herself. I don't understand the utility of following around a character who essentially has no idea what they're doing.
This goes for Cooper Trent too. He's almost a romantic suspense hero parody. Former rodeo cowboy, former law enforcement offical, and now a private investigator! It was just several levels of dumb and unlikely. And Trent didn't come across as being particularly cluey or good at his job either.
The plot doesn't hold together. It's unclear how The Leader drafted all his acolytes so easily, or exactly what their missions were. It made no sense for
Spoiler
Reverend Lynch to be employing staff with such dodgy backgrounds if he wasn't somehow involved with what was going on.Overlong, with a plot that didn't hold up to scrutiny, dumb characters with dumb pasts making dumb decisions, repetition that slowed the pacing down to a crawl, this book really showed no mercy whatsoever to any reader wanting a fast, punchy romantic suspense read.
rngrooms's review against another edition
4.0
An ending I was not expecting! Another great story by the awesome Lisa Jackson!
beastreader's review against another edition
4.0
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!
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!
judithdcollins's review against another edition
3.0
There are a lot of mixed reviews about this book and can see both sides. Yes, the books was a little long, and yes, some of the secondary characters (assuming the author kept behind the scenes, on purpose- for the twist towards the end), as these became an integral part of the book and front and center. Yes, some annoying characteristics; however, all is all it was a thriller and I urge all readers to read Lisa Jackson’s new TELL ME – as it was excellent!
The book is centered at Blue Rock Academy for at risk teens where Shaylee is sent. Her (half-sister) comes to her rescue and goes undercover (their dad was murdered years before); however, book does not cover a lot of these details. Now there are killings and Jules tries to help her sister along with her ex-boyfriend Cooper Trent. They are working to get to the bottom of the brutal sick killings. However, the enemy is closer than they think……
The book is centered at Blue Rock Academy for at risk teens where Shaylee is sent. Her (half-sister) comes to her rescue and goes undercover (their dad was murdered years before); however, book does not cover a lot of these details. Now there are killings and Jules tries to help her sister along with her ex-boyfriend Cooper Trent. They are working to get to the bottom of the brutal sick killings. However, the enemy is closer than they think……
ufvrhvnv's review against another edition
3.0
The reason for the 3 stars?
Completely surprising ending. Made me went "WTF!?" Good one, Jackson.
Other than that? Too much ramblings, too many pointless details.
Completely surprising ending. Made me went "WTF!?" Good one, Jackson.
Other than that? Too much ramblings, too many pointless details.
jazzrizz's review against another edition
5.0
I had orginally started out reading this book, but time constraints and lack of interest in reading lead me to check out the audio book version. I love listening to Mystery/Thriller novels. Especially if the narrator is good.
What a great story. While I figured out part of the who-dunnit correctly VERY early in the book, Lisa Jackson totally reminded me of why I enjoy her books so much.
The twist at the end of this book totally shocked me, and not just a - oh, so you think you've figured it out . . . now let me shock you with a twist ending that doesn't make any kind of sense twist. There's a few loose ends that I hope will be addressed in future books . . . because she can't just leave me hanging with an ending like that!
What a great story. While I figured out part of the who-dunnit correctly VERY early in the book, Lisa Jackson totally reminded me of why I enjoy her books so much.
The twist at the end of this book totally shocked me, and not just a - oh, so you think you've figured it out . . . now let me shock you with a twist ending that doesn't make any kind of sense twist. There's a few loose ends that I hope will be addressed in future books . . . because she can't just leave me hanging with an ending like that!
indianajane's review against another edition
2.0
I kept wanting to just get to the end of this book. The book was chaotic, with too many characters and not a lot of clarity. There were also some pockets of really bad writing with too many exclamation points. I've enjoyed Lisa Jackson books before, but would skip this one.
nicolewrites's review against another edition
2.0
It started out pretty slow and predictable but ended a little better. A few twists towards the end that kept my attention.
salene27's review against another edition
3.0
Good book, however I felt is was dragged out a bit too long, I didn't however expect that ending, a big surprise!