A review by amywoolsey_93
Have Mercy on Us All by Fred Vargas

dark funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

The plot of Have Mercy on Us All moves along at a propulsive clip, but after the story ends, it's the details that linger: the eccentric yet grounded characters, the witty dialogue with its slightly noir-ish edge, the intricate web Vargas weaves connecting the past and present. Like the best crime writers, she is less interested in violence than the people who commit and investigate it, proving herself to be a keen observer of the mysteries of human nature. (Spoiler alert:

the real plague, it turns out, is fear.

)