The Absence of Mercy
Written by John Burley
Narrated by Adam Verner
4/5
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About this audiobook
John Burley’s The Absence of Mercy is a harrowing tale of suspense involving a brutal murder and dark secrets that lie beneath the surface of a placid, tight-knit Midwestern town.
When a brutally murdered teenager is discovered in the woods surrounding a small Ohio town, Dr. Ben Stevenson—the town’s medical examiner—must decide if he’s willing to put his family’s life in danger to uncover the truth. Finding himself pulled deeper into an investigation with devastating consequences, he discovers shocking information that will shatter his quiet community, and force him to confront a haunting truth.
With its eerie portrait of suburban life and nerve-fraying plot twists, The Absence of Mercy is domestic drama at its best for fans of Harlan Coben, Laura Lippman, Jennifer McMahon, and Lisa Gardner.
John Burley
John Burley is the author of The Absence of Mercy, honored with the National Black Ribbon Award; The Forgetting Place; and The Quiet Child. He attended medical school in Chicago and completed his emergency medicine residency at University of Maryland Medical Center and the R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore. He continues to serve as an emergency medicine physician in Northern California.
More audiobooks from John Burley
The Quiet Child: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Forgetting Place: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Surrender the Dead: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
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Reviews for The Absence of Mercy
80 ratings7 reviews
What our readers think
Readers find this title to be a compelling and horrifying read. The story is gripping and keeps the readers engaged, although some find the characters and plot development to be lacking. The killer's identity is predictable, and the writing style can be annoying. However, the book explores complex themes and emotions, particularly in relation to motherhood. Some readers struggle to finish the book due to cheesy comments, corny dreams, and graphic content. Overall, the book is intense and thought-provoking, but it may not be suitable for those who are sensitive to violence or prefer strong character development.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I thought it was okay. Wouldn’t recommend it
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I really was not expecting this to turn out the way it did. However when I think back it did lead me there but didn’t want to think it would really be him. I also don’t know that as a mother myself I would have handled this situation either. While I want to hate her as a mother of a sociopath I just can’t. Compelling read.
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Too upsetting to read about a murderous child; a bit too graphic for my taste; lack of communication between parents not believable; very weak ending; dialogue stilted
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5I couldn't even make it through to the end of this book. I made it about. 80% of the way through and I just had to quit. The cheesy and corny comments along with the flashback dreams that the coroner had just made this book hard to get through. I made it 80% of the way through and I couldn't go any further. Most books. I can't even put down because I'm so interested in what's going to happen next. But this book was almost like a chore to even try to get through to the next chapter.
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Lots of talking, with not much actually being said. The story and characters are not well developed, and I didn’t care what happened to any of them.
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5The killer was obvious early on and the writing was annoying. I also hated the ending.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5If you like being horrified read this. It is gruesome. It is heart wrenching. You don’t want to stop listening, but you do want to at the same time.