Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: At a Stranger’s Mercy

SERIES: Badges and Bullets #1

AUTHOR: Brittany Cournoyer

PUBLISHER: self-published

LENGTH: 235 pages

RELEASE DATE: March 22, 2019

BLURB:

Making eye contact with a killer wasn’t exactly how Bradley Danforth had planned to start his day. As an accountant, he craved structure and routine. What he hadn’t anticipated was being part of a real-life murder mystery with him cast in the starring role.
Death and sorrow were part of Max Donohue’s job description, leaving the detective hardened after years on the job. On his latest case, he’s the one stuck protecting the only witness in a sadistic homicide.
One death becomes two… then three. And soon Max and Bradley find themselves playing a deadly game of cat and mouse. Can Max save Bradley from the clutches of a serial killer? Or will the killer finish what he started?

At a Stranger’s Mercy is the first installment of a continuing series featuring the same two characters. It’s a suspenseful murder mystery that depicts detailed crimes, strong language, and adult situations. While this series will include a romance, it’s a slow burn that develops throughout the series.

REVIEW:

Two things. One, this could have possible triggers. Beatings, murder, stalking, etc. Two, this is NOT a romance. There is a possibility at the end of maybe a romance building, but it will be a slow thing lol. One MC thinks the other is an asshole and the other thinks victim and protection and such since he’s a cop. So feelings are a bit…non existent at the moment. Although the cop is noticing. Anyway.

This was one of the best thrillers/murder mystery type books I have read. And I read a lot of them. It ticked all my boxes. Suspense, gruesome and a story that makes you bite your nails with each page. This was so well written and I’m glad I got to read it. The details were so incredible. You felt like you were actually in that scene looking at what they were looking at. Some of it is gross yes, lol, but it’s just that good.

On his way to work one morning, Bradley had the creepiest feeling. He looked around but didn’t see anything until he heard his neighbor’s door slam. As he drove by, he met the eyes of a man that was looking in his car, and those eyes were pure evil. He found out once he got home, his neighbor has been brutally murdered and dismembered. And he saw the man. He just doesn’t remember everything about him when the cops question him. He sure does remember later when the man comes for him to kill for seeing him. Beaten within an inch of his life, Bradley struggles to survive and heal and the cop in charge, Max, is struggling to find the guy. Especially since there’s been another murder. Max wants this guy so bad but there’s been no evidence. Bradley finally remembers a few things once he wakes from his coma, but it may not be enough. And now Bradley has to be hidden. When 2 murders become 3, it’s getting more horrifying, because the killer is taking trophies as body parts. Max digs deep trying to find this man and protect Bradley. But it’s becoming too much. Betrayals show their face, Bradley is terrified for his life and Max is hanging on by a thread to find this guy, hopefully before Bradley is caught again or another murder happens.

You know how you get that eerie feeling when something is off? Like someone is watching you or just the feeling of evil is close by? Yeah, that was Bradley. He tried not to be a witness to this guy. Something told him not to look, but he couldn’t help it. Pure evil. He just didn’t know how bad until he got home. And it cost him big time. I was so scared for Bradley myself. I was hoping maybe he would get away before the guy came for him, but nope. And it was bad. He barely survived. The will to live was great in him and that made me happy. Bradley is a good guy. He’s a little neurotic about some things, but it’s his life. He should live how he feels like. He’s a little lonely, but his ex burned him bad, so he’s in no hurry. He just wanted to crunch his numbers and be left in peace. Unfortunately, he life got turned upside down.

For Max, I don’t know how he does his job. That’s for any cop. I admire the good ones, so much. To see the crap they see every day. No matter the division they’re in. Whether homicide, sex crimes, etc. It all takes its toll. And Max has a story. A past that digs at him constantly. So it adds to what he deals with daily. I feel for him too, because this is out of his scope. Sure he’s deal with death. He’s a homicide detective, after all. But a serial killer? What’s harder for Max is he is not a people person. He doesn’t know how to be comforting for Bradley. And he so desperately needs it. Everybody calls Max an asshole and he will admit himself that he is. But he feels and wants to help. He just doesn’t know how. I love the vulnerability of that with him. Makes him less gruff.

These two are in a race against time. They have to hide, dig and lie at times to try to get to the bottom of things. It’s a hold your breath, pull your hair, bite your nails thriller, with twists and turns you never quite see coming. The characters are are brash, gruff and even quite dense at times, but they fight and are strong. It’s a great way to start off this series and I cannot wait to see how this turns out next.

RATING:  

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