A cliffhanger ending promises more character development in this series. In the meantime, Reed and Ellery hover on the periphery of a romantic relationship while solving crimes. Arson and rape are investigated as members of Ellery' s group therapy ask for her help. Not so predictable, the story unfolds while Ellery and Reed work through their own demons.

Copy provided by the Publisher and NetGalley

The second book in the Ellery Hathaway series is just as compelling as the first one. Although it can be read as a standalone, I recommend that you read THE VANISHING SEASON first to get all of the background about what happened to Ellery previously and what her relationship with Reed is based on. I really loved this book, especially learning how Ellery is doing in her new life and her new place. It was not surprising that Reed showed up in her life again since the sparks really flew in the first book. I was amused to see the dog Bump in this book again since he was a favorite of mine in the last book. This one deals more with a cold case of arson as well as a new case of a serial rapist. The challenges are for Ellery and Reed to solve the cases and maintain a professional relationship. My favorite character, of course, was Ellery because she is a strong female protagonist, with problems in her past that do not stop her from facing the current and future challenges. Anyone who loves a good romantic suspense with some psychological thriller thrown in well love this book!

Bring On Book #3!

Second in her mystery crime series, NO MERCY, Joanna Schaffhausen brings back the tough-skinned Officer Ellery Hathaway and FBI profiler Reed Markham....as well as Speed Bump the dog.

Everyone knows Ellery....or at least the story of her well publicized and disturbing past, but for now she is supposedly off the streets, suspended for shooting a murderer and being "shrinked up" along with a group of others who have experienced violent crime.

But Ellie's quick-witted investigative mind is always set on overdrive so as she judiciously meets her new groupies, she ends up deeply involved in two old cases that require the help of an old friend....an FBI agent friend with a mysterious and complicated past of his own....a friend she must tread cautiously around....a friend who knows the horrors of her past and just may win her heart....or not.

A complex plot makes for a intriguing story, but highly recommend reading THE VANISHING SEASON first to enhance your reading experience.

Many thanks to Minotaur Books/St. Martin's Press via NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I read the first in the series The Vanishing Season and loved it! Of course, I had to get my hands on the second in the series and Ellery she never disappoints ;).

First off, can I just saw how much I love Ellery's dog Speed Bump?! Ugh... my heart <3.

Ellery Hathaway has been suspended from her job as a cop due to killing a vile man that was a psychopath. Hathaway has quite the childhood trauma herself from being targeted by a serial killer that now sits on death row for targeting her as child and many other girls.

Hathaway can never get away from her past and the trauma that she endured. She takes on cases to help other victims that have experienced trauma like her. Hathaway is ordered to do group therapy sessions to come back to work after killing a vile man in the last case she solved.

Hathaway soon finds herself involved in some of the individuals of her group therapy where the violent crimes haven't been solved which include brutal assault and losing a son that was burned a fire years ago.

Of course... Hathaway can't solve her crimes without FBI profiler/agent Markham Reed who pulled her out of that closet years ago.

Joanna definitely doesn't leave her readers without tension, anxiety, and relationships that flourish. She does it again with this high packed tension mystery!

I'd recommend starting from book 1 to get the background story for Hathaway and Markham Reed.

Huge thank you to Minotaur/St. Martin's Press for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Published to GR: 11/6/18
Publication date: 1/15/19

I enjoyed this book so much that after finishing reading it I immediately hopped on Amazon and ordered (and then promptly read!) The first book in the series. This goes on my list of must read favorite authors. I love a strong female lead, who has issues and knows it. The fact that she lived through being taken and continues to fight on being a a really unique perspective to these books. I can't wait for the next one in the series!!

I really enjoyed the first of Schaffhausen's books. And I think I rate this one even more highly.

The characterisation is strong throughout - Ellery is a highly complex character and yet feels very real - down to even the more minor characters. The plot is coherently mapped, and while possibly lacking the "big twist" of the first book, it still takes you by surprise in a couple of places - in my case, right down to the last page.

The author has a definite personal style which I really love. Her work is dark and twisted but it doesn't feel gratuitous, and it focuses on the victims in a way that feels important for books dealing with rape, abuse, and abduction. Heavy content warning for this themes.

I can't wait for the next instalment of this series!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an aERC in return for an honest review.

In this second book of the Ellery Hathaway series picks-up a few months after the conclusion of the first book. Ellery is on forced leave from the police department after a questionable shooting of her attacker. Her department mandated therapist encourages her to attend a support group for victims of violence. Her reluctant attendance of a meeting launches her into new mysteries to be solved. From a 20+ year old arson case to a recent rape, Ellery hears the stories of her fellow group members and decides to seek justice for the rape victim (who asks her for help) and for the falsely incarcerated arsonist. In the midst of these unofficial investigations, she asks FBI agent Reed Markham, her former rescuer, to consult. The relationship between Ellery and Reed is a tricky one, especially as they each feel sexual attraction to the other, and this 2nd book only makes it more complicated. While the 2 mysteries are solved, the book ends with a cliffhanger and increases the anticipation for another book.

There seemed to be too many different things going on in Ellery’s life for this book to keep trace of. It would have been better for a more concentrated effort on fewer I feel.

I was granted access by netgalley.com to an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book was hooked my in the first few pages, and I had a tough time putting it down! Intriguing and suspenseful, I'll recommend to all lovers of mystery and psychological thrillers!

No Mercy is a great mystery. I enjoyed the edge of your seat plot and revisiting characters from The Vanishing. Love this author’s style of writing and look forward to reading more books by her. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my digital arc this is my unbiased review.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read No Mercy by Joanna Schaffhausen. This is book 2 of a series and you really don't have to read book 1, but I think it would have helped understand the main character.
Ellen Hathaway is a police officer on leave of absence.for shooting someone and she is not sorry that she did this at all.
There is alot going on in this book and at times it feels rushed and confusing. This was more of a police procedural book with more details on the female lead in the book.
Just ok for me.

I loved The Vanishing Season and was thrilled when I received and advance copy of No Mercy , just as good as the first one, this one gives us 2 crimes that Reed and Ellery are trying to solve, a serial rapist and an old arson case, I liked that Ellery met both victims in her therapy group that she has been forced to attend , it ties both cases together in the beginning, The solving of the arson was more intriguing to me than the rapist, The growing relationship between Reed and Ellery is exciting and leaves plenty of room for another installment in this series, also the cliffhanger about Reed's past MUST be continued!

This is the second book in this series and I have really enjoyed both books. I like the story line and the interaction among the main characters. This Book does have a lot of twists and a surprise ending which leaves you wanting the next book in this series

Ellery Hathaway is on leave from the police department and is given court ordered therapy. At a therapy group she meets other crime victims and begins to investigate them. Her friend Reed Markham from the FBI who rescued her as a child, is brought into the investigation too. This is a good mystery and I like the relationship between Ellery and Reed.

No Mercy is the second book to feature Ellery Hathaway (the first in this series is The Vanishing Season). Ellery is developed in the first book, so it's worth picking up first, especially if you are a stickler for reading a series in order. Otherwise, dive on in. In this book, Ellery dives directly into the heart of the matter and there are some dastardly twists and turns in an otherwise straightforward, well-paced and well-written mystery/thriller.

Occasionally a book is so well written that anything they write will hit your TO READ SHELF. Joanna Schaffhausen's Ellery Hathaway series wins on all fronts. Love Ellery and Reed and the romantic tension that has been going on. (Hope that blooms so relief is felt by all) Ellery's childhood still holds terror for her but her hero and now friend Reed seems to sooth her. A Couple unsolved crimes come to the attention of Ellery while in a group therapy session. Challenges to unravel these are due to the fact that Ellery has been suspended from the police force. Enjoyed this mostly because of the in depth characters. Suggest ready "Vanishing Season #1 to understand fully what Ellery and Read have been through together. CAN'T WAIT for #3!! A copy of this book was provided by St. Martin's Press via Netgalley with no requirements for a review. Comments here are my honest opinion."

Ellery is a survivor. When she was a young girl she was kidnapped from her bed and held (and abused) by a serial kidnapper, rapist and murderer for three days when she was found by the FBI. Her personal rescuer was Reed, a young FBI agent. It is now some years later and Ellery is a Police Officer who is on leave under the care of a Psychologist because of shooting and killing a suspect who was another serial killer. At a group therapy session she meets two women in particular, one the victim of forceable rape in her home, and the other a woman who had survived an arson fire at her husband’s furniture shop in which her toddler son died. She is badly scarred and in a wheel chair. The man who had been convicted of the arson has been imprisoned for twenty-five years and was attempting to get paroled. He has always maintained his innocence of this particular fire but is obviously guilty of many others. Ellery contacts Reed now a profiler with the FBI. The two of them, both from extremely dysfunctional backgrounds, join forces to look into both women’s cases. The plot is complex and well developed. The climax well suited to the rest of the novel and the ending leaves enough up in the air to make the reader want to read the next in the series. Thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC for an honest review.

So she killed a guy. Hello…he was a vile, psychopathic murdering dirtbag. Why all the fuss? Well, it might be due to the fact she’s a cop. But it’s probably because she’s Ellery Hathaway.

At least that’s what she calls herself now. She had a different name as a young teen. That’s when she was abducted & kept in a closet by a man who now sits on death row. Of all the girls he snatched she was the only one rescued & the media attention was endless. In time the damaged girl grew up, changed her name & became a cop in a small town where no one knew her face. But that all changed after her identity was revealed during her last case when she killed a killer. And the media rejoiced.

Which led to her current situation…. a forced “time out” from the job & mandatory group therapy. Ellery decides she might have to attend the sessions but that doesn’t mean she has to speak. So she listens. To Wendy, a woman who was raped & is still waiting for justice. And to Myra, an older lady still grieving for the baby son she lost decades ago in a fire. Hmmm…

Ellery has always led a solitary life. Her beloved hound Speed Bump & the job were enough. But now her days are empty & with too much time on her hands, she begins to dig into the investigations surrounding Wendy & Myra’s tragic events. All she needs is the help of one person. Enter Reed Markham, the FBI agent who pulled her from the closet all those years ago.

Buckle up, peeps. It’s about to get bumpy. I won’t get into the investigative plot lines. Suffice to say Ellery & Reed make a good team as he puts his profiling skills to use & she does the footwork. But this is also the story of their unique relationship. Ellery is a damaged soul, a woman who can’t stand to be touched & keeps her closet doors nailed shut. The only person she tolerates (besides “Bump”) is Reed. He knows her history & what she endured unlike all the others who stare or pry for sensational details. He also provides a levelling influence.

As Ellery’s investigations become increasingly dangerous, there were times I wanted to sit her down & ask her just what the hell she was thinking (thankfully, Reed does that for me). She seems to have no sense of self preservation. And then I realized she didn’t care if she died because living with all her fears & personal tics was just so hard. She believes (wishes?) she should have died in that closet & it’s left her with a fatalistic feeling that she’s walking around on borrowed time.

By the end, cases are solved & old secrets unearthed. But the final pages put the focus squarely on Reed as he discovers he might have his own closet full of ghosts to deal with. It’s a tense & exciting read that stands well on it’s own but I recommend “The Vanishing Season” to get the full background on these characters.

I received an advanced copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book had me on the edge of my seat the whole time! It was definitely a book that kept you thinking! I would definitely recommend this book to fellow readers. Thank you!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book in return for my honest opinion and review.

This is the second in what I hope is a long running series of books featuring police offer Ellery Hathaway and FBI profiler Reed Markham. This book is a great sequel to the first book but could easily be read as a stand-alone book.

Ellery is currently on suspension following her harrowing escape from. Serial killer and is attending required counselling. Ellery is asked by another member of the victims of violent crimes group to try to help find her attacker, and Ellery decides to call in her saviour, FBI agent Reed Markham to help her. As she gets herself in too deep and almost loses her life again, we have to wonder if she had a death wish. The chemistry between Ellery and Reed is so thick you can almost taste it; but will she ever be able to have a relationship after all the things she has endured? Will she ever get back on the force? Only time and a few more books will tell. I’ll be reading them for sure.

This book was full of action, with lots of twists and turns, The ending was shocking and I turned the page hoping for one more chapter, but will have to patiently wait for the next book. Great characters and well written. Great summer read!