Twisted and gripping. This one grabs you at the beginning and doesn't let go! Suspended from the job, Ellery manages to become embroiled in two investigations. Reed can't say no to her and soon he is along for the ride. We see more development of Ellery in this one. Including her tendency to place herself in danger. We also see the beginnings of something more brewing between the two. The rape case ends a bit anticlimactic. However, the arson case is full of action and surprise. I never saw that coming. And I just have to say, that ending! Wow!

I really enjoyed this book. I did not even read the first one, but jumped into this one. I loved the main character and her determination. She was a troubled cop who wanted to right all the wrongs. The survivor of a serial killer, hunting another one now... it was a thriller. I had to finish it.

Ellie Hathaway was the lucky one. Saved by Reed Markham, an FBI profiler, she is the only victim to survive being taken by a psychotic serial killer. But life for Ellie isn't about how fortunate she was, but rather a daily struggle to overcome the nightmares and scars of her ordeal. She is currently on leave from her job as a police officer and attending department mandated therapy sessions.
Ellie quickly finds her attention drawn to two cold cases. One, a woman who was raped, and one, a young boy who died in a fire. While Ellie is supposed to be focusing on herself, she is a firm believer in victim justice and it isn't long before she reaches out to Reed for help in solving these cases.
The story was fast-paced and plenty was going on between the two cases and the dynamic between Ellie and Reed to keep you flipping pages. Ellie may have once been a victim, but she is a strong and resourceful character now. One who makes some questionable decisions, but in her mind, for all the right reasons. This was the second book in this series, and I would highly recommend reading the first book, The Vanishing Season before diving into No Mercy.

I received a DRC from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley.

I really enjoyed The Vanishing Season and loved Ellery and I enjoyed No Mercy but it wasn't as creepy or as suspenseful for me but the tension in the story had me at the edge of my seat.

Joanna Schaffhausen does a good job developing our strong and interesting yet flawed character here with Ellery. I loved the dynamics even more here between Ellery and Reed. I can't believe I am going to say this but the romantic tension between them had me turning those pages as fast as I could to see more of that dynamics. They grow closer here in this one and become a little reckless in their own investigation that created even more tension and I couldn't help but cheer them on.

That ending has me wanting more and I am looking forward to reading All The Best Lies

No Mercy by Joanna Schaffhausen is th follow up to the fantastic Vanishing Season featuring police officer Ellery Hathaway. I read the first book earlier this year and I am a bit behind in my review for this one. Once I picked this up I couldn't put it down, reading it quite quickly. The story is fast paced and full of action, keeping my interest all the way.

After the explosive events of The Vanishing Season Ellery is on forced leave to recover, both physically and mentally. If she has any chance of getting her job back with the force she has to behave herself and do as she is told. She begrudgingly starts to attend group therapy with other victims of crime. It is here that she meets the victim of a brutal rape, whoever attcker is still out there. She also meets a woman who lost her son in a fire, but was the right man convicted. She manages to get Reed Markham from the FBI back to town. Help her investigate these 2 cases, outing herself in danger once again. Will she be able to help these women and stay alive?

Thanks to St Martins Press and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased

No Mercy by Joanna Schaffhausen
This is the 2nd book in this series but definitely stands on its own, that said I will read the 1st book in this series as I am definitely interested in Ellery's background and this book was so good I need to see how it all began. No Mercy has Ellery on the hunt for a serial rapist and also she is looking into a decades old fire that burnt a lady and killed a 2 year old boy...she calls Reed (FBI) in to help. This is one of those books where the author does such a good job of building the characters that you can almost picture them and know how they are thinking and feeling and you don't want to put the book down until you've read the whole story! I will be looking forward to reading more from this author and seeing what Ellery and Reed get involved in next! Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this book and leaving my honest opinion.

This is the second installment in the Ellery Hathaway Series and I was pretty excited for this one after reading The Vanishing Season. It was great to learn what Ellery and of course Reed were up to now.

Ellery is on leave from her job, after the fatal shooting she was involved in. And it doesn't take her too long to find herself back in some dangerous situation. While attending a support group for victims of violent crimes, she finds herself looking into a case of a rapist and not only that an old arson case. Of course, FBI Agent Reed Markham is all to happy to help her. They have a sort of connection after everything they went through in book one. He also wants to make sure she is safe, but was it all strictly professional or person?

You'd think after everything that happened to Ellery in her life, she would run danger, but instead she run towards it. I have to say I admire her tenacity but at the same time I questioned her sanity. She has NO fear and gets herself into some very dangerous and almost deadly situations. Reed however, is also by hers side trying to help her with the cases and trying to keep her safe, which of course isn't easy.

There was no shortage of suspense and thrilling and frightening moments all through this and it sure kept my on my toes till the end. While the cases that were involved this time around might be solved, there are still so many questions about Ellery and Reed that still need to answered, and it all makes for a great set up for the next installment, All the Best Lies that will be out early next year. And it is one that I am pretty excited to get my hands on.

New author for me but pleasantly surprised. Thank you for the approval and look forward to a book relationship with other reads in the future,

This book is the second in the Ellory Hathaway series, and while it can be read as a standalone, it’s advisable to read the first novel before starting this one to understand some context.

The Noel starts with Ellory out of work and in therapy after the final confrontation and shooting in the first novel. Her therapist suggests taking part in a support group for victims of violet crime. There, Ellory meets two women who intrigue her and prick her officer instincts. She calls in Reed and the pair begin to dive into both a recent case and a historic one.

The mysteries in this book are great - the clues are laid out as the author wants them to be and he solutions are very emotional and tie everything together. Things end as they should and I was very anxiously turning pages to find the solutions.

The subject matters are very sensitive, and they’re handled really well. There’s a lot of complex emotions involved, and we really feel that as the readers, in my opinion. Things play out as they would in real life, not a fairy tale, and that makes the book more powerful.

I really like Ellory, though I don’t know if I’m a fan of her complex relationship with Reed. I don’t get a real romantic vibe from them, but maybe it will grow on me? Regardless, there’s a very intriguing storyline with Reed that is not wrapped up, so we’re going to have to wait to see how it plays out!

Thanks to the publishers for sharing this one. I liked it a lot more than the first book, The Vanishing Season. The author seems to have really come into her own this time. I look forward to the next one. My full review appears on Weekend Notes.

This is the second book to feature policewoman Ellery Hathaway, an extremely well drawn character. I did not read the first book, however I didn't feel too lost when I picked up No Mercy. The story itself was entertaining, if a little complicated. There is also a featured male character, FBI profiler Reed Markham. He and Ellery have history and he is pulled into her affairs while trying to settle one of his own cases. The plot is well woven, a little predictable, but held my attention well. I think what I appreciated most was the thoroughness of the character profiles, both primary and secondary. I would definitely read more from Joanna Schaffhausen.
I received my copy through NetGalley under no obligation.

Ellery and Reed are back for more crime fighting and close calls! I really enjoyed this book and it absolutely kept me on my toes. Ellery (previously known as Abigial) was once the victim of a serial killer. She was the one who survived. She's now a small-town cop on leave after a justified shooting and is being forced to attend a weekly group for victims of violent crime in order to get her job back.. She meets an interesting cast of characters, one who needs her help and the other whose crime sounds like justice may not have been truly served. Of course, Ellery needs the help of new friend and old protector, Reed Markham of the FBI. Can they figure out what's going on before someone else gets attacked?

This was a fast and engrossing read and I really enjoyed all the characters. Once again, I can't wait to see what's next for Ellery and Reed. I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I love a series and this may be my new favorite!

I love the dog and that the name is Speed Bump! So cute!

Such an intriguing book that kept me on the edge of my seat. I am completely invested in Ellery and Reed. I want to read more about them. I just love their chemistry and the will they or won't they subplot going on. These characters are extremely likable yet flawed.

I will pick up a third installment of this book if one is written.

Thankyou to NetGalley, Minotaur, St Martin's Press and the author, Joanna Schaffhausen, for the opportunity to read a digital copy of No Mercy in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
When I received this book initially, I did not realise that it was a follow on from another novel by the author.
I had no trouble in picking up the backstory though, and quite enjoyed the literary ride this book provided.
I thought it was well written with realistic, well developed characters. Will definitely be reading the previous novel as well as more in this series.
Well worth a read.

Minotaur Books and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of No Mercy. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

Ellery Hathaway is a police officer with a tortured past, currently on administrative leave after shooting a man to death. Ordered by the courts to see a psychiatrist before being reinstated, Ellery ends up at a survivor's group for victims of violent crime. Here she meets Wendy Mendoza, a young woman whose case has gone cold due to lack of evidence, and Myra Gallagher, whose infant son died in a fire. Asked by Wendy to look into her unsolved case, Ellery enlists the help of FBI agent Reed Markham, with whom she has a past history. When Ellery starts digging into both Wendy and Myra's cases, will her own safety be put in jeopardy? Does Ellery's own past brush with her own mortality give her a unique perspective?

No Mercy is the second book featuring Ellery Hathaway and Reed Markham. The author has settled into the characters more, especially in regards to Reed. The biggest issue that I had with No Mercy was the sheer number of side plots. As the action goes back and forth between these tangents, the central plot gets a little lost. Ellery is a headstrong woman, determined to right the wrongs after her brushes with the depravity of the world. Reed finds his voice a little more in this book, especially in regards to his convictions. Ellery and Reed work well together, as I find that many successful mystery thriller novels include characters from the FBI and the police working in tandem to find a perpetrator. Moving forward, I would love to see the author streamline the plot a little more, working on one case at a time instead of muddying the waters with needless side plots. Readers who are new to the series can certainly start with No Mercy, but for continuity sake, I would recommend reading The Vanishing Season first.

No Mercy is a mystery/thriller and the second book in The Ellery Hathaway Series. I really enjoy both books in this series however, No Mercy is my favorite so far.

Police officer Ellery Hathaway survived being brutalized by a serial killer when she was a teenager (this isn’t a spoiler because it’s revealed at the beginning of the series). She was saved by Reed Markam, an FBI profiler many moons earlier. Currently Ellery is on leave from work and trying to get in touch with her feelings in an attempt to find some sense of normalcy, so she attends a support group at the urging of a doctor. At the support group she finds herself engulfed in unsolved criminal acts that she wants to help specific individuals put to a close. Putting herself in danger in true Ellery style, this fast-paced, psychological thriller will have you turning pages faster than your hands will allow.

I love this series however No Mercy is written so well that although this is the second book in the series it can be read alone. Great engrossing, and unique, plot that boasted well-developed flawed characters that you’ll enjoy getting to know. Can't wait to read the next book in The Ellery Hathaway Series.

I received a review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Synopsis from the Publisher/NetGalley.com
Police officer Ellery Hathaway and FBI profiler Reed Markham take on two difficult new cases in this stunning follow-up to The Vanishing Season.

"A gripping and powerful read. It is what we call an edge-of-your-seat, rollercoaster of a thriller. You will not be able to put it down before you finish it."—The Washington Book Review on The Vanishing Season

No Mercy is award-winning author Joanna Schaffhausen’s heart-pounding second novel.

Police officer Ellery Hathaway is on involuntary leave from her job because she shot a murderer in cold blood and refuses to apologize for it. Forced into group therapy for victims of violent crime, Ellery immediately finds higher priorities than “getting in touch with her feelings.”

For one, she suspects a fellow group member may have helped to convict the wrong man for a deadly arson incident years ago. For another, Ellery finds herself in the desperate clutches of a woman who survived a brutal rape. He is still out there, this man with the Spider-Man-like ability to climb through bedroom windows, and his victim beseeches Ellery for help in capturing her attacker.

Ellery seeks advice from her friend, FBI profiler Reed Markham, who liberated her from a killer’s closet when she was a child. Reed remains drawn to this unpredictable woman, the one he rescued but couldn’t quite save. The trouble is, Reed is up for a potential big promotion, and his boss has just one condition for the new job—stay away from Ellery. Ellery ignores all the warnings. Instead, she starts digging around in everyone’s past but her own—a move that, at best, could put her out of work permanently, and at worst, could put her in the city morgue.

It is always good to find a new series of books to get into.
This is the second book in the series but the book is so well written that you could read it as a stand-alone.
This is a powerful suspenseful read that I didn’t want to put down

This is book 2 of a series and, once again, I did not read book 1. While I do believe that I could have benefited from reading book 1, I don't feel that the background was actually lost.

I do believe that this is a series that I will definitely stay with. I want to stay in touch with Ellery Hathaway, a police officer that is on 'involuntary leave' because she shot a real scum bag. Because of the shooting she is forced into attending group therapy for those victims of violent crime.

Many thanks to Netgalley and St Martins Press for this advanced readers copy.

Years ago Ellery Hathaway was the seventeenth victim of serial killer Francis Michael Coben . FBI Agent Reed Markham managed to rescue Ellery and years later helped her solve another case. As a result of the case she is currently on leave from the police department while she completes her department-mandated therapy where she meets Wendy who was brutally raped and Myra who is confined to a wheelchair, covered in severe burns. Can Ellery help find Wendy’s rapist and find enough reasons to keep Myra’s arsonist behind bars?

No Mercy by Joanna Schaffhausen is the second book in Ellery Hathaway series. This is another action packed thriller with lots of twists & turns that will keep you hooked and to top that has an explosive ending. I cannot wait for the next book in the series !

I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.

Great mystery and plot to No Mercy, the second in a series by Joana Schaffhausen. I didn't realize until I started reading it that it was a sequel. WHIle I enjoyed it very much, I know if would have been even better had I read the first one (which I intend to do ASAP!) Would recommend!