Just like the first book in this series, I felt like the story was missing an element. I enjoyed this one slightly better than the first, but just didn't love it as I had hoped to. Jess Lourey is a good author though, and I would try some of her other titles in the future.

While this one was better and more interesting to me than the first book, I still can't say that I enjoyed it. I want to love the code breaking vibe of this series, but it just is not my speed. I will say, I would recommend this book to some of my more "analytical" reader type friends, but again that is just not me. Overall not bad, but just not for me.

I enjoyed the first book a lot and was glad I got to read this sequel in the Salem’s Cipher series. It had an amazing concept and worked with what I was expecting from this type of book. The characters worked in this thriller novel and I enjoyed the puzzle element to this. It uses the FBI code breaker elements perfectly and I enjoyed how the main character was portrayed. It had everything that I was looking for and glad I got to read this.

Thanks @netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This was the second book in the series, and I couldn’t put it down. Some returning characters, interesting historical facts, and a cliff hanger at the end of every chapter. I did guess the twist, but I wasn’t sure if I was right. Definitely check this one out when it’s released at the end of the month. A ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 read. #avivaandfriendsrecos

They said the code was unbreakable, but they hadn’t met Salem Wiley! It took me a while to read this book because I wanted to research the historical places and objects as they were mentioned. It was about 75% fiction and 25% history lesson. The characters are entertaining and well-drawn. There are plenty of surprises and plot twists. I didn’t identify the villain before the reveal, and I was stunned. I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to more by this author. I received a complimentary copy of this book and chose to write a voluntary, unbiased review.

This was a great book. I loved every paragraph, every sentence and every word of this masterpiece! I read it in 12 hours, which is a lot for me to do! It had everything and more laid out in the novel! I sure hope There is more to come from this author! I am totally hooked!

Mercy’s Chase continues Salem’s story from Salem’s Cipher, do read in order! Salem is once again trying to crack the codes to protect the world from the ancient secret conspiracy, working with government and visiting the UK.

It’s interesting to see an author’s previous styles, but I much prefer Jess Lourey’s small town secrets and empathetically written dark crime thrillers.

I enjoyed this more than Salem’s Cipher, the scene was set, I knew the characters and the framework so it was less of a shock to my system. That being said I’m looking forward to getting back to Jess Lourey’s newer works.

Curiosity it’s got me reading these two books, if you enjoy Da Vinci Code-esque quests with centuries of secret history then then these might be the books for you.

Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer

Just as Jess Lourey always does, she DELIVERED! This duo of books keep me so engaged I read them in a rush over a weekend. They were so good I felt like I was watching a movie!

Book 2 in the series, and I enjoyed it just as much as the first. I do think you need to start with the first book to know what’s going on. Loved the multiple points of view and fast-paced action. Definitely a fun read!

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I read both Salem Wiley books consecutively and am glad I did. I think I would have been confused or not have understood the full story and relationships reading them independently.

Mercy's Chase continues Salem Wiley's work on behalf of The Underground, an organization of women that has been racing to uncover the key to a long-held secret that will reveal a world-changing truth. While Salem worked side-by-side with her best friend, Bel Odegaard, in the first book, the people close to her in Mercy's Chase are a mystery in and of themselves, which makes the book an even more interesting read. It was also interesting to see Salem's personal growth between the two novels; she seems stronger and more self-reliant, more in control of the anxiety that plagued her through the first book. As with Salem's Cipher, this book has DaVinci Code elements that require Salem to use her cryptanalyst skills, but she also faces more physical challenges. I figured out an important piece of the puzzle well before the end of the book but kept reading, because the author slips in quite a few red herrings across the board. This was an exciting, fast-paced read for me, well-researched and suspenseful.

Edgar Award nominated Jess Lourey has recently written acclaimed thrillers mostly set in small town Minnesota locales, but she also has a backlog worth investigating. “Mercy’s Chase” is a sequel to “Salem’s Cipher” a thriller featuring witches, a secret world overlord organization, and a lot of codes and ciphers akin to a Dan Brown novel. The same characters return in the second novel and although you could read this as a standalone, I think it’ll be easier if you’ve “Salem’s Cipher” and enjoy the continuing ride with “Mercy’s Chase.” Both of them are being re-released in March 2024, through Thomas and Mercer, part of Amazon Publishing.

Most of the well-written characters return (they really did get rid of a few villains the first time around). This isn’t an immediate follow up to the timeline, so Salem has moved to a new position working within the government in the highly secretive cryptanalysis unit “Black Chamber.”

Lourey has an action-packed story with plenty of secrets to solve and codes to decipher along the way, including the mystery of Stonehenge. I loved the follow up to the first book and there’s room to bring back the major characters in the future. 5 stars!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): NO “Five Eyes,” yes; green eyes, no.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO But I loved when talking about the fact that roses have been around for 35 million years and seem to be just a fancy for women, there’s this quote “Men build towers and walls. Women plant flowers. You see which stands the test of time.”

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for a free advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

Salem just survived her cross country trek to solve cyphers and find her mother and now she has been recruited by the FBI and is in England as a cryptologist. ARC from NetGalley.

Having surived her last adventure, Salem finds herself working for a secret US government group breaking codes and working on a crypto program she has designed. Set in England, Salem is once again tasked with deciphering hidden messages and finding clues that are older than Stonehenge in an attempt to find and rescue Mercy. Mercy is a young girl who we are introduced to in Salem's Cipher and seems to have a vital role in the secret societies.

As Salem treks through England, Scotland, and Ireland, the reader is left wondering if time will again be on her side and who is actually on her side versus who is a hidden mole.

Overall, I enjoyed this story, but felt it fell a little short in comparison to Salem's Cipher. I really liked the points that touched on Stonehenge and liked that it was set in countries I hope to one day explore.

I like this one ok but her newer books are so much better. She does have a way of crafting plot and characters that draw you in and keep you guessing

Rating: 4/5 Stars
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Mercy’s Chase is the second in the Salem’s Cipher series and this one starts a little bit after Salem’s Cipher. Once again, I was getting some serious DaVinci Code vibes with this whole cipher cracking going ons; not to mention I just really love Salem and Bel. This time we are in the UK / Ireland territory – mainly focusing on Stonehenge – which I loved because Stonehenge was the cipher to be broken and lets be honest – I would love for this to be real. There are a lot of elements to the cipher that Salem needs to crack once again and I loved all of the paths that Salem took – especially the part with Rosalind Franklin.
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Just like Salem’s Cipher this book is fast paced with tons of twists strategically placed to keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time. Once again, I am going to call book two – a fun read from start to finish. Mercy’s Chase is also told in multiple points of view, giving you insight to all of the characters. The major twist at the end, I feel like I should have seen coming, but blindsided the hell out of me and I was left so shocked. Such a great read.
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There is so much action throughout the entire series that you wont be bored at all. All of the information that Jess Lourey uses is informative and is super interesting. 10/10 recommend the series. Honestly, I would love for another installment to this series. Also, I would love to see this one become a TV series or a movie – this is right up my alley for things I would watch.
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Mercy’s Chase is being rereleased on 3/26 along with the first in the series – Salem’s Cipher. Be sure to check out both of these books – they are really amazing!! Huge thank you to NetGalley, Jess Lourey and Thomas and Mercer for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

WOW! After reading Salem's Cipher, and enjoying every bit of the thrilling story, I was excited to see that there was a second book with the same main characters.

I loved reading a book with such a strong female as Salem, who is doing her best to outrun a group of men just as determined to kill her.
5 Stars

JESS. I can’t get enough of this author. She recently came to my book store in Bemidji and is a top notch author and person. 10/10 book!

Thanks to Thomas & Mercer, Jess Lourey and NetGalley for these copies of "Salems' Cipher" and "Mercy's Chase."

I was so fortunate to be able to read them back-to-back, as many of the same characters (but I won't say which ones...no spoilers!) appear in both books.

Salem Wiley is a brilliant cryptanalyst (code breaker) who gets pulled into a secret buried for hundreds of years.

Then in "Mercy's Chase," she's forced to solve a secret that is older than she could imagine.

Both books were such fun with non-stop action and clues leading to more clues in some of the world's historic landmarks.

I was blown away by Jess Lourey's imagination and creativity as she linked small details about each of these famous places to create realistic puzzles.

Trust me, you're going to want a search engine handy so you can see photos as you read!

The new cover is beautiful and eyecatching! The book was such a fast paced ride! This is one of my favorite series.

Thanks to NetGalley, Jess Lourey and publisher. Jess Lourey has done it again with this sequel. It’s so addictive and fast-paced. Another that o couldn’t put down. 4stars