Defenders of Justice

Mercy Brennan followed in her father's footsteps in a law enforcement career, but she has no interest in any other connection to him. A U.S. Marshal in St. Louis, Missouri, she's assigned to a joint task force with the St. Louis PD that puts her back into contact with her father and in the sights of St. Louis's most powerful gang.
When the gang has reason to believe Mercy has possession of some highly sensitive and incriminating information, her boss assigns Mark St. Laurent--a Deputy U.S. Marshal and Mercy's ex-boyfriend--to get her out of town until they can guarantee her safety.
Initially unaware of the danger she's in and uncomfortable working with Mark, Mercy's frustration escalates when she discovers the extent her boss and Mark have been keeping her in the dark. It isn't until a freak ice storm hits, stranding them at a remote location and out of contact with the district office, that the full severity of their situation becomes clear. As the storm worsens, the forces of nature combine with a deadly enemy closing in to put their lives at imminent risk. Can they survive long enough for help to arrive--if help is even coming at all?

Published November 1st 2016

 by Bethany House Publishers  

Available for Purchase:

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Meet the Author:

  Nancy Mehl lives in Wichita, Kansas with her husband, Norman, and her very active puggle, Watson. First published in 2001, she has now authored nine books, including an omnibus mystery collection, Cozy in Kansas, which contains three of her previously published Ivy Towers mysteries. Book three in the series, For Whom the Wedding Bell Tolls, won the American Christian Fiction Writers Mystery Book of the Year award. Nancys main writing interests lie in mystery although her new Harmony Series leans more toward the romantic suspense genre. Nancy runs a HUD program for the city of Wichita and is president of a volunteer organization, Wichita Homebound Outreach. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Kansas Authors Club. 

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My Thoughts:

I have not read many of Nancy Mehl's books, but each one that I have read has taken me on an adventure that I loved.  This book is no different.  I love suspense novels and this is book has spine tingling suspense that I couldn't put down.  

From the first page I was immediately drawn into the story which takes place in Missouri. This story centers around US Marshal Mercy Brennan.  Mercy is shot during an undercover sting and saved by the one person she trusts, her childhood friend Tally who is currently with the St Louis PD.  When her estranged father is murdered she suddenly becomes a target and her superiors want her out of the city.  Under the guise of investigating a man in witness protection she and fellow US Marshal Mark St. Lourent  along with Tally head out to a small town about 130 miles away.  Unfortunately someone is set on them not making the drive and with the weather conditions they may not.  

Mercy is a complex character, but one I grew to really love.  She has trust issues do to her father's abandonment and doesn't let anyone close, expect for Tally.  She and Mark have a history and not one she wants to revisit.  Mark has always loved Mercy and he will protect her even if that means putting his own life in danger.  

This is a spine tingling, suspense that is filled with many twists and turns.  The characters are engaging.  The setting is detailed and perceptive.  This is a book I would recommend to anyone who loves  suspense.  

I received this book from the publisher as part of their book bloggers program.  I was not required to write a positive review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.   

I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series, Dark Deception, which is set to be released in May 2017.

 

Kate O'Brien has been leading a quiet life in small-town Shelter Cove, Arkansas, for the past four years when her past suddenly comes roaring back to life. Four years ago, she and her twin sister were attacked by an elusive serial

killer. Only Kate survived, and it was her drawing of the attacker--along with some last-minute evidence--that convicted the suspect.

She's been in witness protection ever since, but new evidence suggests the convicted man isn't the murderer and she's been subpoenaed to testify in the new trial. Nervous about the risk, she'll only agree if the same marshal who protected her during the original trial escorts her to St. Louis.

Deputy U.S. Marshal Tony DeLuca accepts the assignment to bring Kate to the trial, remembering how her strength impressed him. While in Shelter Cove, however, he gets a call from his chief, advising them to stay in Shelter Cove until a new development in the case can be straightened out. But when Kate's safety is threatened, Tony must race against the clock to keep her alive and put this ugly case to rest before anyone else gets killed.