The Absence of Mercy

“From the ominous first line to the haunting epilogue, John Burley catapults the reader into a chiller of a debut thriller. Harlan Coben meets Patricia Cornwell in an idyllic suburbia stalked by a predator that will leave an indelible mark long after the final page is turned.”

—Wendy Corsi Staub, New York Times

bestselling author of Sleepwalker

“Will send chills down your spine. A taut psychological thriller, The Absence of Mercy delves into the hearts and minds of a variety of characters… and pushes the boundaries of our understanding of the lengths a parent will go to protect their child.”

—Alice LaPlante, New York Times

bestselling author of Turn of Mind

“In the tradition of Robin Cook and Kathy Reichs, John Burley brings murder to small-town America. And like those bestselling novels, The Absence of Mercy is written by an expert who can also tell a really good tale. This one oozes authenticity.”

—Ace Atkins, New York Times

bestselling author of Robert B. Parker’s Wonderland

“Riveting, disturbing, and complex, John Burley’s The Absence of Mercy is impossible to put down. The suspense starts early and is unrelenting until the very end.”

—Heather Gudenkauf, New York Times

bestselling author of The Weight of Silence

“It’s become a cliché to say you read a book in one sitting, and it’s not true here. I had to get up in the middle of The Absence of Mercy for a drink to calm my nerves.”

—Linwood Barclay, New York Times

bestselling author of Never Look Away