AUTHOR: Nancy Mehl
DATE: 2016
PUBLISHER: Bethany House
STARS: ***1/2
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?
Sounds great, doesn’t it? I expected a tight, tense read from this book, the first by the author that I’ve read. However, for much of the book, I felt I was being told a story rather than being involved in it. Mercy seemed two-dimensional, and the only character I really connected with was her friend and neighbor, Tally Williams.
On the plus side, some scenes did keep me turning the pages, anxious to see what happened. The mystery of the mole was intriguing and suspenseful. I appreciate the faith message of this story, which was clearly presented.
But there were some parts that made me shake my head or even laugh, and they weren’t supposed to be funny. For these reasons, I can only award Fatal Frost three and a half stars.
Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.