
Publisher: Sugar Hill Press
Available to buy from….
Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk Paperback

After the explosive finale in the Redemption series I wondered what next Mefford had in store for his fans. As soon as I heard he had a new book published, I knew I had to cease the opportunity to read and review it.
Mercy, book 1 in the A Ball and Chain Thriller is the latest offering from Mefford’s repertoire. I went on this latest journey with high expectations and I ended it feeling satisfied and looking forward to more from these new and quirky characters.
Mercy introduces Cooper Chain and Willow Ball. Eighteen years ago, they dated in college, but their relationship ended. They have not seen each other since until they met in a bridal store when Cooper came to deliver magazines. They are both at different stages in their life. Willow is about to get married to a wealthy accountant and Cooper while barely making ends meet is deep in debt to some shady characters.
The chemistry between them is alive and well, but before they could even fathom what these feelings meant they found themselves embroiled in a murder investigation.
The story started out slow, but it picked up the pace as it progressed. In usual Mefford style it had me guessing as to the killer’s
identity, motive and who the next victim would be. I had a hard time putting this one down as I had to know who the killer was and if there was any connection to the person who had disappeared thirty years ago.
I enjoyed meeting this new cast of diverse characters and I am eager to learn more about them.
The POVs of Cooper and Willow added an emotional vibe to the story and made it easy to understand the myriad of emotions they experienced.
Conclusion/Recommendation
Overall, this was an enjoyable read. I would recommend this to fans of mysteries and thrillers. I found this enjoyable and cannot wait for the next book in the series


The torment builds and builds and builds….
He can’t deny it.
But in what form will the pressure erupt?
Cooper Chain isn’t just down on his luck — he’s almost down for the count. The mob wants a piece of him, and he sees no way out.
It’s a special week for Willow Ball, a woman who’s survived her own tribulations to reach this milestone in her life.
Through fate — or a temporary misalignment of the stars — Willow and Cooper cross paths for the first time since college. Will an unexpected spark re-ignite the flame?
A shattering discovery changes everything for Willow and Cooper. The murder is unlike any other. But what will the cops do about it?
Attacks ensure, chaos ruptures a family . . . Through it all, how can Willow and Cooper find the killer?
But it’s not over. As the bodies pile up, a pattern develops and it rocks Willow and Cooper to the core.
And then someone emerges after a three-decade disappearance. Could he be connected to this string of murders?
The past might provide the breadcrumbs to end this nightmare. But Willow and Cooper may not live long enough to see it through.
Will mercy save a life or end many?
Get MERCY now!
If you’re a fan of Michael Connelly’s Ballard and Bosch, David Baldacci’s King and Maxwell, Tess Gerritsen’s Rizzoli and Isles, and the TV show “Castle,” then you’ll be sucked into this first, page-turning Ball & Chain thriller.
Readers are saying…
“MERCY is full of suspense and sass. An exciting, mind-blowing adventure.”
“Willow Ball and Cooper Chain are flawed and funny, yet so very real in how they deal with the heart-pounding curve balls.”
“You’ll be enthralled by the gripping story, and you’ll laugh out loud from the snarky interactions between Willow and Cooper. I hope this is the first of many killer Ball & Chain adventures.”
“The most original new thriller series out there!”
John W. Mefford has been writing his debut novel since he first entered the work force almost thirty years ago, although he never put words on paper until 2009. Once he started writing, however, he couldn’t stop. Many readers ask John from where he gets his ideas. Well, he’s a veteran of the corporate rat-race, a former journalist, and he’s always been an astute observer of human and social behavior. On top of that, he’s really good at embellishing.
A member of International Thriller Writers, John writes novels full of electrifying suspense — the same types of books he has loved to read since before he could shave.
When he’s not writing, he chases his youth on bike or a basketball court, all while making mental notes of people and societies across the land.
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