I find myself reading a lot of psychological thrillers lately. Not sure if that says something about me or about the quality of the books I've been choosing. I do know that this one is an excellent example of quality writing and an engrossing cast of characters doing their best to survive.
Ellery is on leave and in therapy for killing a murderer. As a police officer she is expected to maintain a distance between her actions and her feelings...yea, not gonna happen. Trust Ellery to have her therapy sessions turned into crime scenes. She must investigate a maybe crime at the same time she's pulled into an unsolved crime that will bring her into dangerous contact with more than one criminal. Ellery leans on her FBI friend Reed. The two of them have a complicated friendship but Ellery knows she can count on him. The two of them make a solid crime solving team.
This book is a quick read. It keeps your attention solidly on trying to figure out what is going to happen next.

Even though this is the second book in the series and I didn't read the first book, I didn't feel like I had missed out on anything from before as I read. The main character, Ellery Hathaway is well written and dynamic and the supporting cast of characters brings a richness and depth to the story that is sometimes missing from other authors. The plot is filled with suspense, plenty of action, and some romance. I will definitely be back tracking and reading the first book in the series and keep my eyes out for the next book in the series. Thanks NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC.

Wow - all kinds of action

This is the second great book in the Ellery Hathaway series, following THE VANISHING SEASON.

Ellery is on extended leave from the police department after shooting a vile serial killer in the first book. She's mandated to get therapy plus her therapist decides she needs to attend group meetings for survivors of violent crimes. Her therapist wants her to actively participate in these meetings but instead Ellery involves herself in the stories of two of the other survivors.

As she looks into the crimes she ends up calling Reed Markham, the FBI agent who rescued her when she was a teenager from another demented serial killer (she seems to attract the attention of seriously warped people). Reed comes to help her and the action ramps up.

I like this series a lot and especially like the characters of Ellery and Reed - and also Ellery's galumphing dog Speed Bump. The characters are fully developed and the stories in this book are realistic and scary.

I recommend that you read book one first and don't miss out on this series if you like suspense, thrillers, damaged characters, or murder mysteries.

I received this book from Kensington Books through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.

I am so sorry! I read what I was able to but I could not enlarge the print. I sure would have liked to read more!

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley.

After reading the fantastic THE VANISHING SEASON, I was eager to get my hands on the sequel, NO MERCY. I was not disappointed!

Police officer Ellery Hathaway is now on involuntary leave because she shot a murderer at the end of the last book. The public also knows that she once was the single living survivor of a serial killer, which makes her something of a curiosity. Ellery hates this unwanted attention, as well as being required to attend group therapy for victims of violent crimes. All of this leads to her starting to investigate both an arsonist and a serial rapist. So she turned to her friend, FBI profiler Reed Markham for help, the man who saved her all of those years ago

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She thought of the nightmares and the day mares and the horrible claustrophobia that came from having a serial killer live inside your head. She could shake and scream and kick the walls but never got him loose.


Ellery Hathaway has lived with her pain being consumed by the media. Always guarded, always wary, never letting anyone in. To get back on the force, she must complete therapy of a support group of survivors. In her group she meets two complete different women with their own pain. One a mother who survived a fire but her young son was killed and a young woman who was brutally raped in her own home with no leads to the rapist.

Each of these cases has sparked a light in Ellery that she cannot ignore. She calls Reed an FBI profiler that has rescued her several times to help her with these two cases. The arsonist case was over 20 years and it looks like the wrong man may have been charged. Ellery and Reed uncover family secrets that lead threatening notes on Ellery's door.

The young woman that was raped has approached Ellery to help her find the rapist. Wendy feels that she cannot go on in life until her rapist is brought to justice. Ellery knowing the same pain as Wendy, does her own research to find the man.

With both these cases, Ellery's background, the chemistry between Reed and Ellery, the narration becomes intense as clues become uncovered. The end brings another mystery to uncover that will only bring Reed and Ellery together again.

A Special Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

First book I’ve read by this author but already I’m looking forward to catching up on the first book in this series.

This can be read as a stand alone novel however I personally would have preferred to have a better understanding of the initial story to help explain a few points.

That said it was a gripping storyline with plenty of twists to keep me enthralled.

4 stars

Another strong read written by Joanna Schaffhausen. This is book two in the series but could be read before book #1 as Joanna gives enough back story. It had been a considerable time since I read the first book, The Vanishing Season, after I received this book. We do pick up where book one left off with Ellery on "leave" from her job as a cop as she killed her someone in the last book. I don't want to give too much away in either book.

Joanna Schaffhausen knows how to write a dark deep twisted story. She made the female character likable even though she didn't have "cheery" disposition. We deal with dark subjects thrown in with witty banter which is a breath of fresh air. There are a lot of different mysteries that Reed and Ellery are working on but never does it seem too much. I like how everything was interwoven and how everything turned out. The relationship that is forged between Ellery and Reed is something to root for - even though it isn't what I normally read in terms of romance. It is right in tune for Ellery's character. You really need to read to experience this type of relationship.

How the book ended, I have high hopes for book for another book! No Mercy is on sale on January 15th! Pre-order and/or buy this book! The writing is wonderful and the suspense kept me on the edge of my seat.

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4 Had Me At Hello Stars
* * * * Spoiler Free
I was lucky enough to have read the first book, The Vanishing Season by Joanna Schaffhausen. I read it in a fury to get it all, engrossed throughout.

Now we have another strong entry with the returning characters of Police officer Ellery Hathaway and FBI profiler Reed Markham coming back together to see what is what with two different cases they find themselves drawn to...

Emily is on involuntary leave...note involuntary from her job. She killed a murderer and refuses to apologize for doing it. The powers that be send her to "counseling" and little do they realize what they have done. Emily is not the type of person who is going to get all touchy-feely and share her past life with a circle of others in the therapy. She has too much she has worked to keep hidden all of these years.

Instead, Emily uses her innate skills; she listens and observes. She hears a woman in the group reveal clues which may point to a man who was unfairly convicted for an arson crime. With another member, she experiences a need so strong from a rape victim, she reaches out to her FBI profiler friend to look into it.

What happens next is a read which will take you through all of the steps a profiler goes through, a continued friendship between two professionals and harrowing thrill ride to its conclusion.

A gifted copy was provided by St. Martin's Press via NetGalley for an honest review.

No Mercy by Joanna Schaffhausen is the second book of the thrilling Ellery Hathaway series. This series follows Ellery Hathaway who is now a police officer but Ellery wasn’t her original name, she changed and became the person she is today thanks to once being the victim herself.

Years ago Ellery Hathaway became victim number seventeen of serial killer Francis Michael Coben when she was abducted and held captive. Ellery was lucky enough that FBI Agent Reed Markham saw something other investigators hadn’t and followed clues to Coben’s home where he managed to rescue Ellery and put Coben behind bars making Ellery the one that survived.

However, while on a case in search of another killer Ellery’s worse nightmare came about and she and Reed had to solve both cases. Now after everything that happened Ellery is once again in the spotlight and forced to take a break from her job and enter therapy where Ellery meets another victim. Not being able to pass by helping another victim Ellery again finds herself asking Reed Markham to come help her with a case.

Being the second book of this series I already know what to expect and dare I say I think this one just got a little better than the first leaving me to rate it at 4.5 stars. What you have in this series is a small town vibe with a flawed main character that has taken her tortured past and turned into one heck of a strong female lead. Pair that up with a determined FBI partner that is still very much wanting to rescue and keep her safe and it makes for a great dynamic duo chasing down these killer cases. Definitely a fan and will look forward to more in the series.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

No Mercy is the type of book I try not to read anymore; a crazed killer, a damaged heroine, and a slight will they/ won’t they subplot. Except when the book is written by Joanna Schaffhausen. Then I am on the hunt for the book.
Evidently you can’t shoot a crazed killer in cold blood. Especially you can’t pull that trigger if you are a cop. Even if you are Ellery Hathaway, the only survivor of the serial killer that the most recent dead serial killer is emulating. Confused? Then read The Vanishing Season. Not because it is necessary to understand No Mercy but just for the sheer pleasure. Read it and weep.
Anywhohows, as my ol’ daddy would say, Ellery is on suspension and is in forced therapy. Ellie doesn’t think she needs individual therapy much less group therapy for crime victims. She won’t apologize for shooting the psychopath and she already knows she is damaged w-a-a-a-a-a y beyond healing.
Some of these members have been in this group for a good many years, which is a pretty damn depressing realization on its own merit. In order to get through group therapy hell, Ellie decides to help out a few of the other members of her therapy group.
Ellery realizes early on that she can’t help these people alone and that she needs the help of the FBI agent, Reed Markham, who saved her once. He was drawn to help the young police officer once again in The Vanishing Season. For some odd reason Reed is told that he will pay a tough professional price if he aids Ellie again. Serial killers, the gift that just keeps on giving.
Schaffhausen has written such wonderfully damaged characters with Ellery and Reed. Ellery is haunted by why she survived when no other victims did. Reed is haunted by the “if only” thoughts of why he couldn’t have been faster, smarter and saved more victims. Ellery is his victory, and maybe now his downfall. Again.
Schaffhausen certainly kept me guessing. The crimes Ellery are asked to look into aren’t unusual but they are vicious and the victims are still hoping for some kind of peace and closure. Ellery, however, knows there is no such thing. With one villain, the leads were there, with the other storyline being a true whodunit. Ellie is also reminded of the law of unintended consequences.
Reed utilizes his analytic profiling skills to help Ellie despite the professional price he might pay, which sucks as he is finally coming to accept the personal price he has paid to be an agent.
Schaffhausen’s secondary characters were intriguing and spent no time in the “flat character green room” waiting to be brought on-page. When the other characters appear, they can be mesmerizing.
There are secondary plots with surprising family issues that are just as compelling and will have you eagerly looking for the third book.
There is a hint of romance between Ellie and Reed, but it never goes anywhere because the two numbskulls don’t seem to realize there are lots of airplanes, trains and buses that travel between Virginia and Boston. Which makes me crazy.
The pace is perfect; the dialogue is smooth until it explodes in unexpected directions. This nascent series is one of the best I’ve read in recent years.
My thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This series is only getting better....
No Mercy, the second book in the Ellery Hathaway series, continues with the theme of what happens to survivors of traumatic events after the initial event is over. The book starts out with Ellery on suspension after the events of the previous book, and in order to get back on the job she attends group meetings for survivors of trauma. Each of the members has experienced a different sort of trauma, and the author takes time to explore that. Through this group Ellery gets involved in two different mysteries, and again calls on FBI agent Reed Markham for help. What really drove the story for me was the development of the relationship between Ellery and Reed, which is slow, emotional, and took time to grow, but it felt real for the characters involved, as both are hesitant based on their past experiences. The story was well paced, except I have to say there was quite a bomb dropped on the very last page that has me clamoring for the next book in the series to see how it plays out...

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free copy of this book for my review.

It was pretty fun. Even though I didn't read the first book for this series, it doesn't stop your from reading it because it was a different story after all..

It was pretty fun read and fast-paced but one thing that gets me is the way the story was "forcefully" being thriller and mysterious in way.

Because of Ellery's action from the first book, she was advised to be part of group therapy session wherein she found a spooky and fishy story of sexual assault and abuse to one of the member of the therapy and dive into finding out who is that man who assault this girl.

Okay, quite cliche but very forcefully drove into thriller/detective vibe.

But, wouldn't want some thrilling story.

The story is a roller coaster ride wherein there are certain parts that made me lost and ask "where I am in this?"

I hope the story focus more to the "girl/s who was assaulted" because at the end, their investigation to this mysterious peeing tom/sexual assault man drags a family issue/drama wherein I don't see the point of it to the main purpose of the case Ellery wants to find out.

Afterall, it was a fun read.

I liked The Vanishing Season a lot so hoped No Mercy would live up to the promise - and it certainly did! The characters are vivid and well-defined, and the action is nonstop. There are several intertwining stories that keep the narrative going. This is one of those books I just didn't want to put down. There were plenty of twists and red herrings that keep the reader guessing.

This book ended with a cliffhanger that absolutely promises another in the series. I look forward to it!!

The second in a series and this is one of those typical mystery series where each "case" is self contained in each book, but there is character development of the main characters from book to book. So I suggest starting with book one, but you can skip to book two if you wish.

Ellery Hathaway is on leave due to the ending of book one. She is attending mandated therapy and group therapy and while at group therapy she inserts herself into a current investigation and one from the past that maybe a little different then what people think. The FBI profiler, Reed Markham, is back from book one and I love the way the author brings him back and the dynamics they have in this book.

I think my most favorite thing about this book was that due to Ellery's inability to use all of her police insider stuff, she has to be creative to solve the two crimes. I loved how she had to really use different techniques to investigate because she couldn't use all the databases and such that she could have if she were a full time police officer.

The two cases were so different, so I didn't have a problem at all keeping them separate and enjoying each one of them. I think it was a good idea to have two in this book because they each had ebbs and flows in the investigative process and when one was a little stagnant the other picked up.

I hope there is more to come from this series, I enjoy the duo of Reed and Ellery.

Abgeschlossenes Buch mit einem einem aufregendem Cliffhanger zum nächsten Band.
Die Autorin schafft eine athmosphärisch dichte Geschichte mit sympathischen Charakteren mit Ecken und Kanten, voller Spannung und hoher Glaubwürdigkeit.
Macht definitiv Lust auf mehr.

4.25*
I am so happy to have a new series to enjoy!
This is book 2 of the Ellery Hathaway series, but no worries if you want to jump right in! It easily stands on its own! Joanna Schaffhausen cleverly gives enough detailed background that will make it possible to put you into the middle of the action.

Ellery has seen more than her fair share of horror. Remarkably, she’s survived a serial killers’ attempts on her life. On not one, but two separate occasions!
She is currently on leave from the police department while she completes her department-mandated therapy.
Except sending Ellery to therapy doesn’t quite achieve the Zen-like, inner-peace they were hoping for. Just the opposite! She’s made it her personal mission to help two women from her therapy group, putting her own need for help on the back-burner.

Wendy was brutally raped and left a shell of the woman and the person she was. Her rapist never caught. Can Ellery bring this animal to justice and give Wendy her life back?

Myra is confined to a wheelchair, covered in severe burns. She still mourns the loss of her dear, young son who died in the fire. The arsonist just came up for parole. Can she find enough reasons to keep him behind bars? But is that really where he belongs?

Ellery calls on her long-time confidant, close friend and FBI agent Reed Markham to return to Boston to help re-examine both these cases. Of course, Reed cannot say no. He can never say no to Ellery!
But is that purely for professional reasons? Hmmmm…🤔

Joanna Schaffhausen writes a powerful, suspenseful read that I quickly devoured in just a couple sittings.

Fasten your seat-belts…Oh my gosh, the ending!!
WOW! I cannot wait for book 3!!

A buddy read with Susanne!☃️

Thank you to Danielle Prielipp at St. Martin’s Press- Minotaur Books via NetGalley and Joanna Schaffhausen for an ARC to read and review.

Second book in the Ellery Hathaway series and it's a very good follow up. A complex and developed plot from this author and one I will certainly follow. I loved that ending and look forward to the follow up. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC. Reviews on Goodreads and Facebook.

No Mercy is the second book in Ellery Hathaway series and is best enjoyed after reading the first book, The Vanishing Season. In No Mercy Ellery is on involuntary leave and is forced to attend group therapy sessions in order to keep her police job. At the group therapy she meets other victims of violent crimes. With the help of an FBI agent and her only friend, Reed Markham, she starts to investigate two different crimes, an unsolved brutal rape of a young woman and 26 years-old deadly arson for which possibly a wrong man was convicted.

I enjoyed the first book immensely and No Mercy was just as good as the fist book. I liked both mysteries in this book, but for me the best part of the series is Ellery and Reed's relationship. It’s so dynamic and so complex and at the same time so confusing both for Ellery and Reed, and for the reader too. After the horrendous trauma Ellery endured at the hands of a serial killer when she was a teenager, she is unable to let go of the past, unable to form new relationships and her life in general is just a mess. Reed is one of very few people who can understand what she went through because he was the agent who rescued her. And sixteen years later he is still there when she needs him. As a reader it was painful to watch Ellery struggle with her past, unable to open up to anyone, even Reed. I just wanted Ellery to break the prison walls she built around herself. I am looking forward forward to the next installment to see how their relationship progresses and what other investigations they will undertake together.

3.85 Stars.

Ellery Hathaway has a tendency to run towards trouble instead of running from it. When she was young, she was the 17th victim of Serial Killer Francis Coben. She was the only survivor, thanks to FBI Agent Reed Markham. After that, she became a Cop - though she is currently on suspension - due to killing a serial killer (sounds crazy right?). Now she’s in mandated therapy hoping to get her job back. In group, she meets likeminded people who’ve also survived violent crimes. Hearing their stories she’s sure can assist some of them in finding justice, if only she can convince Reed Markham to help.

“No Mercy” is an interesting, fast-paced, suspenseful read. The characters of Ellery and Reed are tormented in their own ways. Both however are extremely likable and immediately draw you in. This is book two in the Ellery Hathaway series - though it was my first foray into her story. While some of the backstory was explained, some was not. Luckily for me, I read this with my trusted book buddy Kaceey who thankfully explained everything I needed to know. We both thoroughly enjoyed this and at one point, both of our eyes just about popped! Based on that alone, we will definitely be tuning in for the next installment!

This was another fabulous buddy read with Kaceey!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Joanna Schaffhausen for an arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Published on Goodreads and NetGalley on 12.13.18.