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DS Aector McAvoy #6
Cruel Mercy
DS McAvoy is trying to solve a crime far from home in the latest stunning novel by bestselling author David Mark, perfect for fans of Val McDermid and Peter Robinson.
Three Irishmen went to America.
One's dead. One's as good as. One is missing...
The missing man is Valentine Teague. Petty criminal, bare-knuckle fighter - and DS Aector McAvoy's brother in law.
Back home, Val's being held responsible for the blood spilt in the snowy woods of upstate New York. If McAvoy doesn't find out the truth, all hell will break loose, putting his own family in the crossfire.
Investigating proves harder than he could have imagined. New York City is a different world, with different rules. Soon, he finds himself up against squabbling cops, mafias old and new, and the culmination of a crime forty years in the making.
All McAvoy can do is the right thing. Even if it kills him...
Three Irishmen went to America.
One's dead. One's as good as. One is missing...
The missing man is Valentine Teague. Petty criminal, bare-knuckle fighter - and DS Aector McAvoy's brother in law.
Back home, Val's being held responsible for the blood spilt in the snowy woods of upstate New York. If McAvoy doesn't find out the truth, all hell will break loose, putting his own family in the crossfire.
Investigating proves harder than he could have imagined. New York City is a different world, with different rules. Soon, he finds himself up against squabbling cops, mafias old and new, and the culmination of a crime forty years in the making.
All McAvoy can do is the right thing. Even if it kills him...
326 pages, Hardcover
First published October 8, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
December 29, 2017
In this sixth book of the series, David Mark puts DS Aector McAvoy in very unfamiliar territory in New York City. I’m from rural upstate NY, and I find the city very unfamiliar, too! The author has a knack for making his settings atmospheric, and this time it’s cold and snowy and bleak.
The author also has a knack for bringing together disjointed elements into a coherent story. In this, it’s underground bare-fisted boxing, the Italian mafia, three Irishmen and a Chechen, a Catholic priest, and one very damaged sick individual. Aector's in America to find his brother-in-law, and that gets him involved in an investigation or two that, as usual, he must see through to the end.
I’m still liking Aector and this series, and I’ve now caught up with the author. Book #7, Scorched Earth, is due soon and I’m ready.
The author also has a knack for bringing together disjointed elements into a coherent story. In this, it’s underground bare-fisted boxing, the Italian mafia, three Irishmen and a Chechen, a Catholic priest, and one very damaged sick individual. Aector's in America to find his brother-in-law, and that gets him involved in an investigation or two that, as usual, he must see through to the end.
I’m still liking Aector and this series, and I’ve now caught up with the author. Book #7, Scorched Earth, is due soon and I’m ready.
September 4, 2020
Scottish Detective Sergeant Aector McAvoy travels to New York City to try to track down his missing brother in law who may have been involved in the shooting of 2 of his friends who were visiting the city. The crime is exacerbating pre-existing conflict between 2 clans of Travelers in Ireland and thus stressing out McAvoy's Traveler wife. The investigation leads McAvoy to the underground boxing scene, Russian and Italian mobs and NYC police who give McAvoy a suspiciously free rein to practice unauthorized police work.
"Wonders whether he can see God's face, and whether it is as glorious as the one that he carved from the baby boy as he lay in a dead girls arms and suckled upon a brown breast, inches from her unbeating heart." That sentence, which appears early in the book, will mean nothing to you if you have not read this book. Unfortunately, I've read the book and nothing clarified that sentence until almost the end. That is my major problem with this book, the author tries too hard to keep the reader in the dark. From a confusing beginning, the book never becomes easy to follow. Some chapters are set in 1970s and 1980s. You keep getting flashes of the story without any framework for joining them together. There are brief chapters inside the head of a hospital patient and also in the head of a Penitent who visits him. There's a chapter about a priest's visit to a mental hospital where children are kept in hideous conditions. Everything is eventually explained, but it's complicated. Nevertheless, I liked this book and it is probably my favorite one of the three books that I've read from this series. I liked the New York setting and I think the story became more interesting by having McAvoy out of his element.
As in the author's other books, there are acts of ghoulish violence. After reading several of these books, I'm beginning to think the author might be slightly disturbed. I'm a little worried about an author who can think up, and revel in, the sort of violence portrayed in these books.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
"Wonders whether he can see God's face, and whether it is as glorious as the one that he carved from the baby boy as he lay in a dead girls arms and suckled upon a brown breast, inches from her unbeating heart." That sentence, which appears early in the book, will mean nothing to you if you have not read this book. Unfortunately, I've read the book and nothing clarified that sentence until almost the end. That is my major problem with this book, the author tries too hard to keep the reader in the dark. From a confusing beginning, the book never becomes easy to follow. Some chapters are set in 1970s and 1980s. You keep getting flashes of the story without any framework for joining them together. There are brief chapters inside the head of a hospital patient and also in the head of a Penitent who visits him. There's a chapter about a priest's visit to a mental hospital where children are kept in hideous conditions. Everything is eventually explained, but it's complicated. Nevertheless, I liked this book and it is probably my favorite one of the three books that I've read from this series. I liked the New York setting and I think the story became more interesting by having McAvoy out of his element.
As in the author's other books, there are acts of ghoulish violence. After reading several of these books, I'm beginning to think the author might be slightly disturbed. I'm a little worried about an author who can think up, and revel in, the sort of violence portrayed in these books.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
March 3, 2017
This was a well crafted mystery with puzzles and red herrings galore. Hull DS McAvoy is asked by his wife Roisin to find her brother Valentine Teague. Valentine went to New York to fight as a boxer with another Irishman, Shay Helden. Shay and his trainer Brishen were attacked and Valentine is missing. Shay is dead and Brishen is in a coma. The Teagues and Heldens are rival Traveler families in Ireland and the Heldens believe Valentine killed Shay.
Some of the players in this novel, besides the above:
Claudio--a mob hit man
Father Whelan--who lived in New York city for many years and became a mob confessor
"The Penitent"--mob lawyer Molony, who is Father Whelan's friend from seminary days.
Ronnie Alto--NYC cop assigned to the Shay Helden murder
Trish Pharaoh--McAvoy's boss, who helps him via Skype
Paulie Pugliesca--NYC mob boss
Two quotes:
Prayer--"He pictures prayers as urgent, skittish things, specters born behind locked teeth."
"His prayers are opaque, unfathomable things, vague requests for forgiveness, for strength--food for the poor and peace for the troubled."
An easy four stars for this book, number 6 in the DS McAvoy series. I recommend that you read them in order. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me this ebook.
Some of the players in this novel, besides the above:
Claudio--a mob hit man
Father Whelan--who lived in New York city for many years and became a mob confessor
"The Penitent"--mob lawyer Molony, who is Father Whelan's friend from seminary days.
Ronnie Alto--NYC cop assigned to the Shay Helden murder
Trish Pharaoh--McAvoy's boss, who helps him via Skype
Paulie Pugliesca--NYC mob boss
Two quotes:
Prayer--"He pictures prayers as urgent, skittish things, specters born behind locked teeth."
"His prayers are opaque, unfathomable things, vague requests for forgiveness, for strength--food for the poor and peace for the troubled."
An easy four stars for this book, number 6 in the DS McAvoy series. I recommend that you read them in order. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me this ebook.
November 12, 2016
Cruel Mercy (DS Aector McAvoy, #6) by David Mark
I did not know that this was a series as I read this police procedural. It can definitely be read as a stand alone. I was reading the Author's acknowledgments and he stated that this is the first of the series to take place in America. The character that I was hugely impressed with was Aector McAvoy. He is genuine and humble and does his job without breaking any rules. Aector McAvoy is a family man who loves his wife Roisen, and his children. McAvoy is from Scotland originally, but is a police detective who lives and works in England.
Roisen's brother Valentine has gone missing and McAvoy is in New York City to try to find him and bring him home safely. I think the author did a terrific job in depicting the the New York City's problems with organized crime. The author correctly identifies that there are five Italian factions that make up the mafia. The author also correctly establishes the breakdown of the five families and the new ones. In this case he incorporates the Russian mob who do really make Brighton Beach their geographical location. The plot is multilayered as well as the characters who inhabit it.
Claudio is a ruthless mob enforcer from Philadelphia, who is responsible for much of the mayhem that ensues. The Catholic church is embroiled in this crime drama as well. McAvoy has his work cut out for him trying to find his brother in law. A New York detective from the seventh precinct pretends to help McAvoy in his quest to rescue Valentine. McAvoy does this detective a favor and the detective agrees to authentically help. The FBI and their undercover agents taking over investigations from the NYPD is also authentic.
The Catholic church and a priest and a sociopath with ties to the church add more dimension to the plot. I think that for the fans of this series they will enjoy this novel. I might try this series again as I was impressed with the intricate plot. I really found the protagonist to be quite like-able. If I was to have one critique of the novel, it is purely my personal opinion, the premise with the self mutilation of the sociopath who spent time in the seminary, could be left out. It does add more levels of corruption that probably do happen, it is a subject that I didn't care for. Otherwise, I applaud the author for getting so much detail authentically correct.
Thank you to Net Galley, David Mark and Blue Rider Press for providing me with my digital copy of this novel for a fair and honest review.
I did not know that this was a series as I read this police procedural. It can definitely be read as a stand alone. I was reading the Author's acknowledgments and he stated that this is the first of the series to take place in America. The character that I was hugely impressed with was Aector McAvoy. He is genuine and humble and does his job without breaking any rules. Aector McAvoy is a family man who loves his wife Roisen, and his children. McAvoy is from Scotland originally, but is a police detective who lives and works in England.
Roisen's brother Valentine has gone missing and McAvoy is in New York City to try to find him and bring him home safely. I think the author did a terrific job in depicting the the New York City's problems with organized crime. The author correctly identifies that there are five Italian factions that make up the mafia. The author also correctly establishes the breakdown of the five families and the new ones. In this case he incorporates the Russian mob who do really make Brighton Beach their geographical location. The plot is multilayered as well as the characters who inhabit it.
Claudio is a ruthless mob enforcer from Philadelphia, who is responsible for much of the mayhem that ensues. The Catholic church is embroiled in this crime drama as well. McAvoy has his work cut out for him trying to find his brother in law. A New York detective from the seventh precinct pretends to help McAvoy in his quest to rescue Valentine. McAvoy does this detective a favor and the detective agrees to authentically help. The FBI and their undercover agents taking over investigations from the NYPD is also authentic.
The Catholic church and a priest and a sociopath with ties to the church add more dimension to the plot. I think that for the fans of this series they will enjoy this novel. I might try this series again as I was impressed with the intricate plot. I really found the protagonist to be quite like-able. If I was to have one critique of the novel, it is purely my personal opinion, the premise with the self mutilation of the sociopath who spent time in the seminary, could be left out. It does add more levels of corruption that probably do happen, it is a subject that I didn't care for. Otherwise, I applaud the author for getting so much detail authentically correct.
Thank you to Net Galley, David Mark and Blue Rider Press for providing me with my digital copy of this novel for a fair and honest review.
December 28, 2016
I love David Mark's McAvoy series but while it's a bold idea to take our hero out of his home territory, this didn't really work for me. The story is complex but it feels too large-screen for Mark who tends to work with a smaller canvas, filling in detail and minutiae that make the scene feel authentic. Here McAvoy goes to New York to follow up on what's happened to his wife's brother: he's unofficial, he doesn't know his way around, and I missed the usual series characters who get shoe-horned in artificially.
The story itself involves boxers, warring Mafia families and Irish feuds with assassins galore and some gory deaths: to be honest, Mark isn't always the best plotter but he's carried me along in this series with his interesting characters and moral vision. Here he seems to be aiming for something different, Hollywood blockbuster rather than gritty independent and I was left underwhelmed.
Review copy via Amazon Vine
The story itself involves boxers, warring Mafia families and Irish feuds with assassins galore and some gory deaths: to be honest, Mark isn't always the best plotter but he's carried me along in this series with his interesting characters and moral vision. Here he seems to be aiming for something different, Hollywood blockbuster rather than gritty independent and I was left underwhelmed.
Review copy via Amazon Vine
August 23, 2021
McAvoy arrives in NYC, and is expected-to find his brother in law who disappeared, in just a few days. As if NYC (the USA) is a tiny village. His wife is putting pressure. After a few days everybody in her family wants to know why he hasn’t found the idiot brother yet. Seriously?????
All the coincidences and senseless killings are unfortunately not credible.
All the coincidences and senseless killings are unfortunately not credible.
October 8, 2016
Awesomesauce.
Full review to follow nearer publication
Becoming one of my favourite crime series.
Full review to follow nearer publication
Becoming one of my favourite crime series.
November 24, 2016
Book #6 in this excellent series finds DS Aector McAvoy on a personal mission across the pond.
It all begins when Irish boxing coach Brishen Ayres & his protege Shay Helden travel to NYC. Within days, Brishen is in a coma & Shay is dead. Det. Ronald Alto of the 7th precinct is handed the case & it’s a head scratcher. So when he hears an English detective is coming over to check in on the investigation, he welcomes the help.
Aector has no clue what happened to Ayres & Helden. It’s a third Irishman he’s interested in. Valentine Teague is another boxing prospect & Shay’s rival in the ring. He followed them to the Big Apple & promptly disappeared. Back in Ireland, Shay’s relatives are certain Valentine is responsible for the attack & declare war on his family. And that includes his estranged sister Roisin McAvoy, Aector’s wife.
What follows is an incredibly complex plot with multiple narrators adding their two bits to the overall story. The murder investigation is just the first step down a path that leads to plot lines involving illegal boxing, a disillusioned priest with mob ties, old unsolved murders, a Chechen hit man & the twisted character known as “the Penitent”. Each is given plenty of space to tell their story with some beginning in the 1970’s. As these slowly develop & begin to intersect, ties to the present day investigation become clear.
As usual, Aector is the emotional core of the story. He’s a big Scottish fish out of water, bewildered by the teeming streets & mobs around him. He’s homesick & desperately misses his family but Roisin’s safety is at stake. He’s on shaky ground professionally with no official status & depends on Alto to keep him in the loop. It’s a clash of cultures as the 2 men work together & they make an interesting pair. Alto is a battle worn New York cop whose wife left due to his inability to leave the job at the office. Initially he’s bemused by the seemingly naive DS but comes to appreciate there may be a brain behind all that brawn.
This is a book that rewards the patient reader. The back story is huge & it takes awhile for the big picture to come into focus, kind of like one of those 1000 piece puzzles. And if you’re a “cozy” fan? Run! It’s a dark, gritty read full of characters desperate to get what they want whether it’s money, power or redemption. At times there’s not much moral ground separating the good guys from the bad. Fortunately the author provides moments of comic relief in the chapters narrated by Brishen as he ruminates on events from inside his coma.
This can be read as a stand alone but I recommend starting with “The Dark Winter”. Aector has a colourful past & each book adds to the development of this compelling character.
It all begins when Irish boxing coach Brishen Ayres & his protege Shay Helden travel to NYC. Within days, Brishen is in a coma & Shay is dead. Det. Ronald Alto of the 7th precinct is handed the case & it’s a head scratcher. So when he hears an English detective is coming over to check in on the investigation, he welcomes the help.
Aector has no clue what happened to Ayres & Helden. It’s a third Irishman he’s interested in. Valentine Teague is another boxing prospect & Shay’s rival in the ring. He followed them to the Big Apple & promptly disappeared. Back in Ireland, Shay’s relatives are certain Valentine is responsible for the attack & declare war on his family. And that includes his estranged sister Roisin McAvoy, Aector’s wife.
What follows is an incredibly complex plot with multiple narrators adding their two bits to the overall story. The murder investigation is just the first step down a path that leads to plot lines involving illegal boxing, a disillusioned priest with mob ties, old unsolved murders, a Chechen hit man & the twisted character known as “the Penitent”. Each is given plenty of space to tell their story with some beginning in the 1970’s. As these slowly develop & begin to intersect, ties to the present day investigation become clear.
As usual, Aector is the emotional core of the story. He’s a big Scottish fish out of water, bewildered by the teeming streets & mobs around him. He’s homesick & desperately misses his family but Roisin’s safety is at stake. He’s on shaky ground professionally with no official status & depends on Alto to keep him in the loop. It’s a clash of cultures as the 2 men work together & they make an interesting pair. Alto is a battle worn New York cop whose wife left due to his inability to leave the job at the office. Initially he’s bemused by the seemingly naive DS but comes to appreciate there may be a brain behind all that brawn.
This is a book that rewards the patient reader. The back story is huge & it takes awhile for the big picture to come into focus, kind of like one of those 1000 piece puzzles. And if you’re a “cozy” fan? Run! It’s a dark, gritty read full of characters desperate to get what they want whether it’s money, power or redemption. At times there’s not much moral ground separating the good guys from the bad. Fortunately the author provides moments of comic relief in the chapters narrated by Brishen as he ruminates on events from inside his coma.
This can be read as a stand alone but I recommend starting with “The Dark Winter”. Aector has a colourful past & each book adds to the development of this compelling character.
January 27, 2018
Brilliant! If you haven’t read any of the Aector McAvoy series by David Mark, you could possibly read this first as it’s almost a stand alone. I really enjoyed having the plot revolve around Aector (out of his comfort zone in New York, as opposed to Hull, East Yorkshire) and away from his boss, Trish Pharaoh and wife Roisin. However, I’d recommend starting with book #1, The Dark Winter, and enjoying the character development along the way.
February 10, 2017
David Mark deserves much more attention in the US than he seems to get. To this reader, he is in the top tier of crime writers from across the pond - right up there with Val McDermid, Ian Rankin, and Mark Billingham, and I am constantly recommending his books to lovers of gritty, carefully plotted, suspenseful, and exceedingly well written crime fiction. That recommendation comes with a caution though. Mark writes so realistically and convincingly about murder and violence that these books are not for the faint of heart, but Mark leavens that darkness with brilliant moments of wit and humor. (I challenge readers not to laugh out loud when they read McAvoy’s comments about reindeer visiting sick children in the hospital at Christmas!) With so many crime authors striving to create unusual or striking characters, David Marks’ creation of McAvoy is pure genius. His great hulking appearance can be very intimidating to those who don’t know him, but that masks a sensitive, kind, dedicated, and humble man who believes he is nothing without his family. As his boss Trish Pharaoh says of him “You are the only man I’ve ever met who deserves to be thought of in entirely glowing terms, and I say this as somebody who spends a good portion of every day wanting to kick you in the teeth for being so f….ing wholesome.”
“In “Cruel Mercy” McAvoy steps aside from his policing job in the U.K. to travel to New York City to find his wife’s brother, who is suspected of murdering an Irish boxer and seriously wounding his legendary coach. Even on his home turf McAvoy feels incredibly awkward and uncomfortable around everyone except his boss and his family, so New York is bewildering, distressing, and overwhelming to him. Sustained by phone calls with his wife Roison and advice and direction from his boss Trish Pharoah, McAvoy begins searching for his brother-in-law and investigating the shootings he is a suspect in. Soon, McAvoy is drawn into a world of Russian and Italian-American mafia activities. An integral part of the story is a well-meaning Catholic priest, his efforts to do good and the compromises that requires, particularly with the mafia. This Catholic influence is also seen in two of the creepiest and most disturbed characters I’ve encountered in some time, both of whom are seeking absolution in very twisted and hideous manners. “Cruel Mercy” is a complex book to which I had to pay close attention as I followed all the various strands of the story. Yet that close attention is amply rewarded with an exceptional work of crime fiction that I’m still contemplating weeks later.
Thank you to Penguin/Blue Rider and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.
“In “Cruel Mercy” McAvoy steps aside from his policing job in the U.K. to travel to New York City to find his wife’s brother, who is suspected of murdering an Irish boxer and seriously wounding his legendary coach. Even on his home turf McAvoy feels incredibly awkward and uncomfortable around everyone except his boss and his family, so New York is bewildering, distressing, and overwhelming to him. Sustained by phone calls with his wife Roison and advice and direction from his boss Trish Pharoah, McAvoy begins searching for his brother-in-law and investigating the shootings he is a suspect in. Soon, McAvoy is drawn into a world of Russian and Italian-American mafia activities. An integral part of the story is a well-meaning Catholic priest, his efforts to do good and the compromises that requires, particularly with the mafia. This Catholic influence is also seen in two of the creepiest and most disturbed characters I’ve encountered in some time, both of whom are seeking absolution in very twisted and hideous manners. “Cruel Mercy” is a complex book to which I had to pay close attention as I followed all the various strands of the story. Yet that close attention is amply rewarded with an exceptional work of crime fiction that I’m still contemplating weeks later.
Thank you to Penguin/Blue Rider and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.
February 22, 2017
enjoyed the latest in the series , this time the book is based in the states (new york) and not Hull but felt this one had a different feel to some of the other books in the series but it didn't disappoint though and looking forward to the next book being back in hull. the only flaw in the book was the character valentine teague and how he fitted in overall with the plot without giving too much away
April 29, 2023
The story line as many others have commented on, was definitely too disjointed and choppy which disrupted the flow of the plot. It just didn't hold enough water for me as an interesting story line with warped religious clergy and poor mob caricature types with less than single digit IQ's. McAvoy doesn't travel well outside of his home turf. He needs Pharoah physically by his side in order for him to function properly as a true copper, otherwise he flounders around like a fish out of water. I will continue to follow the series since I feel there is more for our beloved DS back in merry old Hull, England which is quite frankly where he belongs.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 8, 2017
I would like to thank Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for a review copy of Cruel Mercy, the sixth novel to feature DS Aector McAvoy of Humberside police.
Valentine Teague, McAvoy's brother in law, has disappeared in New York and worse the two men he was travelling with have been shot, one dead and one in a coma. Back in Ireland the dead man's family hold Valentine responsible for his death and are threatening his family. Roisin sends McAvoy to New York to find Valentine. He soon finds himself out of his depth in far deeper waters than he could have imagined and ends up leaning on his boss Trish Pharoah for support.
I enjoyed Deep Mercy but with its complex plotting and structure and multiple characters I needed all my concentration to keep up. I think that it is novel to be read in one or two sittings otherwise it would be easy to lose some of the threads. The structure of the novel is complex with multiple timelines and points of view which make it difficult to work out what is going on. When it all finally becomes clear I must admit to finding it rather preposterous, unlikely and disappointing.
Despite this the novel is intriguing as McAvoy fights his way through all the obfuscation to arrive at the truth. It is well paced with information coming to him slowly but surely but the reader is snowed under with all sorts of information, characters and history it is difficult to make sense of until closer to the end. Chuck in the Feds, the Mafia and the Russian Mafia and all that is missing is the kitchen sink!
The novel is saved with some excellent descriptive writing which allows the reader to really picture the scenes and McAvoy's personality. He is a big lump of a man, courageous and straight laced. He is always ready to do the right thing but often questions himself. Fortunately the love of his family and the bolstering from his boss, Trish Pharoah keep him going. It is a joy to read about him.
Cruel Mercy is very much a mixed bag. I think the structure is unnecessarily complicated and the reason for it all unlikely but the action and Aector McAvoy are excellent. I think 3.5* is a fair assessment.
Valentine Teague, McAvoy's brother in law, has disappeared in New York and worse the two men he was travelling with have been shot, one dead and one in a coma. Back in Ireland the dead man's family hold Valentine responsible for his death and are threatening his family. Roisin sends McAvoy to New York to find Valentine. He soon finds himself out of his depth in far deeper waters than he could have imagined and ends up leaning on his boss Trish Pharoah for support.
I enjoyed Deep Mercy but with its complex plotting and structure and multiple characters I needed all my concentration to keep up. I think that it is novel to be read in one or two sittings otherwise it would be easy to lose some of the threads. The structure of the novel is complex with multiple timelines and points of view which make it difficult to work out what is going on. When it all finally becomes clear I must admit to finding it rather preposterous, unlikely and disappointing.
Despite this the novel is intriguing as McAvoy fights his way through all the obfuscation to arrive at the truth. It is well paced with information coming to him slowly but surely but the reader is snowed under with all sorts of information, characters and history it is difficult to make sense of until closer to the end. Chuck in the Feds, the Mafia and the Russian Mafia and all that is missing is the kitchen sink!
The novel is saved with some excellent descriptive writing which allows the reader to really picture the scenes and McAvoy's personality. He is a big lump of a man, courageous and straight laced. He is always ready to do the right thing but often questions himself. Fortunately the love of his family and the bolstering from his boss, Trish Pharoah keep him going. It is a joy to read about him.
Cruel Mercy is very much a mixed bag. I think the structure is unnecessarily complicated and the reason for it all unlikely but the action and Aector McAvoy are excellent. I think 3.5* is a fair assessment.
June 16, 2021
Recently I treated myself to the whole Aector McAvoy series; I read this one for the first time. It is the darkest one I've read till now, I think. Aector is at the same time on familiar ground and totally out of his depth. There are many layers in this book and it is therefore not always easy to follow. But, it is a David Mark and thus an (almost) brilliant book.
January 19, 2017
This is the third book by David Mark that I have read. I went back and checked some of my past reviews and I found one thing in common. He likes to start off his books coming out of left field. You start reading and you have absolutely no idea what in the heck you are reading about. This I can truthfully say. Because this is the third book and the third time this has happened. Ha!
So, I will alert you that you should read the first part, put it in a file in the back of your mind, because it will be explained to you later on in the book. Then there will be a little light bulb over your head and you will say Aha, that's what that was.
At first I was like, what in the heck is this Pentinent dude or thing - that will be explained.
I think DS McAvoy is one of the most bumbling detectives out there. He's so big that every one is scared of him. Little do they know, he's probably just as scared. There are some pretty good laughs in this one. It's also pretty gory, creepy, full of mobsters, lots of killing, boxers, perverts, and weirdos. It will definitely keep you on your toes trying to figure out what happened to the three boxers that came to the U.S. from Ireland. One of which is related to McAvoy's wife and is the reason he is there, looking for him.
Poor McAvoy does end up in the wrong places at the wrong time sometimes as well as those boxers. This was a great book and I am glad that I got the chance to read it.
Thanks to Penguin Group for approving my request and to Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
So, I will alert you that you should read the first part, put it in a file in the back of your mind, because it will be explained to you later on in the book. Then there will be a little light bulb over your head and you will say Aha, that's what that was.
At first I was like, what in the heck is this Pentinent dude or thing - that will be explained.
I think DS McAvoy is one of the most bumbling detectives out there. He's so big that every one is scared of him. Little do they know, he's probably just as scared. There are some pretty good laughs in this one. It's also pretty gory, creepy, full of mobsters, lots of killing, boxers, perverts, and weirdos. It will definitely keep you on your toes trying to figure out what happened to the three boxers that came to the U.S. from Ireland. One of which is related to McAvoy's wife and is the reason he is there, looking for him.
Poor McAvoy does end up in the wrong places at the wrong time sometimes as well as those boxers. This was a great book and I am glad that I got the chance to read it.
Thanks to Penguin Group for approving my request and to Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
November 21, 2016
Received a copy on Netgalley recently. For those who haven't read any in the McAvoy series I'd always recommend starting at the beginning. You can dive into any of them, but you miss out on seeing both the characters and storylines evolve on a bigger scale. I've read them all, and this is, in my humble opinion, the best yet. That's an accolade in itself, as the previous titles are superb.
Cruel Mercy sees McAvoy cross the Atlantic and head to New York. His brother in law is missing and two men are dead. Traveller families back in Ireland are out for blood, and Aector is tasked with finding Roisin's brother, who might hold the key to it all.
David Mark has some of the most vivid and amusing descriptions known to man, and he's one of the few authors who can make me chuckle at the same time as being desperate to see what happens in the next chapter. Trish Pharaoh plays more of a minor role, stuck back home in Hull, but still steals the show in each scene she's in. Detective Alto of the NYPD is an interesting guy, with more layers to him that you might first think, and run ins with the Mafia and the Chechen Mob make you race through this at a fair rate of knots.
This was one of the easiest five stars I've ever given, and as ever, can't wait for the next instalment.
Cruel Mercy sees McAvoy cross the Atlantic and head to New York. His brother in law is missing and two men are dead. Traveller families back in Ireland are out for blood, and Aector is tasked with finding Roisin's brother, who might hold the key to it all.
David Mark has some of the most vivid and amusing descriptions known to man, and he's one of the few authors who can make me chuckle at the same time as being desperate to see what happens in the next chapter. Trish Pharaoh plays more of a minor role, stuck back home in Hull, but still steals the show in each scene she's in. Detective Alto of the NYPD is an interesting guy, with more layers to him that you might first think, and run ins with the Mafia and the Chechen Mob make you race through this at a fair rate of knots.
This was one of the easiest five stars I've ever given, and as ever, can't wait for the next instalment.
March 26, 2017
For some reason, I keep entering and winning giveaways for dark novels. I don't like dark novels....I liked this one. I don't like mob stories...I liked this one. I'm not a fan of stories where evil seems in control....you get the picture, I liked this one. Detective McAvoy is sent to NYC to find out what happened to his wife's brother and stop a clannish feud that has been calm as of late but is ready to erupt over Valentine's disappearance. McAvoy gets mixed up with Alto, a cop whose previous struggles trying to be a good cop despite mob control of much of New York have turned him to drink and self recrimination. His prying uncovers an uneasy truce between the Russian and Italian mobs, a couple of priests who keep their faith in unconventional ways and the ever confusing story of what happened to his brother in law and the two Irishmen he came to America with. The plot twists and turns and becomes more complex as McAvoy continues probing despite being warned off more than once. Everyone lies and is covering up something. The detectives become real people and we not only like them but are very sympathetic to their trials. The journey is suspenseful, sometimes horrifying but always a good read.
March 22, 2017
Instead of cutting crime in Hull, DS Aector McAvoy finds himself on a personal mission across the Atlantic in New York desperately trying to find his missing brother in law and save warring gypsy families from all-out war. Desperate not to let his wife Roisin down he throws himself from his comfort blanket into a world of the Mob, underground fights and a killer that has been hiding for years.
David Mark has again proved he is a true master of the police procedural novel. In the 6th instalment of the Aector McAvoy series, the lovable giant detective lands in New York trying to track down his brother in law Valentine Teague, instead he finds one dead traveller and another in a coma. This beautifully crafted novel book keeps you guessing until the very end. David Mark has that rare gift of being able to pull you into each scene with his vivid descriptions and engaging characters. This book has it all and I can’t recommend it high enough.
David Mark has again proved he is a true master of the police procedural novel. In the 6th instalment of the Aector McAvoy series, the lovable giant detective lands in New York trying to track down his brother in law Valentine Teague, instead he finds one dead traveller and another in a coma. This beautifully crafted novel book keeps you guessing until the very end. David Mark has that rare gift of being able to pull you into each scene with his vivid descriptions and engaging characters. This book has it all and I can’t recommend it high enough.
February 22, 2017
The newest in Mark's terrific Aector McAvoy series finds the gigantic, but gentle Scottish policeman in New York City trying to track down his wife Roison's brother, Valentine Teague, who went to the Big Apple under some confusing and perhaps shady circumstances. In New York McAvoy crosses paths with more then one crime boss, a crooked lawyer who caters to the Mob, some bizarre spiritual people and a killer who has been hiding for decades. McAvoy, his boss Trish Pharoah and Roison continue to be fascinating characters who propel these excellent plotlines. As always, lots going on in this book, so take your time to digest every page and you will be rewarded.
July 5, 2018
Another great read by David Mark. Unusually this one is set in New York mainly, as opposed to in and around Hull, and I did wonder how this would affect the writing and Aector's behaviour. However, Aector behaves just as you would expect him to: a fish out of water trying to achieve his goal without getting himself into too much trouble. It's very interesting to experience his personality in an environment which is completely out of his comfort zone. I think he's my favourite detective from crime fiction in recent years. His character add such a fascinating dimension to an already interesting novel, with a great twisty plot and satisfying ending. Looking forward to the next one as ever!
January 20, 2022
I really wanted to like this book, it started off so well but I quickly drowned in the amount of characters coming and going without a trace, Aswell as the disjointed storyline which never seemed to end. Without the visual imagery film gives you, characters that wearn’t described in detail felt like a blur. I liked the end though. Two stars
March 6, 2017
I have not read any of Mark's earlier books, and think I might have enjoyed this one more if I had. Would have liked more about his home life, etc. This book had too much of everything - too many characters, too many stories, WAY too much violence and torture. That seems to be a trend in some books I've read recently -- OK, it happens, but I don't have to read about it, especially in explicit detail. This also seemed more than unlikely -- I realize it's a novel, but some realism should pop up now and again. Scottish detective from England goes to New York to find his wife's brother -- AND SUCCEEDS!!! Of course. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood for this book, this week.
February 18, 2017
Full review and special interview with author David Mark here: http://www.shelfstalker.net/blog/crue...
Cruel Mercy is my first foray into the Detective Sergeant Aector McAvoy series following the burly, fiercely determined, and strongly moral Scotsman (of which this book is the sixth).
I was a little apprehensive to dive blindly into a series following a character I had not yet read anything about—I imagined attempting to read Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince without having the faintest idea of what a Muggle was, or a Dumbledore, or what expecto patronum meant, or barely even knowing that Harry Potter was the one with the glasses and the unlikely scar on his head shaped like a weather phenomenon.
Fortunately, the only thing I felt after being glued to the pages of Cruel Mercy, was that I needed to find the other books in this series as quickly as possible!
While you’ll definitely be missing out on some important character building—I couldn’t help but feel that Pharoah, McAvoy’s boss, and Roisin, his wife, are extremely important characters who do more than occasionally call on the phone in the previous installments--Cruel Mercy does an excellent job of working as a standalone novel while introducing new readers to a vivacious, intelligent, and rugged detective in a fish-out-of-water situation.
McAvoy is sent across the pond to New York City to investigate the disappearance of his wife’s brother, and a lot is resting on the investigation since the two people he was last seen with, an up-and-coming Irish boxer and his promoter are attacked in an apparent mob hit in the woods upstate.
There is a tangled web of lies, mob secrets, and long hushed-up mysterious deaths and disappearances that don’t seem connected at all until McAvoy starts digging deeper than is wanted by everyone involved.
The U.S. authorities are deep in the pockets of the rival mob groups and have their own aims in sight, including keeping McAvoy in the dark. But it only takes one black sheep, or one solitary figure who wants to see justice done. . .
The plot of this book is so complex and completely bursting with very realistic details about the city, the organizations involved, and the potential corruption, that it definitely was one of the most realistic crime fiction books I have ever read. Things are not black and white, there is not just a cast of four or five characters, it isn’t always about a serial killer with multiple personality disorder.
David Mark’s book shows a full spectrum of ideas, I learned about the underground boxing world, mob factions and families, corruption in police departments, and seeing the U.S. through the eyes of a foreigner (always an enlightening experience).
It is definitely a dark book, especially in flashbacks where we eventually realize there may be no hope of escape or release for the characters therein, but I think, in the end, it is a redemptive one and one that reflects on the struggles of our own times.
We do not live in times that are black and white, we live in the murkiest grey. Whether it seems easy to label people one way or the other, it is not—just look at our most current election cycle, people being branded one thing or the other, it is so easy in these times of instant media.
I think it is important, maybe more important than ever to read fiction that speaks truths.
We need to delve into what makes us uncomfortable about not having things strictly separated into right and wrong, true and false, black and white. And sometimes, fiction speaks truer than fact. Sometimes the light at coming full circle in a story helps you hold onto what really matters.
Cruel Mercy is my first foray into the Detective Sergeant Aector McAvoy series following the burly, fiercely determined, and strongly moral Scotsman (of which this book is the sixth).
I was a little apprehensive to dive blindly into a series following a character I had not yet read anything about—I imagined attempting to read Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince without having the faintest idea of what a Muggle was, or a Dumbledore, or what expecto patronum meant, or barely even knowing that Harry Potter was the one with the glasses and the unlikely scar on his head shaped like a weather phenomenon.
Fortunately, the only thing I felt after being glued to the pages of Cruel Mercy, was that I needed to find the other books in this series as quickly as possible!
While you’ll definitely be missing out on some important character building—I couldn’t help but feel that Pharoah, McAvoy’s boss, and Roisin, his wife, are extremely important characters who do more than occasionally call on the phone in the previous installments--Cruel Mercy does an excellent job of working as a standalone novel while introducing new readers to a vivacious, intelligent, and rugged detective in a fish-out-of-water situation.
McAvoy is sent across the pond to New York City to investigate the disappearance of his wife’s brother, and a lot is resting on the investigation since the two people he was last seen with, an up-and-coming Irish boxer and his promoter are attacked in an apparent mob hit in the woods upstate.
There is a tangled web of lies, mob secrets, and long hushed-up mysterious deaths and disappearances that don’t seem connected at all until McAvoy starts digging deeper than is wanted by everyone involved.
The U.S. authorities are deep in the pockets of the rival mob groups and have their own aims in sight, including keeping McAvoy in the dark. But it only takes one black sheep, or one solitary figure who wants to see justice done. . .
The plot of this book is so complex and completely bursting with very realistic details about the city, the organizations involved, and the potential corruption, that it definitely was one of the most realistic crime fiction books I have ever read. Things are not black and white, there is not just a cast of four or five characters, it isn’t always about a serial killer with multiple personality disorder.
David Mark’s book shows a full spectrum of ideas, I learned about the underground boxing world, mob factions and families, corruption in police departments, and seeing the U.S. through the eyes of a foreigner (always an enlightening experience).
It is definitely a dark book, especially in flashbacks where we eventually realize there may be no hope of escape or release for the characters therein, but I think, in the end, it is a redemptive one and one that reflects on the struggles of our own times.
We do not live in times that are black and white, we live in the murkiest grey. Whether it seems easy to label people one way or the other, it is not—just look at our most current election cycle, people being branded one thing or the other, it is so easy in these times of instant media.
I think it is important, maybe more important than ever to read fiction that speaks truths.
We need to delve into what makes us uncomfortable about not having things strictly separated into right and wrong, true and false, black and white. And sometimes, fiction speaks truer than fact. Sometimes the light at coming full circle in a story helps you hold onto what really matters.
February 3, 2017
Detective Sargeant McAvoy risks his life again in another twisted mystery called Cruel Mercy.
McAvoy is headed to New York to work with Detective Alto who is investigating the disappearance and murder of some Irish men. McAvoy's brother-in-law is one of the men who is missing, and two traveler families are about to feud if McAvoy can't find Valentine (the brother-in-law) and convince everyone that he's not the murderer.
As is always the case when McAvoy is involved, there's much more to this story. And being a visitor instead of an official police officer isn't slowing him down very much. He's determined to get to the bottom of it, and the bottom is very, very far down.
The Irish men, a boxer and his trainer, came to New York to have a chance at a professional boxing career. The case involves the Russian and Italian mobs, a priest who has been convinced to help them, and some other really shady characters.
It wouldn't be a McAvoy novel if Roisin (his wife) and Pharaoh (his boss) weren't a part of it. And while I enjoyed their contributions, they were only via phone, and I didn't get enough.
That's a small complaint, really, since Cruel Mercy takes the usual twists and turns and has the usual macabre element and a significant amount of gore. I become enthralled in these tales trying to figure out where we are headed (and never being successful), and although Cruel Mercy is not my favorite McAvoy, if you enjoyed any of Mark's other novels, this one is definitely worth it.
And if you are interested in those other books, here are the titles: The Dark Winter, Original Skin, Taking Pity, and Sorrow Bound.
McAvoy is headed to New York to work with Detective Alto who is investigating the disappearance and murder of some Irish men. McAvoy's brother-in-law is one of the men who is missing, and two traveler families are about to feud if McAvoy can't find Valentine (the brother-in-law) and convince everyone that he's not the murderer.
As is always the case when McAvoy is involved, there's much more to this story. And being a visitor instead of an official police officer isn't slowing him down very much. He's determined to get to the bottom of it, and the bottom is very, very far down.
The Irish men, a boxer and his trainer, came to New York to have a chance at a professional boxing career. The case involves the Russian and Italian mobs, a priest who has been convinced to help them, and some other really shady characters.
It wouldn't be a McAvoy novel if Roisin (his wife) and Pharaoh (his boss) weren't a part of it. And while I enjoyed their contributions, they were only via phone, and I didn't get enough.
That's a small complaint, really, since Cruel Mercy takes the usual twists and turns and has the usual macabre element and a significant amount of gore. I become enthralled in these tales trying to figure out where we are headed (and never being successful), and although Cruel Mercy is not my favorite McAvoy, if you enjoyed any of Mark's other novels, this one is definitely worth it.
And if you are interested in those other books, here are the titles: The Dark Winter, Original Skin, Taking Pity, and Sorrow Bound.
January 14, 2017
I Have not read any of the other books in the series but i was given enough information that I was not left behind. I liked the main character Detective Sergeant Aector McAvoy and because of that I may look into the previous books. I am curious about him and his family.
Despite me liking the main character I really had a hard time reading this book. I really struggled and I did have to re-read some stuff to make sure I had read right. I think it is because 2 of the stories were really creepy and the people were very strange. The story also jumped a lot. I finished reading it so I could deal with my curiosity and find out what in the world was going on.
I really did want to like this book and hate that I feel it was just ok.
I received a copy for free to read in exchange for my honest review from first to read. The opinions in this review are 100% my own.
Despite me liking the main character I really had a hard time reading this book. I really struggled and I did have to re-read some stuff to make sure I had read right. I think it is because 2 of the stories were really creepy and the people were very strange. The story also jumped a lot. I finished reading it so I could deal with my curiosity and find out what in the world was going on.
I really did want to like this book and hate that I feel it was just ok.
I received a copy for free to read in exchange for my honest review from first to read. The opinions in this review are 100% my own.
February 4, 2017
I was lucky enough to receive this as an advanced copy and have also been lucky enough to meet David Mark at a book event last year. So, the question was, how could this down to earth Yorkshireman, the creator of the dour Hull-based Scottish born detective Aector McAvoy, place said creation in a rather dark contemporary New York. Thanks to three missing Irishmen, one of whom has family links to his wife, going missing in New York, McAvoy is given the opportunit.
y to try out some of his approaches. Lots of action ensues, real page turning stuff you'll find hard to put down. It may seem a bit far fetched at times when you think back on it, but it's a great story for escaping into and losing yourself. I really enjoyed it and highly recommend this.
y to try out some of his approaches. Lots of action ensues, real page turning stuff you'll find hard to put down. It may seem a bit far fetched at times when you think back on it, but it's a great story for escaping into and losing yourself. I really enjoyed it and highly recommend this.
February 4, 2017
Mark’s use of language, like many of his British peers, is elegant. As the author lacks deep understanding of New York as a locale, he has used the direct references to his own time in the city to portray the feeling and observations of his lead character throughout the book.
David Mark’s work gets better by each book…Cruel Mercy is a notable police procedural.
Overall, the fans of Aector McAvoy will be satisfied with this new release and the title can also make an entertaining read for those who like suspenseful thrillers.
David Mark’s work gets better by each book…Cruel Mercy is a notable police procedural.
Overall, the fans of Aector McAvoy will be satisfied with this new release and the title can also make an entertaining read for those who like suspenseful thrillers.
February 21, 2017
I don't give 5 star ratings lightly (in fact, hardly ever), but this book was beautifully written: tight, good pace and some beautiful descriptions, like the description of a drink on page 206. I also enjoyed the banter between two cops on p160. Well worth a read.
January 7, 2017
Mr Mark can do no wrong in my eyes. Yet another cracking story in the life if Aector McAvoy only this time it's in New York not hull. So many twists and turns it makes you dizzy.Keep it coming.
March 8, 2017
brilliantly convoluted requiring absolute concentration by the reader. loved it!!
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