"Dead Mercy" begins with a brutal opening. Indeed, the subject matter in this book is harrowing though Noelle Holten handles it with sensitivity. She also shows great empathy for desperate people in her writing. Holten gives us a real look behind the curtain of criminal justice through a fictional lens. I love the inside knowledge Holten imparts as regards systems and procedures within the police and probation service. She also demonstrates excellent technical detail. Holten knows her stuff and she knows her craft! The books in this series make for compulsive reading and I am looking forward to the next one.