Small Mercies: A gripping and addictive crime thriller that will have you hooked

Alex Walters

May 2020 · Detective Annie Delamere Book 1 · Canelo

About this ebook

A killer is sending a message. But who is it for?

DI Annie Delamere and her colleague DS Zoe Everett are off duty and enjoying a walk on the Peak District’s vast moorlands when they stumble across a mutilated corpse. The victim is unclothed and his tattoos indicate an affinity with the occult.

While Annie is put in charge of the case her long-term partner, MP Sheena Pearson, is confronted by a group of far right extremists. Rather than back down Sheena chooses to stand her ground – and almost pays for it with her life.

As more bodies are found, Annie is under pressure to prove her worth. But with one eye on her personal affairs can she catch a murderer and still keep her loved ones safe? And are the killings the work of a deranged mind – or a cover for something even more chilling?

Don’t miss this first novel in a compelling new detective series that fans of Stephen Booth and Ann Cleeves will love.

Praise for Small Mercies

‘Accomplished storytelling and perfectly meshed plot strands combine in this intriguing new series from Alex Walters’ Margaret Kirk, author of Shadow Man

‘Small Mercies gets Alex Walters’ new series off to a cracking start with a blend of police procedural and conspiracy thriller set in the atmospheric landscape of Derbyshire.’ Martin Edwards, CWA Diamond Dagger winner 2020

'Evocative, well plotted, with interesting characters and three concurrent mysteries. A definite 5 star read.’ NetGalley review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘The storyline weaves all the seemingly unrelated threads together into a nail biting finale. I held my breath more than once, and couldn’t put the book down in case something terrible happened!’ NetGalley review ⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Three plots swirl around each other, intersect and dance away again until the very end of this thriller where everything moves quickly to a totally unanticipated, breath-taking conclusion. I’m looking forward to the next in the series!’ NetGalley review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ratings and reviews

While enjoying an off-duty day, DI Annie Delamere and her colleague, DS Zoe Everett while doing a bit of hiking, comes across a man's corpse. He's naked with no identification found, but he's covered in tattoos. Annie's long term life partner, MP Sheena Pearson, confronts a group of extremists and almost loses her life to a bullet. A second man's body is found in much the same condition as the first ... no clothes, no identification, covered in tattoos. Three cases ...all important ... all need to be solved ...pronto before any more lives are lost. This intricate plot weaves all the unrelated threads together that leads to a surprising, unexpected conclusion. The characters are deftly drawn and the blend of their professional lives along with their personal lives give them more substance. There's plenty of action with lots of suspects to follow. This is the first in a compelling new detective series. Many thanks to the author / Canelo / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

i liked the characters well enough and the plot though somewhat far fetched was presented well..not a great read but a good pass the time read..i might try another.

About the author

Alex Walters has worked in the oil industry, broadcasting and banking and provided consultancy for the criminal justice sector. He is the author of thirteen previous novels including the DI Alec McKay series set around the Black Isle in the Scottish Highlands where Alex lives and runs the Solus Or Writing Retreat with his wife, occasional sons and frequent cats.