Threads of Destiny by J.P. Mercer

Publisher:              P. D. Publishing


The idea of reading the second edition of a book I was already familiar with never made much sense in the past. If you already know the story, what is the point? However, word was that there were significant changes in this new edition, both through new words and a thorough editing, so I decided I should read it and I learned a valuable lesson. When an author revisits her work and teams up with a talented editor, a good book can be made even better and show more depth than before.

Threads of Destiny is the story of Cara Cipriano, a lawyer and vintner in Santa Barbara, and Jake Biscayne, a leading FBI forensic pathologist and profiler. Mercer and Nancy Hill first introduced their story in Incommunicado; however, through a skillful use of flashbacks and inventive dialogue, Mercer provides enough of the original story in this volume that it is not necessary to have read the first book to follow the action. The women fell in love while they were working together to solve a string of brutal murders along the Mexican border, only to have their relationship ripped apart by a tragedy that Cara could not cope with and Jake knew nothing about.  
Threads of Destiny reunites them a year later when Cara returns to take over as padrone of the family vineyard and discovers that someone is using the business to smuggle drugs across the border. When she asks the government for help, she and Jake are brought together in an uncomfortable situation while they try to solve the crime. Two stories then unfold in the book. One is a mystery and adventure story about the drug running that eventually includes kidnapping and a dramatic conclusion. Simultaneously, Cara and Jake struggle to deal with their emotions and whether or not they can rebuild the relationship they once had. Not until the very last page is that question answered and the reader cannot be certain of the answer until then.

There are a number of things to like about Mercer's writing. Even though it is fiction, the characters ring true as actual people. Women usually don't fall in love immediately in life and they sometimes hurt each other. Jake can't forgive Cara immediately for deserting her even after she learns the reason for Cara's actions, and she shouldn't. You almost find yourself hoping that Jake will fall for a new interest, McKenzie, even though you know the pain that Cara suffers because of her actions. The frustration of Jake, the despair of Cara, and the pure evil of Sandro the drug runner/murderer come off of the pages powerfully. Mercer is very deft at keeping you on the edge of just not being sure how these stories will resolve themselves until they are finished. The dialogue from other languages, with no translations, shows the respect that Mercer has for her reader being able to infer the meaning from the story. The knowledge of the wine making process, forensic details, and the inside dealing of the cocaine trade indicate a book that was thoroughly researched.

Mercer's writing is very tight. No wasted scenes or words distract the reader from the action and emotion that drive the stories. Secondary characters add color and dimension to the book, like Cara's childhood friend and would be lover, Maggie; Matt Peyson, the Federal agent who loves Jake, but knows he has to look elsewhere for happiness; McKenzie, the alluring woman who has feelings for both Cara and Jake; and Sandro, evil incarnate, the childhood friend of Jake and Matt who has betrayed their love for him and who is the killer determined to make Cara pay for interfering in his business. They combine to create a world that feels all too real. Mercer has created one of those books that is hard to put down once you have started it.

The original version of Threads of Destiny had a very short life in the bookstores, so P.D. Publishing has done readers a service in bringing it back in an improved form. Now readers will have the chance to discover a book that deserves their notice.

Web by J.P. Mercer

Publisher:             P. D. Publishing


"Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practise to deceive!" Sir Walter Scott

Beautiful women, a triple homicide, suspense, intrigue, and enough plot twists to make a pretzel. J.P. Mercer must have a new novel.

Ingrid Sheppard is the first woman president of the United States and she's running for a second term. That alone would be enough to rally certain forces against her, but the fact that she's also a lesbian has the conservative right in an uproar. How far would they go to keep her from winning? When Ingrid's younger sister Sasha is found in a house with three women who have been brutally slaughtered and she's covered in blood, she seems to be the logical suspect and also the end of Ingrid's chances for re-election. 

All may not be as it seems though. With this coming soon after an attempt on Ingrid's life, Ingrid begins to wonder if her sister is being framed for a crime she did not commit. The president asks for help from two women who are the best in their fields. Sidney DeRoche is one of the top defense attorneys in the country, Ingrid's best friend, and Sasha's ex-lover. With an out of control district attorney screaming for Sasha's blood, Sidney's job is to protect the woman who once broke her heart.


Liberty Starr is one of the two remaining Talons, a group of highly trained agent/assassins once used by the government. She has retired, but when she is summoned, her sense of duty brings her from the mountains of Montana to see if she can discover who committed the murders, who is trying to kill the president, and if the two situations are connected in any way. As Liberty tries to unravel what exactly is going on, she is confronted with the fact that she may lose something that is more important to her than any duty she feels to her country or president.

When a spider weaves a web, it has many strands. Some lead straight to the center, some lead off of the web and the others are distracters intended to confuse the prey until the spider pounces. Mercer's Web is like that. There are multiple motives for the murder that cross and crisscross until the reader can't be sure which one is leading to the truth and there is always a nagging sense that the spider is about to pounce. 

Mercer shows that women who seem to have no relevance to each other, through the right series of circumstances, follow paths that intersect in unpredictable ways. There are no extraneous scenes in this book, but there are those that lead to deliberate misperceptions about the story. The challenge to the reader is to figure out what is happening before Mercer tips her hand. She uses a combination of flashbacks and forward action to define just enough about the characters to keep the story together and moving. 

Web is a book with plenty of action, suspense and a touch of romance; one of those that is compelling and may make the reader want to finish it in one sitting. This isn't one to start at night if you intend to get much sleep.

Talon by J.P. Mercer

Publisher:               P. D. Publishing

Do you like mystery, suspense or adventure? Do you like romance? Do you like a story that sounds like it stepped off of the television screen or out of the newspapers because it's so topical? Do you like a book that keeps you so engrossed you have to keep turning pages to find out what happens next? If you answered "yes" to any of those questions, then Talon is the book for you.

Liberty Starr is a secret agent who was recruited by the President to join an elite group called the Talons. Their mission was to combat terrorism in any way they could, including assassination; however, a powerful man, who valued wealth and influence over patriotism and honor, corrupted the Talons. Liberty discovers this betrayal and is determined to stop this man's grab for power and redeem the mission of the Talons, but she is being hunted by someone who can be as deadly as she is. 

Kayla Sinclair is a former Olympic skiing champion whose career and life were ruined by an avalanche. She had tried to escape from her pain by drowning in alcohol, but is struggling to put her life back together when Liberty takes refuge in her pub. These women are emotionally damaged and each believes she has lost the chance for any happiness in her life. The danger that surrounds Liberty engulfs them both and jeopardizes any future either of them might have. The threat to them and the country is very real and there are no guarantees that, if Liberty is able to survive the completion of her last mission, either will be able to heal her battered emotions and be willing to take a chance on love.

J. P. Mercer has published two previous books, Incommunicado and Threads of Destiny, and while they were excellent, they were in no way preparation for Talon. Mercer has combined some of the best suspense techniques of Robert Ludlum with a story of women who have suffered significant wounds in their lives. Many of the incidents in the book have actually occurred, except that the book was written before they did, which shows an understanding of the world of intrigue that is almost eerie. Reading this book is similar to watching blockbuster movies like the Mission Impossible or Bourne series. Talon is also a passionate story about two women with love scenes that scorch the pages. This is a great book. You're going to want to have read it. Now, if we could just get someone in Hollywood to pay attention to it.