What do you think?
Rate this book
Emma Last FBI Mystery #7
Last Mercy
At the mercy of a killer.
Overwhelmed with grief and anger, Special Agent Emma Last is now haunted by more than the ghosts who seek her out. Guilt becomes her constant companion as she attempts to unwind the clock, undo what’s been done to yet another person she loves.
Will she ever escape the weight of her past?
When a fellow agent rescues a little girl hidden in the tunnels under the Washington National Opera House, Emma finds a focus for her energy. And she’s determined to find the person responsible. Especially when two more children are found in the same tunnel network, their lives gruesomely claimed by blood-sucking leeches.
With no clear connection between the young victims other than their impoverished backgrounds, the investigation hits a dead end. But Emma isn't alone in her quest for justice. She receives cryptic clues from ghosts that only she can see.
The challenge for Emma isn't just finding the killer—it's convincing her team to believe her insights, especially with her reputation tarnished by recent transgressions. She’s on thin ice, but her resolve is unshakable.
She can't—and won't—let another child's life end tragically on her watch. No matter the cost.
Last Mercy is the seventh book in the suspense-filled FBI series by bestselling author Mary Stone. You’ll be at the mercy of your imagination as the curtain falls on one of the most horrific crimes yet.
Overwhelmed with grief and anger, Special Agent Emma Last is now haunted by more than the ghosts who seek her out. Guilt becomes her constant companion as she attempts to unwind the clock, undo what’s been done to yet another person she loves.
Will she ever escape the weight of her past?
When a fellow agent rescues a little girl hidden in the tunnels under the Washington National Opera House, Emma finds a focus for her energy. And she’s determined to find the person responsible. Especially when two more children are found in the same tunnel network, their lives gruesomely claimed by blood-sucking leeches.
With no clear connection between the young victims other than their impoverished backgrounds, the investigation hits a dead end. But Emma isn't alone in her quest for justice. She receives cryptic clues from ghosts that only she can see.
The challenge for Emma isn't just finding the killer—it's convincing her team to believe her insights, especially with her reputation tarnished by recent transgressions. She’s on thin ice, but her resolve is unshakable.
She can't—and won't—let another child's life end tragically on her watch. No matter the cost.
Last Mercy is the seventh book in the suspense-filled FBI series by bestselling author Mary Stone. You’ll be at the mercy of your imagination as the curtain falls on one of the most horrific crimes yet.
- GenresThriller
268 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 8, 2023
993 people are currently reading
228 people want to read
About the author
Mary Stone
227 books2,168 followersTo download my FREE BOOK, click here: https://authormarystone.com/free-book...
Nestled in the tranquil Blue Ridge Mountains of East Tennessee, Mary Stone has transformed her peaceful home, once bustling with her sons, into a creative haven. As her family grew, so did her writing career, evolving from childhood fears to a deep understanding of real-life villains. Her stories, centered around strong, unconventional heroines, weave themes of courage and intrigue.
Mary's journey from a solitary writer to establishing her own publishing house marks a significant evolution, showcasing her commitment to the literary world. Through her writing and publishing endeavors, she continues to captivate and inspire, honoring her lifelong fascination with the mysterious and the courageous.
Nestled in the tranquil Blue Ridge Mountains of East Tennessee, Mary Stone has transformed her peaceful home, once bustling with her sons, into a creative haven. As her family grew, so did her writing career, evolving from childhood fears to a deep understanding of real-life villains. Her stories, centered around strong, unconventional heroines, weave themes of courage and intrigue.
Mary's journey from a solitary writer to establishing her own publishing house marks a significant evolution, showcasing her commitment to the literary world. Through her writing and publishing endeavors, she continues to captivate and inspire, honoring her lifelong fascination with the mysterious and the courageous.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
May 17, 2024
Another great read in the series. It’s always more heartbreaking when a book involves the death of children (trigger warning). I couldn’t put this one down. I had to know what was going to happen to the next child. I empathize with Emma and understand she is grieving but man did I spend alot of this book just wanting to shake her.
December 9, 2023
Mary makes the pain of losing a loved one so real for us readers. There’s lots of twist and turns that has you guessing as to who the killer is. I couldn’t put the book down. Need the next book. I highly recommend this book.
January 28, 2025
Emma is getting overbearing
I realize this is fictional but even with fiction there should be some elements of reality. And reality is that Emma shouldn’t be an FBI agent. She puts her team in danger. It doesn’t matter how “right “ she is she is supposed to be a team and she’s not a team player. This book was a real struggle to read seeing the rest of the team working together and her just sabotaging herself and everyone else. I can’t even say I feel sorry for her. I was honestly hoping that this would just be the end of Agent Last in this book. Let her die off and bring someone new in. I knew it wouldn’t happen as she’s the “heroine “ but face it…in real life she would’ve been canned from her job. She doesn’t even have a natural talent for it. She can only solve cases with help from ghosts
I realize this is fictional but even with fiction there should be some elements of reality. And reality is that Emma shouldn’t be an FBI agent. She puts her team in danger. It doesn’t matter how “right “ she is she is supposed to be a team and she’s not a team player. This book was a real struggle to read seeing the rest of the team working together and her just sabotaging herself and everyone else. I can’t even say I feel sorry for her. I was honestly hoping that this would just be the end of Agent Last in this book. Let her die off and bring someone new in. I knew it wouldn’t happen as she’s the “heroine “ but face it…in real life she would’ve been canned from her job. She doesn’t even have a natural talent for it. She can only solve cases with help from ghosts
December 7, 2023
Emma is completely overwhelmed by grief. She is not sleeping and eating poorly and is making some very bad choices. However, the newest serial to cross the desk is murdering children in a heinous manner. It is what Emma needs to focus and pull her back into the fold. However, she starts off a little rough. Once she gets her bearings she is on track and hunting down the suspect with the same old energy she always had. Her supervisor doesn't approve and even her colleagues get caught up in the overall mess she creates, but they catch the bad guy and end his reign of terror. I guess we'll see in the next book how this all really turns out and the consequences Emma must face. Good read!
December 19, 2023
Another great ARC from Mary Stone and continuation of this series. Emma Last is still reeling from the death of her boyfriend, Oren. Nothing really matters to her in her grief. Then a young girl is found in the basement of the National Opera House and the hunt is on for the person who has been abducting young underpriviledged children. Emma now finds an outlet for her grief and anger, that once again she pushed the rules of her job. Now the race is on to find another child who has been abducted. Will Emma push the boundaries so far that she will lose the only job she wanted? Will she be able to overcome her grief? Will she be able to find the latest child before that child dies? This will keep you going til the end.
December 7, 2023
Emma keeps going off the rails, taking chances with her career by being a lone wolf, and after the devastating loss that has left her reeling with emotions, she needs a break. While she is supposed to be taking that break Mia stumbles upon a crying child, deep in the tunnels of the opera house and it’s all hands on deck. What they find afterwards horrifies them all and Emma vows to find the monster who is committing these horrific crimes.
I loved the way her friends raise to the occasion to help her deal with her grief and am looking forward to her coming to her senses because she is too good an agent.
Great characters, excellent plot, well written and easy to enjoy.
I loved the way her friends raise to the occasion to help her deal with her grief and am looking forward to her coming to her senses because she is too good an agent.
Great characters, excellent plot, well written and easy to enjoy.
December 12, 2023
Grief, Anger and Murder
Warning: Last Mercy contains the gruesome murder of children. It may be hard for some to read.
Special Agent Emma Last is still dealing with her grief over losing Oren. She feels guilty for not being able to save Oren. Emma is angry and drinking which is not helping her deal with her loss. Will Emma be able to overcome her grief? Will Oren show himself to Emma?
The team is called in to help solve the kidnapping of a young girl after Mia found her in a tunnel along with the murders of a couple of other kids. Emma is bound and determined to find the killer before more children are murdered. Her teammates are worried about her behavior and she may have a hard time getting them to trust her. Will Emma and her team find the killer in time? What will happen to Emma?
Last Mercy is well written and has plenty of drama, suspense, horror, twists and turns. It also has your emotions all over the place. Last Mercy is definitely worth reading.
Warning: Last Mercy contains the gruesome murder of children. It may be hard for some to read.
Special Agent Emma Last is still dealing with her grief over losing Oren. She feels guilty for not being able to save Oren. Emma is angry and drinking which is not helping her deal with her loss. Will Emma be able to overcome her grief? Will Oren show himself to Emma?
The team is called in to help solve the kidnapping of a young girl after Mia found her in a tunnel along with the murders of a couple of other kids. Emma is bound and determined to find the killer before more children are murdered. Her teammates are worried about her behavior and she may have a hard time getting them to trust her. Will Emma and her team find the killer in time? What will happen to Emma?
Last Mercy is well written and has plenty of drama, suspense, horror, twists and turns. It also has your emotions all over the place. Last Mercy is definitely worth reading.
March 9, 2024
Grief hits everyone and in this book we see Emma facing it and how her team is trying to support her through it. Sometimes that is kindness, tough love and yelling. The case involves children and a disturbed individual who views life as a torment. The case is well executed with many twists that mislead the team on the villain. The ghosts are not as present while Emma is dealing with grief except for a few of the kids and then the end with Oren. Jacinda is a fantastic boss and I loved her balance of leadership and kindness in this book. Leo and Danae just bother me, and so do Vance and Leo, but I did like Leo’s protectiveness for Emma.
December 7, 2023
Mary nailed it! Wow.
With Emma grieving and being distracted, it is hard to solve any crime. But this last one is more than enough. It involves the children and the crimes are horrible. The killer is more unhinged and time is running out for kidnapped children. Where are they, who is really killing them and is Emma right? She is risking her badge and life to find the killer and close the case. The plot is unique and tension is building up fast.
I did not want to stop reading. I found the end southing . Great book again .thank you.
With Emma grieving and being distracted, it is hard to solve any crime. But this last one is more than enough. It involves the children and the crimes are horrible. The killer is more unhinged and time is running out for kidnapped children. Where are they, who is really killing them and is Emma right? She is risking her badge and life to find the killer and close the case. The plot is unique and tension is building up fast.
I did not want to stop reading. I found the end southing . Great book again .thank you.
December 9, 2023
Another book by Mary Stone that has you hooked from the beginning. A real nail-biter
that you won't want to put down until you reach the end. Emma is dealing with her loss and not thinking straight. This is putting her job in jeopardy because she is determined to find the unsub that is killing children. Will her friends and fellow agents be able to help her deal with what she is feeling and doing. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
I am an ARC member, and this is my honest review.
that you won't want to put down until you reach the end. Emma is dealing with her loss and not thinking straight. This is putting her job in jeopardy because she is determined to find the unsub that is killing children. Will her friends and fellow agents be able to help her deal with what she is feeling and doing. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
I am an ARC member, and this is my honest review.
December 7, 2023
Wow! A young girl named Carla was walking home when a stranger appears ahead of her. She did all the things taught to her to avoid him, but she never reaches home.
Emma and her team are assigned to locate this child. She states that she is fine, but is she? Her team has all noticed the changes in her since Oren’s death.
Her actions are straining the group effort to solve the case. This book will keep you guessing what’s next!
A must read!
Emma and her team are assigned to locate this child. She states that she is fine, but is she? Her team has all noticed the changes in her since Oren’s death.
Her actions are straining the group effort to solve the case. This book will keep you guessing what’s next!
A must read!
April 27, 2024
Smooth ghost story
As ghost stories blended with crime stories , this is well done. I liked the idea of The Others
being able to help with a crime against one of them.
Miss Stone , is a thoughtful and a prolific writer.
If you like to read crime stories and ghost stories,you have found one of the best.
It's a fast read. Which there is 12. In the series .
Happy reading.
As ghost stories blended with crime stories , this is well done. I liked the idea of The Others
being able to help with a crime against one of them.
Miss Stone , is a thoughtful and a prolific writer.
If you like to read crime stories and ghost stories,you have found one of the best.
It's a fast read. Which there is 12. In the series .
Happy reading.
December 7, 2023
Emma Last is a brilliant FBI agent. She is swimming in a world of grief after her boy friend was killed. Mary Stone’s vivid writing makes Emma’s pain very real to the reader. Her novels get better and better and this is one of her very best. This is a heart racing, non-stop action, cannot put down book. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
December 10, 2023
Come on, Emma. I realize you are dealing with a crappy childhood, learning to cope with and acclimate to your otherworldly new abilities and now losing the love of your life. Any one of these could cripple a person. Dealing with everything at once is beyond crushing. Let's just not have another "Justin Black" where it goes on and on. Please.
Read
December 11, 2023Every series tops another
Mary Stone writes incredibly thought provoking characters and plots.My very favorite author of suspense.I'm addicted to series and she never disappoints. My only complaint is I read them too fast.,but she does put them out quickly.You won't be disappointed.
Mary Stone writes incredibly thought provoking characters and plots.My very favorite author of suspense.I'm addicted to series and she never disappoints. My only complaint is I read them too fast.,but she does put them out quickly.You won't be disappointed.
December 15, 2023
Last Mercy was a good story that was hard to stop reading, it was filled with lots of suspense. Emma’ is a FBI Agent’s and her boy friend was just killed and now someone is killing children. Can she find the person and stop them from killing again before they hurt anyone else. This book was a very good story with lots of suspense.
I received a free copy of this book for my honest review.
.
I received a free copy of this book for my honest review.
.
December 17, 2023
Emma is still reeling over the death of her boyfriend, Oren, and still thinking there is something she could have done to prevent it.
Meanwhile, Emma and her crew are assigned to investigate the death of 2 children who were killed in heinous ways.
The book is filled with mystery and suspense and I can hardly wait for the next bpook.
Meanwhile, Emma and her crew are assigned to investigate the death of 2 children who were killed in heinous ways.
The book is filled with mystery and suspense and I can hardly wait for the next bpook.
December 28, 2023
Excellent
Mary Stone, as always, has created a spine tingling story that you have to finish in one sitting. Seeing Emma try to handle the death of Oren is so realistic and heart rendering. The murder of children compels her to follow her own path leading her into trouble with her superiors. A compelling story!
Mary Stone, as always, has created a spine tingling story that you have to finish in one sitting. Seeing Emma try to handle the death of Oren is so realistic and heart rendering. The murder of children compels her to follow her own path leading her into trouble with her superiors. A compelling story!
January 14, 2024
Emma is at it again. in her grief she is making mistakes.
Emma is trying to understand the children’s ghosts. But they don’t know how to tell har who the killer is. And she is so full of grief for Oren that she is pushing everyone away. She is making mistakes that distracts from the right killer.
Emma is trying to understand the children’s ghosts. But they don’t know how to tell har who the killer is. And she is so full of grief for Oren that she is pushing everyone away. She is making mistakes that distracts from the right killer.
August 19, 2024
Pulls you in
I've read seven books in this series to date. Each picks up where the previous one left off. I can't put the book down once begun. I get pulled into each characters thoughts and emotions and feel as if I am there as well. I love the way each character slowly develops more depth. Interesting cases without racy adult behaviors.
I've read seven books in this series to date. Each picks up where the previous one left off. I can't put the book down once begun. I get pulled into each characters thoughts and emotions and feel as if I am there as well. I love the way each character slowly develops more depth. Interesting cases without racy adult behaviors.
October 15, 2024
Parting is such sweet sorrow
Truer words when one is speaking of a loss. Such heartbreak. Mary Stone is so good. My heart broke a million times with Emma. I can’t imagine and hope never to have to.
There’s some crazy people out there . Their justification for murder never ceases to amaze me. Here we go again but this time it involves children and leeches….yuck…gross !
Truer words when one is speaking of a loss. Such heartbreak. Mary Stone is so good. My heart broke a million times with Emma. I can’t imagine and hope never to have to.
There’s some crazy people out there . Their justification for murder never ceases to amaze me. Here we go again but this time it involves children and leeches….yuck…gross !
December 3, 2023
Someone is kidnapping children and killing them. He believes that he is helping them. Emma is in the midst of her grief making irrational decisions and choices. Will she be able to capture this murderer before he kills again? Will Emma continue on as a federal agent? She's in deep trouble.
December 4, 2023
Will Emma ever learn? Since losing the love of her life to an irrational killer, she’s running on fumes and lost in her grief. Trying to find and catch the madman who’s kidnapping children, she goes against orders to stand down.
December 7, 2023
A GREAT BOOK THAT IS WELL WRITTEN AND WILL KEEP YOU ENGROSSED TILL THE LAST PAGE. THE STORYLINE IS ORIGINAL WITH PLENTY OF TWISTS AND TURNS TO KEEP YOU TURNING THE PAGES TILL THE END. THE CHARACTERS ARE GREAT AND BECOME YOUR FRIEND DURING THE BOOK. WHAT MORE CAN YOU ASK FOR?
December 7, 2023
Wow! I did not want to put this book down, It will keep you reading til the end. You have to find out how it ends. Those poor children being terrorized and killed by a psycho who is totally unhinged. You definitely want to read this book.
December 8, 2023
As Emma mourns for her boyfriend, she is overcome by guilt & spirals out of control. Although the ghosts are still communicating, she jumps to the wrong conclusions & jeopardizes the case. She learns she has to depend on her team to help her. This was a riveting book that won’t disappoint.
December 11, 2023
awesome 👏
Another ghost ridden thrill ride! Emma is still having trouble getting over her boyfriend’s murder, meanwhile someone is killing kids and hiding them in the tunnels under a theater.
Another ghost ridden thrill ride! Emma is still having trouble getting over her boyfriend’s murder, meanwhile someone is killing kids and hiding them in the tunnels under a theater.
December 12, 2023
Lost and Found
Pain and anguish show up in different people in so many different ways. Some fall into such depths will they survive? Read this surprising won't be able to put it down book to fond out!
Pain and anguish show up in different people in so many different ways. Some fall into such depths will they survive? Read this surprising won't be able to put it down book to fond out!
December 12, 2023
Wow, holy cow this book was amazing. I absolutely love these characters and their stories. The loss and devastation in this storyline was both hard to read and hard to stop reading. I couldn’t put this book down.
December 12, 2023
Another good book
This book in the series is great. Emma with her pain from loss having trouble staying out of trouble. Hopefully the next book finds her back on track, time will tell.
This book in the series is great. Emma with her pain from loss having trouble staying out of trouble. Hopefully the next book finds her back on track, time will tell.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews