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Thicker than Water
The truth could be a father’s redemption—or a daughter’s destruction.
Mercy Gale has spent her life in the shadow of a legend. Her father, E. Thomas Gale, was once America’s most celebrated defense attorney—a legal icon whose high-profile trials captivated the nation. Now, dementia is claiming his brilliant mind, and he’s retreated to a remote island on Lake Michigan to live in seclusion.
But a convicted killer from her father’s past contacts Mercy with a threat to expose Thomas’s long-hidden secrets. Mercy finds herself drawn into a murder case that ruined two families, including her own. Jeremy Holt was her father’s last client in the only trial he ever lost. For fifteen years, Jeremy has insisted he was innocent of his sister’s brutal murder. And Mercy has just found the first piece of evidence that suggests he might be telling the truth.
As she digs into the past, Mercy uncovers a trail of corruption, betrayal, and buried secrets no one wants brought to light. But nothing prepares her for the most devastating question of Was her father’s trial loss the result of a failing mind—or was he part of something far darker?
Either answer could destroy his legacy—and Mercy along with it.
Mercy Gale has spent her life in the shadow of a legend. Her father, E. Thomas Gale, was once America’s most celebrated defense attorney—a legal icon whose high-profile trials captivated the nation. Now, dementia is claiming his brilliant mind, and he’s retreated to a remote island on Lake Michigan to live in seclusion.
But a convicted killer from her father’s past contacts Mercy with a threat to expose Thomas’s long-hidden secrets. Mercy finds herself drawn into a murder case that ruined two families, including her own. Jeremy Holt was her father’s last client in the only trial he ever lost. For fifteen years, Jeremy has insisted he was innocent of his sister’s brutal murder. And Mercy has just found the first piece of evidence that suggests he might be telling the truth.
As she digs into the past, Mercy uncovers a trail of corruption, betrayal, and buried secrets no one wants brought to light. But nothing prepares her for the most devastating question of Was her father’s trial loss the result of a failing mind—or was he part of something far darker?
Either answer could destroy his legacy—and Mercy along with it.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 23, 2025
790 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
About the author
Robin James
125 books107 followersRobin James, gifted illustrator of the bestselling
Serendipity
books, was born into a family of artists. A native of the Pacific Northwest, Robin has loved art and animals all her life and has been drawing ever since she could hold a pencil. Through the years, she has done a wide variety of artwork from animal portraits to wildlife paintings and is perhaps most recognised for her children’s book illustrations which she began in 1973. She has illustrated over 75 children’s books, and is published worldwide.
At home on MorningStar Ranch & Gallery in picturesque Snohomish, Washington, one quickly spots Robin’s enormous love of animals and nature that is so evident in her illustrations. Not surprisingly, she and her husband, Randy, live with a happy menagerie of animals - all of whom have inspired her illustrations including Allie and Puppy, both rescued greyhounds, two cats, four horses and a flock of pet chickens!
At home on MorningStar Ranch & Gallery in picturesque Snohomish, Washington, one quickly spots Robin’s enormous love of animals and nature that is so evident in her illustrations. Not surprisingly, she and her husband, Randy, live with a happy menagerie of animals - all of whom have inspired her illustrations including Allie and Puppy, both rescued greyhounds, two cats, four horses and a flock of pet chickens!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
October 26, 2025
So, where should I kick things off? Let me just say how much I appreciate this author's writing style; Just picture my excitement when I learned that one of my favorite authors is starting a new series...
Now Picture spending your entire life in the shadow of a legend... Her dad, E. Thomas Gale, was once the most famous defense attorney in America—
Now, think about how that brilliant mind has faded away due to dementia and now lives in isolation.
Then, consider what Mercy Gale will do to keep her father safe from a convicted murderer who's threatening her family.
What a tale this is, brimming with dynamic characters, hidden secrets, and unexpected plot twists that will astonish you!
October 24, 2025
Thicker Than Water💧
Thicker Than Water is the first book in a brand new series by Robin James and quite literally has me in awe and speechless🙌
Mercy returns home to see her father, after she hears some concerning news about him. What Mercy doesn’t expect is to get caught up in a case from sixteen years ago, which is the one murder case her father lost but also the one she believes tore their family apart😢
I read this a little slower than normal as I was learning all the nuances and new characters but I’m so excited to have finished this story and eager for the next one already☺️ I received an advanced copy and voluntarily leave my honest review❤️🩹
Thicker Than Water is the first book in a brand new series by Robin James and quite literally has me in awe and speechless🙌
Mercy returns home to see her father, after she hears some concerning news about him. What Mercy doesn’t expect is to get caught up in a case from sixteen years ago, which is the one murder case her father lost but also the one she believes tore their family apart😢
I read this a little slower than normal as I was learning all the nuances and new characters but I’m so excited to have finished this story and eager for the next one already☺️ I received an advanced copy and voluntarily leave my honest review❤️🩹
October 26, 2025
4.5 stars. As a huge fan of both the authors Cass Leary and Mara Brent series, couldn't wait for this new one. Mercy Gale travels to small town Michigan to visit her attorney dad only to discover he's struggling with memory issues while still attempting to practice law. Mercy jumps in to help, her focus on a convicted murderer who claims innocence.
Laying the groundwork for this new series has this book surprisingly so slow to start. After more than 100 pages both Mercy and I had no idea what the heck was going on in this close knit small town. There are ton of characters to sort through, and several subplots. Trying to figure out the who "dunnit" was impossible. The deeper the story gets the more the intrigue ramps up and I starting reading faster. By the end I wanted to applaud the author. Well done! Can't wait for Book 2 in 2026.
Laying the groundwork for this new series has this book surprisingly so slow to start. After more than 100 pages both Mercy and I had no idea what the heck was going on in this close knit small town. There are ton of characters to sort through, and several subplots. Trying to figure out the who "dunnit" was impossible. The deeper the story gets the more the intrigue ramps up and I starting reading faster. By the end I wanted to applaud the author. Well done! Can't wait for Book 2 in 2026.
October 23, 2025
Good story
but it is a departure from the author’s typical Christian suspense.
Not sure if I will read the rest of the series.
but it is a departure from the author’s typical Christian suspense.
Not sure if I will read the rest of the series.
October 26, 2025
A new Robin James series that I loved. I've read ALL of James' other two series, and every book has five stars from me. Mercy and her dad are flawed and wonderful characters. Heroes as well. And the plot is nice and complex, although I did guess part of the "who done it" at the halfway mark. Still, the whole reveal held surprises and the ending quite satisfying. I loved it.
October 24, 2025
Robin James
I am a huge fan of Robin James Mara Brent and Cass Leary series and am now also a huge fan of her Mercy Gale series. A fantastic book and I eagerly wait for the next one. Excellent author!
I am a huge fan of Robin James Mara Brent and Cass Leary series and am now also a huge fan of her Mercy Gale series. A fantastic book and I eagerly wait for the next one. Excellent author!
October 24, 2025
Great Story!
What a wonderful book! It grabbed me from the beginning and had me hooked! Thank you Robin James, I can’t wait to see what Mercy gets into next!
What a wonderful book! It grabbed me from the beginning and had me hooked! Thank you Robin James, I can’t wait to see what Mercy gets into next!
November 20, 2025
A non-legal storyline. More a soap opera of tooo many characters. Not up to par for a robin james novel. Will not read book 2.
December 3, 2025
Decent, but not on par with the author's other works
Having previously read this author's Cass Leary and Mara Trent series to date, I had high hopes for this one too. And while it can sometimes take a while to fully develop interesting lead characters, this series is not off to a good start, in my opinion.
While dogged in her pursuit of the truth, and theoretically very intelligent, Mercy Gale apparently lacks any ability to read people she chooses to get close to, including her best friend and confidant, and the man with whom she gets very intimate. Beyond that and her struggles with her parental relationships, not very much of her character, personally, or being is revealed. In short, she is just not very interesting.
One of the strengths of the aforementioned other series is the introduction and development of additional characters that help create and sustain secondary stories that add richness and fullness to the main character. This book had very little of that,and it suffered because of it.
As to the plotline, it is unfortunate when a story has to be saved by the late introduction of multiple new key characters to bring it to a resolution. And it was fairly easy to see who the ultimate culprit was going to turn out to be early on.
In reading the afterword, it is somewhat understandable why these deficiencies exist. It seems plausible that this effort was too personal for the author and a challenge to get to the finish line. Out of respect for the many hours of enjoyment I've received from her other work I will give the next entry in the series a try. However, it will be approached with far less optimism, along with a concern for a true sense of sadness, than when I came into this one.
Having previously read this author's Cass Leary and Mara Trent series to date, I had high hopes for this one too. And while it can sometimes take a while to fully develop interesting lead characters, this series is not off to a good start, in my opinion.
While dogged in her pursuit of the truth, and theoretically very intelligent, Mercy Gale apparently lacks any ability to read people she chooses to get close to, including her best friend and confidant, and the man with whom she gets very intimate. Beyond that and her struggles with her parental relationships, not very much of her character, personally, or being is revealed. In short, she is just not very interesting.
One of the strengths of the aforementioned other series is the introduction and development of additional characters that help create and sustain secondary stories that add richness and fullness to the main character. This book had very little of that,and it suffered because of it.
As to the plotline, it is unfortunate when a story has to be saved by the late introduction of multiple new key characters to bring it to a resolution. And it was fairly easy to see who the ultimate culprit was going to turn out to be early on.
In reading the afterword, it is somewhat understandable why these deficiencies exist. It seems plausible that this effort was too personal for the author and a challenge to get to the finish line. Out of respect for the many hours of enjoyment I've received from her other work I will give the next entry in the series a try. However, it will be approached with far less optimism, along with a concern for a true sense of sadness, than when I came into this one.
October 25, 2025
In this, the first in a new series, Mercy Gale returns home to visit her father, once a celebrated defence lawyer, in whose shadow Mercy has lived, whose brilliant mind is now diminishing with dementia. Mercy is drawn into her father's last case, the only one he ever lost, with his client convinced of murder, a case that Mercy believes destroyed her family. Uncovering a trail of corruption, betrayal and secrets, she starts to question the trial's outcome.
Once again, James opens a series with a strong heroine and a gripping narrative, complete with twists, turns and revelations you don't see coming; pretty much everything I have come to expect from her. It is an exciting read that I couldn't put down and would wholeheartedly recommend. Can't wait for the next book.
I was given an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
Once again, James opens a series with a strong heroine and a gripping narrative, complete with twists, turns and revelations you don't see coming; pretty much everything I have come to expect from her. It is an exciting read that I couldn't put down and would wholeheartedly recommend. Can't wait for the next book.
I was given an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
January 22, 2026
great thriller
Mercy Gale dropped out of law school. She hasn’t told her father yet. He’s an attorney with a law practice in a small town in Michigan. She had received a letter from a man her father had defended telling her he was worried about her father. She shows up in town to check on her Dad. Jeremy Holt is serving a life sentence for a murder he did not commit, the only case her Dad had lost. Was her Dad mentally incompetent? Or is there something more sinister going on? Why did two people recant their alibis for Jeremy? Did Jeremy actually kill his half sister? Unputdownable!
Mercy Gale dropped out of law school. She hasn’t told her father yet. He’s an attorney with a law practice in a small town in Michigan. She had received a letter from a man her father had defended telling her he was worried about her father. She shows up in town to check on her Dad. Jeremy Holt is serving a life sentence for a murder he did not commit, the only case her Dad had lost. Was her Dad mentally incompetent? Or is there something more sinister going on? Why did two people recant their alibis for Jeremy? Did Jeremy actually kill his half sister? Unputdownable!
December 18, 2025
Pretty good read
I liked the story. It was a little different...lawyer dad, ex-law student daughter coming home to check on aging dad. But the characters didn't connect with me. There were too many, maybe? They were thrown in too quickly, or without enough background. I had to keep re-reading parts of the book to remind myself who was who. The ending was supposed to be a twist, I guess, but it fell flat for me.
I liked the story. It was a little different...lawyer dad, ex-law student daughter coming home to check on aging dad. But the characters didn't connect with me. There were too many, maybe? They were thrown in too quickly, or without enough background. I had to keep re-reading parts of the book to remind myself who was who. The ending was supposed to be a twist, I guess, but it fell flat for me.
January 9, 2026
Don’t give up on it
This book starts out, in my opinion, not the way Robin James typically writes. I love her series, but this was starting out a little too slow for me. Dragging on, however, it’s Robin James! So I stuck with it and very glad I did. Definitely not the who dunnit I thought. Although, she pretty much keeps it a secret until almost the very end. Looking forward to book 2.
This book starts out, in my opinion, not the way Robin James typically writes. I love her series, but this was starting out a little too slow for me. Dragging on, however, it’s Robin James! So I stuck with it and very glad I did. Definitely not the who dunnit I thought. Although, she pretty much keeps it a secret until almost the very end. Looking forward to book 2.
January 31, 2026
This was not a good read for me. The story was not believable in so many ways. The first third of the book relay dragged and Mercy must have asked the question 100 times “is my father ok “ There were way too many characters as the law school drop out turned detective tried to solve a mystery. Her inability to read people was evident and hampered her in her search and in her relationships. I will not be reading the new additions to this series.
October 29, 2025
I've been a fan of Robin James's books since the very first one I read, and I was excited to see this new series, grabbed Thicker than Water the day it came out, and it did not disappoint!! Loved getting to know Mercy and her father and all the other actors in this story. No spoilers here. Anxiously awaiting book #2 in this series!
November 10, 2025
Good story
This book started slow for.me but as I worked thro the chapters, it all came.together and I couldn't put the book down. Th last couple.chapters are mind bending and unexpected but so good. This is a setting in a small town, lots of interesting characters and its sounds like a cozy , great little place to visit and live. But don't let your guard down.
This book started slow for.me but as I worked thro the chapters, it all came.together and I couldn't put the book down. Th last couple.chapters are mind bending and unexpected but so good. This is a setting in a small town, lots of interesting characters and its sounds like a cozy , great little place to visit and live. But don't let your guard down.
December 3, 2025
I love any Robin James book. Normally I can figure the ending out or most of it and it still doesn’t run it for me but this time around I only saw some pieces. I really like that this series isn’t just about lawyers and the main character isn’t a lawyer but instead a strong female lead with great detective skills
October 30, 2025
Fantastic! Robin James has done it again. This is the start of a new series. The story is exciting, mysterious, thrilling and full of twists and turns with a surprising end. The narrator is very good, which makes this book all the better. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series.
November 6, 2025
Entertaining
Not as good as some of her others, but still good reading. Easy dialogue, but wandered through a so-so plot. I will be looking for the promised sequel to see if Mercy's story gets better. 3.5 rounded to 4
Not as good as some of her others, but still good reading. Easy dialogue, but wandered through a so-so plot. I will be looking for the promised sequel to see if Mercy's story gets better. 3.5 rounded to 4
December 10, 2025
Great story. A thriller to the end.
I am now a fan of Mercy Gale and her determination, persaverance and guts. This story pulls you in right to the end. Great twists and turns. Looking forward to book 2 in this series.
I am now a fan of Mercy Gale and her determination, persaverance and guts. This story pulls you in right to the end. Great twists and turns. Looking forward to book 2 in this series.
January 20, 2026
Wow! Great Story
Tremendous storyline and interesting character in Mercy Gale. Story moved quickly with lots of turns and twists with a super exciting, surprising ending! Looking forward to more.
Tremendous storyline and interesting character in Mercy Gale. Story moved quickly with lots of turns and twists with a super exciting, surprising ending! Looking forward to more.
January 31, 2026
Great New Heroine
I enjoyed Thicker Than Water like all Robin James novels. Her new character (Mercy Gale) is an easy person to pull for throughout the book. This mystery kept me interested all the way through and ended just right. Only 4 stars because it started slow.
I enjoyed Thicker Than Water like all Robin James novels. Her new character (Mercy Gale) is an easy person to pull for throughout the book. This mystery kept me interested all the way through and ended just right. Only 4 stars because it started slow.
October 28, 2025
Another interesting character for Robin James. This one has dropped out of law school to come home and take care of her father, who is an attorney.
October 29, 2025
Suspenseful
This isn't your typical Robin James book. It will keep you guessing and changing your mind on who really did it.
This isn't your typical Robin James book. It will keep you guessing and changing your mind on who really did it.
October 31, 2025
Good mystery. Interesting characters. Great storyline without profanity or explicit sexual language. I will read more from this author.
November 3, 2025
Loved the new series! Some good twists. Can’t wait to see where these stories go.!
November 9, 2025
I had no doubt this would be the beginning of a good series. I’ve read the Cass Leary and Mara Brent series and enjoyed every book. This book is just as good.
November 19, 2025
4.5 rounded up. What a wild ride.
January 9, 2026
Twists and turns galore
I thought it had everything figured out multiple times but I sure didn't! Multiple twists, kept me guessing right up until the very end!
I thought it had everything figured out multiple times but I sure didn't! Multiple twists, kept me guessing right up until the very end!
January 10, 2026
Robin James Delivers!!!
I have loved all of Robin’s books and look forward to each one. Unfortunately, I read faster than she can write.
I have loved all of Robin’s books and look forward to each one. Unfortunately, I read faster than she can write.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews