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Mercy Watts Mysteries #4
Drop Dead Red
A quirky cozy mystery series from USA Today bestselling author A.W. Hartoin. For fans of Janet Evanovich, Tricia O'Malley, and Jana DeLeon... Nothing’s easy in The Big Easy.Mercy Watts is barely back in St. Louis before her hometown suffers the worst crime in a century, a mass murder at the Tulio Italian restaurant. This tragedy has nothing to do with Mercy and she’s determined to keep it that way. No news. No gossip. No evidence. Mercy doesn’t want to know. But there are some things she can’t avoid, her family and her friends. Her plan seems to be working. The murderer, Kent Blankenship, is caught, but then Officer Joey Ameche shows up. He has a marker and he’s calling it in, much to Mercy’s dismay. His sister, Donatella’s husband and in-laws were killed at Tulio. Donatella and her children avoided the massacre in a way that the cops find suspicious. Mercy has plenty of suspicions, too. How did Donatella’s kids end up in the hospital just at the right time. Does she have a connection to the murderer? Would a mother infect her children with a deadly disease? The Tulio murders lead Mercy to her smallest criminal yet, a tiny bacteria with huge potential for murder. She traces that nasty bugger to New Orleans, her mother’s hometown, where the crimes keep adding up and the lies are thicker than Nana’s gumbo.
- GenresMysteryCozy MysteryCozy
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 31, 2015
About the author
A.W. Hartoin
48 books232 followersUSA Today bestselling author A.W. Hartoin grew up in rural Missouri, but her grandmother lived in the Central West End area of St. Louis. The CWE fascinated her with its enormous houses, every one unique. She was sure there was a story behind each ornate door. Going to Grandma’s house was a treat and an adventure. As the only grandchild around for many years, A.W. spent her visits exploring the many rooms with their many secrets. That’s how Mercy Watts and the fairies of Whipplethorn came to be.
As an adult, A.W. Hartoin decided she needed a whole lot more life experience if she was going to write good characters so she joined the Air Force. It was the best education she could’ve hoped for. She met her husband and traveled the world, living in Alaska, Italy, and Germany before settling in Colorado for nearly eleven years. Now A.W. has returned to Germany and lives in picturesque Waldenbuch with her family and two spoiled cats, who absolutely believe they should be allowed to escape and roam the village freely.
As an adult, A.W. Hartoin decided she needed a whole lot more life experience if she was going to write good characters so she joined the Air Force. It was the best education she could’ve hoped for. She met her husband and traveled the world, living in Alaska, Italy, and Germany before settling in Colorado for nearly eleven years. Now A.W. has returned to Germany and lives in picturesque Waldenbuch with her family and two spoiled cats, who absolutely believe they should be allowed to escape and roam the village freely.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 27, 2017
Drop Dead Red
Mercy Watts is back in her fourth installment, and things are crazy as ever in her sphere. There has been a mass shooting at a local eatery. Twenty six people are dead, among them nearly an entire branch of an affluent family. In one of those odd twists of fate, a mother and her two children survived because the kids contracted a rare form of bacterial meningitis and were in the ICU at the time. It doesn’t take long for the vultures to circle, and they have their targets set on the family fortune accusing the woman of orchestrating a complicated plot to get her hands on the fortune. It’s personal for the Watts Clan, the survivors are their people, and as Tommy Watts is quick to point out, you take care of your people.
Mercy is off to New Orleans on her first solo case to find the source of the very isolated outbreak. Her normal ragtag gang of nerds is at Comic Con, but just her luck, she starts picking up strays along the way to help with the investigation. This proves to be a good thing since her investigation uncovers even more criminal activity and suspects seem to be multiplying exponentially.
To make matters worse, the Klinefeld Group is putting more pressure on the Bled Family, to relinquish what they claim are Nazi Looted artifacts, going to so far as to interrogate scary Aunt Miriam at the convent. The Groups motivations are becoming more suspicious, with the suggestion of serious criminal activity. Meanwhile Mercy and Spider Monkey’s investigations into the Bleds and Watts Clans seem to be stuck in a pattern of one step forward, two steps back.
A W Hartoin is a master at spinning what most people would consider thriller-like aspects into a Cozy Mystery full of humor, heart, and touch of the supernatural (it’s New Orleans after all). It was refreshing to see Mercy not only embracing her “Marilyn” but using it to her advantage without the comical pitfalls of earlier books. As always the cast of characters is zany, but loveable and you will look forward to them popping up again in the most unusual places. Nevertheless, brace yourself for some serious heartache as weighty issues remain unresolved by the conclusion of this episode, and you’ll be pining for her next case, In the Worst Way.
Mercy Watts is back in her fourth installment, and things are crazy as ever in her sphere. There has been a mass shooting at a local eatery. Twenty six people are dead, among them nearly an entire branch of an affluent family. In one of those odd twists of fate, a mother and her two children survived because the kids contracted a rare form of bacterial meningitis and were in the ICU at the time. It doesn’t take long for the vultures to circle, and they have their targets set on the family fortune accusing the woman of orchestrating a complicated plot to get her hands on the fortune. It’s personal for the Watts Clan, the survivors are their people, and as Tommy Watts is quick to point out, you take care of your people.
Mercy is off to New Orleans on her first solo case to find the source of the very isolated outbreak. Her normal ragtag gang of nerds is at Comic Con, but just her luck, she starts picking up strays along the way to help with the investigation. This proves to be a good thing since her investigation uncovers even more criminal activity and suspects seem to be multiplying exponentially.
To make matters worse, the Klinefeld Group is putting more pressure on the Bled Family, to relinquish what they claim are Nazi Looted artifacts, going to so far as to interrogate scary Aunt Miriam at the convent. The Groups motivations are becoming more suspicious, with the suggestion of serious criminal activity. Meanwhile Mercy and Spider Monkey’s investigations into the Bleds and Watts Clans seem to be stuck in a pattern of one step forward, two steps back.
A W Hartoin is a master at spinning what most people would consider thriller-like aspects into a Cozy Mystery full of humor, heart, and touch of the supernatural (it’s New Orleans after all). It was refreshing to see Mercy not only embracing her “Marilyn” but using it to her advantage without the comical pitfalls of earlier books. As always the cast of characters is zany, but loveable and you will look forward to them popping up again in the most unusual places. Nevertheless, brace yourself for some serious heartache as weighty issues remain unresolved by the conclusion of this episode, and you’ll be pining for her next case, In the Worst Way.
August 14, 2021
Can't wait to read the next A.W.Hartoin book.
I love the way this author makes the main character think. So wry and just what I would think in Mercy's situations that she gets into. All the characters are charming in their own way. I can't wait to read the next book of A.W. Hartline. I don't know what I'll do when I 've read the last one. Reread them all again. Hopefully there will be many more Mercy Watts mysteries.
I love the way this author makes the main character think. So wry and just what I would think in Mercy's situations that she gets into. All the characters are charming in their own way. I can't wait to read the next book of A.W. Hartline. I don't know what I'll do when I 've read the last one. Reread them all again. Hopefully there will be many more Mercy Watts mysteries.
December 7, 2017
Another great romp with Mercy Watts. I love me some quirky characters and this series has many. This one took place in New Orleans where I've spent many pleasant hours. Mostly eating! So the local was familiar to me. Can't wait to read the next one in the series.
May 22, 2019
Out stumped
I thought for sure I had the end figured out as this was the 4th of the series I read. And boy, was I wrong! These books are really worth the read. Each is a kit a 6 hour read, a d, I have e bee. Reading 1 a day. That's how good they are
I thought for sure I had the end figured out as this was the 4th of the series I read. And boy, was I wrong! These books are really worth the read. Each is a kit a 6 hour read, a d, I have e bee. Reading 1 a day. That's how good they are
May 10, 2023
how does she do it?
I really don’t know HOW a talented writer pulls it all together, but Ms Hartoin certainly gets it done with flair! Very very good. Great characters. Well built world. Can’t really get enough!
I really don’t know HOW a talented writer pulls it all together, but Ms Hartoin certainly gets it done with flair! Very very good. Great characters. Well built world. Can’t really get enough!
September 17, 2024
Another good Mercy Watts story
I’ve come to love Mercy and the situations she gets herself in while solving crime! I was a bit sad about one thing in particular but I don’t want to ruin it and it could change in the next book. Can’t wait to find out!
I’ve come to love Mercy and the situations she gets herself in while solving crime! I was a bit sad about one thing in particular but I don’t want to ruin it and it could change in the next book. Can’t wait to find out!
November 28, 2017
Really like this series! Funny, yet not silly. Very well written.
April 7, 2022
Have Mercy!
I love Mercy and the whole crazy crew. There's no telling how things unfold, but the tale is always interesting with unexpected twisted and turns.
I love Mercy and the whole crazy crew. There's no telling how things unfold, but the tale is always interesting with unexpected twisted and turns.
November 1, 2023
Loved it
This book is funny, scary, and hooks you right in! I love the main character and her whole family. A good read!
This book is funny, scary, and hooks you right in! I love the main character and her whole family. A good read!
August 14, 2025
Read it one go and couldn’t put it down!
Love a good series ❤️ I just wish I could sting them out more. They are to good to put down though.
Love a good series ❤️ I just wish I could sting them out more. They are to good to put down though.
November 14, 2025
Worth Reading
Second time around and I still love Hartoin’s Mercy Watts books. I’m glad there are so many with such a long story arc.
Second time around and I still love Hartoin’s Mercy Watts books. I’m glad there are so many with such a long story arc.
October 13, 2016
Great story
This installment in the series was very good. Lots of new characters. I did miss some of the other characters. It's been great to see them change and grow. Looking forward to Mercy's next case.
This installment in the series was very good. Lots of new characters. I did miss some of the other characters. It's been great to see them change and grow. Looking forward to Mercy's next case.
January 18, 2016
You would think having the face and figure of Marilyn Munroe would make life hard for Mercy Watts and at times it does but Mercy has a way of deflecting her looks. So this was book 4 in this series and I just loved it Mercy was back with her humor, whit and charm solving mysteries and putting bad guys away. Things also get interesting with Mercy and Chuck will it work out or not ?
I do love that the setting for this book was New Orleans and everything was described really well I felt like I was there, even the descriptions of the food were mounts watering oh except the rancid sausages lol I can still smell those Yuk.
A really great mystery lots of swists and turns laughter, tears and so much more
I do love that the setting for this book was New Orleans and everything was described really well I felt like I was there, even the descriptions of the food were mounts watering oh except the rancid sausages lol I can still smell those Yuk.
A really great mystery lots of swists and turns laughter, tears and so much more
April 7, 2015
The best book yet
This series just keeps getting better and better. The plot for this book was complex and it had plenty of surprises to keep my interest. Mercy's character continues to grow and become more multi-dimensional. She isn't the brainless bimbo of the first book, thank heaven! The cast of characters around Mercy also are getting fleshed out and becoming more interesting. There are some funny moments in this story but it is a very good and interesting mystery. I will be watching for future books.
This series just keeps getting better and better. The plot for this book was complex and it had plenty of surprises to keep my interest. Mercy's character continues to grow and become more multi-dimensional. She isn't the brainless bimbo of the first book, thank heaven! The cast of characters around Mercy also are getting fleshed out and becoming more interesting. There are some funny moments in this story but it is a very good and interesting mystery. I will be watching for future books.
May 22, 2016
Better than #3
Several twists and turns in book 4. Kept my interest, hard to put down! Mercy is a likable character, even though sometimes I'd like to smack her Dad for putting her in some situations. Readers can imagine the toll on her.
Several twists and turns in book 4. Kept my interest, hard to put down! Mercy is a likable character, even though sometimes I'd like to smack her Dad for putting her in some situations. Readers can imagine the toll on her.
April 9, 2015
Good
Mercy without Aaron?!! A weird cat. Poison. She did it again. A.W. Hartoin does a good mystery. And perhaps a reoccurring psycho. I wait for the next installment of Mercy.
Mercy without Aaron?!! A weird cat. Poison. She did it again. A.W. Hartoin does a good mystery. And perhaps a reoccurring psycho. I wait for the next installment of Mercy.
January 13, 2016
These are just super fun books. A great distraction when you just want a fun read.
May 16, 2016
I love this series. A quick and enjoyable read.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews