The Price of Mercy

by Tristen M. Hannah

Dr. Tabitha Reynolds has spent her career pulling other people back from the edge—in emergency rooms, in bush clinics, in places where the medicine ran out before the need did. Surviving has never been her problem. Wanting to is another matter.

When her Cessna goes down in the Alaskan interior, no one knows where she is. She made sure of that. Then word reaches her from the life she left the one door she believed closed forever has opened—and it won’t stay open long.

Now she must cross a hundred miles of frozen plains and dense forests with winter closing in, and face everything she a marriage broken by her secrets, a grief too heavy to speak aloud, and memories that surface when there’s nowhere left to hide.

The Price of Mercy is a harrowing novel of survival without comfort, memory without mercy, and the quiet damage we carry long after the world stops watching.

352 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication February 9, 2027

Reviews

[Courtney Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books that will sit with you long after you read it. It resonates with people because we can see ourselves in some aspects of Tabitha.

As more of her story is revealed through the flashbacks to the year of meeting Darius and her marriage to him, you gain more understanding and sympathy to her journey. Granted Tabitha has some serious problems and needs to work on herself, you can see life events chip away at all of that.

I found myself flying through this book because I wanted to understand what led to her actions. I wanted to figure out just what led her to the despair taking over her in the first few pages.

You go through extreme highs and lows with Tabitha throughout this entire book, and the ending will definitely surprise you.

I wish there had been some trigger warnings at the beginning to prepare you for the heavy topics covered in the story. You know she's going to struggle in nature and contend with past mistakes, but it went so much deeper than that.

Thank you to Tristen M. Hannah for an advanced copy in exchange for a review!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC
The book is about woman who crashes her plan and must make her way through the Alaska wilderness in winter. She has strong wilderness survival skills from previous experience with her grandfather. The book flashes back to her past as a doctor in worn torn Syria , her meeting and marrying of her husband and her trying to survive in Alaska after a plane crash. Sometimes the back and forth is confusing.
She was abandoned as a child and has not dealt with this emotionally. She buries her feeling in her work. The negative part is how much she blames herself for things out of her control. She lies about her past instead of telling the truth. I think it was hard for her to share as she had been abandoned and did not know how to trust . Overall interesting book. Would recommend

[Suzzi Q · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love adventure, READ THIS BOOK. I recieved an Advanced Reader Copy from the author. This is honestly one of the best books I have read this year. The level of detail in every aspect of Tabatha's adventure rings true--from the bush plane crash to wilderness survival here in Alaska, to Doctor's without borders, and pregnancy--all of it is so authentic. This is a hard to put down book, the timelines intermingle in an intelligent and interesting way, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat. The protagonist is flawed in a believable way and fights through her fears and insecurities. The ending is beautiful, heartfelt and happy. I hope this gets picked up by Reese, Oprah, Jenna or another national book club endorsement. It was a genuine joy to read.

[Cindi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent read. I received it as an ARC and was so blessed to be given the opportunity to read it and review it.
I have to admit to struggling a bit at the beginning as I was taken back and forth in time with Tabitha as I learned of the trauma and life situations she found herself in. But then, it sunk in that I was connecting to the story and how my own story weaves itself in and out of my heart and memories. It matched and it stuck with me.
Sometimes I hold off reading a book until I have room in my schedule for it. I guarantee if you pick this book up, Tabitha’s story will introduce a pause in your time to make room for all the emotions, understanding of her situation, and how it relates to your own.

[Jessica Gresens · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is so rare for me to find a book that hooks me from page one, but this was an absolute page-turner from the very start. The author’s descriptive writing is phenomenal—I could visualize every single scene in vivid detail and truly felt like I was right there alongside the character the entire time. I was fully engaged every step of the way, and I’m so sad it’s already over. I'm eagerly awaiting the next novel from this author!

[Sandy Dolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book because it took me one day to read it and I’m a slow sleepy reader. It was written to make the reader what will happen next. It tells the story of a young female doctor and different relationships. The fact that I am a retired RN made the story very real because of the facts that played out. Exciting, intriguing story. I received a free copy to read before publishing.

[Julie Busa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I tore through this book (which is saying a lot because I normally never read books electronically). I do believe this is the authors debut novel and it is fantastic. I loved everything about it and simply could not stop reading. I highly recommend it.
I was sent an advance copy of this book for an honest review.

[Cheryl Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read an ARC of this book and I was truly sucked in and could not wait to see what happened. A quick read (I think it was because I was so involved with the story) and made you want to just gobble it up.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

The characters are well drawn and the storyline is compelling. I didn't know how it was going to end.
My only complaint is that it had to end.

[Starla Sims · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The intermixed storylines from past to present day were great & I really liked the characters. It is well written & a fast & easy read!!

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It has adventure, suspense, love and family. It was an easy read and I couldn’t wait to see how it was going to end. Get this book, you’ll love it!