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The Merci Lanard Files #1
The Truth About Night
As an investigative journalist, Merci Lanard has an uncanny knack for getting the truth out of people, a talent she uses to expose the real story behind her city’s most gruesome crimes.
Until one night, when her partner, Ethan, is killed.
Reeling from shock and grief, Merci vows to track down his murderer. As she starts digging, she meets Ethan’s estranged brother, Rafe, who agrees to work with Merci to find his brother’s killer. She soon discovers Ethan had been hiding things from her, mainly that he was a Shifter and had a whole life in a supernatural world she knew nothing about.
A Shifter himself, Rafe introduces Merci to magic she never knew existed. As they work together to uncover hidden connections between Ethan's murder and a series of strange dead bodies, they find themselves in the crosshairs of a turf war for the soul of the city.
If Merci is to have any hope of saving her city, she will have to face the truth about this war, the truth about this new magical world, and the truth about who she truly is.
Until one night, when her partner, Ethan, is killed.
Reeling from shock and grief, Merci vows to track down his murderer. As she starts digging, she meets Ethan’s estranged brother, Rafe, who agrees to work with Merci to find his brother’s killer. She soon discovers Ethan had been hiding things from her, mainly that he was a Shifter and had a whole life in a supernatural world she knew nothing about.
A Shifter himself, Rafe introduces Merci to magic she never knew existed. As they work together to uncover hidden connections between Ethan's murder and a series of strange dead bodies, they find themselves in the crosshairs of a turf war for the soul of the city.
If Merci is to have any hope of saving her city, she will have to face the truth about this war, the truth about this new magical world, and the truth about who she truly is.
275 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 21, 2020
10 people are currently reading
1599 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Arista
12 books213 followersAmanda was born in Illinois, raised in Corpus Christi, lives in Dallas but her heart lies in London. Good thing she loves to travel.
During the summer after second grade, she read every book in the young adult section of the library, much to the surprise of the local librarian. So she started making up her own stories and hasn’t stopped.
She has a husband who fights crime, one dog who thinks he’s a real boy, and another who might be a fruit bat in disguise. She recently added a tiny human to the mix who is following in her mother’s footsteps of storytelling.
Along with her BA in English & Psychology and her MA in Education, Amanda is a graduate of the SMU Creative Writing Program and now teaches other aspiring authors. She has delivered lectures at several writer conferences and loves discussing craft, character, and structure. Her current favorite: Stirring up Trouble with Romantic Subplots.
She is represented by Kimberly Brower, of Brower Literary & Management.
During the summer after second grade, she read every book in the young adult section of the library, much to the surprise of the local librarian. So she started making up her own stories and hasn’t stopped.
She has a husband who fights crime, one dog who thinks he’s a real boy, and another who might be a fruit bat in disguise. She recently added a tiny human to the mix who is following in her mother’s footsteps of storytelling.
Along with her BA in English & Psychology and her MA in Education, Amanda is a graduate of the SMU Creative Writing Program and now teaches other aspiring authors. She has delivered lectures at several writer conferences and loves discussing craft, character, and structure. Her current favorite: Stirring up Trouble with Romantic Subplots.
She is represented by Kimberly Brower, of Brower Literary & Management.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
February 5, 2020
Hooked from the start and couldn’t stop reading. "The Truth About Night" by Amanda Arista is a paranormal thrill ride. Merci Lanard is an impatient investigative reporter with a sharp wit and an uncanny ability to get the truth out of people. It’s served her well. But when her partner and best friend Ethan is murdered and the investigation discloses one dangerous secret after another, Merci has no choice but to trust Ethan’s brother if she has any chance of discovering who killed Ethan and why.
Ms. Arista has created a magical world hidden among the everyday, and she’s given it a clever twist. She’s also created characters I can’t wait to meet again.
Ms. Arista has created a magical world hidden among the everyday, and she’s given it a clever twist. She’s also created characters I can’t wait to meet again.
February 25, 2020
Fast, fun and fantastical!
This book is a cross between a Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight paranormal and Raymond Chandler’s The Big Sleep. Arista’s hyperbolic similes and her thirst for the unnatural pulled me though the story and left a hankering for the next one.
This book is a cross between a Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight paranormal and Raymond Chandler’s The Big Sleep. Arista’s hyperbolic similes and her thirst for the unnatural pulled me though the story and left a hankering for the next one.
November 5, 2024
Lecture mitigée. J'ai aimé l'univers développé par l'autrice ainsi que l'histoire et les personnages mais sans arriver à être captivée. Malheureusement ce livre m'a paru très très long. Il m'a fallu une bonne semaine pour le terminer alors que le livre ne fait qu'un peu plus de 400 pages. Sans doute à cause de la longueur des chapitres (il n'y en a que 13). Et de l'histoire qui est assez lente et qui manque un peu d'action à mon goût.
February 15, 2020
I loved this book from start to finish. Merci was relatable and entertaining. Rafe was equal parts hot and captivating, and the mystery had a perfect pace that kept me turning pages. Amanda Arista has a gift for writing about hard emotions in a way that connects solidly with my experience of them. I also really appreciate that she didn't throw an unnecessary conflict between Merci and Rafe to drag them apart at the last second like so many authors do with their romantic subplots. A good mystery doesn't need the added drama of a rocky romance to carry the book. I look forward to reading more of Merci's story.
January 26, 2020
Super fun read that I devoured in a few short days. I sped through it because the action and intensity just grows and grows, whether we're following Merci as she chases leads in a story that is very personal or when we're getting swept up with her new and tantalizing romance with Rafe, who is much more than he seems. If you live for urban fantasy, werewolves, and magic, Merci and her new friends are here for you. I can't wait for the continued adventures of this sarcastic, sharp reporter!
December 7, 2022
I enjoyed this paranormal noir story. Merci isn't a gumshoe, but a reporter who has the voice and mannerisms of a PI, and to make the story even better, a special ability to force people to tell the truth. Turns out, it's not just a skill but a power.
When she's lured to meet an informant, she and her partner are attacked and her partner killed. That event opens up an entire new world to her and set her on a mission to find Ethan's killer.
I liked the worldbuilding and the interesting manifestation of Merci's gift. This first novel leaves some room for her abilities to grow too, which is fun.
When she's lured to meet an informant, she and her partner are attacked and her partner killed. That event opens up an entire new world to her and set her on a mission to find Ethan's killer.
I liked the worldbuilding and the interesting manifestation of Merci's gift. This first novel leaves some room for her abilities to grow too, which is fun.
February 22, 2024
Opinions are like…. Well… ya know. Perhaps if I enjoyed fantasy it may have been ok. But I can read almost anything. This was extremely slow moving and I thought it was a crime novel, I wasn’t expecting it to shift into complete fantasy.
So, if fantasy is your thing, the writing style is significantly better than Terry Goodkind. (Who I will never stop hating on. He may be responsible for my current strong distaste for fantasy.)
So, if fantasy is your thing, the writing style is significantly better than Terry Goodkind. (Who I will never stop hating on. He may be responsible for my current strong distaste for fantasy.)
April 7, 2020
This was a fun read with interesting characters you'll root for. Merci Lanard, for one. Not my usual genre, but I loved Amanda Arista's voice (lots of punchy dialogue and a plot that twists and turns.) I'm looking forward to reading the next in her series!
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April 15, 2022DNF @30%
This narrator leaves a lot to be desired and I could not being myself to finish listening.
The story itself was intriguing so maybe I will try to read this at some point but as for now I lost my interest.
This narrator leaves a lot to be desired and I could not being myself to finish listening.
The story itself was intriguing so maybe I will try to read this at some point but as for now I lost my interest.
September 4, 2022
This was surprisingly good. It was less paranormal romance and more just modern fantasy. But I enjoyed the subtle unveiling and awareness of magic and Merci's own ability. There was great visual descriptions and character development. Its got a good bit of dark humor which was nice.
February 16, 2020
I loved it! I can't wait for the next book!
April 5, 2022
struggled with the main character, the story was enjoyable
April 8, 2022
An interesting twist on the supernatural side. Fast paced and easy read. Listened using audiobooks . I am not so keen on the voices and accent used for Merci and Raph
July 1, 2022
This was surprisingly good. It was less a paranormal romance and more just modern fantasy. But I enjoyed the subtle unveiling and awareness of magic and Merci's own ability.
Read
January 4, 2023Interesting book with unusual characters. Will enjoy reading the rest of the series.
May 16, 2023
Vlkodlaci to môžem.
July 8, 2023
a good paranormal book by a new author,enjoying the story line,really liked the characters Raphe and Mercy.
November 30, 2023
An interesting start to an urban fantasy trilogy.
February 25, 2024
South Texas represent! A little slow paced than I normally enjoy, and the writer angle vs detective was unique. Overall fun storyline.
August 28, 2020
Great read. Enjoyed the characters.
January 1, 2025
It is an interesting, believable storyline with a good plot that maintains your interest with many twists and turns.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews