The Truth about Blood

The Merci Lanard Files #2

by Amanda Arista

As an investigative journalist, Merci Lanard always gets her story but she doesn't always get the truth she wants.




After discovering her mother passed along a demon lineage, Merci goes to her mother's active retirement community to ask the tough questions about their blood, their power, and the truth about her father's death.




Instead of answers, she is gifted a dead body and a plea to find out what happened. Since Philly is peaceful and things aren't exactly perfect with Rafe, she stays in New Haven to hunt down a killer and answers about herself.




Navigating wakes and themed parties, Merci finds herself at home with drug rings and a conniving political arena threatening her mother's community of Wanderers. But as another body puts Merci in jail, she needs to draw on her own community to help- Rafe.


As she fully realizes the power of what her mother has built and the dark side of that, she finds the truth behind the killings, the truth about family, and the truth about the real power of her blood.

Genres: Urban Fantasy

322 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 4, 2020

About the author

Amanda 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.

Reviews

[Marsha Hubbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading “The Truth About Night,” book 1 in The Merci Lanard Files by Amanda Arista, I knew I was hooked. My review at the time read, “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.”

So, I was thrilled when book 2, “The Truth About Blood,” was released this summer. This time around, investigative journalist Merci Lanard wants answers – from her mother. Marci has recently learned she’s inherited a magical lineage, and she wants the truth. But as she discovers in the retirement community her mother heads in New Haven, it’s easier said than done. Members in the community are dying. But nothing is what it seems, and these aren’t average retirees. Merci has no choice but to bring her boyfriend Rafe into the fray. The hitch there is he can’t join her until the full moon is complete. As tension mounts and the body count grows, Merci has to come to terms with her own magic and her deep feelings for Rafe.

I can’t wait for book 3!

[SapphireRose26 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Merci is definitely my favorite reporter. I love her stubborn attitude and quick wit. I will admit, I had the bad guy pegged pretty early on, but I still really enjoyed the book. The way the mystery unfolded was so interesting, and I loved all the growth Merci went through as a character. I really related to her family issues. I'm so excited for the next installment of this series!

[T.A. Seitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the story.

[Angel · Rating 3 out of 5]

How is Merci not dead from alcohol poisoning?? She doesn’t deserve Rafe she deserves rehab. She enjoys being a drunk malnourished train wreck. Everything I said in my Truth About Night review goes for this one. Great mystery with good characters but Merci is just awful. She thinks it’s what makes her a good reporter but being this dysfunctional and insufferable on purpose just makes her a weird asshole. She thinks it makes her “edgy”…Rafe needs to get as far away from Merci ASAP. Also, are they not having sex yet?? Wtf?

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Merci so much, and I was excited to join her on another supernatural mystery. The family drama was icing on the cake. My only complaint is that Rafe doesn't join her soon enough! I understood why, but hello, they are stronger together. Merci's stubborn nature is my favorite, but I wanted her to get him there earlier than that. Looking forward to the third book!

[Jenna Vaughn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. Did not like that she and Rafe were separated for so much of the book, it was like 60% through before we got any time with the two of them together. I did enjoy the theme of family and the deeper delve into their magical world. (and I have to say, I figured out the culprit early on.)

[AnnieReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. Did not like that she and Rafe were separated for so much of the book, it was like 60% through before we got any time with the two of them together. I did enjoy the theme of family and the deeper delve into their magical world.

[Ashley Cael]

I tried, I just can't with Merci. I get she has baggage but my god, the waffling. I can't deal with it.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was better than the truth about night,because we learned more about mercy and her past,got to see more than just the reporter,and Raphe…gotta love him

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

The fact that I read this but remember so little about it...

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author is always a fun read. Cozy mystery meets fantasy. Not my usual genres to read, but she's particularly talented with snappy dialogue and humor.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved this storyline and how there is a little believable magic.