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Dr. Laura Fleming #1
White Noise
When prison psychologist Dr Laura Fleming is assigned charismatic inmate Justin Jones to assess for parole, alarm bells ring. Working with some of the state's most damaged criminals, she knows Jones is too dangerous to release, but he's got everyone fooled . . . She needs proof.
Laura knows all about damage. Her own painful mistakes have destroyed her marriage and she's been refused access to her daughter. Step by agonising step, she's rebuilding her life and her relationships, but it's a hard road. What does she have to do to prove she can be trusted?
Laura's not taking any chances with Jones, and as she races to find evidence before his parole hearing, she digs deep into his life - and is shocked by what she finds.
But as she edges closer to the truth, Laura falls victim to a series of increasingly personal attacks, and secrets from her past threaten to unhinge everything she holds dear - her job, her family . . . even her sanity.
Sometimes redemption is out of reach. But revenge will do just fine.
Laura knows all about damage. Her own painful mistakes have destroyed her marriage and she's been refused access to her daughter. Step by agonising step, she's rebuilding her life and her relationships, but it's a hard road. What does she have to do to prove she can be trusted?
Laura's not taking any chances with Jones, and as she races to find evidence before his parole hearing, she digs deep into his life - and is shocked by what she finds.
But as she edges closer to the truth, Laura falls victim to a series of increasingly personal attacks, and secrets from her past threaten to unhinge everything she holds dear - her job, her family . . . even her sanity.
Sometimes redemption is out of reach. But revenge will do just fine.
352 pages, ebook
First published June 1, 2022
26 people are currently reading
788 people want to read
About the author
Mercedes Mercier
3 books80 followersMercedes Mercier writes 'just-one-more-page' crime with twisting plots and relatable characters. As well as writing books, Mercedes works in the criminal justice system, providing her unique insight into the world of prisons, crime and offenders.
After a brush with death, Mercedes decided to throw herself into life. She lived overseas, become a black belt in Karate, skydived, and volunteered with animals.
When she doesn't have her nose in her laptop and her mind in a story, she loves to read, travel, try new restaurants, and listen to podcasts (true crime of course).
After a brush with death, Mercedes decided to throw herself into life. She lived overseas, become a black belt in Karate, skydived, and volunteered with animals.
When she doesn't have her nose in her laptop and her mind in a story, she loves to read, travel, try new restaurants, and listen to podcasts (true crime of course).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 162 reviews
August 9, 2023
Again, an Australian woman writer smashing it out of the park. A debut that does not hint at anything less than quality writing. I am lucky I have a father that will always give me good, solid recommendations. And he is lucky is lovely librarian gives him personal recommendations, too, all the way to placing the books onto his record, directly on to his request shelf. We both have a personal recommendation service!
This book is written by someone who has worked in the field, and this is what I love, as the content is reliable and close to the way things go in the real world. In this instance, the New South Wales justice system, which has been of interest to me lately as my daughter has just finished a criminology degree.
Again I read a debut that ends up being a series starter, that when I read it initially, there is no plan for a series. This will be a good one. Laura is a prison psychologist who hasn't had a good start, she lost her partner as a paramedic and after the trauma of that situation, she ditches that career for her current one. She may lack some smarts here, as she's not treated well by her soon to be ex-husband, and she seems to allow herself to be somewhat a victim of coersvie control. This then seems to set up up to be unreliable in the telling, and I enjoyed this aspect. Although I did want to shake some sense into her many times!
She becomes involved with an awful inmate, the charasmatic Justin Jones whose case is passed on to her when a colleague leaves early for maternity leave; there are many red flags for Laura as this man certainly is not the squeaky clean reformed man he appears to be. His file is marked for release and this just doesn't sit right with her.
No one will listen to Laura, apart from Sam, the quirky and quite eccentric prison guard Laura has befriended. She has gone to all levels of the sytem, to the Warden and her own direct boss. She is running against the clock and things become personal as her adolescent daughter gets dragged into the fray.
This is an interesting thriller, more enjoyable by being local to me, and with a smart but yet flawed woman in the lead.
I look forward to see more of Laura and her daughter; this was a tremendously written novel. Hats off, Mercedes Mercier.
This book is written by someone who has worked in the field, and this is what I love, as the content is reliable and close to the way things go in the real world. In this instance, the New South Wales justice system, which has been of interest to me lately as my daughter has just finished a criminology degree.
Again I read a debut that ends up being a series starter, that when I read it initially, there is no plan for a series. This will be a good one. Laura is a prison psychologist who hasn't had a good start, she lost her partner as a paramedic and after the trauma of that situation, she ditches that career for her current one. She may lack some smarts here, as she's not treated well by her soon to be ex-husband, and she seems to allow herself to be somewhat a victim of coersvie control. This then seems to set up up to be unreliable in the telling, and I enjoyed this aspect. Although I did want to shake some sense into her many times!
She becomes involved with an awful inmate, the charasmatic Justin Jones whose case is passed on to her when a colleague leaves early for maternity leave; there are many red flags for Laura as this man certainly is not the squeaky clean reformed man he appears to be. His file is marked for release and this just doesn't sit right with her.
No one will listen to Laura, apart from Sam, the quirky and quite eccentric prison guard Laura has befriended. She has gone to all levels of the sytem, to the Warden and her own direct boss. She is running against the clock and things become personal as her adolescent daughter gets dragged into the fray.
This is an interesting thriller, more enjoyable by being local to me, and with a smart but yet flawed woman in the lead.
I look forward to see more of Laura and her daughter; this was a tremendously written novel. Hats off, Mercedes Mercier.
January 26, 2023
White Noise (Dr Laura Fleming, #1) by Mercedes Mercier
Synopsis /
When prison psychologist Dr Laura Fleming is assigned charismatic inmate Justin Jones to assess for parole, alarm bells ring. Working with some of the state's most damaged criminals, she knows Jones is too dangerous to release, but he's got everyone fooled . . . She needs proof.
Laura knows all about damage. Her own painful mistakes have destroyed her marriage and she's been refused access to her daughter. Step by agonising step, she's rebuilding her life and her relationships, but it's a hard road. What does she have to do to prove she can be trusted?
Laura's not taking any chances with Jones, and as she races to find evidence before his parole hearing, she digs deep into his life - and is shocked by what she finds.
But as she edges closer to the truth, Laura falls victim to a series of increasingly personal attacks, and secrets from her past threaten to unhinge everything she holds dear - her job, her family . . . even her sanity.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Mercedes Mercier writes 'just-one-more-page' crime with twisting plots and relatable characters. As well as writing books, Mercedes works in the criminal justice system, providing her unique insight into the world of prisons, crime and offenders. After a brush with death, Mercedes decided to throw herself into life. She lived overseas, become a black belt in Karate, skydived, and volunteered with animals. She is currently writing her second novel, to be published in 2023. When she doesn't have her nose in her laptop and her mind in a story, she loves to read, travel, try new restaurants, and listen to podcasts (true crime of course).
My Thoughts /
Sometimes redemption is out of reach. But revenge will do just fine.
White Noise by Mercedes Mercier is the second debut novel I’ve read in as many weeks, which has been written by an Australian woman author. Let’s hope there are a lot more to come, if the standards of these last two are anything to go by.
In White Noise Mercier introduces us to prison psychologist, Dr Laura Fleming. Fleming is one of a group of psychologists, that work out of Westmead Prison, an all-male prison in Sydney. Each psychologist is allocated to inmates with whom they work with during their incarceration period. One of the more important tasks the psychologists must undertake is to provide reports to the Parole Board when a prisoner is being considered for release.
The story opens with Dr Fleming in session with a newly allocated inmate. Justin Jones has applied to the Parole Board for an early release. He is sitting in an office meeting with Laura because his previously allocated psychologist, Liz, has gone on maternity leave. Laura has read all of Liz’s previous notes and reports from sessions with Jones – hundreds of hours’ worth of sessions, and her reports all point to one thing – Justin Jones has rehabilitated into a model prisoner. He’s passed all educational programs with flying colours – from the Violent Inmates Program; his Behaviour in Prison Report; and his case notes from other offices and case managers are glowing. But there is something about Jones that makes the hair on the back of Laura’s neck stand on edge; she can’t pinpoint it directly, but something about him bothers her.
To allay her suspicions about Jones, Laura begins to investigate his criminal history and what led him to being incarcerated in Westmead Prison. Her investigations uncover some very surprising revelations. But closer Laura gets to the truth, the more risks she takes, and the stakes become high.
He gives my apartment one more sweep before nodding.
‘I’ll see you around, Laura Fleming’.
‘Sure will’, I say with forced brightness. I watch him through the peephole until he’s disappeared back down the stairs. It’s only when I’m securing both locks on my front door that I realise I never told him my surname.
Laura, as if often the case, is a flawed protagonist. In and of itself that is not unusual; but I was driven to distraction by the constant reminders of her condition – she suffers from tinnitus and PTSD from a previous incident which happened whilst she was working as a paramedic.
On page 44 —
Over the years, and through a lot of sound therapy, I’ve learnt to manage it. Most of the time it’s low-level ringing and a dull ache that’s manageable, or easily ignored. But whenever I’m tired or stressed, it transforms into a loud, throbbing buzzing that turns my brain to fog. My head feels like it’s full to bursting of a swarm of angry bees, stirred up and stinging. The pressure, the sound and the pain all combine to create a disorienting effect that means I can barely hear anything above the buzzing, see anything through the haze of pain, or form a coherent thought. When I feel this starting, it triggers a Pavlovian response inside me and drives my already peaking stress levels sky-high. It’s a traumatic, endless circle of anxiety and pain.
Okay. Noted. But I don’t need to be reminded on every other page. I gave up trying to count the times I read the word ‘tinnitus’ or ‘ringing’ (in my ears); you don’t need to remind me that often.
For the most part, the plot is slow moving; but, at about the three-quarter mark the pace really takes off. The content of the writing from this point on saved the book from a three-star rating from me. I can only imagine what it could have been like had it been written with this same intensity from the get-go. Special mention should be made of some terrific peripheral characters. Senior Sergeant Paul Netley, and Corrections Officer Sam who fit into the story and Dr Fleming’s storyline perfectly —
Sam pulls a chair up to the bank of screens and gets comfy. Her boots thud onto the desk. She pulls a cigarette from her pocket and points it in the officer’s face. ‘I highly recommend having a shrink for a friend. They’re good quality’.
Worth continuing with book, #2 titled Black Lies. The expected publication date is June 7, 2023.
Synopsis /
When prison psychologist Dr Laura Fleming is assigned charismatic inmate Justin Jones to assess for parole, alarm bells ring. Working with some of the state's most damaged criminals, she knows Jones is too dangerous to release, but he's got everyone fooled . . . She needs proof.
Laura knows all about damage. Her own painful mistakes have destroyed her marriage and she's been refused access to her daughter. Step by agonising step, she's rebuilding her life and her relationships, but it's a hard road. What does she have to do to prove she can be trusted?
Laura's not taking any chances with Jones, and as she races to find evidence before his parole hearing, she digs deep into his life - and is shocked by what she finds.
But as she edges closer to the truth, Laura falls victim to a series of increasingly personal attacks, and secrets from her past threaten to unhinge everything she holds dear - her job, her family . . . even her sanity.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Mercedes Mercier writes 'just-one-more-page' crime with twisting plots and relatable characters. As well as writing books, Mercedes works in the criminal justice system, providing her unique insight into the world of prisons, crime and offenders. After a brush with death, Mercedes decided to throw herself into life. She lived overseas, become a black belt in Karate, skydived, and volunteered with animals. She is currently writing her second novel, to be published in 2023. When she doesn't have her nose in her laptop and her mind in a story, she loves to read, travel, try new restaurants, and listen to podcasts (true crime of course).
My Thoughts /
Sometimes redemption is out of reach. But revenge will do just fine.
White Noise by Mercedes Mercier is the second debut novel I’ve read in as many weeks, which has been written by an Australian woman author. Let’s hope there are a lot more to come, if the standards of these last two are anything to go by.
In White Noise Mercier introduces us to prison psychologist, Dr Laura Fleming. Fleming is one of a group of psychologists, that work out of Westmead Prison, an all-male prison in Sydney. Each psychologist is allocated to inmates with whom they work with during their incarceration period. One of the more important tasks the psychologists must undertake is to provide reports to the Parole Board when a prisoner is being considered for release.
The story opens with Dr Fleming in session with a newly allocated inmate. Justin Jones has applied to the Parole Board for an early release. He is sitting in an office meeting with Laura because his previously allocated psychologist, Liz, has gone on maternity leave. Laura has read all of Liz’s previous notes and reports from sessions with Jones – hundreds of hours’ worth of sessions, and her reports all point to one thing – Justin Jones has rehabilitated into a model prisoner. He’s passed all educational programs with flying colours – from the Violent Inmates Program; his Behaviour in Prison Report; and his case notes from other offices and case managers are glowing. But there is something about Jones that makes the hair on the back of Laura’s neck stand on edge; she can’t pinpoint it directly, but something about him bothers her.
To allay her suspicions about Jones, Laura begins to investigate his criminal history and what led him to being incarcerated in Westmead Prison. Her investigations uncover some very surprising revelations. But closer Laura gets to the truth, the more risks she takes, and the stakes become high.
He gives my apartment one more sweep before nodding.
‘I’ll see you around, Laura Fleming’.
‘Sure will’, I say with forced brightness. I watch him through the peephole until he’s disappeared back down the stairs. It’s only when I’m securing both locks on my front door that I realise I never told him my surname.
Laura, as if often the case, is a flawed protagonist. In and of itself that is not unusual; but I was driven to distraction by the constant reminders of her condition – she suffers from tinnitus and PTSD from a previous incident which happened whilst she was working as a paramedic.
On page 44 —
Over the years, and through a lot of sound therapy, I’ve learnt to manage it. Most of the time it’s low-level ringing and a dull ache that’s manageable, or easily ignored. But whenever I’m tired or stressed, it transforms into a loud, throbbing buzzing that turns my brain to fog. My head feels like it’s full to bursting of a swarm of angry bees, stirred up and stinging. The pressure, the sound and the pain all combine to create a disorienting effect that means I can barely hear anything above the buzzing, see anything through the haze of pain, or form a coherent thought. When I feel this starting, it triggers a Pavlovian response inside me and drives my already peaking stress levels sky-high. It’s a traumatic, endless circle of anxiety and pain.
Okay. Noted. But I don’t need to be reminded on every other page. I gave up trying to count the times I read the word ‘tinnitus’ or ‘ringing’ (in my ears); you don’t need to remind me that often.
For the most part, the plot is slow moving; but, at about the three-quarter mark the pace really takes off. The content of the writing from this point on saved the book from a three-star rating from me. I can only imagine what it could have been like had it been written with this same intensity from the get-go. Special mention should be made of some terrific peripheral characters. Senior Sergeant Paul Netley, and Corrections Officer Sam who fit into the story and Dr Fleming’s storyline perfectly —
Sam pulls a chair up to the bank of screens and gets comfy. Her boots thud onto the desk. She pulls a cigarette from her pocket and points it in the officer’s face. ‘I highly recommend having a shrink for a friend. They’re good quality’.
Worth continuing with book, #2 titled Black Lies. The expected publication date is June 7, 2023.
June 19, 2022
Australia is just teaming with brilliant crime writers at the moment and ai am just here for it. White Noise is another debut that has just knocked it out of the park and some. This book is brilliant… you all just need to read it ok.
Now, ai must apologise to Tandem Global, as this was meant to be a week long readalong with other bookstagrammers. I have come to the conclusion that dealings are not for me. I started this on Saturday night and finished it Sunday afternoon. There was no way I could read just a bit and out it down. I was completely hooked from the get go and I couldn’t stop reading.
This is fast paced and very intense thriller about a prison psychologist who trusts her gut. Everyone at Westmead Prison believes that a Justin Jones is the perfect inmate. He is up for parole and it is up to Laura to judge if he is ready and rehabilitated. Thee is just something off about him and she is determined to get to the bottom of it. Strange things start to happen and nobody believes her that Justin is behind it. Her past traumas don’t help her and she starts to think maybe she is going mad.
You just have to read this and find out what is happening. I was holding my breath and those pages could. It turn fast enough. Well done Mercedes, I cannot wait to see what you have for us next.
Thanks to Harper Collins and Tandem Global for my copy of this book to read. White Noise is out now in Australia
Now, ai must apologise to Tandem Global, as this was meant to be a week long readalong with other bookstagrammers. I have come to the conclusion that dealings are not for me. I started this on Saturday night and finished it Sunday afternoon. There was no way I could read just a bit and out it down. I was completely hooked from the get go and I couldn’t stop reading.
This is fast paced and very intense thriller about a prison psychologist who trusts her gut. Everyone at Westmead Prison believes that a Justin Jones is the perfect inmate. He is up for parole and it is up to Laura to judge if he is ready and rehabilitated. Thee is just something off about him and she is determined to get to the bottom of it. Strange things start to happen and nobody believes her that Justin is behind it. Her past traumas don’t help her and she starts to think maybe she is going mad.
You just have to read this and find out what is happening. I was holding my breath and those pages could. It turn fast enough. Well done Mercedes, I cannot wait to see what you have for us next.
Thanks to Harper Collins and Tandem Global for my copy of this book to read. White Noise is out now in Australia
October 31, 2023
This debut psychological thriller by Mercedes Mercier introduces prison psychologist Dr Laura Fleming and the dangerous world in which she works. White Noise presents a realistic depiction of the Australian prison system and the wider criminal justice system as a whole. It also reinforces the importance of mental health experts and their ability to understand the criminal mind.
As a prison psychologist, it’s up to Laura Fleming to make a recommendation as to whether an inmate is ready to be considered for early release by the parole board. Although Justin Jones appears to have ticked all the boxes with exemplary behaviour, there’s something about him that concerns her. His record is too perfect and she senses he’s hiding deeper, darker thoughts during her weekly sessions with him.
Her considered opinion, though, is not backed up by her boss nor the Warden. In fact, they’re both convinced that she’s harbouring some kind of grudge against him and, weirdly, tend to prefer to believe him over her when he lodges a complaint against her.
Then she starts receiving pills in the post, her apartment is repeatedly broken into and her cat is allowed to escape. Someone is targeting her, sending her a message and she can’t help but think Jones is somehow behind it all. It prompts her to dig even deeper into his past and the crime that saw him sent to prison in the first place. What she finds is far more surprising and concerning than she could ever have imagined.
There are some familiar themes explored in this debut thriller with a damaged female protagonist who is still trying to come to terms with a devastating past. Part of that past has resulted in her suffering from tinnitus which plagues her at the most inopportune times. She is also a recovering prescription drugs abuser, having developed an addiction after a savage attack while working as a paramedic.
In fact, Laura appears to be surrounded by people who refuse to support her or back her up in most of her pursuits. Not least among these people is her ex-husband who shows clear signs of abusive and controlling behaviour. It’s a wonder she can function normally at all with so much baggage piling up on her.
White Noise is a fast moving thriller that navigates the complexities of the Australian criminal system with great dexterity. A multitude of crises crashing down at much the same time ensure that the pace is extreme and the outcome is constantly in doubt right up until the dramatic and tension-filled finale. I found this to be a believable and well-told story that served as a great series opener.
As a prison psychologist, it’s up to Laura Fleming to make a recommendation as to whether an inmate is ready to be considered for early release by the parole board. Although Justin Jones appears to have ticked all the boxes with exemplary behaviour, there’s something about him that concerns her. His record is too perfect and she senses he’s hiding deeper, darker thoughts during her weekly sessions with him.
Her considered opinion, though, is not backed up by her boss nor the Warden. In fact, they’re both convinced that she’s harbouring some kind of grudge against him and, weirdly, tend to prefer to believe him over her when he lodges a complaint against her.
Then she starts receiving pills in the post, her apartment is repeatedly broken into and her cat is allowed to escape. Someone is targeting her, sending her a message and she can’t help but think Jones is somehow behind it all. It prompts her to dig even deeper into his past and the crime that saw him sent to prison in the first place. What she finds is far more surprising and concerning than she could ever have imagined.
There are some familiar themes explored in this debut thriller with a damaged female protagonist who is still trying to come to terms with a devastating past. Part of that past has resulted in her suffering from tinnitus which plagues her at the most inopportune times. She is also a recovering prescription drugs abuser, having developed an addiction after a savage attack while working as a paramedic.
In fact, Laura appears to be surrounded by people who refuse to support her or back her up in most of her pursuits. Not least among these people is her ex-husband who shows clear signs of abusive and controlling behaviour. It’s a wonder she can function normally at all with so much baggage piling up on her.
White Noise is a fast moving thriller that navigates the complexities of the Australian criminal system with great dexterity. A multitude of crises crashing down at much the same time ensure that the pace is extreme and the outcome is constantly in doubt right up until the dramatic and tension-filled finale. I found this to be a believable and well-told story that served as a great series opener.
May 3, 2023
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White Noise by Mercedes Mercier. (2023).
When prison psychologist Laura is assigned to charismatic inmate Justin to assess for parole, alarm bells ring. She knows he is too dangerous to release but he's got everyone fooled... she just needs proof. Laura knows all about damage - her own painful mistakes have destroyed her marriage and restricted access to her daughter. She's trying to rebuild her life but it's hard. Laura races to find evidence before Justin's parole hearing and digs into his life - and is shocked by what she finds. But as she edges closer to the truth, Laura falls victim to a series of personal attacks, and secrets from her past threaten to unhinge everything she holds dear.
I've had this one on my list for awhile, seeing loads of positive reviews often. I've finally gotten around to reading it and can happily confirm it's a great read. The author has used her experience in and knowledge of the Australian criminal system to write a realistic and engrossing page-turner. The lead character Laura is very likeable with an extremely interesting job; it appears this novel is actually the start of a series featuring Laura, so that's exciting and I look forward to the next book due out in 2023. Honestly, I didn't want to put this tension-filled one down at all - it's a nail-biter for sure.
Overall: an excellent debut fiction novel for the author, and one I'd highly recommend for fans of crime/thriller novels.
*www.facebook.com/onewomansbbr
White Noise by Mercedes Mercier. (2023).
When prison psychologist Laura is assigned to charismatic inmate Justin to assess for parole, alarm bells ring. She knows he is too dangerous to release but he's got everyone fooled... she just needs proof. Laura knows all about damage - her own painful mistakes have destroyed her marriage and restricted access to her daughter. She's trying to rebuild her life but it's hard. Laura races to find evidence before Justin's parole hearing and digs into his life - and is shocked by what she finds. But as she edges closer to the truth, Laura falls victim to a series of personal attacks, and secrets from her past threaten to unhinge everything she holds dear.
I've had this one on my list for awhile, seeing loads of positive reviews often. I've finally gotten around to reading it and can happily confirm it's a great read. The author has used her experience in and knowledge of the Australian criminal system to write a realistic and engrossing page-turner. The lead character Laura is very likeable with an extremely interesting job; it appears this novel is actually the start of a series featuring Laura, so that's exciting and I look forward to the next book due out in 2023. Honestly, I didn't want to put this tension-filled one down at all - it's a nail-biter for sure.
Overall: an excellent debut fiction novel for the author, and one I'd highly recommend for fans of crime/thriller novels.
March 8, 2022
White Noise is the debut novel for Mercedes Mercier and it is set Sydney, Australia. The story is told by Laura Fleming a prison psychologist with a painful and secretive background.
Laura is assigned a new inmate client who she is required to psychologically assess to see if he is fit for parole, Justin Jones. Jones has an impeccable good behaviour record in prison and seems to have charmed everyone into believing he is fully rehabilitated from the violent crime he committed. Laura is neither charmed nor fooled and she will stop at nothing to uncover the truth, but will she be able to get proof before it's too late and Jones is released.
Laura battles with dark secrets that destroyed her marriage and left her without custody or access to her only daughter Riley. Since taking Jones on as a client she has started experiencing targeted attacks that just seem too much of a coincidence to not be coming from Jones... right??
I was intrigued by this story and was definitely drawn in by the prison psychologist element. The story Laura tells of her life and how it was derailed by a terrifying attack that left her life a shambles set an excellent scene for what was to come. Unfortunately, after the 40% mark this one took a bit of a downward turn. I found that the story dragged on for too long with extra 'days' and non-events happening that increased the word count but did not enhance the storyline. There were a lot of cliched events and statements that felt forced.
While I am fully aware of this being a complete work of fiction and I do expect elements of realism to be thrown out the window I found it highly unlikely that a person like Laura could hold down a job as a prison psychologist considering her erratic and impulsive behaviour and constant debilitating panic attacks. There was just too many things that made me think 'nope this chick is not capable of this job' not now.
I also found myself cringing hard at certain elements and descriptions of Laura's behaviour for example how she could apparently draw up certain diagnosis in her head on a whim as if a textbook was in her head and Laura calming down to her favourite true crime podcast with details like...
"My favourite podcast is playing; two Californian women are discussing the serial killers who first got them interested in true crime. My phone rings, cutting out a particularly grisly description of John Wayne Gacy stitching his victim's nipples together"
I mean, ok Laura you like true crime podcasts but super cringe!!
I was really hoping that this would be an exciting thriller but for me it just didn't hit the mark, I got mild entertainment out of it bit ultimately it fell flat.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and Harper Collins for an advance copy of White Noise for my honest feedback.
Laura is assigned a new inmate client who she is required to psychologically assess to see if he is fit for parole, Justin Jones. Jones has an impeccable good behaviour record in prison and seems to have charmed everyone into believing he is fully rehabilitated from the violent crime he committed. Laura is neither charmed nor fooled and she will stop at nothing to uncover the truth, but will she be able to get proof before it's too late and Jones is released.
Laura battles with dark secrets that destroyed her marriage and left her without custody or access to her only daughter Riley. Since taking Jones on as a client she has started experiencing targeted attacks that just seem too much of a coincidence to not be coming from Jones... right??
I was intrigued by this story and was definitely drawn in by the prison psychologist element. The story Laura tells of her life and how it was derailed by a terrifying attack that left her life a shambles set an excellent scene for what was to come. Unfortunately, after the 40% mark this one took a bit of a downward turn. I found that the story dragged on for too long with extra 'days' and non-events happening that increased the word count but did not enhance the storyline. There were a lot of cliched events and statements that felt forced.
While I am fully aware of this being a complete work of fiction and I do expect elements of realism to be thrown out the window I found it highly unlikely that a person like Laura could hold down a job as a prison psychologist considering her erratic and impulsive behaviour and constant debilitating panic attacks. There was just too many things that made me think 'nope this chick is not capable of this job' not now.
I also found myself cringing hard at certain elements and descriptions of Laura's behaviour for example how she could apparently draw up certain diagnosis in her head on a whim as if a textbook was in her head and Laura calming down to her favourite true crime podcast with details like...
"My favourite podcast is playing; two Californian women are discussing the serial killers who first got them interested in true crime. My phone rings, cutting out a particularly grisly description of John Wayne Gacy stitching his victim's nipples together"
I mean, ok Laura you like true crime podcasts but super cringe!!
I was really hoping that this would be an exciting thriller but for me it just didn't hit the mark, I got mild entertainment out of it bit ultimately it fell flat.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and Harper Collins for an advance copy of White Noise for my honest feedback.
July 1, 2022
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
A deeply consuming tale from cover to cover, White Noise is the debut novel from Adelaide based writer Mercedes Mercier. A story that strikes at the heart of the criminal justice system, White Noise is an expressive debut release. Gripping, exciting, tense, penetrating and addictive, White Noise is an exhilarating crime novel.
White Noise follow prison psychologist Laura Fleming, a damaged woman who is trying her very hardest to redeem herself after a nasty fall from grace. When Laura is given a high-profile inmate to deal with, she knows that this will be one of her toughest cases yet. Justin Jones, the prisoner in question, has a difficult and dangerous history. Laura must gather all the required evidence to assist with his parole process. But this assessment will prove to be a career changing situation for Laura. In her personal life Laura has some big issues to deal with. Her marriage in tatters along with her relationship with her teenage daughter. Laura is determined to both win back the love of her daughter and achieve the best result possible for the Justin Jones case. However, when Laura searches for the required information to finalise this case, she encounters some very surprising revelations. The closer Laura gets to the truth, the more risks she takes and the stakes are raised. Will Laura get the result she needs both in her personal and professional life?
Mercedes Mercier’s author bio states that she writes ‘just one more page’ fiction. I have to agree with this statement. White Noise is the first novel in some time that I have managed to stay connected to for the duration, which is a big feat in my eyes. I have been an incredibly distracted reader of late! So thank you Mercedes Mercier!
The author’s background in the criminal justice system has contributed to a narrative that is deeply embedded in reality, experience and firsthand understanding. I was impressed with Mercier’s knowledge of the Australian criminal justice system, incarceration procedures, prison psychology work and the mindset of an inmate in general. This was a highlight of the storyline. I think I came away better equipped knowledge wise about the life of a prisoner and those who work around them. I also developed a deeper appreciation for the hard and often dangerous work of prison staff. This aspect of the narrative was highly engrossing.
Laura, the lead of the tale, is well presented by Mercedes Mercier. This flawed protagonist who is driven by a strong sense of redemption and forgiveness proved to be an excellent character to follow closely. Mercier handles the personal and professional strains of this character well. We gain an insight into this protagonist’s experiences of trauma, loss, addiction, recovery and trust via Laura’s journey. The periphery characters intermingle perfectly with Laura’s storyline and the overall mystery crime arc of the narrative. I really enjoyed working with Laura on her high-profile case surrounding Justin’s perplexing parole assessment. Mercier teases her audience with plenty of twists, turns, revelations and heart stopping moments.
There have been a number of illustrious debut novels from Australian writers this year and White Noise is one such example. I award Mercdes Mercier’s first novel five stars.
A deeply consuming tale from cover to cover, White Noise is the debut novel from Adelaide based writer Mercedes Mercier. A story that strikes at the heart of the criminal justice system, White Noise is an expressive debut release. Gripping, exciting, tense, penetrating and addictive, White Noise is an exhilarating crime novel.
White Noise follow prison psychologist Laura Fleming, a damaged woman who is trying her very hardest to redeem herself after a nasty fall from grace. When Laura is given a high-profile inmate to deal with, she knows that this will be one of her toughest cases yet. Justin Jones, the prisoner in question, has a difficult and dangerous history. Laura must gather all the required evidence to assist with his parole process. But this assessment will prove to be a career changing situation for Laura. In her personal life Laura has some big issues to deal with. Her marriage in tatters along with her relationship with her teenage daughter. Laura is determined to both win back the love of her daughter and achieve the best result possible for the Justin Jones case. However, when Laura searches for the required information to finalise this case, she encounters some very surprising revelations. The closer Laura gets to the truth, the more risks she takes and the stakes are raised. Will Laura get the result she needs both in her personal and professional life?
Mercedes Mercier’s author bio states that she writes ‘just one more page’ fiction. I have to agree with this statement. White Noise is the first novel in some time that I have managed to stay connected to for the duration, which is a big feat in my eyes. I have been an incredibly distracted reader of late! So thank you Mercedes Mercier!
The author’s background in the criminal justice system has contributed to a narrative that is deeply embedded in reality, experience and firsthand understanding. I was impressed with Mercier’s knowledge of the Australian criminal justice system, incarceration procedures, prison psychology work and the mindset of an inmate in general. This was a highlight of the storyline. I think I came away better equipped knowledge wise about the life of a prisoner and those who work around them. I also developed a deeper appreciation for the hard and often dangerous work of prison staff. This aspect of the narrative was highly engrossing.
Laura, the lead of the tale, is well presented by Mercedes Mercier. This flawed protagonist who is driven by a strong sense of redemption and forgiveness proved to be an excellent character to follow closely. Mercier handles the personal and professional strains of this character well. We gain an insight into this protagonist’s experiences of trauma, loss, addiction, recovery and trust via Laura’s journey. The periphery characters intermingle perfectly with Laura’s storyline and the overall mystery crime arc of the narrative. I really enjoyed working with Laura on her high-profile case surrounding Justin’s perplexing parole assessment. Mercier teases her audience with plenty of twists, turns, revelations and heart stopping moments.
There have been a number of illustrious debut novels from Australian writers this year and White Noise is one such example. I award Mercdes Mercier’s first novel five stars.
July 3, 2022
What a thriller!!!!!!! I just had to keep reading one more page…what a ride!!! The story is set over 1 week so it’s quite the pace…and it is definitely as close as I want to get to NSWs prison system. As an aside It was fascinating to see the mechanics of our jail system. I hadn’t ever really thought about what it would be like to work in a one; to have to worry about what colour underwear you had on, and conscious of your lack of jewellery; to work amongst that “barely concealed fury of the inmates”..it was all so interesting. It’s a gritty psychological thriller set in Sydney during winter and you could absolutely feel, see, smell and hear it. I cannot wait to see what Mercedes Mercier writes next!!
April 21, 2023
White Noise by Aussie author Mercedes Mercier is the first book in the Dr. Laura Fleming series and something tells me after reading this book this is going to be a fabulous series.
If you enjoy reading thrillers then this book is for you. A page-turner, on the edge of your seat, captivating and can’t wait to read the next book in the series. Highly recommended.
If you enjoy reading thrillers then this book is for you. A page-turner, on the edge of your seat, captivating and can’t wait to read the next book in the series. Highly recommended.
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June 16, 2022A fabulous debut that kept me on the edge of my aeroplane seat, captivated right to the very end. Can't wait to see what Mercedes writes next!
September 30, 2022
⭐️4.5 Stars⭐️
White Noise is Adelaide author Mercedes Mercier’s debut novel and I couldn’t tear myself away, I am totally hooked, what an absolute page turner!
I enjoyed the tense prison setting and the famed Bondi Beach location. Mercier has delivered perfect pacing, a relatable protagonist and a suspenseful and engaging concept. There were moments where the atmosphere definitely grew creepy.
Dr Laura Flemming is a flawed and vulnurable character and it’s probably why readers will warm to her character. Laura is a prison psychologist with a secret from her past.
When charismatic inmate Justin Jones is assigned to Laura she is concerned about his suitability for parole and she finds herself in a deadly and threatening situation. She’s also dealing with some painfully personal issues regarding her teenage daughter Riley and ex-husband Peter.
Mercier’s writing cleverly ensures the reader doesn’t know who to trust, she will keep you guessing! Loved that Mercier’s personal experience of working in the criminal justice system makes the story feel so believable . It all comes to a gripping and satisfying conclusion and I can’t wait to see what she gives us next!
Publication Date 06 June 2022
Publisher Harper Collins Australia
Thank you so much Harper Collins Australia for sending me a copy of this amazing book!
White Noise is Adelaide author Mercedes Mercier’s debut novel and I couldn’t tear myself away, I am totally hooked, what an absolute page turner!
I enjoyed the tense prison setting and the famed Bondi Beach location. Mercier has delivered perfect pacing, a relatable protagonist and a suspenseful and engaging concept. There were moments where the atmosphere definitely grew creepy.
Dr Laura Flemming is a flawed and vulnurable character and it’s probably why readers will warm to her character. Laura is a prison psychologist with a secret from her past.
When charismatic inmate Justin Jones is assigned to Laura she is concerned about his suitability for parole and she finds herself in a deadly and threatening situation. She’s also dealing with some painfully personal issues regarding her teenage daughter Riley and ex-husband Peter.
Mercier’s writing cleverly ensures the reader doesn’t know who to trust, she will keep you guessing! Loved that Mercier’s personal experience of working in the criminal justice system makes the story feel so believable . It all comes to a gripping and satisfying conclusion and I can’t wait to see what she gives us next!
Publication Date 06 June 2022
Publisher Harper Collins Australia
Thank you so much Harper Collins Australia for sending me a copy of this amazing book!
December 19, 2024
Ugh, I had high hopes for this but it was so insanely slow.
May 31, 2022
“I don’t believe in karma, or heaven and hell. People should be made to pay for their sins while they’re alive.”
Dr Laura Fleming is a prison psychologist who’s just been assigned an inmate who’s being assessed for parole. Laura dedicated her life to her work after a tragedy that made Laura determined never to let a guilty person be released when they are a dangerous to the community. And there’s just something about this man.
Laura knows about split seconds wrong decisions, her own mistake left her with no husband, daughter or long time colleague. She refocused her life on building a relationship with her daughter, when her ex husband allows her to. Rebuilding her life is a hard road but nothing will stop Laura proving she can be trusted.
After digging into The inmates past, things start randomly happening that put Laura on edge. The more she uncovers the harder it is to feel safe, suddenly everything she hold close to her is at the brink of collapsing around her again. She won’t let anyone take her down this time, she’s stronger and more determined than ever!
From picking this up to finishing there weren’t many hours in between, I was hooked from the get go, the setting from the book being very close to home for me just added to element of the suspense. I swore and gasped and e joyed every twist and turn along the way.
Dr Laura Fleming is a prison psychologist who’s just been assigned an inmate who’s being assessed for parole. Laura dedicated her life to her work after a tragedy that made Laura determined never to let a guilty person be released when they are a dangerous to the community. And there’s just something about this man.
Laura knows about split seconds wrong decisions, her own mistake left her with no husband, daughter or long time colleague. She refocused her life on building a relationship with her daughter, when her ex husband allows her to. Rebuilding her life is a hard road but nothing will stop Laura proving she can be trusted.
After digging into The inmates past, things start randomly happening that put Laura on edge. The more she uncovers the harder it is to feel safe, suddenly everything she hold close to her is at the brink of collapsing around her again. She won’t let anyone take her down this time, she’s stronger and more determined than ever!
From picking this up to finishing there weren’t many hours in between, I was hooked from the get go, the setting from the book being very close to home for me just added to element of the suspense. I swore and gasped and e joyed every twist and turn along the way.
October 27, 2022
This country continues to compel audiences with their debut authors in the book world.
Mercedes Mercier hit the shelves with a bang with her introduction novel and while I’m a bit slow off the mark in reading this, what I can say is Mercedes deserves a standing ovation.
It’s clever, it’s smart, it’s impressive and one hell of a read.
Dr Laura Fleming, a prison psychologist knows about past trauma, her life is a mess.
Her husband doesn’t trust her and she is trying to rebuild her relationship with her daughter.
Now she has been assigned handsome perfect inmate, Justin Jones.
He is be evaluated for parole but Laura trusts her gut feeling and believes something is not quite right.
As she takes the necessary steps to find evidence, things don’t add up and soon it’s all about to explode.
A story that’s paced well and plotted smartly, which makes you not trust anyone and when you think you have worked it all out, you are wrong and it’s back to the drawing board.
Gripping, tension filled and one that escalates until it’s dramatic finale.
You won’t be unable to turn the pages fast enough wanting to know who did what to whom, where and why.
While Mercedes has a made a spectacular entrance, I can’t wait to read what we get next and I can tell you I will be dropping everything to consume.
White Noise is a great example of the work that continues to land on our to be read piles that end up being books we highly recommend.
Mercedes Mercier hit the shelves with a bang with her introduction novel and while I’m a bit slow off the mark in reading this, what I can say is Mercedes deserves a standing ovation.
It’s clever, it’s smart, it’s impressive and one hell of a read.
Dr Laura Fleming, a prison psychologist knows about past trauma, her life is a mess.
Her husband doesn’t trust her and she is trying to rebuild her relationship with her daughter.
Now she has been assigned handsome perfect inmate, Justin Jones.
He is be evaluated for parole but Laura trusts her gut feeling and believes something is not quite right.
As she takes the necessary steps to find evidence, things don’t add up and soon it’s all about to explode.
A story that’s paced well and plotted smartly, which makes you not trust anyone and when you think you have worked it all out, you are wrong and it’s back to the drawing board.
Gripping, tension filled and one that escalates until it’s dramatic finale.
You won’t be unable to turn the pages fast enough wanting to know who did what to whom, where and why.
While Mercedes has a made a spectacular entrance, I can’t wait to read what we get next and I can tell you I will be dropping everything to consume.
White Noise is a great example of the work that continues to land on our to be read piles that end up being books we highly recommend.
June 16, 2022
So impressed with this debut novel. The story hooked me from the start and had me up late in to the night. Fast-paced and gritty, the book weaves a suspenseful and twisty tale set to the backdrop of the NSW prison system.
July 10, 2022
With inmate Justin's parole coming up, psychologist Laura is determined to prove that he is still dangerous and should not be released back into public. But when Laura is personally attacked and her family and job are threatened, can she stick to her guns to find the proof she needs?
Wowzer, what did I just listen to?! What a fantastic debut by Mercedes Mercier. And another Aussie at that! The audio was so entertaining, I listened to it in one go. I highly recommend this fast paced thriller!
Wowzer, what did I just listen to?! What a fantastic debut by Mercedes Mercier. And another Aussie at that! The audio was so entertaining, I listened to it in one go. I highly recommend this fast paced thriller!
November 9, 2022
If you want to read a really different story, this is the one! Fast paced and will take you on an exciting ride. Great job Mercedes.
June 19, 2024
This rating is heavily influenced by my own experiences! I’ve done a placement as a prison psychologist and am sadly one of those people that can’t enjoy the story because i get stuck on the reality versus the story.
Having said that, this author clearly did her research - a lot of the intro was heavily accurate but that meant i also found it quite boring because it felt like attending orientation all over again. I think there was too much telling and not enough showing. I’m sure others might find it interesting regardless but for me it was a bit of a snoozefest.
Then the plot starts and the adjustments to reality became necessary. A primary part of a forensic psychologist’s job is assessing risk of future criminal behaviour. We use measures and tools to do this not clinical judgement - it is very scientific i assure you. But i guess if this psychologist completed a risk assessment or even a psychopathy assessment there would be no book so… but i found it incredibly frustrating that this psychologist was running around playing amateur detective to keep her client from getting parole instead of, you know, doing her job.
Not a book for me but i still want to encourage others to give it a go because i was biased by my experiences.
Having said that, this author clearly did her research - a lot of the intro was heavily accurate but that meant i also found it quite boring because it felt like attending orientation all over again. I think there was too much telling and not enough showing. I’m sure others might find it interesting regardless but for me it was a bit of a snoozefest.
Then the plot starts and the adjustments to reality became necessary. A primary part of a forensic psychologist’s job is assessing risk of future criminal behaviour. We use measures and tools to do this not clinical judgement - it is very scientific i assure you. But i guess if this psychologist completed a risk assessment or even a psychopathy assessment there would be no book so… but i found it incredibly frustrating that this psychologist was running around playing amateur detective to keep her client from getting parole instead of, you know, doing her job.
Not a book for me but i still want to encourage others to give it a go because i was biased by my experiences.
November 10, 2023
It's a really great psychological thriller. The author draws on her own experiences working in the Australian prison system to draw a story and characters that simply grab you and don't let you go till the final few pages.
Every event, every new character, has you guessing as to how they're involved or even if they're involved.
It is a very enjoyable read, and I've already organised the next read from the library.
Every event, every new character, has you guessing as to how they're involved or even if they're involved.
It is a very enjoyable read, and I've already organised the next read from the library.
July 5, 2024
Really compelling writing. Main character Dr Laura Fleming works in a Sydney prison. She’s tough but very damaged by trauma. Her home circumstances are difficult, her daughter is the main thing she cares about. The plot cleverly has her convincingly at risk from any one of a number of people. A nail biter of a book, I have book 2 reserved.
August 11, 2023
[Fiction, Thriller, Crime, Mystery]
Thoughts: This was my first ever crime novel, annnddd, I really enjoyed it! It was super interesting, I had no idea what was going to happen next & I LOVED the short chapters. It definitely made me feel like I was reading fast.
The writing of this novel was really easy to understand, and there wasn't any point where I felt like I needed to go back and check who a character was, or what their connection was, or where they were, etc. I was worried that I wouldn't understand some of the terminology or possible references, but was presently surprised when I found it to be easier than I expected.
As someone who hasn't read crime before, doesn't listen to crime podcasts or watch documentaries, the basis of the story being about a psychologist working in a prison was extremely interesting to me. It gave me an interesting insight into this world - and to be honest, made me slightly paranoid and a bit hyper aware for a while!
I can definitely see why people love crime, thriller and mystery! It's certainly a page turner genre if written well - and this has been written well! I look forward to picking up the second book!
Thoughts: This was my first ever crime novel, annnddd, I really enjoyed it! It was super interesting, I had no idea what was going to happen next & I LOVED the short chapters. It definitely made me feel like I was reading fast.
The writing of this novel was really easy to understand, and there wasn't any point where I felt like I needed to go back and check who a character was, or what their connection was, or where they were, etc. I was worried that I wouldn't understand some of the terminology or possible references, but was presently surprised when I found it to be easier than I expected.
As someone who hasn't read crime before, doesn't listen to crime podcasts or watch documentaries, the basis of the story being about a psychologist working in a prison was extremely interesting to me. It gave me an interesting insight into this world - and to be honest, made me slightly paranoid and a bit hyper aware for a while!
I can definitely see why people love crime, thriller and mystery! It's certainly a page turner genre if written well - and this has been written well! I look forward to picking up the second book!
February 8, 2022
White Noise is the debut novel written by Mercedes Mercier. It follows the story of Dr Laura Fleming, a psychologist at Westmead Prison. She gets given the Justin Jones case. Laura becomes concerned when she starts reading through the documentation from the previous psychologist. Should Justin be released? His parole hearing is in a few weeks and she needs cold hard evidence on her assumptions.
Strange things start happening to Laura and her family. Is this all freak accidents or is Laura getting set up? She works with Paul Netley a police officer at Castle Hill to get to the bottom of it all. Her only friend in the prison is officer Sam but can she be trusted?
I will be honest and say that I did find that the book did drag on a little bit but I kept turning the pages and I am glad I did. I found the book quite interesting with the prison aspect of the story.
Thank you Netgalley and Harper Collins Australia for the advanced copy for an honest review.
Strange things start happening to Laura and her family. Is this all freak accidents or is Laura getting set up? She works with Paul Netley a police officer at Castle Hill to get to the bottom of it all. Her only friend in the prison is officer Sam but can she be trusted?
I will be honest and say that I did find that the book did drag on a little bit but I kept turning the pages and I am glad I did. I found the book quite interesting with the prison aspect of the story.
Thank you Netgalley and Harper Collins Australia for the advanced copy for an honest review.
July 13, 2022
I wanted to like this one a whole lot more than I did, unfortunately. Straight off the bat though, the picture painted about officers and custody was 🫣 even though there was the author note at the end. Like every profession there are your ‘not so nice ones’ but there are soooo many good ones. I was absolutely not a fan of Laura’s practice style or perspective, I actually found her quite unethical and reckless with her safety and the safety of her clients. Peter was an absolute jerk, and I did enjoy her taking back her power and expressing her strength, so good for her! For a debut, it was a good read and i appreciated Laura’s growth from her trauma which was horrific, but I couldn’t help but make comparisons, it did feel a little slow in places, but I do look forward to more stories from this author because I do enjoy reading authors growing and evolving.
October 4, 2022
Super entertaining but absolutely unrealistic. Laura is a prison psychologist but for example met up with a client’s ex wife and shared things they had discussed in session (like that he didn’t talk to his family anymore). Also the police officer legally wouldn’t be allowed to share a person’s address as he did (many times!). While I enjoyed this book I found it very unbelievable and think the author needs to do a bit more research before writing on professions she has little knowledge on.
The ending also was quite cliched. I was hoping it had a more interesting twist like the (soon to be ex) husband was manipulating Laura. But it turns out Justin actually was threatening her and wanting to kill her. Didn’t make a lot of sense for a guy just released on early parole!
The ending also was quite cliched. I was hoping it had a more interesting twist like the (soon to be ex) husband was manipulating Laura. But it turns out Justin actually was threatening her and wanting to kill her. Didn’t make a lot of sense for a guy just released on early parole!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 8, 2022
2.5 rounded down.
Don’t do it.
Don’t do it.
August 9, 2023
Okay. I now understand why everyone has been raving about Mercedes Mercier's debut, White Noise. Not only is it a fast paced and gritty psychological thriller, there's a terrific insight of the Australian correctional system as well. As Mercedes works in this area, you can guarantee the authenticity but as she stresses, this is a work of fiction.
I'm not going to bother with a synopsis, because you need to dive right in and experience this for yourself. However, I'm going to state that prison psychologist, Dr Laura Fleming, who works amongst the hardest of criminals, is one heck of a MC. She understands the destruction that one spur of the moment decision can bring, leading to family and friendship breakdowns, long term dependency disorders and grief plus continuous abandonment and trust issues. Still, Laura manages to prove herself as a champion of justice with her tireless bravery, determination, quick wit and sharp mind. Justin Jones's continuous intimidation attempts against Laura may be scary but there's absolutely no way she's going down without a fight!
Immediately after finishing this, I purchased Black Lies, the second in the series. I'm hoping that the strong bond between Laura and Paul is further explored because damn, I ship them hard. As for Sam, Laura's colleague/friend, she needs to stick around for the comedy relief. It took awhile to warm to this prison officer due to unfortunate midjudgements, but Sam's utterly wholesome.
Major triggers: assault, abuse (mental and physical), dependency disorders, grief grievous bodily harm, grooming (assumed) manipulation, minor character death, narcissism, stalking.
One blast of a book that grabs you in and won't let go!
4.75 🌟
I'm not going to bother with a synopsis, because you need to dive right in and experience this for yourself. However, I'm going to state that prison psychologist, Dr Laura Fleming, who works amongst the hardest of criminals, is one heck of a MC. She understands the destruction that one spur of the moment decision can bring, leading to family and friendship breakdowns, long term dependency disorders and grief plus continuous abandonment and trust issues. Still, Laura manages to prove herself as a champion of justice with her tireless bravery, determination, quick wit and sharp mind. Justin Jones's continuous intimidation attempts against Laura may be scary but there's absolutely no way she's going down without a fight!
Immediately after finishing this, I purchased Black Lies, the second in the series. I'm hoping that the strong bond between Laura and Paul is further explored because damn, I ship them hard. As for Sam, Laura's colleague/friend, she needs to stick around for the comedy relief. It took awhile to warm to this prison officer due to unfortunate midjudgements, but Sam's utterly wholesome.
Major triggers: assault, abuse (mental and physical), dependency disorders, grief grievous bodily harm, grooming (assumed) manipulation, minor character death, narcissism, stalking.
One blast of a book that grabs you in and won't let go!
4.75 🌟
August 23, 2022
Well what a page turner, couldn't put it down, sitting on the edge of my seat the whole time. Suspense, corruption and twists the lot.
Dr Laura Fleming a prison psychiatrist is given a job to do, assess and sign off Justin Jones parole.
Laura feels something is not quite linning up right and digs further into his background, which causes problems.
Laura has a colourful history herself and is dealing with an angry, controlling ex-husband. Not being able to see her daughter and recovering after losing her best friend.
Two worlds collide with twists, unlikely connections as Laura and Detective Paul dig deeper.
Dr Laura Fleming a prison psychiatrist is given a job to do, assess and sign off Justin Jones parole.
Laura feels something is not quite linning up right and digs further into his background, which causes problems.
Laura has a colourful history herself and is dealing with an angry, controlling ex-husband. Not being able to see her daughter and recovering after losing her best friend.
Two worlds collide with twists, unlikely connections as Laura and Detective Paul dig deeper.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 11, 2022
Sometimes you read a new author and realise immediately that you will be reading every book they ever write for life. So impressed by this debut by author Mercedes Mercier, had me totally hooked from first page to last. Had silence of the Lambs vibes for me, an intense physiological thriller, a true gripping page turner, that just keeps escalating till its final thrilling edge of your seat moments. Loved it and can’t wait to see what Mercedes does next.
September 15, 2024
I do love a local author!
And Mercedes didn’t disappoint. I found this both difficult to read and enthralling at the same time. I think once you’ve journeyed with certain darkness, you can’t revisit it. In this case, Jones.
There were a lot of moments I felt like, for me, the story was almost too uncomfortable to continue on with, but I think to some degree that’s the point. So well done, Mercedes!
I wasn’t enamoured with Laura as a protagonist, though I did like Paul - he was kind of her character’s saving grace for me. I deeply disliked Peter from the start, but I am glad that there was a realisation there towards the end.
I felt like the last quarter was a little rushed given how paced the first three were, but it didn’t deter from the twists and revelations.
Would recommend.
Wouldn’t read again.
Would read more by the author.
And Mercedes didn’t disappoint. I found this both difficult to read and enthralling at the same time. I think once you’ve journeyed with certain darkness, you can’t revisit it. In this case, Jones.
There were a lot of moments I felt like, for me, the story was almost too uncomfortable to continue on with, but I think to some degree that’s the point. So well done, Mercedes!
I wasn’t enamoured with Laura as a protagonist, though I did like Paul - he was kind of her character’s saving grace for me. I deeply disliked Peter from the start, but I am glad that there was a realisation there towards the end.
I felt like the last quarter was a little rushed given how paced the first three were, but it didn’t deter from the twists and revelations.
Would recommend.
Wouldn’t read again.
Would read more by the author.
July 18, 2022
I enjoyed this story very much. Knowing the system and how things go it was interesting to get a fellow officers view on it. She describes the relationships between officers and offender development perfectly. Great, grabbing read
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