A Darker Justice

Mary Crow #2

by Sallie Bissell

From the critically acclaimed author of In the Forest of Harm , one of suspense fiction’s most exciting new voices, comes a stunning psychological thriller, a novel of conspiracy and revenge and of a ruthless killer whose shocking reign of terror can be stopped by only one woman.

A Darker Justice

For Assistant District Attorney Mary Crow, the misty mountains of Little Jump Off, North Carolina, still echo with secrets hidden in shallow graves. Now, at the request of the FBI, she is called back from Atlanta to her childhood home for a matter both professional...and deeply personal.

Three federal judges are dead--victims of an assassin so swift and skilled in the deadly arts that the only clue left behind is his trademark black feather. The killer’s last victim was executed in a fashion so brazen, brutal, and horrifying, it even has hardened law enforcement officials rattled. They are desperate to protect the next suspected target-—Judge Irene Hannah-—but the stubborn jurist has adamantly refused federal protection.

It is up to Mary--and tight-lipped, hard-boiled FBI agent Daniel Safer--to protect her old friend and mentor as best they can. But the threat is much closer to home than Mary could ever imagine. When Judge Hannah disappears, Mary must follow her on a terrifying chase through the Carolina wilderness she knows and loves.

Deep within the beautiful and treacherous forest, a rogue killer and his army of “soldiers” are waiting. Soon Mary will have to confront a battle for survival in a place where there is no law and no mercy...only a darker justice.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Native Americans, Mystery Thriller, Thriller Suspense, Native American

416 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Elaine Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the thrilling suspense through out the book.

[Theresa Leone Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrific and very suspenseful story about a cult of billionaire psychopaths who want to choose the next president of the United States, a man wholly unqualified and ....wait, is this the plot of the novel or the recent election in the U.S.? Oh, right, it is the novel. So the psychopaths hire an assassin to kill off federal judges, and Mary Crow, an assistant district attorney, must help protect one of those judges, as she (the judge) has been like a mother to Mary since Mary's own mom was brutally killed years before. Mary is a wonderful protagonist, intelligent, kind, strong, and yet, like all of us, imperfect. Love her character and the series. Highly recommend!

[KATY G · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book. A thriller I could not put down. The author did a great job making the antagonist completely despicable. It is a little slow to start but picks up in the middle of the book and well worth the read. You don't have to read book one first, but I would recommend it.

[Elizabeth Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not kidding when I say this one left me breathless. The ending in this book is so thrilling and so surprising that I cannot express how mesmerized I was. This is the third book I have read in this series, even though it is the second one featuring Mary Crow. There is something about Mary Crow that keeps drawing you in. She isn't fully characterized yet as you are not told everything about her past and why she acts the way she does, but there are new glimpses. Her bravery and resourcefulness are refreshing in the genre and your heart breaks for her as she struggles to let her old love go. I have to admit, I was afraid something would happen to the horses, but I don't think its giving away anything to tell future readers that they are all fine. Tommy Cabe was a very interesting character as well, inadvertently becoming the star pupil in Wurth's camp by being opposite to everything he taught. And Wurth may have well have been a Hitler protege. This book has a supremely boring cover and title but you will be sorry if you let that sway you from the experience the story is. I cant wait to read "Call the Devil by his Oldest Name", the next in the series.

[Angela Risner · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book in Sallie Bissell's Mary Crow series. I read the last book first, not realizing it was a series until it was too late, so I'm starting it with the knowledge of where the characters are now. I am now working my way through the series in order.

In this entry, Mary is an ADA in Deckard County, GA. She stays in touch with the hometown crowd in Pisgah County, NC, but her life is in GA and she is determined to move forward after the events of In the Forest of Harm. However, her surrogate mother figure, Judge Irene Hannah, is in danger, and Mary is asked by the FBI to convince Irene that she needs their protection.

I need to talk about some plot lines, so SPOILER ALERT!

1. It's what, 18 months, after the girls were terrorized on their camping trip. I'm not saying that these girls can't move on, but I have yet to see real people go through something like that without having PTSD or some other lasting effects. That part was a bit disappointing to me. Maybe if Bissell had moved the time to 5 years after the first book, it would be more believable.
2. What we're told in the first book is that once Mary's mother was murdered, her paternal grandmother came and took her away. No mention of Judge Irene Hannah in the first book (that I can recall.) But all of a sudden, Mary has this huge relationship where Irene was practically a second mother?
3. Did Irene REALLY have to die? Mary's lost her parents, her grandmother, and now her second mother? I mean, come on.

Now that I've told you what I didn't like, let's talk about what I did.

1. I am glad that Mary just doesn't pine over Jonathan. They tried it to be together for awhile and it didn't work. Good for her for being open to others.
2. I started to worry that this series would become like Kathy Reichs' Tempe Brennan series, in which the character is NOT a detective or FBI agent, yet still investigates crime and manages to nearly get herself killed every time. Mary, also, is NOT a detective or FBI agent, but she has a personal connection to each case. That saves it for me.
3. The writing is still very good. Even if I don't agree with the inconsistencies or the end, the writing is still solid in general.

Good entry.

[Jenny (Reading Envy) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first mystery I've actually cared enough about to finish from the year, even though my pile from the library had at least four. I have found that setting matters almost more than everything, and this one is set in the mountains of North Carolina, not far from where I am living. So just the discussion of the landscape alone was enough to peak my interest. And I didn't hate the detective - she was somewhat amateur, as a DA but not a trained cop or detective, but she was smart. And being part Cherokee was interesting too.

[Normalene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't like this one as much as I loved the first one but Mary still kicks butt and the supporting characters are fun too. Bissell doesn't play it safe by making Jonathan's new girlfriend unlikeable but there were times when she should have had more confidence in her relationship and been able to say that Mary was there. I wanted to slap her when she just decided to not mention it, while Mary is being tortured. The end was okay and we learn more about Mary's past and I'll still read the next one, but I'll hope for more.

[Chanel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again I was up past midnight, reading.

The Mary Crow series is interesting and keeps you guessing from page to page.
I love the setting of Upsy Daisy farm and would like to know if it really exists or if it's a place Mrs. Bissell visits in her imagination.

I enjoy reading Sallie Bissell's book's. I am close to the areas she writes about in her books and it brings them to life for me. I took her writing class several years ago and she is amazing.

[Nettle Soup · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Mary Crow series. I felt it was a little forced for a sequel, but it set the tone and gave more background to the main character and her relationship to her past. Sallie set the end nicely for the continuation into the 3rd book, which by then I was anxiously waiting for, to be printed...

[Amie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this series, even though I have only read two books. I am now on the hunt for the third one. So much happened at the end of the second, that I can't wait to get the third.

I like the character of Mary. She is definitely a survivor.

Hopefully the authour has much more in store for her.

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the first book, but I really got into A Darker Justice much easier. The ending was good and had a nice twist. I liked that we got to see a softer side of Mary. Lots of sadness in her life and it seems like she can't catch any luck with those she loves and cares about always getting hurt. I went to the library to get the next 3 books. Can't wait to read the rest of them.

[Tena Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started reading Call the Devil by his oldest name, then realized quickly that I wanted to know what had happened prior to where that book started, so I picked up Darker Justice and devoured it quickly. Loved the story, the pace and learning more about Mary Crow's history and growth. Very good read.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a good read. I randomly chose it from my bookshelf; I don't know when and where I got it. Sallie wove a very interesting and detailed story. I will look for her name on bookshelves in the future.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book two in the Mary Crow series. This book became so intense at the end, I just wanted to hurry up and know what the heck happened! Very well written, and it always kept me guessing. Definitely not predictable. I'm looking forward to more in this series.

[Doris Powell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a hard time getting into this book. It is not as good as her first book. However, Mary Crowe is a little more human in this book. She was supposed to protect a friend, and the friend is kidnapped. Then she blows up a cave, and the friend she is supposed to protect dies after the blast.

[Ashley Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read! I cannot say that it was anything memorable but I enjoy it. I definitely liked the strength and independence of the main character, Mary Crow. I also liked that the author chose for the not-so happily ever after.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fast paced book, however, I was reading two political plot books at the same time, Usually I read 2 books at a time, but one is fiction and the other non-fiction, So this was a bit much. On the whole, I liked the book, it rtanks as a good three for me.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm hooked. Now I have to read the third one to see what Mary’s next adventure will be. Some of the action in the book is a bit far fetched, but does make for an exciting read.

[Meg Ingram · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little cheesy, and not the best writing I've ever come across, but a FANTASTIC beach read or guilty pleasure book!

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mary tries to protect friend and mentor Judge Hannah from someone killing federal judges - crazed secret religious group trying to get televangelist elected as president.

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Second Mary Crow book. A little bloody but good for what it is.

[Dena Beck · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little slower start than the first one in the series.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

It moved at the perfect pace. Loved this book!

[Layne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good book although a bit gritty for a holiday read. I will probably read more books in the series.

[Sue · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well-executed story with lots of suspense, but pretty predictable. Entertaining, but I'm not tempted to seek out other books by this author.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Library Book

[Delany · Rating 2 out of 5]

First one of hers I have read. It was OK -- a little overly simplistic but good enough to keep reading until near the end, when she started up with scenes of torture that I just didn't want to read.

[Toni Kania · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, the violence and unnecessary brutality doesn't ebb, but the writing and storytelling is subperb. I give up and go on.

[Phyllis M. Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

And it keeps getting better and better! I love it when I have found a new author!