Sheri Gaia Chapin

Dark Mercy Sheri Gaia Chapin

As a child, Nickolas Borannev witnessed his mother's murder. The tragedy left him in a coma, and he woke with a new facility: an abnormally heightened sense of smell. Fifteen years later, he puts that ability to use in his profession as a specialized bounty hunter with paramilitary training and shadow group ties. Through scent, he discovers the serial killer he is assigned to hunt is the same man who took his mother's life. He insists he himself is "a hunter, not a killer," and he will capture his prey alive, but he's wary that the deals he has made with his covert employers to enhance his heightened sense into a working tool may have created a monster in him. The story delves into his relationship with two women: the unethical psychologist who schemes against him, and the respected psychic who nurtures his heart. And it explores the tortured mind of the serial killer, portraying what horrors produced him. The hunt for the killer hurls Nickolas into a labyrinth of intrigue and deception. The ensuing cat and mouse game ends in a brutal final confrontation that reveals the killer's secret, one so disturbing it alters Nickolas's beliefs about his own past and simplifies his choice between vengeance and mercy. DARK MERCY showcases character-driven action, edgy suspense with elements of the paranormal, and a quirky hard-boiled cast. This debut novel introduces a powerful new voice in the genre of the psychological paranormal thriller.