Mercy (An Atlee Pine Thriller, 4), David Baldacci, author; Brittany Pressly, Kyf Brewer, narrators
As she searches for her twin, Jack Linebury, a very successful and wealthy businessman, helps Atlee Pine in her struggle to fill in many of the blank spaces in her life. In a complicated story involving undercover agents and the Mafia, Atlee’s life was upended when she was only 6 years old. Her sister Mercy was abducted by Ito Vincenzo, and she was left for dead. The nursery rhyme, eeny meeny miny moe, was how Ito chose which twin to take and which one to try and murder. He did this to satisfy his brother Bruno’s need for revenge. Bruno had been betrayed by the agency that Julia was working undercover with, while still only a teen of 18. Bruno’s deal was ignored, and he went to prison.
Atlee’s mom was never the same after Atlee almost died and her sister disappeared. When in College, her mom abandoned her and disappeared, as well. Now, at 36, she was actively searching for her twin sister, and perhaps, her mother. She knows that her sister was kept prisoner and tortured by Desiree and Joe Atkins. Ito left Mercy with Wanda and Len Atkins, but they were too old to take of a child. They gave her to their son and daughter-in-law, who were childless. They were unfit and evil. None of them ever thought to contact the police about this supposedly rescued child from cruel parents who wanted to kill her. They claimed they were too afraid to get into trouble.
Atlee learns that the man she believed to be her father, Tim Pine, was wanted for the murder of Ito Vincenzo. Her mother had told her that her dad was dead. Now she learned that was a lie. Linebury is her biological father. His vast wealth will be hers but she claims not to want it. When he offers to help her by giving her his resources, cars, apartments and planes, to help her in her search for her twin, she refuses. Her assistant, Carol Blum, convinces her that it will make their job easier. As all these secrets are revealed, the mystery grows and the plot grows a bit too many arms. Is Mercy alive? Where is Julia, her mother? Where is her father, Tim? Why was her sister kidnapped. What was her mother involved in to so endanger the family?
Atlee learns that her sister’s name was Eloise Cain, no longer Rebecca Atkins. Atlee traces El’s footsteps and is relieved to discover that she is actually alive. El (Mercy), had been held prisoner and horribly tortured. After her escape from her captors, she lived a hardscrabble life, from hand to mouth, while learning to defend herself. She is like a lethal weapon. Her body is scarred, however, from her captivity, and her mind is as well. She is searching for those who held her prisoner. Mercy believes she is being sought by the FBI because she killed Joe Atkins, although she believes she left him alive. She is unaware that someone else, far more dangerous, is searching for her to avenge his brother Ken’s death. This powerful, prominent man, who is obsessed and quite mad, hires an assassin to kill her. Ken Buckley, his brother, was abusing a woman, Rosa, and Mercy beat him to the point of unconsciousness in order to rescue her. In the hospital, he suffered from a brain aneurism and died. Buckley’s family were radical religious zealots engaged in drug trafficking, sex trafficking and murder. He wants to avenge their deaths from the abuse they suffered at the hands of the FBI. What follows are kidnappings and bizarre violent behavior.
Is the conclusion realistic? Is it more like a fairytale? The women in the book are capable of great evil and great strength. They are portrayed as indomitable. They sometimes seem more like caricature, though, than real women. Almost every character could be bought for a price, as if all were inherently evil and all could justify their falls from grace with impunity.
In conclusion, the book is really chick lit, but it makes for a good mystery. Since all the loose ends seem to be tied up neatly, though, I wonder what could be next for the Pine twins.