A review by lisyda
The Mercy Chair by M.W. Craven

dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I was so excited to dive into the newest Washington Poe story and it didn't disappoint!

This one forces Poe and Tilly to take a deep dive into the world of extremist cults... Which is really all I'm gonna say about the plot to avoid any spoilers. I did feel like Craven handled the subject very well whilst still depicting how dark these groups can get and how blind (at least some of) the people involved can be. It was both uncomfortable and fascinating to discover the plot as it was unveiled.

There's also another storytelling detail in this one that adds depth and reflection to how Poe is affected by this case. In truth, there's a lot of focus overall on the subject of mental health and very open discussions about how some people actively try to avoid taking care of theirs.

As with the previous books, I once again had fun with trying to guess at the solution and the twists. This time around, I sort of vaguely guessed some things right, but definitely not all of the details around them, and it was very entertaining to see where the story went next and why.

Overall, it's yet another fast-paced and gripping novel from Craven and I loved it. Of course, I'm biased anyway, since I love this series a lot! And now I'll be waiting for 2025 and The Third Light to see what Poe and Tilly get up to next.