Sometimes you can't bury your anger.

For David Epstein of Mt. Pride, CO, the only child of middle-aged parents, life was fairly normal. As normal as it could be with a father haunted by a war he managed to survive. His parents were in love and loved him. An avid reader throughout his childhood, David buried himself in his books because he had no friends. Until one day Todd Reams moves next door through a foster care arrangement. Todd instinctively is a con man so he knows how to work things out in order to take advantage of people. David's parents are thrilled that David's finally found a friend and soon they treat Todd as if he was their son. At 13-years-old David realizes his life's goal. He feels compelled to understand what makes people tick. Unknown to him, is that Todd has plans of his own. He encourages David's parents to move to Israel, which they did.

In order to manage the household expenses, David years later asks Todd to be his roommate. While waiting tables at a local restaurant, Todd runs into Lance, an old friend from school. Lance works for a classic car dealer at High Cliff Sales. According to Lance, the High Cliffs area will become a good investment down the line. It will be purchased and developed by the rich. Todd sets his goal: he's going to own a big house up there by one of the mountains. Todd moves in with David, but is forced to move out when caught stealing one of David's mother's pendants. So begins a lifetime of hatred and distrust.

Time passes and David eventually establishes himself in his own, lucrative practice, mixing psychiatry and hypnosis to help his patients. Having made a number of good investments, he is ready to find a wife. He meets Ann at a weekend convention for psychiatrists and not even caring if he is indeed in love, dates her for a time and then proposes. A prenuptial agreement is signed and a $600,000 home is built in High Cliff Estates. Once they're married, he tells Ann to quit her job and to serve only his needs. Her frustration leads to drinking and other addictions. Tired of being an invisible partner in David's life, Ann moves out of David's bedroom and into her own. She hasn't found love in another man, but a decent temporary sexual relationship with their architect is fine with her until she can find someone else.

Todd latches onto a new person who can financially support his dreams. Renalda Davies, a wealthy young woman, might be his lucky ticket to opening a line of coffeehouses. After two months of dating Rennie he proposes. He has changed his name to Matthew Lain and has sharpened his con game. After three years of marriage, Rennie's invested in five Cully's Coffee Cup's in Colorado and two in four other states. Because Matt is ignoring the fact that he has a wife, Rennie is depressed, overeating and drinking. Unable to beat the depression, she seeks medial assistance in the form of one Dr. Epstein. After several hypnotic sessions to stop her overeating, her confidence rises, she buys that 1954 Jaguar from High Cliff Sales and she's on the way to recovery with every pound she loses.

Danger doesn't surface until Ann begins working for Matt and they have an affair. The lovers devise the perfect plot to rid themselves of Rennie. With her out of the way, they can continue to live the life of luxury. But even the best made plans can be ruined and it's up to Detective Joe Warner and his partner Detective Eddy Konklin to figure out who is the guilty party.

HAVE NO MERCY focuses on the evolution of greed in both David and Matt. Each believes he can achieve his goals, destroy the people they despise and then simply start all over again. They're dead wrong. All the elements of this mystery thriller are laid out before you. There is no questioning who the guilty party is. It's the ignorance of these intelligent men that drive you to read on. Will they get away with the crime and the money? Read the book and find out.

Three out of five trenchcoats
--Denise Fleischer, GWN Online book reviewer
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1/4/2002