Sigh. I finished it. What a glorious return to my love affair with Mercy. The last book, [b:River Marked|8087906|River Marked (Mercedes Thompson, #6)|Patricia Briggs|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1305738320s/8087906.jpg|10974973], left me a little disappointed as it takes Mercy and her yummy hubby on their honeymoon and away from their gang. While I did enjoy that one (because, come on, it is Mercy), it felt a little stale - like it was trying too hard. I willingly forgave it because it felt like the story was in a bit of a transition. I am very glad to discover I was correct. This book is right back to our heroine's home town, to the story's roots. And, the gang's all here. I couldn't help but wonder, as I inhaled this one, how Ms. Briggs does it. How she comes up with all the passion and all the snark. How she makes me love and hate all the characters in her tale. How she makes 50 pages disappear in minutes. And, yet, always stays true to her characters. They always manage to stay inside their own value systems. And, have me laughing out loud along the way.
If you have read the others, race out and get this one. If you haven't read the others, go get those first. You could read this one out of order, as her stories are self contained, but you will enjoy them more in order. And, more Mercy is always better.
PS: It is very hard to write a review of the 7th book in a series. I don't want to give away any spoilers even to earlier books. Here is one series where I am always left feeling slightly sated, yet always wanting more.
And:
Dear Ms. Briggs,
I know series can be a difficult thing to write. You often reach a point where you are just tired of your cast and want to end it (ala JK Rowling) or you drag them out to infinity to where the characters are but figments of their original selves (ala David Weber). But, I promise to read every book you write, if you will only just keep Mercy and gang in my little world to brighten my day and make me smile.