"British Intelligence chief Tweed is approached by Superintendent Buchanan of Scotland Yard to help him with the case of an amnesiac man found in the centre of London, who has said just three words: "I witnessed murder." Tweed and his assistant Paula Gray collect the man, named Michael for convenience, from an exclusive clinic in London's Harley Street. Michael leads the pair to a remote mansion on Dartmoor, where the resident, business executive Larry Voles, recognizes Michael as his brother. On the way Tweed and Paula find a hideously disfigured corpse at the side of the road. Arriving to investigate the murder, Superintendent Buchanan finds another, similarly disfigured corpse in a disused mineshaft.
Both Michael and Larry work for the Gantia Corporation, a huge organization including a supermarket chain and arms dealers. Returning to London, Tweed discovers two further murder victims, one an accountant hired to investigate the firm's books, and a private detective hired to find the missing acccountant by her sister. Everything points to double dealing in the Gantia Corporation, and Tweed has a long list of suspects: Michael, Larry, glamorous Lucinda Voles, dissolute Aubrey Greystoke and powerful tycoon Drago Volkanian.
His investigations are hampered by a top assassin named Charmian who repeatedly tries to kill Tweed, then kidnaps Paula. Tweed battles against time to save Paula, unmask the killer, and prevent a shipment of arms from falling into the hands of the rogue Arab state of Angora."
Stephen Coombs, Resident Scholar
Click above for the new Obama Girl Parody video!
Review Analysis of No Mercy
Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Book descript. of violence and chases - 20% Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30% Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20% How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 30%
Tone of story
- very upbeat
How difficult to spot villain?
- Moderately Challenging
Time/era of story:
- present (2000-2010)
What % of story relates directly
to the mystery, not the subplot?
- 70%
Murder of certain profession?
- businessmen
Misc. Murder Plotlets
- Big focus on forensic evidence
Kind of investigator
- skilled citizen investigator
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Any non-mystery subplot?
- amnesia
Crime Thriller
Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown)
Yes
Main Character
Gender
- Male
Profession/status:
- government investigator
Age:
- 40's-50's
How much violence does he/she use?
- just the right amount
Ethnicity/Race
- British
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Very much smarter than other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Female
Age:
- 20's-30's
Profession/status:
- business executive
Eccentric:
Yes
- wild
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- an average amount
Motive of antagonist
- money/treasure
The antagonists are:
- Islamic Fundamentalists
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Setting
Europe
Yes
European country:
- England/UK
- France
Island?
Yes
Island:
- Atlantic Ocean Island
Misc setting
- fancy mansion
Style
Part of a series?
Yes
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- very gorey descriptions deaths/dead bodies
How many deaths?
- 8 or more
Unusual forms of death
- perforation--swords/knives
Unusual form of death?
Yes
Amount of dialog
- significantly more dialog than descript
