This book begins with two young men, David who is jewish, and Todd who is not. They are friends and when Todd learns that David's parents want to go back to the old country to live, He encourages them to do so behind Davids back. He promises to move in with David in the home they will leave him and keep an eye on him. They also leave David some funds and all the household goods and many personal possessions. He believes he can sell some of their things to keep himself in finances and do it without Davids knowledge. His first attempt goes awry when David catches him stealing a valuable brooch and throws him out of his house.

Later, David is a well respected phychiatrist and hypnotist. Todd, on the other hand spent his time trying to latch on to someone who could bank roll him on his quest to become wealthy.

David meets Ann, a petite redhead and persuades her to marry him. He is prosperous and so has a prenuptial agreement written up and Ann signs it gladly. She loves him and not the money. After their marriage David becomes a different person. He has his office in part of their new home, and doesn't care if he never has to leave the house. Ann grows tired of this way of life and indulges in alcohol and an occasional fling.

Enter Renalda who prefers to be called Rennie. She is very plain with dark hair and grubby clothes. She writes childrens books and has had several published when she meets Matt Lain, the counter man at a local coffee shop.This and that leads to an attraction Matt has for her money and he sweeps her off her feet. Their coffee house business grows and flourishes leading Matt to spend a lot of time on the road leaving Rennie alone. She is very depressed and alcoholic and decides she might see someone who could help her. Of course, she consults David and becomes his patient. She also relies on the advice of her good friend Dan, who is an attorney.

Have I lost you yet? Its easy to do as this book begins and ends with so many twists and turns its hard to keep up unless you read it from the beginning and know all the details surrounding these people. There are affairs and mix ups as well as people not being who they seem to be, and of course a murder meant to get two of these people together and that also affords some twisting and angling. I could hardly bring myself to put it down to fix a meal once into it. A very good read, and a review cannot do it justice.

Reviewed by: GinnyW

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
Netera@aol.com
1/4/2002