The Mercy Oak: A Bay Tanner Mystery

by: Kathryn R. Wall

Published by: St. Martin's Minotaur

Reviewed by Gene Hayworth

Although the mystery at the center of The Mercy Oak involves the possible
murder of a young Hispanic girl, what ultimately makes the novel such a
satisfying read is the masterful way the author connects that story to the
mysteries of the human heart.

In Kathryn Wall’s most recent novel in the BayTanner Mystery series, Bay, (a.k.a. Lydia Simpson), a private investigator at Simpson & Tanner, Inquiry Agents, on the Island of Hilton Head, South Carolina, takes on a potential case of murder. Bay is haunted by the ghosts of her past—she has lost her mother, Emmaline, her husband Rob (murdered three years before The Mercy Oak begins), and her former partner, Ben Wyler. But Bay is slowly building a new relationship with her brother-in-law, Red Tanner, the sergeant at the Beaufort County Sheriff’s office. Red’s commitment to law enforcement is often at odds with Bay’s work. The friction between them heats up when Bay agrees to take on a new investigation.

The plot of The Mercy Oak involves two crimes. Less than two weeks before
Christmas, a young girl is killed in a hit-and-run accident. Initially believed to be Serena Montalvo, her death is at first ruled accidental, but when Bobby Santiago, the son of Bay’s Guatemalan housekeeper Delores, calls to ask Bay for help, she soon learns that the dead girl is actually Serena’s sister, Theresa.

At the same time, a series of bank robberies have distracted the police from pursuing an investigation into Theresa’s death. When Bobby and his mother Delores disappear, the investigation takes on a more personal aspect. Bay learns that Theresa’s death may be connected to a local campaign to support the rights of illegal immigrants, and the FBI is involved. Threatening phone calls, vandalism, and the involvement of a family friend in the hold-ups, all lead Bay to believe the two crimes are related and that she is the common thread.

The Mercy Oak is a fast-paced, romantic mystery, recommended reading for a day lounging on the beach, or a crisp autumn evening nestled by the fire.

Armchair Interviews says: Unique background story for this mystery.

Author’s Web site: http://www.KathrynWall.com