THE ABSENCE OF MERCY by John Burley was positively reviewed by Kirkus and Publisher Weekly. Kirkus says that “Burley skillfully uses the step-by-step discovery of evidence to ratchet up the tension” and calls the book “a smart, disturbing and heartbreaking thriller.” Publisher’s Weekly calls it a “fine first novel” and says that “Burly, an emergency room physician, pepper the taut cohesive narrative with plenty of authentic forensic detail.” Harper Collins will publish the book on November 19, 2013.