"This winner of the Private Eye Writers of America Best First Private Eye Novel competition is about as noir as it gets... True, absorbing grit; but it may make you ache for soap."
Genre Go Round"Fast-paced and vividly descriptive especially the violence (you will feel the hip checks), In Search of Mercy is an aptly titled thriller that readers who appreciate something radically different will fully enjoy."
The Gumshoe Review"Michael Ayoob is quite the master of the macabre... A unique blend of psychological horror and private investigative work, In Search of Mercy is highly recommended for mature mystery fans."
Killer Books"Ayoob's writing is smooth and assured and he's got a good eye for character, place and atmosphere. He's also got a great sense of story... A rare and pleasant surprise."
Kirkus Reviews (Note: The full review contains several spoilers!)
"Ayoob, this year's winner of the PWA Best First Private Eye Novel competition, has a dark, despairing voice and a taste for the pornography of violence. Not for the squeamish, but the ultimate test of how hard-boiled you really are."
"I think this book defines the direction of modern noir... Ayoob's writing has punch and he gets an "A" for creativity. And those of us who've read this book are still talking about the ending!"
Mysterious Reviews"In Search of Mercy seamlessly moves between events in the past... and the present, and blends scenes from all time periods into surreal dreams for Dexter that seem more fact than fiction, more real than not. It's an unusual mixture that works ... mostly due to the author's deft command of the story being told."
The Mystery Reader"Mr. Ayoob expects his readers to think. He moves from the real world to the surreal to the dream world with fluidity that demands the reader's attention. The author has something to say but he is not about to spoon feed his audience... While it is not an easy journey, the mental effort is worth the trip."
Mystery Scene"The rundown, rusted glory of a dying steeltown is the perfect backdrop for this surprisingly moving tale of broken dreams and broken lives, pain and healing, and ultimately, desperation and courage. More, please."
Pittsburgh Quarterly"Author Michael Ayoob's homage to the graphic violence of classic hard-boiled detective fiction, as well as the 'weird menace' of mid-century pulp fiction, is polished and pitch-perfect... Ayoob... puts a lot of effort into his descriptions of local neighborhoods, but that is the least of the many reasons to read his fine work."
Publishers Weekly"Ayoob's outstanding debut introduces a flawed hero who transcends all the flawed hero clichés... Whether describing the chaos of a hockey game, creating a backstory for Mercy, or detailing the film editing process, Ayoob shows a sure hand. Filled with vivid, violent images and characters who leap off the page into the reader's imagination, this impressive novel builds to a startlingly ambiguous ending."
