Without Mercy — Jefferson Bass

In the most suspenseful installment of the New York Times bestselling Body Farm series to date, forensic anthropologist Dr. Bill Brockton investigates a bizarre murder -- and confronts a deadly enemy he thought he'd put behind bars for good.

Forensic anthropologist Bill Brockton has spent twenty-five years solving brutal murders -- but none so bizarre and merciless as his latest case: A ravaged set of skeletal remains is found chained to a tree on a remote mountainside. As Brockton and his assistant Miranda dig deeper, they uncover warning signs of a deadly eruption of hatred and violence.

But the shocking case is only the beginning of Brockton's trials. Mid-case, the unthinkable happens: The deadliest criminal Brockton has ever foiled -- the sadistic serial killer Nick Satterfield -- escapes from prison, bent on vengeance.

But simply killing Brockton isn't enough. Satterfield wants to make him suffer first, by destroying everything he holds dear: Brockton's son, daughter-in-law, grandsons; even Miranda, his longtime graduate assistant, now on the verge of completing her Ph.D. and launching a forensic career of her own.

The dangers from all directions force Brockton to question two things on which he's based his entire career -- the justice system, and the quality of mercy -- and to wonder: can the two co-exist?

If not, which will Brockton choose in his ultimate moment of truth?