Mercy: The Last New England Vampire
by Sarah Thomson
Fourteen-year-old Haley is struggling to cope with her stepmom and baby brother, with her beloved cousin's terminal illness, and with dropping grades at school. When she digs deep into her family history for a school project, she uncovers a disturbing New England tradition and a ghostly past. Haley must overcome her doubts and confront a vampire in order to save herself and her family. (description from Amazon.com)
In a crazy slew of vampire novels, this short tale by Sarah Thomson stands out. It's a fantastic blend of historical fiction and a chilling ghost story. This gives a new twist to the origin of vampirism and ties into a real and scary time in New England's history. Haley's school project is a perfect device to bring the historical background into this tale.
Haley is a great character. She's trying desperately to hold it together, to deal with her real-life issues. Being only fourteen, she is totally believable in both her terror and her tenaciousness. Her relationship with her father, stepmother, and baby brother is totally believable. The grief she feels and the resolute determination she has to try and save her dying cousin brought tears to my eyes.
A quick and interesting read. I'll be looking for more books by Sarah Thomson in the future.
Full disclosure: Review copy received to review for VOYA
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