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Mercy #1.5

The Life and Death of Lauren Conway

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Go inside the dark history of the Blue Rock Academy and learn more about the twisted past that made this school a hunting ground for a ruthless killer...and what became of one of the school's most infamous alumni in this companion to the New York Times bestseller WITHOUT MERCY.From #1 "New York Times" bestselling author Lisa Jackson comes a pulse-pounding thriller that goes behind the doors of an exclusive academy with a terrifying secret. . .

Ever since her father was stabbed to death in a home invasion, Julia "Jules" Farentino has been plagued by nightmares. Her half-sister, Shaylee, now seventeen, has had her own difficulties since the tragedy, earning a rap sheet for drug use, theft, and vandalism. Still, when Jules learns of her mother's decision to send Shay to an elite boarding school in Oregon, she's skeptical. The Academy has a reputation for turning wayward kids around--but one of its students went missing six months ago and her body has never been found. There are rumors she may have died during one of the school's questionable treatments. Once enrolled, Shay grows fearful, convinced her every move is being watched. And the deeper Jules digs, the more concerned she becomes.

On impulse, Jules applies for a teaching job at the Academy. Though the facility boasts state-of-the-art equipment and a breathtaking campus, Jules senses cracks in the director's do-good demeanor. Shortly before Jules arrived, a student was found hanged, and a hysterical Shay believes it was murder. Staff members are wary and unwelcoming--all except Cooper Trent, another recent hire who has his own suspicions, and his own secrets.

Then another girl goes missing, and yet another is found dead. There's no doubt something sinister is at hand--but Jules may be too late to stop it. Behind the Academy's idyllic veneer lurks an evil force on a brutal and terrifying mission. And Jules has become the next target of a bloodthirsty killer without limits, without remorse, without mercy. . .

60 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2011

102 people are currently reading
910 people want to read

About the author

Lisa Jackson

272 books9,621 followers
Lisa Jackson is the number-one New York Times bestselling author of over ninety-five novels, including the Rick Bentz and Reuben Montoya Series, the Pescoli and Alvarez Series, the Savannah series, and numerous stand alone novels. She also is the co-author of One Last Breath, Last Girl Standing, and the Colony Series, written with her sister and bestselling author Nancy Bush, as well as the collaborative novels Sinister and Ominous, written with Nancy Bush and Rosalind Noonan. There are over thirty million copies of her novels in print and her writing has been translated into twenty languages.

Before she became a nationally bestselling author, she was a mother struggling to keep food on the table by writing novels, hoping against hope that someone would pay her for them. Today, neck deep in murder, her books appear on The New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly national bestseller lists.

With dozens of bestsellers to her name, Lisa Jackson is a master of taking readers to the edge of sanity—and back—in novels that buzz with dangerous secrets and deadly passions. She continues to be fascinated by the minds and motives of both her killers and their pursuers—the personal, the professional, and the downright twisted. As she builds the puzzle of relationships, actions, clues, lies, and personal histories that haunt her protagonists, she must also confront the fear and terror faced by her victims and the harsh and enduring truth that, in the real world, terror and madness touch far too many lives and families.

Visit http://www.LisaJackson.com where you can find a Media Kit with photos and more information.

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5 stars
140 (32%)
4 stars
110 (25%)
3 stars
124 (28%)
2 stars
47 (10%)
1 star
14 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
Profile Image for Carmen.
2,777 reviews
May 31, 2019
Monthly Reading Challenge - February 2019: Shades of blue

I had this little book in my kindle and I read it in the "Clear the Shelves Challenge", without realizing that it is part of a series.
I found it very entertaining and intriguing, with touches that reminded me of films like Psycho. I liked it, but I do not think it encourages me to read the main book.
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Tenía este librito en mi kindle y lo leí en el "Clear the Shelves Challenge", sin darme cuenta de que forma parte de una serie.
Lo encontré muy entretenido e intrigante, con toques que me recordaron películas como Psicosis. Me gustó, pero no creo que me anime a leer el libro principal.
Profile Image for Ashlei A.K.A Chyna Doll.
301 reviews205 followers
September 11, 2014
I has finished the book Without Mercy and was looking on amazon for more books by the author and I found this!
It's a tie in to the book Without Mercy. It's about the girl that is missing Lauren Conway. We were not really given much on her in the book (well they did explain a bit bit she was the reason for the questions being brought u about the school in the first place, and the man was there to investigate her "disappearance"......
Anyways it made the story more detailed. Gave a in depth feel to it. At 60pgs, I felt it was just what was needed for the questions we asked ourselves when we finished the book. I was very happy to have got it
AND FOR FREE AT THAT!!!

That's right amazon has it for free! So if you are reading Without Mercy, or are planing on getting it check that out.
It really did a swear a lot of stuff.
I wish more people did that when doing books!!
Profile Image for Jane.
Author 6 books89 followers
October 27, 2018
The Life and Death of Lauren Conway is a short story about a young girl at Blue Rock Academy deep in the Siskiyou Mountains of Southern Oregon. It is a school for troubled teens with a dark leader and a secret group of followers that will do anything for him, including murder. He knows Lauren Conway, a past follower has gathered information and he is determined to stop her escape.

Lauren knows she only has a slim chance of escape and takes her chance with determination, still full or fear of being caught and knowing the consequences of being a traitor to this group. The plot is all about feelings, especially fear. She is determined to expose the evil in the school, if only she can escape...
Profile Image for Joan.
2,907 reviews57 followers
August 31, 2018
Published as a companion to “Without Mercy and released as an eBook, this short narrative is set at Blue Rock Academy and provides a backstory for Lauren Conway and her time at the Academy. It resolves some of the issues left from reading “Without Mercy” and enhances that story. Readers who’ve finished [or who plan to read] “Without Mercy” should definitely check out this eBook.
1 review
November 20, 2017
Daring girl

I did enjoy the book but expected it to go farther into the story. Like was she really dead, who found her, and did they have any kind of trial to follow this to seek charges or revenge
Profile Image for Paula.
92 reviews4 followers
April 23, 2020
Lisa Jackson is one of my favorite authors. I really needed more of this book.
Profile Image for April.
209 reviews14 followers
January 9, 2023
The abrupt ending was unsatisfying. I never was fully able to get into the book, although I usually love Lisa Jackson’s books.
119 reviews
September 23, 2022
There was too much-needed information withheld for this book to be any good. Very little of her history was given. Same with her relationship with the man that wanted to kill her. The terrible things the school did were not given. Very little information given about the cult. Very little information given about what put her in this home. It could have been good if only the author elaborated on any of the issues I mentioned. It was a waste of my time. I never want to read about anyone murdered but to give such loose reasons made it worse. This is one of the worst books I have ever read.
Profile Image for Hildegart.
930 reviews6 followers
August 13, 2016
This short story was set in my childhood backyard - the Siskiyou Mountains. I had read Without Mercy a while back and came across this story yesterday. Of course I had to read it! There are grammatical errors in the first part, but it clears up quickly.
Profile Image for Diana.
3 reviews
January 17, 2016
Short story

Even though this was a short story I enjoyed reading it is specially the last chapter I love her way of putting you into the place and time in the story too bad this wasn't longer
Profile Image for Vicky.
247 reviews
May 4, 2016
This is a short 'prequel' to Without Mercy. It chronicles the death of Lauren Conway, the woman whose disappearance pre-dated the events in the other book. It doesn't give any real explanation why Lauren was investigating the Red Rock school, and isn't worth the read.
Profile Image for Serenity.
107 reviews
May 4, 2020
I will always love Lisa Jackson! Lisa will always be my favorite author! But I think she, {Lauren} waited too long to get out of the school, and well, I will shut up now and let others read this short story and find out for themselves. But holy shit! I will always be a Thriller Suspense girl! 🙌
56 reviews
May 9, 2011
Too short. It got my interest enough so that I HAD to purchase the companion book-No Mercy.
Profile Image for KyBunnies.
1,208 reviews9 followers
August 22, 2011
Great book. Reading it really made me interested in the next book. I will have to purchase it to read. I got this book free from the kindle store.
Profile Image for Mary.
1,109 reviews34 followers
April 6, 2013
Read this without on its own and didn't enjoy it because I hadn't read No Mercy yet. But wondering why not just have added this to No Mercy?
Profile Image for Max Stone.
Author 13 books57 followers
July 16, 2013
What a great read and phenomenal lead into Without Mercy! Can't wait to read!
2 reviews
Read
December 27, 2013
Felt there should be more. I wanted to keep reading


sounded interesting, and once I started reading I couldn't stop. left me wondering what to the girl on her way there?
2 reviews
March 14, 2014
Left in the dark 3 stars

a book without an ending? what happens next????

she fell off a cliff and what next, did she live. did any one else expose the school?
2 reviews1 follower
June 27, 2015
Always love Lisa

It ended without fulfilling me this time. I thought the book was too short. I'm new to kindle it could have been my selection. Still a huge fan. She's the best
Profile Image for Jane Green.
1 review
July 30, 2015
Too short


Wasn't what I thought. Not much of a book. More like one chapter. Can't believe I paid $ for this.
82 reviews2 followers
January 11, 2016
Crazy good reading

Great story that left me wanting more. This is a short story with a lot of plot twist and turns. Very well written but left me really hungry for more.
336 reviews3 followers
May 11, 2016
Great short story

This was a great treat from a great author. I love the continued suspense she keeps the reader in. Love her work
276 reviews
March 10, 2018
The story was ok

Don't feel like it had a ending. The beginning is another book she wrote. I don't know what she was thinking
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews

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