Mercie’s Secret by Michael Garrett

Mercie’s Secret by Michael Garrett
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: MegaCross (September 9, 2025)

REVIEW BY KELLY GOSHORN

Triggers: Sexual assault, betrayal, violence, emotional manipulation

Mercie’s Secret is a deeply emotional Christian suspense novel that weaves together themes of redemption, betrayal, faith, and the lasting scars of past trauma. The novel centers on two complex protagonists, Mercie Halford and Lucas Bonham.

Mercie is a beautiful, but rebellious young woman whose life takes a devastating turn when she begins texting Crank Robinson, a man she meets while participating in a prison ministry. As their relationship progresses, Crank demands more from Mercie than she is willing to give. Her life becomes intertwined with Lucas’ when he rescues Mercie from an attempted sexual assault as punishment for denying Crank. Although Lucas takes her in and protects her, Mercie’s fear prevents her from fully trusting Lucas.

As the truth about Crank Robinson and Mercie’s past fully unravels, Lucas and Mercie make a calculated decision to confront him. Through courage and a measure of strategy, they manage to face Robinson’s threat head-on. The climax brings danger, but also a moment of reckoning: Mercie must confront her abuser, and Lucas must decide whether “saving her” means more than just physical protection — it means helping her face her emotional scars.

At its heart, Mercie’s Secret explores the cost of buried trauma, the consequences of silence, and the lengths people go to protect family. The novel’s strength lies in Garrett’s atmospheric writing. His descriptive style creates a vivid sense of place. Certain scenes carry a moody, almost cinematic quality that pulls the reader in.

“Ahead, the road unwound like an old ribbon, hand-laid and half-forgotten, curling with the land’s soft hills. Long gravel driveways disappeared into thick woods, each marked by crooked mailboxes and collapsing gates. On the far side of a pasture, a half-fallen barn slumped against the horizon, its tin roof caved in like a memory trying to forget itself.”

Mercie’s Secret, by Michael Garrett

However, the writer’s deft skill at painting scenes could not overcome my inability to connect with the main characters, especially Mercie. While her vulnerability and fear should make her a compelling and sympathetic character, I found her too shallow, secretive, and manipulative to embrace. Her betrayal of Lucas was beyond the pale and her redemption left me feeling unconvinced. Although Garrett succeeded at making me root for Mercie’s safety, I was deeply dissatisfied with her character arc.

I also found the novel’s pacing a bit uneven. While the middle section is gripping, the opening takes time to gain momentum, and the final act feels somewhat rushed, compressing major emotional beats into a short space. Some plot twists land well, but others feel a bit forced, relying on coincidence rather than organic development.

For these reasons, I give Mercie’s Secret three solid fish.

I received a PDF copy of Mercie’s Secret from the author.