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Mercy

Sarah L. Thomson - Author

A school project draws Haley into a mystery involving her family’s past, a haunted glove and possible vampire activity. Alongside the supernatural investigation, she is grieving her cousin’s impending death and adjusting to a changed family.

More about this book

Fourteen-year-old Haley is struggling to cope. She’s got a new stepmom and baby brother. Her cousin Jake is dying from a terminal illness. Her grades are slipping. And the boy she likes is dating her best friend. But all that’s nothing compared to what she uncovers when she digs deep into her family history for a school project. Now she’s got a blood-stained glove, eerie messages on the TV screen, and ghostly images on her camera. Just what?or who?has Haley unearthed? Haley must overcome her own doubts and confront a vampire in order to save herself and her family. Inspired by a true New England story, Mercy is accomplished children's author Sarah L. Thomson's first book for Islandport Press.

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Book Analysis

At a Glance

Discover

Family history· ExplainedGrief· ExplainedSupernatural mystery· Explained

Consider

Grief and lossFamily disruptionFear and suspense

Personalised Fit

Beyond the Cover

family historygriefsupernatural mystery

Fiction

Themes in Context

Paranormal mystery and family drama

Haley’s family-history project connects a historical suspected-vampire case and haunted objects with her grief and changing family life.Exploratory / explanatory

How the book presents it: The story is structured as both a paranormal mystery and a family drama, linking the investigation with Haley’s personal difficulties.

Talk about: Does following the mystery help Haley understand her family’s past or her own place in the family?

Why It May Be Worth Reading

The book brings paranormal suspense together with a recognisable family drama: Haley is grieving and struggling to find her place as her family changes.

What Deserves Attention

The story includes a cousin’s terminal illness and Haley’s grief, as well as ghostly images, eerie messages and a vampire confrontation. These strands may affect readers differently.

A Conversation Worth Having

What do you think Haley is hoping to understand through her family-history project, and whether looking into the past helps her make sense of what is happening now?

Reading Approach

Consider reading together if the illness or supernatural scenes feel intense; pause to check in, and let the reader choose whether to continue or talk about the family changes.

Confidence & Basis

Theme indicators describe how the book presents a topic; they are not a verdict on the whole book or your family's values. Confidence reflects how much book-specific material was checked. Only part of the book information was available, so some details remain unconfirmed.

What remains unconfirmed

Paranormal mystery and family drama: The precise resolution of the mystery and its effect on Haley are unclear.

Mercy by Sarah L. Thomson | Open Library

Limited information

Checked: 1 October 2026.

Relevant to: General book context

MERCY