Mercy Creek
May 1, 2011
Mercy Creek
Author: Matt Matthews
Publisher: Hub City Press
Publication Date: May, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-891885-77-8
**Winner of the South Carolina First Novel Prize**
Isaac is going through a tough time in his young life.
A year ago his mother died after a fight with cancer. His father, a pastor, is not only frowning in disappointment over Isaac's loss of interest in a possible baseball career, but has also started showing in interest in a new romance. Isaac's girlfriend has left for the summer to tour collages - all away from home - leaving Isaac aimless, lonely and bored.
Then two things happen that liven up the summer.... a spate of vandalism starts in the town, with no rhyme or reason to it and a ledger found at the hardware store where he gets a job brings to light a mysterious event that happened years ago. An event that might just lead to clues regarding the vandalism. Isaac digs into this mystery as there's a nice $5,000 reward out there for the culprit.
Unfortunately, with all of his digging and snooping, Isaac soon finds himself a suspect.
This is a slim first time novel filled with a nice mystery and compelling characters. Shows a nice transition from boyhood to becoming a young man.
