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Idelle Kursman
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True Mercy Paperback – December 27, 2016

by Idelle Kursman (Author)
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 47 ratings
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If Sound of Freedom opened your eyes to child trafficking, learn about sex trafficking from True Mercy

Danger lurks everywhere for Marina. When the ship carrying her and other human trafficking victims from Europe arrive at a port in New Jersey, Marina manages to escape and wants nothing more than to be rid of her traffickers and free the other women. But one of the underground organization's vicious henchmen will stop at nothing to recapture her. Marina scarred his face on the ship and now he only desires to inflict the cruelest death possible on her. She is doomed until an unlikely pair come to her aid: a young man with autism and his widower father. Still reeling from the death of their mother and wife, son and father encounter her by chance and all three become caught up in the powerful tentacles of an international human trafficking ring. Will the henchman succeed and destroy all their lives? Will relentless evil triumph in the end?

A Winner in the 2017 Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Previous page
  1. Print length
    354 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    December 27, 2016
  4. Dimensions
    5 x 0.89 x 8 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    0996592202
  6. ISBN-13
    978-0996592208
  7. See all details
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The Amazon Book Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now

Editorial Reviews

Review

"From the first page of True Mercy, I knew I was in for a wild, harrowing ride of a story. Thankfully, author Idelle Kursman is up to the task; she is a true storyteller and wordsmith." -Robert Liparulo, best-selling author of The Dreamhouse Kings, The Thirteenth Tribe and The Judgment Stone

"...an exceptional thriller which includes subtle, wry humor injected at unexpected moments, a logical progression of events and encounters between characters, and a moving story of healing and mercy that is far more emotionally-driven than an action read usually provides." -Midwest Book Review

"A nail-biting journey through the sex slave trade. Readers will cheer for the courageous Marina and her unlikely rescuer, Bruce." -S.W. Hubbard, author of Another Man's Treasure


"True Mercy by Idelle Kursman is a spellbinding novel that starts in Eastern Europe and makes its way across to America...It is an amazing depiction portraying victims of sex trafficking... Not only has the author featured human trafficking, but Autism also plays a major part in the story line. It is a marvelous representation of the difficulties related to this spectrum disorder, rendering the characters lifelike and relatable. The unconventional conflicts gave the story a fascinating balance between good and evil. This remarkable and breathtaking novel keeps the reader in suspense to the final pages." Susan Sewell for Readers' Favorite

"Combining a father’s love for his Autistic son and the dangerous world of human trafficking, True Mercy by Idelle Kursman draws you in immediately, making it hard to stop reading." - Self-Publishing Review

To Sum It Up: ‘Not only a powerful thriller, it is also a captivating study of modern slavery. A Red Ribbon winner and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards

RED RIBBON WINNER Wishing Shelf Awards 2017

From the Back Cover

Adam, an eighteen year-old with autism, unwittingly gets caught up in the evil network of human trafficking the day he finds Marina on the ground. Nursing fresh wounds from losing his mother, Adam is ecstatic to accept a new mother figure into his life. He longs for someone to take walks with and who will watch nature videos with him. He can't fathom, however, the horrific existence Marina has led prior to appearing in his neighborhood.Marina, abducted from her country of Moldova, has landed in America and somehow managed to escape. Starving, filthy, and exhausted, she has nowhere to turn and desperately needs Adam's assistance. But what will Adam's father think of him allowing this emaciated refugee into their home?Adam's father Bruce has his own troubles as the sole caregiver of Adam while trying to hold down a regular job. How will he take on the added responsibility of protecting Marina from the traffickers who are intent on recapturing her? Can he successfully protect both her and his childlike son?

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Luck Can Change, LLC (December 27, 2016)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 354 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0996592202
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0996592208
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.6 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 0.89 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 47 ratings

About the author

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Idelle Kursman

Idelle Kursman

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Idelle Kursman is the author of the thriller True Mercy, which was a Red Ribbon winner of the Wishing Shelf Book Awards. Her second novel, The Book of Revelations, is about a woman forced to confront and reconcile with her past. Idelle lives in New Jersey. Visit her at www.idellekursman.com.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
47 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Joanne Flexser
5.0 out of 5 stars Autism and Human Trafficking are blended in this life affirming story
Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2017
Verified Purchase
A careful blending of two seemingly unrelated subjects, True Mercy tells a story of how two innocents find each other and become very involved in each others' lives. The two streams of the story: autism and human trafficking are artfully woven into this heart-wrenching tale of Adam and Marina and how their two worlds connected in a most unlikely way. Idelle Kursman's attention to detail makes you believe that you know and understand the main characters and all of their tragic circumstances.
One person found this helpful
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joseph e. fleckenstein
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2017
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A worthwhile read that talks about the abnormality autism that effects many amongst us.
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Eileen
5.0 out of 5 stars The story helps the reader understand what it is like to live with a person with autism
Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2017
Verified Purchase
A powerful book that I could not put down. Towards the end of the book I was at the edge of my seat. The ending brought tears to my eyes. The story helps the reader understand what it is like to live with a person with autism. I highly recommend this novel.
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Heidi Lynn’s Book Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars Love The Autism Aspect of the Book
Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2018
First, I want to thank Idelle Kursman for providing me with this book so I may bring you this review.
True Mercy by Idelle Kursman immediately got my attention by the fast paced, detailed in depth descriptions, and intense scenes in the prologue had you moved just in the prologue. Then the tone changed when you met Adam and Bruce. It was one of the most unique books I have ever read. So much packed into this short book as well.
I didn’t care for the Sergi or Igor characters at all!! Especially when I read they had been at sea for months raping woman and abusing the scared, drugged-up girls. They were bad men coming to America from Russia to do a job!
My heart went out to Bruce whom lost his wife and had to raise his adult autistic son Adam alone. They both missed her terribly. Adam had a hard time dealing with work and taking care of Adam. He made the best of it though.
I loved how Idelle created this character to raise awareness of autism. Having worked with and friended autism children and adults I know first hand how intelligent and incredibly sweet they are. They just need a little bit more attention. You can see that in the interaction between father and son. Adam also like all autistic children and adults want to be loved and accepted into society.
A smile came to my face when I saw that there was a character by the name of Heidi in the book. She was the nice lady that took care of Adam in the Fairmont Home. She was so good to him.
There was a very unique twist in this book that I really loved. Adam came across the situation accidentally and got rapped up in the situation with his good heart. However, It was bad news.
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Richard Langellotti
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book. I bought this book using my husband's ...
Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2017
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Wonderful book. I bought this book using my husband's account name. I really enjoyed the book and did not put it down once I started reading it. I really felt that the author was able to capture what an autistic person may be feeling.

Emmi
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MMN
3.0 out of 5 stars Great Read....
Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2019
Verified Purchase
A interesting story about a major problem in the U S. A lot of insight into the problems of sex trafficking and autism...the author attacked both issues in a very readable way...great job.!
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S. J. Main
4.0 out of 5 stars Good Read
Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2019
True Merci is a crime fiction story written about Marina and Adam. Marina is captured and abused by human traffickers. She manages to escape once her ship stops at New Jersey and meets Adam who has Autism. Both have their own problems as Adam is also facing the loss of his mother. He, however, embraces her and Adam gets involved with Marina as her capturer does not give up finding her.

In addition to this dynamic, Adam’s father is also a character worth mentioning. Bruce who is recently widowed cares deeply for his 18-year-old Autistic boy and wants what is best for him. The trio has to deal with many things as the reader gets to have a better understanding of what indeed happens to girls and women who are abducted and people who have Autism. I also enjoyed reading about the love a father can have for his son.

I found the literature to be very well written. Having to write such a delicately sensitive story would have needed a skillful author in order to express the appropriate emotions for every scene.

The pace was steady, and the characters had strong personalities. This added to the texture of the storyline and as the dialogue between them continued It was easy to bond with the story.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A page turner!
Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2020
Verified Purchase
Wow - I was a little turned off by the subject of this story, but couldn’t put it down after the second chapter
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Top reviews from other countries

J.A. Sullivan
4.0 out of 5 stars Tense Thriller with Heart
Reviewed in Canada on April 13, 2018
Verified Purchase
True Mercy is a gripping, character driven thriller, which follows Marina Dobrin’s harrowing escape from human trafficking. With her captors hot on her trail, she is befriended by Adam Hitchens, a young man with autism, who offers her food and shelter. But when Adam’s father, Bruce, returns home, Marina’s sanctuary becomes uncertain. Bruce is torn between helping Marina and protecting his son. Together they will try to heal each other, rebuild trust, and discover the meaning of True Mercy.

The plot of Idelle Kursman’s debut novel has a lot of tension, twists and turns, like any great thriller, but what really sets this book apart are the characters. Marina has been kidnapped from Moldova, transported to America, beaten and raped, but her spirit is never broken. This story could easily have crossed into melodramatic territory however the author keeps the situation dark, gritty and true to life. Similarly, when we meet Bruce Hitchens, a recently widowed father in his 40s, struggling to take care of his adult son with autism, the realism portrayed in his situation is heartbreaking. As someone who has been a caregiver to a loved one with disabilities, I immediately empathized with his plight. Kursman captures the genuine strain Bruce experiences as he is constantly pushed toward a breaking point. The author also does a beautiful job of representing what life is like within a person disabled by autism. Adam is full of childlike innocence and wonder, but at the same time is deeply frustrated by the things in life he cannot understand.

I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from this author.
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