The Merciless IV: Last Rites

In the fourth book of the scream-worthy The Merciless series, a vacation in Italy spirals into a nightmarish struggle for survival as Berkley is forced to confront her past.

“A delightfully horrific read for teens who love the macabre.”—School Library Journal

The ropes tighten on Berkley Hubbard’s wrists. Blood drips down her fingers and lands with a smack on the cold floor of the church basement. She’s trapped, bound, and petrified by fear. A knife punctures her fragile skin as Berkley’s captors search for the mark of the devil on her body. They say they want to save her—drive the devil away and cleanse her soul—but the cuts are deep, the pain is agonizing.

When Berkley arrived in Italy a week ago, she never expected to be fighting for her life. After spending six months at the Institute, confined to a room with the dangerous yet alluring Sofia Flores, Berkley was certain that a vacation in Italy with her two best friends would be the perfect getaway.

But Berkley is hiding a terrible secret, one that threatens to upend her life, all over again. As she’s forced to face her wicked past, she learns that the devil is always watching, and no one is coming to save her.

Danielle Vega spent her childhood hiding under the covers while her mother retold tales from the pages of Stephen King novels. Now an adult, she can count on one hand the number of times in her life she's been afraid. Danielle is the author of the Merciless series and Survive the Night. Follow her @dvegabooks.