The Sealed Deal
A sharp, fast prequel you can finish in one sitting — and the very first crack in the machine that will become Inheritance of Lies.
Before the lies unraveled… one deal sealed everything.
David Mercer thinks he’s handling a simple settlement — numbers, signatures, and one tidy resolution. But buried in the fine print is a clause that doesn’t belong, tied to people who don’t like loose ends.
When Mercer asks the wrong question, the room changes. The offer on the table isn’t just money — it’s silence. And once he signs, the fallout will echo all the way into Inheritance of Lies.
- Perfect entry point into the David Mercer universe.
- Direct prequel to Inheritance of Lies — see where the rot begins.
- Compact, high-tension legal thriller built for a single, breathless read.
New to David Mercer? This is the clean jump-in point — no prior reading, no timeline confusion, just one case file that shows you the moment he brushes up against the machine for the first time.
- A complete story in under an hour.
- Zero homework, but hooks that make you want the full series.
- Gives you the “before” picture of Mercer’s career and reputation.
What’s inside: high-stakes negotiation, off-the-record pressure, and the kind of clause that never shows up in a standard settlement template.
- Back-room leverage and subtle threats across the table.
- The first hints of sealed files and outcomes that feel too clean.
- A tightening clock: sign now, walk away — or dig deeper and see what that costs.
Series placement: The Sealed Deal takes place before Inheritance of Lies and plants the first seeds of the larger conspiracy.
- Introduces players and pressure points that resurface in Inheritance of Lies.
- Shows you how Mercer learns to spot the patterns behind “routine” cases.
- Makes the later fallout feel earned when you hit the main novel.