A Shot at Mercy

By: Timothy R. Baldwin

Narrated by: John Rodriguez

Length: 5 hrs

Publisher's summary

Emmitt Wasson’s life wasn’t perfect. But, with a decent job and a loving family, his life was pretty good. That is, until a horrific accident left him and his family spiraling out of control.

While Emmitt struggles to put his family back together, his daughter begins to make a series of choices that put her on a dangerous path Emmitt knows all too well. With his daughter’s future hanging in the balance, he faces a battle requiring a strength and a faith he has yet to understand.

Through unlikely friendships, he will discover the drive and determination he needs to face an immense struggle he isn’t sure he can win. But fight he must, especially if he is to rescue his daughter and have a shot at mercy.

©2019 Timothy R. Baldwin (P)2022 Timothy R. Baldwin

Heart wrenching story.

I started listening to this story at 9 o'clock this morning while driving to an appointment, continued on my way home and again while I went walking. Then I came home and went back to listening some more. I finished at 10 o'clock tonight. Suffice to say that it was a very good book and was wonderfully narrated. I couldn't put it down!

ok story boring narrartor

This "story" was just ok. I liked the idea behind a father trying to save his drug addict daughter using his own demons and experience. Emmitt takes his own experience with opiods to try and save Lindsay form herself and her drug dealer boyfriend. The narration ruined this book for me it sounded more like a documentary and less like a fictional story. I like how it follows Lindsay and Emmitt's individual struggles and shows how some people are able to overcome addiction while others no matter how hard they try keep falling back into bad habits. This would have been a better story if the narrator had a bit more flexibility. I received this book for free for an honest review.

Two Lives; Two Addictions

This novel is a realistic and gritty cautionary tale about the horrors of drug addiction of worst kind.
But it’s also an uplifting tale about the power of unconditional love and hope.

I highly recommend this thrilling , tension -filled story to all who like to read.”Once an addict ; always
an addict," doesn’t AlWAYS have to hold true...perhaps.

Unconditional love

Good book about generational addiction and co-dependency. Through everything unconditional love. Opioid addiction is ruining our families and communities. Sad to see decent families destroyed. Dad never took control of his daughter. Instead let everyone else do it for him. Grief has a strong impact on all. Lots of issues here that were never fully addressed


"I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.”

What a ride!

I seldom get into the type of stories that Bloodshot is. Life stories are not my primary interest. I can say I traditionally like my protagonists to be fighting zombies and monsters in a hail of gunfire. Let me tell you firsthand; this story is intense. I was concerned, worried, angry, and easily mirrored the emotions of the cast as the story progressed.

Bloodshot follows Emmett, a man who battles his demons. Hearing his situation unfold makes you angry, yet sympathetic to his position. He recovers from his drug addiction, which is a significant feat for anyone who has ever battled with the same situation.

Baldwin not only manages to take the story into an emotional rollercoaster, but he also makes you give a damn about everyone you read about. Emmet, a religious man but not quite as much as he should be, wrestles with life post-rehabilitation from his drugs. As it says in the book description, his daughter decides to go the route of drugs as well. Baldwin manages to capture the feelings of Emmett as he battles with memories of his reasons for taking this path.

Full of a vast cast of characters, his narrator, John Rodriguez, knocks it out of the park! Well-spoken, crisp, and clear, Rodriguez can capture the intensity of every moment as it unfolds. He seamlessly transitions between each character with ease.

Again, I like "boom boom shoot em up" stories for their intensity. Bloodshot is not one of those, yet, the drama and situation rival any "war book" I could read. I highly recommend this story to anyone!

An important topic for the world we live in today

Bloodshot is the story of a seemingly average American family coming to terms with the problem of addiction. We see this first when Emmitt struggles with his developing addiction to pain killers following an accident at work. With the help of family and friends, he is able to overcome the problem and move on with his life. His daughter, however, succumbs to similar demons later on in her young life when she gets involved with some less than savory people.

Baldwin's focus on family and friends rings true in so many ways - the most important being that overcoming the grip of addiction is something that is virtually impossible to do alone. Family and friends are often the ones to notice the signs of addiction and push for change and recovery. I remember reading "Go Ask Alice" (written by Beatrice Sparks) when I was younger - and Timothy Baldwin's story reminds me of that memoir in a lot of ways.

The running theme of forgiveness is paramount in this story, and for good reason - An addict will always be an addict. They may no longer be using, but that demon will always haunt them and only through the forgiveness of their friends, family, and loved ones will they ever feel strong enough to say "no more" to their addiction.

In a country currently facing growing problems with heroin and opioid addiction - it's important that we all look for the signs in those around us and offer a hand when the burden is too great for them to carry on their own.

an insight into addiction

this was more of a drama than a thriller. the characters were believable & it showed the dark side of drugs & what they can do to a family.