Mercedes “Mercy” Thompson is the protagonist of the Mercedes Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. She is a walker, a Native American shapeshifter who can transform into a coyote, and she works as a Volkswagen mechanic in the Tri-Cities area of Washington State.
Mercy was given up by her teenage mother shortly after birth when her ability to shift became apparent. She was raised by the Marrok, the leader of all North American werewolves, and grew up in his pack in Montana. Though surrounded by werewolves, she never quite fit in as a coyote among wolves.
Background
After leaving the Marrok’s pack, Mercy trained as a mechanic and opened her own shop specializing in older Volkswagens. She settled in the Tri-Cities, next door to the local Alpha werewolf Adam Hauptman, and tried to live a quiet life away from pack politics. That plan did not last long.
Powers and Abilities
As a walker, Mercy can shift into a coyote form at will, without the painful transformations or moon-tied changes that werewolves experience. She is immune to some forms of supernatural control and can see ghosts. Her coyote nature makes her faster and harder to catch than a normal human, though she lacks the raw power of werewolves.
Mercy’s real strengths are her intelligence, stubbornness, and ability to think creatively. She often wins against more powerful opponents by being unpredictable and refusing to give up.
Relationships
Mercy’s primary relationship is with Adam Hauptman, the Alpha of the Columbia Basin Pack. Their relationship begins as neighbors with tension and gradually develops into romance and eventually marriage. She also maintains close ties to the Marrok’s pack, particularly her foster father Bran and his son Samuel.
Reading Order
See the complete Mercedes Thompson reading order for all books in the series.