Author: Kendra Elliot

Published: June 2017 by Montlake Romance

Category: Crime, Thriller, Suspense, Romance, Murder, Mystery, Book Review

Raised by a family of survivalists, FBI agent Mercy Kilpatrick can take on any challenge—even the hostile reception to her homecoming. But she’s not the only one causing chaos in the rural community of Eagle’s Nest, Oregon. At first believed to be teenage pranks, a series of fires takes a deadly turn with the murder of two sheriff’s deputies. Now, along with Police Chief Truman Daly, Mercy is on the hunt for an arsonist turned killer.

In the first book we learned about FBI agent Mercy Kilpatrick’s background, how she was brought up in a family of survivalists and left home at eighteen, estranged from her family. Fifteen years later she returned during an investigation and decided to move back to central Oregon. She can’t completely distance herself from the prepper lifestyle and has her own fully stocked bolt hole close to Eagle’s Nest. 

Mercy stayed over in Portland on her way back to Eagle’s Nest after two weeks of special training at Quantico, but a 3.00am phone call gets her up and on the road for the three hour journey back to town. 

Police Chief Truman Daly is investigating a series of small fires set at various locations around Eagle’s Nest. At first he put it down to bored teenagers, the first fire having been started in an old abandoned car and then a dumpster. The arsonist accelerated when third fire burned down a shed stocked with prepping supplies.  When Truman attended the fourth fire he found two murdered county deputies.

Two more shots. 

Was that a scream?

His heart pounding, he called 911, reported shots fired, and advised the dispatcher to immediately let the approaching fire trucks know. He ended the call and slowly moved out of his hiding place behind the rock, his eyes peeled for the shooter. Who fired?

Eagle’s Nest officers had never found anyone at the scene of the previous fires. Why is this time different?

FBI agent Mercy Kilpatrick stayed over in Portland on her way back to Eagle’s Nest after two weeks of special training at Quantico, but a 3.00am phone call gets her up and on the road for the three hour journey back to town. The two murdered deputies are now Mercy’s priority and she joins Truman in the investigation, during which they hear rumours about a group of people who are anti anything to do with government, including law enforcement. 

I’m really enjoying this series. In A Merciful Truth the characters have evolved, Mercy is becoming more open to a relationship with Truman while he is trying his best not to scare her off, knowing she has trust issues. The romance isn’t at the forefront by any means and takes a back seat to the plot threads, which are well thought through and woven together nicely. Mercy is also getting used to her new role as guardian to her niece after the death of her brother. The family and their dynamics have a goodly part to play in this story. I enjoyed Eddie’s contribution very much too.

The investigation is driven forward as more comes to light about the arsonists, the two murdered deputies and the group of radicals who are forming their own militia. As the plot unfolds there are dangers and twists to keep the reader on their toes, great pacing keeps thing moving and the suspense levels high. This could be read as a standalone but, like all series, the subtleties of the characters’ backstories would be missed.

Book links ~ Amazon UK | Goodreads

About the Author

An Amazon #1 selling author, Kendra Elliot has sold over 4 million books. She grew up in the lush Pacific Northwest and still lives there with her husband, three daughters, two cats, and a Pomeranian. She’s fascinated with forensics, refuses to eat anything green, and dreams of living every day in flip flops.

The BONE SECRETS NOVELS: HIDDEN, CHILLED, BURIED, ALONE, KNOWN and VEILED (a novella).

The CALLAHAN & McLANE novels are a spin-off of the Bone Secrets books. VANISHED, BRIDGED, SPIRALED, and TARGETED.

The MERCY KILPATRICK series, a spin-off of the CALLAHAN & McLANE series, A MERCIFUL DEATH, A MERCIFUL TRUTH, and A MERCIFUL SECRET.

She also writes the Rogue River novella series with author Melinda Leigh.

A four-time Wall Street Journal best selling author, 2014 International Thriller Writers finalist, a three time Daphne Du Maurier winner, and a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice finalist.

Author links ~ Website | Twitter | Facebook