Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
A Merciful Secret by Kendra Elliot Series: Mercy Kilpatrick #3
Published by Montlake Romance on January 16, 2018
Genres: Romantic Suspense
Pages: 332
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm
Raised off the grid by survivalists, Mercy Kilpatrick believed in no greater safeguard than the backwoods of Oregon. Unforgiven by her father for abandoning the fold for the FBI, Mercy still holds to her past convictions. They’re in her blood. They’re her secrets—as guarded as her private survival retreat hidden away in the foothills.
In a cabin near her hideaway, Mercy encounters a young girl whose grandmother is dying from multiple knife wounds. Hundreds of miles away, a body is discovered slashed to death in a similar way. The victims—a city judge and an old woman living in the woods—couldn’t be more different. With the help of police chief Truman Daly, Mercy must find the killer before the body count rises. Mercy knows that the past has an edge on her. So does her family. How can she keep her secrets now…when they’re the only things that can save her?
I was happy to continue the Mercy Kilpatrick series. This feels more crime/ mystery suspense than a romance. There is kissing but the sex is off page. I’ve enjoyed the world-building of this small town in a rural mountain area with many survivalists. The preppers are fascinating to me and cool; I love DYI and self-sufficient people.
Mercy has grown personally dealing with her family issues, her new work situation and her new relationship. She is smart and careful, well-trained, so she doesn’t put herself in danger in a TSTL way. Truman is almost too good to be true but he does have a few of his own issues.
I figured out the “secret” fairly early but didn’t go on to deduce the bad guy. Actually, there was a second secret which I didn’t guess. A Merciful Secret has plenty of secrets, action and suspense over who lives and who dies. The balance between the life or death suspense with the people’s relationships make it interesting with two different levels of action blended.
A Merciful Silence is projected for June 2018 and I’ll be looking forward to reading. There will likely be a new case, with continuing growth for the characters’ personal lives and relationships.
About Kendra Elliot
An Amazon #1 selling author, Kendra Elliot has sold over 5 million books.
She grew up in the lush Pacific Northwest and still lives there with her family and three cats. She’s fascinated with forensics, refuses to eat anything green, and dreams of living every day in flip flops.
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 2018 New Release Challenge
- COYER Winter Switch
