Review copy was received from NetGalley, Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
In the Pines by Kendra Elliot Narrator: Teri Schnaubelt
Series: Columbia River #3, Mercy Kilpatrick #7
Published by Brilliance Audio, Montlake Romance on August 16, 2022
Genres: Romantic Suspense
Pages: 335
Length: 8 hours, 51 minutes
Format: Audiobook, eARC
Source: NetGalley, Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible
A national treasure hunt with a $2 million prize has driven obsessed fortune seekers to overrun the small town of Eagleâs Nest, Oregon. The huntâs cryptic clues and the lure of wealth have exposed the desperate side of human greed: theft, fights, trespassingâand even the motive to kill. Police chief Truman Daly craves peace in his town but has a murder on his hands instead. Now the big prize isnât the only thing hiding in the pines. So is a killer.
When a young boy walks into the local café and claims his mother and baby sister have been missing for weeks, FBI special agent Mercy Kilpatrick investigates and exposes a disturbing twist in his story. Deep family secrets and lies that started sixty years ago have burst into the present, bringing with them deadly consequences.
I discovered this author with the Mercy Kilpatrick series  and decided to try this new Columbia River series.  This new series has each book with a different one of the author’s series characters. The previous books were with main characters I recognized but I haven’t read all her series yet. In the Pines features Mercy and Truman and I was thrilled to catch up with them again after their wedding.
Mercy and Truman have their found family with Kaylie and Ollie and couldn’t be happier. They both have plenty of law enforcement on their plates. Truman has lots of disturbances relating to the treasure hunt in the area for the two millionaire dollars hidden by an eccentric man who died and left clues to its location. There have been plenty of problems as treasure hunters follow each other and try to steal clues and now murders. Truman has a teen come in because his mother and younger sister are missing. That case goes to Mercy at the FBI, and the murder goes to Evan Bolton who is the brother to the missing mother and he also takes guardianship of the teens.
I enjoyed the well-crafted plot and character developments with the excitement of treasure, missing persons, murders, family relationships, set in an area with gorgeous scenery. I was easily engaged on many fronts throughout the story. There was so much happening and that allowed for many red herrings and much suspense about the missing mother and child.
Meanwhile the teens were raised in the area’s prepper tradition with little exposure to technology or typical teen pastimes. It was great to see them connect with their uncle and make friends with Truman and Mercy’s children. All the personal connections and development really added to the overall story.
I won’t spoil what happened but it was a terrific ending after much smart police strategy and investigation. Mercy really tipped to key factors based on her knowledge of preppers and the area. I am excited to see the next book, First Death next year will feature Evan Bolton, sheriff of the county.
Narration:
I haven’t listened to this series in the past but was happy to try the audio version. I thought the narrator’s voices for the characters were realistic and felt comfortable. There was distinction between the genders and ages. I listened at my normal 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip:Â HERE
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.
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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:
- 22-COYER
I love all Kendra Elliottâs books and it should like this next ones going to be another winner!
This one is a winner. I really enjoy all her books too.
Love the sound of this. I think I need to try this authorđ
I truly enjoy these series. They are well-written and not too complex but have plenty of character and plot development. Plus they are fun.
Great to know that I donât need to read the first two in this series to enjoy Mercy & Truman again! Great review, Anneđ
yes I think it is helpful to read the Mercy series but this one is really more Mercy #7 than Columbia River #3. Either way it is a great read.
Iâm up to date on Mercy but havenât read the two books in the Columbia River series.
Great breakdown of the book. I loved that she went back to the Mercy world, too. I read some and listened to some when I went through the original series and I liked the narrator, too.
Thank you Sophia! I just enjoy all her books.
I have yet to read any books by this author but I keep hearing great things about the books.
I’ve read a lot of them and they have all been really good.
Sounds like a wonderful new series. I like the premise of a treasure hunt, with greed and murder!
I really like this Mercy series but this is book 7 or book 3 in the Columbia River which is made up of some standalones and then this one is an odd one but connects to the following books about Evan Bolton. So this book is sort of a crossover between 2 series. I always like to read my series in order though.
This sounds really good.
It’s a great read; I’ve enjoyed the whole series.
This sounds like something that I would really like. I need to read more of this author’s work soon!
This author is a favorite and I pretty much read all of her books.
Glad the audio delivered as well. I liked the treasure hunt and mysteries in this one đ
This was so different for me as I’ve read all the other books in the Mercy Kilpatrick series. I liked it and seeing more after they are now married.
Sounds like a great series. I’ll have to check it out!
I really like the mystery theme here along with the relationships. I’ve read all of both series where this is a crossover so I love seeing all the different characters interact.