Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
At The River by Kendra Elliot Series: Columbia River #5
Published by Montlake Romance on February 13, 2024
Genres: Romantic Suspense
Pages: 380
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible
Twenty years ago, five teenage campers disappeared. Two eventually turned up, bound and left for dead on the Columbia River’s rocky shore. Only Devin Bonner miraculously survived, but with no memories of what happened in the Oregon forest. After decades, the cold case generates heat for FBI Special Agent Mercy Kilpatrick and her husband, Police Chief Truman Daly. They’re investigating the murder of a true-crime podcaster found at the river’s edge in the same location, and with the exact same manner of death.
With the discovery, Devin’s nightmares return. His only real friend is Ollie Smith, Truman’s orphaned ward, whose own search for the truth sucks Ollie into a mystery far greater and more dangerous than anyone imagined. Following a trail of fresh blood and an escalating series of murders, Mercy and Truman must work fast to unlock whatever traumas are buried in Devin’s memories before the secrets of the past claim another victim.
The Columbia River series is a mix of stories utilizing characters from some of the author’s other series or supporting characters. At The River is the labeled as the fifth book there but honestly it’s really more Mercy Kilpatrick series book 8. It is all about Mercy and Truman and their “children.”
Mercy and Truman’s days and cases keep overlapping with the missing and the dead. Ollie keeps turning up in those wrong places and we learn more about his past. Ollie has been searching for his parents. He does a great job helping a man who was abducted and tortured as a teen.
As the backdrop, Mercy and Truman have been married about a year. We feel their comfort and efforts to build their marriage and family. They are good people and really help the victims and their families in their work, yet wanting to protect their own family.
I really love this setting and characters. I am so happy to have Mercy and Truman move into this series also.
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:
- 23-COYER
I really loved this one with Mercy and Truman’s investigation, but the personal touch, too.
I am loving this series and these characters.
Mercy and Truman are in this one? That makes me happy. I love them. 😀
yes this one was a really great story.
Fabulous cover and I am always up for one of her novels. This sounds like something I would love too.
Well I loved it and hope you will also.
Didn’t know Mercy and Truman were in this one! I’m so excited to get a new story about them! Wonderful review, Anne!
Thank you . Mercy and Truman are awesome so I was glad to see them here.
Cross over series can be a lot of fun. I’m glad your enjoyed this and rated it so highly.
Thanks Tammy. I really enjoyed these characters so it was great to find them here.
I was so excited for this one because it was Mercy Kilpatrick characters, but it was even better than I anticipated.
Exactly it was better than I expected and I know I always enjoy these books.
This is an author on my TBR. I like the sound of this series and I need to read the first book soon.
I love this author and hope you do too!
This sounds like a good romantic suspense. That genre is SO hard to master.
This author is extremely reliable in having great stories in this genre.