A Merciful Secret

In this Wall Street Journal bestseller, a pair of ritual murders could expose Mercy Kilpatrick to something terrifying: her own past…
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’ve made it my mission to read all of Kendra Elliot’s past books because I need to catch up on her books. She’s released another series this year (2020). I’ve been neglecting her books, and that stops now. I’m slowly reading her Mercy Kilpatrick books because I love Mercy and Truman.

Here’s the gist of the third book in the Mercy Kilpatrick series without trying to give anything away. Mercy Kilpatrick was raised an off-grid survivalist, and in this book, she ends up encountering another off-grid family close by to her cabin. The young girl of the family needs Mercy’s help with her grandmother. Someone has slashed the young girl’s grandmother with a knife, and Mercy tries everything to help the woman. Mercy then finds herself investigating what happened, and incomes other FBI agents with another case similar to what happened to the grandmother. Some readers may know one of the other FBI characters from another series that Kendra wrote. (This is one of many reasons why I love Kendra Elliot. You never know if you will catch up on other characters from previous books/series.) Mercy will need to determine if the grandmother and the other case have anything in common or knew of each other. Mercy’s boyfriend, Truman Daly, is there along the way to help her with the case. The bad guy ends up being someone that no one expects, especially when other characters help out with the young girl and her mother that was missing for a while.

My thoughts on the story:

1. This story involves modern-day witchcraft, which was interesting to read in a story. The family that ends up having their life turn upside down a couple of times and not just this once. Secrets end up being revealed in the story. The town of Eagle’s Nest has not made it easy for this family. They have their own opinions about the family. Truman also realizes he knows the mother of the young girl.

2. Mercy and Truman’s relationship. It’s growing further and further. Although Mercy is stubborn at times, Truman knows Mercy can handle herself, but he’s there for no matter what, even if she’s hardheaded. He wants to make a life with her, and he lets her know it in this book. I also love how well they work together in cases. They are perfect for each other.

3. The ending and finding out who was behind everything. I knew who it was, but it still was a shock. I did like how Kendra kept me on my toes, though. Poor Mercy and Truman always were on their toes too. They thought it would be one person, and it would end up being another.

This book is full of suspense and trying to determine the connection of the murders that keep happening in this book. Mercy is going to end up being tested in this book quite a few times. The big test is at the end. I was heartbroken for her on what happened, but she has her niece and Truman to help her. I’m also glad to have had some more of Mercy’s family show up in this book. I wish her father would stop being so stubborn and realize how Mercy never really gave up her off-grid skills.

I give this book 4.5-stars and recommend it to Romantic Suspense, Mystery, and Thriller readers. If you haven’t picked up a Kendra Elliot book, yet, then what are you waiting for, get to it now.

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About Kendra Elliot

An Amazon #1 selling author, Kendra Elliot has sold over 8 Million books and been on the WSJ best seller list eleven times.

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.

*New series!* THE LAST SISTER and THE SILENCE

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, A MERCIFUL SECRET, A MERCIFUL SILENCE, A MERCIFUL FATE, and A MERCIFUL PROMISE.

She also writes the Widow's Island and Rogue River novellas with Melinda Leigh.

2014 International Thriller Writers finalist, a three time Daphne Du Maurier winner, and a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice finalist.

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FranJessca

Owner/Reviewer at A Book Lovin' Mama's Blog

I guess I should type a bio here. I'm FranJessca, or Fran for short. I'm the owner/reviewer behind A Book Lovin' Mama's Blog. I've been reading and reviewing books on my blog since leaving the Navy in 2011, and I will keep doing it as long as possible. My favorite genres will always be Romance & Fantasy, and I read every subgenre underneath those two genres. (Sorry, not a fan of nonfiction, so don't try to convince me to read it.)
My obsession with reading started over 30+ years ago when I went to my first Scholastic Book Fair and found R.L. Stine's Fear Street series. Later, I came across Anne Rice's novels at my public library when I was fourteen when my obsession with vampires started. I was the girl who preferred to be a vampire over a princess any day. My husband says I would leave him a heartbeat for a vampire that looked like Spike or Angel (from Buffy the Vampire Slayer) or Damon Salvatore from The Vampire Diaries. (It's true, though, and he's accepted it.)

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