by Kendra Elliot
Series: Mercy Kilpatrick #1
Genres: Mystery, Thriller
Source: Prime
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
FBI special agent Mercy Kilpatrick has been waiting her whole life for disaster to strike. A prepper since childhood, Mercy grew up living off the land—and off the grid—in rural Eagle’s Nest, Oregon. Until a shocking tragedy tore her family apart and forced her to leave home. Now a predator known as the cave man is targeting the survivalists in her hometown, murdering them in their homes, stealing huge numbers of weapons, and creating federal suspicion of a possible domestic terrorism event. But the crime scene details are eerily familiar to an unsolved mystery from Mercy’s past.
Sent by the FBI to assist local law enforcement, Mercy returns to Eagle’s Nest to face the family who shunned her while maintaining the facade of a law-abiding citizen. There, she meets police chief Truman Daly, whose uncle was the cave man’s latest victim. He sees the survivalist side of her that she desperately tries to hide, but if she lets him get close enough to learn her secret, she might not survive the fallout…
The first novel in the Mercy Kilpatrick series, was a Prime book selection. An FBI agent returns to her hometown when someone murders doomsday preppers. Suspense, a little romance and a great mystery kept me flipping the pages.
The state of Oregon is home too many preppers or doomsday groups. Our protagonist, Mercy Kilpatrick grew up in the tight-knit prepper community of Eagle’s Nest, Oregon. A disagreement with her father, caused her to cut-ties with her family when she was eighteen.
Mercy knows the small-town and folks in Eagle’s Nest. Their dislike of outsiders and the government make her the perfect agent to investigate.
When a series of murders involving preppers occur, it raises alarms with the FBI. Could someone be planning a domestic terrorist act?
This was a clever story that pulled me in from the beginning. We have several story lines woven together, but the investigation was the primary focus. Twists and reveals kept me guessing until the end. Only after the killer was revealed did I see the foreshadowing and clues peppered throughout the story.
Threads involving Mercy, and her estranged family, were well developed, and added to the overall suspense. I found the prepper lifestyle fascinating. Insight into preppers and the inner workings of their community kept me engaged.
Mercy has secrets that the author slowly revealed allowing the reader to better understand her motives. The local sheriff, a newcomer by small-town standards assists in the investigation. Mercy’s partner and the Bend FBI field office added to the investigation and added believability. A low-key romance develops with the promise of things to come but was a minor thread compared to the first two.
A heart-pounding investigation and interesting characters made this an entertaining read. Elliot, a seasoned author pens books set in the Pacific Northwest. She brought the landscape, characters and small-town to life. I cannot wait to devour the next book, A Merciful Truth.
A Merciful Death by Kendra Elliot offered a suspenseful FBI mystery set against a prepper community. #thriller #crime #romanticsuspense Share on X
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
Olivia Roach
It sounds like this was a good mystery and thriller. I like the sound of it! I don’t think it is one for me – I like thrillers and mysteries a lot but I try my best to make them as unique as possible, and this one doesn’t sound too ground breaking to me. Great review nonetheless!
Kimberly
I like the side stories and tidbit on preppers.
Karen
I keep meaning to take advantage of the Prime books and forget lol They do seem to have a lot of suspense and thrillers – which isn’t my usual genre but a good way to test a few out.
Karen @ For What It’s Worth
Kimberly
The deal ends Tuesday Karen 🙂
Suzanne @ The Bookish Libra
I really like that this sounds like a great mix of both the actual crime storyline and lots of family drama/history to add even more depth to the main character. I could see myself getting into this one.
Kimberly
I am on book 4 and enjoying them. It has a nice romance served on the side too
Tracy @ Cornerfolds
I’m just recently getting more into these kinds of books and this is one I think I need to add to my list! The investigation sounds fantastic!
Kimberly
I hope you decide to try them 🙂
Angela Adams
Interesting premise. Thanks for the post.
Kimberly
Happy to share.
Anne
I also got this trough Prime and just enjoyed it. I’ve read on in the series and I just like it. I can relate to the preppers. I think about that tv show Jericho. Anyway, nice review! Anne – Books of My Herat
Kimberly
Yeah I am on book 4 and enjoying them. They are easy reads, I like seeing Mercy’s growth
Lover Of Romance
I do love books set in the pacific northwest, and wow such intensity. I always love books that keep me on edge. Lovely review darling.
Kimberly
Thank you. The setting is wonderful.
Debbie Haupt - The Reading Frenzy
This sounds good Kim, I didn’t know that about Oregon. Is it true?
Thanks for your thoughts
Kimberly
Yes, they have a huge prepper demographics.
Lark @ The Bookwyrm's Hoard
This sounds good, and hopefully not too dark or chilling for me. I’ll keep an eye out for it!
Kimberly
I think your good. It has some dark moments but nothing worse than CSI or Criminal Minds.
Crystal @ Lost in Storyland
This sounds like an interesting read. I like how the story ties in the MC’s past and present!
Kimberly
Right, and there is some serious history there.
Nadene
I have this on my list to read. I can’t wait.
Kimberly
Sweet. I look forward to your thoughts 🙂
Stormi Johnson
This sounds like a good one! 🙂
Kimberly
I hope you get to try it Stormi
Melliane
I always an interesting to have a suspense novel like that
Kimberly
Me too Melliane.
sjhigbee
Kendra Elliot has been on my radar for a while – thank you for, as ever, an excellent review of this book:)
Kimberly
I hope you try it, the series has a nice overall arc, romance and character growth, but each book has a compelling case.
Rachel
I find the prepper life very interesting. My son sometimes watches Youtube videos done by a prepper engineer guy with cool how-tos. Some of the stuff makes me wonder if I’d survive a big disaster or the zombie apocalypse, lol! I do love crime procedurals, FBI, police, whatever law enforcement. With some romance, of course! I’ll have to check this series out as I’m always looking for a new audio book. Lovely review, Kimberly! 🙂
Kimberly
Haha..yes. we all gonna die Rachel. I find their prepping interesting. The most I’ve ever prepped for is a snowstorm or hurricane. This is on audio. If you have KU the audio is included.
Trisha
Preppers are absolutely fascinating to me!
Kimberly
I feel the same way Trisha.
Ailyn Koay
cool! a book that does not really rely on questionable narrators
Kimberly
Well, there you go.
Nick
This is giving me Casey Duncan vibes! I’ve really been feeling thrillers/murder mysteries lately, so I’m adding this to my list.
Kimberly
Good vibes!
JennRenee
I just added this book to my tbr. It sounds so good. I just laugh at the murders being all preppers. That is kind of funny, but I mean not because it’s murder, but it is because how many preppers can there be in one town. I guess I need to read this.
Kimberly
It is available in KU. In my sidebar is a link to get KU for 3 months for .99 cents. I have been reading this series since they are $4.99 a pop otherwise 🙂
Lizzy
Hmm. I haven’t read thrillers in a long time but this sounds really good! And I am absolutely floored to see there are already FOUR in this series…holy speedy writer batman! Lol
Kimberly
There are 5 published and a sixth on the way. This one released in 2017.