3.5 Stars.  A Merciful Death is the first book in the Mercy Kilpatrick series.  I really enjoyed the Bone Secrets series so I was looking forward to this book.

It wasn't quite what I expected.  The romance aspect was very minimal so I'm not sure I would call this a romantic suspense book but more of a mystery.  I really enjoyed the prepper backdrop for this book.  It was very interesting and gave me a lot of insight into the lifestyle.  

Mercy was a character that was a bit hard to connect to.  Although I liked her she didn't let anyone in and therefore it was difficult to get to know her as a reader.  She kept a lot of secrets and because her background was involved in the mystery the details were slow to be revealed.  Mercy was a very closed off character even when she was with her estranged siblings and never really opened up throughout the book.  Truman on the other hand was a character that I really enjoyed.  His background was laid out and the reader knew exactly where he was coming from and I enjoyed seeing his respect and feeling for Mercy grow.  

Their were aspects of the suspense story that I really enjoyed.  While I had a good guess of who the villain was there were plenty of other suspects and I was kept guessing until the end.  However, the investigation portion was slow and was almost exclusively interviews.  I would have liked more romance from this book and to get to know more about Mercy.  

Overall, I enjoyed the book and as long as you aren't looking for a book with a strong romance aspect then this murder/mystery is worth reading.  I personally enjoyed her Bone Secrets Series more but I enjoyed this one enough that I will read the next book in the series.

I've read all of Kendra Elliot's books and was super excited to start her latest series. Once again, she didn't disappoint.
Mercy Kilpatrick, the protagonist, first appeared in Targeted, the fourth book in the Callahan & McLane series.
Mercy left her hometown 15 years ago and hasn't spoken to her family since. But now she is sent by the FBI to help the local police with their investigation into the murder of survivalists in the isolated community of Eagle's Nest, Oregon. Local police chief Truman Daly has a keen personal interest in the case, as one of the murdered men was his uncle. When Mercy finds some similarities to events that happened 15 years ago, she is forced to reconnect with members of her family and has to trust Truman with details of her life that she has kept hidden.
I enjoyed the unique storyline about preppers, their mindset and way of life. The emphasis was on suspense, the romance light and believable because it unfolded gradually. Some unexpected twists. Overall, a great start to a promising new series.

When reading a book by writer of Kendra Elliot's caliber there are always high expectations. Book one of the Mercy Kilpatrick series “A Merciful Death” not only meets those standards but it blows them out of the  water. You will be on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.

After 15 years away from her family, Mercy Kilpatrick has returned as an FBI agent investigating a string of murders. She has also been introduced to the Police Chief and there are definite sparks between the two of them. When the new murders begin to look like the murder that happened 15 years ago, Mercy doesn't know what to reveal and what to keep hidden for not only the sake of her job but for the sake of her family as well. I really liked this book from the first page to the last. The characters are all very likeable, the suspense ramps up throughout the story, and the ending leaves some hope for a new book with the same characters. One can hope!  I highly recommend this book!

Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.

The Kendra Elliot books I've read have all been suspense with the emphasis on building a realistic romance. "A Merciful Death" is no different. Somehow you just know, from the first pages, that a book is going to be good. This book is good. It's refreshing to have a H/h who don't fall into insta love/lust on first sight. This romance unfolds gradually, and the main characters get to know and respect each other.

Mercy is an FBI agent sent to assist in the investigation of three murders where large amounts of weapons were stolen too. She left Eagle's Nest 15 years ago and never looked back. Now she has to face not only her past, and her secrets, but a murderer.

Truman has been the Chief of police in Eagle's Nest, Oregon for only 6 months. His reclusive uncle was murdered and his cache of weapons stolen. Truman is not going to back away from this case until the murderer is found. 

Preppers, Sovereign Citizens and Militants are some of the groups that occupy the area around Eagle's Nest and they all like their weapons. All the victims were known Preppers. These are fiercely independent people who take exception to the government telling them what to do. But someone in their community is a part, yet apart. A murderer stalks these people and it may not be for the first time.

I have insomnia that is usually made worse by stress.  I fall asleep fine, but then wake up in the middle of the night and can't go back to sleep...reading usually helps.  I downloaded A Merciful Death at bedtime so I would have a book to read on my kindle without searching for it.  I made the mistake of starting the first chapter, just to get a taste of the book.

Well, I didn't fall right asleep because I read past my bedtime.  When I did wake up later, I picked up right where I left off.  The book is amazing!  I have to admit, not a lot got done around my house until I was finished with the book.  

This is the first book in what I hope will be a long series of Mercy Kilpatrick books.  I've been aware of the "Prepper" movement for a while now.  Usually people who prepare for the worst case scenario are portrayed as crazy or all all lumped in with the people that don't recognize government and the laws of the government.  When the book started, I was afraid that this would be the case again, but I didn't need to worry.  Kendra Elliot is able to walk that fine line between making characters interesting without slipping into a caricature.

There isn't a negative thing I can find in the book.  It's amazing, start to finish.  I can't wait until the next book comes out.

Kendra did it again!

No one does romantic suspense quite like Kendra Elliot does! The main focus is on the case and not the romance. I love that the romance takes a back seat to the murder investigation, but you can still feel the sexual tension bubbling under the surface of the characters.

This book had me all over the place with my emotions, I felt a deep connection to Mercy and my heart broke for her. The current murders took her back to dark place from 15 years ago, so while trying to solve this case she is also trying to figure out things from her past that she has never told anyone and it's really hard for her to stay focused and deal.

Truman has his own past that can get in his way at times, but he feels a connection to Mercy almost instantly and can tell that she is hiding something and he needs to figure it out so that he can solve the case.

The beginning of this book was a little slow for me, but once it started to pick up I couldn't put it down. It was an intense, emotionally charged book that you need to pick up today!

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
3.5 stars
M/F Mystery, thriller
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

Truman is a kind man, but he's suspicious of everyone and everything. He is running from a past that we are never really privy to – we only know that he thinks he's done awful things. When people in his district are murdered, the FBI comes in and helps him solve the cases. I wish that we knew more about him, as I felt that his character was kind of stunted. He seemed to follow a lot, be behind in the story and constantly be playing catch-up.

Mercy is the FBI agent with the most insight in the murder victims. After all, she grew up in this community of people who prepare for the worst. She has tried to hide the fact that she has this knowledge, has this compulsion to prepare. Going home is never easy and for Mercy it is even more difficult because she was forced to leave her family at a young age – she was outcast. Having to return and speak to family members who didn't reach out to her, to remember why she was cast out of her family is painful. However, it does give her some direction on why the members of the prepared community might have been targeted.

As for the resolution, it seemed almost rushed. You never really understood the dynamic of the community – only that the killer was deeply ingrained. You were privy to why they killed – their end goal, but not what happened after they were apprehended. I would have liked to see more of a story afterwards – does Mercy continue with her family? Maybe we'll see more in the next book.

Kendra Eliot’s new series, takes us into the little rural town of Eagle’s Nest, Oregon, where secrets are buried deep, and the residents are perpetual preppers, waiting for a disaster to strike…. living off the grid and off of the land. 

Hometown to FBI special agent Mercy Kilpatrick, a series of murders brings her back to the town she had left fifteen years and a to family estranged with divided loyalties. Coming back to her roots is bittersweet but it also awakens a deadly serial killer gone quite throwing Mercy into the crosshairs of danger.

Thrown together with the local police chief Truman Daly to assist in solving the murders, Mercy and Truman drawn into a deadly game of missing weapons and possible terrorist activities. Working side by side, Truman admires the survivalist side of her even as she makes a place in his heart. But Mercy also has secrets buried deep in Eagle’s Nest that could break the fragile bond between her and Truman.

“A Merciful Death” is a brilliantly narrated thriller; Kendra Elliot keeps the plot tight and twisted until the very end. With great attention to the dynamics of the Kilpatrick family, she weaves an intense story of family loyalties, loss and pain, hope and faith and the nuances of a small rural town’s lifestyle and a great insight into the mentality of preppers and survivalists.

A great start to what seems to be another intense and captivating series; “A Merciful Truth” will follow “A Merciful Death”.

A fast paced, action packed, romantic suspense that's a MUST read! An excellent beginning to this new series by Kendra Elliot. With it's original storyline, interesting and complex characters, secrets, lies, betrayal, mystery, intense situations, suspense, and intriguing twists, this story will have you on the edge of your seat till the very end. I can't wait for the next book in this series! 

Truman and Mercy both have been through traumatic experiences in the past, her's drove her out of the town she grew up in, as well as away from her family, and his drove him towards what he hoped would be a peaceful life. When murder brings her back to where she sworn she'd never return to, her past comes back with a vengeance that she's not ready for. Can they figure out what is going on before another murder happens? Will she be able to keep the secret that also involves her siblings, or will it take the truth coming out to find out who is killing the preppers? Will Truman and Mercy be able to hold off on their attractions until after the case, or will their emotions take control? With everything going on, and her secrets, will they get the HEA they both deserve? 

This was a fantastic story, and a great start to this new series. I strongly recommend this book, series, and terrific author! 

I received an arc from the publisher via NetGalley. I voluntarily reviewed this book.

This is my first book by this author. This is the first book in the Mercy Kilpatrick Series. It was so good, it kept me intrigued from the beginning to the end. I have been wanting to read this author for some time now and was so excited when I got this chance.

Mercy Kilpatrick ran away from her hometown, Eagles Nest, Oregon fifteen years ago and now comes back as a F.B.I. agent. She doesn't want her past to be known. Mercy is assigned to a case to help solve several murders.

A predator known as the Cave Man is murdering folks in their homes stealing a huge number of weapons and it is going down as a domestic terrorism event. Mercy notices a frightening connection to these murders that happened shortly before she ran away from home. Every mirror in the victim's houses has been shattered. This brings up a connection to earlier crimes that comes very close to exposing the secret that led to her getting out of town.

Mercy is a flawed heroine but she is very gutsy and stubborn in solving this mystery of murders. I really liked her a lot and there is also a romance brewing and can't wait to read the next one to see if it is still brewing. I loved the suspense and the twist. It was a very good page turner.

I want to thank Netgalley, Kendra Elliot and the publisher for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Many thanks to netgalley for the advance copy of "A merciful Death" in return for an honest review...
I have read all of Kendras books to date and i've givrn them them all 5⭐ ratings and i thought Kendra's books couldn't get any better  but "A merciful Death" has proved me wrong!!!  Its my favourite book to date I loved Mercy Kilpatrick's character and the whole story line and Truman Daly it was just an absolutely fantastic read that kept me guessing who the killer was right to the end (i got it wrong which made it even better!!!)
 Mercy had left home at the age of 18 after an argument with her parents and covered up secrets and she had gone on to join the FBI now 15 years later her job has lead her back to Eagle's Nest to investigate a spate of murders and in the cpurse of her investigation she gets afraid they may uncover her dark secret from her past ....an absolutely thrilling book which will keep you up at night and guessing till the very last page and  thirsting for more!!!!!!

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley, this does not affect my opinion of this book or the content of my review.

Mercy Kilpatrick was a side character in the Callahan & McLane series, where she came off as one cool, competent individual. The thing I enjoy about Kendra Elliot is that she writes about adults, established adults with adult lives who feel (despite their traumas and dramas) more similar to myself now than the YA/NAs and early 20s characters that populate so much of the romance landscape. It is a nice break for me.

But back to Mercy, like I said, she came off as cool and competent if somewhat closed off in the other books. And now we get to see why. I did not grow up as a prepper, but I did grow up rural where self sufficiency was the order of the day, and we did know some preppers, so this one was easy for me to get into.

There were a couple of mysteries going on, not exactly wheels within wheels conspiracy, but there were enough changing directions and red herrings to keep me engaged throughout the book.

And the web of relationships; broken, cut off, and later imperfectly mended, were also a draw in this book. For the most part I bought her family members as characters as well as their responses to her and to events of the past. I felt enmeshed in Mercy's emotions as she confronted her family and her past and admitted the effects of same on her present and probable future.

The love interest, Sherriff Truman Daly, he was a bit of a tougher sell for me. I mean I got him as a person, but I just had trouble with seeing their relationship as exactly plausible or realistic. But, since it was left as a happily for now, and there will be future books, I look forward to Elliott work them through it because I know she can do it. And I liked it well enough that I will absolutely be reading future books in the series, though I can't yet say that I prefer this series to Callahan & McLane.

Kendra Elliot is one of my favourite Authors and this book does not disappoint.  A great story line and really likeable characters, lots of action and a love story too - what more could you want?

A Merciful Death was a very intriguing and well laid out mystery and suspense.  The one problem that I had with it is that it was also supposed to be a romance.  Generally, in the midst of all the gruesomeness and horror that comes with murder/mystery, the romance helps to lighten the mood and show that there is still love in the world.  In this case, I didn’t really see that.  There were some glimmers of hope and forgiveness but they didn’t exactly come from the relationship between the hero and the heroine. 

The book focuses on a small town in Oregon called Eagle’s Nest that has been overwhelmed by a couple of murders that point to the existence of a serial killer.  When former resident and current FBI Agent Mercy Kilpatrick returns after leaving home in shame 15 years ago, several old wounds are reopened.  In addition, a secret from Mercy’s past provides some insight into the current investigation.  As Mercy collaborates with local Sheriff Truman Daly, they attempt to deny their attraction to each other.  More importantly, Truman starts to notice that Mercy is not being totally truthful with him.  The longer that Mercy stays in town, the more she starts to regret having to come back to this town that she both loves and hates.  Eventually, it seems that her return was necessary for her to find closure and a brighter future.

Kendra Elliot did a great job of telling a story that didn’t seem like the usual suspense.  The characters were all very interesting and I truly felt empathy for what happened to Mercy years ago that had a profound affect on her and her entire family.  It’s a testament to how important family is to everyone.  I was also impressed by the fact that I had no clue who the killer was until it was revealed.  Be advised that some of the story gets rather gruesome because there is kidnapping, rape, and murder.  Some of which I didn’t feel really added to the story.

Having enjoyed the author's Bone Secrets series previously, I was eager to get my hands on this book! Unfortunately, it didn't quite live up to my expectations.

Mercy herself was a difficult character to relate to. Much of what we learn about her is given in very stingy details, even when she is talking to estranged family members. We don't see much of her softer side, and she keeps a lot of secrets, which aids in the not knowing much about her situation.

Truman was a bit more open of a character. We know his motivations for actions, the tragedies in his past, and learn some of his aspirations for the future. We can also see his admiration for Mercy grow over the course of the book.

Unfortunately, it is the plot that gave me the major hang ups. The story felt drug out, and there wasn't much in the way of actual investigations, just conversations and "interviews". The romantic aspect was practically non-existent, and mostly one sided. The villain reveal was well done, as what few clues were given in the book did not give it away and I was guessing until the end.

However, it was the prepper aspect of this story that intrigued me. It was a bit of a look into that lifestyle and seemed well thought out and researched. It gave me more insight into a game I had been playing on my tablet!

Overall, the book was good, but I'm not sure I could recommend it as Romantic Suspense. Murder Mystery would definitely qualify, but I preferred the author's other series to this one. I am interested to see where things go, so I'll be on the look out for the sequel.

Kendra Eliiot is just mind blowing with her books. Merciful Death was a chilling 5 star rating! I mean I shivered and had to sleep with the light on when I would read late at night. I am addicted to these kind of stories. I usually review on romance and erotica genres. But holy wow! I just can not stop! 

Mercy has been away from home for 15 years. Due to some recent murders that have happened back home in Lake Tahoe, she has to help solve them. So now she is back in her home town. Why? Well she is a FBI agent. Something happened when she was 18 and she left home and moved away to Portland. Mercy has to work with the chief Truman and wants to desperately solve this case before she is recognized...but that happens and now danger is nearby.

Truman has also been trying to get his life together. Even suffered for what it seems like a life time. He is relieved to get assistance with the FBI. Through the investigation, there is always someone watching. I mean I even felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up! It was eerily good. Truman finds himself connected to Mercy and only hopes, even with her secrets, that she will give them a chance. So yes readers, this is a true chilling suspense book with some romance going on! That is why I love Kendra books!

If you are looking for drama, suspense, and a chill factor...THIS IS IT! (Don't forget you get some romance in there too!)  I will anxiously wait for the next hit made by Kendra. She rocks!

I'm glad I got to start this new series from the first book because it's shaping up to be another great one from Ms. Elliot. The characters, the plot, the twists and turns, the suspense, all of combines to make this story a gripping page-turner and I can't wait for the next book.

A small town in Oregon. A crime spree and the murders of two young women. Two young women with a huge secret. Fast-forward to fifteen years later and the same town is facing another spree but this time, the victims are older men and the only thing they have in common is that they were all survivalists. The new interim sheriff Truman Daly knows his department is not equipped to handle these investigations and he's not shy about calling in the big guns, especially because his uncle was the first victim and he'll do whatever it takes to bring his killer to justice and make his town safe again.

Enter FBI Agent Mercy Kilpatrick. Mercy is originally from that town but hasn't been back home since she left under a shadow fifteen years ago. Her connection to the town makes her the ideal person to run the investigation, but what she finds during her investigation may unravel the careful world she has built for herself and expose her for a fraud. Has a killer been hiding in plain sight all this time? Has Mercy's secret been the reason why he lay low for so long? Will her return put her back in his cross-hairs?

Mercy is a very complicated and interesting character in many ways. Even as an eighteen year old, she was already showing that she was an independent and forceful personality, something that was not welcome in her community of preppers where the man is ruler of his domain and a woman was expected to be seen and not heard. While she left home, she did not live the lifestyle behind and she seems to have successfully built a life for herself that incorporates the best of both worlds. She's also very secretive and keeps a large part of who she really is shielded from everyone. Until Truman, who takes the time to dig deep and find her.

The instant attraction between Truman and Mercy (along with his stalkerish behavior) adds some levity to the story. Truman's steady and solid disposition is a perfect foil for the swirling emotions that Mercy hides beneath her calm facade and she in turn brings a no-frills perspective to the guilt he carries from his time at his former job. Together they form a strong and dependable team, which may not be sexy but is perfect for this story, this town and the two of them. 

I am really intrigued by the survivalist mindset and being a copious consumer of news, this story bring close to home some not so far off incidents and also got me musing for a minute about my preparedness or lack thereof for the apocalypse:)

A MERCIFUL DEATH is well-written and well-researched, with multi-faceted characters and engaging suspense and I'm looking forward to more in this series.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of A Merciful Death by Kendra Elliot that I was able to read and review.
I really enjoyed this book that was the first book a new series by Kendra Elliot. Mercy Kilpatrick returns to hometown for the first time in fifteen years to investigate the deaths of a number of preppers in Eagle's Nest. Mercy grew up as a survivalists but was kicked out of her family at the age of eighteen and became an FBi agent and has not spoken to her family since. Now that she is back home to try to find out who is killing men who are living life that she knows so well and why this is her chance to try to fix things with her family and reconnect.
While looking into the deaths she notices something in the crimes that is linked to crimes that took place eighteen years ago and also played a role in Mercy's past. Are things not what they seem? Is there more to the crime then Mercy and the FBI are looking for?
With the help of the local Sheriff who Mercy is growing closer to everyday will she be able to catch a killer who is after these preppers and also after her or will he end getting away with murder again?
This was an excellent start to the series and I can't wait to see where it goes. I loved the how the chemistry between Mercy and Truman kept building up throughout the book and I can't wait to see where the two of them end up going in the series. I also liked how the story built and how you had no idea who the killer was until the end.
Mercy is such a complex character that you are not sure how to feel about her because you as a reader really can't get to know her except a little by little and that part of the book is also really cool. She has so many layers with her being a prepper it was almost like she was hiding it from the reader to so there is a wall there between her and the reader that is slowly coming down as the book moves on and I like that part of her as well. I can't wait for the next book!
I am giving A Merciful Death five out of five stars.

My mind is still spinning from this one!  Mercy is a powerful woman, FBI agent, secret keeper and lonely soul.  She has a past in the small community of Eagle's Nest, Oregon where she was raised.  A tight knit town where preppers for the world's end is very common and expected.    Men are being murdered and Mercy, along with her partner, are investigating.   I felt like Mercy was my friend, because there were times she shared her past that brought tears as I couldn't help her.  For a character to feel that real tells you what an outstanding storyteller Elliot has become.   This series is going to be epic!  I received an advanced copy and wrote my review voluntarily.