Part of a series but this book can be enjoyed as a standalone novel. I didn't enjoy the plot but it was a very well written story.

Montlake Romance and NetGalley provided me with an Advanced Reader's Copy of A Merciful Secret. The choice to review this book was my own.

Raised off the grid by survivalists, Mercy Kilpatrick still holds to the principles that she learned long ago. On the way back from her secret cabin, Mercy encounters a young girl who desperately needs help. With the assistance of her boyfriend, police chief Truman Daly, will Mercy be able to keep herself and those she loves safe from harm?

I am on the fence regarding whether to recommend this book to other readers. I like how Mercy is a strong, determined woman with skills gained from a skewed upbringing. The character development has kind of plateaued in this novel and the story itself is not strong enough to give the book some depth. A Merciful Secret is not a bad read, but it is not an excellent one, either. For these reasons, I am hesitant to recommend it.

This is a mystery that will keep you guessing. I enjoyed all of the intertwining story lines. Then the way all the pieces fell into place in the end. This book is full of interesting and well written characters.

Series review: I've read all the books in this series and enjoyed them all. Recommended for most mystery readers. These books nicely fit between cozies and harsher grittier books. The mysteries are good, I like the relationships Mercy has with her friends and family.

I'll be checking for new books from this author and will almost certainly be including them in my library book ordering.

This is the third book in the Mercy Kilpatrick series and the best one so far. FBI Agent Mercy Kilpatrick is not only a dedicated agent, she is also a 'prepper', not a an anti-government person, but someone who believes that a catastrophe will occur someday and they need to be prepared. She was raised this way by her parents and even though she left home as a teenager, it is ingrained in her mind. She has a cabin deep in the woods where she goes every chance she gets where she has stockpiled food, ammunition, and other supplies. She is on her way to her cabin late one night, when a young girl runs out of the woods, covered in blood, asking her to help her grandmother. She has been stabbed in a ritual way and does not survive. Knowing this is not an FBI case, she calls Police Chief Truman Daly to the scene. It is the next day that they discover a judge, miles away in Portland has been killed the same way. What is the connection between the judge and an elderly woman known as a witch, complete with potions and spells and many ritual knives hidden behind the wall. Now it is an FBI case.

The book is well written with a great plot. Even though this series is labelled romantic suspense, I find it is more suspense with a bit of romance. The young girl, Morrigan, and her mother Salome, are running from someone, but it is not until the very end of the book that we finally find out who is after them and why. The suspense builds and builds until the surprising, explosive ending. Of course Mercy is once again threatened and in some danger as she does her best to protect these citizens of Eagle's Nest. I love the character of Truman. He is steady strong, standing by Mercy in her personal dealings with her family and when she needs his support through her work. They are a great couple. I am glad to see their relationship move forward. This book can be read as a standalone, but I would recommend that you read them in order to find out the whole story of Mercy and her family.

Another great installment in a series that is as unique as it is riveting. This story wasn’t quite as realistic as the first two in the series were but it was still un-put-downable. And, Mercy’s character and her continual struggles and growth make this story and this series shine.

I'm not sure I've ever read a book by Ms. Elliot that I didn't like, but IMHO this was one of her best. I had immediate empathy with the lead character, and rooted for her all the way... a tough and determined young woman who did her best to be proactive rather than reactive, no matter the harrowing circumstances. A great read!

This is the third book in the series about Mercy Kilpatrick, a FBI agent, raised by a family of survivalists. I've enjoyed all three Mercy books and look forward to future books about Mercy and Truman. Mercy is involved in the search for the murderer of two very different types of people, while also continuing her prepper lifestyle that must allow for her job as a FBI agent. With the help of her Police Chief boyfriend and two character from books in other series, Mercy must to unravel the mystery despite the differences between the victims. I didn't want to put the book down until I reached the finish and now I can't to read the next book in the series.

Thanks to Montlake Romance and NetGalley for providing this ARC.

4.5 Stars!

A Merciful Secret is even more action-packed and exciting than the first two books in the series with an intriguing case for Mercy and some great development for the characters.

Mercy Kilpatrick was raised in the backwoods of Oregon by a family who believed in being prepared for the end of the world. Now an FBI agent, Mercy still believes in being prepared but hasn't held on to her father's distrust of government agencies. Late one night after leaving her hidden cabin in the woods, Mercy nearly hits a girl who runs out into the road. The girl is desperate for Mercy's help and leads her to her grandmother who is dying from several knife wounds. When this woman's murder is linked to the murder of a high powered judge in Portland, Mercy realizes she will have her work cut out for her if she wants to stop the killer before they strike again.

Mercy struggles a bit with this case as due to her being a witness, she cannot be allowed to officially work the case. Of course Mercy finds her way around such restrictions and ultimately becomes fully involved when it becomes clear she won't stay on the sidelines. As to Mercy's personal life, her relationship with her niece Kaylie develops nicely and I enjoy the scenes where they're together. We also get a few scenes with Mercy's sister Rose who is an amazing character that I love seeing pop up.

I enjoyed watching Mercy and Truman work together again as I feel their styles complement each other very well and allow them to explore different avenues to the case they might not have tried otherwise. Mercy and Truman's relationship continues to progress at a good pace with the only thing slowing it down being Mercy. I liked how much progress they made by the end of the book though and I look forward to seeing their relationship develop further in the next book.

I was curious from the beginning how the author would tie together two murders of people from vastly different circumstances and I was quite pleased with the way things worked out. I felt the story had just the right amount of surprises to keep things interesting and the plot was believable which is something that is sometimes lacking in suspense books. There is a bit less of a focus in this book on the prepper lifestyle compared to the first two books, but it is something that comes up as being a prepper is very much part of who Mercy is.

Overall the pacing in A Merciful Secret is great and I flew through the book fairly quickly. This book has been my favorite of the series so far and I'm looking forward to future books in the series. I would definitely recommend this series for fans of romantic suspense that are looking for books that are a bit lighter on the romance aspect.

Received from NetGalley for my honest review
Completed 1/08/18
332 page ebook

Though I ended up giving this book a 4 star rating on Goodreads, it was more like 3.5 and if I didn't already love this author, I probably would have rated down rather than up. But I like most all of Kendra's books, so I can forgive her for a dud or two.

This one was a dud for me. It wasn't AWFUL, it just wasn't her best outing. While Mercy is an ok character, I've liked her other characters better, but this seems to be the series she's focusing on right now, along with the continued collaboration with Melinda Leigh on the Solitude Oregon series. As a side note, I LOVE Kendra's books in those series, and I hate Melinda Leigh's. So reading that series is very weird for me.

But back to Mercy, I felt like this story had been done many times before and it just didn't keep my interest. I really ended up not caring about it by the end and just wanted to get through it. It's a typical romantic suspense, with not much romance which is good for me but this one just left me hanging. I'm hopeful the next one will be good again.


Setting = A-
Plot = B-
Conflict = C
Characters = B
Theme = B-

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?


* * * * *

And another small town that I have fallen in love with. Or perhaps I should say that I have fallen for a few of the residents namely Truman, Mercy and most of her family though this book has added a few more onto that list.

A MERCIFUL SECRET is the third book in the series that has kept me entertained and glued to my iPad. What really sets this book apart from the rest of the series is the leaps and bounds that Mercy grows in this book. She closed down emotionally when her father disowned her when she was eighteen. She was able to let Truman in some but wasn't able to completely trust him. Until this book and some of the happenings which force Mercy to look inside and face her fears.

I do highly recommend this book to any lovers of romantic suspense though if this is your first one, I do recommend that you start at the beginning of the series as it will add depth to the characters. A MERCIFUL SECRET has an interesting plot that brings in Wicca and witchcraft with enough twists and turns that you won't want to set the book aside until the very end. Followers of the series will get a chance to check on on some of their favorite characters and if you are not a follower, well what are you waiting for?

***I received this book at no charge from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed within this review are my own.

Kendra Elliot drew me in instantly. Great book! I really like Mercy and her bravery. I added the others in the series to my TBR. Thanks Montlake Romance for the ARC of this book via NetGalley.

Good thing about a book by Kendra Elliot is that you know you are in for a great read and this one is no different. Really good from start to finish.

I love the Mercy books and they just keep getting better and better. Can't wait for the next one!

What an engaging book! I was hooked right from the beginning. Mercy was accidentally involved in a murder investigation when she became a witness. She didn't initially want to be involved but with a child involved, she ended up trying to figure out what happened. When a similar murder happened, she fast became entangled in the investigation. With the settings in a small town with its small town's secrets, the book really kept me on my toes. Also, Truman and Mercy's relationships is sweet and detailed without being too much. I highly recommend this book!

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/F Thriller
Triggers: Attempted Rape, Murder, Stalking, Domestic Violence

This is more about the other characters in the town where Mercy lives. I think that this was far more about Mercy's ability to roll with the punches and adapt. We've seen her in her "preparing" ways and this time around, we get to see how she handles being on the outside of the investigation – more part of the investigation than the investigator.

The characters in this story were less complex in a way, but their dynamic was more complex. It seemed that this was more about family dynamic than anything. I enjoyed watching it unfold.

This is a more in-depth story about her fellow citizens. There are secrets around every corner and the mystery within the story, while somewhat predictable, is a fun one to think about.

Overall, this was not as great as the previous book, but I am very intrigued to know where this couple will take the next story.

In the third book in the Mercy Kilpatrick series, Mercy stumbles upon a gruesome murder near where her secret cabin was. Too close for comfort but with a child involve, she couldn't help herself in trying to figure out what happened. When a similar murder occurs a hundred miles away, her involvement becomes official. When small town secrets and family lies start unravelling, Mercy and Truman race against time trying to find the killer before the killer gets to them.
A Merciful Secret brings us back to familiar and beloved characters and their small town with small town secrets apparently. There's definitely a mystery very difficult to solve and of course the progression of Mercy and Truman's relationship that keeps readers on their toes. I do like that even though the books, mystery wise can stand alone, the characters become more complex and fully developed with each book. Can't wait for the next one.

I really enjoy this series! I love learning about the survivalist lifestyle and admire the work ethic. The story line keeps you hooked and not wanting to put it down.

I really loved this series when it first came out in 2017; giving A Merciful Death (book #1) 4 stars and A Merciful Truth (book #2) 5 stars. I'm also a big fan of Kendra Elliott and I've enjoyed a number of her books.

With that said, this book just didn't work for me as well as the first two in the series. I was actually hugely disappointed. Most of the disappointment is due to personal preferences. I don't like 1st POV and I don't like hopping POVs. These personal preferences definitely impacted not only my reading enjoyment but how I starred the book. A lot of readers don't mind and some like these elements so I'll be a little more specific about what didn't work. I did read an ARC provided by Net Galley so there may have been changes between the ARC I read and the final publication.

Although this can be read as a stand-alone novel as the mystery itself is stand alone, the nuances of the characters including their relationships, personalities and lifestyles are more easily appreciated and understood if you start with book #1 in the series.

The daughter of a murder victim, Salome, is one of the primary characters in this book and when she is starring in the narrative, it's in 1st POV. There is almost a dear diary element as she does a self-diagnosis of her emotions, her family relationships and the attempt to hide from a dangerous person(s). She looks back historically so we get past/present jumping. I didn't really enjoy these sections of the book.

Mercy and her significant other Truman Daly are pulled into the murder investigation mostly due to personal involvements versus legal jurisdiction. There were some times where I had issues with how the investigation elements flowed. I started wondering if things would have been handled that way in real life. Again, I wasn't as engrossed into the suspense plot as I wanted to be. Truman is one of my favorite beta heroes. Strong but caring, he's a capable law man without excessive chest thumping. However, there were a couple of incidents where he came off more bumbling than capable…it was disappointing. He however, does make the awesome heroic effort at the end. Mercy is a strong and independent female which is a huge plus in my book.

One of my other stumbling blocks with the book was the witch/other worldly elements of the story. These elements also didn't work for me.

The murder mystery was actually very good. Who killed Salome's mother and wanted Salome and her daughter dead? I did guess the killer and the motive early so the important element for me was the story telling. With hopping POVs, the story telling felt a little choppy.

Will I keep reading this series? Definitely! This is just one book that didn't work me. I like the setting and the primary characters. And I usually like Ms. Elliott's writing style and I'm still a big fan. I look forward to the next book in the series.

An excellent addition to the Mercy Kilpatrick series. The book is very well written. The book is suspenseful and has an intriguing mystery to solve.

On another note, the cover is amazing!