In this Wall Street Journal bestseller, a pair of ritual murders could expose Mercy Kilpatrick to something terrifying: her own past… 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?
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I read the whole series not my favorite but not that bad just very very predictable
Loved this third book in the series. The mystery is the best with lots of red herrings and guessing as to what’s going on. Plus I liked the way the relationship between Mercy and Truman takes a bigger role as we see Mercy start to come to terms with the all the people she has in her life now when she was alone for so long. The subplot revolving around Rose seems about to grow into an interesting one as well.
There are references in the notes to crossovers with the author’s other series but I haven’t read those so I can’t fully appreciate the connections. I’ll be checking those out when I’m done with this one.
I’m totally down a rabbit hole on this series now and have to binge them all! I couldn’t put this down and was so grateful for the audiobook coming with it so I didn’t have to!
THIS REVIEW IS FOR BOTH THE AUDIOBOOK AND EBOOK VERSIONS
Great story very thrilling keeps you drawn in waiting and anxious for what is going to happen next. Very well written, perfectly balanced. The narrator done a wonderful job with each of these characters. I recommend this book.
I truly enjoy Kendal Elliot books. She describes her characters wonderfully. If you follow the series of this line of books the author continues to expands on her character development. Can’t wait to read the next book.
WOW! I could not put this book down and I did not until I finished it. I love the main characters, Mercy and Truman. Two completely different personalities and yet they are totally perfect for each other. Mercy’s sister, Rose, is also a favorite of mine and I was glad to see her included in this book. The murders/mysteries kept me guessing. Those last gripping, hair raising scenes had me on the edge of my seat. Another stellar book by Kendra Elliot! I can’t wait for the next one! The entire Mercy Kilpatrick series is outstanding!
A Merciful Secret is another excellent installment in the Mercy Kilpatrick series. This series is really starting to heat up for me! You never know which way it will go, and this time around, FBI agent Mercy Kilpatrick must contend with two murders, both victims slashed to death multiple times. On her way home from her cabin in the woods late at night, she encounters a bloodied young girl whose grandmother, Olivia, is one of the victims. Upon further investigation, it seems the girl’s mother, Salome, and grandmother are both witches. Huh?
I enjoyed the plot and the suspense in this book and the ongoing relationship with Sheriff Truman Daly. It seems Truman has a bit of a connection to Salome, the Momma witch. Even though this case belongs to the neighboring county sheriff’s department, Mercy and Truman plunge in to investigate the perplexing murders and soon find themselves immersed in something other-worldly. It all ended in an unbelievable finale that had me on the edge of my seat. I am excitedly looking forward to the next book. Four freaky stars!
Moving right through this series. Another box and another book and this one was really good. Mercy was out to her cabin in the woods and it was the middle of the night when she was heading back to two and she almost ran over a little girl who ran into the road in front of her. The girl was covered in blood but the blood wasn’t from her, it was her grandmothers. Mercy follows her back to the little cabin she didn’t know was there and finds the grandmother had been fatally stabbed and was dying. This starts the newest twist in this small Oregon town where a family of “witches” including a grandmother, mother, and her small daughter lived in the woods and they were all considered witches. Now, it is discovered a judge was murdered in the same way. Serial killer? Bring in the FBI and Ava was brought in from the Seattle office. So many twists and turns and I was almost as devastated as Mercy by the end. (No, I’m not going to tell you why! read it yourself) On to the next one in the series!
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.
This review is for the Audible as well as the ebook. This is the third book about FBI Agent Mercy Kilpatrick and the books keep getting better. I love the narration by Teri Schnaubelt. She really makes the characters come alive, especially Mercy. I love her growing romance with Truman. Especially the reactions of locals and the people they both real with professionally.
The crimes this time real with a retired Judge murdered in Portland as well as the murder of a senior woman in Eagle Nest that was stabbed in nearly identically stab patterns. What is the connection between the two? Then Mercy and Truman learn that both the victim and her daughter are rumored to be witches. Could that have anything to do with her murder? Where is the daughter?
I highly recommend not only this book but the series. I am off to read/listen to the next book.
Wow….this story started as soon as the first sentence. I mean really how can you start that way and then keep going. Well let me tell you, towards the middle it was a little meh, but picked back up. Mercy and Truman pick up with saying I love you and talk about taking another step. This does contain minimal super natural elements. Salome, is a supposed witch who is missing when her mother is murdered and her daughter was there when she died being held by Mercy. Salome’s childhood friend Christian, who is also friends with Mercy is brought into this mess when his own father is also murdered in Seattle. The FBI agent, Mercy, has to figure out who is killing people around her community before she, Salome or Salome’s daughter is next.
Intriguing and fanciful in that “witchcraft plays a strong lead in this romantic thriller. Non stop action and twists you don’t see coming make this unputdownable.
Mercy and Truman do it again!
I love reading these two characters! Their interactions and reactions to the happenings around them get better with each new book!
A suspenseful, witchy tale wrapped in superstitions, decades old secrets and murder.
Two murders hundreds of miles apart – one an old woman who lives deep in the woods and has always been wrapped in witch/wicca folklore and the other a prominent judge – with seemingly no connections except for the way they were murdered. The author did a great job of keeping you guessing as to what the real connection was and the reason for the murders.
I was also excited about the “crossover” that took place during the book with two characters from the authors other series. You were pretty much on the edge of your seat from the start, throughout the investigation until the very end.
In the midst of this we see that Mercy and Truman’s relationship has progressed to a level of ease between the two but Mercy’s fear of the future still hampers her giving a 100% commitment. The relationship with her family is also slowly progressing forward. I think this is the piece that Mercy needs – the full acceptance from her family – to fully give her the confidence she needs to commit to a lifetime commitment with Truman.
Loving this entire series! A fast-paced, thrilling ride!
A MERCIFUL SECRET (Mercy Kilpatrick #3) by Kendra Elliot returns you to Mercy Kilpatrick’s world of rural central Oregon. This series gives you intriguing mystery/suspense plots and a view into the world of preppers, survivalists and anti-government sovereign citizens.
FBI Special Agent Mercy Kilpatrick is surprised at night on a rural road close to her hidden cabin by a young girl who flags her down from the side of the road. Mercy is led through the woods to a cabin where the girl’s grandmother is dying from multiple stab wounds. The Sabins, three generations of women; grandmother, mother and daughter have lived isolated in the woods and are rumored to be witches.
Mercy is later to learn a judge, hundreds of miles away is found slain in the exact same way brings her friend and fellow FBI agent from Portland to investigate both murders. Not one to be kept on the sidelines, Mercy along with Chief of Police Truman Daly insert themselves into the investigation. An old friend from Mercy’s high school days is implicated along with the daughter of the slain woman.
Rumors and secrets keep hindering the investigation until the explosive surprise climax.
This series just keeps getting better and better. The mystery plot in this third book is fast paced and the resolution was a surprise to me. This book also contains some flashback scenes from one of the suspects which add depth and understanding to her character and others. Mercy and Truman’s relationship takes a big leap after the climax of this story and I cannot wait to read more. I found it difficult to put this book down and I am anxiously awaiting the next book in the series!
I enjoyed this whole series.
Wow
I really must say that this one was the best book of the series so far. I enjoyed it, but I still think that the love story goes to fast. Definitely trying the next book with Mercy
I like the characters, the stories are good and this one did not disappoint.
We hear so often “can’t put it down” well this one is the real deal! This is the third book by this author and is my favorite by her so far.
I love Mercy Kilpatrick and her Sheriff man. I have read all 3 of these books, and eagerly await for the next one to come out. I can not say enough about this book, it kept me up late wanting to turn the page, yet, when the book was over, I was not ready for it to be over. So I will patiently wait for Book 4 to come out….