A good start to a new series featuring a unique FBI SA. Mercy Kendrick's background makes her a more interesting that usual protagonist. This is well done and twisty. A good read.

Another winner by Kendra Elliot. As always a great story, with a great plot and cast of characters. Thrilling read!!

Received from NetGalley for my honest review
Completed 12/30/16
352 page ebook

This is the introduction to Kendra Elliot's newest character, Mercy Kilpatrick. I'm a fan of Kendra's books, especially her Callhoune & McClain series and her part of the Solitude, Oregon series so I liked, but didn't love, this intro to the new character.

Mercy is a pretty unique character, I like her and I like her background, but I hate her family, except Rose of course. I hate controlling families so that really diminished my enjoyment of this book. Minus the family it may have been a 5 star book for me, but minus the family, Mercy wouldn't be who she was.

The story was interesting and kept my attention. I was eager to read the 2nd book and though I didn't like it as much, I'm going to read the 3rd and will stick with it if that one is good again. I recommend all Kendra's books for romantic suspense fans. I really like her character development.

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

The beginning of the book dragged for me. I almost gave up on the book based on the beginning alone.

But I am happy that I did not. Though the rest of the book was a bit slow to develop. It did satisfy the Thriller and Romantic Suspense aspect of the book. My expectations were high for this book; I do not think it came up to that expectations. Sad but I did like how it ended and am hoping it would be better.

This is the first in a new series by Kendra Elliot and it has me hooked. Mercy Kilpatrick is a woman with many secrets. That is hard for someone who is also an FBI agent. When her most recent case sends her back to her hometown of Eagle's Nest, Oregon, some of her secrets come out. Fifteen years earlier she left home and was shunned by her family, she has not spoken to any of them since. This town has more than its share of "preppers". There are two main groups one headed up by Mercy's father and the second by her father's enemy. When several older preppers are killed and their weapons stolen, the FBI is worried about Domestic Terrorism. With the help of police chief, Truman Daley, Mercy and her partner begin the investigation. When things remind Mercy of earlier murders (15 years ago) she reopens the investigation in those cases. What is Mercy's secret? How will all this affect her job with the FBI and her family relationships?" I could not put this book down. I read long into the night to find out what was going to happen. The plot pulled me along quite quickly. I liked learning more about Preppers. I always thought they were a bunch of crazy, hermit types but these characters were not. I was not sure about the character of Mercy at the beginning of the book, but really liked her by the end. Finding out about her past slowly as the book unfolds makes her very real to the reader. The secondary characters (her family, her partner) are all very likable (except her father) and I hope to see more of them in other books in this series. I will say that I had figured out who the murderer was much earlier than the book revealed it, but it did not diminish my enjoyment of the story at all. A great read for lovers of suspense, mysteries and FBI type stories.

This was another brilliant offering by Kendra, and I really enjoyed the book. Throughout the start of the book the reader is wondering what happened to make Mercy leave her family behind 15 years ago. Small hints are given, and I just had to find out what the big secret was. This was a compelling read, and really worth your effort. Thanks to netgalley for the chance to have read this entertaining book.

Actual rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. This is the first book in the Mercy Kilpatrick series and my first read from this author. It was a compelling read and I could not put the book down.

In a small rural town in Oregon, Mercy Kilpatrick grew up as a prepper. A prepper's life is centered on being prepared for TEOTWAWKI. The end of the world as we know it. After conflict with her family, Mercy was shunned from the family and forced to leave. Fifteen years later, preppers are being killed in her home town. FBI special agent Mercy is put on the case and returns home where she is forced to face secrets that she tried to keep buried.

The whole survivalist mindset is new to me and I was intrigued. When I think of a prepper, I think of a paranoid crazy person. The story was interesting, fast-paced and kept me wanting more. The characters are well-developed and likable. Looking forward to reading the second book in the series.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Montlake Romance for supplying a copy of Kendra Elliot's "A Merciful Death" in exchange for an honest review.

I discovered Kendra a few year ago on Kindle Unlimited and she had me hooked with her murder mysteries. They give off a true -who done it- type vibe and you will not guess it till' the end! So when I was presented the opportunity to read this one I was all over it!

I absolutely love all of Kendra's characters! Her women (usually law enforcement of some sort) are strong, independent and hard core. While the men are much the same, they have a soft side for the women with a light touch of romance thrown in and I love that too. It's all around a great balance.

A predator on the loose known as "Cave man"? Say no more. Something is linking Mercy's past to him and she has to figure out what it is. The mystery was a little "off" or far out here, some things didn't quite make sense to me but I still very much enjoyed it and will read the next book.

All is not as it seems here!

I believe everyone should enough the journey, so I will not go into great detail, but I will say Kendra did not disappoint!!!

The characters (Mercy and Truman) and secondary characters were believable, the plot was great, there is murder and mayhem, and plenty of twists and turns, but if you are looking for hot sex than this book is not for you.

I am looking forward to the next book in this series.

If this is your first Kendra book I hope you get hooked and read the bone secrets series as it is sooooo good!!!

A fantastic read. Love the characters, and the community feel to it. Completely different to read about "preppers". A great twist but felt a little ripped off that a potentially great character didn't make it to the end of the book!! Still, I really enjoyed it and will be looking out for the next.

Someone is killing "prepper's" (people who make preparations for anything) and FBI agent Mercy Kilpatrick is called back to her hometown to investigate. She has knowledge of the survivalist lifestyle as her family were prepper's but she hasn't talked to them in years. When she teams up with the Police Chief whose Uncle was one of the victims sparks fly between them but can she overcome her past? This was another well written book by Kendra Elliot who is becoming one of my favorite authors.

*received an advanced copy. Is Netgalley in exchange for an honest review - audio copy purchased as well*

Boy, oh boy! Talk about a new way to move a story along. I'm a huge fan of Kendra Elliot and I knew I'd love this new series, one book in and I'm sold. Mercy Kilpatrick is going to be one lady no one can take down. I like the different vibe this book offers.

Mercy Kilpatrick is a badasses FBI agent, a sister, aunt and friend. None of that defines her though. No, she's her own person. She doesn't conform herself to anyone's stereotype and plays by her own rules when she needs to.

This story really takes on a life of its own. I could not put it down even though there wasn't much reading time. Which is why I had to get the audio. I literally had to know what in the heck was going on. There were so many twists and turns, and let's not mention the road blocks. It was as if we were in a fun house and each way you looked the killer was there, then he was gone.

Once all of the puzzle prices fell into place it was game on. Mercy and the town Sheriff, Truman make a badarsed pair in this story. It's every man, or woman, for them self in this action packed adventure.

This is one of my new favorites! I can't wait for more!!

I am in love with the new series by Kendra Elliot.

I was fortunate enough to read an advance release copy of the first book in the new Mercy Kilpatrick series – A Merciful Death.

I have read and loved all of Kendra’s books thus far and the new series does not disappoint. I won’t bore you with details of the book you can read in any review. I couldn’t put this book down, and it is now one of my favorite reads. I cannot wait for the next in the series.

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…



* * * * *



I really enjoyed A MERCIFUL DEATH especially because it gave me new insight on the prepper movement. The way that Ms. Elliot portrays it makes total sense and it causes me to wonder why more of us don't take part in it at least as far as having food put aside. I am thinking that I might want to have enough canned goods for my family set aside just in case.


This book is mainly character driven and I love the characters especially Mercy. She is a modern woman who makes the most of today's conveniences to do her job yet if world ended tomorrow, she is ready for that also. She has a strong sense of justice that both tortures her and drives her. She is also someone that I would love to have a friend. I am really looking forward to seeing more of this lady and hopefully Eagle's Nest's police chief Truman.


This book has a great pacing with the tension and danger increasing throughout the story especially when they discover that some older crimes might have bearing on the current murders. I really do think that my readers who enjoy romantic suspense would enjoy A MERCIFUL DEATH.


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

Kendra Elliot scores another hit with this first book in her new Mercy Kilpatrick series.

Set in the small town of Eagle's Nest in the rugged Oregon mountains, the story revolves around Mercy Kilpatrick, a woman brought up in the world of preppers...people who believe that you should be prepared for any disaster at all times. Estranged from her family as a teen, she left home and put herself through college, eventually joining the FBI. A series of murders in her home town brings Mercy back; back to a town that houses secrets that she would prefer remain hidden. As more preppers are murdered, Mercy reluctantly joins forces with the town sheriff to hunt down the elusive "cave man", a local legend who they discover is to blame for more than just the current murders.

A must read for all Elliot fans!

As always with her books it's fantastic! She never disappoints!!

I read a couple books by this author. I didn't love them and I wasn't sure if it was because of the characters or the writing. Unfortunately after reading A Merciful Death, I believe it is the writing that I didn't care for. I just don't seem to connect with them like I do in other books.
I won't totally rule out reading more books by this author but I probably won't be jumping up and down excited to read one.
I hope my opinion changes on her writing because I don't like to give bad or negative feedback. My mind will stay open on her future writing.

The main character grew up in a prepper family. This caused me some hesitation as I read; I was afraid this would be a spoofish character or one portrayed foolishly. I should have trusted the author. Leigh has created a complex character who uses her unusual background to help her solve the murders occuring in the book. Indeed, all of the characters are crafted in a believable way.

The focus in this book is on the mystery, not the romance. The relationship between Mercy and Truman, FBI Investigator and Police Chief, moves slowly and realistically.

I plan to read other Leigh books as I understand Mercy's character originated as a secondary character in another series. I look forward to more of Leigh's books.

Great new start to a series! I loved Mercy and Truman. This one was engrossing, and I loved the suspense!

Mercy Kilpatrick is an FBI agent who was raised off the grid as a prepare. Truman Daly has been chief of police in a small Oregon town for a few months. When his uncle is killed, Mercy is sent in to investigate. The murder took place in Mercy's hometown, where she hasn't been back for years. As she and Truman collaborate on the investigation, they start to develop feelings for one another.

This one was a great balance of romance and suspense. It was fast paced and fun to read. I can't wait for more in the series!