This is Book 3 of the Mercy Kilpatrick series and I do recommend reading the books in order., Mercy is on her way back from her wilderness cabin when she almost runs down Morrigan, a bloodied young girl, on the road. The girl is distraught and looking for help for her injured grandmother who is dying from a vicious knife attack. Morrigan's grandmother Olivia, and her mother Salome, are know as backwoods "witches" and many feel there is a supernatural connection to Olivia's death. When another seemingly unrelated person is killed in a similar manner, Mercy and Police Chief Truman are pulled into the case. A great suspenseful read that keeps you intrigued and interested all the way through. The story also brings in fellow FBI Ava McLean from the from the Callahan and McLean series and Michael Brody from the Bone Secrets series in a nice crossover. It is wonderful to see Mercy becoming more involved in the world and the relationships around her, with Truman, her neice Kaylie and her estranged family and less isolated. I am not sure if there is another book coming in this series, but I hope there is at least one more where we see Mercy leave behind most of her survivalist angst and move on with Truman and Kaylie.
Thank you to Net Galley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Book Info
Paperback, 335 pages
Expected publication: January 16th 2018 by Montlake Romance
Original Title A Merciful Secret
ISBN 1542047862 (ISBN13: 9781542047869)
Edition Language English
Series Mercy Kilpatrick #3
Other Editions (3)
Source:Netgalley EARC

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BOOK BLURB



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?

My Thoughts


Once upon a time Mercy Kilpatrick's character was a very reserved loner type whose tendency to keep to herself was both lonely and also something she accepted simply because it was what it was.

In this 3rd book while it is true that Mercy is still mending fences with her family, things have gotten much better for her in that area of her life and it seems in her relationships with her niece Kaylie and romantic interest police chief Truman Daly.

What I especially liked the most was the fact that this story started with Mercy finding herself in the middle of a murder scene and as things unfold throughout the rest of the book the mystery angle was heavily relied upon as were the action and suspense with just enough romance to add a little extra for readers to enjoy on Mercy's behalf.

The multiple twists were nicely intertwined as were the intensity and tension that ramped up this read to a level not quite reached for me in the previous two books.

Mercy once again proves to be an adversary that is believable without being over-the-top as many heroines tend to become in this particular genre. She may be an awesome FBI agent but she is also just a human at the end of the day who feels pain and tiredness like all of us do.

Fans of the series and new readers as well will find themselves enjoying the new nuggets from not only Mercy's past but from Truman's as well.

Like others reading this series hopefully there will be more to come rather than it just being a trilogy as there is so much more to explore for these characters futures.


[EArc from Netgalley]

On every book read as soon as it is done and written up for review it is posted on Goodreads and Netgalley, once released then posted on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles as well.

Consistently awesome writer! Never a dull moment and has always left me wanting more! Great job’

I love this character and this series . This is the third book in the series about Mercy Kilpatrick , an FBI agent , raised by survivalists . This book is full of action packed suspense , mystery and romance. I'm a huge fan of this author . I highly recommend this book if you' love a good mystery . Thank you Montlake and Netgalley for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review .

I am fascinated with Mercy Kilpatrick. Each book she grows, she evaluates, her love deepens, her life expands and all with murder, mystery, suspense. On top of that there are twists and turns you don't see coming. Its like the Mercy Kilpatrick universe is expanding and I did not want it to end.

I requested an arc and am so grateful I was able to receive. Thank you Montlake and Netgalley. I am riveted with this series and highly recommend!

This is the third book in the Mercy Kilpatrick series and after reading it, I bought the first two!! This book is G.O.O.D!

When FBI Agent Mercy Kilpatrick is flagged down by a bloody girl on a back rural road in Oregon, it starts a chain of events that include the murder of a so-called witch, the execution of a famous trial judge, and the disappearance of the murdered woman’s daughter. Along with her love interest, Sheriff Truman Daly, Mercy and her FBI team investigate have to unravel a decades old secret in order to solve the present murders.

I’d never read anything by Kendra Elliot before but after reading this book I am a big fan. She writes with a effortless style, the story unfolding coherently, in “real time” for the reader, and her characters are flesh and blood on the page.

The story is told in multiple points of view and each voice “talking” was distinct and character appropriate.

I’m starting book 1 tonight!
Thanks for Netgalley for an arc of this book. You’ve given me a new author and hours of reading pleasure to come.

Mercy & Truman are back in the 3rd installment of the Mercy Kilpatrick Series. This is one of those series that you pick up and can’t stop reading. Totally addictive! Each book is better than the last. Packed full of action, mystery, and romance. Can’t wait for the next one!

*ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

Kendra Elliot keeps writing one outstanding book after another. This third in a series, A Merciful Secret, brings FBI Special Agent (and prepper of sorts) Mercy Kilpatrick into yet another thrilling case with all the psychological intrigue one could ask for including complex familial ties going back to early childhood. Throw in multiple law enforcement jurisdictions, including her boyfriend Truman, who just happens to be the local Police Chief.
Very few books keep me up all night but this one did. After discovering the Mercy Kilpatrick series I am now a Kendra Elliot fan and will have plenty of reading ahead of me to read her other offerings.
And, I certainly expect another Mercy Kilpatrick book soon, if for nothing else but to find out what happens with Nick and Rose as well as Mercy and Truman of course.

As always with this series Kendra Elliot has delivered a suspenseful story with twists and turns that keep your attention the entire read. Mercy Kilpatrick is such a great character that is hard working, honest, devoted and compassionate about her job and family.

Mercy gets pulled immediately into the story with the initial murder that sets the stage for the book. The setting of this home in the middle of nowhere that becomes not only a crime scene but a complete witchy mystery is very intriguing. The secrets held within the walls of the home with secret doors and the barn with a magical workshop are fascinating.

This who done it murder mystery was one that keeps you guessing, baffled and striking out when your "murderer" is eliminated. Loved the depth of the relationships that come about not only the ones in the Kilpatrick family but with Salome and her family.

While Truman and Mercy's love story is almost in the background of the murder mystery we still see their growth and what plans they are heading into in the future. There are so many aspects of this series that get you excited for the next book and Mercy and Truman, as well as Rose, are reasons I love the series and can't wait for the next.

I am a big fan of Kendra Elliot. This is the 3rd book in this series. Mercy Kilpatrick is an FBI agent and a prepper. The characters evolve with each new book. The plot in this book is excellent and will have you turning the pages faster and faster. I hope this series continues and look forward to reading the next instalment. Thank you NetGalley, Montlake Romance and the Author for allowing me to read and review this book.

Do witches really exist? Mercy is involved in a local case but only as she found the dying old lady with the help of the old lady's granddaughter and this time it involves black magic and so many unfounded truths. Will Mercy be able to find the truth and get the answers that everyone wants. An old lady has been murdered and a young child has been abandoned by her mother but who wanted the old woman dead? Where has the mother gone, did she kill her mother? Everyone was scared of the old lady as she was a witch and her daughter Salome was well known for her craft as well. Salome was a real wild child growing up she would get involved with everybody and none of the girls liked her as she would go for their boyfriends as well. She never really cared about who she hurt. But why she is also been looked at for another murder? A judge has been killed and Salome had visited him before but why kill him? The case is about to take a strange twist between brothers and a father's need for revenge. Everyone's life is about to become more complicated and some won't make it out alive. Mercy will have to start anew with Truman and she might just let go of her fears for once. A good thrilling story. Had me guessing as to who the killer was and what they would do to keep a secret. I was lucky enough to receive a copy via Netgalley & the publishing house in exchange for my honest review.

Great read! Fast paced thriller from the first page to the last page. The book doesn’t have any slow moments and unnecessary dialogue. The characters are likeable and believable and the plot is intriguing. I like this authors books! Will definitely recommend this book!

Mercy has come leaps and bounds from when we first met her in book 1 of this series. She's no longer the quiet, reserved introvert she once was. Now she has her budding relationship with Truman happening, she is raising her niece and trying to repair her connections with her estranged family.
In 'A Merciful Secret' two seemingly unrelated murders draw Mercy and Truman into a multifaceted investigation that brings fellow FBI agent Ava McLane (from the Callahan & McLane series) and journalist Michael Brody (from Bone Secrets series) to Bend and Eagles Nest to assist.
There is a bit of a pagan/spiritual theme running through the book in relation to one of the characters, who we get to know a bit more in depth in a few chapters.
And all of Mercy's survivalist and prepper expertise and know-how come into play in the final scenes of the book.
This was another great read by one of my favourite authors. While it looks like this could be in the last book in Mercy's series I kind of hope it isn't. I still want to catch up more with Mercy to see how she's doing in the future.

Mercy Kilpatrick is on her way back from checking on her wilderness cabin when she almost runs down a girl. Morrigan is desperately searching for someone to help her grandmother. When Mercy gets to their isolated home, she find the grandmother dying after a brutal knife attack. Being out of cellphone range she takes Morrigan and drives to somewhere she can get reception before going back and waiting for the police. Morrigan's mother Salome is away from home and can't be contacted.

Meanwhile, boyfriend and Chief of Police Truman Daly is getting worried about Mercy because she wasn't planning to be gone all night. He goes off to try to track her down and discovers her at the crime scene where she's being interviewed by the police.

When Mercy learns that Oliva Sabin's death is very similar to the death of Judge Malcolm Lake which happened nearly the same time in Portland, the FBI takes over jurisdiction for the investigation of both deaths. Mercy can't be directly involved but her good friend Ava is put in charge. Both she and Truman are interested in the investigation but neither are legally involved. That doesn't stop either of them from doing what they can to investigate.

Since Olivia and her daughter Salome are both considered to be witches by many in the community of Eagle's Nest, it is thought that there might be some connection there. But that doesn't explain the judge. Although the judge did live in Bend for a while years ago and a connection is found between him and Olivia which could explain why she has been hiding in the woods for many years.

This story was a fast-paced mystery with flashbacks to a time when Salome was a teenager and knew both Truman and Judge Lake's son Christian. It also has some sections from Salome's point of view. I am especially fond of Mercy who has a unique background. She was raised by preppers and, although she has left the group, she is still doing her own prepping in case the world as we know it falls apart. Her supplies and her isolated cabin give her a feeling of security. She is also finding a new sense of security with her niece and with Truman that is causing her to open herself up more than she has in years.

This was a great story with plenty of action and excitement as well as being the story of two people who are committing themselves to each other.

This book opens at full speed and never slows down. On the way back from her cabin Mercy comes across a bloody young girl who waves her down. The girls Grandmother has been brutally murdered. A second victim is murdered in the same manner and Mercy and Truman are pulled into the case. This book has a great plot with plenty of suspense and action. It will keep you on the edge of your seat turning pages to see what will happen next. The characters are well developed and you connect with them emotionally. This is a great addition to the Mercy Kilpatrick series. I can’t wait for the next book in the series. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy of this book.

Kendra Elliot is a gifted story teller and that is evident in this book. The cast of characters is large, but all are well developed and keep you engaged. Family dynamics and how your childhood can impact you as an adult are an interesting part of this book. The survivalist vibe is fascinating and educational.

Mercy Kilpatrick is a smart tough heroine. One my favorite female characters. This series keeps getting better and better. I’m really looking forward to the next in the series.

A MERCIFUL SECRET. by Kendra Elliott book 3 "Mercy Kilpatrick". Mercy at a new case, yard looks like a pile of junk, she looks again, he was prepared, but someone got by. Connection to the other two, all missing weapons, and in Eagles Nest. Coffee, and being recognized by family, but not spoken too, a town that knew everything that goes on, hadn't changed, Truman the sheriff works with her, and they uncover more than just murder, it is connected to Mercy's past. A deep twisted plot, that shows us more about Mercy. Readers will enjoy this story, and series, it grabs from the first. page. Given ARC by Net Galley for my voluntary review and my honest opinion.

4.5*

I sound like a broken record, waxing poetic about every book in Kendra Elliot’s Mercy Kilpatrick series (and, frankly, the rest of her backlist)... but the series is just that good! Ms. Elliot is a master at not only crafting a twisting, layered story that grabs you from the outset and doesn’t let up until the end, but also creating remarkably compelling, three-dimensional characters you cannot help but be emotionally invested in. I read A MERCIFUL SECRET, the third book in the series, in one sitting-- not only to figure out who’d committed the heinous crimes that kick off the story (my one gripe: the denouement requires a bit too much suspension of disbelief for my tastes), but also (probably even more so) to enjoy and witness the evolution of Mercy and Truman’s relationship. I love Mercy as a character: she’s nuanced, she’s incredibly dedicated, and she’s totally badass without being an unbelievable superhero; I want to be her when I grow up. And I have a huge crush on Truman… strong, steady, and thoughtful (that espresso machine? *swoon*) trumps alpha-a*hole any day. Despite the fact that the romance takes a serious backseat to the thriller/mystery aspects of the book, seeing Mercy and Truman (but mostly Mercy) grow as their relationship becomes increasingly solidified is one of the best aspects of the series and the biggest reason the books should be read in order. An extra bonus in A MERCIFUL SECRET: a cameo by both Special Agent Ava McLane (another of my all-time favourite heroines) from the Callahan & McLane series (albeit, sadly, no adorable redneck Oregon State Police detective) and everyone’s favourite irreverent investigative reporter Michael Brody from the Bone Secrets series.

So do yourself a favour and pick up all of the Mercy Kilpatrick books. The June 2018 release of A MERCIFUL SILENCE, the 4th book in the series, is entirely too far away!

**ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Kendra Elliott for the ARC of A Merciful Truth in return for an honest review, Having read A Merciful Death I couldn't wait to read this and i have to say Mercy Kilpatrick is my favourite character so far out of all Kendra's books. In this book a number of fires are being set deliberately and properties are being burned to the ground and at first it is thought to be teenage pranks but it soon turns out to be far more sinister. Mercy Kilpatrick and Truman Daly head the team to get to the bottom of it. Another brilliant read in the Merciful series and it can be read as a standalone but i would read A Merciful Death first to get the full enjoyment out of it. Loving the new Merciful series and can't wait for more!!!