Oh my goodness - M.E. Browning has done it again! I'm totally infatuated with the MC, Jo Wyatt! There are so many detective books out there but there is something about this one that I really connect with. She's so full of passion to get to the truth and simply never gives up.

The writing style of the Jo Wyatt stories are very well paced, easy to read and keep me riveted the entire way through.

In Book 1, there was something that occurred, off the main path of the story, that was like a sucker punch right to my solar plexus. In Book 2, Browning provided another sucker punch, I was almost in tears with this one. I love the emotional connections that this author creates through her writing.

If you haven't had a chance to pick up Book 1 yet, Shadow Ridge, make sure you grab it soon! These two books can be read as stand alone but they are so good, you will want to read them both. I can't wait until the next installment of this series!!

Thank you to #CrookedLaneBooks and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

2.5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was okay. I was invested in the mystery but not really the characters. The only one that kind of intrigued me was Marisa, because I found her reactions (and sometimes lack thereof) to the crime and missing sister interesting. I wish they had delved deeper into her.

While I didn't necessarily see the twist coming, it also didn't elicit a big emotional response or reaction.

Overall, not a bad book but only for its mystery.

In an idyllic Colorado town, a young girl goes missing—and the trail leads into the heart and mind of a remorseless killer.

The late summer heat in Echo Valley, Colorado turns lush greenery into a tinder dry landscape. When a young girl mysteriously disappears, long buried grudges rekindle. Of the two Flores girls, Marisa was the one people pegged for trouble. Her younger sister, Lena, was the quiet daughter, dutiful and diligent—right until the moment she vanished.

Detective Jo Wyatt is convinced the eleven-year-old girl didn’t run away and that a more sinister reason lurks behind her disappearance. For Jo, the case is personal, reaching far back into her past. But as she mines Lena’s fractured family life, she unearths a cache of secrets and half-lies that paints a darker picture.

As the evidence mounts, so do the suspects, and when a witness steps forward with a shocking new revelation, Jo is forced to confront her doubts, and her worst fears. Now, it's just a matter of time before the truth is revealed—or the killer makes another deadly move.
Amazon.com

M. E. Browning’s main character Detective Jo Wyatt finds clues that twist and change the theories of how the child went missing and where she may be found. This case development spurs the reader through the pages of Mercy Creek. As a mom, I shy away from reading about child abductions or whenever a child is harmed, but Micki (M. E.) blunts the raw emotion with facts, logic, and the interplay among police department personnel—for which I am grateful.

The complication is the child’s parents and Jo’s history together, which makes all of them conflicted. It’s a small place where everyone knows one another, and yet the new police chief is an outsider, and he operates as if he’s got blinders on.

This is the second book in the Jo Wyatt mystery series, and it intrigues just as the first book did. The cases are very different. Here’s a link to my interview with Micki on the first book.
Welcome back to WWK, Micki! E. B. Davis

We know from how you structured the book that the older sister lied. Then Jo finds out the child’s father lied. As an officer, was it your experience that everyone lies?

First, I’d like to thank you for inviting me back to Writers Who Kill! It’s a pleasure to be here.
As to your question, the answer is absolutely not. Sure, there are always going to be those who have a vested interest in misleading an officer, but the majority of people want to be helpful. The kicker is that everyone has their version of the truth—and there are a lot of reasons why someone might say something that doesn’t align with other known facts. Trauma is certainly one reason. Crisis, PTSD, eye witness recall, group think, fear, embarrassment, ignorance, and embellishment can all unintentionally skew the truth as the individual believes it to be. That’s why witness statements are only one facet of a comprehensive investigation.

What is Calliope music?

The short answer? Creepy. A calliope is a musical instrument that has a keyboard, looks a bit like an organ, but the musical notes are produced by forcing steam or compressed air through whistles. It’s the amusement ride music at most traveling fairs.

Where were the 4-H leader and her fellow 4-Hers when Lena, the missing girl went missing?

Everyone was outside the livestock pavilion watching the fireworks at the end of the night.

In high school, Lena’s mother, Tilda, and her father, Lucero, had a fight. Tilda accused Lucero of abusing her, which Jo reported to her cop father. Tilda backed down and said Lucero was not the cause of her injuries, but even though not convicted, Lucero lost college scholarships. Why are both of them mad at her? Why is it that the person doing right is always wrong?

I know there are people who are convinced that no good deed goes unpunished, but that’s not Jo’s mindset—even though in this instance it destroyed her relationship with her childhood friends. In reality, it's not uncommon for officers to respond to a domestic dispute and have two people who were moments ago at each other’s throats, now a united front against the officers. The stakes are high—most domestic violence offenses are felonies—emotions are raw, and the consequences of an arrest are real. Jo did what she thought was right, but it was Tilda and Lucero who had to deal with the repercussions—both individually and as a couple. They scapegoated Jo.

“Squint tended to focus on the facts at hand. Jo dwelled on what seemed to be missing.” (Kindle Loc. 306) What does this say about Jo and her partner’s personalities?

The strength of any police department is in their diversity, be it in terms of gender, ethnicity, or interests. While everyone is trained to the same standards, there are a lot of career paths in law enforcement that capitalize on an individual’s strengths and focus. SWAT team members and crisis negotiators have different skill sets. Some officers are wonderful investigators, others want to stay in patrol their entire careers. Squint is a very pragmatic person and deals with what is in front of him as issues crop up. Jo is more idealistic, capable of seeing things that may not actually be there. Together, they make a great team.

What’s a pancake holster?

It’s a no-frills holster that sandwiches the gun between two pieces of material and tends to be more concealable than the typical retention holsters many officers carry on patrol.

For a father of a missing child, Lucero is quite hostile. Even if he had a beef with Jo (which seems to be a case of convenient transference), doesn’t he want his child found? Can’t he cooperate?

Lucero has a lot of secrets and initially believes Lena is with her mother. After that? Now we’re moving into spoiler territory…

What are 5.11 cargo pants?

5.11 Tactical is a tactical gear and apparel company that caters to law enforcement and the military. Their 5.11 tactical duty uniform pants are a staple in many departments. The cargo pants are great to wear on the range and have an abundance of pockets. They are a favorite item of clothing for off-duty officers and those who want to give the impression they have tactical training—whether or not they actually do.

Why are German Shepherds just as good of trackers as hounds?

Oh, I’m not going to wade in the middle of that argument! Handlers gravitate towards favorite breeds and can cite chapter and verse as to why, but the individual animal is more important than its lineage. Hounds have the best nose, but there is far more to search and rescue tracking than merely following a scent trail. Jo, however, is personally partial to German shepherds.

Why doesn’t Jo leap for joy when the new Chief wants to promote her to Sergeant? After all, she lost out on the promotion to her ex previously.

Every police department has policies and procedures in place regarding who is eligible to test for promotion and what the process entails. Circumventing those policies would open her up to accusations of favoritism, or being handed a job she wasn’t qualified to hold at the expense of a better candidate who was denied the opportunity to test. It’s hard enough being a woman in law enforcement without inviting mean-spirited and sexist speculation that she slept her way to the top.

During a meeting about the case with the new Chief, the detectives and close associates read each other’s expressions and body language. Why the politics and pressure?

Getting a new boss is a lot like dating. There’s a period of getting to know each other, seeing how the new person settles in, what different expectations they bring to the job. Chief Prather came from another state and a much larger jurisdiction. Rural and urban police agencies share many similarities, but there are considerable differences as well. The new chief is trying to make a name for himself without understanding the small-town dynamics, and he shows no indication he wants to listen to the input of his staff officers or investigators. It’s behavior that wouldn’t bode well on a date nor in the command post.

Marisa, Lena’s older fifteen-year-old sister, helps her mother Tilda with a press conference. It’s her idea, and she knows all about leveraging. How did she become so media savvy?

Experience. Marisa’s first brush with fame happened when she was eleven. A film crew had descended on Echo Valley and Marisa was tapped to be an extra. At the end of the shoot, a crewmember told her she was a natural. His comment confirmed something she already suspected—she was meant to be famous. That required the internet. She’d discovered plenty of people who had made names for themselves just by posting photographs or tutorials on how to apply makeup or style outfits. Armed with her mother’s credit card, Marisa ordered her first outfit from H&M. The day it arrived, she dragged Lena outside and staged a photo shoot in the backyard, making sure the price tags were hidden. Once they finished, she brushed the dirt from the clothes, packaged them up, and sent them back. Then she did it again. And again. By the time her mother found out, she’d already amassed an impressive following on two social media sites. Soon, vendors were sending her products, and an influencer was born.

Are children who go missing most often with a family member at the time?

No. Most missing children either left their home voluntarily by running away, or were thrown out by their parents. If a child was abducted, however, it’s most likely the child was taken by a family member. Stranger abductions happen rarely, but they generate the most attention because they often end in tragedy. Statistically, most children are found or return home on their own, but that’s cold comfort to the family of a child who doesn’t.

How is chaos the great equalizer?

Most people don’t train for crisis management and when they find themselves in a critical incident, higher reasoning goes right out the window. It doesn’t matter what your net worth is, your level of education, or who your friends are, in a life-threatening situation, we all tend to either fight, flee, or freeze.

Lena was not put on an AMBER Alert. Why?

The AMBER Alert Plan is a voluntary partnership between law enforcement and the media and not all agencies or media outlets participate. For those that do, law enforcement is tasked with determining if a missing person case meets the requirements for triggering the alert, and many do not. First, law enforcement must believe an abduction occurred (versus a voluntary missing such as a runaway). Additionally, the child must be seventeen years old or younger, and the officer believes the child is in imminent danger of serious bodily harm or death. The most difficult requirement to meet is that there must be sufficient information known to the officer about the circumstances of the abduction—this means there is actionable information such as the identity of the abductor or information about the vehicle used in the abduction. In Mercy Creek, there was not enough information about Lena’s disappearance to trigger the alert—much to her mother’s dissatisfaction. Even though an AMBER alert wasn’t triggered, the information regarding Lena’s disappearance was still shared with the media.

At one point, Jo resists the urge to hip check a reporter into a lake. At another, she has to suppress her glee at taking down a suspect. Is suppressing emotion elemental in police work?

Actually, no. Officers needs to be compassionate, understanding, and fair in order to be effective on the job. They also need to acknowledge their fear—it’s an early warning device that should be heeded. That said, officers need to control their emotions. Those who don’t risk overreacting and making poor decisions because they’ve allowed their fear or anger to dictate rather than inform their actions. Police work is full of emotionally charged calls that require officers to compartmentalize their feelings. The emotions I chose to display on duty helped build bridges between me and the person I was with—victim or suspect. Then there are the calls that follow officers home, and may take days or weeks to sort out. So, while Jo wanted to hip check a reporter into the lake, she didn’t. And after mentally likening the arrest of a suspect who fled from the officers to a team roping event and suppressing a whoop, Jo changed gears and went to help another officer. The trick is finding the balance.

What is next for Jo?

That’s the beauty of police work. There’s always another case!


This interview will appear on 10/13/21.

Jo Wyatt's saga continues in this mystery. A young girls goes missing but no one seems to know what happens. Was it the mother? Was it the father? Was it a random drifter? Throw in some personal connections to some of the main suspects and Detective Wyatt has her hands full.

There's also some politics at play in the police department, which makes for an interesting dual narrative. This book is an interesting read and a slow burn.

Thank you to PICT and NetGalley for an ARC. All opinions are my own.

It's late summer in Echo Valley, Colorado, and Detective Jo Wyatt is manning the dunking booth at the fair when the story begins. There's a new police chief who is finding his feet and getting ready to make his mark. And there is an eleven-year-old girl named Lena Flores who goes missing.

Lena was at the fair with her fifteen-year-old sister Marisa though the two didn't have anything in common. Since her parents divorced, Lena has lived with her father Lucero who is a veterinarian which was perfect for the farm girl, animal-loving child while Marisa lived in town with her mother Tilda who's an emergency room nurse. Marisa has bigger plans that Echo Falls; she's a social media influencer who is constantly updating her feeds.

Jo knows both Tilda and Lucero since they all grew up in town. Once, Lucero and Jo were friends but an incident when they were teens broke up the friendship. The resentments all resurface when Lena goes missing.

This story emphasizes the day-to-day work of police officers: finding and checking out witnesses, questioning suspects, watching endless security tapes, writing reports. But it also illustrates the dedication of a cop who is determined to find answers and find Lena or find out what happened to her.

I liked Jo a lot. She's dedicated to her job and to helping people. At the same time, she's aware that her knowledge of the people involved in this case could be coloring her reactions to what they are telling her...and they are all lying to her in a variety of ways.

I enjoyed this story immensely and recommend it.

I did not read the first book, but after this I certainly want too.
Meet Lena, 4 H member, lover of nature, total opposite of her older sister Marisa, social influencer, lover of the latest fashion. Lena is missing, runaway, kidnapped …. Detective Jo Wyatt is called in, what makes it harder is that she knows the mom and the dad from her high school days and there is some bad history that makes it hard for those involved to realize that Jo is fighting for Lena.
Excellent book, keeps you guessing on the edge of your seat!
Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an early read in exchange for my honest opinion.

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, M.E. Browning, and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

I can always be guaranteed an intense read when I choose one of M.E. Browning’s novels and this was no exception. Focussing less on the razzle-dazzle of the big city, Browning takes things into a more rural setting and turns her attention on the story, with its strong characters and ever-evolving plot. In Echo Valley, Colorado, Detective Jo Wyatt is still trying to make a name for herself, seeking to step from the shadow her father’s cast. When a young girl goes missing, it’s more than a case, but a trip down a bumpy part of the past. Wyatt is forced to relive a time when she lost a good friend to a jealous accusation and has never been able to settle things. Now, as time passes and the girl is nowhere to be found, it’s a race for answers and truths in a community that almost seems indifferent. The truth is out there, but Wyatt will have to peel back layers of emotion to get to the core of the matter! Another great story that is sure to impress many readers.

In Echo Valley, Colorado, there’s nothing like a fair. The midway, the animals, and even the county competitions stir up intrigue in this small community. However, when young Lena Flores does not show up on Sunday morning, some begin to wonder what’s going on. Her mother, Tilda, is beside herself and cannot get the police out to the house fast enough. Lena’s older sister, Marisa, is sure her sister is only seeking some attention, but this soon turns to worry, when the eleven year-old appears to have simply vanished.

When Detective Jo Wyatt is called to the scene, it’s more than just a job. Wyatt grew up in Echo Valley and has been trying to make a name for herself on the police force, seeking to dodge the reputation her father delivered from a long career on the force. Wyatt’s also got a long history with the Flores parents, dating back to their time in high school when things went horribly wrong. Still, this is a missing child case and Wyatt will do all she can to bring Lena home safely.

Combing through the fields and any video surveillance they can, Wyatt and her partner finger a few possible suspects, including the girl’s father, Lucero. Digging a little deeper, Wyatt tries to piece together what might have happened and who could have wanted to abduct Lena. All the while, she is trying to deal with the politics of a new chief and his plans for Echo Valley.

Working as many leads as she can, including a carny who took an unhealthy interest in Lena, Detective Wyatt tries to make headway in a case that is slipping out of her grasp. With little on which to go and the clock speeding ahead, this could soon morph into a case of a different sort. When a call comes in that some hikers found something along a trail, it sends a frigid jolt down Wyatt’s spine and opens another can of worms best left shelved, as well as a new line of questioning. A strong story and gripping ending shows that M.E. Browning has what it takes to make an impact.

I’ve enjoyed each of the novels M.E. Browning has penned, as they get to the core of the matter in short order and seek to develop a strong story without all the glitz and glamour that some authors feel must decorate their writing. Gritty and heartfelt in equal measure, Browning tells a story and keeps the reader on their toes throughout the experience, trusting the strength of her writing. I powered through this book in short order, as it was that good and found myself connected to the story.

Jo Wyatt is again front and centre in this piece, working through her own issues to serve the community of Echo Valley. She’s got big shoes to fill, something those around her never fail to mention, yet she is always trying to better herself and help those in need. The reader is able to see a glimpse of her personal struggles from a past that had many issues, as well as some growth in her professional career. I am eager to see more of her in the coming years, as she comes across as a no-nonsense cop with a great deal to prove, both to herself and all readers.

Browning develops strong supporting characters throughout the piece, keeping the story moving along without being derailed by too many sub-plots. Things develop effectively with those who complement Detective Wyatt well, as each storyline links together at some point in the larger narrative. Shedding light on both the investigation and an earlier time in Echo Valley, these characters offer something needed to the story without over complicating the delivery.

There’s something about a focused and gritty procedural that gets me every time. M.E. Browning delivers a great deal in this second novel of her new series. With a strong narrative, the story flows well and each subplot finds its place. Gaining momentum through a string of mid-length chapters, the story keeps a good focus and yet develops both plot and character without needing to add unnecessary flourishes. Browning has proven herself yet again and can hold the reader’s attention throughout, using small town settings to hone the basics of the story. I’m eager to see where things will go from here, as this is a series that caught my eye and has so many loose threads yet to be tied off. Let’s hope M.E. Browning feels the same way!

Kudos, Madam Browning, for another great piece. I hope others take notice and find themselves as enthralled as I was throughout.

This was an intensifying drama that I could not put down, quickly becoming a page-turner as I had to know how this was going to end. The author knows how to tell a story that encapsulates a variety of emotions from fear to heartbreak to salvation and to resolution. Every step taken brought up long ago occurrences that set the stage for what was yet to come. Watching the scenarios play out in this gripping tale kept me in the game as the means-to-an-end eliminated a few of the suspects with surprising results, some that I did not see coming. Overall, this was a grippingly enticing read and I look forward to more exploits with Jo and her team.

I’m new to this author and had an idea that this book might be a bit dark, no, I enjoyed tagging along on Detective Jo’s adventure! The storyline is easy to follow, a fast paced whodunnit that will keep you entertained and wondering!

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books, ME Browning and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is an intriguing mystery that takes place in Colorado and features the detective Jo Wyatt. This is part of a series. There are a lot of twists and turns and mystery here. I love a good mystery and I love stories that make me ponder and try to figure out what the ending might be. This offers all of that.

I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion

Working the carnival for a detective is never fun, and it gets even less fun when a young girl, Lena, is reported missing the following day... and Jo has uneasy ties with both of Lena's divorced parents. Still settling in after her own divorce and living with her retired father, Jo and her partner, Squint (and seriously, he is one of the best supporting characters ever) sort through the case whilst navigating Lena's parents and the politics within the department. M, E. Browning has made me a huge fan of Jo Wyatt! I'm going back to read her first installment, Shadow Ridge, and look forward to see where Jo Wyatt is taken next!

Set in Echo Valley, Colorado, the second book of the series is another winner. As a nature nut I'm a sucker for picturesque and atmospheric elements so fell for this enthralling mystery/thriller. There are also hints of love interests dispersed throughout..

Lena and Marisa are sisters and could not be more unalike. Younger Lena is quiet and adores animals like her dad whilst Marisa is an influencer obsessed with fashion. When Lena is nowhere to be found, their mother, Tilda nearly goes out of her mind with grief. Their estranged father Lucero has no idea where she has gone, either, and is also frantic. We see the relationships between them twist and untwist and twist again as they focus on one thing...finding Lena alive.

Feisty Det. Jo Wyatt is called to investigate Lena's disappearance. She is a hardened cop but occasionally shows her compassionate side. Her past haunts and affects her as she peels back layer after layer of the case and her own life. Everyone knows each other in the town she grew up in so it is impossible to escape her past. As they say, sin grows long shadows. But her problems don't end there...their tendrils wend into her workplace and job with some angst and tension thrown in. Then comes this mystery she gets enveloped in.

The ending is well done, especially one surprise which I hadn't anticipated. So, if you enjoy mysteries with some thrill and suspense to them, do read this book. The tension didn't have me on tenterhooks but it was enjoyable nonetheless.

My sincere thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this arresting book.

Thank you to Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC.

Really enjoyed this book. I did figure out quite early on who the killer was but there was still a good twist I wasn't expecting. I found it quite fast paced and a quick read. I will be looking out for more by this author.

This second book in the Jo Wyatt book is as good as the first. The carnival's in town when a young girl goes missing, and the list of possible suspects is long. It being a small town, Jo has a history with the girl's divorced parents that complicates things, but she's determined to find Lena. Full of twists and turns, this one will keep you guessing to the end!

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books for access to a digital arc on NetGalley.

Mercy Creek is a suspenseful story full of twists and turns, and it's a fitting second book in the Jo Wyatt series set in Echo Valley, Colorado. Detective Jo Wyatt is called in when an eleven-year-old Lena Flores goes missing. Page after page, the suspense builds as Jo checks out every lead. She begins with the family, a dysfunctional group with custody of the two girls, Lena and Marisa, split between two parents. Clue after clue, the police spread out with new suspects as well as the family, whose history is also full of suspicion. Secrets and lies abound. Because Browning's pacing is so thoughtful, you'll find yourself turning pages as quickly as possible, checking out clues and trying to stay ahead of Jo and her partner. Will they find Lena alive, and will they catch the kidnapper?

Mercy Creek is full of believable characters and a small-town setting that is so real. A fair and carnival with kids showing animals and 4-H projects is where Lena disappears. Browning's descriptions are so true to life that you'll find yourself back there with the carnival rides and carnies. (One carny in particular was on my radar.) Because Browning lived and worked in Colorado, she has the terrain down perfectly. Her descriptions of the landscape are filled with words that put Colorado on the map. Likewise, she worked on police forces for two decades before she became a writer, and her police procedures in Mercy Creek are flawless. They don't intrude, but they do give the story remarkable realism. I'd strongly recommend Mercy Creek to mystery lovers who enjoy traditional mysteries, detective stories, and police procedurals.

Absolutely riveting.
Jo Wyatt and her team of detectives have been called out for a missing child. Eleven year old Lena was last seen at home but is now gone. She had worked her animal at the fair the previous night and was expected the next morning to prepare for the day and muck the stall. But she never showed up.
Jo questions her parents who both blame the other and are not helping her. As the investigation continues there are more and more questions about where she is and what happened to her.
The neighborhood is canvassed, fair cameras are reviewed, at this point everyone is a suspect.
What has happened to this child who hoped to become a vet and who everyone found to be such a joy to be around.
The end will shock you, not once but twice. As long ago secrets finally reveal themselves.
This was such a great police action story and it kept me wanting to read faster. The end was heart pounding.
I am looking forward to the next book by Ms. Browning.

I have read so many mysteries lately about missing children. That seems to be a common theme. This book was sent to me on Kindle by Netgalley for review. It seems that is these books, and especially this one, parents are divorced and are negligent...no one knows if child came home or when she or he left the home. This is a stereotype as children go missing from functional homes also. The sister was also negligent but told she wasn’t. The characters are just not likeable. It is a sad story.

In an idyllic Colorado town, a young girl goes missing--and the trail leads into the heart and mind of a remorseless killer.
WoW! What a awesome book! Thanks NetGalley Publisher and Author!
Loved this book! It was great with amazing character development. And awesome story!

Good book! This book was definitely a mystery! It was filled with intrigue, suspense, action, and lots of twists and turns! I definitely didn't expect a few things that happened! I would recommend reading this book! Its well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!