‘So how exactly is this going to work?’

A body is discovered on Wolfe Island, near an enormous wind turbine. When Senior Investigator Shana Merchant and her colleague Tim Wellington arrive at the scene, she feels that the victim is familiar, and the subsequent investigation confirms this. Hope Oberon, convicted with others for defrauding the government, had not yet been sentenced for her crime. Hope had many enemies in the Thousand Islands region of New York and had received threats from environmental groups. Could her killer have been one of the environmentalists? Early investigations seem to point this way.

But Shana is also concerned about other cases. Blake Bram, her cousin, is a ruthless serial killer who had once abducted Shana and recently abducted and injured a child. Shana knows that he is watching her, and wonders if he was involved in Hope Oberon’s murder.

‘The only thing worse than not having a single lead on a homicide is watching a case fall apart.’
While I have not read the first two books in this series, there’s enough detail provided for me to understand Shana Merchant’s background. To solve Hope Oberon’s murder, Shana Merchant has to delve into the past of a number of community members. Old grudges and long-held secrets complicate the investigation as does the spectre of Blake Bram.

Shana is torn between her feelings for Tim and the need to keep those she cares for safe. And the personal aspect becomes complicated when her toxic ex-boyfriend and Tim’s ex-girlfriend form a relationship.

‘Trust is a trickster. We convince ourselves it’s safe to give up and give in.’

A fast-moving novel that held my attention from beginning to end.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

First: This is the third book in a series, and while events continue from the previous two books, this book can be read as a standalone. I had no problem picking up the storyline, even though I hadn't read the first two.

Minor spoilers ahead for the first two books, as it is unavoidable to the storyline. But I'll keep it as under wraps as I possibly can.

This book starts off running, with Shana and Tim still in the middle of the hunt for a serial killer, who happens to be Shana's cousin, when a new case pops up that may be connected to him, or may be the work of a completely new killer. With so little to go on, Tim and Shana are puzzled - and it's amazing to watch them try to work through everything. Because there are plenty of suspects and avenues to explore. The ending is a bit of a shocker and definitely kept me on my toes, though the clues were all there! Like a complex puzzle, it can be solved!

I liked Shana, Tim and Mac, they made a great team, and I'm hoping we see more of them in the future. They were the type of friends you hope you make as an adult: true friends who will protect you and help you, no matter the circumstances. Shana was also a pretty badass heroine who was willing to do what it took to get justice ... even a little subterfuge.

I hope we see more of this series, with its great series and equally amazing setting. While it may be helpful to read in order, I'm glad I was introduced to it, no matter what the order! It's well worth the read!

#DeadWind:

Shana is back one more time (queue Daft Punk) and it’s a definite bang to end the series. This is a book that you’ll definitely need to read the other two and not treat as a stand-alone. I had to go back and review my previous reviews to make sure I knew what was going on and to refresh my memory.

Tessa Wegert and the Shana Merchant series is prime time psychological thriller at its finest. I’m always clutching my pearls during this series, but I think I may have snapped them this time from clutching so hard because of Dead Wind. I’ve always enjoyed Shana as a character, but I felt she freaking ✨shined✨ in book 3. She has amazing growth and we really got to get to know her and love her (more)

Overall, a very solid series that I will be forcing my husband to read because this is one that we will both agree on. I’m so sad to see Shana go, but I’m so thankful this amazing series was made. Read all 3 in order to get the full effect. Thank you so much booksforward for the gifted copy. Dead Wind is out Tuesday, April 5th.

Here I go again...finding a book out of sequence in a series 😂😂 man oh man my luck with these lately ...

Even though this is Book 3 in the Shana Merchant series it can be read standalone BUT there are references in this one to Bram and Shana's past history and childhood that can leave things a bit muddled. Guess that means I need to go back and read the first 2 books 😂😂

Dead Wind as a whole though, was exactly what I love in a crime fiction. It's gritty, tense and has some heart-pounding moments. Plus I always love the procedural aspects as the police sort clues and brainstorm.

I really enjoyed the relationship between Tim & Shana. They work well together. I'm sure I missed some backstory there with this being book 3, but it didn't take anything away from the story for me.

I also enjoyed Bram and the cat & mouse game he added to the story. He is everything nightmares are made of.

Definitely recommend this one for crime fiction fans. I sincerely appreciate the publisher and Books Forward for providing me with a review copy. All opinions expressed herein are mine and mine.

I’ve read the first and second book in the series so I jumped at the chance to review the third book for Books Forward. Shana Merchant is a wonderfully strong female character, damaged yet stronger for it. The author does a great job of deepening and strengthening Shana’s character arc while at the same time never ever making it easy for her or anyone she cares for. Though this is the culmination of her hunt for Bram, I’m hoping to see much more of Shana.
Family drama is a hallmark of these novels, as Shana’s own family secrets begin to blend in with those of the small town she’s living in now. I think this is the side of Shana that makes the books so engrossing for me.
The tightly woven mystery moves from the past to the present effortlessly with well-researched police procedures worked throughout. The excellence of prose and mastery of plot that keeps me from putting down a book is here at 110%.
There are a lot of books out there. This series stands far above the crowd for me. Highly recommended.

When a body is found investigator Shana Merchant is on the case. As she investigates she wonders if her secret is coming back for her. Was the woman a victim of the serial killer that kidnapped her eighteen months ago?

I really enjoyed this mystery and policy procedural. The process of the investigation seemed true to life and it was very fast moving and unraveled quickly. I do feel like I would have enjoyed it way more if I had read the previous books first. There was a lot of background that i was just told about, and it would have been beneficial to experience the events in the past books instead. I am definitely going to go back and read those and then reread this one!

“I’d become someone entirely new, consumed by a fevered need to find him. Just like he’d been consumed with finding me.”

Dead Wind comes out 4/5.

Dead Wind is the third book in Tessa Wegert’s Shana Merchant series. Shana is a tenacious and resilient police investigator, working cases while also overcoming past trauma. All three novels are a unique blend of page-turning police procedural and psychological suspense. Dead Wind is dark, gritty, and so well crafted! While it can be read as a stand-alone, I highly recommend reading the series, it’s just that good!

Shana is back on the case in this third installment of this series. In this one, she is still suffering from the affects of being pursued by a serial killer. A prominent local man is found dead and Shana is determined to find the killer, even if it means dredging up dark secrets and old grudges.

I love Shana's gutsiness and grit in a world of crime and police procedures. The killer seems to have a vendetta against her, but this just fuels Shana's determination to get to the bottom of it. Set in the remote islands in Canada, the wild sparse location is perfect for this chilling tale full of suspense.

Fans of crime, police procedures and suspenseful, detective mysteries will love this one.

I didn’t realize this book was part of a series. That being said I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had more of the back story. I was able to understand everything okay but I’m guessing a missed a lot of character development in the past books that was what I was missing in this one. The MC was likeable, smart, and I felt was dealing with her past trauma in a relatable way. If you are interested I certainly recommend you read the other books first.

𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘴𝘶𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦!

Dead Wind is the third book in the Shana Merchant series and what a fantastic way to finish, I loved the end but I’m so sad to say goodbye to all these characters.
If you like intense psychological thrillers you need to read these books.

Thank you Suzy Approved Book Tours and Severn House for this gifted copy.

Dead Wind by Tessa Wegert, Author ebook released March 1, 2022 and Hardcover releases April 5, 2022.

𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦: 𝘔𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘺, 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳, 𝘚𝘶𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦, 𝘊𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘦, 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘒𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘗𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘴.

https://www.instagram.com/booksandcoffeemx/

Very good police procedural, but I probably would have liked it better if I had read the first two books in the series and knew the backstory. Much is recapped but I still felt like I had to be missing something. The characters are strong and the plot is interesting. I now want to read the first two books.

Senior investigator Shana Merchant is called to crime scene in which a body has been found below a wind turbine (we have those all over Texas). Was the killer making an environmental statement about turbines or is there more going on? Is the serial killer who held Shana captive and who also happens to be her cousin involved? Definitely read in order.

Wegert is back with another Shana Merchant novel! And this one packs a punch! Yet another homicide that Shana has to determine if it could possibly be by the hands of someone close to her. Full of suspense and full blown mystery. Really enjoyed this installment and highly recommend this series!!

**Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours and @tessawegert for the copy in exchange for an honest review.**

This is third in the Shana Merchant series about a NY detective who, after being abducted and tortured by a serial killer, has moved to a small community in upstate NY as the senior investigator.

She and her partner investigate the death of a prominent controversial local figure and uncover lies, deceit and revenge. Has the serial killer from her past returned to torment Shana, or is this another evil entirely?

Good plot but not as action-packed or suspenseful as the previous two, in my opinion. And I felt more like an outsider looking in this time rather than being along for the ride. But I will say I really liked the denouement, although I did find it a bit surprising for a couple of reasons. Still, as the three books have ranked at least a 4⭐️ for me, I’ve enjoyed these enough to continue on.

My thanks to #NetGalley and #SevernHouse for providing me the free early arc of #DeadWind for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

Tessa Wegert is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to crime fiction. All of the Shana Merchant books have been superb and Dead Wind is no exception - this one was so addictive and well paced that I read it in one sitting. This author is an auto-buy for me and I would read anything she publishes.

Investigator Shana Merchant knows he’s still out there when she is called to a murder scene across the border on Canada’s Wolfe Island. She pairs up with her old partner Tim to help solve this case.

At first, this murder appears to have Bram’s signature on it. Bram is the serial killer who abducted Shana over a year ago, only to let her go so that he could play some kind of sick, twisted game with her. But the victim here was a corrupt government official, using a bid from the wind farm to fill her coffers. Is this murder a distraction, is there another killer, or has Bram changed the rules?

𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐝 is an intelligent, intense psychological thriller. The characters are complex, and the plot moves ahead swiftly as clues become more and more intertwined. The obsession, history, and relationship between Bram and Shana make this series truly chilling.

This was fantastic and somewhat surprising. I look forward to reading what Tessa Wegert writes next.

Thank you to @suzyapprovedbooktours and @tessawegert for a gifted ebook.

Dead Wind is the third book of the Shana Merchant series. That being said, I highly recommend that the first two books be read beforehand. Though I managed to get the gist of Shana’s background and history, I still felt that several pieces of the puzzle were missing.

The characters of likeable enough but I felt that they could have been fleshed out more. Perhaps they were developed in the prior novels. But I wouldn’t know that. In any event, I really didn’t care too much for any of the characters, except maybe Tim.

Insofar as the storyline is concerned, the narrative and outcome is predictable. I didn’t think there were any notable plot twists that made me want to stay up all night to finish the book. Truthfully speaking, it is a slow read and at times boring. I ended up skipping and skimming the latter part of the book to get to the finish line.

I’m not new to police procedurals and some of the narrative in Dead Wind just didn’t make sense to me. I think that the logic and sleuthing aspects could be improved upon — taking clues from authors like Tess Gerritsen, Preston & Child, and maybe even clues from true crime authors like Paul Holes.

Overall, Dead Wind is a decent read. Two satisfactory stars.

I received a digital ARC from BooksForward through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

Dead Wind (Severn House) is the third in Tessa Wegert’s series about Senior Investigator Shana Merchant, who is based in the Thousand Islands area of upper New York state.

A body is discovered on an island on the Canadian side of the border and Shana and her fellow investigator, Tim, are sent to investigate any possible connection for them. The body is lying at the foot of a wind turbine and is identified as an American official who was recently found guilty of corruption. There seems to be an environmental element to the killing, but Shana and Tim, also suspect that it may be the work of the serial killer, Blake Bram, who has a personal grudge against Shana.

Dead Wind flows on from the previous two books in the series and Tessa spends a bit of time recapping that detail for newcomers to the series. Once underway the story flows well, and Tessa is very good at creating a good sense of place. The physical descriptions of the Thousand Islands region are evocative and interesting, and Tessa also paints a convincing picture of the local communities and the environmental issues impacting on them. This is also nicely reflected in the cover illustration.

The serial killer aspects may be a little overdone, but overall this is an enjoyable crime yarn with plenty of mystery and an exciting conclusion. It also has a good, strong central female character, who is flawed, but engaging.

A solid 3 and a half to 4 stars out of five!

Thanks to Severn House and NetGalley for a copy of the book for review.

I feel so lucky to have received a free copy of this book from BooksForward PR and NetGalley. Dead Wind is the first book I've read in this series (although it is the third written in the series). Finishing this book definitely made me add the first two books to my TBR. Now that I know about one of the characters, Blake Bram, I need to know more about him.

Full of creepy, obsessive and revengeful vibes, this story walks the reader through two separate criminal instances that could be related, or could not be. Throughout the book, the pendulum swings both ways. The book starts five months after a child kidnapping victim is rescued. The kidnapper is the same person who kidnapped and held detective Shana Merchant before she was able to escape with her life. Still at large, the search for Bram is ongoing. Shana has moved to a new precinct where she is not known as a kidnapping victim. This story opens with the murder of a local politician, Hope Oberon, who's family has a long political history, but who was recently investigated for corruption. The fact that she was found on the other side of the Canadian border, on a wind turbine seems at odds with Bram's past crimes. But Shana can't ever count him out, or unfortunately forget that he is still at large.

"It isn't that simple, of course. People aren't good or bad, generous or selfish, thoughtful or inconsiderate. Most people, I've learned, are as deep as the river, and you can find all manner of unexpected things in the weeds."

Shana and her partner Tim obviously have some sort of a complicated romantic history. They both do their best to ignore the tension and focus on the murder they are investigating. Their characters played well against each other. Shana, a great detective, but one virtually blinded by her obsession with catching Bram, and Tim, overprotective with good relationships with the town's people and knowledge of its history.

Without giving too much away, this story has perfect pace, full of smart clues and interesting characters. It is full of hold your breath moments and twists that I didn't see coming. I really enjoyed this one - but I would recommend starting with book one. I would have liked knowing more about how Tim and Shana's relationship started, more about Trey's kidnapping and more about Shana's journey prior to this book. This is definitely a series I would highly recommend!

Dead Wind is the third book in the Shana Merchant mystery series. This is a fantastic book that is not only a police procedure but a psychological thriller. This is a stand-alone story, and the author does an amazing job at recapping the events of the first two books. I highly recommend reading the first two books in the series as they are absolutely FANTASTIC!

Dead Wind is an atmospheric mystery of a murder of a woman found at a wind farm. This was such an interesting location. There were multiple suspects which made for a great mystery.

As if that is not enough Shana and Tim are still on the search for the serial killer.

This book not only lived up to my expectations but exceeded them.

The characters are well written, complex, flawed and well fleshed out.

The perfectly plotted pace kept me on my toes and excited to turn the next page!

The twists were fantastic!

That ending was one I did not see coming a MILE away!


Highly Recommended!

A good crime thriller/police procedural story with several lines of investigation taking place simultaneously.

This is a Book 3 which is listed as a Stand-Alone read, which I found to mean that a large portion of the first 30% of the book was referencing past actions and occurrences of the Serial Killer that the MC is tracking. The good news is that the author wrote it in such a way that you were up to speed with what happened in Book 1 and 2 in regards to this investigation and the personal relationships of the characters. The semi-good news is that it is a lot to absorb and really, I would have enjoyed reading Books 1 and 2 beforehand to really get a 360 view of the story to date. But it is technically a Stand-Alone read.

The multiple investigations keep this story moving right along - no boring parts to see here! The crimes were inventive and I even learned some things about Wind Farms! I always thought they were such a great thing and didn't understand challenges that may come along with them. That view is woven into this story in such a way that the reader takes away actual knowledge from this fictional book. I like it!

If you are a crime thriller/police procedural fan, then this series is a good one. I would suggest starting with Book 1 if you have the time as it's a good series with great writing. If you just want to pick up this stand-alone book, you'll have all the information you need to enjoy it.

Thank you to #BooksForward for this book. All opinions expressed are my own.