4.5 Stars rounded up: In the Pines is the 3rd Columbia River book as well as the 7th Mercy Kilpatrick story. An eccentric millionaire died leaving behind clues about a $2 million treasure hidden somewhere in the small town of Eagle’s Nest, Oregon. The town is overrun by treasure hunters and their despicable traits of greed and theft, thus having the police dealing with fights, trespassing and eventually murder. Police chief Truman Daly wants it all to end. When a young man enters the station asking for help to find his mother and baby sister, he calls in his wife, FBI special agent Mercy Kilpatrick to aid in the search. Now they are looking for a murderer as well as a missing baby and her mother.

This was a great crime/mystery/thriller that I have come to enjoy from Kendra Elliot. If you have read any of her books, you know that "preppers" or "survivalists" always play a part in books set in this area. It turns out that the missing woman is using an assumed name and her family have been living off the grid. Once Mercy finds out who she really is, the case moves quickly. Mercy is a great character and I have always enjoyed her stories. She was raised in the prepper environment so has an understanding of how they live. I liked the young family and was rooting for them to find their father, mother and the baby and get back together. Then there is still the treasure hunt with everyone getting involved, including Ollie (Truman's foster son) and Kaylee (Mercy's niece) which added another storyline. With two cases going on, Truman and Mercy are often separated so they didn't necessarily have each other's back. There were a few twists, and I was pulled in from the first page. This was a quickly moving story, with lots of adventure and I was ready to see what was next for the Columbia River area.

Thank you, Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for the gifted e-book! ❤️ #gifted. My review is comprised of my honest thoughts.

This was really good. I should definitely have read the previous books first, but I still enjoyed it and will read the others. The case and the characters pulled me in. So good.

I have always loved any book by Kendra Elliot. I love her fast talking characters and twisty plots. This was a super fast read and I hope to read more!

I enjoy Kendra Elliots books. They are simple but quick reads. This was no different. it was a quick read and the characters are great. I will continue to read anything she writes.

This is the first book I’ve read by Kendra Elliot but realize this is not the first in the series - I’m sure I would have gotten more background info on Mercy and the town of Eagle’s Nest if I had read the others first, but I feel like this book is just fine as a stand-alone.

Overall, I did enjoy this one! It was slow at first and wasn’t a book I just couldn’t put down until the second half and then I flew through it! I really enjoyed the story line and the twist was one that I didn’t really see coming. I enjoyed the characters in this book and I’m planning on grabbing some of her others in this series!

Mercy Kilpatrick is back for another crazy adventure. This book was filled with mystery, intrigue, and a little bit of emotion thrown in. The treasure hunt consumes the first part of the book, then there is a small lull in which things slow down. At this point I could put the book down and feel no rush to get back to it. The second half flew by, and I was unable to put it down once there were major breaks in the investigation. I have loved the Mercy Kilpatrick books and hope there are more to come.

I want to thank Netgally and Montlake for an ARC of this book.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/F Mystery
Triggers: Murder

IN THE PINES is the seventh book in the series and Mercy, Truman, and Evan are at it again. This time, there is an elusive treasure hunt located in their ideal town. Tourists are hellbent on finding the treasure and with those tourists, a whole host of trouble follows.

With a fight breaking out over notes regarding the treasure, a couple of murders, and some kids who have been abandoned, it will take all three of them to figure out how to calm the tourists and find the murderers.

This story kept you reading and wanting to figure out what happened. Elliot wrote some good twists and turns. You won't be sorry that you went on this treasure hunt.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is another great book with Mercy Kilpatrick as the lead character, along with her now husband, Truman Daly.

Hitting close to home, the young boy and his sister remind Mercy of her prepper family roots, and she understands all too well how carefully they need to deal with the situation. It also makes her realise that she is no longer in that place, and her new family is far more important than her need to survive. She finds that insight both liberating and incredibly unexpected. I loved that we got to see her value her place in her family, and their importance to her.

The mystery is fast-paced, clever, and full of twists – you should expect nothing less from Kendra Elliot! I am already looking forward to the next book.


Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆
3 1/2 stars rounded up to 4 stars

I really like the Mercy Kilpatrick series and her adventures. This story isn't the strongest of the series, but it did keep me interested.

In this installment, Mercy is tasked with finding a missing mother and an 18-month-old toddler who have vanished after leaving her teenagers home alone to go find their father. Digging deeper into this mystery, Mercy finds out that the missing mom is, in fact, the long missing sister of the sheriff's deputy Evan Bolton, whom she's worked with before.

Fourteen years ago, Bridget Kerr, aka Bethany Bolton, ran off with her boyfriend, Victor Kerr, and was never heard from again. Now, Evan has taken custody of his teenage niece and nephew and has learned that they have been living off the grid all these years. Growing up as a child of preppers, Mercy understands this lifestyle and why Bridget would feel comfortable leaving her teens home alone for a week.

Kendra Elliot brought the subject matter to life, and I loved that the author included Kaylie and Ollie as major characters in this book. I would like to see more of them in future books, as well as how Mercy teaches them to always be prepared in accordance with her prepper upbringing.

Kendra Elliot has written an outstanding book with In the Pines. Returning to the small town of Eagles Nest with special agent Mercy Kilpatrick, her husband, police chief Truman Daly, her niece Kaylie and Ollie, a young man who had been living alone in the woods after his grandfather died and taken in by Truman, the small town is inundated by treasure hunters after millionaire Chester Rollins leaves clues for a $2 million hidden treasure. If that isn't creating enough havoc, detective Evan Bolton learns that his sister, missing for 14 years, has been living not that far away. But now she, her husband and their toddler are missing again, when the two older children come looking for help. Bachelor Evan now has a niece and nephew to take care of while searching for his missing sister and solving two murders related to the treasure hunt. Is all this related somehow? This is a fast pace, page turner, that is hard to put down. Engrossing story and excellent characters. I read an ARC provided by NetGalley.com. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.

In the Pines is the 7th in the Mercy Kilpatrick series and the third in the Columbia River series. A nationwide treasure hunt with a $2 million prize has people showing up in Eagle’s Nest disrupting the peace. Not just traffic calls and trespassing, but theft, fights and public shootings. And then, a murder. It’s true that greed brings out the ugly in people, as Evans thinks.

This was your average, run of the mill procedural. It's part of two different series, but I read it as a standalone, and that was perfectly fine. You might have some more background information if you've read previous books in the series, but I didn't feel like I was missing out on anything by not having done so.

I thought the whole treasure hunting storyline was intriguing, and the book definitely showed how money and greed can bring out the worst in people. I liked the book overall, and it has a couple of interesting twists and turns, but there wasn't really anything about it that blew my mind. Still, books like this are a comfort read, and I would recommend it if you like mysteries and procedural type books.

I volunteered to read and review an advanced readers copy through Net Galley of Into The Pines .This story is outstanding from start to finish . I could not put it down .
The twist and turns kept me turning the pages . It's so Suspenseful and action packed . Police Chief Truman Daly's town is full of treasure hunters searching for two million dollars a deceased billionaire hid . When a young mother and child is discovered missing from the area things heat up in the town . Truman calls FBI Special Agent Mercy Kilpatrick his wife into help . Soon murder and mayhem follows secrets come out . This is one rollercoaster ride for sure . I highly recommend taking the time to read .

4.5 stars

In the Pines, by Kendra Elliot, is an engaging police procedural, and is #7 in the Mercy Kilpatrick series of novels.
When an eccentric multi-millionaire dies, he leaves a poem with clues to a hidden $2 million prize. The clues lead treasure seekers to Eagle’s Nest, Oregon, the small town where special agent Mercy and her police chief husband Truman have made their home. The hunt has caused significant disruptions and ugly incidents as greed motivates the treasure seekers.
While this is going on, another mystery is unfolding as children of preppers come from the forest, looking for their missing father, mother and baby sister.
The dual storylines are nicely intertwined and the character development excellent.
I especially like the author’s construct of putting Mercy’s inner thoughts in italics, which enhanced my understanding of her motives and actions as she tries to solve the disappearance of the family members and other crimes related to the treasure hunt.
All the secondary characters are well-drawn and add to the story’s depth. The action is well-paced and builds nicely to the twists and conclusion.
Each book in the Mercy Kilpatrick series is compelling and additive to explaining her journey from her own family of preppers to her present life’s work in the FBI.
I highly recommend this book, and the six previous entries in the series.

Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest review.

Mercy and Truman are couple goals! Two smart law enforcement officers, they know how to play to there strengths and to each other’s. Mercy is smart, tough and kick ass! If I were in trouble she’s the one I would want on my side.

I love Kendra Elliot’s Mercy Kilpatrick/Truman Daly series and this instalment doesn’t disappoint.
Missing people, a local treasure hunt, family secrets all tied up in a story that kept me engrossed from beginning to end.

I am SO happy to have another Mercy book. Granted, this is really an Evan book, but Mercy is a driving force, so Mercy fans can rejoice. Truman fans , too!

All of the moodiness, tightly woven plot lines, and wonderfully created characters are in this book. It really did feel good to revisit this space. I recommend it 100%.

Overall a good mystery. Definitely well written. This book is a continuation featuring characters introduced in previous novels..

Greed is one of the seven deadly sins, people will do anything to get it. When a dead billionare leaves clues for a treasure hunt to his wealth. Eagle's Nest is over run with treasure seekers. Tempers flare between the treasure hunters, causing ructions with residents among other things.
Truman is having a coffee when he is approached by a nervous boy. His mother left two weeks ago
to visit his uncle. Leaving him and his other sister back at home. Just taking the baby with her.
Truman recognises in Theodore the same look Ollie had and recognises them as preppers.
Calling his wife Mercy who is FBI to help locate the missing mother and child.
When one of the treasure hunters are found dead things really start to get complicated. Can Mercy and Truman find the mother and child in time and find the killer? Another excellent book in the Mercy Kilpatrick series. Highly recommended for fans of romantic suspense.

It’s what happens when a treasure hunt in a small Pacific Northwest turns family members against each other. The greed in humans is as thick as the morning fog off the coast, and the Police chief only wants peace . The pace is brisk w, a saving grace. Into the mix comes a boy who claims his mom and sister are gone. FBI agent Mercy Kilpatrick assists in the hunt , while the race for money muddies the outcome for everyone.

This is book #3 in the Columbia River series. Greed and family secrets collide in this twisty suspense filled ride with Mercy Kilpatrick having a starring role which I really loved since I was so sad when her story was complete.

This is the first book I have read by Elliot. I like her writing style. There is a good balance of the lives of Mercy, Truman and Evan with the ongoing investigation of a missing woman and child. I like the information about preppers and some considering themselves sovereign citizens, arguing they do not have to pay taxes.

While the plot progresses nicely, I am not sure it works well. The missing woman goes where to find help? The very people her husband did not trust? That just did not work. The treasure hunt was a nice side story, providing murders and some excitement. It also showed what people would do from greed.

I like the setting of the area around Bend, Oregon, the good characters, but a plot that doesn't work all the way.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.