“In the Pines” is Columbia River Series #3 (plus 6 prior Mercy Kilpatrick books) from prolific author Kendra Elliot — who has been recommended to me by Amazon’s mystery/thriller algorithms dozens, if not hundreds, of times. Well, you finally caught me jumping in mid-series. I can say that “In the Pines” is a terrific standalone and one day I might catch up with Oregon FBI agent Mercy Kilpatrick’s previous adventures.

At the heart of this novel is a $2 million treasure supposedly hidden by a recently deceased millionaire. This is apparently based on the real Forest Fenn treasure, hidden in 2010 for at least a decade. Fenn was an art dealer and at the conclusion claimed the clues were in a poem. 5 real deaths are attributed to pursuit as well as 2 suicides stemming from an FBI investigation into stolen artifacts. The Fenn treasure was finally apparently found in June 2020 (location still a secret) and Fenn died at the age of 90 3 months later. The fictional Chester Rollins treasure of the novel has a 10 line deathbed composition that apparently points to Eagle’s Nest, Oregon. Truman Daly is the annoyed police chief of that town. What he’s immediately involved in is the report of a mother missing for 2 weeks with her toddler. A missing child case means he can call Mercy (who he recently married) in for official assistance. And the treasure hunt is also producing dead treasure hunters. As the narrative goes on, it’s more and more obvious that solving the disappearances, the murders and the fate of the treasure are intertwined. It’s still a solid police procedural (which I love) that highlights the love of family. 4 stars!

Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): NO Some brown ones and old soul ones and the yellow eyes of Simon the cat, but no green ones.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO The trees are just tall and generally unnamed (well, we know there are pines, of course).

This is the 3rd book in The Columbia River series but can be read as a stand alone. I have not read the others in the series and I was able to follow along. Chief of Police Truman is going crazy due to treasure hunters over running the town looking for a 2 million dollar treasure when he is approach by a teenage boy saying that his mom is missing along with with infant sister. Truman contacts Mercy who works for the FBI. On interviewing the teenage boy "Theodore" it is discovers that he has also been taking care of teenage sister while his mom has been out of town. They are preppers and live off the gird. Their dad recently died and the mom along with the infant sister went to find her brother. Needless to say it is hard to find clues and lots of deep secrets need to be uncover till they find out what happen. One thing that comes to light is the missing mom is related to police detective Evan Bolton. She is sister that has been missing for 14 years and he was not aware she was living in the area or had kids. I enjoyed the book. It was nice to see the interaction between the characters and they keep me guessing until the end.

Received this book for my honest review from Netgalley.

A Thrilling five-star read. This is number three in the Columbia River series, but I didn’t realise that before I started it, I will go back and read them, but other than a couple of references to previous storylines I didn’t feel lost. Truman just wants this whole thing over, people are overrunning his town of Eagles nest, and he has had enough. Then there are missing people and deaths as well as Theodore and Charlotte who added another whole layer to the story, everyone played a special part in this story, and that was what brought the magic together to make a great and compelling read. You need to know what happened to Theodore and Charlottes mum and sister, who is the mysterious treasure hunter, and is the treasure really out there? This story unfolds like the branches or a tree, adding layer and layer until its reached maturity.

Another great story in this series. We follow Mercy, Truman, Evan and Ollie as several different crimes occur. A treasure hunt has brought a flood of outsiders and things start to escalate. This stands fine alone as well.

Love love love being back in Mercy and Truman’s world. A treasure hunt, murder, missing mom and baby… non stop action.
Great easy read. Works well as a stand alone, but really you are missing out if you haven’t read the Mercy series!
Hoping to see more of these characters.
Thanks Netgalley and Publisher for the opportunity to read this arc! And to the author for bringing these characters back!

- blinks -
Wow. Just wow. I loved it. I have ADHD so sometimes its hard to keep my attention for so long but this book kept my attention. Thank you so much for this ARC.. August can't some soon enough.

This was an awesome story about two seemingly different crimes that somehow were connected. One revolving around a missing mother and father and another about a treasure hunt where treasure hunters were murdered. The missing woman had actually been missing for 14 years and was the sister to sheriff deputy Evan Bolton, although she was reported missing by her children that Evan didn't even know existed. While Mercy investigated the missing mother and father, Evan investigated the murders. Truman sort of helped both, and in sharing and comparing information, they all agreed that the two mysteries were somehow connected. I know, it sounds complicated, but it was really good and well written, so it was easy to follow. There were so many twists, turns and surprises, but again, it flowed seamlessly. I read this in one sitting because it held my attention and I needed to know!

A great read with wonderful characters, I think Mercy and Truman are my favourite characters of all time and in this book the depth of their love has never been so well expressed.
My thanks to net galley and publisher for the opportunity to review this book honestly.

5* Mercy by any other name, and yay for that! An excellent tale.

Whilst this tale doesn't officially class as within the Mercy Kilpatrick series of tales, it is a MK tale, and a very welcome one at that, as we get to see her operating as an FBI officer while being a wife and sort-of mother to her niece and her husband Truman's ward. I never saw her as the mumsy type and she isn't here, but she does have her newly extended family at the forefront of her mind, whilst also giving all to her cases.

Though this tale is on Truman's patch, he doesn't come across as prominently or as strong a character as MK, but that's not a criticism; this married couple, these law enforcement officers, dovetail and there's no posturing or undermining or ball measuring or oneupmanship and they work well together. MK hasn't left her prepper background behind her, and it serves her well here, as her instincts are on point.

The tale is well done and though I did have a moment of 'Hmm. X and Y seem a bit out of place here', I didn't suspect the identity of the baddies nor did I suspect what drove them. There were a couple of bits that didn't really get explained, such as a prepper falling into a trap or a sister killing a brother and not covering her tracks, but overall this was another 5* tale in the MK universe - from the author's note, it seems as if readers wanted more of MK, so this tale was born and took some 18 months to see the light of day. For quality like this, I'll wait.

I was so excited to get an advanced copy of this book! I'm not sure how long is been since the last Mercy & Truman book, but it felt like forever.

This was an awesome story about two seemingly different crimes that somehow were connected. One revolving around a missing mother and father and another about a treasure hunt where treasure hunters were murdered. The missing woman had actually been missing for 14 years and was the sister to sheriff deputy Evan Bolton, although she was reported missing by her children that Evan didn't even know existed. While Mercy investigated the missing mother and father, Evan investigated the murders. Truman sort of helped both, and in sharing and comparing information, they all agreed that the two mysteries were somehow connected. I know, it sounds complicated, but it was really good and well written, so it was easy to follow. There were so many twists, turns and surprises, but again, it flowed seamlessly. I read this in one sitting because it held my attention and I needed to know!

Although this probably could be read as a stand alone, you should probably start at the beginning of the Mercy Kilpatrick series A Merciful Death, for the best reading experience. Even though this book is the 3rd in the Columbia River series, the first 2 books are not based around Mercy and Truman, so again, it could be read as a stand alone,

Bookstagrambrielle

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Chief Truman Daly and wife FBI Mercy Kilpatrick have another case to work with the help of Sheriffs Detective Evan Bolton. The town of Eagle’s Nest is overwhelmed with treasure hunters looking for a $2 million dollar award. People are acting crazy and murders begin happening. Another mystery presents itself when a boy named Theodore and his sister Charlotte report their mother and baby sister Molly missing. It’s a race against time to find the missing mother, the murderers and the treasure. A must read thriller!

In the Pines is a return to Eagles Nest Oregon and the wonderful characters of Mercy Kilpatrick and Truman Daly. Obsessed treasure hunters seeking a prize of $2 million dollars are causing no end of upset in the county. Disturbing the peace trespassing and generally upsetting the residents.
When a boy and his sister go to Truman to report their mother and baby sister missing for the past two weeks Truman and Mercy start unravelling a tale of revenge,family estrangements and violence. When people start being murdered the action takes a turn very much for the worse.
This is, as usual a wonderful read from this author. The surprises, twists, turns and shocks just keep coming.I was engrossed and couldn’t stop until everything is finally revealed in a very satisfying manner.
A great read with wonderful characters, I think Mercy and Truman are my favourite characters of all time and in this book the depth of their love has never been so well expressed.
My thanks to net galley and publisher for the opportunity to review this book honestly.

I liked the change of things in this book.. Mercy and Truman didn't take a back seat but Sheriffs Detective Evan Bolton was front and center along with the mystery of finding out the sister he hasn't seen in 14 years is now missing with her infant daughter and that her other two older kids who have lived off the grid their whole lives are now introduced to their Uncle since their mother has gone missing.

The mystery of trying to find out what happened to Evan's sister and a 2 million dollar treasure hunt that a deceased man put out on this death bed has all the crazies coming out of the woodwork along with murders over finding the treasure which leaves Mercy and Truman with their hands full.

What an exceptional treat to have another glimpse into the lives of Mercy and Truman. Another edge of your seat page turner. Wonderful characters, and perfectly twisted villains..
Thank you for another night of no sleep. No putting this book down until I finished it.
Another winning novel from Kendra Elliot!

YAY! Mercy and Truman are back and all the other characters we fell in love with in Mercy's series.

When a young boy walks in to a cage and sees Truman, Truman expects him to run. But he doesn't and it's the beginning of complete shocker for not only Mercy but everyone associated with her. But can she find his mother and his missing sister before it's too late?

While Mercy is working on that Truman's town is turned upside down in a treasure hunt that anything but a treasure for the town of Eagle's Nest and its citizens. They want them gone yesterday.

Find out what happens in both of these circumstances. It's a wild ride.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fun, fast paced visit with Mercy & Truman. Once I started I couldn’t put it down. I think Evan needs a HEA.

This is the third book in the Mercy Kilpatrick series. As soon as I started reading this book all the characters came back to life for me. I am not fond of treasure hunting storylines but I did enjoy this book. I love the characters and the family relationships formed in this book. I was glad to see more of Ollie and Charlotte. I did have problems with some stupid mistakes made by Mercy. I would never sit down with suspects and just start drinking odd tasting lemonade and cookies. Or, visiting a suspects house without letting some one know where I was

FBI agent Mercy works in the Missing and Exploited Children division of the FBI. Her husband Truman is the chief of police and while eating, a boy comes in and tells him his mother and little sister have been missing for three weeks. Truman sends it to Mercy and they go out and check on the kids. Also a treasure hunt is going on in the town with people arriving to find the two million dollar treasure. A poem is the clue and everyone is trying to figure it out. Between fighting over the treasure and hunting for missing people, it’s not a dull moment in Eagle’s Nest.

There is several point of views, which bothers me but I couldn’t stop reading. Secrets and suspense that will have you reading all night. You might need to read the ones before this one. I didn’t and I was a little confused at times.

* Voluntarily read and reviewed this for NetGalley *

Thanks to Montlake and NetGalley for an eARC to review! In the Pines is a mystery/thriller in the Mercy Kilpatrick series by Kendra Elliot. It will be published August 16, 2022.

Treasure hunters are invading the small town of Eagle's Nest searching for the $2 million treasure left by the deceased millionaire Chester Rollins. Police chief Truman Daly has had his fill of them. While eating at a diner, Truman is approached by a young boy who claims that his mother and baby sister have been missing for weeks. Truman immediately calls his wife, FBI agent Mercy Kilpatrick, and they get to work. Between these missing people and the death of one of the treasure hunters, their work is cut out for them.

I really enjoyed getting back into Mercy's world again and reconnecting with all of the characters in this series! Readers will get to see a lot of Ollie, Kaylie, Mercy, Truman, and Deschutes County police officer Evan Bolton, I enjoyed the plot of this book. I was unsure about the treasure hunting aspect at first, but it ended up adding another element to the plot that I enjoyed. I also loved all of the new characters that were introduced. This book was very entertaining, and I didn't guess the "bad guy.": Overall, I think this was a great addition to the Mercy series and I am excited to see what happens next!

Good read. Great to see Mercy & Trueman and family in the story again.

Treasure hunt with a few murders along the way

Well worth a read

Oh.My.Goodness! The twists! This was just what I needed to get out of my book funk.

In The Pines is the 3rd book in the Columbia River series, but this book is in Mercy and Truman’s world (from the Mercy Kilpatrick series). You don’t have to have read any of the previous series to follow along (I have only read the first book or two from the Mercy Kilpatrick series).

But holy smokes…a treasure hunt and murders and missing people…are they all separate events…are they all related… The twists and turns make it such a fun read.

Thank you NetGalley and Montlake for providing this ARC to review. ~I was given this book and made no commitments to leave my opinions, favorable or otherwise. ~