🔎 Echo Road by Kendra Elliot & Melinda Leigh 🌡️🚔

Echo Road was the perfect introduction to Kendra Elliot’s work, especially as a longtime Melinda Leigh fan! Together, they’ve crafted a high-stakes thriller that had me hooked from the very first page. Sheriff Bree Taggert is pulled into a gruesome discovery—two bodies in abandoned suitcases—just as FBI Agent Mercy Kilpatrick arrives from Oregon to investigate a senator’s missing daughter. The connection between these two cases is both chilling and incredibly suspenseful, creating an intense game of cat and mouse with a killer who thrives on media attention.

I loved the dynamic between Bree and Mercy—both strong, sharp, and unrelenting in their pursuit of justice. Elliot and Leigh’s combined storytelling brought out layers in each character that really made them stand out, especially for a reader like me who’s already invested in Leigh’s universe. The plot moves fast, with enough twists to keep me guessing and a vivid setting that amps up the tension.

If you’re a fan of Leigh’s work and curious about Elliot, Echo Road is an ideal place to dive in. The suspense, the pacing, and the interplay between the two detectives are top-notch. This duo does not disappoint!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ /5

Have you read other Bree Taggert or Mercy Kilpatrick novels? Tell me your faves in the comments!

Echo Road by Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh is amazing. It’s fast-paced and really keeps you guessing.

Will Bree and Mercy find the culprit before Paige is dead?

These two work well with each other. They both are strong members of law enforcement who know how to stand on their own, but they do an outstanding job of complementing each of their work styles.

Bree Taggert
As the county sheriff, Bree has a lot of responsibility, but she does it well. When a county worker finds two bodies in suitcases alongside a county road, Bree is called to action. She and her deputies start investigating immediately. I don’t think our sheriff fully grasped what she was involved in at first, but once Agent Kilpatrick shows up, she gets it. Things start moving quickly after that.

Mercy Kilpatrick
Agent Kilpatrick arrives in upstate New York sticking her nose into Sherriff Taggert’s case without any explanation. Mercy is looking for a teenage girl but can’t say anything due to the nature of her disappearance.

This is my first book with Agent Kilpatrick as the main character. I like her. She pairs well with Bree and the sheriff’s department, making a formidable team.

The Mystery
Our mystery involves a perverted killer who thinks that he is smarter than everyone. He has taken a teenage girl from Oregon and brought her to his home in upstate New York. His arrogance doesn’t work well for him in the end.

Five Stars
My rating for Echo Road by Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh is five stars. I love the comradery of the two main characters, the authors’ writing style, the characters, and the story. Everything about it is wonderful and witty, and it kept me on the edge of my seat. I highly recommend this book even if you haven’t read any of the other books in either series.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Echo Road by Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh.

Until the next time,
~Jen

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove.

Melinda Leigh and Kendra Elliot have combined their considerable talents to bring together two of their popular crime series investigators, Sheriff Bree Taggert and FBI Special Agent Mercy Kilpatrick, and what a team they make!

Despite the fact that they live on opposite sides of the country, Bree in Grey’s Hollow, New York and Mercy in Oregon, certain similarities in their current cases leads Mercy to Bree’s doorstep. Bree is investigating the unsavoury discovery of two bodies dumped in suitcases at the side of the road by an unfortunate maintenance worker. Both are bodies of young women with long brown hair and bright Barbie pink nail polish on their fingernails and toenails, although autopsy will reveal they were killed at different times.

Meanwhile, in Oregon Mercy is investigating the disappearance of the daughter of a senator, 17 year old Paige Holcroft. So far they’ve managed to keep her name away from the press and public but Mercy knows it’s just a matter of time before the news leaks out. Caught briefly on a security camera, it appears Paige left of her own volition, but dressed differently to her usual casual style in a slinky. Dress, high heels, and wearing bright pink fingernail polish. She took a suitcase with her but left behind her license, car, phone and laptop and deleted all her social media accounts, not something a teenager would willingly do.

Fearing one of the bodies in a suitcase could be Paige, Mercy decides to take Paige’s dental charts to the morgue in Oregon to see if either body is a match. Initially irritated by Mercy turning up in her jurisdiction, Bree is distrustful of her and the two circle around each other, keeping details of their cases close. Although neither body turned out to be Paige, there were sufficient similarities in the cases for Mercy to ask to continue working with Bree to find who lured and killed the women.

This is a complex case, but the gripping, fast paced plot is carefully laid out in alternating chapters narrated by Bree and Mercy. We also hear from the killer who is ruthless and arrogant after getting away with several murders. He likes to play a dangerous game and doesn’t believe a female sheriff could possibly be smart enough to catch him.

This is one character crossover that totally works. Mercy and Bree are already so well developed in their own series but there is sufficient for the new reader to get a good feel for their personalities and the interaction between them is dynamic and fun. Although initially keeping their distance, over time they come to respect each other and forge a good team. They also discover they have similar family situations By the time the cases are resolved, they are firm friends and, hopefully for readers, this means the writing duo of Elliott and Leigh will allow their paths to cross again in the future.

Finally a crossover book with two favorite characters! Sheriff Bree and Agent Mercy are a fabulous team tracking a serial killer. What started as a questionable relationship, the typical law enforcement issue of sizing each other up, ended in a trusting relationship. The story was exceptional and exciting as they chased leads and followed the twists and turns. I love both series and was able to jump in smoothly but a newbie would have no problems following the characters. I was lucky to read this book early and leave my voluntary review.

This book combines the worlds of Mercy and Bree, both have their own series written by the respective authors. The book is filled with suspense from the first, you won’t be able to put it down. I loved how the two main characters interacted. This book could be read as a stand alone but both the Mercy Kilpatrick and the Bree Taggert series are well worth your time. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

We've been begging for this for years! Teased with the Rogue and Widows Island and finally FINALLY we get a cowritten novel from the greats Kendra Elliott and Melinda Leigh. Bree and Mercy partner up to investigate a BDSM serial killer. I laughed aloud when they met; almost though they wouldn't get along but they clicked and work so well together. The novel is nonstop twists and turns and keeps you on your toes. Loved how clever they got on the cuffme site and subject. Had its fair share of gore and horrors that I love! Do not miss this book! Thank you to Leigh and Elliott and NetGalley for the ARC

As a big Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh fan I was really excited to read this book, I enjoyed their other novella collaborations, but wondered how they would bring two of their most popular characters together and I’m so glad they did.

Bree is investigating a double murder when Mercy lands on her doorstep providing little information as to why she was there. There is a possible link between the murders and a disappearance Mercy is investigating and the more they find out, the more positive they both are that their cases are related.

I loved the combination of the two of them. They made a good team and worked so well together. They stood in for each other’s other half who are usually involved in their investigations. I liked how they grew to trust and respect each other.

There are lots of twists and turns to the story which kept me guessing for a while. There were some gruesome parts to the story and it had nice pacing and kept me engaged throughout.

I would love to see them work together again.

This was a super thrilling procedural with a fun crossover of two series! It included chapters from the serial killer's POV as well as a few other characters, but mostly centered in Mercy's and Bree's POVs. Even though the two main characters come from their own separate series, it was easy to follow this as a standalone novel. If you love a fast paced procedural with strong female leads, this one is for you!

Two fantastic authors merging their two strong women in one book. If you have never read Kendra Elliot or Melinda Leigh, where have you been. This is the perfect book to having you hunting down all the Bree Taggerts and Mercy Kilpatrick books. Echo Road has serial killer, young teens making bad choices in our electronic world, women doing what's right and intricacies of a small town budget and more. I sincerely hope we have a second book. Thank you, NetGalley and Montlake. I freely share my honest thoughts and opinions. #EchoRoad #KendraElliott #MelindaLeigh #Montlake #NetGalley


Also on Facebook, X and Pinterest

I love both Mercy Kilpatrick and Bree Taggert! There worlds came together perfectly in a smart well written and entertaining story. I hope to see the two together again.

My two favorite authors, Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh, have done it again. Epic crossover starring Mercy Kilpatrick & Bree Taggert and company. Missing women, unusual circumstances and a serial killer bring Mercy & Bree together to solve a case full of twists. Together these women have found a forever bond.

Love both of these characters and was so excited to get my hands on this book to read. Books written by these authors are gems, hard to put down & will find you longing for the next book, and this one "surprise" is an awesome read.. I have received an advance copy from the publisher and have given a truthful review.

What do you get when you combine two awesome female leads written by two amazing writers? An on the edge of your seat, provocative page turner mystery and suspense story!

FBI agent Mercy Kilpatrick and sheriff Bree Taggert combine their forces to take down a mysterious serial killer, demonstrating the darkness of the human heart as well as the power of fierce female friendships! 🙌🏻💗

Well done!!

What happens when two of the most prolific authors in the world of modern crime novels, Melinda Leigh and Kendra Elliot, join forces to craft an addictive tale of suspense starring their iconic characters, Bree Taggert and Mercy Kilpatrick? You're in for an exhilarating rollercoaster ride through a narrative that grips you from the first page to the last.

As a devoted fan of both authors and their beloved protagonists, I eagerly anticipated the collaboration between Mercy and Bree to tackle a case of unprecedented magnitude. True to form, the novel exceeded my expectations, captivating me in its web of intrigue and suspense until the final page.

The dynamic between Bree and Mercy is electrifying from the moment they cross paths, their initial tension gradually giving way to a formidable partnership fueled by mutual respect and camaraderie. Their evolving relationship adds a layer of depth to an already captivating narrative, leaving me yearning for more of their collaborative exploits.

With every twist and turn, the mystery deepens, pushing Bree and Mercy into a relentless chase filled with peril and deceit. The gripping finale keeps readers on the edge of their seats, hungry for more of this thrilling partnership.

In Echo Road, Melinda Leigh and Kendra Elliot demonstrate their storytelling mastery, crafting a gripping thriller that highlights their exceptional talents.

Kendra and Melinda, I want more of Bree and Mercy's adventures please!

Wow! This book was amazing! I loved the new collaboration between Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh,
The dynamic and developing relationship between Mercy and Bree was fun and exciting. This is a not to be missed book and I hope that there are more to come.

WOW!

I always knew this cross over would be epic! I was soooo right. It was OUTSTANDING. I will say I knew who it was and for a hot minute got annoyed at the dynamic duo for not figuring it out. But it wasn’t long before they were with me. 😉

I love these authors and when they write together it is combustible crime thrillers. Separate they are awesome, together…boom! I read this way too fast. I could not stay away long. I’m looking forward to more.

I love strong female leads and these authors know how to write them.

A double treat. Two authors I love. Two strong female characters I love. The treat - we get them all in one book.

Cross country cases bring FBI Special Agent Mercy Kilpatrick into Sheriff Bree Taggerts world. A serial killer has gone unnoticed until now and with the time ticking to find his latest victim alive Mercy and Bree have their work cut out for them but these are the two you want on the case..

Page turner from start to finish.

I have long loved the characters of Mercy Killer and Bree Tagged. This book is incredible and combines both into one awesome mystery. Loved every minute if it and didn't want it to end
Hopefully the authors will do this agaain

This book is incredibly well written, with the authors blending their fictional worlds together seamlessly. The book was thrilling, and once I started it, I struggled to put it down. I finished the book the day after I started it!

I have read books by both authors and am familiar with both of the main characters from previous books. I think this book could easily be read as a stand-alone novel, but I felt that I enjoyed it more knowing the history of both Bree and Mercy.

I would definitely recommend reading this book and would definitely love to see another jointly written book from Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh.