I'm a big fan of the Mercy Carr series, but this was my favorite yet: smart, suspenseful, authentic, and layered. Paula Munier weaves themes inspired by The Odyssey cleverly into a page-turning plot full of atmospheric tension, in a beautifully rendered setting that is by turns cozy (I could practically taste the fresh-baked brownies as Mercy nested into her new hard-won home full of love, warmth, and the loyalty of her four-legged companions) and through-to-the-bone cold in the wilderness beyond. Mercy's navigation of her pregnancy in the midst of an emotional investigation added a depth of meaning and raised the stakes sky-high. Already looking forward to the next installment.

One would think that being nine months pregnant would slow Mercy Carr down, but it's going to take more than that to keep her out of trouble. Approaching spring in Vermont means snow, rain, and mud. That won't keep her and her beloved dog, Elvis, from hiking in the woods to play Scrabble with her friend and semi-hermit Homer Grant. It also helps her avoid her mother's insistent questions about decorating her home on Grackle Tree Farm and planning a baby shower. When Mercy and Elvis reach Homer's cabin, they find a dead body on the floor, along with scattered pages of The Odyssey. A quick search outside turns up a badly injured Homer.

With the help of Elvis and Homer's dog, Argos, Mercy manages to get Homer to a place where she can call for help. At the hospital, they learn that Homer is the chief suspect in the murder. His head injury leaves him unable to recall the event. Mercy is determined to help clear her friend's name, much to her mother's dismay. Mercy's husband, Troy, and his tracker dog, Susie Bear, are called away on a search that leads to another dead body in the woods near a private game preserve. Are the deaths related? Mercy is determined to help prove Homer's innocence, but she does concede to allowing her young cousin, Tandie, to stay and help care for her.

Mercy's pursuit of clues puts her in the crosshairs of some dangerous people. With storms pummeling the area, a murderer on the loose, and a baby on the way, the stakes have never been higher for Mercy.

Paula Munier draws up another solid mystery with clues from her world and The Odyssey. Mercy's investigation leads her into sticky situations that provide thrills and frights. What stands out most is her warm and wonderfully drawn characters. Mercy, her family and friends, and especially those wonderful and amazing dogs, are a delight. This is a fine addition to an always interesting series.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publishers.

The Night Woods is book number 6 in Paula Munier’s Mercy Carr mystery series. Mercy is in her 36th week of pregnancy and antsy. She would much rather walk and map her woods or spend time playing scrabble with mountain hermit Homer Grant than help her mother with décor for the nursery and planning a baby shower. On one particular day when mud season is in full force but there is no rain, sleet, or snow, Mercy and Elvis make the hike to check on Homer. What Mercy finds instead is a dead stranger, a wrecked cabin, and a missing Homer with blood spatter left behind. Elvis tracks a wounded Homer and Mercy does almost impossible feats to get him to the ridge and airlifted out.

After such a taxing day, Mercy welcomes her mother and grandmother who bring food and comfort. But what she and her husband Troy do not welcome is the mysterious note found at their front door of a blue falcon, a military symbol of someone who betrayed you. Is this a message, a warning, or an omen?

Then, there is the missing billionaire Malcolm Chisolm. He has disappeared from the nearby Artemis Club, an elite hunting club for the extremely wealthy. Whether these incidents are connected to one another or not they are still too coincidental to not examine a connection.

Once again Ms. Munier has spun a perfectly plotted mystery that will grab fans of the series and new readers alike. Her depth of research is evident and appreciated. Her characters are rich and real. The settings are so well described that one can almost smell the forest, the mud, and the snow. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it! I also look forward to the net book in this series!

There are good and bad things about this book. I loved every minute of reading. It’s well written, wasn’t predictable and pulled on a few heartstrings along the way. The bad is that I couldn’t put the dang thing down and I went to work on too little sleep. And now I have to wait for the next book.
I love K9 mysteries in general, but this one is great because you get two great dogs. And in this book we even had a couple extras. The search and rescue descriptions ring true and the description of a New England storm was accurate. You never know what you’re going to get but you know it’s not going to be good. I’ve seen more severe storms with wind and flooding in Maine than anywhere else I’ve lived. And none of them were hurricanes.
I did receive this as a free ARC and am leaving this review voluntarily. I keep a watch out for Ms Munier’s ARCs but I will buy the book if need be. This among the series that I recommend to friends.

Fans of Mercy and her canine buddies will rejoice at meeting up with them again. As this entry opens, Mercy is pregnant and a bit restless. One thing that she looks forward to is her Scrabble games with Homer at his cabin. But, Mercy being Mercy, something bigger has to happen and indeed it does. There are murders and Homer is under suspicion-is he guilty of anything? What, if anything, will wild boar have to do with events? What will Elvis and Susie Bear (favorite dogs) do ?

Those who enjoy traditional mysteries, whether they already now Mercy or not, will enjoy this one. I always like spending time with this author’s novels.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press-Minotaur Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

If there is one thing that the very pregnant Mercy Carr can not do it is sit home and help her mother plan a baby shower. She would much rather walk the trails surrounding her Vermont home with her dog Elvis. On her weekly visit to Homer Grant, a hermit who lives in the woods, she finds a wounded Homer and a dead body in his cabin. The victim was Homer’s friend, a college professor who had worked with him. Homer has no recollection of what happened and Mercy is determined to discover who was responsible. Mercy’s husband Troy has also found a body in the woods. It is a billionaire missing from an exclusive hunting club. The more that Mercy looks into the deaths, the more she is certain that there is a connection.

Paula Munier never fails to surprise me with her clever twists. While I love Mercy and Troy, the true heroes of the story are the dogs. Mercy’s Elvis and Troy’s Susie Bear are intelligent and a big part of the family. When Mercy takes Homer in to recover he is also accompanied by his hound Argos. Mercy’s very fashionable mother and her aunt are determined to keep her safe, even though she has Elvis to protect her. They demand that she have her teenage cousin Tandie as a companion until the baby arrives. She is the family problem child who has been thrown out of another boarding school. She quickly proves herself to be helpful and is anxious to help Mercy with her investigation. With quirky characters, a monster storm, dogs, the unexpected arrival of the newest family member and even more dogs, my only question is when will Mercy, Troy, Elvis and Susie Bear return? I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur for providing this book.

Mercy Carr, former combat military, skydiver and local sleuth is in her last trimester of her pregnancy. Her husband, Troy, is a game warden and protective of her as they await the birth of their first child. Mercy is working towards her degree in wildlife management and loves hiking along their property marking the fields. It is on her recent hike, to visit her friend Homer Grant, that she finds herself involved, once again, in a murder. Homer is not home, but there is a dead man in his cabin. Searching for him, she and her dog Elvis, find him injured and are able to get him medical help. The one thing she knows is that Homer could not be involved in the man’s death. Meanwhile, Troy and his boss locate a body submerged in the nearby lake. There is a nearby hunting club for millionaires called Artemis Park, could the man be staying at the park and if so, who murdered him and dumped his body. With Mercy’s help, will they solve the two murders before their baby is born? I have read the entire series, but this story was a bit more confusing, for me, but still an enjoyable read. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

The Night Woods is the sixth mystery in the A Mercy Carr Mystery series. Close to her due date, the last thing she needs is another murder investigation to get involved in, but when she finds a friend of hers hurt and a dead man in his cabin she has no choice. Mercy knows her friend couldn’t have committed the murder and is determined to prove it. Not letting her pregnancy get in the way, Mercy does everything she can to search out the killer, even if it puts her in a dangerous situation. Will Mercy be able to unravel the case before the baby arrives?

I have enjoyed this series from the first book and I’m always excited to see what Mercy and Elvis are getting up to. This is more of a harder core mystery than I typically prefer, I’m a cozy mystery enthusiast, but I really do love this series. This book ties the Odyssey in a lot and I thought it was all done creatively and smoothly. Nothing in this mystery was forced, but it was definitely a unique mystery topic for me. The characters in this series are great and keep me coming back for more. The mystery in this book is fast paced, but there is a lot going on. I didn’t find myself getting lost, but there were definitely a lot of different things woven together in this mystery. I enjoyed this book from start to finish and was kept guessing with each twist and turn. If you are looking for a good mystery series with a strong female lead and her dog, this series is definitely worth checking out! I look forward to seeing if anything else comes from Mercy and Elvis in the future.

The Night Woods by Paula Munier (Mercy Carr #6) 4.5 stars

Mercy Carr is pregnant, really pregnant and the waiting period is making her restless. For an active person, being slow and out of balance can be disconcerting and Mercy is having a hard time. On her walk with Elvis to see her friend Homer, she stumbles on a crime scene in his cabin. A dead body with an axe embedded and Homer is nowhere in the cabin. So Mercy and Elvis are on the job and find Homer, injured in the woods. The mystery as to who killed the man in the cabin and hurt Homer is important, but what is urgent is the need to get Homer evacuated to a hospital. These are the scenes in the first few chapters and what follows are other incidents that appear to unconnected to the first murder. But subsequent clues provide the connecting threads. Can Mercy solve the mystery before she gives birth? You have to finish the book to find out.

I really enjoyed this book. The mystery progressed clue by clue and the suspects were mostly unpleasant individuals. As always Mercy relationships with her family and friends enhance the pleasure of this book. I look forward to the next Mercy Carr book.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur for this ARC.

Rounding up from 4.5⭐
Full of action with complicated fully-rounded characters. After meeting up with a hermit in the nearby woods in Vermont, Mercy drops in to play their weekly Scrabble game to him missing and a body in his cabin. Even though she's close to the end of her pregnancy, she becomes embroiled, with her dog Elvis, in proving her friend is innocent. From The Odyssey to game theory to PTSD, this taut mystery/thriller makes you think while enjoying the ride. Call out to new character, Tandie, can't wait to see more of the resourceful teenager.

The Night Woods maintains the standard of excellence set in earlier books in Paula Munier's wonderful Mercy & Elvis Mysteries series. This 6th book in the series may be my favorite. Like all the other books it is a fast-paced page-turner. Be ready for an almost non-stop race once you start reading The Night Woods; I actually was glad when I reached the plot shifts that gave me time to breathe because I sure couldn't stop reading on my own. I appreciate that fact that Mercy's background in the military police prepares us for her strength and tenacity in solving mysteries that matter to her, even in the 9th month of pregnancy! From the time she finds a body and a seriously injured new friend who becomes an automatic suspect, Mercy refused to let anything slow her down in discovering what really happened.
My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read and review an ARC The Night Woods, an amazing tale by Paula Munier, one of my favorite authors.

#NetGalley #StMartinsPress #Paula Munier #Mercy&ElvisMysteries #TheNightWoods

Fast paced page turner with our infamous Mercy Carr (8 months pregnant) her husband Troy and family members. The new teenage Tandie (Mercy's cousins daughter), new character Homer and dogs! Love the dogs! Tandie the intelligent, all in was a light in the storm and a little joy. Some of the things Mercy does 8 months pregnant has many readers saying it stretches credibility. My mom was shooting hoops at 2 weeks before her due date :) The hunting part goes on all over the world, and I put on my blinders I hate it, I am not vegan but man, to shoot just for sport..... use the meat, the skin, etc like Native Americans did. Please not, I have not scored this book based on my own personal preference. I recommend the series. Every puzzle intrigues, their personal growth is enlightening. Thank you for the advanced copy. I freely share my honest opinions and thoughts! #TheNightWoods #AMercyCarrMystery #PaulaMunier #StMartinsPress #MinotaurBooks #NetGalley

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Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

“The Night Woods” by Paula Munier is the sixth installment in the Mercy Carr Mystery series, and it continues to deliver the intricate storytelling and rich character development that fans have come to expect. Set against the backdrop of a snow-laden Vermont, this novel weaves together themes of survival, resilience, and the haunting echoes of the past.

Mercy Carr, a former military police officer, and her loyal search-and-rescue dog, Elvis, find themselves embroiled in a new mystery when a wild boar escapes from a nearby exclusive hunting club. As Mercy navigates the treacherous winter landscape, she uncovers a series of murders that seem to be connected to the club and its members. The plot thickens with the inclusion of literary themes from “The Odyssey,” adding depth to the narrative as it explores the struggles of returning veterans like Mercy and Elvis, who suffer from PTSD.

Munier excels at creating multi-dimensional characters. Mercy Carr is a compelling protagonist, balancing her vulnerability with a fierce determination to uncover the truth. Her relationship with Elvis is one of the highlights of the series, showcasing the bond between humans and their canine companions. The supporting cast, including Mercy’s grandmother Patience and her love interest, game warden Troy Warner, add richness to the story, each bringing their own strengths and complexities.

Munier’s writing is evocative and precise. She paints a vivid picture of the Vermont wilderness, making the setting almost a character in its own right. The narrative is well-paced, with enough twists and turns to keep readers engaged without feeling overwhelmed. The integration of “The Odyssey” into the storyline is masterfully done, providing a thoughtful commentary on the hero’s journey and the scars of war.

“The Night Woods” delves into several poignant themes, including the impact of PTSD on veterans, the ethics of hunting, and the power dynamics within exclusive communities. Munier handles these topics with sensitivity and insight, making the novel not just a thrilling mystery but also a reflective and thought-provoking read.

The Night Woods is an excellent addition to a wonderful series. K-9 books are my catnip, and this book gave me exactly what I was a hoping for: several mysteries (are they related?), danger, wonderful characters (including Mercy's cousin Tandie, who fits right in), and dogs!!! This book kept me interested from the very first page. There's a lot going on, but the story is nicely paced and had me reading until I finished the book. I can't wait to read what's next!

Thanks to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

The woods are Mercy's refuge from making all the baby decorating decisions and a chance to get some exercise while exploring her new property. When she goes to check on her hermit friend Homer, she finds a dead man in his cabin and her dog Elvis manages to find a wounded Homer and his blood hound Argos. She manages to get help, but now has a mystery on her hands. Her mother Grace, horrified at yet another dog in the house and Mercy stumbling into yet another mystery, asks Mercy to take in her cousin's daughter Tandie, who has been kicked out of yet another boarding school. Tandie does a great job running interference for Mercy while also being with her all the time. Adding to the puzzle, her Uncle Hugo and billionaire Feinberg come asking for help with the death of the head of a group based in secrets at Artemis Park. She spends the time trying to figure out if the two cases have any similarities and how the novel, "The Odyssey" plays in the mystery and the clues it can give. There is the usual mix of a great cast of characters, danger, intrigue, and the love of friends and family. Highly recommend.

Poor Mercy. She is very pregnant, bored, and is trying to limit her activity to walks in the woods. Naturally, two cases fall right in her lap. And a mysterious warning is found at her front door. Is it for her or for Troy? Suddenly, Mercy is up to her eyeballs in investigations as she and Troy await the birth of their child. This story never slows down!

The Night Woods finds Mercy Carr solving a crime while also managing her late-stage pregnancy. Expecting her first child has Mercy reflecting on her life, her family, her responsibilities . . . how much danger can she run into while carrying her child? All of this provides a deeper and more philosophical tone to this book than previous books in the series.

But there’s still lots of action! The book opens with a prologue about someone getting their throat slashed, and as the book continues we see more bodies, including one found in the cabin of Mercy’s new friend. She doesn’t believe the old hermit she’s been playing Scrabble with is guilty, and joins in the search for the actual killer. The investigations turn into a complex, entangled web of motives and murder. And even while pregnant, Mercy is determined to follow through on the leads she uncovers, trying to balance her need for safety with her desire to find justice and solve the crime.

The ending is exciting and a little scary, but eventually all of the strands are untangled and the mystery unraveled!

The whole gang from previous books is here, and the gang is growing even before there is a new baby! Mercy’s cousin’s daughter comes to visit and is a great addition to the family and friends surround Mercy and Elvis (her search dog, if you are new to the series). Troy and Susie Bear, Mercy’s mother and grandmother, her friends in the police, Troy’s game warden boss, all are here, and it’s great to see how these relationships have grown and developed over time.

If you already read this series you will love The Night Woods. If you don’t already read the series, you should! Start at the beginning so you can see how Mercy and Elvis, both war veterans with PTSD, find peace and love while solving some gruesome murders.

I can't think of another mystery that has a subplot involving the Odyssey! Don't worry if you haven't read the poem or, for that matter, earlier installments in this excellent series-Munier gives good back story and the poem is relevant in more ways than one. Mercy is 36 weeks pregnant and bored but the last thing she expected when she set out on a walk with Elvis was to find a murder scene at her friend Homer's place. And Troy didn't expect to be involved with a different murder. And you might not have expected to learn about the problem of feral hogs and wild boar but you will. There's murder, there's a big storm, and there are a couple of good mysteries here along with terrific characters. Fans will be pleased to welcome a few new ones including Tandie, Homer, and Argos. It's atmospheric, it's twisty, and you might fund yourself wishing you had a grandmother who is not only a vet but also bakes. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. No spoilers as to the gender of the baby. I'm really looking forward to what comes next.

This mystery is wrapped up in a major storm, a pack of dogs and the Greek classics. If you are a fan of mystery solving dogs and "The Odyssey" you should just love it. I am more than a little in love with Mercy's cousin, 15-year-old Tandie. She is just like my granddaughter: so smart she is in continual trouble, but fiercely loyal and protective. Mercy and Troy are having a baby, but that hasn't slowed Mercy down at all, even as she enters the home stretch. This is a wonderful cast of characters and even if she tries, Mercy just can't seem to stay out of the murder solving game.

It's mud season in Vermont that period from late winter to early spring. Rain, snow or sleet at any time, and likely to change hour to hour. In other words - nasty weather. Mercy is feeling closed in so a hike to visit her new friend, reclusive classics scholar Homer, for their weekly Scrabble game is in order, even if it means trudging through ankle deep mud. When she gets to Homer's cabin, she doesn't find Homer, but she finds a dead body. Elvis finds an unconscious Homer and they get him to the hospital. Mercy's mother, Grace is beside herself and orders cousin Tandie, who was recently expelled from yet another boarding school, to stick to Mercy and keep her out of trouble. Tall order for a 15-year-old.

When Mercy returns home her security expert Uncle and Daniel Feinberg, Vermont's only billionaire, are waiting for her. A friend of Daniel's, billionaire Alister Chisholm III, has gone missing from the very exclusive hunting club, Artemis Park. Also missing are wild boar. Working theory is that Alister was following the boar, and no one knows what has happened to him, but they don't think it is anything good.

Like a puzzle, Mercy keeps working the pieces of the two murders and finds herself in danger, not just from the storms, but from a murderer too.

My thanks to the Publisher and the Author for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart


Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.



I enjoyed continuing in the Mercy & Elvis Mysteries series. I know the world and the characters now. In The Night Woods, Mercy is very pregnant and goes walking around the property and its woods. She is skilled, mostly fit, and has Elvis with her but I felt it was a bit ridiculous. She finds a dead body and an injured man. Troy finds a dead body on his hunt for feral pigs.

Mercy takes on the investigations and is not always making good choices in running around without preparations and in the worst weather conditions. She does put things together and figure out what happened but she faces some real danger. I didn't feel like there was as much story relating to the dogs and using their skills or it was skimmed over and I enjoy those parts.

The character developments, home renovation and family storyline was well-written. I enjoyed the addition of Tandie. She fit well with Mercy and hopefully she will be around again. Brodie was more present in the case and had some great special knowledge.

Troy and Mercy are renovating a lovely old home with their new child on the way. Their relationship is solid, based on the wildlife and dogs and family, with less fuss over decorating or party themes. But they manage to navigate the family well even though it can be exhausting. I thought Mercy should get more rest at the end of her pregnancy, too.

I enjoyed everything about reading with the cases and character happenings. I didn't find Mercy's choices as believable and wanted more dog time. I look forward to more in the series!