The Kind to Kill

Another fabulous novel by the author and I love these characters!

Now Senior Investigator, Shana Merchant is back. She survived the hands of the notorious serial killer, Blake Bram and her secret about him is out, which leads to divisions in peoples attitude towards her, including her family. She wants to forget the past and move on but as the story goes on, it is clear not everyone is going to let her. 
As Alexandria Bay fills up for the Pirate Days festival, a visitor goes missing and the case threatens to destroy the celebrations, along with her relationships. The cases aren't as straightforward as they initially appear as the mystery unfolds. 

The story in this series always pulls me in but it's the characters that keep me turning the pages. There were more twists and we see Shana's life in tatters after the revelation about Bram and while he is gone, he is certainly not forgotten in this one. I cannot wait for more in this series, highly recommend.

There are so many red herrings in this book of mystery and intrigue that I could not discern the end. This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. Thanks to the publisher. This is a cannot put down mystery. Although the story moves slowly at times, it comes to a resounding end. This author is talented and gifted at writing a murder mystery. The protagonist is intriguing and her story…amazing what she has gone through…the associates are there for backup with many surprises. I look forward to more books in this series. One of a kind…

Good book! This book had suspense, intrigue, action, great police work and a great who done it! The storyline was very interesting and had me glued to my Kindle! I will definitely recommend reading this book as it was well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

What I love about books is you can get transported to another place. This book takes you to Alexandria Bay in New York. Senior Investigator Shana Merchant is trying to move on with her life after she killed serial killer Blake Bram. Unfortunately, he was her cousin and the public is having a hard time moving past that point.

A woman goes missing from the Admiral Inn after a fight with her husband. Shana is called to try and find her. Her phone shows on tracker that it is in the St. Lawrence so they wonder if she jumped from the bridge. Her body is later found and now they believe there is a copy cat killer on the loose.

The town is about to be filled with tourists for Pirate Days. She must find this killer before they kill again. The hunt is on to find the killer.

Investigator, Shana Marchant, has kept her pursuit of serial killer, Blake Bram on the down low, but now the truth, and Shana’s connection to him are out. Now, Pirate Days has arrived, an annual festival that brings scores of tourists to town. When one of them disappears, Shana has to pull out all the stops to find them, before folks confuse her familial connection to a killer as a sign on incompetence…or worse

Character Driven Suspense…
The fourth in the Shana Merchant series of mysteries and the reader is transported back to the New York Thousands Islands community. Whilst Shana’s darkest secret is out, she still gets on with her life and now needs to focus on winning back her integrity but when a tourist goes missing her work is cut out. The general feeling that she is to blame is one that she just can’t shake. With a wonderfully well crafted cast of credible characters and a well described, atmospheric backdrop this is another worthy addition to this enjoyable character driven series.

Book #4 and just as good as ever! Senior Investigator, Shana Merchant is still dealing with the fact that she is related to a serial killer. She is also now being looked at as someone that attracts trouble even though she is trying to win the town's trust back. The town and characters are what I love so much about this series. The author does a wonderful job with descriptions and building the suspense with so many twists and turns.

The Kind to Kill stands on its own even though it is part of a series.

So I came in a bit late to this series, but I'll go back and catch up and will enjoy reading all further books in this series.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another winner in this series! Shana is such a great character, and seeing her go through such a journey keeps me turning the pages. I love the setting in upstate New York, and also that this is a police procedural. The ending was good and she could end the series right here and it would work, but I hope she doesn’t! I can’t wait to read the next one!

This series gets better with each book! I have loved this series from book 1 and still love it today. I was curious how the series would go forward after the events of the last book but this was a phenomenal way to move forward and open the door, in my opinion, to many more books in the series to come. I loved how the city was incorporated and the pirate festival.. I also loved the twists and turns of how you love Don, then you think Don is guilty, then I thought maybe it was Amos, then maybe Gracelyn somehow... it truly kept me guessing! LOVE SHANA AND TIM!

I love Tessa Wegert novels - honestly they are some of the best stories and she writes in such a way that I do not want to put the books down! I always look forward to when a new one comes out and I get a chance to read them. Excited for the next one!!

Tessa Wegert continues to up her game in each installment of the superlative Shana Merchant series. As atmospheric and gripping as a Tana French novel, THE KIND TO KILL is both a cleverly plotted mystery and a rich, empowering story of a woman fighting to escape the ghosts of her past. Prepare to be transfixed and transported.

Shana Merchant knows the man who held her captive in NYC and terrorized her for years is dead but she is stymied when the deaths in her upstate New York town appear to mirror Bram's crimes. To complicate matters, her family has cut her off and she's being excoriated in the local media. I was curious how this series would continue with the conclusion of the Bram story arc. I didn't need to fear because Tessa Wegert turned out another thrilling adventure. While you will appreciate the story more if you've read the previous books, this can be read as a standalone.

Thanks to Severn House for access to a digital ARC on NetGalley.

I've been a huge fan of the Shana Merchant series from book one and I have a real appreciation for how Wegert can so deftly weave a compelling story while still surprising you in the end. As someone who reads a ton of mysteries and thrillers, Wegert's series always manages to feel fresh to me.

That being said, I was thrown at the start of this one. For starters, I honestly didn't expect any more Shana Merchant books after the third - it seemed like things were (mostly) wrapped up with Shana seeing Tim and her demons being put to rest. But I was very excited to get a fourth book in the series, and it was immediately just, different. In the beginning Shana seemed to be having trouble with Tim being too supportive and too nice, honestly, and to see her trying to back away from that felt so weird. I was really afraid it was going to be used as a plot device to interject unnecessary drama. I should not have doubted Wegert. Not only was their no unnecessary drama because of that move, but Shana grew! And she realized what she was doing! And they talked things out like adults! And it didn't even last for half the book!

Shana does have some issues with her family in this book, which if you read Dead Wind, then it's certainly understandable why. However, that gets settled nicely by the end, as does everything else, of course. One thing I will say is it feels very much like a final book, so I'm not certain we'll see any more of Shana Merchant but I am absolutely on board if Wegert decides to write more of her; for that matter, I'm sold on whatever Wegert decides to write next anyway.

One thing I found really interesting about this one was the way things seemed to come full circle. But also the villain just honestly surprised me so much - in a good way. I thought I had an idea of who the villain was and then their prime suspect is revealed and I was thinking "nah, couldn't be" so then I thought of someone else and I had to flip to the end to check (I know, I know, such a mystery reader no-no haha) and I was blown away by the reveal. That, in turn, made me go back to the point I was at and start speed reading to find out the whys and hows.

All in all, this was a phenomenal book in the Shana Merchant series, and I truly enjoyed it once I realized there wouldn't be drama for the sake of drama. Definitely a 5-star read that I'll be reading again!

I really enjoyed this series. Really hoping Shana Merchant has more life to give to this series.

Good relationships, good story line and suspense.
Definitely a must read series.

I have really loved the Shana Merchant series! At the beginning of this book, I was feeling a little frustrated with a few things Shana was doing, but it definitely turned around. The mystery was one I didn’t guess so that’s fun too!

Many thanks to Severn House, and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of The Kind to Kill.

Former NYPD detective Shana Merchant is a skilled Senior Investigator. She wants to get past the fact that she's bound by blood to a serial killer and just do her job in keeping New York's beautiful Thousand Islands community safe as Alexandria Bay fills up with tourists in advance of the annual festival known as Pirate Days.

"...There are two families involved in every crime: the victim’s, and the killer’s." That is not only true but it's a big part of The Kind to Kill." Shana is such a great character, and she has so much heart. The writing is compelling and atmospheric. (I felt myself sweating as I read about the characters sweating in the heat!) And I absolutely love Tim!!

Ms. Wegert is a talented writer who keeps me coming back for more. I'm looking forward to #5!!

A tourist goes missing during a summer festival celebrating a notorious pirate in the picturesque town of Alexandria Bay in New York State. The fourth installment of Tessa Wegert’s Shana Merchant Novels finds the New York State police detective still trying to fit in to her new community. In town less than a year, she’s investigated more serious crimes than the area had seen in many years. And it seems someone in town blames Shana for that increase in crime, and the bad press coverage that comes with it.

Desperate to make this year’s Pirate Days a financial success, news of the disappearance sends townspeople into finger-pointing and worse. Shana, who is also reeling from family conflicts, tries to keep the investigation on track while fighting off her detractors.

As she and her team race to find the missing tourist, another missing person case from a different jurisdiction raises the specter of a copycat serial killer just as hordes of visitors arrive in costume to celebrate Pirate Days.

Wegert is at the top of her game. Her writing is evocative, and her plot is tight, taking the reader on a sweaty ride through the heat of the real-world August festival with twists that leave the reader guessing until the end. And the best part is that Wegert has crafted a strong female detective, who happens to be the boss, and is so engaging I always miss hanging out with her when I finish one of the books.

This was my first book by this author and it certainly isn't going to be my last! Although this was book 4 in this series that did not affect the readability in any way as enough of the previous stories was told to fill in gaps but without too much detail which means I really want to now read the first 3 books to find out exactly what happened before!
The characters are believable, easy to care about and worry over and the locations are well described to keep the mind image happy while reading. I felt that it was quite a fast paced book and one I didn't want to put down for long when I had to. I had an idea about where this book might have been heading but I was slightly out, the twist when it came was understandable if difficult to predict which for me made for an excellent ending.

Thank you Netgalley & Severn House for an eARC of The Kind to Kill by Tessa Wegert!

I can’t get enough of Tessa’s Shana Merchant investigator books! Here’s to another twisty, atmospheric mystery.

If you’re not familiar with Shana, she’s a former NYPD detective and now Sr. investigator in NY’s Thousand Islands community. She’s a survivor of a serial killer - who she’s related to - and her secret is finally out after concealing the truth from the world. Building her reputation back up, Shana finds herself struggling. She now just wants to get on with her life, but Alexandria By fills with tourist for an annual festival, and a visitor goes missing. Is this linked to Bram? If so, how?

I love Tessa’s books because they are a great balance between police procedural and psychological thriller. The backdrops always make for an atmospheric and chilling ride of a novel. Red herrings galore, I am constantly guessing what's to come next. I absolutely love how Shana’s character and life continues to evolve throughout the series. Please, please, please gives the next story!!

Thank you so much to Severn House and Tessa Wegert for the next book in the fantastic Shana Merchant series! I love this series so much, and I’m thankful that it continued with this book! This book was about a missing woman in the quiet community of A-bay. Crime seems to follow Shana, and even after her serial killer cousin is gone, his memory lives on. It looks like he has a copycat, someone who looked up to Blake Bram and wants Shana to know it. As the town gears up for Pirate Days, a missing tourist is just the beginning.

Thoughts: This book is about the complexity of families and how their actions leave behind a big reaction in their wake. The characters in this book are so well written and have so much emotion going on behind the scenes. Shana is still an amazing main character, but learning about the supporting characters was also intriguing and kept me reading. This book can be read as a stand alone, but I’m happy I read her other books as well!


The idea of a copycat was was eerie, and the mystery was interesting, but the main part of the book was how the characters interacted and related to each other. The setting of the Thousand Islands is fun and the Pirate Days holiday is a great image and a fun part of the story. I love Wegert’s writing, and this book was no exception. I did guess the ending, but it was satisfying nonetheless. 4-stars!

I continue to be impressed with Wegert's writing and what she has been able to do with her two main characters: The PTSD recovering Detective Shana Merchant and Merchant's captor: Blake Bram. In The Kind to Kill, Bram has a very large presence while not actually making a single appearance! This character arc is outstanding and is what has hooked me on this series! With that being said, I do think that this series is better read in order, so if you're interested, start with Death in the Family (and you won't be disappointed, it's one of my favorite books!).

As for Shana Merchant, I love seeing how she continues to recover from PTSD and grow as a human and a Detective. Her work on the copycat killings over Pirate's Day weekend in Alexandria Bay was entertaining and insightful. For a novel that isn't overly long, I am impressed with how much Wegert has packed into these pages. She not only wrote a compelling murder mystery, but she added in a lot of humanity, psychology, and nuances of life, people, relationships, and the twisted mind of a serial killer. The ending of this one had a great twist that I did not see coming but should have! There were just enough clues dropped along the way that I can't believe I missed them, but isn't that exactly the point! Such a fun read and I can't recommend this series enough!

OMG SHE’S BACK AGAIN 👀!!! Badass Senior Investigator Shana Merchant returns in Book 4 of the series by Tessa Wegert! “The Kind to Kill” is the aftermath of Shana’s big SECRET being out in the open and the townspeople aren’t happy with her 🤯

BOOK REVIEW: 🖤🖤🖤🖤/5

Now that it has become known that the serial killer Blake Bram was her cousin, Shana is being treated like his accomplice. Shana just wants to move on … but her past keeps coming back to HAUNT her (and TAUNT her) 👀

The town is getting ready to celebrate Pirate Days, which is a huge tourist attraction for them! However, when a tourist goes missing, it looks like there may be a Blake Bram copy cat in the making. And Shana may be the bull’s eye inside of the target 🎯…

“For two years, I had known my cousin was a killer. When Bram died, I thought I was finally free. I wasn’t counting on him taking more lives from the grave”

The game of cat and mouse continues in this book, even though Blake Bram does not make an appearance. Shana struggles with the broken relationships in her life, while still recovering from PTSD and facing the town’s blame for the increase in crime since she moved to Alexandria Bay.

I absolutely L O V E this series 🖤! I count down the days until the next book releases! I am beyond thrilled and thankful to @tessawegert @severnhouseimprint @netgalley for my advanced digital copy! This book releases on December 6, 2022!! 🖤

Ex-NYPD Shana Merchant is an investigator in the Thousand Lakes region. She is dealing with the aftermath of killing her cousin, serial killer Blake Bram, and the whole affair being outed to the public. Alexandria Bay is filling up with tourists for a pirate summer festival when a tourist goes missing and is later found dead. Shana and her team investigate while trying to keep things calm. A good mystery with a strong, likeable female lead.

The Kind to Kill is the 4th book and begins months after Shana’s secret, that she’s bound by blood to a serial killer, is out in the world. While dealing with personal trauma and guilt, the community is filling up with tourists for an annual festival when a visitor goes missing. As the investigation deepens, Shana finds herself surrounded by local gossip and unwanted attention which threatens to destroy her reputation and the case.

Great writing, smaller town setting, atmospheric and on the slow burn side, this series has been a pleasure to read. Shana is a great character and I love following her on her journey 💕. While this could be read as a stand alone, these are best read in order to get the full story and history of the characters. And all the books are totally worth it!

Is this the end for Shana Merchant or will we see more?

I absolutely have loved this series! Seeing Shana grow and develop away from her trauma of her cousin Bram.

In this fourth Shana Merchant novel we follow Shana as she chases a copycat killer who is using her cousins crimes as motivation for their own killings. Just when she thought she was through with Bram’s torture a whole new one begins. Will she ever truly escape her cousin?

To begin--this is a series that you need to read in order. There's an ongoing thread that will make very little sense if you jump in with a later book, you need the progression. That's not to say you won't get what is going on, but it sure won't have the impact unless you've traveled the long road with Shana up until this point.

We move through two story threads in this book. One, Shana is dealing with some repercussions after Bram's death with her family, her community, and the family members of one of his other victims. People aren't quick to let things go. Two, a man in town reports his wife missing and Shana and her team need to find out what happened to her. Does it have some connection to Shana's past?

I liked this installment better than the third one. I felt like it had more surprises and the mystery case kept my interest. The ending made me a little teary! I'm not sure if this series will continue or not, but there's always more to explore with a police procedural crew even though we've now left the serial killer angle behind.

I do wish this series had better covers. I like the first one, but the rest are not eye-catching and don't really represent the storylines very well, especially this latest one.

What a fun ride!!! I LOVE this series and once again TW has kept me on the edge of my seat with this outstanding fourth novel!!! Former NYPD detective Shana Merchant now a Sr. Investigator is on the trail of a possible Blake Bram copy cat after a female visitor goes missing during her towns annual Pirate Days. But it makes you wonder after seeing similarities to her previous case.. is there a much bigger prize their targeting.. could Shana be in life-threatening danger once again?!?

In the last book we find out the true identity of Bram Stoker which puts Shana at odds with the community. After finding the missing woman’s body, a game of cat and mouse ensues.. but will Shana be able to overcome her own insecurities in time to catch her perpetrator.

This was so fast paced. The atmospheric setting and the intensity of the characters emotions/reactions to one another was spot on pulling me in completely. And the red-herrings were the cherry on top.. as nothing is as it seems until the VERY END! What a fantastic eye-popping, spine-tingling mystery (TW’s so notable for) that kept me on my toes guessing. Another great addition to this series!!! 5 stars — Pub. 12/6/22

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Kind to Kill is the 4th book in the Shana Merchant series by Tessa Wegert.

Let me just say I LOVED the first three books and after I read book 3, I thought that was the end of the series and then I heard BOOK 4 was coming out. I could not wait to get my hands on it and LET ME TELL YOU this book did not disappoint.

If you haven't read this series, this is a crime fiction-police procedural series with a serial killer element.

Can you read this as a stand-alone? YES. Should you? I say start with the first book, Death in the Family| and enjoy the first three books you will not be able to put them down.

It is summertime and Shana is trying to get on with her life. Pirate days is bringing in a lot of tourists to A-Bay. Unfortunately, a tourist, Rebecca disappears, and Shana and her investigative team are on the case.

But this isn't going to be an easy missing person's case. As she pours through the evidence, the evidence is looking similar to the serial killer, Bram. Could it be a copycat?

As much as I LOVE the investigation and all the twists, I really enjoy the character development of Shana and how her personal story impacts the investigation. Her relationship with Tim is probably one of the ones of the best I have ever read.

The setting in a small town in upstate NY creates such an atmospheric vibe that adds so much to the story.

The mystery itself, its twisty with red herrings and NO I didn't not guess or have a clue what the ending would reveal.

Honestly cannot say enough about this book! I am so glad there was another book in this amazing series, and I am hoping for a number 5 !!!!!

The Kind to Kill is the 4th-book in Tessa Wegert's Crime Fiction/Police Procedural series, Shana Merchant. If you are unfamiliar with these books, they follow Senior Investigator, Shana Merchant, who, at the start of the series, transferred from the NYPD to the Thousand Islands region of upstate New York. She does this after having a horrendous run-in with a serial killer.

Initially, Shana is looking for a slower pace then her NYPD position. Alas, it seems murder and mayhem follow her everywhere she goes. I definitely recommend starting at the beginning of this series and working your way through. Although, like many Adult Mystery, or Police Procedural series, you can read any of the books as standalones, or start anywhere along the line, I feel like this series has the greatest impact if you begin with book one, Death in the Family.

In this installment, it's mid-summer and Alexandria Bay is gearing up for their popular Pirate Days event. The town floods with tourists eagerly anticipating the fun-filled annual festival. Shana is still reeling from the events at the conclusion of book three, but she is hoping things will settle down soon enough. Maybe the Pirate Days are just what the community needs to distract their attention away from her and the high profile Blake Bram case for a bit.

Unfortunately, when a tourist named Rebecca, visiting the area with her husband, mysteriously disappears, Shana and her team realize this isn't going to be a normal, relaxed community event. Their resulting investigation could put a dark cloud directly over Pirate Days, a fact members of the local government aren't too happy about. Shana refuses to back down though. Time is of the essence here and they need to find Rebecca; community reputation be damned.

As the investigation digs in, Shana begins to realize a lot of the evidence is reminiscent of the serial killer murders in New York she was involved in. Is it mere coincidence, or has someone targeted the area, targeted Shana, on purpose? Does A-Bay have a full-fledged copy-cat on their hands?

As with the earlier books, I really enjoyed this one. Wegert has done a great job building out Shana's character and backstory. In fact, it is a central theme throughout all the books in the series. The beginning of this had a bit of a slow start for me. There was quite a bit of exploration of the community outlook and others opinions of Shana, her connection to Blake Bram and whether or not she had a culpability in his crimes.

For me, we sort of dug into that side of the story a bit too much at the beginning of this, when I would have preferred the focus to be more on the investigation into Rebecca's disappearance. With this being said, once the investigation does really get underway, I was hooked. I'm hooked into Shana's personal story as well, don't get me wrong, it just felt a little uneven there in the beginning.

The intensity of the case continues to build throughout the book, as more people get involved, including the complicated family of one of Shana's team members. There were some clever red herrings placed throughout and I enjoyed guessing at what the final outcome would be.

Spoiler Alert: I didn't guess correctly!

I'm so excited by the ending of this one. Nice set-up, Wegert! I cannot wait for the next book. Already! It's true, I'm totally invested in this series. Thank you to the publisher, Severn House, for providing me with a copy to read and review.

My favorite Shana Merchant story yet! This one was so fast paced and full of amazing imagery! I loved the setting, the nod to Massena, the plot, and the cast. The entire book was perfectly detailed and I never saw the ending coming!

Can I just tell you how much I love the Shana Merchant Series. It has everything that I am looking for in a book/series. Strong characters that make you care and want to get to know them. An amazing setting in the Thousand Island region of upstate New York. The University of Vermont is mentioned, my alma mater. A solid plot that makes you plunge right in and figure out what is going on. A little bit of romance thrown in. Along with some questionable family members. All of this comes together for one phenomenal read, that I completely devoured. Pages were flying, family was ignored, and I was fully engulfed in all things Merchant.

Shana is still trying to come to terms with who and what her cousin Bram did while he was still alive. He was a serial killer that she finally uncovered and killed to save more lives. All the while trying to deal with the fact that this man was her best friend, her cousin, and was trying to find her in every one of his victims. Talk about family drama! Shana is working a new case; a woman has gone missing after having a very public fight with her husband. As the police begin to dig deeper it looks as though they have a copycat on their hands. Will Shana be able to uncover who is behind the disappearance before it is too late?

I highly recommend this series. Tessa Wegert does an astounding job of keeping you at the edge of your seat. New twists and turns flying at you as you try to uncover who is behind it all. Thank you to Tessa Wegert, Severn House, and Books Forward for gifting me this copy.

Shana is a senior investigator…and she’s related to a serial killer. While it isn’t her who’s the killer, her family is mad at her, and people in town are starting to whisper that she attracts trouble. When two bodies turn up, Shana and the other investigators begin to wonder if this is a copy-cat scenario. As the investigation deepens, Shana can’t help but think maybe the people in town are right about her.

I really enjoyed the pacing on this one – it was fast and engaging. After a while with this one, I caught on, and was able to understand the book and what had happened to Shana in the previous books. I really think that if you’ve read and enjoyed the other three books prior to this – then you will love this. If you read it as a stand-alone, you totally can, just be patient and know pieces will fall into place by the end. This was a great police procedural thriller, and I would definitely read more books from this author.

Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher Severn House, @severnhouseimprint, for my advanced copy in exchange for this honest review. Check this one out December 6th!

#TheKindtoKill #NetGalley Another great addition to the Shana Merchant series. It is dark, twisty mystery.

Fourth book in a great series - I was surprised that another book would be written after the third one wrapped things up so well, so was happy to find this. This series has been popular at the library!

Linda Zagon's review Dec 11, 2022 · edit
it was amazing

Tessa Wegert, the author of “The Kind to Kill,” has written a captivating and intense novel. This is the fourth Shana Merchant Novel and can be read as a stand-alone. It would be better to read the other books in the series. This is my favorite book in the series, and I read it in one sitting. The genres for this novel are mystery, thriller, psychological thriller, and suspense. The timeline for this story is set in the author’s present and goes to the past regarding the characters or events. The author vividly describes her dark and dramatic characters as complex and complicated. It is up to the reader to determine which characters can be suspect or “the kind to kill.” There are secrets, betrayals, danger, threats, and murder. Many of the characters could be suspects.

The protagonist of this story, Shana Merchant, is now a senior investigator in New York. Shanna had been the victim of a serial killer obsessed with her. The serial killer turned out to be someone very close to Shana and blood-related. This serial killer caused many deaths. The killer is dead, but some of the community blames Shana for the crimes. Some relatives of the victims come to the small town and threaten Shana. All Shana wants is to move on with her life.

In a small town in New York, there is a missing tourist. When the body is found, Shana and the Police Department work overtime to find the killer. There are twists and turns and obstacles. Shana is trying to find the murderer and the motive. At the same time, Shana wants the community to trust her. I enjoyed this action-packed thriller and highly recommend it.

There’s not a better feeling than when a new book of one of your favorite series comes out. And if it’s one you’re buddy reading with your book bestie since the first installment…even better!

The Kind To Kill is book four in the Shana Merchant series. Even though you could read this as a stand-alone, I strongly recommend starting at the beginning as Shana’s past and personal background play such a heavy role in all the books. I think knowing about it is key to fully understand her character and truly enjoy every aspect of this story.

Alexandria Bay is gearing up for their most important event of the year, Pirate Days Festival. The town is teeming with tourists so, when a woman visiting disappears, authorities aren’t too happy about it, as it could ruin the whole event. They want the case closed quickly , but Shana and her team soon start to realize there’s evidence tying up this disappearance with the serial killer murders she was involved with in the past. Is there a copy-cat in town?

As with the previous books in the series, Shana is the main star here. The character is really well developed and all the character building the author has been doing since the first book really allows the reader to comprehend where she’s coming from and why she acts as she does, especially when it comes to her romantic life. The first part of this book was more of a slow burn as it dug into the aftermath of the events that happened at the end of book three and how those affected Shana. At first I didn’t understand why it was focusing so much on this, as I thought we were already done with that storyline but, as the pattern within the new case started to be revealed, everything made sense.

Once the story focused on the investigation I was completely hooked. As the case got more and more complicated all my theories went up in the air and, once again, I didn’t guess the culprit.

Lots of red-herrings and misdirection had me completely fooled, although there were some cleverly placed clues throughout the pages. The outcome was really surprising as it did not crossed my mind at all.

I don’t know if there will be a book five in the series, but after that ending…IT BETTER BE!

Another fantastic buddy read with my friend @itsallaboutthethrill. I’m sure one day we’ll guess the killer correctly…or not!

Thanks to Tessa Wegert, NetGalley and Severn House for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow this series is just fabulous! I love Shana and it has ben great seeing her character develop. This was just such a great book and I love the authors writing.

𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘢𝘵𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘧𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤!

I’m a big fan of Tessa Wegert and each book in this series gets better. Simply addictive, dark, twisty, impossible to put down. Shana is one of my favorite characters and I hope there are more books to come soon. You need to read this series!

Thank you Suzy Approved Book Tours for this tour invite.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗞𝗶𝗹𝗹 by Tessa Wegert, Author released December 6, 2022.

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

Thank you NetGalley and Severn House for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Shana Merchant is back with another big case to solve! This is the second book I’ve read in the series. It can be read as a stand-alone because Tessa Wegert does an awesome job of providing a detailed backstory of Shana. I love the complex, detailed characters. I also love the flow of the case, atmosphere, and pace of the investigation. This one definitely had me guessing to the end! Can’t wait for book 5!

This book is a solid follow up to the previous 3 books featuring Shana. She is a strong female police officer who has experienced extreme trauma. That trauma comes back to her again in this novel, but with a twist. There are new characters introduced that develop the town and the storyline. I am not sure if this is the final book in the series or not. It felt like there could still be more to tell…..

Thank you so much to Suzy Approved Book Tours for including me and sending me a e-book copy!

When I met this cute blond wirh a big smile at Bouchercon I couldn’t fathom that she would write a tale so dark I’d have to sleep with my door barricaded. Loved this book love the author and love the series

What a whirlwind ride! If you like a good mystery then you should definitely check out this series! I started with book 3 and while they can be read as standalone books, there's definitely a thread I would have followed better if I'd started at the beginning.

Anywho, there's not a whole lot I can say about this one without giving away pieces of earlier plot lines…. Bram being gone, Shana dealing with the after effects of him, etc. A great read!

In the terrible basement where Bram kept Shana, a young policeman had tried to save her and lost his life. Little A-Bay, after the death of Bram, is trying to get back to normal. Normal means tourists and Pirate Days. Shana is trying for normal, too. Continuing her relationship with Tim has become the most healing aspect of it. But like a stone thrown into a pool, the ripple effect of Bram’s life and death hasn’t ceased.

Another wonderful installment in the Shana Merchant series, number four. I’m not always a fan of police procedurals but what I love about this series is the seamless weaving of Shana’s personal life with her work life. You can blame that on Bram, of course. One of the best threads in the new novel is the journalist who wants to highlight the families of serial killers. As in Shana’s case, the families end up enduring the most of the blame, and he wants to give them a voice. Another dilemma for Shana, as she wants nothing more than to disappear into what she does best, her police work.

This is a book to be absorbed by, a more thoughtful book I wouldn’t exactly call a page-turner, but I certainly had a hard time putting it down.

A 5-star read, highly recommended.

I have read all of the books in the Shana Merchant series by @tessawegert and at this point, I feel like I am friends with Shana. The Kind to Kill is the latest installment and it involves a missing tourist on the island that gives off copycat vibes to senior investigator, Shana. The whole cast of characters from the island and the local police station are all back. Shana’s stresses and emotional damage from her previous captivity by a serial killer are back. And Shana’s incredible ability to solve crimes is definitely back. This book had me on the edge of my seat. It was a gripping and chilling psychological thriller that kept me guessing and gasping until the very end. I really hope there is a 5th book coming because I am so invested in this series.

Tessa Wegert has once again shown herself to be an impressive crime thriller author with this new installment of the Shana March series. The Kind to Kill is a slow burn, but it is also smart and thoughtful. After book three I was curious about the new direction of the series, however all concerns were pushed to the side when Shana proved that she was the star of this series, not Bram.

While The Kind to Kill can be read as a stand-alone, I highly advise doing yourself a favor and read the previous three books. These police procedural thrillers just get better and better. I highly recommend this entire series!

Might be my favorite of the series!! Shana Merchant is definitely one of my favorite characters in crime fiction. She is a detective that has been through SO much, but still comes off as badass. I really enjoyed this installment. It was still connected to Bram without him being alive, and it was nicely done. If you haven't picked up any of these, you are missing out!

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

Detective Shana Merchant, formerly of the NYPD and now of the Thousand Islands community close to the Canadian border, has survived the trauma of having been captured by serial killer Blake Bram and is trying to put the ordeal behind her. Unfortunately, word has now gotten out that Shana was actually related to Bram, and everyone is blaming Shana fro something. Her family has ostracized her for not telling them of her suspicions while she investigated his crimes, and the widow of one of Bram’s other victims keeps loudly proclaiming that she holds Shana responsible for not jumping to her husband’s rescue while Shana was herself being held captive. All of this takes place during Alexandria Bay’s major tourist event of the year, when thousands of visitors show up for the annual Pirate Days festivities. Shana investigates the disappearance of a missing visitor, and in this effort she receives little help from public officials afraid that publicity from her case might pose a threat to the tourist industry. This is a solid police procedural with an strong protagonist and an appealing setting. The current case feels like it takes a back seat to the trauma of Shana’s reentry into normal life amid the revelation that Bram was part of her family. Although I hadn’t read any of the previous books in the series, I had no problem reading this as a standalone; the author provides ample explanation of Shana’s previous and highly personal serial killer case. The problem is that there is so much focus on the serial killer angle that everything else in this novel feels secondary, and it was hard to avoid wishing I had just started with the previous book instead.

Thanks to Netgalley and Severn House for a digital advance review copy.

The Kind to Kill by Tessa Wegert is the fourth in a series of mysteries featuring Senior Investigator Shana Merchant. While each is written as a stand-alone, they are best read in order to get the full flavor of the continuing narrative and to understand the rich history between Shana and the serial killer Blake Bram. As tourist season hits the small community of Thousand Islands, a visitor goes missing and Shana’s reputation is once again on the line.
The mystery at the heart of this novel is complex and twisty, making it a truly riveting read. The fast pace and atmospheric setting both add to the tension, as the novel races to a edge-of-your-seat conclusion. With complex characters and a well-thought-out plot, this is a must-read for fans of crime fiction who love the blend of psychological suspense and police procedural.

“𝙀𝙫𝙞𝙡 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙢 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙨; 𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙠 𝙤𝙣𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙝, 𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙢𝙨 𝙩𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙠𝙮𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙟𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙜𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙨 𝙪𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙥𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙖𝙣𝙨. 𝙄𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙣 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩. 𝙄𝙣 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙩, 𝙞𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙙.”

The Kind to Kill is the 4th book in Shana Merchant series. This book takes place 2 years after the last book in the series. It’s once again told in first person from Shana’s POV. This book is both plot and character driven which I love. This book took place during pirate week in Alexandria Bay which is my absolutely favorite time to visit A-Bay 🏴‍☠️

Once again, Tessa Wegert did not disappoint with this book!! Let me start by saying once again that I LOVE Shana Merchant. I started this series a while back and I’ve been anxiously waiting for this once I heard Tessa got signed on for 2 more books for Shana! Yes, that means there will be a book 5 😮😉 it typical Wegert fashion, this is a fast paced book that will have you thinking you figured it all out but then bam more twists. I looooved the ending and it was something I’ve been rooting for very early on in the series. I highly recommend you check this series out! Now I’ll be anxiously waiting for the next book as I’m not ready to let Shana go yet.

I’m unsure how to explain my love for this series without giving too much away. But I will tell you this is one of my favorite thriller/police procedural series.

After the first three books, I couldn’t imagine Senior Investigator Shana Merchant going through more pain and trauma. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘺𝘦𝘵.

Shana is trying to start fresh after her horrendous ordeal with Blake Bram. Bram was the serial killer who abducted her and then released her, only to play a sick game of cat and mouse with her. Now, with Bram gone, she wants to win over the small, island community of Thousand Islands. But when a female tourist goes missing, Shana’s past haunts her. People won’t stop linking her to Bram, and now the case eerily looks like Bram’s handiwork.


You could read 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐊𝐢𝐥𝐥 on its own as some background is given, but you’d miss out on a lot of great reading and character development.

Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours and @tessawegert for a spot on tour and a gifted ebook.

I love a series that gets better with each installment!
In this, the fourth book in the series, Shana Merchant is dealing with the backlash of being related to a serial killer. Articles are being written, the gossip is in high gear and trouble and death seems to follow her wherever she goes. Just as the small town of Alexandria Bay prepares for their big annual summer event, Pirate Days, Shana gets the call that a woman has gone missing. When it's discovered that another woman in a neighboring town has been found dead and from what appears to have the now dead serial killers MO, things switch into high gear as it seems there may be a copycat killer on the loose.

Although this can be enjoyed as a stand-alone, I recommend you to start with Death In The Family and continue from there. The character development throughout is superb and it only gets richer as the series progresses. This story is the perfect mix of police procedural and psychological thriller. The tension builds with every twist and turn and there are many possibilities as to who the killer is. I was highly satisfied by the reveal and ending as I had guessed wrong but it made perfect sense. All I can say is if you aren't reading this series yet, what are you waiting for?

I don’t read many series but I love this one and was eagerly anticipating the next installment. This was an incredible read. It exceeded expectations and kept me guessing throughout! Shana Merchant has become my favorite detective and it’s always nice to get back to A-Bay.

Tessa Wegert writes great thriller and this a very good one: gripping, fast paced, twisty and full of surprises.
Shana Merchant is a well plotted and interesting characters, a strong woman who fights and wants to go on with her life.
The plot is well developed and flows, it kept me on the edge and guessing.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

This book was amazing! I swore I wasn’t going to get sucked into any more series. How wrong I was.

The Kind To Kill is the fourth Shana Merchant installment but it’s a great stand alone. I haven’t read the first three books (which I will now be reading) and wasn’t lost at all.

Serial killer(s), family drama and a touch of romance make this such a fun book and a wild ride .

This series is right up my alley.

I LOVE this mystery series that mixes police procedure with a strong main character, Senior Investigator Shana Merchant.

It’s summer in A-Bay and Shana is being stalked by the wife and brother in law of a NYPD patrol officer killed while trying to help Shana escape from serial killer, Blake Bram, two years ago.

While it’s the Pirate Days festival in town, there is also a new killer in the area that may be a copy cat killer of Bram.

In book four, Shana not only must solve the murders, but come to grips with being a violent crime survivor and handling the notoriety that comes with it.

Besides the mystery itself being a perfect blend of twisty and dramatic, what really hit home with me being a huge fan of all things true crime is the lasting impact of the crimes on both the families of the victims’ and the killers’.

You could read this as a stand alone as the mystery in this book is self contained, but I think a lot of the intense background on Shana and Bram would be lost if you read this book without reading the first three.

The Kind to Kill
Author, Tessa Wegert
Available now!

Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours @tessawegert @severnhouseimprint & @netgalley for my e- arc! I was so excited to have the opportunity to read the fourth novel in the Shana Merchant series!

Who else loves small- town twisty mysteries solved by strong female senior investigators? Shana Merchant is a fierce survivor who is just trying to have a normal relationship and attempting to live a low- key lifestyle without the public knowing all the dark secrets from her past.

But as New York's atmospheric Thousand Island community prepares for an annual festival and the tourist's attention is attracted by unreliable gossip from the past, an out- of- town visitor goes missing and Shana and her team are challenged with learning the truth.

Although fourth in the series, The Kind to Kill can be read as a stand- alone as Wegert seamlessly catches up her readers with Shana's past and dives right into her gripping and tense police procedural. Of course, I am a big fan of reading the series from the beginning rather than jumping right in, but you can absolutely do either!

For fans of family drama, crime, and thrilling suspense, the entire Shana Merchant series is for you!

From my blog: Always With a Book

This is the fourth book in Tessa Wegert’s Shana Merchant series and let me just say this series is one of my favorites! I love that each book is better than the last. It really is the perfect combination of police-procedural and psychological thriller…and I cannot read them fast enough!

While this book totally could be read as a stand-alone, I highly recommend reading the series as a whole. Yes, there is a self-contained case for Shana and her team to solve, but this one in particular relies heavily on the continuing thread that was started in the first book and has been building ever since. This thread really is a crucial part of the current case and while the author does give a bit of the backstory for those who are new to the series and haven’t yet read the previous books, you will have a much richer reading experience if you have. But maybe if this is your first time reading a Shana Merchant book, it will leave you eager to go back to the beginning!

What I really loved about this particular installment was the continued character development that we still get, even at book four. Seeing Shana recover from her PTSD and how it has affected her has really made this series and takes center stage here. The idea that a copycat is looming wreaks havoc on Shana, especially knowing that Bram is gone. Why would someone be doing this and is it at all connected to Shana?

This book kept me glued to the pages and was easily a binge-worthy read. I had so many theories as to who might be behind things, and it wasn’t until right before the reveal that I started to figure it out. That in no way detracted from my enjoyment – it only enhanced it because I had to know the why! So many good twists and turns and red herring to really keep you on your toes, and I loved that even with a serial killer we still get a look at the psychology of things. This is just such a well-crafted story, and I cannot recommend it enough! If you love a good cat and mouse game, where nothing is as it seems, this one is definitely for you!

I do hope this isn’t the last of this series…I need more Shana, especially with that ending!

4.5 stars, rounded up.

Don’t you love it when a series keeps getting better and better?

I am so glad that Tessa Wegert has written her fourth book in the Shana Merchant series!! This has become one of my favorite series, and Shana is a phenomenal character. She’s a badass but she’s really vulnerable as a result of all she’s been through in dealing with a serial killer and the fallout when their identity was revealed.

A senior police investigator in the Thousand Islands in upstate New York, she’s hoping that the chaos will die down now that the killer’s case is finished. But the national publicity surrounding it—and Shana’s role—continues to rile up the community, and many call her fitness for duty into question.

In the heat of summer, the famous Pirate Days festival is about to bring thousands of people to the area, giving local businesses a much-needed boost. But when a visitor disappears after an argument with her husband, another murder is the last thing the community needs—or Shana, for that matter. Because the feeling that the community was safer before Shana arrived is starting to grow—and she’s not sure they’re wrong.

I kept the plot a bit vague because while you can read this as a stand-alone, it’s even better if you start with the first book in the series, Death in the Family. These books are mysteries and psychological thrillers with some fantastic character development, even a little romance.

Hope the series keeps on going! Thanks so much to Suzy Approved Book Tours, Severn House, and NetGalley for inviting me on the tour and providing an advance copy of the book. This publishes 12/6. Don’t miss it!

The Kind to Kill by Tessa Wegert.
Former NYPD detective Shana Merchant is a skilled Senior Investigator keeping New York's beautiful Thousands Islands community safe. She's a loving partner. A strong woman. A survivor. She's also bound by blood to a serial killer. And after months of concealing the truth from the world as she hunted Blake Bram down, her secret is finally out.
Really good read. I did enjoy this book. 5*.

This is book #4 in the Shana Merchant Series. After reading and being very happy with book #3 because all of my questions about Bram were finally answered. I was curious about what book 4 could possibly be about. Bram is dead so who can the killer be?
This one kept me guessing right up until the very end. I started second-guessing myself, is Bram really dead? Is this another relative we don’t know about? Or is it a copycat?
Fast paced, suspenseful and a feeling of hopefulness that Shana is on the right path to healing old wounds.

If you have enjoyed this series as much as I did then you won’t want to miss this one!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Kind to Kill by Tessa Wegert (out tomorrow!)

The Kind to Kill is Book 4 of the Shana Merchant series, and it did NOT disappoint 👏🏻

I was a little nervous going into this book, because a major plot line for the last 3 books ended, and I was unsure what the author would do next. Well…I didn’t need to worry!

I love the mystery and twists in this book, the progression of Shana and Tim’s relationship, the beautiful Thousand Islands scenery, and THE ENDING ?!?!?!?

Huge thanks to @netgalley, @tessawegert, and @severnhouseimprint for the #gifted e-copy!

If you haven’t read this series, I highly recommend getting started! And if you do, I recommend reading the books in order.

I’m now impatiently waiting for Book 5 (please tell me there’s a book 5!?!).

The fourth book the Shana Merchant series is the Kind to Kill! @tessawegert has me hooked on this series.

We are back in Alexandria Bay, NY, right on the Canadian border. It’s their big annual festival called Pirate Days and local businesses need this to be a success to sustain them through winter. However, Shana is called to duty when a tourist goes missing.

She’s dealing with some reputation issues after her cousin Bram follows her to A Bay. People believe that she’s the reason for the recent crime that has been happening in their coastal town. She tries to focus on the current missing person, but she is also trying to reunite her family after Bram’s actions.

I just love this series and Tessa has done a lot with it. Bram is a fascinating character and Shana’s familial history with him always has her questioning how could he do something like this. These books are short and fast pace; the perfect books to binge in one sitting!

Thank you to @suzyapprovedbooktours @severnhouseimprint and Tessa for my ebook. The book is out now! I’m really hoping there’s a 5th book on the way!

This is my favorite out of the Shana Merchant series so far. I loved the police procedural aspect and how the evidence was presented and broken down. There was never a dull moment. Even when Shana was going over her past it seemed like a lead was always being followed. I love trying to guess the “who done it” and the subtle not over the top twists kept me thinking. While this series could technically be read out of order if you read this one first it will spoil the third book a lot. I’m not sure if the series will continue but there was a good amount of closure while leaving it open for Shana’s story to continue.

Thank you @tessawegert @suzyapprovedbooktours and @netgalley for the gifted copy.

This is the fourth book in the Shana Merchant series and I really do love it. Shana is haunted by her previous kidnapping and having allowed the suspect to flee. This is always running along against any crime in the current book in the series. And while the author does a good job bringing you up to snuff on this storyline, I think it is best enjoyed as part of the ongoing series. But it isn't necessary.

This book focuses on a tourist that goes missing after an argument with her husband during the town's Pirate Days celebration. I love how well written these books are and the atmospheric town of Thousand Islands that the author has written about. While this falls within the crime genre, which is usually plot driven, I like how the characters interact with each other. There is great character development. Is the serial killer back, is there a copycat or is the husband to blame?

If you love crime novels with deep characterization, you should read this series.

I absolutely loved this book. Tessa Wegert writes super readable, compelling novels that keep the reader engaged and interested. I’m obsessed with the Shana Merchant series!