NUMBER OF HEARTS: 4
Another wonderful read by Ms. Elliot. I always enjoy a good suspense book that keeps me guessing. Just when I think I know what is going to happen I am lead down a different path.

A Merciful Fate is heavier on the mystery suspense then the romance. I honestly think this might have been one of my favorite Mercy books. I really enjoyed the mystery, the emotions and the love between Mercy and Truman.

I can’t wait to see what is next for Mercy and Truman. While I would love for them to finally have some downtime and live a nice boring life. But I want more Mercy books.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley & Montlake Romance
in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

Book Info
Paperback
Expected publication: January 15th 2019 by Montlake Romance
Original Title A Merciful Fate
ISBN 1503903303 (ISBN13: 9781503903302)
Edition Language English
Series Mercy Kilpatrick #5
Other Editions (3)
Source:Netgalley EARC

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BOOK BLURB


In the next book in the Wall Street Journal bestselling Mercy Kilpatrick series, there are no such things as little secrets…

Raised by preppers, survivalist and FBI agent Mercy Kilpatrick has a deep-rooted need for a safe place. Her getaway in the Cascade Foothills is her secret. But when skeletal remains are unearthed—those of a murdered man linked to a notorious heist—Mercy realizes she isn’t the only one with something to hide.

Thirty years ago, an armored-car robbery turned deadly. The mastermind was captured. Four conspirators vanished with a fortune. One of them, it appears, never made it out of the woods alive. For Mercy and her fiancé, Police Chief Truman Daly, their investigation opens old wounds in Eagle’s Nest that cut deeper than they imagined. Especially when a reckless tabloid reporter draws fresh blood. It’s clear to Mercy that somebody in this close-knit community is not who they seem to be.

Some are still shattered by the heist. Some still have reason to be afraid. But which one will kill again and again to hide three decades of secrets? To land this case, it’s up to Mercy to unmask a familiar stranger before someone else dies.

My Thoughts


When a skeleton is accidentally discovered in the woods outside Eagle's Nest it is determined to be a member of the group who committed a thirty-year-old armored-car robbery.

Unfortunately for Mercy and Truman this discovery sets off a chain of events that neither one expected or of course were prepared for.

Who is responsible for the successive fallout following the remains identification becomes the couples number 1 priority, especially when things turn deadly for Mercy once again.

Mercy Kilpatrick is truly coming into her own as a sympathetic character to others rather than only thinking of her own self and her own needs as she has in the past.

Although in this book there are different protocols in place the edgy and sometimes dark areas which are explored in the story still grab the reader as effortlessly as previous 4 books have done.

For me there is a lot of growth in many areas for the main characters with room for more to come in future books.

The mysteries surrounding the crime investigations were at times transparent to this reader as I managed to correctly interpret clues sooner than our intrepid FBI agent and her fellow Law Enforcement personnel.

However, that being said there are still many ways for Mercy to still be a character I want more from in the future as she and Truman still have a wedding ceremony to come.

[EArc from Netgalley]

On every book read as soon as it is done and written up for review it is posted on Goodreads and Netgalley, once released then posted on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles as well.

I love this series and A Merciful Fate was a great read! Suspenseful and intriguing,

I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery of the story, but also the relationships that are new and those that grow deeper. Mercy and Truman were the sweetest and sexiest in this book than any other. Ollie is a sweetheart. Rose and Nick, etc.

Love this series!

This is book five in this series, I hope you started from the beginning just to get more out of the story and in this one we tend to get reunited with some from the other books. We have a story we they find the skeletal remains from 30 years ago someone who was involved with a bank robbery. Mercy is investigating the remains while Truman is involved in a case where two woman were harassed and they do not know who it is. I tried to figure it out and I wont tell you if I got it or not, but encourage you to grab a copy and try to figure it out..Enjoy!

A Merciful Fate is the 5th installment in the Mercy Kilpatrick series. Up to now I have liked Mercy but I didn't love her. Just a matter of not being able to relate to a prepper, I guess. But this story really connected with me and I am once again totally in love with Kendra Elliot. I've read everything she's written and I'm pretty sure all of them received a 5 star rating. Maybe one or two 4 stars... maybe. I highly recommend this book (series) to anyone who loves mystery, doesn't have to have everything you read filthy but also don't have to have it squeaky clean either. As always, I can't wait to see what Mercy gets up to next.

Many thanks to Montlake Romance, NetGalley and Ms. Elliot for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

An outstanding fifth book in the FBI Agent Mercy Kilpatrick series by Ms. Elliot. A cold case is the next investigation for Mercy when human remains are found in an abandoned shack. Found with the body are empty cash bags from an armored car robbery that happened thirty years ago. Four of the five robbers escaped along with two million dollars. A guard was killed and the one robber who was shot, at the scene, has been in prison since that time. Do the remains belong to one of the robbers? This will be an involved and comprehensive mystery as little by little Mercy and her team work to uncover clues from so long ago. Meanwhile, Mercy’s fiancé, Police Chief Truman Daly of Eagle’s Nest, is investigating his own cases as two separate women in the town are the targets of vicious vandalism. Mercy begins to suspect that their cases may be connected, but that would mean that someone in their small community is hiding a criminal past. When Mercy questions the lone robber in prison, this brings more questions than answers. Ms. Elliot weaves her mysteries in such a way that you follow along…think that you may know what is going to happen…then are surprised to find out that you were wrong all along. I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to give an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

With this being number five in the Mercy Kilpatrick series, it’s beginning to feel like reuniting with old friends. I consistently like this series and the characters.

I will say, I’m a mystery, not a romance oriented gal, so sometimes the romance portion comes on a little strong for my taste. But it is refreshing to have a female main character whose personal life is not in pieces.

This time the story involves the found skeletal remains of someone involved in a bank heist that occurred 30 years earlier. A parallel storyline involves two women being harassed by an unknown vandal. Mercy is investigating the first; Truman the second. Both both issues are being tracked by an internet tabloid reporter. The pace here is fast and the plot is suspenseful. I had my suspicions and it was fun to see if they were right. A great ending!

Keep it up Ms. Elliot. I’m already anxiously awaiting book six.

My thanks to netgalley and Montclair Romance for an advance copy of this book.

This story begins when Ollie's dog Shep finds a bone when the two of them are out on a wilderness walk. Ollie is quick to call Truman who alerts the county cops. When it is discovered that the bones are with some empty bank bags, Mercy is called in - bank robbery being a federal crime.

Suspicions are quickly confirmed that the body was probably one of the Gamble-Helmet killers. There was an armored car robbery some thirty years earlier in which one of the guards was killed and one of the robbers shot and left at the scene. However, the other four robbers and the $2 million they stole disappeared without a trace. Now it appears that one has been found and has likely been dead since very shortly after the robbery.

Shane Gamble is the one robber that was caught. He has been in prison since the robbery and will be there for the rest of his life since he killed another prisoner inside. Mercy goes to see him to see if he can shed any light on the new discovery. However, Gamble is a game player and sees no reason to do anything but mess with Mercy's mind.

Meanwhile, other things are happening in town. There have been incidents where a couple of the locals - Sandra who runs the B&B and Bree who is an English teacher - have reported vandalism. Both women have sort of shady pasts. Sandra reinvented herself when she came to town ten years earlier after a past with an abusive husband. Bree's secrets are more deeply hidden

When a young female reporter from a tabloid shows up wanting more information about the newly discovered body, Mercy wonders how she found out about the discovery and wonders what she is trying to find as she interviews many people in town including Bree and Sandra. Things get even more confusing for Mercy and Truman when the reporter is found murdered.

Because the Bend FBI office is small, Mercy is glad when Art Juergen is called in. He is retired now but was deeply involved in the original Gamble-Helmet Heist and is an expert on what was done and who was looked at. Mercy has worked with him before and liked him. He, Mercy and her partner Eddie are shot at and Eddie hit while they are pursuing some information from Victor Diehl who could be a witness. Art kills him when he almost gets the drop on Mercy and Eddie while Mercy is trying to treat Eddie's wound. Things get even more complicated when Mercy learns that two of his recent phone calls were to her semi-estranged father Karl.

As Mercy continues to try to find out what happened to the other robbers, she begins to have questions about some of the new friends and neighbors that she has met since she came back to Bend. Then her niece Kaylie is shot and Bree is assaulted in her home and the investigation really heats up.

This was a fast-paced enjoyable mystery with engaging characters and a well-developed plot. I love Mercy and Truman's relationship and I love the way Mercy is letting more people into her life. I like that the story begins and ends with Ollie who is one of the new people in Truman and Mercy's life.

Mercy is back! Another great installment in this series! After reading another book in this series I feel like Mercy, Truman, Rose and the rest of the characters are all family. You get so involved in not only the story line but your connection to the characters gets stronger as you get more involved in their lives. It's like a tv show that you have to watch every week to see what is going on in there lives. That is a testament to great writing the author has the ability to wrap you into the book and keep you reading all night. I liked the very different story line of the armed robbery it isn't the usual found a body then catch the murderer story. Kudos Thanks to Kendra Elliot for another great Mercy story and keep them coming . I have not been disappointed in any book in this series. Love it!

The plot and characters work together seemlessly to a logical yet surprising conclusion
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review

When the skeletal remains found in a remote cabin are identified as belonging to one of the perpetrators in the unsolved thirty year old Gamble-Helman armored truck heist, the FBI are brought into the investigation. With the help of Eagle’s Nest Police Chief Truman Daly her fiancée, Mercy begins to delve into the mystery, knowing that trying to solve a thirty year old crime would be an enormous feat. As the investigation progresses more problems arise, petty vandalism, the murder of a tabloid reporter and it’s up to Mercy to try and connect the dots. Fast paced, well defined characters, a storyline full of twists and turns and an unbelievable ending this book is a must read.
Thank you NetGally, Montlake and Kendra Elliot for the opportunity to review this book.

4.5/5.0
If one is looking for a fantastic mystery/suspense series this one is the one to pick! In this installment, Mercy lands in the middle of a 30-year-old cold case when Ollie, her fiance’s ward, stumbles upon an old cabin with a man’s bones inside and a bullet hole in the skull. The story is classic and riveting mystery at its best with a surprise twist at the end that will shock even the best slueths out there!

This is a twisting mystery, full of intrigue and secrets that are interwoven within a notorious cold-case. The action, tension, deception and twists will keep you glued to the page, and the character development is brilliant. Mercy is one of my all time favourite characters, her tenacity, intelligence, strength and vulnerabilities are realistic and you can not help but be drawn to her. I love how Truman continues to break down her barriers, and the quiet, reserved loyalty and intelligence of Ollie. The relationships between Mercy, Truman, Kaylie and Ollie are heartwarming and I have loved watching them grow and develop throughout the series. This is a great story that once started you won’t be able to put down till it’s done.

Kendra Elliot pulls another quality Mercy Kilpatrick to life in her most recent mystery, A Merciful Fate. An intriguing mystery, the element of personal anguish expands as some of Mercy's friends and relatives are drawn into the drama and danger.

I love that Mercy stays true to her character throughout these books. She's strong, smart, level-headed, and is acquiring an assortment of close (or close-ish) relationships which she seems to find a source of comfort for the most part. It's fun to see her evolve into a more well-rounded person who is becoming more comfortable being her true self.

I'm looking forward to the next book...When is the wedding???!

voluntarily read and reviewed an copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thanks to the author for providing a copy of this book via Netgalley

What a good suspense story! It was my first book from this author and will not be the last!! I swear!!

Great MCs SCs, plot, writing style, what wouldn't you like?
Although this is book 5 in series, you can read as standalone.
And what a twist!! I didn't see it coming!

Kendra Elliot has done it again in her latest Mercy Kilpatrick novel “A Merciful Fate” by blending romance and suspense to keep the reader engaged. After the discovery of a long dead body, Mercy is thrust into the investigation of an unsolved armor that shocked the Pacific Northwest. The more Mercy digs into the investigation the more she realizes that some people in her community may know more than what they are telling her. With the help of her fiancée and Eagle Nest Chief of Police, Truman Daily, she works tirelessly until she gets the answer she is looking for. I was given an advanced copy of this book, and all of the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Having read all the previous books in the Mercy Kilpatrick series I couldn’t wait to read “A Merciful Fate”.
The suspected remains of a robber are found by a man out hiking in the woods with his dog along with a number of empty bank money bags and FBI agent Mercy Kilpatrick and Truman Daly set out to solve the 30 year old mystery and recover the 2 million dollars which is still missing!
This series just keeps getting better with every book and this gets yet another 5 huge juicy stars from me!!!!

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Kendra Elliott for the ARC my review is honest and unbiased in any way.

Book five of the series, and there is no slowing down the momentum. Elliot has created two characters (Mercy and Truman) who I love. With book five featuring a story about a bank heist, I have to admit I was a little hesitant to read it. Boy, did Elliot prove me wrong! This story may be my favorite of all the books in this series. The relationship between the two main characters is stronger than ever, and the mystery is riveting. If all the other books in the series are five star, this one is a six!

A Merciful Fate – Kendra Elliot

I received this advance reader copy of the book from Netgalley, in exchange for an objective review.

A fabulous new book in the Mercy Fitzpatrick series.

Mercy Kilpatrick & Truman Dalys’ lives had just settled down again, when rescued teen, Ollie, stumbles upon a shack deep in the woods with human remains in it, with the appearance of an old murder. As they await ID of the body, old money bags are found at the scene, and Mercy wonders if somehow Ollie has inadvertently discovered a clue in a long unsolved armored car robbery many years ago. One of the robbers had been caught and sentenced to prison, but the others had long escaped and were never seen again….till now.

Meanwhile, two long time residents of Eagles Nest are dealing with issues of their own. Sandy Foster, owner of the local bed and breakfast, has had several episodes of vandalism to her property – the latest a broken window to a clients car, and school teacher Bree Ingram has founse several spray painted ‘x’s on her horses stalls and her truck. Neither woman has any idea as to who may be targeting them.

As Mercy and Truman re-open a long gone cold case, they request help from the now retired agent who had once led the investigation. Meanwhile, Mercy visits the presumed ringleader of the robbery in prison, and comes back with more questions than answers. As the investigation ensues, a young reporter is killed…leading Mercy and Truman deeper into the past, and ultimately to the present, where nothing will ever be the same.

I loved this book, and I absolutely love the Mercy Kilpatrick series. A great series for any mystery lover, with likeable characters, fast paced storytelling, and enough intrigue to keep you reading well into the night!!

In this fifth installment in the series, and despite my expectations, Mrs. Elliot has surprised me again. After reading the last book, I sincerely thought there would not be much more to tell about this town or these characters, but I was wrong.

Once more, the suspense is original. It is thoughtful, it is meticulous and nothing is left to chance. Is almost perfect. And the few imperfections that it has do nothing but give it a realistic touch. The plot keeps your attention from the first minute; the clues are revealed little by little as the investigation progresses. At all times the reader knows as much (or as little) as the characters, so it is very interesting to see how they think and act according to events. There is a turn, as interesting as unexpected, almost at the end of the story that gives the plot 180 degrees turn. Really, really inspired. As I said, almost perfect.

I have been reading suspense and thrillers for as long as I can remember, and I rarely find an author as inspired and meticulous as Mrs. Elliot. She is fantastic. I have already read almost a dozen of her stories and they always are original and different. I cannot say so about many authors.

The romance, as in the previous instalments, is very subtle and is totally in a second (or third) plane. The plots about familiar and personal relationships continue to occupy some space in the story but in a very non-intrusive way. The family relationships still worry me because of their “drama”. But if there is someone able to convince me that “that´s the way it is and end of the story” that would be Mrs. Elliot. It wouldn´t be the first time…

To sum up, a 5 stars suspense with some romance “on the side”. I couldn´t ask for more.

***


En esta quinta entrega de la serie, y pese a mis expectativas, la señora Elliot ha vuelto a sorprenderme. Después del último libro pensé que ya no habría mucho más que contar de este pueblo y de estos personajes, pero estaba equivocada.

De nuevo el suspense es original. Está hilado fino, es meticuloso y no deja nada al azar. Es casi perfecto. Y las pocas imperfecciones que tiene no hacen más que darle un toque realista. La trama mantiene tu atención desde el primer minuto y las pistas se van desvelando poco a poco a medida que avanza la investigación. En todo momento el lector sabe tanto (o tan poco) como los protagonistas, así que es muy interesante ver cómo piensan y actúan en función de los acontecimientos. Hay un giro tan interesante como inesperado casi al final de la historia que le da un vuelco a la trama de 180º. Realmente inspirado. Lo dicho, casi perfecto.

Soy lectora de suspense y de thrillers desde que tengo uso de razón y raramente encuentro una autora (o autor) tan inspirada y meticulosa como la señora Elliot. Es fantástica. He leído ya casi una decena de sus historias y siempre son originales y diferentes. No puedo decir eso de muchos autores.

El romance, como en casos anteriores, es muy sutil y está totalmente en un segundo (o tercer) plano. Las tramas familiares y relaciones personales siguen ocupando algo de espacio en la historia pero de forma muy poco intrusiva. Y las relaciones familiares siguen preocupándome por su “dramatismo”. Pero si hay alguien capaz de convencerme de que las cosas “son así y punto” esa es la señora Elliot. No sería la primera vez…

En resumen, un suspense de 5 estrellas y con algo de romance para acompañar. No puedo pedir más.