PRAISE FOR KENDRA ELLIOT
“Kendra Elliot goes from strength to strength in her Mercy Kilpatrick stories, and this fourth installment is a gripping, twisty, and complex narrative that will have fans rapt . . . Easily the most daring and successful book in this impressive series.”
—RT Book Reviews on A Merciful Silence
“Readers coming in cold to this thriller won’t have to worry about missing the series’ previous books: It reads just fine as a stand-alone plot, its wintry twists and turns paced adroitly and warmed up with a touch of romance.”
—The Oregonian on A Merciful Secret
“Elliot delivers a fast-paced, tense thriller that plays up the small-town atmosphere and survivalist mentality, contrasting it against an increasingly connected world. The romantic angle is subtle, with the established relationship between Mercy and Truman slowly and satisfyingly maturing as they solve the mystery.”
—Publishers Weekly on A Merciful Secret
“Each Mercy Kilpatrick mystery improves on the last . . . In this third installment, the whodunit, a tale that blends a hint of the paranormal with some all-too-human ghastliness, is engaging, but the real power comes from watching Mercy evolve as an individual.”
—RT Book Reviews on A Merciful Secret
“In the debut of her new Mercy Kilpatrick series, Elliot crafts an eerily fascinating small town. An air of menace is palpable throughout the story, and the characters hide a wealth of secrets and twisted loyalties.”
—RT Book Reviews on A Merciful Death
“Kendra Elliot is a great suspense writer. Her characters are always solid. Her plots are always well thought out. Her pace is always just right . . . A super beginning to this series.”
—Harlequin Junkie on Close to the Bone
“In Elliot’s latest gripping novel the mystery and suspense are top-notch, and the romance embedded within will quench love story junkies’ thirst, too. The author’s eye for detail makes this one play out more like a movie rather than a book. It can easily be read as a stand-alone but is obviously much better if the prior three are digested first.”
—RT Book Reviews on Targeted
“Elliot’s latest addition to her thrilling, edge-of-your-seat series Bone Secrets will scare the crap out of you, yet allow you to swoon over the building romantic setting, which provides quite the picturesque backdrop. Her novel contains thrills, chills, snow, and . . . hey, you never know! The surprises and cliff-hangers are satisfying, yet edgy enough to keep you feverishly flipping the pages.”
—RT Book Reviews on Known
“Elliot’s best work to date. The author’s talent is evident in the characters’ wit and smart dialogue . . . One wouldn’t necessarily think a psychological thriller and romance would mesh together well, but Elliot knows what she’s doing when she turns readers’ minds inside out and then softens the blow with an unforgettable love story.”
—RT Book Reviews on Vanished (Top Pick)
“Kendra Elliot does it again! Filled with twists, turns, and spine-tingling details, Alone is an impressive addition to the Bone Secrets series.”
—Laura Griffin, New York Times bestselling author
“Elliot once again proves to be a genius in the genre with her third heart-pounding novel in the Bone Secrets collection. The author knows romance and suspense, reeling readers in instantaneously and wowing them with an extremely surprising finish . . . Elliot’s best by a mile!”
—RT Book Reviews on Buried (Top Pick)
“Make room on your keeper shelf! Hidden has it alclass="underline" intricate plotting, engaging characters, a truly twisted villain. I can’t wait to see what Kendra Elliot dishes up next!”
—Karen Rose, New York Times bestselling author
Kendra Elliot
A Merciful Promise
For my girls
ONE
Mercy held her breath and stepped back as they dragged the bleeding man past her. The other observers cleared a path, their faces solemn, their gazes locked on the moaning man. Two of the members, rifles slung over their shoulders, gripped the man’s upper arms and pulled him toward their commander, Pete, at the front of the group. They threw him to the ground at Pete’s feet, and he stayed down, curling into a tight ball, his gasps echoing in the forest clearing.
What will Pete do?
Pete’s stance was wide, his hands clasped behind his back, his spine perfectly straight. His chin jutted forward, and he stood immobile. Without moving his head, he lowered his gaze to the beaten man, and his mouth pressed into a thin white line. Disdain and disappointment flowed from him, and mutters sounded through the group, its own anger growing.
The mob’s ire was palpable, slamming through Mercy’s skin and skidding up the back of her neck. Goose bumps lifted the hair on her arms as she stared at the man who stood in front of the group. Pete wore his usual dark-olive pants and shirt and a Glock on his hip. The weapon seemed to grow larger, almost pulsate with power, even though he didn’t move his hand in its direction.
He didn’t need to demonstrate his authority. His people fell into line. They hung on his every word, and right now the group leaned forward, greedy for his decision.
Ed Merrick had broken a rule.
Mercy knew the rules. Everybody knew the rules. What everyone didn’t know was the penalty for breaking a rule. Pete was judge and jury, and the punishments were his decisions.
The muttering faded away, and absolute silence filled the clearing. Approximately forty people waited for Pete’s declaration. Most were men. A few dressed similarly to Pete, in olive from head to toe. They also carried weapons. Either a handgun or a rifle on the shoulder. But most of the men wore jeans or rugged work pants. The weather was cool for late September, and everyone wore durable jackets, many stained with sweat and hard work.
Mercy tried to make eye contact with a woman to her left, but the woman stared straight ahead, her brows raised, impatiently awaiting Pete’s declaration with the rest of the group. The few women in the camp had already shown Mercy that they did not speak out against injustice.
This won’t end well.
Foreboding filled the air, and Mercy shifted her balance to her toes. Her partner, Chad Finn, felt her move and tightened his arm around her, giving her upper arm a reassuring squeeze. She leaned into him, grateful for his touch, and rested her cheek against his shoulder. He smelled of sweat. Everybody smelled of sweat. Showers were scarce, and the laundry system was primitive.
Pete raised his gaze to take in the crowd. He scanned the group, and even Mercy felt anticipation of his words. He made eye contact with her and moved on, leaving her feeling acknowledged and included. It was one of Pete’s gifts. He looked at you as if you had a fascinating story to tell, as if you were relevant, as if you mattered.