Rowan was 5 years old when she and her brother were kidnapped. They were held captive for weeks, starved and punished if they disobeyed their kidnapper. Rowan escapes but her brother is never found, the killer claims he doesn’t remember where he buried his body. Now Rowan works for search and rescue with her dog finding missing people, haunted by the past. Detective Evan Bolton is working multiple cases that seem to be very similar to the cases attributed to Rowan’s kidnapper. He and Rowan have worked together and are attracted to each other. This story grabbed me from the first page. I liked the characters and the mystery. There are a couple of twists that are revealed at the end that surprised me. This book is part of a series but could easily be read as a stand alone. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

4.25⭐

The First Death returns readers to Deschutes County, Oregon for a story featuring Detective Evan Bolton and Search and Rescue expert Rowan Wolff and her trusty dog Thor.

And Rowan has a disturbing history. As she, her brother Malcolm and their babysitter were kidnapped by a serial killer. When Rowan was just five years old and sadly for Rowan she was the only one to survive.

But even though her babysitters body was found her brothers never was and so Rowan has spent the last twenty-five years searching for him.

Which is what leads her to the area of the woods where she was found. On what would have been her brothers birthday. And where Rowan and Thor find the body of a woman strangled just like her babysitter was and where local deputies later find bones, some of which look like they could belong to a young boy.

And Rowan believes they could be Malcolm's.

But are they?

And if Rowans kidnapper was jailed. Who has killed this young woman and why has Rowan's own rescuer been found murdered?

That's what Evan and Roman are determined to find out.

But will the answer be the one Rowan has been desperately seeking?

And with a story that slips between the past and the present. Big twists, shocks and surprises. This was a really enjoyable read. That for me was only let down by the pace, particularly in the beginning.

The First Death by Kendra Elliot is the fourth book in her excellent Columbia River suspense series. I’ve enjoyed this series and the consistent way this author weaves in the characters from previous books as well as her Mercy Kilpatrick series. Her writing is better and better with each new book!
This thriller is the compelling story of a young woman, Rowan, who, at age 5, survived a terrifying kidnapping that also claimed the life of her older brother, Malcolm. Twenty-five years later, a woman is found dead in the woods, and local detective Evan Bolton must find the killer with the help of Rowan and her Search and Rescue (SAR) dog, Thor. Then more bones are unearthed near the murder site, and Bolton is embroiled in a possible serial killer scenario. In a complex police procedural, Bolton’s investigation leads him to some corrupt local cops, more bones and links to murders from years before, and puzzling cover-ups involving Rowan’s mentor Ken, her brother, and an evil “family” of sadists. Some of the scenes were difficult to read, as they involve brutality against children. But the author always imbues much humanity in her characters and stories, which blunt some of the harsh reality. The present and past timelines are beautifully plotted and make this a compelling, fast-paced suspense thriller.
While part of a series, this book can definitely be enjoyed as a stand-alone.
I can’t wait for the next entry in the Columbia River series!

Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest review.

I never repeat the blurb. Absolutely loved this. Very sympathetically written. Had not read any other books in this set but they're definitely on my list, even though I had guessed the outcome.

This a great suspense novel. I love it when authors build off subsidiary characters in other series they write.
The story is not for the faint of heart reader since there are many dark Themes explored.
I felt very sorry for one of the characters and all the experiences because it had to have caused permanent warping.
I loved Thor, the search and rescue dog. He was amazing like all does like that are.
It’s a great novel/

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this gripping book

oh my word where to start with this one.....just know i cried real tears with this one...

rowan wolffe and her brother malcolm were kidnapped and held prisoners for several weeks..rowan had been 5 years old at the time and mal only a couple of years older

they were physically abused by their captors but rowan was found, malcolm never was

rowan and her family always celebrated malcolms birthday, it was a thing they did

rowans job as a k9 handler kept her busy but each year on malcolms birthday she would enter the woods and try and find malcolms remains, she never gave up

but this time thor her working dog found a dead body and with it a whole lot of trouble...

i cried real tears at this book..oh my goodness me the emotions that you feel reading this book, roll on the next book in this brilliant series

Twenty-five years ago, 5 year old Rowan Wolff and her 7 year old brother Malcolm were abducted along with their babysitter. The babysitter was killed, but after being held for weeks, Rowan's brother helped her escape. He wasn't so lucky. Rowan has become a search and rescue dog handler, inspired by the team that found her 25 years ago. In The First Death, Rowan crosses paths with Detective Evan Bolton multiple times in a short span: first, her mentor, the man who found her 25 years ago, is found executed, then she finds the body of a young woman in the woods, and she is present when more remains are found that might include her brother. Rowan hopes to find closure after 25 years of not knowing what happened to Malcolm, while Bolton is trying to unravel her connections to his current cases and put the killers behind bars before they can strike again.
Elliot's reader's may remember Rowan, her German Shepherd dog Thor, and Detective Bolton, from the Mercy Kilpatrick series. I really like how the Columbia River series focuses the lead on different characters in each book while weaving in cameo appearances from ones we know from prior books. The main characters are always well developed, the women are strong and the men are sensitive without being weak. The First Death is a solid mystery/thriller with a touch of romance, a great addition to the series.

Love, love, love this book. Had me engaged from start to finish. I was really happy to see this book was part of a series (Columbia River book 4) and I cant wait to read the rest. The different POV style of writing worked perfectly for this story. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC.

Rowan has come along way from the terrified child she was 25years ago. She was missing for weeks with her brother - she was the only one they found. Living with unresolved survivors guilt and PTSD, she has tried to move on. She now uses her K9, Thor, to help find others who are lost.

When the skeletal remains of a woman are found, more bones are found nearby. Detective Evan Bolton is brought in to handle the case. Rowan has a burning need to be involved - what if some of these bones are her brothers? Soon it becomes apparent that these bones link a series of crimes covering decades.

OMW I love this series. It's the perfect balance on tension, eerie setting, engaging and empathetic characters and strong plot. There are many POV's, including from the "bad guy". The story unfurls at a great pace and there are plenty of twists and turns. I'm not a fan of flipping back and forward through timelines, but it was handled in a meaningful way and not just to confuse the reader. I was slow on the uptake and kind of got blindsided by one strand of the story. I was so moved at the way that Rowan and her family celebrate the life of Malcolm every year - I'll admit I had a tear in my eye.

Chilling, riveting, sick and terrifying with twists and turns you can see coming but take you by surprise anyway. Why? That is the question that was front and center in my mind for most of the book. My answer? Because they could and because there really are evil people out there.

Rowan Wolff became a Search and Rescue dog handler because a SAR volunteer saved her life. She was five years old and her brother, Malcom was six when they and their babysitter were kidnapped. Rowan survived, the babysitter was murdered, but Malcom was never found. After twenty-five years remains of two other women and a child have been found, but their identities can't be verified. Rowan has been searching for Malcom through the years and yet her ordeal is still not over.

Evan Bolton has a full plate as a Detective in Bend, OR. Right now, he has three dead women and a murdered camper and when the remains of two more women and a child are discovered, he realizes that they all connect, in some way, to Rowan and what happened to her. A serial killer in Deschutes County is a terrifying prospect. But the killer and kidnapper from years ago is in prison. Who is the current murderer?

Rowan suffered abuse the likes of which would cripple another person, but she has become stronger for her ordeal. Evan's sister had disappeared yet was found years later so he understands a little of her enduring pain. The attraction between these two has been growing for two years with their chance meetings and now it is a force that can't be denied. Working together is the only way they are going to survive and solve this case and find out just where this attraction is going.

My thanks to the Publisher and 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.

I love a book with a dog, so I grabbed The First Death quick!! I also love a good serial killer story. I'm not sure what that says about me.

Rowan was kidnapped as a child. She was rescued but her brother was never found. Now, as an adult, she works for search and rescue with her dog, Thor. Evan is a detective who catches the case of a man murdered in the woods. He connects the man to Rowan. But, of course, there isn't just the one murder.

I liked Rowan and Evan as characters. I felt that Evan was a little flat but that might be because we know so much about Rowan's past as it is essential to the plot. I just feel like I understood/knew Rowan better. But, what really hooks you as a reader is the plot. It is twisty and disturbing! Seriously, I couldn't have put this book down for anything because I HAD to know. So, the romance is really secondary. I consider this more of a thriller/suspense with a romance subplot. As a suspense novel, it is FANTASTIC. The First Death is a serpentine ride that has you racing to the finish.

The First Death by Kendra Elliot was such a pleasant surprise for me. I loved this book! It was dark and twisty, but also hopeful and romantic. The First Death is about Rowan Wolff and Evan Bolton, it is about murder and kidnapping. This book is perfect for all thrill seekers and murder mystery lovers.

The First Death is written in several different timelines and POVs, which really worked for the stories. I loved how this was written, because you really got to know the characters and it built the story from top to bottom. As with most thrillers there were some plot twists and turns, but unlike other thrillers this one surprised me and kept me guessing.

I would not suggest this book to anybody that is triggered by any of the topics that are listed in the blurbs or on storygraph. This is a dark book and there are some really heavy topics covered. Even though there is a bit of a romance, it is not the main plot so if you want more steam or romance this probably isn’t the book for you.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone that loves a good thriller. It is my favorite thriller of the year thus far. I will definitely be checking out Kendra Elliot’s other books and will stay on the lookout for her releases.

The First Death is several mysteries rolled into an intense tale of kidnapping, torture and murder. Add in a slow burn romantic interest and you have another fantastic adventure. I was sucked into this story and couldn’t put it down.
Though this is part of a series it can be read standalone.

DNF @ 10%. I was just so bored and didn’t know what was going on with the story. I might have just not paid enough attention but nothing is making me want to spend my time finishing this book.

Elliot's a long-time favorite author and doesn't disappoint in this newest entry in the Columbia River series. As always Elliot's written a great police procedural with plenty of twists and turns which includes a nice romantic subplot. In addition to the current day murder cases, this book includes flashbacks to Rowan's childhood case. Elliot's characters are well-rounded and while complex remain incredibly likable. Plus I loved Rowan's interactions with her dog, Thor, and their SAR work. There are some very tough topics tackled, so take care and check out the CWs. While this can be read as a stand-alone, this is the fourth book in the series so you'll want to pick up The Last Sister, book one. Oh and I love how Elliot's series connect! To read more about Mercy and Truman grab the first book in the Mercy Kilpatrick series A Merciful Death.

I received this eARC thanks to Montlake in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

Detective Evan Bolton and Rowan Wolff want the same thing- the capture of a serial killer. Rowan was the sole survivor of an attack 20 years ago and her brother's body was never found. The fiend however was found and convicted and he's serving time except that now someone is killing the same way. This is a page turner that will appeal to fans of the genre even if it wasn't for me. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of The First Death by Kendra Elliot that I read and reviewed.
I really loved this book from start to finish. I enjoyed Rowan’s back story a lot and her search for her brother. This book was very touching and it made you really like Rowan and her search and rescue dog Thor even more than you have liked them in other books that they have appeared in. I also loved it that Elliot paired her up with Evan because he deserved to find a strong female to be matched with.
This was an excellent read with great characters and a few surprises thrown in to keep the readers on their toes. I great addition to the series.
The First Death gets five out of five stars.

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.

4.5 hearts

The Columbia River series is a mix of stories utilizing characters from some of the author's other series or supporting characters. The First Death is the fourth book and features Sheriff Evan Bolton and Rowan Wulf, who were supporting characters in other series. Evan was also heavily involved in the previous book In the Pines along with Mercy Kirkpatrick and Truman Daly, who are briefly here as well, so I would at a minimum read it, if not the entire series.

Evan is investigating recent murders of young, blond women. Then Ken Steward, a K9 trainer is also murdered. Evan discovers connections which keep him in contact with Rowan. They are attracted and admit it but Evan feels he should back off until these cases are solved because she has involvement with them, although not as a suspect.

Evan does want to support her though as she goes through the funeral of Ken and also doing her annual search for her brother, Malcolm. She and her brother were abducted 25 years ago. Ken is the searcher who found Rowan, a few weeks later, only five years old and with a badly broken leg.

I really enjoyed getting to know Evan and Rowan. Rowan's family is incredible and their grief about Malcolm continues. The man in prison for the killings then admitted to killing Malcolm but couldn't remember where he buried him.

Evan is a smart and caring investigator and with Rowan's help they track down the serial killer, Ken's killer and learn what happened to Malcolm. I really enjoyed this one and highly recommend it. I was all in and didn't want to stop reading as the twists and turns were stunning.

Kendra Elliot does it again. Her book "The First Death" is a gripping thriller that grabs you from the first page and doesn't let you go until the last page. This story was an amazing and kept you guessing through the whole book.
Rowan and her brother were kidnapped when they were younger. They escaped or so they thought. Rowan was rescued and her brother was dead. Rowan never gave up hope that she would find her brother and would search for him every year. Evan is a police deputy that is looking at the murders of three different girls and a murdered man. As Evan digs deeper into the deaths, Rowan keeps coming up. As the cases move on Evan realizes that he just might feel something more for Rowan.
This story is well written and has great character development. 10/10 would recommend.

Fantastic! Such a dramatic and emotional read. I loved getting to see Rowan again and even learning more about her past/story. I absolutely loved this book and couldn’t get enough.