Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House for allowing me to read an ARC of this book. I had heard about this book on a webinar and was intrigued. I know this is #5 in the series and it was mentioned that you could read this without reading the previous 4 books. While this is true, I did find myself with some questions about what happened in the earlier books. I will likely start this series from the beginning to find out more about the serial killing cousin. Overall this book was good; I enjoyed the storyline and the main character, Shana Merchant.

This is the fifth book in the Shana Merchant series. I personally think you need to read the series in order as there is an overarching storyline and continuing characters.

Shana's life is finally coming together after the tumultuous events of the past few years. Her teen niece Henrietta "Hen" is having issues at home, so her brother askes Shana if Hen can live with her for a while. When Hen arrives though, things aren't as easy as Shana had hoped. Hen is lying and uncommunicative, and one night she sneaks out. Shana finds her at the site of another teen's death, and things are very suspicious. Things indicate it might be related to past events in their family.

I overall liked this book, but I feel like the story of the past events has just been done to death (pun intended). It gets old having everything brought up over and over again. There are some interesting twists in the book, which kept me interested, but there are a LOT of characters and overlapping connections between them which can get a little confusing. I'm not sure I would have been as patient with Hen as Shana was, but it did cause some character growth for Shana. I liked the deeper thoughts and examination Shana did of her future hopes and dreams and can see directions this series can take in the future if the author wants to continue.

Sixteen year old Hen goes to stay with her aunt, senior investigator Shana Merchant. Shana wanted to get Hen away from her troubles back home and at school. It soon becomes clear that Hen is being bullied for being related to Blake Bram, one of NY's most prolific serial killers. This is something Shana knows all too well.

Their lives are turned upside down when shortly after Hens arrival, she sneaks out and a teen boy she is with drowns. When Shana finds Hen at the scene of the crime, she is forced off the case because Hen is now a suspect. Shana should stay out of the investigation because family is involved. But can she? What she discovers unravels a tangled web of lies and betrayals that stretch beyond Alexandria Bay.

This is book five in a series but can be read as a stand-alone. I enjoyed the well laid out story of the investigation of the drowning and could not have guessed where everything was going. Definitely a first for me with this type of twist. If you love a good mystery, this is a great book, not to be missed.

My thanks to Severn House Publishing, The Author Tessa Wegert, as well as NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of Devil’s At The Door

Another great page turning mystery featuring Senior Investigator Shana Merchant. I’ve read the entire series and encourage you to read all these books, but this book is easily read as a stand alone.

I won’t give any of the plot of this or any of the series away so all I’ll tell you is that the antagonist of the previous books isn’t physically in the picture, but is part of the plot.

This book has Shana’s 16 year old niece, Henrietta, staying with Shana after getting into some trouble at home. Trouble seems to follow Henrietta as she is on the scene at the death of a teenager.

This read is fast moving and had some interesting twists. It is atmospheric enough that I felt the dampness off the water at parts.

Also, if you like main characters that are strong yet imperfect, Shana is a perfect example.

As always, I look forward to seeing what happens next in the small town of A-Bay, New York.

This is the fifth book in Tessa Wegert’s Shana Merchant series and I cannot tell you how much I love this series. It really is the perfect combination of police-procedural and psychological thriller, with a locked-room mystery thrown in…and I just love it!

While these books can be read as stand-alones, I highly recommend reading this series in order. Yes, each book has a self-contained case, but besides the amazing character development that has been a critical part of these series, there are also a few main threads that continue to carry over from book to book and that continues with this latest one.

In this latest installment we see Shana and Tim trying to move on from all that has transpired to date…and they think things are going well until Shana’s niece comes to stay with them and they soon realize they couldn’t have been more deceived. Nothing has changed and the town is still focused on Bram.

One of my favorite aspects of this series has always been the character development and we continue to see that here. Shana is one complicated character who has already been through the wringer, but in this book, we see her take on the new role of caretaker. This brings a whole new dynamic to her relationship with her fiance as things are not easy with her niece, Hen. It makes Shana question a lot.

This book kept me glued to the pages and guessing as to what was going on. I loved all the twists and turns that it took and was quite surprised at all the revelations that popped up along the way. I also loved how the author included the fascination we have with serial killers – the “cult” that Henrietta finds herself involved in, one with an interest in dead serial killers, rang with shades of truth to it.

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

Even though Bram is gone, he is still not out of Shana’s life. I liked how his was still apart of the investigation at times. With the arrival of Shana’s niece, Hen, secrets about not only Shana but a few others in the town start to rise to the surface and it changed the way Shana goes about investigating a crime. After reading the other installments of this series I was just as invested in Shana and Tim’s relationship as the crime. They hit some road bumps that they have not had to face as a couple before and I love Tim, so I was nervous about what was going to happen. I loved the mystery around not only the group of teens but the parents as well. The way the information was revealed kept me guessing the culprit until the end.

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

"Devils at the Door" by Tessa Wegert is a riveting and atmospheric mystery that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The novel follows Detective Shana Merchant as she investigates a series of murders in a seemingly idyllic small town. Wegert's writing is sharp and evocative, creating a chilling ambiance as secrets unravel and suspicions mount. The character of Shana is compelling, with a complex past that adds depth to the narrative. "Devils at the Door" is a skillfully crafted thriller that blends suspense and psychological tension, offering a gripping and satisfying experience for fans of the genre.

Omg!! I loved this book. This is such an addicting series and this book didn’t disappoint. I highly recommend reading them in order. I can’t wait to see how this continues.

Another FIVE star read for me!!
I just can’t get enough of this atmospherics small town series that keeps getting complicated and drama filled. This time around Shana, now a New York State senior investigator is in a better place and things are looking up until her troubled niece comes to stay with her and Shana has no idea what she’s getting into. On top of that she is called to investigate a suspicious drowning where her niece who is not cooperating might be a suspect. Along the way there are secrets uncovered and unexpected twists.
What mostly attracts me to this series is Shana’s personality, her faults and decisions that keep me wanting more. This is definitely a great book to add to your TBR.

I'm not sure if this is the final book to this series or not but it was spectacular! I love this entire series and this book just kept in line with that. Tessa is a master of crafting a setting that acts as a character of its own. Shana is one of my favorite book characters of all time.

Devils At The Door is the newest book in the Shana Merchant series. Shana’s 16 year old niece, Henrietta, has moved in with her and her fiancé, Tim. Then a local teenager is found dead with links to Shana’s serial killer cousin.

This is the first book I have read by this author but it will not be my last! I really enjoyed this crime thriller novel with its twists and turns. I fully plan to read the rest of this series! I highly recommend reading this book if you enjoy crime fiction surrounding serial killers in small towns.

Thank you @severnhouseimprint for allowing me to read this book ahead of publication in exchange for my honest review.

(This review was shared on the Barnes & Noble website)

Devils at the Door is book #5 in the Shana Merchant Novel series by Tessa Wegert.

Shana Merchant’s brother asks her to take in her 16-year-old niece to live with her and her fiancé. The notoriety of being related to a prolific serial killer makes life difficult for both. Henrietta sneaks out and is found in the vicinity of a dead teenager. No one is talking about what happened. Was she involved?

This is the first book I’ve read in the series but had no trouble getting into the story. This was quite a story. I couldn’t put it down. It was a wild ride. I liked the characters and never in a million years would have predicted the who and why of the murder. And I loved the ending. I’ll be reading the earlier books to catch upon the series.

Thank you to the author, Severn House, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

I am such a huge fan of Tessa Wegert and this series! If you have not read them, what are you doing?? Start NOW! You will love the first in the series - Death in the Family - for its locked room Agatha Christie murder mystery vibes and you will stick around and continue through this series because of the lead character Shana Merchant.

There is so much I could say about this 5th installment - Devils at the Door - but what I am going to focus on is this character. You would think that after 4 books getting to know Shana and her history and how what she has gone through has shaped who she is now, that there wouldn't be anything left to learn about her. And how wrong you would be!

I am incredibly impressed with Wegert and the ways that she continues to develop and peel back the layers of this amazing, strong, complicated, flawed, beautiful character. The added introduction of her niece and the dynamic of Shana as an aunt, a caretaker, a fiance, and a survivor going through grief and stress and so many different emotions just elevated this character to a whole new level for me.

Bravo Miss Wegert! I am stunned that after 5 books - I desperately want to get back into Shana's world and watch you peel back even MORE layers of this brilliant character - I cannot wait to see what's next for one of my favorite female lead characters!

Thank you to Netgalley & Severn House for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion!

This is my third in a row by Tessa Wegert. I really like this series and Shana Merchant is my kind of girl - bad ass, take no prisoners, boss lady!

Shana gets tasked with “straightening out” her niece - can she do it? Should be easier than solving a murder, right? Well… maybe… or maybe not.

This one definitely kept me guessing. I truly sympathized with Hen (short for Henrietta) and I appreciated the lengths to which Shana went to try to help her niece.

I honestly can’t think of another detective series that I read that has a female lead - so this one is special.

Devil's at the Door by Tessa Wegert.
A Shana Merchant Novel Book 5.
Senior Investigator Shana Merchant is back. This time a drowning at uninhabited island of Devil's Oven. Is it suspicious. Shana will need to find out? Is her niece Henrietta a suspect or witness?
A good read. I did like Shana and Tim. Wasn't sure about Hen. I'm looking forward to the next book. 4*.

It took me a while to get through this read because of my kids. But I absolutely did not want to have to stop, especially once I got through the first few chapters. This was a great mystery thriller and my usual go to genre and it did not disappoint. This is the first book I read from the Shana Merchant series, but that didn’t affect me being able to read the book and keep up with what was going on.

Where have I been, this was my first book by Tessa Wegert and I have been missing out! While this is a part of a series, it can be read as a standalone, which is what I did! Now after finishing book #5, I need to read the first 4. This was a twisty and unexpected police procedural that really had you questioning everyone and so many shocking moments! I highly recommend that you add this book to your TBR if you are a fan of police procedurals!

****Many thanks to @Suzyapprovedbooktour and @tessawegert for the gifted copy in turn for an honest review.

My review will be posted on Instagram (thriller_book_sisters) on 12/8/23.

What could be better on a wintery evening than sitting down to read the latest Senior Investigator Shana Merchant procedural? Shana is getting ready to marry Tim Wellington when her brother throws a wrench into her time. He asks her to let his teenage daughter, Henrietta, come live with her for a semester. It seems Hen, has been skipping school and become a behavioral problem. Hen is being bullied at school, after it was found out that her cousin, Abraham Skilton, killed more than a dozen women while living as Blake Bram.

Needless to say things do not go smoothly. Shana is called into investigate the death of Leif Colebrook at Devil's Oven Island. When she gets there she finds the young man has drowned and part of the group of teens there is Hen. The teens invited Hen to come because they are fascinated with Bram, having started a fan club for him.

This is a twisty, intriguing thriller. The characters are portrayed as flawed, strong and authentic. The author keeps the reader wanting more. This is the fifth book in the series, and so far it is my favorite. It can be read as a standalone, but I strongly recommend reading from the first in the series to get the full backstory.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Severn House, for an ARC. The review is my own.

The book follows police investigator, Shana Merchant, who assumes guardianship of her niece, Hen, for a few months. Hen used to be happy and full of life. That is, before her family was outed as relatives to a prolific serial killer. Now, she’s become someone Shana doesn’t recognize and she quickly realizes she’s gotten in over her head. Things get progressively worse as Shana is called to a drowning at Devil’s Oven, an isolated island, and finds Hen, and friends, at the scene of the crime.

With neither Hen or her new friends talking about the tragedy, Shana must work to piece together the events of that night and save her niece from certain doom.

This a proper thriller that will leave you wanting more! Thank you Net Galley and Tessa Wegert for the opportunity to receive an ARC of this book. Please check your content warnings before diving in! Publishing date 12/5/2023.

Shana Merchant is back with another great book in the series. If this is your first read in the series you won’t be lost because the author provides the background so it can be read as a standalone. What I enjoyed most about this book was Shana. As the protagonist, she is central to the story but we not only see her investigative side but her personal side as she manages her relationships and her own past that won’t let go. Shana and Tim are overnight parents when Shana’s niece comes to live with them. Her niece, Hen, is a very relatable character and I hope she appears in future books. I loved reading this book!