Riveting.. Absolutely Riveting!
Getting to read more about Mercy and Truman is always a good thing, and having Ollie play a bigger part was great.
The characters in the novel are relatable, and combined with a great story, it draws you right into their small town.
Each and every novel by Kendra Elliot is guaranteed to be an edge of your seat, riveting read.. this one fit right in.
Absolutely fantastic reading. Well deserving of 5 stars!
I h0pe this series continues with more novels.

Mystery Thriller about a FBI special agent and her police chief husband who find their investigations, a twenty year old cold case and a true-crime podcaster's murder, merging.

5/5 stars: Elliot's a long-time favorite author and this fifth entry in the Columbia River series doesn't disappoint. As always, Elliot's written a great police procedural with plenty of twists and turns. I really love the way Elliot has deftly crafted the mysteries of the cold case murders and disappearances and the current day murder of a true-crime podcaster. The investigation is intriguing and the reveals are masterful. Additionally, Elliot's character work is stellar; the characters are well-rounded, complex and yet incredibly likable. It's great being back with Mercy and Truman; it's so nice to see where they are and how they're doing. I especially appreciate reading more about Ollie; his storyline is tough and it's great seeing how well he's fitting in to family life with Mercy, Truman and Kaylie. There are some very tough topics tackled, so take care and check the CWs. Overall, this is a great book and while you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, The Last Sister. Oh and if you want to read about how Mercy and Truman met be sure to 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.

A cold case of the murder of two teens from twenty years ago heats up when a podcaster investigating the old murder is found dead in the same place and in the same manner.
As FBI agent, Mercy Kilpatrick and her husband, Sheriff Truman Daly work together to connect the murders and find the killer, their family is drawn into the danger. A terrific book with great characters, more murders, twists and a secret that someone will kill to keep. Thank you Netgalley and Montlake Publishing for the arc. This review is my opinion. 4.5 Stars

I didn’t know this was part of a series when I began reading this murder mystery. It was easy to read as a standalone but, I felt cheated that I didn’t have the advantage of all the characters history. It is set in the foothills of the Cascades in Oregon. I’ve never been anywhere near that area and the descriptions were captivating. The area appeals to those wanting solitude and living off the grid.
Police Chief Truman is married to Mercy, an agent in the FBI. They are still in the newlywed first year and their devotion is heartwarming. Truman is Ollie’s guardian and wants to make the young man legally part of his family. I thoroughly soaked up the unique dynamics of this scarred and damaged family.
A conspiracy podcaster is murdered, the circumstances resemble an old unsolved case of a heinous murder and disappearances of seniors on a camping trip decades ago. As the plot unfolds there is sabotage, domestic terrorists, shooters and a possible connection to the newly discovered dead man and the cold case. Getting answers puts all of those investigating in perilous situations. There are car chases, more people are attacked, gunfire erupts and the stakes couldn’t be any costlier. None of my suspects panned out and I was stunned by the unexpected conclusion. I would read more of this series.
An uncorrected proof of “At The River” Columbia River, #5, by Kendra Elliot, Published by Montlake, was a provided to me by NetGalley. Anticipated publication Feb. 13, 2024. There are all my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without any compensation.

I really enjoyed the characters in this book. My favorite is Ollie Smith. The story moved at a good pace and kept my attention throughout. It is definitely a good mystery and investigation book.

Kendra Elliot has a knack for suspense filled crime stories and this one definitely is one of her best. Mercy Kilpatrick is such a fantastic heroine, and revisiting her and her whole family was a treat.
The mystery starts with Ollie stumbling across a woman and leads to many questions new characters and some definite surprises!! Fans of the Columbia River series or the Mercy Kilpatrick series are going to enjoy this one!

I very much enjoyed this addition to the Mercy Kilpatrick series. I really love her and Truman, and Ollie is one of my favorite characters. I also loved seeing Detective Noelle Marshall again, I can't wait until she gets her own book!

Mercy always gets herself immersed in so much at one time. Not only does she have to investigate a series of vandalisms occurring at electrical substations, but she is also drawn into the murder investigation of a true crime podcaster. And along for the ride are Truman and Ollie, since Ollie is the first one to get roped into it when a woman flags him down asking for help.

I love how well Ms. Elliot keeps the story flowing at an even pace. There is never a time when I'm struggling with something slow and can't wait to get to the next chapter, I'm glued to the pages and casting guess after guess as I'm reading, trying to figure out who dunnit.

The character of Devin was fascinating in that he had something called "face blindness" which occurred after a vicious attack 20 years ago. I can't imagine not being able to recognize anyone's face, not even that of my mother. He handled himself well though, and I sympathized so much for all he'd been through in the past and was now the focal point in the present.

The ending was a heart pounder, for sure! And the ending turned out to be exactly as I had guessed, in a good way. I can't wait to see what's next for Mercy, and of course, Truman.

A missing and murdered podcaster's death leads to reexamining the disappearance of five teenagers twenty years earlier. The podcaster's body was found in the same place as two of the missing teens. All three had had their throats slit and wrists bound before they were dumped. However, one of the two teens managed to live but was injured so severely that he couldn't recall what happened to him or his friends.

The difference with the podcaster's placement was the addition of a black taped X over his mouth.

Both Mercy and Truman are involved in the case though they came to it from different points. Truman gets involved when his soon-to-be-adopted son Ollie calls to tell him that he has discovered a woman running for help while he was snowmobiling in the wilderness. She needs to let someone know that her podcaster husband has disappeared and that the lower floor of the cabin they were renting was full of blood.

Mercy is called to the river shore when the podcaster's body was found and was told by a spectator about the crime twenty years earlier. She was called in by Noelle Marshall, a sheriff's deputy that she's worked with before.

As they investigate both the current murder and the twenty-year-old crime, they discover that the survivor is Devin Bonner and go to interview him. They learn that he suffers from face blindness which makes everyone a stranger and has made him a recluse who lives with his mother. When his mother is attacked and almost killed, Ollie befriends him and wants to stay with him to help him out until his mother recovers.

But the killing hasn't stopped and efforts to involve Devin hasn't stopped either. The podcaster's missing jeep shows up outside the Bonner home and another podcaster's body is dumped outside of the motel room where Ollie and Devin are staying.

This story was filled with tension and twists and turns. I found it totally engaging and couldn't put it down until every detail had been figured out. I liked seeing Truman, Mercy and Ollie again in this fifth book in a series. I love the relationship between them all.

This installment centers around a 25 year old case where 5 teenagers disappeared on a camping trip; one died, one survived, and three were never found. When a dead man is killed in a similar manner and left in the same spot as the two who were found, it seems like a message to the survivor, Devin Bonner.

Only as Mercy, Truman, and others learn, Devin doesn't remember anything from after his high school graduation. But as more an more bodies pile up around Devin the entire local police and FBI team are trying to keep Devin safe, while also trying to help him unlock what may or may not be trapped in his memories.

Loved it!! I really enjoy this series and seeing characters from previous books. Love reading about Mercy, Truman and their family. How can you not love people who have a kitten room in their house? I was hooked from the start and couldn't wait to find out who killed Rob Newton and how it related to a missing persons/murder case from twenty years ago. Rob was the catalyst for the all the recent deaths, even his own. If he wouldn't have lied about Devin's memory, there wouldn't have been a cascade effect. Without Rob's lies, then the twenty year old mystery probably would have never been solved. Love that Ollie finally learned the truth about his family. He's such a loving, caring young man. He always wants to help people. Mercy and Truman are the perfect parents for Ollie. There were so many twists and turn, I would have never guessed the reason the kids went missing/killed twenty years ago. I was shocked when everything was finally revealed, I never expected it.

Definitely recommend the book. It was a great mystery/thriller. Loved the characters, story and writing style. Looking forward to reading more books by the author. I can't wait for the next Mercy Kilpatrick book and excited to read more about Detective Noelle Marshall. This is the third book I read in the series, and can be read as standalones. I definitely need to read the first two books. The next book in the series can't come soon enough. Love the cover of the book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Montlake through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Buckle up for a wild ride. This story takes us on the trail of several different crimes and the meaning of family. I am constantly amazed at how enjoyable these stories are. I fell in and didn’t come up for air until the very last page.

I wasn't sure who to suspect throughout this book. Whenever I thought I'd figured something out, another twist was thrown up. This meant I had to keep reading, rather than pause to do something else! I've read other books in this series, but I think it can be read as a standalone book (I've read them in no particular order but still enjoyed them). The characters are easy to like and I have to admit, I didn't see that ending coming!!!

Previously I had read a few books in this series and enjoyed them, so I was happy to pick up this eighth book in the Mercy Kilpatrick series (the 5th in the Columbia River series). Funny how two series intersect! This is a cold case that gets brought back to life when a new murder happens with the same trademark characteristics as the victims from twenty years in the past.

Description:
Twenty years ago, five teenage campers disappeared. Two eventually turned up, bound and left for dead on the Columbia River’s rocky shore. Only Devin Bonner miraculously survived, but with no memories of what happened in the Oregon forest.

After decades, the cold case generates heat for FBI Special Agent Mercy Kilpatrick and her husband, Police Chief Truman Daly. They’re investigating the murder of a true-crime podcaster found at the river’s edge in the same location, and with the exact same manner of death. With the discovery, Devin’s nightmares return. His only real friend is Ollie Smith, Truman’s orphaned ward, whose own search for the truth sucks Ollie into a mystery far greater and more dangerous than anyone imagined.

Following a trail of fresh blood and an escalating series of murders, Mercy and Truman must work fast to unlock whatever traumas are buried in Devin’s memories before the secrets of the past claim another victim.

My Thoughts:
I enjoy the character FBI Special Agent Mercy Kilpatrick and her husband, Police Chief Truman Daly. I really liked how Ollie Smith, Truman's ward was involved in this story and his self-imposed role as protector. He's such a kind and thoughtful man. The mystery surrounding the new murders and the link to the past investigation was complex and I enjoyed following the search for the truth. The story moved at a good pace and kept my attention throughout - I was never bored. I recommend this to anyone who likes a good mystery and investigation.

Thanks to Montlake through Netgalley for an advance copy. Expected publication on February 13, 2024.

Getting comfy with the old and riveted with the new! Such a fabulous combination. Mercy (FBI agent), Truman her husband (and the sheriff) are always winners. I could read books about them, their family and be happy. (my old, comfy) New twists, more involvement from Detective Noelle and lots of intrigue. I held my breath as the search grew more intense and more bodies popping up. The scenes with Ollie and Devlin broke my heart. The ending, woah, just woah. I rarely read books twice but this one is calling me again. Thank you for the arc, I freely volunteer my thoughts and opinions. #AttheRiver #KendraElliot #ColumbiaRiver #MercyKilpatrick #Montlake #NetGalley


Also left at Facebook Twitter (X) Pinterest

Kendra Elliot is one of my favorite authors and Mercy Kilpatrick is one of my favorite characters so I am always excited to be back in their world. Mercy and her husband Truman are thrown in to the thick of things again with so many different crimes being committed at the same time. The crimes are so different no one would ever expect them to be related but after a lot of work, things start to take shape. Truman’s son is drawn in to the drama right from the start and is a major part of the story. Everything seems to revolve around the disappearance and murder of a group of kids 20 years ago. So much happens in this story and everything goes at a good pace. I loved seeing Mercy and Truman so happy and how their extended family were gelling together. There were lots of twists and turns in the story and the major one at the end I did suspect for a while, but the twists did make me doubt myself! I am always sad to leave this world that Kendra Elliot has created with such care and imagination and hope to be back there soon!

Mercy and Truman are great investigators. They get thrown into so,e complicated schemes, but at least they are together. This time, there is history that is repeating itself. Twenty years ago, in their small community, five teens went ,issuing. T who showed up after a month. They were ties up and their throats slit. The other three were never heard from again. No one knows what happened. It was a cold case. That is…one kid actually lives. Devin didn’t die of his wounds, but was left severely brain damaged and has no memory. Into town comes a true crime podcaster who wants to stir up the last and solve the crime. He just so happens to have attended high school with the five teens. But all of his digging gets him ‘ilex and he shows up tied up and throat slashed …at the river.

At the River (Columbia River, #5; Mercy Kilpatrick, #8) by Kendra Elliot
This is way more than a 5* book! It has so many old friends and family - Truman and Mercy are married almost a year, Ollie and Kaylie are their "kids". This book grabs you from the beginning and never lets you go. There is murder old and new, mystery old and new, angst, suspense, danger, love and family closeness, some laughs, tears - both kinds, keeps you guessing until the end. I can't wait for Kendra to write Noelle Marshall's story.
Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Informative Twisted Entertaining Scary Unpredictable Wonderful characters Tragic Page-turner Great world building Happily Ever After Witty Romantic Easy-to-read Action-packed Tear-jerker.

Shocking surprises and a fast paced mystery are what this author is known for.

Mercy and Truman are back. I for one can’t get enough of them. Ollie is front and center on this story.

A twenty year old crime that has never been solved. New murders that keep you guessing and a huge secret that will have you saying OMG!!

"At the River" by Kendra Elliot is a gripping thriller that follows FBI special agent Ava McLane as she investigates a series of murders in a small Oregon town. The novel delves into the complexities of the human psyche, the intricacies of forensic investigation, and the emotional toll of pursuing justice in the face of danger.
The author skillfully weaves together a suspenseful narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The characters are well-developed, and the plot is filled with unexpected twists and turns that will leave readers guessing until the very end.
Kendra Elliot's vivid descriptions of the Oregon landscape add an atmospheric layer to the story, drawing readers into the setting and enhancing the overall reading experience. The novel's exploration of human nature and the darker aspects of small-town life will resonate with readers who enjoy psychological thrillers.
I highly recommend this book.

While trekking the backcountry, Ollie stumbles upon a woman and a crime scene. The husband is missing but blood points to a violent struggle. Mercy and Truman investigate and it quickly becomes apparent the case is linked to a 20 year old mystery — three missing teenagers, one murder victim and one who miraculously survived despite having his throat cut.

The Columbia River series is very much an expansion of Mercy Kilpatrick. New characters are introduced who will appear in future stories while old characters continue to show up. Honestly, there aren't many books I read and reread but I will revisit these stories again. When the audiobook comes out I will buy it.

For lovers of crime fiction there are not too many who do it better than Kendra Elliot.