I honestly did not expect to like At the River as much as I did! It was gripping, the characters were intriguing, and the plot was good. The pacing of the book was also brilliant and as a true crime junkie, I was having the time of my life. Similar vibes to AGGGTM by Holly Black.

Would 100% recommend if you love murder mysteries and true crime stories.

My Thoughts

After 20 years murder victims are once again linked to a cold case that led back to survivor Devin Bonner.

Due to head trauma Devin’s memories are lost but there are clues trapped inside his head that appear in his dreams/nightmares.

Now those clues are all that Mercy has as the body count rises and law enforcement efforts to uncover why prove fruitless.

Needless to say, the buildup took time but once things started happening it escalated quickly and answers led to more questions for both Mercy as well as the reader.

How and why are finally explained with an unexpected answer in regards to Ollie Smith.

The wrap up was stunning but also something I kind of expected would happen when I got closer to the finish line of this story.

I was hoping that it would anyway.
[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.

At the River is the latest novel from Kendra Elliot featuring husband and wife team FBI Agent Mercy Kilpatrick and Police Chief Truman Daly. Set in the remote Oregon backwoods a feature of these books is the proliferation of what are broadly known as Alt-Right groups, preppers,survivalists and similar groups that often attract violent extremists.

The book begins with the murder of a true-crime Podcaster who is investigating the fate of 5 teenagers 20 years previously, 1 murdered,another left for dead and no sign of the 3 then or in the 2 decades afterwards, The Podcaster is found dead in the same place and having been killed in the same manner
With the violence escalating as it becomes obvious that someone is determined to keep the secrets of the past from being exposed Mercy and Truman find the case putting their family and colleagues,often literally,in the line of fire.

A great story and an insight into a part of America where paranoia often rules and obviously armed people are a common sight in a society that often seems at war with itself.
This can be read as a standalone story but far better if you've read the previous Mercy Kilpatrick and Columbia River series featuring the same characters..

I love Mercy and Truman I loved everything about this book - the story line, the characters, the actions - right up until the end. Too far-fetched for me and unbelievable for me. However, I look forward to reading the next installment.

Thank you #netgalley and #montlake for the eARC.

At The River is another wonderful thriller with FBI agent Mercy Kilpatrick and her husband police chief Truman Daly.
A male body is found at the river with his throat cut and a gunshot wound to the head. The similarities in the killing method link back to a 20 year old case where five teenagers disappeared then two were found one already dead from the same injuries the other left for dead but survived unable to remember anything that had happened, the other three missing presumed dead.
Truman’s ward Ollie becomes involved in the case and as more deaths occur the tension and dangers intensify. Exciting and at times jaw dropping this story ramps up the action continually.
Mercy and Truman’s relationship remains loving and fulfilling and Ollie has a pivotal role that he fulfils well.
The ending is shocking and the as the case is concluded there is a shocking revelation that I just didn’t see coming but one that although in part heartbreaking is satisfying for all concerned.
My thanks to net galley and publisher for the opportunity to review this book honestly.

A descriptive and dynamic read, the various twists and turns keep you guessing up until the last minute. I was completely new to the Mercy Kilpatrick series and found that I enjoyed the characters, the author provides just enough background information for you to build a good picture of their personalities and history that add to the story.

The story touches not only on a decades old cold case but also sheds light on a wonderful family dynamic, showing that family is the people you love regardless of blood, the closeness of the characters and their desire to protect each other is heartwarming and pleasing to read.

Overall I’d highly recommend ‘At the River’ to anyone who is looking for a light thriller that keeps you on the edge your seat with personable characters you can’t help but love.

This book was really difficult to get into. Most of the time I could not keep up with what was going on with the characters or the storyline, perhaps it was me. Disappointed as I usually super love this author and everything they put out. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I enjoyed this story, the first I've read from the author. It is a standalone novel, but there were many references to previous events, most of which seemed pretty violent. I was especially interested in the dynamic of the blended family, and the use of multiple POVs. The author writes a good story, intricate and detailed. Recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and I',m leaving a review freely.

I will start off by saying that I really enjoyed the premise and story this book told. However, I found that the writing style wasn't for me. This was a quick book and I felt that it was overall paced well.

This was the first book I've read by Kendra Elliot, and prior to opening the first pages, I didn't know that this book was part of a set of larger works starring the main character, Mercy Kilpatrick. I do think you can read this as a standalone, since past situations were briefly alluded to in order to give enough context for the reader.

I thought the investigation had a good amount of twists and turns to keep a reader guessing. It was fast paced and really kept me interested in finding out what happened to the missing teens and how it was connected to the present day murders. I did think the ending was a little bit rushed and more time was spent understanding the perpetrators motives and history. I also really enjoyed the amount of female representation in law enforcement throughout this book - even if it might not accurately reflect the proportion of female law enforcement in rural PNW.

My main qualms was that I found the dialogue to be a bit disjointed and not reflective of how humans speak to each other. I also like my thrillers/mysteries to "show, not tell" - and this book was quite the opposite. With each investigative question or need, someone was there with the exact right answer or skill to solve it - the main characters really did not have to solve much or deduce much on their own - it was spoon-fed to the reader and the characters.

I liked all of the characters, but felt like the added story line of Ollie's adoption and parentage took me away from the story of the investigation itself, which was the part that I found really interesting. I think readers who have stuck with Mercy and the rest of the series, might've had different opinions since they might be more attached to Ollie.

I also wish we could have seen more Mercy-Truman interactions. We only see them talking the investigation or Ollie/adoption in this book, and I wanted to learn more about their relationship to add a bit more depth for the context of their characters and the past traumas (from previous books) they were battling through.

Overall, I give this book a 3/5 because I did enjoy the story. I would recommend this book to anyone who is look for a quick, easy read that is fast paced. If grammar-issues and stilted dialogue bug you though, you might want to go in with a warning!

I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

At the River" by Kendra Elliot immerses readers into a chilling mystery that spans two decades, blending the past and present into a suspenseful tale of vanished teenagers and a contemporary murder. The haunting cold case resurfaces, captivating FBI Special Agent Mercy Kilpatrick and her husband, Police Chief Truman Daly, as they unravel the dark secrets entangled in the Oregon forest.
The story's allure lies in its impeccable intertwining of multiple timelines and characters, crafting a layered plot that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The masterful depiction of investigative processes and the diligent pursuit of truth add a sense of realism to the narrative. The characters are both resilient and relatable, showcasing compassion and unwavering determination in the face of daunting challenges.
As the mysteries unfold and fresh blood is shed, the pace quickens, and the anticipation builds, urging readers to delve deeper into the enigma. Kendra Elliot artfully orchestrates this riveting thriller, leaving readers eager to decipher the hidden connections and solve the puzzling crimes. "At the River" is a must-read for enthusiasts of crime fiction, promising an enthralling journey through secrets, investigations, and unanticipated twists.

Part of a series featuring Mercy and Truman and their family.Love this series,the characters are great. Was also a very engrossing story with plenty of twists.

Love Mercy and Truman and crew. I can't wait to read more and more about everyone so I'm super happy that Kendra Elliott has decided to write more and I'm glad I'm not the only fan of this couple.

In this book a murder seems to duplicate or at least bring up very similar geography to a cold case more than twenty years old. And so Mercy and the FBI get involved to help Noelle and the Deschutes County sheriff's office.

Truman has kept something from Ollie and now is the time he tells him but he's so nervous. What is it that Truman has to reveal?

Read what happens with all of these things in this book. It's a great read. I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a compelling read, and I have the bags under my eyes to prove it! I have read all of Kendra's books and I think that this one is the best yet. I would recommend reading The Mercy Kilpatrick series first, starting with 'A Merciful Death'in order to get the best reading experience. However, the story does reference things that have happened in the previous books, so it is not essential.

I really enjoyed the many twists in the plot, and it was nice to see Ollie growing and changing as a character, as people do as they grow up. I'm looking forward to seeing more of Noelle's character in future books and seeing how her story develops.

I'm impatient to read Kendra Elliot's next book.

At The River by K. Elliot, published by Montlake is book 6 in the Columbia River Series. Another outstanding, spellbinding read by this gifted author.
Mercy, Truman and their family's story continues. This book is a stand-alone in a series of interconnected stand-alones, the books are best read in order.
Mercy and Truman are confronted with a 20 year old case of 5 vanished teenagers, with showing up new victims with parallels to the 20 year old case.
Truman, Mercy and Det. Noelle are chasing ghosts from the past while Truman too is looking into the past of Ollie his inofficial son.
An intriguing, complex, fast paced read that had me right from the start, twisty and full of unexpected turns I greatly enjoyed meeting friends and acqauitances from previous books. Reading this gem of a story was like coming home, snuggling on the couch with a good book, just beautiful.

Three missing teens, one murdered one survived, a crime unsolved from 20 years ago. At the River is Kendra Elliot’s best book in this Columbia River series. The two main characters FBI Special Agent Mercy Kilpatrick and her Police Chief Truman Daly have now been married Aliya year and life couldn’t be better until they have to investigate two murders and almost fatal attacks that are connected to the decades old unsolved case.
I really enjoyed the connection these characters have and with the growth of their family, they are adjusting. The story really flowed and kept me wanting to continue to read “just one more chapter” Ollie, Truman’s soon to be adopted son plays a pivotal role in the story and it proves that you don’t have to be blood to be family. All these attacks and murders moved into each flawlessly like a puzzle coming together. FBI Agent Noelle Marshall is a character who I am so looking forward to reading more about. Her badass attitude and growing friendship with Mercy adds a great side story to this amazing well written story about hidden secrets, lies and family. I received an ARC from Netgallery for my honest review. I could write more, but it will to you away from reading this story!

The fifth installment of Kendra Elliot's Columbia River series doesn't disappoint in any way.

FBI Agent Mercy Kilpatrick and her husband Police Chief Truman Day find that the cases they've just gotten overlap and they work together to solve them both, along with new secondary characters (that I hope come back in future books - I'm looking at you, Sheriff Anderson)

With help from Ollie, Truman's ward and hopefully soon to be adopted son, Truman and Mercy try to solve an abduction/murder and a decades long mystery where two of five kidnapped teens were murdered, two disappeared and one barely survived.

Add in Truman wanting to adopt Ollie and finding other information about that along the way and their whole family dynamic and it's a great book.

Ms. Elliot left me wanting to find out what happens next for Ollie, Mercy, Truman and Kayleigh, Mercy's niece.

This book was provided to me by the publisher and NetGalley for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

So it took me a few days to read ‘At The River’ because I really didn’t want it to end. Reading about Mercy, Truman and their family feels like visiting with friends and you know you’ll have to wait a year to visit again. I LOVE these characters and their dynamics. The cases Mercy and Truman start with seem to be unrelated but of course they eventually intertwined. The mystery is engaging and had me guessing and second guessing for the whole time. While this book can be read as a stand alone it would be better appreciated as part of the series and you won’t be sorry if you start at book 1. Kendra Elliot’s series ties with Melinda Leigh’s Bree Taggert books for my favourite police procedurals. I love strong women who are successful in their work and private lives and the strong men who support them. You won’t be sorry you started the series and this book is evidence that the series continues to go from strength to strength. Sometimes a series can start to feel like the author is phoning it in, but Ms Elliot continues to be on her A game. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. 5/5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Twenty years ago, five teenagers disappeared from a camp site. Two were later found on the side of a river, arms bound and throats cut. One was dead, the other just barely alive. The other three were never found.

A podcaster comes to the area after researching the case, and is discovered in exactly the same place, next to the river, bound and with a cut throat. Is there a copy cat?

Chief Truman Day, and his wife FBI Agent Mercy Kilpatrick investigate and the surviving teen, now in his late thirties seems to be in terrible danger.

I love a police procedural that follows the evidence of a crime, and love how all the clues seem to come together for the investigators. Without a conclusion to the cold case, it is difficult to solve the new murders, but as a team, all these various departments get the job done.

A page turner, keeping the reader's mind racing and trying to connect the clues to a suspect, well this book is all that and more. Well thought out, with great characters who have compassion and a resolve to do their jobs. And the suspense!! Wow!

I highly recommend.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was one spectacular roller coaster ride. Lots of twists and turns with a jaw dropping revelation. Ollie played a huge part in this book. I look forward to reading more about Noelle in future books. I gobbled this book up quickly. The writing is wonderful. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through Net Galley.

Excellent story!! Have read this entire series and there will never be too much of Truman and Mercy. Can only hope for many more and their story to continue. Definitely recommend this book