By Kendra Elliot
Genre Adult crime/fiction
Rating ⭐️⭐️
Synopsis
Back in her hometown of Eagle's Nest Oregon FBI Agent Mercy was hoping for a warm welcoming from family but while some are welcoming others are not. Meanwhile an arsonist turned murderer is on the loose. Can Mercy and her lover Police Chief Truman Daly find who's behind the crimes before it's too late?
First Sentence
Police Chief Truman Daly slammed the door of his Tahoe and raised a hand to protect his face from the heat of the fire.
I received a copy of A Merciful Truth from the kind folks at Montlake Romance in exchange for an honest review.
Having not read the first book in this series I was a little afraid I wouldn't know what was going on but I felt that I caught on pretty quickly. Mercy has just transferred from Portland back to her home town of Eagle's Nest Oregon and is dating the Police Chief Truman Daly. Her brother was killed not too long ago and she is now the guardian of his daughter. The death of her brother is what, I'm assuming, was covered in the first book. Don't take my word for it, though, I'm just assuming.
I felt like this one stood on its own storywise. While I liked watching Mercy track down the arsonist with Truman's help as the story unfolded, I found far too much telling not showing going on. As a result I couldn't really connect to the characters. They felt one dimensional; like character cutouts of a FBI agent and a police chief. Even Mercy's niece felt like your typical teenager. They were just too standard. I wanted to connect to them but couldn't.
There was quite a few things that were far too convenient as well. I tried to be forgiving but found far too many things that were unbelievable.
I know it sounds like I hated this one and that's not entirely true. I didn't hate it but was a bit disappointed. Maybe I'm just burned out on these crime novels (as I've mentioned before) or maybe I wasn't in the mood but this one fell a bit flat for me.
Should you read it
If crime novels are your thing then give this one a go. Though, I might recommend reading the first in the series before reading this one.
Bummer this one didn't work for you. I get burned out on certain types of books myself so maybe a break from them will be good. I hope your next book is awesome.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I've taken breaks from this genre but every time I go back to it I realize my break wasn't long enough.
DeleteI'm burned out on these types too after reading as many as I did before my surgeries, so I get it. :)
ReplyDeleteI read hundreds in my teen years and watched Law & Order religiously. It was just too much. I try to get back into them but I can't.
DeleteI'm sorry this one fell flat. Sounds like the writing wasn't what it could've...and should've been.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I wanted more connection to the characters.
DeleteThis genre isn't my cup of tea for just that reason. The plot is more important than the characters and the characters are usually flat.
ReplyDeleteExactly. And I even consider myself a plot girl but need more character connection.
DeleteI've found things too convenient in a lot of crime novels as well. It just makes the story less believable and therefore harder to enjoy. Sorry this one fell flat, but thanks for the review.
ReplyDeleteYeah, the convenient things drove me nuts. It's completely unbelievable.
DeleteTelling not showing really kills a book for me. I get so bored. Sorry this didn't work out for you.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it does make it boring, doesn't it?
DeleteIt's hard to enjoy a book when you don't care about any of the characters. :/
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear that this one was disappointing for you. I don't like it either when we're told what happens instead of being shown and yes, it does seem to make the characters more one dimensional. Hate when that happens! Hope your next read is better!
ReplyDeleteTerri @ Alexia's Books and Such...
Thanks.
Delete