I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

📚Mercy Creek, the second book in the Jo Wyatt mystery, delivered an intense and engaging mystery. It kept me glued to the pages, had me guessing, and then it astounded me with an unexpected revelation.

📚Mercy Creek reminded me of the reasons I admired Detective Jo Wyatt. A no nonsense woman who made it her mission to find justice for victims. This time around, the victim is an eleven-year-old girl who went missing after attending a carnival. Everyone believed Lena ran away, but Jo believe it to be a case of kidnapping. She is determined to find Lena before the case of a suspected kidnapping becomes a homicide.

Jo’s investigation led her to Lena’s parents, which opened a big can of worms. Secrets and lies from the past came to light, which led to Jo questioning what was real and what was not. The investigation revealed several suspects, all whom I found distasteful.

Jo’s interaction with her colleagues balanced out the dark side of the investigation. I didn’t like the new police chief. It’s clear he has a hidden agenda, which included trapping Jo in his net. I am so glad she did not fall for the carrot he dangled in front of her. Her best friend Aiden made an appearance and despite them not getting much page time, the chemistry between them sizzled. But of course they are still in denial.

The story slowly developed, gradually picking up the momentum and culminating in a dangerous situation. In the last moments, the story had me on the edge of my seat. The revelation of the identity of the person behind Lena’s disappearance surprised me. I never expected it to be that person, even though their actions throughout the story disgusted me.

I had a great time revisiting Echo Valley, Colorado. The mystery was solid and well plotted; the characters were dysfunctional and authentic, and the story was well crafted. All these combined made 📚Mercy Creek an entertaining and satisfying read.

This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading