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Messages of Murder #8
Message in the Coins: A psychic kidnap thriller
Big messages come from the smallest things.
And sometimes, the smallest things are the most dangerous.
When Gabby McAllister receives a mysterious package in the mail, she doesn't think much of it—until she opens the box and finds a handful of coins. At first glance, they seem ordinary. But her psychic senses flare to life, revealing something far more these coins are connected to a murder. A murder that hasn’t happened yet.
As visions grow darker and more intense, Gabby realizes she’s being drawn into a carefully orchestrated trap. Someone is watching her. Studying her. Targeting her. And they know exactly how to manipulate her gift.
With each passing day, the danger escalates. Gabby’s friends and family—Lucas, Dustin, and the rest of the crew—scramble to unravel the meaning behind the coins and the shadowy figure lurking in the background. But the clues are few, the timeline is shrinking, and Gabby is slipping deeper into a sinister plot that could cost her everything.
To survive, she’ll have to trust her instincts, her visions, and the people who love her.
Because someone is playing a deadly game.
And this time… Gabby is the prize.
Book 8 in the Messages of Murder Series
Book 1- Message in the Bones
Book 2- Message in the Fire
Book 3- Message in the Grave
Book 4- Message in the Snow
Book 5- Message in the Box
Book 6- Message in the Blood
Book 7- Message in the Blade
Book 8- Message in the Coins
And sometimes, the smallest things are the most dangerous.
When Gabby McAllister receives a mysterious package in the mail, she doesn't think much of it—until she opens the box and finds a handful of coins. At first glance, they seem ordinary. But her psychic senses flare to life, revealing something far more these coins are connected to a murder. A murder that hasn’t happened yet.
As visions grow darker and more intense, Gabby realizes she’s being drawn into a carefully orchestrated trap. Someone is watching her. Studying her. Targeting her. And they know exactly how to manipulate her gift.
With each passing day, the danger escalates. Gabby’s friends and family—Lucas, Dustin, and the rest of the crew—scramble to unravel the meaning behind the coins and the shadowy figure lurking in the background. But the clues are few, the timeline is shrinking, and Gabby is slipping deeper into a sinister plot that could cost her everything.
To survive, she’ll have to trust her instincts, her visions, and the people who love her.
Because someone is playing a deadly game.
And this time… Gabby is the prize.
Book 8 in the Messages of Murder Series
Book 1- Message in the Bones
Book 2- Message in the Fire
Book 3- Message in the Grave
Book 4- Message in the Snow
Book 5- Message in the Box
Book 6- Message in the Blood
Book 7- Message in the Blade
Book 8- Message in the Coins
- GenresMysteryParanormal
284 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 30, 2024
239 people are currently reading
56 people want to read
About the author
Dawn Merriman
52 books228 followersDawn Merriman lives in northeastern Indiana on a small pig farm with her husband and teenage children. She enjoys animals, auctions, reading, snorkeling and writing small town murder mystery novels. Dawn Merriman completed her first novel in Middle School and a few others in High School and college. She won 1st place in the Northeast Indiana Young Writers short story contest in 1990. After a writing hiatus to raise her children, she published her debut novel, "How Murder Saved My Life" in 2019.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
April 7, 2025
Amazing Series!!!
Finally a book full of mystery with good old fashion values. I didn’t think this type of book was even available anymore. Thank you Dawn for your imagination and Christian belief. The characters, good n bad, are amazing and every mystery had me guessing till the end. I finished all 8 books in a weekend. If you want to read a fabulous series with great mysteries, true love and unshakable faith, without the smut and curse words that seem to be the new norm, u will love this series!!!!
Finally a book full of mystery with good old fashion values. I didn’t think this type of book was even available anymore. Thank you Dawn for your imagination and Christian belief. The characters, good n bad, are amazing and every mystery had me guessing till the end. I finished all 8 books in a weekend. If you want to read a fabulous series with great mysteries, true love and unshakable faith, without the smut and curse words that seem to be the new norm, u will love this series!!!!
February 5, 2025
Wow! Loved this series
Gabby and family are wonderful characters that I can’t get enough of. I’m hoping that Dawn Merriman continues this series with more books. I love how amazing Gabby is and how she is finding her strength, love and her gift with the help of family and friends. I’m so looking forward to the next adventure for Gabby and family and friends. Thank you Dawn, this is so much fun to read I can’t put it down until the end of each book. Dawn you are an excellent writer with a great imagination and a wonderful writing style. Thank you!
Gabby and family are wonderful characters that I can’t get enough of. I’m hoping that Dawn Merriman continues this series with more books. I love how amazing Gabby is and how she is finding her strength, love and her gift with the help of family and friends. I’m so looking forward to the next adventure for Gabby and family and friends. Thank you Dawn, this is so much fun to read I can’t put it down until the end of each book. Dawn you are an excellent writer with a great imagination and a wonderful writing style. Thank you!
October 1, 2024
Yay, more awesome Gabby!
Another amazing story from Dawn Merriman about Gabby and her psychic gift as well as her family and friends. If you have read any of the Message series, you already know you'll love it. If for whatever reason you decided to start on book 8, do yourself a favor and read the others too, they are all awesome.
Another amazing story from Dawn Merriman about Gabby and her psychic gift as well as her family and friends. If you have read any of the Message series, you already know you'll love it. If for whatever reason you decided to start on book 8, do yourself a favor and read the others too, they are all awesome.
October 5, 2024
Best one yet!
My heart is still pounding five minutes after finishing this book! From the first page Dawn grabs her readers into a terrifying and exciting story, refusing to let you stop reading until the very last page. When it's all over she leaves us begging for more. I highly recommend this series....you won't be disappointed!
My heart is still pounding five minutes after finishing this book! From the first page Dawn grabs her readers into a terrifying and exciting story, refusing to let you stop reading until the very last page. When it's all over she leaves us begging for more. I highly recommend this series....you won't be disappointed!
August 3, 2025
Working in Gabby's shop she receives a package full of coins. The vision Gabby sees is a horrible scene of a girl being tortured. Later Gabby is led to a house for a job however she is met sadly with the girl in the vision. And yet again another coin has appeared. Gabby releases someone is leaving her clues and a message. Gabby is their next target but why?
Currently this is the last book for now in the series as the author noted in the back she will carry on but it might take some time. Which is fine I don't mind waiting for the author to put together a great book for us.
I loved this book even though Gabby was taken I loved that the family came together to find her quickly. I love how Lacey came to help them see a vision from the coins with her I guess step family. Even Gabby's old work colleague comes to help with her small hacking skills. I love like a true prince Lucas arrives at the perfect time to rescue Gabby from the weird farm creeps.
They were one very messed up farm family, and very brain washed.
I can't wait to see where Dawn takes Gabby in her next books. I can't wait to read a wedding book.
Currently this is the last book for now in the series as the author noted in the back she will carry on but it might take some time. Which is fine I don't mind waiting for the author to put together a great book for us.
I loved this book even though Gabby was taken I loved that the family came together to find her quickly. I love how Lacey came to help them see a vision from the coins with her I guess step family. Even Gabby's old work colleague comes to help with her small hacking skills. I love like a true prince Lucas arrives at the perfect time to rescue Gabby from the weird farm creeps.
They were one very messed up farm family, and very brain washed.
I can't wait to see where Dawn takes Gabby in her next books. I can't wait to read a wedding book.
May 25, 2025
Messages of Murder books 1-8 (fairly quick reads)
The first seven books were quite good, but the last one had so many errors in it. From omitted words to grammar errors, book eight appeared a rushed job in my opinion.
Gabby and her gift were interesting, but the supporting characters held my interest more.
Grandma Dot, Mom, Mrs. Mott, and Haley were there for Gabby when no one else seemed to be.
I found it sad how Dustin felt ashamed of and embarrassed byGabby in the earlier books because of her gift.
My heart went out to Alexis.
Lucas was supportive and an overall great guy.
Officer Patterson was the only decent cop on the force .
Garcia was a witch of a coroner. Just not a nice person at all.
And let’s not forget Lacey Aniston. What a peer! Reporter, half-sibling, somewhat gifted too, but don’t tell anyone!
Then of course there was Nathan. With a father like that… would you want to be related to him?!
The first seven books were quite good, but the last one had so many errors in it. From omitted words to grammar errors, book eight appeared a rushed job in my opinion.
Gabby and her gift were interesting, but the supporting characters held my interest more.
Grandma Dot, Mom, Mrs. Mott, and Haley were there for Gabby when no one else seemed to be.
I found it sad how Dustin felt ashamed of and embarrassed byGabby in the earlier books because of her gift.
My heart went out to Alexis.
Lucas was supportive and an overall great guy.
Officer Patterson was the only decent cop on the force .
Garcia was a witch of a coroner. Just not a nice person at all.
And let’s not forget Lacey Aniston. What a peer! Reporter, half-sibling, somewhat gifted too, but don’t tell anyone!
Then of course there was Nathan. With a father like that… would you want to be related to him?!
December 11, 2024
Great Messages
What a great series. I can't wait for Gabby's continuing story. Dawn never disappoints. This is such a great series with something for everyone. I love how Gabby is able to solve mysteries with a message and a little bit of deductive reasoning much to Dustin and Lucas's chagrin as they do everything they can to keep Gabby safe and out of harms way.
The cast of characters are so well described and such an integral part of Gabbys life that they become a part of a seamless story that takes you through each of Gabbys adventures.
Great stories that are fun to sit down and read taking the reader away to middle America and into the lives of Gabby and all her family.
What a great series. I can't wait for Gabby's continuing story. Dawn never disappoints. This is such a great series with something for everyone. I love how Gabby is able to solve mysteries with a message and a little bit of deductive reasoning much to Dustin and Lucas's chagrin as they do everything they can to keep Gabby safe and out of harms way.
The cast of characters are so well described and such an integral part of Gabbys life that they become a part of a seamless story that takes you through each of Gabbys adventures.
Great stories that are fun to sit down and read taking the reader away to middle America and into the lives of Gabby and all her family.
August 28, 2025
Family needs a psychic
Gabby is sent coins that lead her to realize that a poor woman has been tortured. When she receives an e mail that leads her to a deserted home and finally the body of the woman, she knows there is something very dark surrounding the woman. Gabby is lured and then kidnapped to help solve a murder case by a group of people living off the grid. Her entire family and fiancé work to solve her location with a little bit of research and their own abilities. A definite page turner.
Gabby is sent coins that lead her to realize that a poor woman has been tortured. When she receives an e mail that leads her to a deserted home and finally the body of the woman, she knows there is something very dark surrounding the woman. Gabby is lured and then kidnapped to help solve a murder case by a group of people living off the grid. Her entire family and fiancé work to solve her location with a little bit of research and their own abilities. A definite page turner.
February 7, 2026
Keeps getting better
I have absolutely loved this series.
Each story is unique and sinister. Delicious!
I do wish that the author would tie up any loose ends in the stories ie. Give the reader a brief wrap up of what happens to the criminals in the story. Having read several of this authors works I don't think this is something she does. It doesn't detract from my enjoyment of her books.
If you're new to this world, do yourself a favour and read from book 1. Each story concludes but leads into the next.
Bring on the next.
I have absolutely loved this series.
Each story is unique and sinister. Delicious!
I do wish that the author would tie up any loose ends in the stories ie. Give the reader a brief wrap up of what happens to the criminals in the story. Having read several of this authors works I don't think this is something she does. It doesn't detract from my enjoyment of her books.
If you're new to this world, do yourself a favour and read from book 1. Each story concludes but leads into the next.
Bring on the next.
August 28, 2025
Well... This is for the entire series..
Religious Fantasy books are not generally in my wheelhouse. i dont care for them at all. That said, They were engaging enough that I had to finish the series. The mysteries are interesting altho There is some predictability With the plots, And in my opinion Gabby is a whiner and annoying - that said there's some really good writing here. So the praise here is for the wordsmith.
Religious Fantasy books are not generally in my wheelhouse. i dont care for them at all. That said, They were engaging enough that I had to finish the series. The mysteries are interesting altho There is some predictability With the plots, And in my opinion Gabby is a whiner and annoying - that said there's some really good writing here. So the praise here is for the wordsmith.
October 3, 2024
Another wonderful Messages of Murder
Gabby gets an envelope of coins and the adventure begins. The vision she gets is very disturbing but little clues from it. But not long after she is in the middle of a couple mysteries with her life at stake. Great story. I recommend the whole series.
Gabby gets an envelope of coins and the adventure begins. The vision she gets is very disturbing but little clues from it. But not long after she is in the middle of a couple mysteries with her life at stake. Great story. I recommend the whole series.
October 30, 2024
Gabby
Usually do not like a physic story. It seems like a cheap trick to introduce a clue without a logical investigative solution of written explanation. This story however makes it a part of the basic structure of one of the characters. That all said, theses stories have a certain amount of fun an cute side stories that make it interesting.
Usually do not like a physic story. It seems like a cheap trick to introduce a clue without a logical investigative solution of written explanation. This story however makes it a part of the basic structure of one of the characters. That all said, theses stories have a certain amount of fun an cute side stories that make it interesting.
December 19, 2024
Easy read but wow....so many errors
Another good story, but more mistakes than usual. The word either should have been neither throughout the book. Some of the errors were so egregious, I couldn't figure out what it was supposed to say. It felt like it wasn't edited. But love Gabby's world, so I finished reading it.
Another good story, but more mistakes than usual. The word either should have been neither throughout the book. Some of the errors were so egregious, I couldn't figure out what it was supposed to say. It felt like it wasn't edited. But love Gabby's world, so I finished reading it.
August 24, 2025
This book is pretty hot with the danger that Gabby finds herself in and everyone has to rally together and work to help save her, after not realising she was kidnapped for several hours, it takes days and she makes a break for it but gets captured. It's fast paced and moves along nicely. Great story.
October 4, 2024
This is quite a delicious series! I wonder how long it will be before they realize how psychicly connected Lucas is to Gabby? The headache spikes when they knocked her over the head, him hearing the bells and the dogs! It's so exciting!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 12, 2024
GREAT BOOK!
I absolutely love this series! Gabby receives a package of coins in the mail. When she touches them she knows something is very wrong. This book was so good! I can’t wait to read more Gabby books!
I absolutely love this series! Gabby receives a package of coins in the mail. When she touches them she knows something is very wrong. This book was so good! I can’t wait to read more Gabby books!
October 14, 2024
Never a dull moment
This series never fails to keep my attention and leaves me wanting more. It is the sweetest and most thrilling series I have read in a very long time. Fabulous as always!
This series never fails to keep my attention and leaves me wanting more. It is the sweetest and most thrilling series I have read in a very long time. Fabulous as always!
October 19, 2024
Gabby is phenomenal!
This is the best series I've read in a long time. The characters and story plots are amazing. You won't be able to put it down until the end and then you will be buying the next one...I read two in one day. Can't wait to read the new one.
This is the best series I've read in a long time. The characters and story plots are amazing. You won't be able to put it down until the end and then you will be buying the next one...I read two in one day. Can't wait to read the new one.
November 28, 2024
Love it
I really like Gabby's character development... She's definitely turning into the strong sassy person she was always meant to be. I also love the fact that faith in God Is really what these are all about.
I really like Gabby's character development... She's definitely turning into the strong sassy person she was always meant to be. I also love the fact that faith in God Is really what these are all about.
January 6, 2025
This was much better than the prior book however there were a multitude of grammatical errors again. I was on the edge of my seat with this plot though and was nervous until the end. I’m glad of the way it ended because I love Gabby and Haley!
January 15, 2025
Intense.
Wow!
I thought this was the final book in the incredible Messages of Murder series, but I was so excited with the ending, showing there will be at least one mire.
This was a very interesting and entertaining story. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book.
Wow!
I thought this was the final book in the incredible Messages of Murder series, but I was so excited with the ending, showing there will be at least one mire.
This was a very interesting and entertaining story. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book.
February 25, 2025
Coins
When gabby gets a package of coins and gets zapped, she knows it wasn't good. Then she found a dead girl with a coin next to her. The next thing she knew, she had been kidknapped, and everyone was trying to figure out where she was and who was behind it.
When gabby gets a package of coins and gets zapped, she knows it wasn't good. Then she found a dead girl with a coin next to her. The next thing she knew, she had been kidknapped, and everyone was trying to figure out where she was and who was behind it.
March 29, 2025
Love this series!
I thoroughly enjoyed this series about Gabby & family & friends. The mystery is always unfolding & exciting & I Love how she included God in her psychic gift. Can’t wait for more from Mrs. Merriman
I thoroughly enjoyed this series about Gabby & family & friends. The mystery is always unfolding & exciting & I Love how she included God in her psychic gift. Can’t wait for more from Mrs. Merriman
September 9, 2025
once again an awesome read.
This series was amazing page turner.The characters were brilliant and don't disappoint.
Finished this series now onto next series from Dawn looking forward to more adventures.
This series was amazing page turner.The characters were brilliant and don't disappoint.
Finished this series now onto next series from Dawn looking forward to more adventures.
October 27, 2025
highly recommend
I love following Gabby and I can’t wait for her to get married and have a baby and then maybe he would have her gift and more. I enjoy reading all of Dawns books but Gabby is my fave
I love following Gabby and I can’t wait for her to get married and have a baby and then maybe he would have her gift and more. I enjoy reading all of Dawns books but Gabby is my fave
October 5, 2024
I love this series. Each book is better than the last. The suspense throughout had me holding my breath at times. I hope we won't have to wait long for the next of Gabby's adventures.
October 7, 2024
Welcome back Gabby
There were a few TO's but they did not detract from the story. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book. Keep up the great work Dawn!
There were a few TO's but they did not detract from the story. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book. Keep up the great work Dawn!
April 3, 2025
Another great one.
I have just falling' in love with is all of these characters. Yes even Lacey. I can't wait for the next book. This whole series is a big 5 stars.💗✨
I have just falling' in love with is all of these characters. Yes even Lacey. I can't wait for the next book. This whole series is a big 5 stars.💗✨
April 14, 2025
Ouch!
I loved it! But so far I’ve really enjoyed everything she has written. The characters are fun and interesting. Even the stinkers.
I loved it! But so far I’ve really enjoyed everything she has written. The characters are fun and interesting. Even the stinkers.
June 28, 2025
Kind of wish I heard about the wedding, but it’s fine 🥲
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews