Dead Account: A Sloane Merritt Missing Persons Thriller Book 1

by M.K. Quinn

A staged disappearance. A real abduction. And the girl she never stopped searching for.

Private investigator Sloane Merritt has built her career on finding missing persons—a calling born from devastating failure. Twenty years ago, her childhood best friend Eden Pike vanished without a trace. Two decades later, Sloane is still searching for answers.

When 25-year-old influencer Marley Quinn goes missing after posting about a luxury brand partnership, Sloane expects another routine case. A desperate family. A digital trail. A girl who made a bad decision and needs to be found.

But Marley's disappearance was supposed to be fake—a three-day publicity stunt to boost her struggling social media career. The con becomes terrifyingly real when Marley vanishes from her safe house, leaving behind only blood and signs of forced entry.

As Sloane races to find her, the case takes a disturbing turn. The person who recruited Marley used the name EdenSeeker88—a username that can't be coincidence. Someone knows about Sloane's past. Someone is using Eden's case as a blueprint. And someone has been targeting vulnerable young women for longer than anyone realized.

Now Sloane must untangle a web of manipulation, fake identities, and buried secrets before Marley becomes another girl who never comes home. But the closer she gets to the truth, the more she realizes this case might finally answer the question that's haunted her for twenty

What really happened to Eden Pike?

The first pulse-pounding thriller in the Sloane Merritt series—follow Atlanta's most relentless PI as she tracks down the missing, uncovers deadly secrets, and races against time in cases where every second counts.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Amazon

242 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 12, 2025

About the author

M.K. Quinn is a Georgia-based author, armchair detective, and lifelong observer of the shadows between ordinary life and the mysteries that lurk beneath it. A self-professed missing-persons obsessive, she has spent years studying real cases, investigative techniques, and the emotional toll of unresolved disappearances—passions that fuel every page of the Sloane Merritt Missing Persons Series. When she’s not writing twisty, character-driven thrillers, M.K. lives in Atlanta with her endlessly supportive husband and their three mischievous cats, who firmly believe they’re her true co-authors. The Sloane Merritt Series is her debut, marking the beginning of a dark, compelling universe built for readers who love smart heroines, layered mysteries, and stories that refuse to let go.

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evil manifests in the most unexpected ways

This book makes me very glad that I grew up before this whole influencer culture was a thing. The depths that people go to try and “make it” the evil that’s waiting unseen to exploit that desperation. I felt very connected to Sloane and Marley. I understand the need the be seen and the void when you’re not. This book and this story I felt connected in a visceral way. Hope, desperation and evil counterbalanced by obsession, procedure and determination. One doozy of a reveal at the end. This is quite simply one of the best books I’ve read in a long time!

[Stefanie Verhelst · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gripping and heart pounding..

This story was a read on the edge of my seat. It was written in a fast and engaging style and the suspense was nicely captured.

The characters were intriguing and I could easily connect with them.

Overall it was a very good read, with a great suspense!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only thing I’d change about this book is the title—Dead Account doesn’t come close to capturing how sharp, layered, and utterly addictive this mystery truly is.

Sloane Merritt is the kind of heroine mystery lovers latch onto immediately. When her best friend, Eden, vanished at fifteen, Sloane channeled heartbreak into purpose, building a career as a private investigator specializing in missing‑persons cases. She carries the same grounded professionalism and quiet grit that made Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Millhone iconic, but with a tenderness that makes every case feel deeply personal.

Her latest job begins with the disappearance of a social‑media‑obsessed influencer whose older sister hires Sloane to track her down. But nothing about this case behaves the way it should. Is this a clout‑chasing stunt engineered for maximum attention? A fraud scheme spiraling out of control? Or something far more dangerous? And as Sloane follows the breadcrumbs, she can’t shake the feeling that someone wants her to believe Eden’s long‑cold case is connected—whether it is or not.

The pacing is spot‑on. Every twist, setback, and revelation propels the story forward, making it incredibly hard to put down.

For readers who crave smart, character‑driven mysteries with emotional depth and a heroine worth rooting for, Dead Account absolutely earns a place on your TBR.

[Krystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 1 in Sloane Merritt Mystery series. From what I’ve read it looks like each book is about solving the case of a missing person with a central case that is 20 years old - the disappearance of her best friend.

All I have to say is wow. This book was amazing. Twists and turns. Dead ends. And I did not guess who did it. I was SO sure I knew. I was so wrong it was laughable.

I live Sloane and Theo working together. Definitely could see the author building into some romantic interest in the future (hopefully). And Ash is an amazing asset/character to this storyline. No PI can be without a detective friend and a techy!

I have already downloaded book 2 of the series. I went on Kindle Unlimited and it looks like book 3 was made available Dec 2025 (not 100% sure if it’s actually available yet) and book 4 will be coming in January 2026 with a blurb that says ……and many more!

5 stars all the way! Would give it more if I could!

[Courtney Burns · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Sloane Merritt’s debut and admittedly, I’m ready for round 2! Sloane is investigating the disappearance of a mid level social media influencer while also haunted by her own best friends disappearance 20 years prior. She’s a bit of a loose canon but in the best possible way and in the end, if you disappear, she’s who you want looking for you.

I didn’t find this easy to figure out and appreciated that there was some follow up on the who and the why. A lot of books just close the loop and leave you wondering a bit which can feel dissatisfying. While there is resolution to the primary story here, there is a lot of room for this to take off as a series between her own back story and her interactions with Detective Calder.

I want to thank BookSirens for this free eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sloane Merritt was a wonderful character. She is a private investigator with a personal back story that propels here to solve cases. Sloane teamed up with Detective Theo Calder makes this story even better. When an influencer goes missing you are lead down a path of twists and turns that keep you reading. The excitement and suspense of the past and present brings this story together. The by the book detective and the PI that goes with her gut make a great team that had me turning the pages. This is a must read that keeps me looking for the next book in this series.

I received an advanced review copy for free and I am leaving this review copy voluntary.

[Sandy Goguen-Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great thriller by M. K. Quinn. Racing against the clock to find a missing influencer while learning more about an event that still haunts her. To be continued...

Thanks to Book Sirens for this ARC book and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

[Robin Saunders · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and am eagerly looking forward to reading the next book in this series! The story is engaging, I felt the passion and urgency of the characters and the storyline is relevant to the times with the amount of influencers competing on social media. The story is thought provoking with words of wisdom from the supporting characters of Sloane.
Well done!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Bette Reith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most engaging and well written mystery that I have read. I think I have found a new favorite author. A woman goes missing and PI Sloane is called upon to investigate. What she finds is more than a missing person's case, it is calculated to sway the viewers of the victims Instagram account. But it goes much deeper than that. The author completely describes the life of an influencer and what they will do for more views. But, this book takes it even further. Read to find out.

I loved the characters, the plot twists, and the intense writing, basically everything about this book was top notch. I can't wait to read more from this author. If you love mysteries, read this, you won't be disappointed. Thanks to BookSirens for the ARC of this book.

[Terri | Twist & Doubt | Bookstagram · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rated this four stars overall. The story is fast paced and engaging, and I appreciated how consistently it kept moving. It’s an easy, compelling read, and I was invested in seeing how everything played out.

The main reason it landed at four rather than five stars for me comes down to emotional impact rather than issues with the plot itself. While I was interested in the outcome, I didn’t quite form a strong emotional connection to the victim, and as a result I didn’t feel the level of anger, dread, or emotional intensity that tends to elevate a thriller into five-star territory for me. I think leaning a little more into the emotional consequences and inner experience could really strengthen the impact, particularly in the later stages of the story.

As this was an ARC, I did notice a few minor inconsistencies and some spelling or grammar errors, which is completely understandable at this stage and didn’t significantly affect my enjoyment.

Overall, I found this to be a solid and engaging start to a new series, and I’d be very interested to see how the emotional depth and character development continue to evolve in future instalments.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Nichole Montanez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead Account was such a great way to close out 2025. I’m glad I received an advance review copy for free, and will be leaving this review voluntarily.

It has been a long time since a book kept me up way too late because I just had to keep reading. The pacing, writing style, characters (loved Ash), and mystery hooked me from the start. The influencer angle was an idea I haven’t seen yet. I loved the overall vibe of the story.

That said, the forced relationship didn’t really work for me, and there were definitely two or three chapters that felt unnecessary. Still though the ending left me excited, and I genuinely hope there’s a second book.

[Lorelei Tomlinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book. It was full of suspense. The story is about a social media influencer who goes missing and the investigation that follows.

The plot and the characters were easy to follow. There were some surprises in this story with lots of twists and turns. If you like mysteries, you may want to check this one out.

I received a free advance reader copy of this book. The opinion that I express is my own.

[Amy -coldbrew.fiction · Rating 4 out of 5]

For fans of the Stella Knox Series by Mary Stone, here is your next favorite Series!

Dead Account by M.K. Quinn is a fantastic kickoff to the Sloane Merritt series. If you enjoy strong female led investigative/procedural thrillers, you will feel right at home here! Sloan is down to earth and relatable. Her friendships with secondary characters Ash and Calder are friendships to envy! Together, they are unstoppable!

Release Date: 02/20/25
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Gillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. Sloane Merrit is a private investigator who has had a traumatic event in her childhood which has shaped her professional life. I enjoyed the storyline of a missing person and the involvements of a modern career.

This is book 1 of a series and I’ll definitely read the 2nd to find out more of the over arching storyline.

[R. M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Advanced reader copy recieved read via BookSirens - thank you to the author MKQ for the copy.

A detective - famously specialising in missing people following the disappearance of her childhood best friend - is called upon to find a wannabe insta-influencer when her attention-seeking stunt goes wrong.

I'm gonna start by saying how much I appreciate this story hinging on platonic female relationships - the detective's childhood bestie, the influencer's sister, the influencers networking, the cyber-friends swooping in. There is the first seeds of a romantic (vaguely frenemies to lovers) subplot, but it's a minor point that would probably have been edited out of a stand-alone; the snarky cop is currently only there as another bridge point to the rest of the series, at least until the romance begins to grow.

I also love some of MKQ's urban descriptions; they're detailed and colourful, and she embraces juxtaposition in her settings.

However, I think MKQ could have a little more trust in her reader (although I'm on social media enough to see why she's doubtful of general readership). Several times, she either ends her description by stating the obvious or opens it; she describes the loft the hacker lives in as "Ash's loft looked like a hacker movie had exploded". I also the narrative to be waxing lyrical about it's moral; the FMC will spend a few pages mulling over social media, and then one of the characters will summarise those thoughts out loud using almost the same phrasing.

As far as a debut goes, I enjoyed this book. It ticks off many a CSI/modern PI trope, and I found the FMC to be interesting and driven. I give this book a 3.25/5, rounded down to 3 on relevant platforms, and I think as a series it really has potential.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

M K Quinn masterfully depicted the dark side of the influencer industry in her debut novel Dead Account. The story starts swiftly with Nora coming to PI Sloane Merritt for help in finding her sister Marley Quinn. Her “disappearance” was only supposed to be a 3-day stunt to gain her more publicity, but something has gone terribly wrong. Marley is missing for real, and Sloane needs to move swiftly to have any chance of finding her alive.

Dead Account starts off at a sprint, and doesn’t slow down until the very last page. You can feel the intensity of Sloane’s desire to get there in time. She is desperate to not let another case go unsolved; especially after enduring the horrific experience of losing her best friend 20 years ago and not knowing if she’ll ever be found. With M K Quinn’s convincing writing, I felt for Sloane and wanted to know more about her. I wish I could jump right into the book and help her find them. I also felt incredibly disturbed by the entire influencer culture, especially the darker sides of it. It’s horrifying what people are driven to do in order to gain attention. The author did an excellent job at creating a thriller that will stick with me for a long time. Although I enjoyed this book, I did notice that there were a few errors in the writing. Certain words or phrases were used that just didn’t align with what was in the previous sentence, which would cause me to reread the part and therefore take me out of the story. Other than that, this is a well written and interesting start to the Sloane Merritt Missing Persons series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Makayla Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve rated this book based on the CAWPILE method. This book averaged 5 stars.

CHARACTERS- 10/10

The characters in this novel feel like real people with real personalities and real reactions.

ATMOSPHERE/SETTING- 9/10

Could have had more of a creepiness factor, but I’m a total ghoul so that might be more of a me thing. And it’s not a huge deal, either, just me being nitpicky.

WRITING STYLE- 10/10

Love this style. It is very easy to read and get sucked in. I read this in about three sittings.

PLOT- 8.75/10

Great plot! Believable twists and turns, and a great ending. I did however predict who the ‘bad guy’ was right when they were introduced. It was still a really good ride.

INTRIGUE- 10/10

Love the intrigue this book has. Was Eden involved in this? Was she not? Is Sloane's gut worth following or is it going to get her in trouble? And at the back of my mind the whole time… does she like the cute strait laced cop??

LOGIC/RELATIONSHIPS- 10/10

Logic is sound. Everything in this book seems plausible. The relationships between alone and the other characters are realistic, also. Never forced.

ENJOYMENT- 10/10

I really enjoyed this. A lot of crime/mystery books are very surface level and formulaic. While this book has notes of the genre, it still stands alone. It’s well written and very good! I enjoyed the ride and would definitely recommend.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Rachel Boyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Sloane Merritt is hired to find a missing woman, she quickly learns the situation is not as it seems.

This is an amazing story! Wow! From the first page, I was drawn in and as the story progressed, it became better and more intriguing. The first book in a series can sometimes be rough, but not in this series. The author did a great job of introducing characters, giving some back story (for some), and keeping a story that was interesting. I did not see that ending coming. It was well crafted and unexpected.

Far too often, this genre of books has a female main character that seems to be invincible and consistently makes the most dangerous and worst decisions possible that should lead to their demise. It's a gripe of mine. So it was really refreshing to see Sloane was working with the detective and mostly avoiding putting herself in those dangerous and avoidable scenarios. She really respected the detective and, honestly, it made the book better for me. It was a good balance of respect and pushing the boundary.

I did receive an advanced copy of this book.

This is the first book in the series, but I see there are more now that I will definitely be reading soon! Really great characters and storyline. A hint of maybe romance. A decades old mystery along with a current missing person. A really wonderful read.

[Randy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sloane is the private investigators you want on your case; she is a bulldog that will not let go of the bone she's been given. Typically, she works missing people cases and is known for getting results. in this case Marley a young girl who is trying her best to be an influencer on social media is getting desperate to become relevant. She does all the supposed right things but just can't break through, so she decided to manufacture a disappearance to get more views.

The plan started off ok but spiraled out of control and soon she disappeared. Her sister contacted Sloan for help. Sloan used the local police and a computer hacker extraordinaire to work on leads.
Marleys life was soon endanger and she didn't have long till death took her. The various rabbit holes Sloan and the police went down before they homed in on a suspect was daunting and soon, they had a direction and a place to look for Marley. But was she alive or not? read it and find out. Interesting book made you think to what lengths people will go to be seen by others.

[Sarah Manning · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly, thank you to BookSirens and M.K Quinn for allowing me to read this book.

I love a good quick crime book, this one is just over 200 pages which allowed me to do a quick read in between other books. I actually found this book because I saw an arc for Quinn’s newest book in this series, while reading the description I noticed that it mentioned about an underlying back story. Once I checked out the author, I found the first book in the series and I’m glad I did.

I enjoyed that this was about influencers and their struggles in trying to build a career on social media, I feel this made it more relatable to what’s going on in the real world vs. some crime/murder mystery books that are based in the current time period but don’t mention social media as much even though it’s so prominent in our everyday lives.

The twist in this book surprised me, I didn’t expect it to be the person it was. The ending set it up to make me immediately want to read the next one.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Shantel Patt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a great time diving into Dead Account, which is a sharp, high-stakes thriller that feels incredibly relevant to our social media-obsessed world. I found the premise—a P.I. named Sloane Merritt searching for a missing influencer who might have staged her own disappearance for "likes"—to be both chilling and clever. Sloane is a fantastic lead; she’s practical and grounded, which provides a perfect contrast to the polished, "aspirational" desperation of the influencers she’s investigating. What really stuck with me was the book's exploration of "crisis marketing" and how far people will go to manufacture a viral moment. I also really appreciated the dynamic between Sloane and her partner, Ash; watching them play "digital chess" with ghost accounts and fake websites made the investigation feel fast-paced and modern. It was great to see a mystery that balances traditional detective work with the "grey area" of the internet. If you’re looking for a page-turner that makes you look at your own phone a little differently, I’d definitely recommend giving this one a look.

[Maureen Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished Dead Account by M.K. Quinn and found it to be a sharp, engaging thriller. The novel hooked me right away with its clever premise—a financial mystery that quickly spirals into something much more dangerous. Quinn deftly balances suspense with insightful character development, making the stakes feel real and urgent.

What I especially appreciated was how the story explores the consequences of digital crime. The protagonist’s investigation into a suspicious account leads to twists that kept me guessing, and the supporting cast adds depth and intrigue at every turn. Quinn’s writing style is crisp, fast-paced, and full of tension, which made it hard to put the book down.

Overall, Dead Account is a satisfying blend of mystery and modern relevance, perfect for anyone who loves a smart, contemporary thriller. I look forward to reading more books in the series.

Thanks to BookSirens for an advanced copy of this book.

[France Desrosiers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Growing LIKE

First impression questionable, but then I’ve been reading Robert Dugoni - tough act to follow, in my opinion. That, and the subject matter - Internet Influencers.
GLAD I KEPT READING. I ended up going to next book, but held off on reviewing…
After barely a chapter into next book, I’m back.
Excellent writer with a deeper theme I want to pursue - but also a thing I have AGAINST DANGLING story endings & UNRESOLVED ENDINGS - like sequels with that explosive or sad ending to bait you into next season - and oftentimes being taken off air. I HATE them and rarely watch TV anymore at all. Books - I DO read in sequence if I like the read & author. I wasn’t sure about this one, so began the next in series. I’m moving on and we’ll see, BUT, so far - so GOOD! I want to find EDEN, but it seems the writer has made these excellent stand-alones
with intriguing story-lines.
SO IT’s a 5-STAR
so far
4 me
to MK Quinn!

[Tammy Morton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was surprised by how much this book gripped me, I had been fascinated by the blurb but as I got deeper into to the story of Sloane looking into the disappearance of Marley a mid level influencer after being approached by a brand offering a collaboration that seems too good. Then when a username to the account that was messaging Marley seems to be calling back to Sloane's missing friend who vanished twenty years ago, did whoever takes Marley do this to target Sloane, with the help of her tech consultant/friend Ash and the reluctant assistance of detective Theo Calder she rushes to find Marley before she ends up dead.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[David Carriere · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead Account is a gripping, emotionally charged thriller that delivers both heart pounding tension and deep character resonance. Sloane Merritt is an unforgettable protagonist wounded, relentless, and impossible not to root for. Marley Quinn’s staged disappearance spirals into a chilling, unpredictable mystery, while the echoes of Eden Pike’s decades old case give the story a haunting, emotional weight. M.K. Quinn masterfully blends digital deception, buried secrets, and psychological suspense into a page-turner that feels urgent and human at every step. A standout start to a powerful new series.

[Vanessa Sylvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 1 of Sloane Merritt Mysteries. What a way to start the series. It introduces detective Sloane Merritt, who works to find missing people. She has her own history, in that when she was 15 her best friend Eden disappeared. Now she finds missing people with the hope that one day she will find her friend. The author weaves a compelling mystery that drew me in. I loved how the author inserted clues to find the missing person. I never expected how it ended but that is what I loved about this book. Just when I thought I had it figured out I was surprised by how wrong I was.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sloane is a private investigator who is hired by the sister of an influencer, Marley who has gone missing. I enjoyed this story as there are secrets hidden in the influencer's life that Sloane must uncover to bring her back. She teams up with a detective who has been assigned to Marley's case.

Throughout there are clues leading towards Sloane's best friend, Eden who also went missing when she was just fifteen. Sloane wants nothing more to find out what happened to her and bring her home.

I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the premise of this and it started strong. I wanted to love it but as the story progressed that didn’t happen. She is a PI but the only real investigating she does is to interview a few friends and then leaves the rest to her hacker friend to find out all the info online.

She then just runs from one building to another completely ignoring the instruction of the police detective.

It actually lacked real action and real intensity and any chemistry there should have been or could have been between her and the detective was sadly missing.

Good premise with lots of promise but lacking an edge to give it any more stars.

[Jeri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. It’s the debut suspense novel from a new-to-me author, M K Quinn. A female private eye specializing in missing persons is hired to find a missing young woman who is a social media influencer. As someone who does follow people on social media platforms, it was very interesting and shocking to read what they go through to gain followers. There is also a current professional association with a police detective with what looks like romantic potential. Compelling backstory. Very much character driven with atmospheric detail. I received this e-book from the author and BookSirens, but all opinions are my own.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will be looking for book 2! I was intrigued with this mystery thriller even if "influencers" are not in my wheelhouse as I am old, really old and have no interest in influencers, but M.K. Quinn brought a lot to light with this book. We are right there with Sloan as she starts investigating the steps forward, the dead ends and we get to see her relationship with the police pan out. I am also thrilled with a secondary character Ash and look forward to seeing more of everyone. I received a free copy of this book and freely share my honest thoughts and opinions. This book was published Nov 12, 2025. #DeadAccount #ASloanMerrittMissingpersons #M.K.Thriller #VanishedInk #Booksirens