Hiding in Plain Sight

Kate Weller #1

by Mary Ellis

Introducing private investigator Kate Weller in the first of the brand-new Marked for Retribution mystery series.

On the run from a troubled past, Kate Weller, the newest member of Price Investigations, covers her tracks, changes her name and takes a case in Charleston, South Carolina, where she can hide in plain sight.

Renting a charming room with a waterfront view, Kate sets about trying to locate her adopted client’s natural siblings, only to find more questions than answers when she eventually tracks down a long-lost sister. Meanwhile, her new landlord won’t stop sticking his nose into her case. As far as Kate’s concerned, Eric Manfredi should focus on whatever competitor is bent on ruining his family business. But when petty vandalism turns lethal, and Eric’s father is arrested for murder, Kate determines to prove his innocence. Can she find the real culprit before a killer from her own past tracks her down?

Genres: Mystery, Womens Fiction, Thriller

224 pages, Hardcover

Published August 1, 2018

About the author

Mary Ellis is a former schoolteacher turned USA Today bestselling author who’s written twenty-six novels including Amish fiction, historical romance, and suspense. Her first mystery, Midnight on the Mississippi, was a finalist for the RT Magazine’s Reviewer’s Choice Award and a finalist for the Daphne du Maurier Award. Her latest book is One for the Road from the Bourbon Tour Mysteries from Severn House. One Hundred Proof Murder releases August 31, 2021. Her latest Amish novella is Missing at Amazon Kindle. She enjoys gardening and bicycling and lives in Ohio with her husband and dog. www.maryellis.net or www.facebook.com/Mary.Ellis.Author

Reviews

[Maureen Timerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved, this book, what a great page turner and I now can’t wait for the next book, there better be one as we rather ended on a cliff hanger.
I have enjoyed each and every book in this series, and was happy to find another new book in the series of the Price Agency!
This story contains more than one, and at times it’s non-stop action, you never know what is going to happen next. There is murder and attempted murder, arson, larceny, assault, and even blowing up cars, and more.
I want more of Kate/Jill and hope that we will soon be back with the Monfredi family, I need some more answers!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Severn House Publishers, and was not required to give a positive review.

[ME · Rating 1 out of 5]

For a while I thought there was some reason to hope. Alas. It was just amateurish and bad. There were some places where the dialogue didn't sound like a bad soap-opera but they were few. And this protagonist doesn't know who she is at all. Not like a lost soul kind of thing, but in the way of really poor character development. She's hot, she's cold. She's (stupidly) rash, then she's cowering. She loves him, she loves him not. And her back story is so thin you could read the newspaper through it. There's absolutely no atmosphere, no sense of tension, no suspense. It's just a poorly written, sappy novel. That's harsh, I know, but true nonetheless. A waste of two reading days, but it's one book toward my goal, so there's that.

[Sam Burrows · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book started with a bang - the main character in the run with her chasers very close behind........ Then it must proceed - I found it a hard read but wanted to finish so I could review the book - I found myself dreading reading as the book was so slow and slightly cosy mystery rather than the psychological thriller i was expecting from the description. The ending was a disappointment too as everything was left unfinished. So try this just wasn't for me.

[Lee Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

#1 in trilogy with an open ending. Not satisfying.

[Suzie Waltner · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Mary Ellis wooed me to her writing by immersing me in different settings in her Secrets if the South series. And I was thrilled to see she’s continuing that trend (albeit with a new series) in Charleston, South Carolina.

After a threat from her past creates a need for Kate to leave Savannah, she is handed her first solo case. One that seems cut and dry. Kate is happy to find a place to live in the form of a suite above an Italian restaurant in the heart of Charleston. But there’s something suspicious happening to the family that tuns Bella Trattoria.

This book has a bit of everything for readers—suspense, mystery, danger, emotions, secrets, and romance. With a couple of issues unresolved by the final pages, you can bet I’ll be watching for the next installment of the Kate Weller mysteries.

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

[Kav · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whoa -- what an awesome start to a new series! Love the southern setting and the female PI! Kate really is a woman of mystery. Her personal life reads as a suspense plot all on it's own and it looks like that will carry over to each book so readers will have to wait for complete resolution until the last one hits the shelves. But Kate works two cases in Hiding In Plain Sight that do get solved and so fulfilled this amateur armchair sleuth's desperate need to dot 'i's and cross 't's.

Kate's tough girl persona and cool reserve intrigue Eric. His wild and dramatic Italian family provide the perfect chaotic backdrop for mystery and romance. Loved the twists and turns and occasional slide into the unexpected! A stellar start to Ellis' Marked for Retribution series!

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's a lot going on in the book in the sense that it involves three different story lines, plus a romance. Two of those story lines are wrapped up by the end. The third will be a continuing thread similar to Terri Blackstock's If I Run series. 

The book shows promise, opening with a suspenseful scene in which the heroine is dangerously confronted by her past (though I did find one aspect that stretched the imagination). From there, it slips into more of a mild romantic mystery than a romantic suspense as Jill sets out to clear the father of her very generous landlord and love interest of murder charges. I did enjoy the character of Nonni. She was somewhat of an entertaining cliché. The connection between Jill and Eric didn't come off as strong for me.

Hiding in Plain Sight moved at a good pace, but I would have liked to have seen more explanation into the heroine's underlying plight. Unlike Ms. Blackstock's series, we don't really know what the issue is other than it involves her brother. While she's in Charleston, the tension of being on the run simply is not there, and after the first couple of scenes, it almost seems she doesn't worry about the threat. I'd be looking over my shoulder at every turn. To be fair, Ms. Ellis' books have never been true suspense. However, I think this one could use stronger tension by keeping the underlying story in the mind of the reader throughout.

From a pure escapist viewpoint, I enjoyed the book (and the food sounded great :)). I wish my star rating could rise higher than 3.8, but in comparison to other novels (some by the author) this is simply an average story with some plot points that had me scratching my head.

I received this book from the publisher. My opinions are my own.

[Sherrie74 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a hard one to rate ... didnt deserve a 4 and though it came close to a 2 (due to the ending!) it didnt deserve it either. *** Still debating the 2* rating. Having read it on an ebook and not knowing where the end was, it was a shock when you go to the next page and there isnt one .... seriously WTF????? Story was partially cleared up but not quite.

This book is hard to find on this site .... dozens with same name, and author has also dozens of books with no order given in order to even see if there is another Kate Weller book out or coming.
LOL ... just realized I was mixing up Kate and Mary Ellis .... similar type of books, relatives maybe?

I saw a woman reading one of her books and asked if it was any good .... "its okay, she is good enough you go from one to another". Okay, So I checked out a #1 in a series and got this one. Sorry I did now. If there is another one in this series can someone please advise me, BUT only if #2 is not also a cliff hanger.

Liked disliked Kate/Jill and I cant see why Eric would be interested in a person who is rude and very dismissive and why was his mother trying to get them together. Too convenient that on assignment she gets housed in a place where they have 1) property destruction, 2) a burglery, 3) a fire and then 4) dad gets charged with murder. Oh my! Better question is why do I want to read Book #2?? Maybe I should change to a 2?

[Novel Destination · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucky for readers, Mary Ellis has written another novel that is actually the first in a promised new series (Marked For Retribution Mystery)! Based in the South, protagonist Kate Weller is a complex character, on her first significant PI job for Price Investigations (fans will recognize several supporting characters taken from Ellis' "Secrets of the South" mystery series).
Kate is living a complicated life: nefarious people threaten and chase her in an effort to get her to stop her foster brother (he is in prison and they were raised in the same foster family) from doing something that will negatively impact their criminal activities. Part of the mystery in the book is about Kate's struggle to hide from "the bad guys" while continuing to carry on with her own life.
Like other novels Mary Ellis writes, there are multiple mysteries deftly interwoven which provide the reader with some romance (nothing explicit), a lot of suspense, and opportunities to learn a bit. Here she dishes up some great Italian cuisine, the competition/life found in the restaurant business, adoption issues, medical decisions based on religious beliefs, and some thoughtful ideas about forgiveness. I always recommend her books to book clubs because her characters are well-developed and her books keep you interested, providing many topics for a group to chat about.

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kate Weller is hiding something; she only wants a month to month rental agreement, and she is very secretive about her path. She's a newly hired Private Detective at an agency with a home base in Natchez. She's the roaming detective, meaning no fixed address which suits her fine. In the early pages, she's pursued and threatened by thugs from her mysterious past. She confides in the agents in her agency who arrange a new identity as Jill and a new case in Charleston, SC. She rents an efficiency above an Italian restaurant and immediately begins to form relationships with the sexy chef and with his Italian family.

Her first case involves tracking down the sister of an adoptee. Her client's wife is direly ill and needs a transplant and her only hope is a transplant from her longlost sister. Lots of negotiations ensue and Jill becomes emotionally invested in the outcome.
Emotionally invested seems to be the theme, as her landlord's father is involved in a murder.

This mystery starts out with a thriller bang and I was invested However, halfway through, I realize this is the "inspirational fiction" where there is embedded Christian messages and the main characters are chaste and a sort of milksops!

I liked it, though I do confess, I read ahead. It ends in a cliff hanger. Sigh.

[Bethany Tirpak · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a bit more crime/mob related type genre that I don't delve into often, but I'm always glad to try something new.
Kate having to reidentify herself so early made it seem so easy she had connections, though throughout the story, it seems like she doesn't have that many resources. Sign me up for a sorry resume, company paid car, and job that travels AND pays expenses!
The romance was so back and forth, her using him because in her mind it's 'for the case'....didn't care for that.
The random Italian wasn't overboard, but switching the names from first name to last name to full name got to be a lot. Luckily this one was primarily in South Carolina, so I got the gist of all the places they were going (and still having time for breakfast,workouts, work, fancy dinners, and sleep).

There was at least one point where it said Renaldo Manfredi instead of Borelli and I believe there was a previous name mixup earlier that I hadn't caught up to all the names yet. (This was not an ARC either)

I don't know. It was a page turner for sure, I did enjoy it, but I don't know if I'll be signing up for any follow up books.

[Jane Warren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hiding in Plain Sight by Mary Ellis – A Review

Summer is almost here and Mary Ellis’s latest novel, Hiding in Plain sight, is a great by-the-pool read.

Working under a new name in a new job as a PI, Kate Weller thinks she’s outrun her past but when her past almost kills her she flees taking an assignment in Charleston. Despite her intention to stay aloof and alone she quickly becomes embroiled in the lives of the people around her.

This was most definitely a page-turner for me, however I struggled with the romantic relationship in the novel. In particular, Eric’s romantic interest in Kate (aka Jill). It seemed too quick and somehow inauthentic despite being frequently given his close-third POV.

Despite that I enjoyed the read and would recommend it to fans of thrillers. It’s very well plotted.

FYI The novel also includes religious elements but they were not over the top and shouldn’t deter anyone.

[Cheri Swalwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hiding in Plain Sight, while the first in the Kate Weller series, picks up where we left off with the characters from the Secrets of the South series. I love book series like that – I get invested in the people and feel as though they are my friends and love when I get to continue learning about them and going on adventures with them. This book was wonderful. It had enough twists and turns and secrets and nuances that I was left guessing (and I guessed wrong) as to the “who” and “why”. It was believable, drew me in and while it wrapped up enough at the end to leave me satisfied, it left enough questions to make me eager to read the next in the series. I love the way this author writes. She has a wonderful blend which brings out the characters flaws and strengths yet writes realistically to where these could be my friends in my community. I already love this series and can’t wait to read the next one – I hope I don’t have to wait too long.

[Vickie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Christian fiction book, with enough romance and suspense to satisfy the readers of all these genres. I enjoyed getting to know Kate Weller, AKA Jill Wyatt. Since she is running from danger in her past, Kate changes her name to Jill early in the book. Escaping her past may not be easy but Kate easily falls into her new job as an investigator with Price Investigagtions. Her first task with them is to find a lost sibling of Charlotte Sugarman, a pathetic individual who is quickly dying of liver failure and needs her sibling to donate to her. I did not find the Sugarmans very well portrayed: it was like an instant camera picture that is not fully developed. I did enjoy the interaction between Eric Manfredi, Kate’s landlord, who quickly becomes interested in her romantically. Kate’s involvement with Eric pulls her into a murder mystery that is very satisfying for mystery buffs. I certainly enjoyed the setting in Charleston, South Carolina since I was fortunate enough to live there for almost a decade and recognized many of the landmarks referred to in the book. I was a little disappointed that the ending leaves several things hanging, but knowing that this is a series, my expectation is that these things will be addressed in future books. I would read the next books in the series and may even go back and read the series from the beginning. The author is talented in drawing the reader into the story and holding you there with the suspense and romantic elements.
Disclaimer:
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new series begins from author Mary Ellis!

Hiding in Plain Sight, the first in the Kate Weller series, is everything I knew it could be and more. It took less than 24 hours to read Hiding in Plain Sight, not because it is a short novel, it is not at 215 pages, but rather because I just could not put it down.

Well-written with a few familiar friends from the Secrets of the South series, Hiding in Plain Sight introduces Kate Weller as more than a client and friend; she is a newly licensed and trained private investigator on her very first assignment.

Despite her own misgivings regarding her own skills, Kate manages to solve two cases and fall in love. When a mysterious letter arrives from her incarcerated brother, followed by threatening phone calls from an unknown caller, Serena must decide whether to stay in Charleston or head to Florida to solve her most difficult case yet, her own.

[Sue Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hiding in plain sight by Mary Ellis.
a fantastic read. I loved kate Weller who was the main character.
Kate's on the run from a troubled past. she's the newest member of price investigations. she covers her tracks by changing her Name and takes a case in Charleston, South Carolina.
renting a room with a view kate sets about trying to find her adopted clients natural siblings. she tracks down a long lost sister, meanwhile her landlord, Eric Manfredi business is being targeted by rivals. Erics father gets arrested for murder. kate is determined to prove his innocence. can she find the real culprit before a killer from her own past tracks her down?
I loved the story couldn't put it down. although kate was my favourite character I liked Beth and Eric loved how Beth was with him. thought she was cheeky. can't wait to read more. 5*.

[Miriam Kahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

While Mary Ellis says this is the start of a new series, it's a spin off from the Secrets of the South Mysteries.

Hiding in plain sight is tougher than Kate thought, especially when her secrets are compromised and she has to change her name and life again! This time, Kate, now known as Jill, is "hiding" in Charleston South Carolina and looking for the natural sister of a woman who needs a new kidney. She also becomes embroiled in finding out who set the fire in the restaurant where she's renting. How much more trouble can Kate/Jill get into?

There's a little romance, some family bonding, and lots of driving around Charleston. Best of all, characters from Ellis' other books keep popping into this new series.

For a different, longer review see the Ohioana Quarterly http://www.ohioana.org

[Ellen White · Rating 4 out of 5]

HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT by Mary Ellis. Severn House
Kate is training to be a traveling PI, and loving it. Noticing a car four days in a row at her apt, she wants to keep her past, in the past.
Going to a party, ended with a van pushing her car into the river and gun shots. Being in the marsh, staying hidden, didn’t anyone hear the shot. Luckily she had phone, to call a co worker and they called the police.Didn’t tell them she knew who they were, and it was a warning, nextwould be death. The mob, her brother, what is going on, that is ruining her life. She helps others, Eric wants more, a commitment, can she give one. Will the letters and calls keep coming, and she has to run again. This was a great plot, that has the tension to the end, hopefully there will be more with Kate.or known as Jill now.. GivenARC by Net Galley and Severn House. for my voluntary review and my honest opinion.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

In this first of a new modern series, Kate Weller is on the run and ends up as a P.I. in Charleston, South Carolina trying to trace a sibling of a terminal ill woman. Meanwhile she gets in involved with her landlord, Eric Manfredi, and his family problems which have escalated to murder.
With the undertones of religion in the story, it really didn't capture my imagination. Probably too much veering towards a cosy mystery for my tastes.
A NetGalley Book

[Mari · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good story, it was hard to put down. Kate (Jill, as she changed her name to hide), was being threatened by her brother's criminal friends. She fell in love with Eric and left him high and dry to go back and try to get a handle on these threats and have to talk with her brother, who was in prison. I didn't like the ending, it just ended. So, I'm guess she will continue this in the next book, and I hope the next one has a better ending.

[Barbara James-Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book which both a love and mystery story. Its was about a woman PI a case between 2 families over their restaurants. They tried to burn a restaurant down and blame the other for a murder between them. She help a family to get together by helping her sister that she did not know about by helping to her sister with a kidney. I think other people will enjoy it as much as I did.

[Barbara Tobey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heart-warming, exciting, clean romantic mystery. I am thrilled to see it is the first of a series after getting to the ending. I want more! Kate/Jill is only 25 so her naivete is easy to forgive. The religious mentions are not overwhelming and help ground the character without being preachy. I look forward to reading the next one. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley.

[Dave Hoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

A PI sent on a case to find a person, not wanting to be found. During the search she rents a room whose owner is having troubles, and is accused of murder. So the PI takes that case also. Many twists and turns, but #1 case does cause her to return to Lord she once knew. Also her brother, a bad dude, has friends who want to kill her. Stay tuned for book #2.

[Cheryl Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basic book purchased at Ohioana Author Festival last year. Plot about female detective solving a couple cases. Added elements of religion and romance. I read a lot and did not find a lot of depth here. Appreciate the Charleston setting and references to that part of country, one of my favorite places to visit. Apparently there will be more stories with detective, Kate.

[Kendall L. Mann · Rating 5 out of 5]

hiking and lowjinx

Well wove tale about difficult choices and family bonds that can save our lives or out them at great risk.
There is surely a continuation of a developing love story. Can't wait for that sequel.

[Erika · Rating 1 out of 5]

The length of time it took for me to read this book should indicate how bad it is.

The writing was uneven and the main characters were wishy-washy.

I was going to give it the benefit of the doubt and give it 2 stars; but then I finished the book. 😯

It’s barely worth 1 star.

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

You feel as if you are ensconced in Charleston as you read this. 'Jill' is a terrific main character and I am looking forward to reading the other books in this series! PS: be forewarned, it might make you hungry reading this at times :-)

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick chapters. Decent beach read.

[Tammy Adams · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 1/2 stars

[Marlys · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great series, I am looking forward to reading the next book.