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A Mercy Carr Mystery #3
The Hiding Place
Mercy and Elvis are back in The Hiding Place, the most enthralling entry yet in USA Today bestselling Paula Munier's award-winning Mercy Carr mystery series. When the man who killed her grandfather breaks out of prison and comes after her grandmother, Mercy must unearth the long-buried scandals that threaten to tear her family apart. And she may have to do it without her beloved canine partner Elvis, if his former handler has his way….
Some people take their secrets with them to the grave. Others leave them behind on their deathbeds, riddles for the survivors to solve.
When her late grandfather’s dying deputy calls Mercy to his side, she and Elvis inherit the cold case that haunted him―and may have killed him. But finding Beth Kilgore 20 years after she disappeared is more than a lost cause. It’s a Pandora’s box releasing a rain of evil on the very people Mercy and Elvis hold most dear.
The timing couldn’t be worse when the man who murdered her grandfather escapes from prison and a fellow Army vet turns up claiming that Elvis is his dog, not hers. With her grandmother Patience gone missing, and Elvis’s future uncertain, Mercy faces the prospect of losing her most treasured allies, the only ones she believes truly love and understand her.
She needs help, and that means forgiving Vermont Game Warden Troy Warner long enough to enlist his aid. With time running out for Patience, Mercy and Elvis must team up with Troy and his search-and-rescue dog Susie Bear to unravel the secrets of the past and save her grandmother―before it’s too late.
Once again, Paula Munier crafts a terrific mystery thriller filled with intrigue, action, resilient characters, the mountains of Vermont, and two amazing dogs.
Some people take their secrets with them to the grave. Others leave them behind on their deathbeds, riddles for the survivors to solve.
When her late grandfather’s dying deputy calls Mercy to his side, she and Elvis inherit the cold case that haunted him―and may have killed him. But finding Beth Kilgore 20 years after she disappeared is more than a lost cause. It’s a Pandora’s box releasing a rain of evil on the very people Mercy and Elvis hold most dear.
The timing couldn’t be worse when the man who murdered her grandfather escapes from prison and a fellow Army vet turns up claiming that Elvis is his dog, not hers. With her grandmother Patience gone missing, and Elvis’s future uncertain, Mercy faces the prospect of losing her most treasured allies, the only ones she believes truly love and understand her.
She needs help, and that means forgiving Vermont Game Warden Troy Warner long enough to enlist his aid. With time running out for Patience, Mercy and Elvis must team up with Troy and his search-and-rescue dog Susie Bear to unravel the secrets of the past and save her grandmother―before it’s too late.
Once again, Paula Munier crafts a terrific mystery thriller filled with intrigue, action, resilient characters, the mountains of Vermont, and two amazing dogs.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published March 30, 2021
419 people are currently reading
2661 people want to read
About the author
Paula Munier
27 books618 followersPAULA MUNIER is the author of the bestselling Plot Perfect, The Writer’s Guide to Beginnings, Writing with Quiet Hands, and the acclaimed memoir Fixing Freddie. The first novel in her mystery series, A BORROWING OF BONES (Minotaur, 2018) was inspired by the hero working dogs she met through Mission K9 Rescue, her own Newfoundland-retriever-mix rescue Bear, and her lifelong passion for crime fiction. In her fabulous day job as Senior Literary Agent and Content Strategist for Talcott Notch Literary, she represents many great writers. Her specialties include crime fiction, women’s fiction, upmarket fiction, MG/YA, high-concept SFF, and nonfiction. She lives in New England with her family, Bear, Freddie, and a torbie tabby named Ursula.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 281 reviews
March 30, 2021
If you like reading a mystery where dogs play a big part, than the Mercy and Elvis series is for you.
Set in the mountains of Vermont, two war vets, Mercy and her canine partner Elvis, return home to do some detective work. Mercy’s grandfather’s former deputy asks for her help to solve a 20 year old cold case on his dying bed. She enlists the aid of the local game warden and his search and rescue dog, Susie Bear. Little do they know that the cold case ties in with another crime that will put Mercy’s family at risk.
This is a kind-hearted mystery and one that is easy to read. The love of dogs and wildlife shines through with each character. The author treats military vets in a warm way that makes you feel for the characters and what they have lived through both past and present.
4 out of 5 stars
Publication date - March 30, 2021
Review posted to Goodreads 3/30/2021
I received a free ARC of THE HIDING PLACE by Paula Munier from Macmillan in exchange for an honest review.
Set in the mountains of Vermont, two war vets, Mercy and her canine partner Elvis, return home to do some detective work. Mercy’s grandfather’s former deputy asks for her help to solve a 20 year old cold case on his dying bed. She enlists the aid of the local game warden and his search and rescue dog, Susie Bear. Little do they know that the cold case ties in with another crime that will put Mercy’s family at risk.
This is a kind-hearted mystery and one that is easy to read. The love of dogs and wildlife shines through with each character. The author treats military vets in a warm way that makes you feel for the characters and what they have lived through both past and present.
4 out of 5 stars
Publication date - March 30, 2021
Review posted to Goodreads 3/30/2021
I received a free ARC of THE HIDING PLACE by Paula Munier from Macmillan in exchange for an honest review.
February 2, 2021
Military veteran Mercy and her Malinois Elvis, also a combat vet, visit a dying deputy sheriff who gives them information on a cold case that has haunted him. She and Troy, a Vermont game warden who works with a search and rescue dog named Susie Bear, find themselves involved with several cases which may be related to the cold case: a murder, an escaped prisoner, and an explosion which injures Mercy's grandma, veterinarian Patience. The icy winter landscape of a Vermont winter is admirably portrayed, especially in the exciting snowmobile chase scene. Great characters in a believable plot with plenty of twists and turns, and dogs--my favorite kind of book. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the ARC.
August 26, 2024
If you are a fan of the dogs are people too philosophy, then this series is for you. If you like stories about service dogs and their people, this series has got you covered there too. I'm not a real fan of either, but I do enjoy a good mystery, and this book delivers on that, along with a strong overtone of martyr thrown in.
Mercy Carr is summoned to the deathbed of her deceased grandfather's former partner and his final words to her are "find her". A cold case that haunted her grandfather and then his partner is now Mercy's new cause. The disappearance of Beth Kilgore 20 years ago has haunted the community. But this case comes with a potential scandal for her family.
On her return home, Mercy is contacted by an Army vet claiming that Elvis is actually his dog. Then she receives a notification that the man who killed her grandfather has escaped from prison. Lots of things for Mercy to deal with. But when her grandmother's house is bombed, Mercy puts everything aside to pursue the bomber.
At a time when she needs him most, Mercy and Vermont Game Warden, Troy Warner, are on the outs. Mercy needs to trust someone and even if Troy can't be trusted with her heart, he will always have her back.
Mercy Carr is summoned to the deathbed of her deceased grandfather's former partner and his final words to her are "find her". A cold case that haunted her grandfather and then his partner is now Mercy's new cause. The disappearance of Beth Kilgore 20 years ago has haunted the community. But this case comes with a potential scandal for her family.
On her return home, Mercy is contacted by an Army vet claiming that Elvis is actually his dog. Then she receives a notification that the man who killed her grandfather has escaped from prison. Lots of things for Mercy to deal with. But when her grandmother's house is bombed, Mercy puts everything aside to pursue the bomber.
At a time when she needs him most, Mercy and Vermont Game Warden, Troy Warner, are on the outs. Mercy needs to trust someone and even if Troy can't be trusted with her heart, he will always have her back.
June 21, 2021
Love the characters and the plots are good, but the author’s extreme overuse of adjectives and repetitive phrasing drive me batty. My daughter and I, who both love the characters and keep praying the books will be taken in hand by a competent editor, release our frustration by texting each other with running counts of the worst examples of both. 🙄. We lost count in the double digits of times Suzy Bear is described as having a “pumpkin head.” Another example, Troy’s truck need only be identified as a Ford F-150 once, if even that. After that, please just let it be a truck.
Sorry to seem snarky; intent is just to encourage the publisher to hire the aforementioned competent editor to save the good parts of the writing from the atrocious ones.
Also, I hope the Vermont Department of Tourism, LL Bean, et.al., pay the author for the surfeit of clunky “product placement” ads! 🤣.
Save the great characters- arguably requiring more skill than grammar - from drowning in the amateurish overuse of adjectives and phrases such as “sweet spot between his ears,” “triangular ears,” “her pumpkin head,” “his Ford F-150,””his warm brown eyes”…. counting repetitions in these books is like counting sheep - it puts you to sleep!
P.S. Surely there was some other title than “The Hiding Place” - it’s disrespectful to Corrie Ten Boom’s classic.
Sorry to seem snarky; intent is just to encourage the publisher to hire the aforementioned competent editor to save the good parts of the writing from the atrocious ones.
Also, I hope the Vermont Department of Tourism, LL Bean, et.al., pay the author for the surfeit of clunky “product placement” ads! 🤣.
Save the great characters- arguably requiring more skill than grammar - from drowning in the amateurish overuse of adjectives and phrases such as “sweet spot between his ears,” “triangular ears,” “her pumpkin head,” “his Ford F-150,””his warm brown eyes”…. counting repetitions in these books is like counting sheep - it puts you to sleep!
P.S. Surely there was some other title than “The Hiding Place” - it’s disrespectful to Corrie Ten Boom’s classic.
March 29, 2022
The Hiding Place
4 Stars
In addition to investigating a cold case involving the disappearance of a battered woman, Mercy Carr and her Belgian Malinois, Elvis, have their hands (and paws) full dealing with the fallout of a prison escape as well as the arrival of a former army vet with claims on Elvis.
Series note:This is book #3 in the series. While the mystery itself is standalone, much of Mercy's personal and familial background is presented in the first two installments.
Paula Munier's characters, both human and canine, are well-developed and appealing. Despite the somewhat repetitious phrasing and a couple of continuity errors, the mystery is well-plotted and more straightforward than in the previous books. It is fun following along with the clues and the revelations even if most of the twists are predictable.
The biggest issue with the previous book, i.e., Mercy and Troy's angst, is resolved quickly and satisfactorily. Kudos to Munier for not dragging this out unnecessarily. I look forward to seeing where Munier takes these characters next.
Overall, this is recommended for animal lovers who enjoy suspenseful mysteries.
4 Stars
In addition to investigating a cold case involving the disappearance of a battered woman, Mercy Carr and her Belgian Malinois, Elvis, have their hands (and paws) full dealing with the fallout of a prison escape as well as the arrival of a former army vet with claims on Elvis.
Series note:This is book #3 in the series. While the mystery itself is standalone, much of Mercy's personal and familial background is presented in the first two installments.
Paula Munier's characters, both human and canine, are well-developed and appealing. Despite the somewhat repetitious phrasing and a couple of continuity errors, the mystery is well-plotted and more straightforward than in the previous books. It is fun following along with the clues and the revelations even if most of the twists are predictable.
The biggest issue with the previous book, i.e., Mercy and Troy's angst, is resolved quickly and satisfactorily. Kudos to Munier for not dragging this out unnecessarily. I look forward to seeing where Munier takes these characters next.
Overall, this is recommended for animal lovers who enjoy suspenseful mysteries.
March 25, 2021
Readers always ask, about later installments in a series, "Can this be read as a standalone?" In the case of Paula Munier's The Hiding Place, case, I wouldn't recommend it.
What the book has going for it: It's a good example of romantic suspense, with a strong sense of place (the Green Mountains of Vermont -- in winter!!); characters who are distinct and well-developed -- both human and canine; and a well-paced mystery with a lot of threads skillfully knotted up at the end.
Still, I struggled with several believability issues. The biggest one for me was Mercy, the main character, herself. She is a returning veteran with no visible means of support, yet she lives in a stunning cabin with buttery leather furniture and an artisanally-stocked larder. Her family is prosperous, yes, but both her parents work , as does her grandmother -- so, no independent wealth. I'm sure this was addressed in the two earlier books, but a well-placed sentence in this story would have eliminated what was, for me, a HUGE distraction.
As a former reporter who covered cops and courts in small towns and rural areas, I couldn't buy Mercy's startling level of access to the tiniest investigative details. Speaking of which -- the dying deputy who turned over case files from a 20-year-old disappearance had original documents (photos and a postcard), not photocopies. A lot of law enforcement professionals make copies of case files, but taking home originals should have been worthy of comment and perhaps a scandal and criminal charges.
And, to continue my carping, to have detectives sitting in a civilian's home discussing means and motives with a houseful of civilians (including clueless teenagers) -- it couldn't ethically happen, yet in Mercy's world, it did several times.
A couple of much smaller continuity glitches came up when the game warden "pulled his truck up along her Jeep and hopped out" -- the Jeep that was still at her grandmother's house, and for which she was in the preceding paragraphs, calling an Uber. In another instance, the game warden called a Realtor to ask about listings, and instantly got back, not just a hard copy list, but a spreadsheet, which he shares with Mercy on paper.
The book is very readable, but readers should just turn off their inner questioner as they go.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur for an advance readers copy.
What the book has going for it: It's a good example of romantic suspense, with a strong sense of place (the Green Mountains of Vermont -- in winter!!); characters who are distinct and well-developed -- both human and canine; and a well-paced mystery with a lot of threads skillfully knotted up at the end.
Still, I struggled with several believability issues. The biggest one for me was Mercy, the main character, herself. She is a returning veteran with no visible means of support, yet she lives in a stunning cabin with buttery leather furniture and an artisanally-stocked larder. Her family is prosperous, yes, but both her parents work , as does her grandmother -- so, no independent wealth. I'm sure this was addressed in the two earlier books, but a well-placed sentence in this story would have eliminated what was, for me, a HUGE distraction.
As a former reporter who covered cops and courts in small towns and rural areas, I couldn't buy Mercy's startling level of access to the tiniest investigative details. Speaking of which -- the dying deputy who turned over case files from a 20-year-old disappearance had original documents (photos and a postcard), not photocopies. A lot of law enforcement professionals make copies of case files, but taking home originals should have been worthy of comment and perhaps a scandal and criminal charges.
And, to continue my carping, to have detectives sitting in a civilian's home discussing means and motives with a houseful of civilians (including clueless teenagers) -- it couldn't ethically happen, yet in Mercy's world, it did several times.
A couple of much smaller continuity glitches came up when the game warden "pulled his truck up along her Jeep and hopped out" -- the Jeep that was still at her grandmother's house, and for which she was in the preceding paragraphs, calling an Uber. In another instance, the game warden called a Realtor to ask about listings, and instantly got back, not just a hard copy list, but a spreadsheet, which he shares with Mercy on paper.
The book is very readable, but readers should just turn off their inner questioner as they go.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur for an advance readers copy.
January 13, 2023
Military veteran Mercy and her K-9 veteran rescue, Elvis, are involved in a complicated mystery that hits close to home in this page-turning third series instalment. Love these characters -- even the secondary characters are complex! And love how the author writes the human/dog relationship -- funny and touching and spot on!
Mercy is a flawed heroine who grows over the course of these books so I definitely think this is a series to read in order. So much back story to delve into in order to understand her. Elvis too. And the unique relationships she has with family, friends and neighbours. And the state park setting is a character all on its own!
Unputdownable.
Mercy is a flawed heroine who grows over the course of these books so I definitely think this is a series to read in order. So much back story to delve into in order to understand her. Elvis too. And the unique relationships she has with family, friends and neighbours. And the state park setting is a character all on its own!
Unputdownable.
February 7, 2022
Best so far. Very emotional read.
April 15, 2021
4.5 stars. Mercy Carr is called to the deathbed of her grandpa's last partner. The former deputy gave her boxes of old files. He asked Mercy to find a missing girl from 20 years ago and to take care of his golden retriever Sunny.
Mercy learns that George Rucker, the man who killed her grandfather broke out of prison and he's coming for her grandmother Patience.
A veteran comes for Elvis. Elvis was his Army dog before being assigned to Martinez, Mercy's deceased fiancee and he wants Elvis back.
Game Warden Troy Warner and his dog Sugar Bear locate the body of a young wildlife biologist.
This book had several plots and every one was interesting to me. If you've read the Mercy Carr series before, you will recall that the last book ended with Mercy and Troy falling out because he had not divorced his estranged wife. I was hoping for some type of resolution here and you'll have to read to find out what it was.
Two disabled veterans wanting the same dog was a fascinating concept. Could have easily gone the wrong way. In fact, my heart almost broke with the Elvis scene near the end. So poignant. I love books with working dogs. Actually, just any type of dog in a book makes the story better.
Mercy learns that George Rucker, the man who killed her grandfather broke out of prison and he's coming for her grandmother Patience.
A veteran comes for Elvis. Elvis was his Army dog before being assigned to Martinez, Mercy's deceased fiancee and he wants Elvis back.
Game Warden Troy Warner and his dog Sugar Bear locate the body of a young wildlife biologist.
This book had several plots and every one was interesting to me. If you've read the Mercy Carr series before, you will recall that the last book ended with Mercy and Troy falling out because he had not divorced his estranged wife. I was hoping for some type of resolution here and you'll have to read to find out what it was.
Two disabled veterans wanting the same dog was a fascinating concept. Could have easily gone the wrong way. In fact, my heart almost broke with the Elvis scene near the end. So poignant. I love books with working dogs. Actually, just any type of dog in a book makes the story better.
February 28, 2021
Mercy Carr and her dog Elvis are both military vets who have a talent for solving mysteries since they returned to Vermont at the end of their duty. Now Mercy is looking into a cold case and someone is trying to take Elvis away from her.
The environs of Vermont in winter are well described and it was easy to become involved in the location of this story. There is a death in the first part of the story that seems to be almost forgotten for a long period of time because of all the effort Mercy is putting into trying to get answers for the cold case. I had a hard time maintaining my interest in this novel and feel that I had to push myself into continuing. For whatever reason the main characters just didn't click with me. Even Elvis couldn't help and I'm usually all about the dog in a mystery. This is the third book in this series and I don't feel any compulsion to read the first two books.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press Minotaur Books for an e-galley of this novel.
The environs of Vermont in winter are well described and it was easy to become involved in the location of this story. There is a death in the first part of the story that seems to be almost forgotten for a long period of time because of all the effort Mercy is putting into trying to get answers for the cold case. I had a hard time maintaining my interest in this novel and feel that I had to push myself into continuing. For whatever reason the main characters just didn't click with me. Even Elvis couldn't help and I'm usually all about the dog in a mystery. This is the third book in this series and I don't feel any compulsion to read the first two books.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press Minotaur Books for an e-galley of this novel.
June 15, 2021
I had a hard time "loving" the main protagonist Mercy or Elvis her dog (and I love animals). It was just something about the story that didn't 100% click with me and I found it hard to keep wanting to read it. It definitely wasn't a novel I couldn't put down, but it was far from a bad story or poorly written. Just perhaps it wasn't for me.
June 30, 2021
The third entry in the Mercy & Elvis series was a terrific read. The mystery was taut from beginning to end, and the author pulled all the right strings when it came to stirring the heart. You *could* read this as a standalone, but that would mean missing the rest of the fantastic series, so I'd start with #1, A BORROWING OF BONES.
April 28, 2022
Dogs are always the smartest people in the room.
The Hiding Place is definitely action and emotion-packed! When Mercy's late grandfather’s dying deputy calls her to his side, she and Elvis inherit the cold case that haunted him. From there, there are twists and turns galore. And I mean galore.
I like this series better with each book the author writes. Of course, Elvis and Susie Bear have a lot to do with that! (Speaking of Susie Bear, it drives me crazy that nearly every time she is mentioned, her pumpkin head is also mentioned. I hope it will happen less often in future books.)
I also felt that the plot was a bit overly complicated and that at least one of the threads could have been left out. Having said all of that, The Hiding Place is a great dog-centric mystery!
The Hiding Place is definitely action and emotion-packed! When Mercy's late grandfather’s dying deputy calls her to his side, she and Elvis inherit the cold case that haunted him. From there, there are twists and turns galore. And I mean galore.
I like this series better with each book the author writes. Of course, Elvis and Susie Bear have a lot to do with that! (Speaking of Susie Bear, it drives me crazy that nearly every time she is mentioned, her pumpkin head is also mentioned. I hope it will happen less often in future books.)
I also felt that the plot was a bit overly complicated and that at least one of the threads could have been left out. Having said all of that, The Hiding Place is a great dog-centric mystery!
May 24, 2021
A little back history would be nice, like how does Mercy make a living, she spends $200 on a birthday present for a kid not even related, but no explanation as to what she does for income. For such a dog lover you would think she would feed them appropriate food, pizza and sandwiches are not meant for dogs, especially working dogs, not once did any of the dogs in this book eat dog food or diet for a working dog.
August 25, 2021
This should have been much better (DOGS, lots of dogs), but the "chick lit" details were just too grating. I wearied of 90% of the characters having sky blue eyes, and the females either clothed in Ralph Lauren and cashmere or flannel shirts. How about just plain shleppy? Nice descriptions of Vermont, but too little to hang my REI hat on.
August 13, 2022
I read the first 2 book and might try the 4th book but I lost my ability to finish this book when Mercy was in an explosion, unconscious for 24 hours yet none of her family was at the hospital when she woke up, a complete stranger WAS in her hospital room AND she was up to arguing with the stranger.
Nonsense and lazy plotting
Nonsense and lazy plotting
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 31, 2021
Excellent addition to a top-notch series, maybe even the best one. One caveat, while this can be read and enjoyed as a standalone, for the full enjoyment read the first two books. You won't be sorry. Mercy Carr and her dog, Elvis, are both returned vets suffering from PTSD, who act with law enforcement in helping to solve cases. Their relationship serves as the core of the series. In this book, long buried secrets bubble up when Mercy and her grandmother find a pipe bomb that explodes at the front door. You're immediately engaged with the story and the suspense is ratcheted up at each turn of events. Well written and highly recommended. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read it in exchange for an honest review.
October 9, 2025
A Hiding Place by Paula Munier
Mercy and Elvis Mysteries #3
3.9⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 0/5
Cursing: none
Format/Source: audio on Hoopla
Genres/Tropes: mystery
Audience: Adult
Setting: Vermont
Characters: Mercy, Pitts, Troy, Patience, Beth, Gill, Colby, Eveleen, Amy, Brody, Halett, Bea, Thomas
👍 short chapters, K9, book lover FMC, no cursing, storyline
👎 none
Mercy and Elvis Mysteries #3
3.9⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 0/5
Cursing: none
Format/Source: audio on Hoopla
Genres/Tropes: mystery
Audience: Adult
Setting: Vermont
Characters: Mercy, Pitts, Troy, Patience, Beth, Gill, Colby, Eveleen, Amy, Brody, Halett, Bea, Thomas
👍 short chapters, K9, book lover FMC, no cursing, storyline
👎 none
April 1, 2021
This is a favorite new series. The books feature Mercy Carr and her military dog, Elvis, who have come home to Vermont to nurse their wounds (and their PTSD) after losing the love of both their lives, Martinez, in Afghanistan. Both have reacclimated to a degree, though Mercy has a hard time with trust and tends to hold herself back when it comes to relationships. While Mercy is slightly on the outs with her perhaps boyfriend, game warden Troy, her life is a full one. She’s taken in a teenage mother, her baby, and her boyfriend; she has a tight relationship with her grandmother, Patience, a vet; and she and Elvis are now working as a complete team.
Into every life a little rain must fall, however, and someone turns up claiming that Elvis is his, and that Martinez had only had him on loan. He wants him back. This is a shadow throughout the book as the man tells her Elvis’ life with her is too dangerous. He has a point - in every book so far, Elvis faces a near death situation. It’s troubling Mercy, but she’s quickly drawn into an investigation when a pipe bomb explodes on her grandmother’s doorstep, sending both women to the hospital.
In the course of her investigation (she’s being monitored by Troy on instructions from his boss), she discovers a body. It’s added to the recently discovered body of a scientist who had been studying moose. There’s also an old mystery to be solved, perhaps tying into the new one, of a long missing woman. These threads are seamlessly integrated, and the book has a wonderful storytelling rhythm.
There are several things that set these books apart. While it was more of a feature in the first book, Mercy is a huge fan of Shakespeare, and there are a generous number of quotes scattered through the books, mostly advancing the plot. The setting is a character – Vermont in all it’s glory and nature in all its brutality as well as its beauty is beautifully defined and described. And Elvis, the dog, is a nicely nuanced character but he’s still very much a dog. He’s not anthropomorphized. His skillset (he alerts to dead bodies, guns and bombs) often comes in useful.
These are action packed novels, and Mercy takes a beating as much as V.I. Warshawski ever did, refusing to let herself heal, instead hurling herself back into action at every opportunity. As in V.I.’s case, this involves a giant amount of stubbornness, but also a giant amount of smarts. Mercy is an excellent detective even though she’s not really on the police force in any way. She’s simply a retired military officer who seems to be discovered by local crime. I’m thinking that thread may need to be resolved to a degree in future novels.
This is a compelling, well written story, and the characters of both Mercy and Elvis are quickly developing into classics. I haven’t cried so much at the end of a book in a long time. I was pretty sure what was going to happen, but I cried anyway, which is a great endorsement (in my opinion). An author who can make you invested enough in a character to sob about her situation is a talented one. This is a wonderful new series.
Into every life a little rain must fall, however, and someone turns up claiming that Elvis is his, and that Martinez had only had him on loan. He wants him back. This is a shadow throughout the book as the man tells her Elvis’ life with her is too dangerous. He has a point - in every book so far, Elvis faces a near death situation. It’s troubling Mercy, but she’s quickly drawn into an investigation when a pipe bomb explodes on her grandmother’s doorstep, sending both women to the hospital.
In the course of her investigation (she’s being monitored by Troy on instructions from his boss), she discovers a body. It’s added to the recently discovered body of a scientist who had been studying moose. There’s also an old mystery to be solved, perhaps tying into the new one, of a long missing woman. These threads are seamlessly integrated, and the book has a wonderful storytelling rhythm.
There are several things that set these books apart. While it was more of a feature in the first book, Mercy is a huge fan of Shakespeare, and there are a generous number of quotes scattered through the books, mostly advancing the plot. The setting is a character – Vermont in all it’s glory and nature in all its brutality as well as its beauty is beautifully defined and described. And Elvis, the dog, is a nicely nuanced character but he’s still very much a dog. He’s not anthropomorphized. His skillset (he alerts to dead bodies, guns and bombs) often comes in useful.
These are action packed novels, and Mercy takes a beating as much as V.I. Warshawski ever did, refusing to let herself heal, instead hurling herself back into action at every opportunity. As in V.I.’s case, this involves a giant amount of stubbornness, but also a giant amount of smarts. Mercy is an excellent detective even though she’s not really on the police force in any way. She’s simply a retired military officer who seems to be discovered by local crime. I’m thinking that thread may need to be resolved to a degree in future novels.
This is a compelling, well written story, and the characters of both Mercy and Elvis are quickly developing into classics. I haven’t cried so much at the end of a book in a long time. I was pretty sure what was going to happen, but I cried anyway, which is a great endorsement (in my opinion). An author who can make you invested enough in a character to sob about her situation is a talented one. This is a wonderful new series.
March 25, 2021
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I have really enjoyed this Mercy & Elvis Mysteries series. The first two books seemed quite different from each other to me. The first had her working with the game warden Troy and their dogs, as well as both Mercy & Elvis trying to recover from the grief after losing Martinez. I loved all the dog work and searches which were part of the mystery. The second was more set in her parent's world, working for Daniel, a wealthy local. She spent almost no time with Troy and they had some issues, and there was less dog involvement.
A Hiding Place is back to having a bit more dog involvement. There are two storylines with some complex emotional aspects. When her grandfather's deputy is dying, she ends up with a cold case which really bothered him. It also seems to involve her grandmother, Patience. One of the involved parties escapes from prison and her grandmother could be in danger. Patience seems determined to go on about her normal life.
Then, another MP from the Army shows up claiming Elvis is his dog. I was really torn up over this and spent considerable time worrying and crying. He thinks Mercy's life is too dangerous for Elvis and Mercy can't disagree. She also continues to sort out her feelings about Martinez, along with her issues with Troy.
Mercy makes some progress with her parents and their relationship. She continues to enjoy her grandmother, even if she is stubborn. I wonder where she will go from here, or if she will formalize her investigating in any way.
There was a lot of action and events, keeping things fast paced. There were some flashbacks to the old days when the woman who disappeared in the cold case. Mercy gradually puts together bits of information to learn what happened. Everyone seemed to abuse this woman, so hopefully she left and wasn't murdered. It's very complicated but Mercy untangles it. I look forward to more in this fascinating world and the dogs. I always love the dogs.
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I have really enjoyed this Mercy & Elvis Mysteries series. The first two books seemed quite different from each other to me. The first had her working with the game warden Troy and their dogs, as well as both Mercy & Elvis trying to recover from the grief after losing Martinez. I loved all the dog work and searches which were part of the mystery. The second was more set in her parent's world, working for Daniel, a wealthy local. She spent almost no time with Troy and they had some issues, and there was less dog involvement.
A Hiding Place is back to having a bit more dog involvement. There are two storylines with some complex emotional aspects. When her grandfather's deputy is dying, she ends up with a cold case which really bothered him. It also seems to involve her grandmother, Patience. One of the involved parties escapes from prison and her grandmother could be in danger. Patience seems determined to go on about her normal life.
Then, another MP from the Army shows up claiming Elvis is his dog. I was really torn up over this and spent considerable time worrying and crying. He thinks Mercy's life is too dangerous for Elvis and Mercy can't disagree. She also continues to sort out her feelings about Martinez, along with her issues with Troy.
Mercy makes some progress with her parents and their relationship. She continues to enjoy her grandmother, even if she is stubborn. I wonder where she will go from here, or if she will formalize her investigating in any way.
There was a lot of action and events, keeping things fast paced. There were some flashbacks to the old days when the woman who disappeared in the cold case. Mercy gradually puts together bits of information to learn what happened. Everyone seemed to abuse this woman, so hopefully she left and wasn't murdered. It's very complicated but Mercy untangles it. I look forward to more in this fascinating world and the dogs. I always love the dogs.
June 6, 2021
I absolutely LOVE this series! I can't get enough of Elvis and Susie Bear and their humans have their moments as well. I still think my favorite is the 2nd book of the series but the ending of this 3rd one was wonderful! I hope there will be many more books with these characters.
June 29, 2022
Mercy Carr is having a difficult time. She hasn't spoken to Game Warden Troy Warner since she learned that he was not divorced. Then a Vet comes from Missouri claiming that her dog Elvis really belonged to him. Then she gets a call from her grandfather's former deputy who is dying who wants to drop a cold case in her lap. And the man who murdered her grandfather escapes from prison and wants revenge on her grandmother for some reason.
Meanwhile, Troy is trying to find out who murdered a wildlife biologist who was making a documentary about young moose. And he's trying to find a way to mend things with Mercy.
When someone sets off a pipe bomb at Mercy's grandmother's house which would have killed her had Elvis not alerted and Mercy not managed to push her grandmother aside and cover her with her own body, Mercy has even more incentive to solve a number of mysteries that are surrounding her family.
The story has lots of action from bombs to snowmobile chases. It also has lots of emotional intensity as Mercy tries to decide if Elvis would be better off if she let him go with his first handler.
Fans of the series, and this is book three, will enjoy this episode. New readers will find an intriguing assortment of characters and the wonders of Vermont.
Meanwhile, Troy is trying to find out who murdered a wildlife biologist who was making a documentary about young moose. And he's trying to find a way to mend things with Mercy.
When someone sets off a pipe bomb at Mercy's grandmother's house which would have killed her had Elvis not alerted and Mercy not managed to push her grandmother aside and cover her with her own body, Mercy has even more incentive to solve a number of mysteries that are surrounding her family.
The story has lots of action from bombs to snowmobile chases. It also has lots of emotional intensity as Mercy tries to decide if Elvis would be better off if she let him go with his first handler.
Fans of the series, and this is book three, will enjoy this episode. New readers will find an intriguing assortment of characters and the wonders of Vermont.
April 2, 2021
The Hiding Place by Paula Munier—Must Love Dogs
The Hiding Place by Paula Munier is the third installment in the Mercy Carr Mystery series. I haven’t read the first two books in the series, but when I started seeing this novel popping up on the crime fiction websites I visit regularly, the buzz intrigued me, so I requested a copy to discover for myself what all the excitement was about.
The granddaughter of a former sheriff, Mercy Carr, pays a visit to her late grandfather’s dying deputy, August Pitts, at his request. Pitts asks Mercy to investigate the case of a missing girl that neither he nor her grandfather had solved. Mercy is determined to work the cold case once she learns the details surrounding it from her grandmother, Patience. Eventually, her sidekick, Troy Warner, a Vermont game warden helps her with the investigation. Mercy has developed a reputation for solving mysteries that have baffled local law enforcement.
Mercy is an interesting character, a former U.S. Army MP who saw action in Afghanistan who is still struggling to come to terms with the death of her fiance, another soldier and a dog handler killed there. Honoring his last request, Mercy adopted her late fiance’s work dog, a Belgian shepherd named Elvis, who figures prominently in the book. The novel predominantly unfolds from Mercy’s point of view. She’s still living in her childhood hometown in Vermont. After reading the synopsis, I assumed Mercy was a private investigator, but after reading the book discovered she is more a Jessica Fletcher like amateur detective.
Mercy’s personal life is a bit of a mess. She is struggling not only with her fiance’s death, but with the fallout from her experiences in Afghanistan as a soldier. Both her parents are lawyers, and her somewhat over bearing mother had expected Mercy to follow her parents into law, but Mercy had no interest in becoming an attorney and intends to blaze her own trail. This is also a source of friction. Her relationship with Troy Warner which had previously leaned more toward romance than only friendship is strained. But a part of her wants to forgive him for a lie of omission, and to further explore the possibilities.
What began as an inquiry into the cold case becomes more complicated when the man who killed Mercy’s grandfather escapes from prison and then someone leaves a bomb on her grandmother’s doorstep that explodes and injures both Mercy and her her grandmother, the local veterinarian. A fresh murder occurs and a decades old murder is uncovered and for Mercy and Troy, the present and past intersect in ways they could not have imagined.
Munier puts us occasionally in the heads of other characters–usually significant ones to give us some hints or clues to help us work out the whodunit.
There are a few undercurrents simmering this book, including themes around grief, loss, love, and trust.
I enjoyed this novel even though I hadn’t read the first two books in the series. Munier has given us some interesting and likeable characters in Mercy, as well as her sidekick Troy, her grandmother Patience, her mother Grace and a host of dogs including Elvis.
The Hiding Place is a traditional mystery with a well-crafted plot, a very conservative story featuring a comfortable social structure (a small town in Vermont), which is shockingly disrupted by a crime. An amateur attempts to solve the mystery through traditional investigative techniques. Like all traditional mysteries, even given today’s rather permissive society, the novel contains no offensive language, dramatic violence, perversion, or sex.
This book is perfect for traditional mystery fans who enjoy a touch of romance and prefer books that don’t contain swear words or other offensive language. And dogs—we mustn’t forget the dogs. You must love dogs.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes.
The Hiding Place by Paula Munier is the third installment in the Mercy Carr Mystery series. I haven’t read the first two books in the series, but when I started seeing this novel popping up on the crime fiction websites I visit regularly, the buzz intrigued me, so I requested a copy to discover for myself what all the excitement was about.
The granddaughter of a former sheriff, Mercy Carr, pays a visit to her late grandfather’s dying deputy, August Pitts, at his request. Pitts asks Mercy to investigate the case of a missing girl that neither he nor her grandfather had solved. Mercy is determined to work the cold case once she learns the details surrounding it from her grandmother, Patience. Eventually, her sidekick, Troy Warner, a Vermont game warden helps her with the investigation. Mercy has developed a reputation for solving mysteries that have baffled local law enforcement.
Mercy is an interesting character, a former U.S. Army MP who saw action in Afghanistan who is still struggling to come to terms with the death of her fiance, another soldier and a dog handler killed there. Honoring his last request, Mercy adopted her late fiance’s work dog, a Belgian shepherd named Elvis, who figures prominently in the book. The novel predominantly unfolds from Mercy’s point of view. She’s still living in her childhood hometown in Vermont. After reading the synopsis, I assumed Mercy was a private investigator, but after reading the book discovered she is more a Jessica Fletcher like amateur detective.
Mercy’s personal life is a bit of a mess. She is struggling not only with her fiance’s death, but with the fallout from her experiences in Afghanistan as a soldier. Both her parents are lawyers, and her somewhat over bearing mother had expected Mercy to follow her parents into law, but Mercy had no interest in becoming an attorney and intends to blaze her own trail. This is also a source of friction. Her relationship with Troy Warner which had previously leaned more toward romance than only friendship is strained. But a part of her wants to forgive him for a lie of omission, and to further explore the possibilities.
What began as an inquiry into the cold case becomes more complicated when the man who killed Mercy’s grandfather escapes from prison and then someone leaves a bomb on her grandmother’s doorstep that explodes and injures both Mercy and her her grandmother, the local veterinarian. A fresh murder occurs and a decades old murder is uncovered and for Mercy and Troy, the present and past intersect in ways they could not have imagined.
Munier puts us occasionally in the heads of other characters–usually significant ones to give us some hints or clues to help us work out the whodunit.
There are a few undercurrents simmering this book, including themes around grief, loss, love, and trust.
I enjoyed this novel even though I hadn’t read the first two books in the series. Munier has given us some interesting and likeable characters in Mercy, as well as her sidekick Troy, her grandmother Patience, her mother Grace and a host of dogs including Elvis.
The Hiding Place is a traditional mystery with a well-crafted plot, a very conservative story featuring a comfortable social structure (a small town in Vermont), which is shockingly disrupted by a crime. An amateur attempts to solve the mystery through traditional investigative techniques. Like all traditional mysteries, even given today’s rather permissive society, the novel contains no offensive language, dramatic violence, perversion, or sex.
This book is perfect for traditional mystery fans who enjoy a touch of romance and prefer books that don’t contain swear words or other offensive language. And dogs—we mustn’t forget the dogs. You must love dogs.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes.
March 26, 2021
Mercy gets more than she ever expected when she visits with a dying man who served as her grandfather Red's deputy sheriff. For one thing, there's Sunny the dog and for another there are boxes of documents related to the case of a missing woman- Beth. Mercy's dog Elvis, a vet, is cross trained on explosives and bodies, which comes in handy in this complex mystery which sees several threads involving things than happened years ago. Mercy and her grandmother Patience are injured when someone leaves a bomb at Patience's front door which sets off a hunt not only for George, who killed Red and has just escaped from prison, but also for Beth, whose case may well be linked. Mercy must navigate it all while fighting her romantic attraction to Troy, s Game Warden, and the arrival in town of the man who claims he is Elvia's owner. Whew. It does help, I think, to have read one of the previous books in the series but Munier provides good background. There are a few plot holes (how does Mercy support herself? ) but this barrels along with good Vermont atmospherics . No spoilers on the answers I didn't see coming or the ending. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. I very much enjoyed this and look forward to the next installment.
May 17, 2025
Book #3 in the Mercy Carr series, and search and rescue canines, Elvis and Susie Bear, are back and just as amazing as ever. A lot going on here, Mercy gets involved in a cold case, a case in which her police chief grandfather was killed. In her quest to find answers she realizes that two other missing persons cases from the same time are all connected. Mercy is excellent at putting all the pieces together in any complicated case, but can she do it in this investigation? Her grandmother, Patience, is also part of this puzzle. Patience is a veterinarian and Elvis and Susie Bear adore her. I love the Mercy and Troy characters, and all the other human characters, but for me the dogs are what draws me into this series.
So now it’s time for me to delve into book #4 of the series.
So now it’s time for me to delve into book #4 of the series.
July 10, 2021
Retired MP Mercy Carr and her bomb-sniffing dog Elvis are back for the 3rd instalment of the series. Mercy visits a dying deputy sheriff who gives her some information on a cold case that her late grandfather worked on. Mercy and Troy, a Vermont game warden and his search and rescue dog Susie Bear, find themselves involved in several cases that may be linked to the cold case. The man who killed her grandfather escapes from prison, a murder and an explosion and a snowmobile chase through the Vermont winter, keep the story moving at a quick pace. Great characters, plot and dogs! Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 26, 2021
It's always great to be back in the world of Mercy and Elvis. This book was a bit different, Mercy seemed at a cross-roads in many ways. Things were up in the air with Troy, there was trouble with Elvis, trouble kept finding Mercy's grandmother and forcing Mercy to look back at her family with a different eye and then she was close to turning 30, a lot for anyone to face. Mercy handled things with grace, she just kept taking one step at a time and even made the hard choice with Elvis, good thing Elvis over ruled her. By the end of the book so many things were settled and you can feel things have settled for Mercy.
April 13, 2022
This was a book with an improbable plot and characters. How does Mercy earn a salary? It’s unbelievable that her military pension could afford her such a nice lifestyle at age 30! Why do law enforcement officers let a civilian, Mercy, tag along on their investigations? How do guys who’ve been in prison for 20 years become such good sledheads? The most improbable sledhead was a guy who grew up in Miami, Florida! This was my first book by the author, and although I’m an animal lover who grew up with dogs and owned cats as an adult, the animal characters in this series are not enough for me to entice me to read another one.
November 14, 2024
Qualcuno mi ricorda perché sono rimasta indietro (anche) con questa serie? Mi sa che me ne piacciono troppe per riuscire a rimanere in pari, tenendo conto anche delle altre letture...
Comunque sia, il libro mi è piaciuto molto. Verso la fine, in una scena particolarmente intesa, avevo pure la lascrimuccia... Vediamo se ora riesco a evitare di far passare anni prima di leggere il successivo...
Comunque sia, il libro mi è piaciuto molto. Verso la fine, in una scena particolarmente intesa, avevo pure la lascrimuccia... Vediamo se ora riesco a evitare di far passare anni prima di leggere il successivo...
August 1, 2021
Another great book in this series. These books are great - and I love the involvement of the dogs in everything that happens throughout the books. I think this one is my favorite - so far. But I can't wait for future books. Please keep them coming!
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