Micki Browning

In Mercy Creek, book two of the Jo Wyatt Mystery Series, author M.E. Browning transports the reader to Echo Valley, Colorado, to catch up with Detective Jo Wyatt as she investigates the disappearance of eleven year old Lena Flores after spending Saturday at the Echo Valley fairgrounds.

Detectives Jo Wyatt and Squint Mac Allister get the call to investigate the disappearance of eleven year old Lena Flores when she doesn't report to the 4-H livestock pavilion at the fairgrounds on Sunday morning. Jo and Squint begin a tireless investigation to prove that Lena did not run away, but was a missing child case. Lena's disappearance stirs up secrets and grudges within Lena's family that includes some issues from the past that involves Jo. With a growing list of suspects, Jo is determined to find out what happened to Lena.

Author M.E. Browning weaves a slow-building and suspenseful tale that follows Jo's latest investigation to uncover the truth behind Lena's disappearance. I loved reading this action-packed story. Jo's observations and detail to the police procedure used within the investigation coupled with her past history with the girl's family kept me intrigued as she slowly put the pieces of the mystery puzzle together.

The reader will be easily drawn into this richly descriptive plot that will keep them guessing as long hidden secrets, family dramas, a growing list of possible suspects, motives, and clues are uncovered, while leaving the reader completely shocked by the surprise ending. And if that's not enough, Jo is still dealing with personal issues: her recent divorce from ex-husband Cameron Finch, and being passed over for the police department's sergeant position by him, while also dealing with a new police chief and trying to strengthen her position as a detective within the Echo Valley Police Department.

I look forward to reading more of Jo's investigations in the Jo Wyatt Mystery Series.

Mercy Creek has enough drama, tension, action, dark secrets, intrigue, and unexpected twists and turns that will take the reader on one heck of a thrilling roller coaster ride.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book via NetGalley from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours.

https://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2021/11/mercy-creek-by-me-browning-vb...… (más)

Mercy Creek is the second novel in the the Jo Wyatt Series. I have the first in the series but have not read it yet, but that does not deter from reading this novel.

An 11 young girl, Lena, goes missing and it is up to Jo Wyatt, and her partner, Squint to find the girl. Lena and her sister Marisa are the polar opposites, Lena is all about horses and the environment, Marisa is all about herself and her wannabe career as an influencer. Lucero and Tilda are Lena and Marisa's divorced parents where there is a lot of angst between the two.

As the investigation into where Lena is, Lucero becomes a suspect, he has had violent tendencies in his earlier years. Does he know where she is, did she run away from him?

Tilda could easily become a suspect as Jo finds how dysfunctional the Flores family is. The further she gets into the investigation, there are other people who could also know where Lena is.

This case is very personal for Jo as she personally knows both Lucero and Tilda from their high school years. There is a lot of acrimony between the three of them but Jo has to put aside this as she desperately needs to find Lena, alive. As time goes by the reader learns more about Jo and her past.

The author has written a story that tells of the Colorado landscape, the lives of the residents and Jo's past that she does not want to share with others. Well written to the point that the reader can almost feel that they are there in Echo Valley. A taut, suspenseful well researched and written with knowledge that is definitely in the pages of the novel. I highly recommend it and I will definitely be reading the first one in the series about Jo Wyatt.

I received this book for review purposes only.… (más)

It's late summer in Echo Valley, Colorado, and Detective Jo Wyatt is manning the dunking booth at the fair when the story begins. There's a new police chief who is finding his feet and getting ready to make his mark. And there is an eleven-year-old girl named Lena Flores who goes missing.

Lena was at the fair with her fifteen-year-old sister Marisa though the two didn't have anything in common. Since her parents divorced, Lena has lived with her father Lucero who is a veterinarian which was perfect for the farm girl, animal-loving child while Marisa lived in town with her mother Tilda who's an emergency room nurse. Marisa has bigger plans that Echo Falls; she's a social media influencer who is constantly updating her feeds.

Jo knows both Tilda and Lucero since they all grew up in town. Once, Lucero and Jo were friends but an incident when they were teens broke up the friendship. The resentments all resurface when Lena goes missing.

This story emphasizes the day-to-day work of police officers: finding and checking out witnesses, questioning suspects, watching endless security tapes, writing reports. But it also illustrates the dedication of a cop who is determined to find answers and find Lena or find out what happened to her.

I liked Jo a lot. She's dedicated to her job and to helping people. At the same time, she's aware that her knowledge of the people involved in this case could be coloring her reactions to what they are telling her...and they are all lying to her in a variety of ways.

I enjoyed this story immensely and recommend it.… (más)