#Review - The Last Sister by Kendra Elliot #Mystery #Thriller

Series: Columbia River # 1
Format: Kindle, 328 pages
Release Date: January 14, 2020
Publisher: Montlake
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Mystery / Thriller

Three sisters’ secrets collide in a shocking novel of suspense by the bestselling author of the Mercy Kilpatrick series.

Twenty years ago Emily Mills’s father was murdered, and she found his body hanging in the backyard. Her younger sister, Madison, claims she was asleep in her room. Her older sister, Tara, claims she was out with friends. The tragedy drove their mother to suicide and Tara to leave town forever. The killer was caught. The case closed.

Ever since, Emily and Madison have tried to forget what happened that night—until an eerily similar murder brings it all back. It also brings FBI special agent Zander Wells to the Oregon logging town. As eager as he is to solve the brutal double slaying, he is just as intrigued with the mystery of Emily’s and her sisters’ past.

When more blood is shed, Zander suspects there’s a secret buried in this town no one wants unearthed. Is it something Emily and Madison don’t know? Or aren’t telling? And Tara? Maybe Emily can’t bear to find her. Because when Tara disappeared, she took a secret of her own with her.

The Last Sister is the first installment in author Kendra Elliot's Columbia River series. This series features characters from the author's previous works, including FBI Agent Ava McLane, who is engaged to marry Detective Mason Callahan of the Portland Police. The Last Sister is a blend of psychological suspense, small-town intrigue, and buried family secrets. The story centers on Emily Mills, a woman haunted by the violent death of her father two decades earlier in the quiet Oregon town of Bartonville. 

When she stumbles upon a new murder scene—a local man strung up in a manner that mirrors her father’s killing—the past comes roaring back. Shaken but determined, Emily reports the crime, drawing the attention of FBI Special Agent Zander Wells and his partner, Ava McLane. As the trio digs into the case, they uncover a tangle of lies, racial tensions, and a conspiracy that threatens to destroy what’s left of Emily’s fractured family—particularly her estranged sister, Madison, the titular “last sister.” 

When more blood is shed, Zander suspects there’s a secret buried in this town no one wants to be unearthed. Is it something Emily and Madison don’t know? Or aren’t telling? And Tara? Maybe Emily can’t bear to find her. Because when Tara disappeared, she took a secret of her own with her. The central mystery—who killed Emily’s father, and why is the pattern repeating?—is layered with subplots about racism, community loyalty, and the cost of keeping secrets. 

The dual-timeline structure—alternating between Emily’s present-day investigation and flashbacks to the night of her father’s murder—adds depth and urgency, gradually revealing how the past shapes the present. Bartonville feels like a character: a sleepy coastal town with a dark underbelly, its foggy woods, and creaky old houses amplifying the sense of unease. Elliot’s descriptions are vivid but never overwrought, grounding the story in a believable, lived-in world. 

The pacing dips occasionally, bogged down by expository dialogue or overly detailed procedural moments that slow the momentum. While sweet, the romance between Emily and Zander sometimes feels tacked on, lacking the depth to fully resonate. And while the small-town setting is evocative, some of the supporting cast—like the local sheriff or townsfolk—fall into familiar stereotypes, missing opportunities for richer complexity. 

Elliot excels at building a slow-burn mystery that keeps you guessing. My only issue is that Ava is pushed to the back as a secondary character, and it's only when she and Emily are targeted by a menace that you wonder where she's been all this time. Where The Last Sister shines brightest is in its tension and atmosphere. Scenes of Emily alone in her family’s eerie mansion or Zander piecing together evidence in the dead of night are genuinely unsettling, capturing the dread of a town hiding its sins. The action, when it comes, is brisk and impactful, particularly in the climactic showdown, which delivers a satisfying resolution without overstaying its welcome.

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#Review - Covenant of the Iron Cross by Gary McAvoy #Thriller #Suspense

Series: Vatican Archaeology Thriller # 1
Format: Kindle, 298 pages
Release Date: February 18, 2025
Publisher: Literati Editions
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Thriller / Suspense

When Vatican archaeologist Marcus Russo uncovers the fabled Nazi Gold Train buried deep within the Owl Mountains of Poland, he expects to find a forgotten trove of looted treasures. Instead, he unearths a chilling codex that points to a dark and dangerous Operation Eisenkreuz, a Nazi plan to seed chaos and power across the globe long after their fall. But Marcus soon realizes the train’s secrets are only the beginning. Shadowed by an elusive and ruthless faction known as the Covenant of the Iron Cross, Marcus and his allies—Father Michael Dominic and journalist Hana Sinclair—must race against time to stop the Covenant from using the artifacts to reignite their deadly ambitions.

As Marcus pieces together the codex’s fragmented clues, he discovers it holds more than history—it holds the key to a network of hidden Nazi caches and an unfinished plan that could shift the global balance of power. But the Covenant will stop at nothing to keep their secrets buried, infiltrating even the highest echelons of the Vatican itself. From the war-torn archives of Rome to the frozen depths of Eastern Europe, Marcus, Michael, and Hana are drawn into a treacherous game of cat and mouse, where every discovery raises new questions. Who can they trust, and how deep does the Covenant’s influence run?

In Covenant of the Iron Cross, suspense and intrigue collide in a race to unravel a conspiracy decades in the making. Combining historical mysteries with modern stakes, this gripping novel explores the cost of uncovering forbidden truths—and the resilience of those who dare to stand against evil. This thriller delves into the shadows of history, challenging readers to confront how the echoes of the past still shape the present.

Covenant of the Iron Cross is the first installment in author Gary McAvoy's Vatican Archaeology Thriller series. The novel follows Vatican archaeologist Marcus Russo, who stumbles upon the legendary Nazi Gold Train hidden in Poland’s Owl Mountains. Expecting a trove of looted treasures, Russo instead uncovers a cryptic codex hinting at Operation Eisenkreuz—a chilling Nazi scheme designed to sow chaos long after the Third Reich’s collapse.

Joined by familiar faces from McAvoy’s universe, Father Michael Dominic and journalist Hana Sinclair, Russo races to decode the codex’s secrets before a shadowy group, the Covenant of the Iron Cross, can harness its power for their own sinister ends. McAvoy balances high-stakes action with rich historical detail. (We know as a historical fact that Hitler was a fanatic when it came to wanting things of paranormal origin. We know that Hitler wiped out millions of people across Europe and stole priceless paintings and architecture. We know this because of a group known as the Monument Men.)

As Marcus pieces together the codex’s fragmented clues, he discovers it holds more than history—it holds the key to a network of hidden Nazi caches and an unfinished plan that could shift the global balance of power. But the Covenant will stop at nothing to keep their secrets buried, infiltrating even the highest echelons of the Vatican itself. From the war-torn archives of Rome to the frozen depths of Eastern Europe, Marcus, Michael, and Hana are drawn into a treacherous game of cat and mouse, where every discovery raises new questions. Who can they trust, and how deep does the Covenant’s influence run?

The premise is gripping: a forgotten Nazi plot threatening the present day, with artifacts that could shift global power. It’s a concept tailor-made for Dan Brown or Steve Berry fans, and McAvoy executes it with a steady hand. Marcus Russo brings a fresh perspective as a determined archaeologist, while Father Michael Dominic and Hana Sinclair, veterans of McAvoy’s earlier works, provide continuity and depth. Their dynamic—marked by trust, tension, and sharp banter—keeps the narrative engaging, even when the plot veers into complex conspiracies. 

The villains, the Covenant of the Iron Cross and the New Order are suitably menacing, their reach extending into unexpected corners, though at times, their motivations feel a touch opaque, leaning on classic thriller tropes of power-hungry secrecy. McAvoy builds tension expertly, with each clue uncovered leading to higher stakes and tighter deadlines. The historical elements, particularly the nods to Nazi operations and Vatican intrigue, are well-researched and lend authenticity to the wilder twists.

Summary: In Covenant of the Iron Cross, suspense and intrigue collide in a race to unravel a conspiracy decades in the making. Combining historical mysteries with modern stakes, this novel explores the cost of uncovering forbidden truths—and the resilience of those who dare to stand against evil. This thriller delves into the shadows of history, challenging readers to confront how the echoes of the past still shape the present. Apparently, the characters in this book have been around for a while. The author pretty much says so in the credits. If you feel like going back to the author's previous works, there are quite a few. 

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