Best-Selling Author of No. 1 Most ‘Epic Thriller Series' on Goodreads Didn't Start Her First Book Until She Was 38
Kendra Elliot has become a successful writer with millions of books sold. However, it might surprise her fans to learn that she didn't start writing her first novel until she was nearly 40 years old. Now, a fan favorite book series of hers, the Mercy Kilpatrick series, is ranked as the most "Epic Thriller Series" on Goodreads.
On her website, Elliot explains that her decision to try writing a novel was sparked by re-reading Diana Gabaldon's books. "I loved how satisfied and content I felt at the end. A sign of great storytelling. Could I provide that experience for a reader? I sat down and spent six months writing a contemporary romance," she recalled.
That first book Elliot wrote wasn't the one that made her a published author, though. She reveals that it was her third manuscript, Hidden, that became her first published book. It was released in 2012.
Now, Elliot has published over 25 novels, released several novellas, sold over 14 million books, and even had the Kilpatrick book series nearly head to television.
She admits, "I wouldn't trade this career for anything, and I count my blessings every day, thankful that readers have embraced my books."
The first book in Elliot's Kilpatrick series is titled A Merciful Death and was published in 2017. When she wrapped it up, the Kirkpatrick series initially consisted of six books.
However, fans begged for more. Elliot later published In the Pines and At the River featuring Kilpatrick, as a result of feedback from fans.
Elliot has published several different book series that connect characters and universes from one to the next. In fact, her Kilpatrick series isn't the first of those.
She shared on Goodreads that if one wants to read all of her series in order, readers should start with her Bone Secrets book series.
Next would come the books based on her Mason Callahan and Ava McLane characters, and then the Kilpatrick series.
After that, there's Elliot's Columbia River series. Those six books feature a mixture of her existing characters.
Kilpatrick and Truman Daly are featured in two of the Columbia River books, In the Pines and At the River, while McLane and Callahan return for The Silence.
In The Last Sister, FBI Special Agent Zander Wells leads the way after being introduced to readers in the Callahan and McLane books.
In a question and answer session on Goodreads several years ago, Elliot noted, "The plot of each book is a standalone, but [reading them in order] will help with knowing the backstory of the characters."
Her novel Echo Road is a standalone book that should be read anytime after the Kilpatrick series, Elliot noted. She co-wrote the book with fellow author Melinda Leigh, pairing Kilpatrick with Leigh's character of Bree Taggert together.
Since the debut of Echo Road, the pair has also released 10 Rogue River novellas. Those novellas feature sisters Stevie and Carly Taylor.
Another series offshoot is Elliot's Noelle Marshall series of novels. Marshall was first introduced to readers in the Columbia River series.
Another series, Elliot's Widow's Island, consists of 10 books featuring a new character, FBI Special Agent Cate Wilde.
One fan who has read many of Elliot's books noted in the Thriller Books subreddit, "I really like her stuff...I like the character development and the story lines are intriguing."
In a Facebook group for book lovers, one fan declared, "If you're looking for an author who never misses, can we talk about Kendra Elliot for a second?"
They added, "I'm honestly blown away by how she keeps the suspense fresh, the characters addictive, and the twists impossible to predict."
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This story was originally published April 26, 2026 at 7:41 PM.