Publishers Weekly
12/24/2018
Bestseller Armstrong fuses small-town mystery with high-concept thriller in her propulsive fourth Rockton novel (after 2018’s This Fallen Prey). When U.S. marshal Mark Garcia arrives in Rockton hunting a dangerous fugitive whom he declines to name until caught, residents are understandably alarmed; the off-grid Canadian Yukon settlement is meant to be a sanctuary for those hoping to disappear. Det. Casey Duncan and her boyfriend, Sheriff Eric Dalton, order Garcia to leave, citing a lack of jurisdiction, but Garcia refuses. When a sniper shoots the marshal, Casey and Dalton must identify Garcia’s target, solve his murder, and determine how he found the supposedly secret refuge—all before the U.S. government comes looking for their missing agent. Complicating matters is the fact that Casey and Dalton broke protocol to smuggle in an outsider—Casey’s sister, April—just prior to Garcia’s arrival. Casey’s present-tense narration heightens tension, while colorful characters with checkered pasts add humor, intrigue, and heart. New readers and longtime fans will enjoy Armstrong’s adrenaline-fueled plot, which cleverly capitalizes upon her inventive series premise. Agent: Helen Heller, Helen Heller Agency (Canada). (Feb.)
From the Publisher
Bestseller Armstrong fuses small-town mystery with high-concept thriller in her propulsive fourth Rockton novel. . . Casey’s present-tense narration heightens tension, while colorful characters with checkered pasts add humor, intrigue, and heart. New readers and longtime fans will enjoy Armstrong’s adrenaline-fueled plot, which cleverly capitalizes upon her inventive series premise.” —Publishers Weekly
“The Rockton novels are fine blends of story, character, and setting. The town of Rockton is not merely window dressing, and its characters aren’t superficially drawn. In fact, two elements feed off one another, with the vividness of the place adding depth to the people who inhabit it.” —Booklist
Praise for the Rockton Novels:
THIS FALLEN PREY
“The empathetic central characters grapple with the nature of violence and the choices they’re willing to make to protect loved ones. Armstrong delivers surprising twists and keeps readers guessing about who the next victim might be.” —Publishers Weekly
“Kelley Armstrong’s solid Casey Duncan Series… is turning into one of the best new finds of the decade. . This Fallen Prey is the best Rockton novel so far, as this town of people with no pasts confront a man who seems to spread death. Is he a killer or a potential victim? Slick plotting and good characters are hallmarks of this clever series.” —Globe and Mail
A DARKNESS ABSOLUTE
“The unusual setup and isolated location increase tension in a fast-paced entry that will keep readers guessing.” —Publishers Weekly
“Armstrong keeps the plot turning and cranks up the tension from one chapter to the next. She's already shown she's good at that, and A Darkness Absolute is no exception.” —The Oklahoman
CITY OF THE LOST
"[A] locked room mystery on steroids; readers should prepare for an all-nighter to finish it." —Booklist
"Excellent first in a new thriller series... A highly unusual set-up sets the stage for a distinctive cast of characters and a page-turning plot." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Kirkus Reviews
2018-12-11
A Canadian town whose population includes people running from criminals and criminals running from the consequences of their crimes is infiltrated by a U.S. Marshal bent on bringing an unnamed resident to justice.
Rockton Detective Casey Butler is on an unusual new mission. Usually something of a maverick working alone to solve crimes, Casey has relied on the help of her sheriff, Eric Dalton, who's not only her technical superior and frequent investigative collaborator, but the first man she's ever committed to living with or calling her boyfriend. The two leave the safe haven of Rockton, a secret town in the Yukon, to recruit Casey's sister, April, a gifted doctor, to operate on Kenny, a resident who's been badly injured. Although Casey and April have never been close, Casey convinces April to sneak into town to save Kenny's life. The bigger hurdle is getting April to Rockton without alerting the town council, especially Phil, its hidebound new leader. Rockton is a planned community of residents hiding from outside threats, but the town's pay-to-play rules mean that some residents are perpetrators of crimes hiding out to avoid paying their debts to society. After April comes to town, Casey and Dalton discover a man camping out in the surrounding woods. Mark Garcia identifies himself as a U.S. Marshal on the hunt for a Rockton resident he won't identify except to say that the fugitive's psychopathic tendencies will endanger residents. Casey and Dalton, uncertain whether it's riskier to work with Garcia or against him, are unable to wrest the resident's name from Garcia before he's shot and killed. Now Casey must work with Dalton to counteract that threat to Rockton as she tries to forge a path to peace with April.
Building on the hidden world she's built, Armstrong focuses less on the moody atmosphere earlier installments (This Fallen Prey, 2018, etc.) have favored than on the politics and interpersonal dynamics of her metaphorical lions and lambs—though it seems like everyone here is a bit of a lion.
