Eight stars
Always looking for new and exciting police procedurals, I turned to the debut in this series by Kelley Armstrong. While she is not known for her thrillers, Armstrong does not disappoint in this novel, painting a great picture of a woman who seeks to get away from it all, but her expertise is not lost when relocated. Armstrong uses her Canadian roots to develop a great thriller in the middle of nowhere and begins planting seeds for what I can only hope will be a wonderful series. A great start to something that is sure to develop quickly.
Casey Duncan might be a great detective, but she has a secret. Having killed a man when she was eighteen, she is always waiting fo someone to come after her. That the victim was the grandson of a powerful mobster in Montreal has her doubly concerned. Casey’s best friend, Diana, is also in a bit of hot water, the victim of a serial abuser with no end in sight. When Diana’s ex appears again to attack her and someone from the mob makes an appearance, Casey knows that they must disappear once and for all, leaving their lives behind.
Diana mentions that she’s been told of a town where you can disappear, leaving everything in your current life behind. Casey is somewhat dubious, but agrees to look into the option. That you must apply to get into Rockton is the first hurdle Casey tries to overcome, which is a struggle itself. While Casey’s sordid past is not something that Rockton needs, the fact that she is a stellar homicide detective convinces the council to offer her a chance and for Diana to come as well.
Sent to the middle of nowhere in Canada’s Yukon Territory, Casey and Diana begin living off the grid. It will take some time to get used to no internet, no cell phones, and the close knit connections of the town, a mere two hundred residents. When Casey is taken on as one of the deputies in town, she learns that there’s a murderer lurking in the shadows, killing for no apparent reason and leaving victims in highly troubling displays. Trying to connect with the local sheriff, Casey will have to show how beneficial she can be, though she and Diana soon realise that they might be in more trouble than they were before arriving. A stunning debut that has me hooked already.
Kelley Armstrong pulled me in from the opening pages with the way she depicted the life and sordid details of Casey’s situation. The narrative grows from there, painting dire images of the struggles that both Casey and Diana are living, as well as the need to get out. That Rockton emerges as a solace for their needs proves positive, but the struggle grows as the narrative momentum increases. Armstrong works her magic and is able to develop a strong narrative flow that keeps the reader wondering as murder, chaos, and isolation soon take over. Adding strong characters makes the story come to life, particularly when the reader learns that with only two hundred or so locals, these fresh faces will re-emerge throughout the series in various forms.
A strong series debut focuses on great plot points that help shape the larger narrative and keeps the reader guessing. One can only hope that nothing will derail the flow and momentum, while also keeping things fresh and unpredictable. While I have not read anything else by Kelley Armstrong, I am eager to see where this series leads, as there is nothing like a great police procedural to get the heart pumping. I have the second book ready to go, as my interest is piqued.
Kudos, Madam Armstrong, for a great Canadian crime thriller!
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