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Rockton/Casey Duncan #5
Alone in the Wild
In #1 New York Times bestseller Kelley Armstrong's latest thriller, the hidden town of Rockton is about to face a challenge none of them saw coming: a baby.
Every season in Rockton seems to bring a new challenge. At least that's what Detective Casey Duncan has felt since she decided to call this place home. Between all the secretive residents, the sometimes-hostile settlers outside, and the surrounding wilderness, there's always something to worry about.
While on a much needed camping vacation with her boyfriend, Sheriff Eric Dalton, Casey hears a baby crying in the woods. The sound leads them to a tragic scene: a woman buried under the snow, murdered, a baby still alive in her arms.
A town that doesn’t let anyone in under the age of eighteen, Rockton must take care of its youngest resident yet while solving another murder and finding out where the baby came from - and whether she's better off where she is.
#1 New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong again delivers an engaging, tense thriller set in perhaps the most interesting town in all of contemporary crime fiction.
Every season in Rockton seems to bring a new challenge. At least that's what Detective Casey Duncan has felt since she decided to call this place home. Between all the secretive residents, the sometimes-hostile settlers outside, and the surrounding wilderness, there's always something to worry about.
While on a much needed camping vacation with her boyfriend, Sheriff Eric Dalton, Casey hears a baby crying in the woods. The sound leads them to a tragic scene: a woman buried under the snow, murdered, a baby still alive in her arms.
A town that doesn’t let anyone in under the age of eighteen, Rockton must take care of its youngest resident yet while solving another murder and finding out where the baby came from - and whether she's better off where she is.
#1 New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong again delivers an engaging, tense thriller set in perhaps the most interesting town in all of contemporary crime fiction.
356 pages, Hardcover
First published February 4, 2020
590 people are currently reading
4887 people want to read
About the author
Kelley Armstrong
302 books33.5k followersKelley Armstrong has been telling stories since before she could write. Her earliest written efforts were disastrous. If asked for a story about girls and dolls, hers would invariably feature undead girls and evil dolls, much to her teachers' dismay. All efforts to make her produce "normal" stories failed.
Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She's the author of the NYT-bestselling "Women of the Otherworld" paranormal suspense series and "Darkest Powers" young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.
Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She's the author of the NYT-bestselling "Women of the Otherworld" paranormal suspense series and "Darkest Powers" young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 985 reviews
July 21, 2025
The Rockton / Casey Duncan series continues with another suspenseful storyline.
Alone in the Wild
by Kelley Armstrong is the fifth book in the series. Rockton is a hidden town somewhere in the Yukon wilderness of Canada. The residents have many secrets and they’ve come to the town to disappear and be safe. This is a sanctuary town for those running from their pasts. Casey Duncan, the town's only detective on a police force of three. Her boss and partner is Eric Dalton, the sheriff. Will Anders is the deputy.
As the winter holidays approach, Casey and Eric decide to take a two-day camping and hiking trip since things are calm in Rockton. When Casey hears a baby crying, she investigates and finds a murdered woman buried under the snow and an alive baby in her arms. While the town doesn’t allow anyone under eighteen in, the town must care for the baby while Casey and Eric work to solve another murder and try to find out where the baby came from.
Casey and Eric are well-developed characters. They must protect the townspeople while appeasing the council that runs Rockton from afar. Casey has a relentless drive to serve and protect the townspeople and find the murderer. She’s found a purpose and a true home in Rockton. While she can also be stubborn and sarcastic, she is also diplomatic when the situation calls for it. Eric is efficient, an excellent tracker, and intelligent. He constantly scans for trouble and is a trusted and strong leader who is tough and fair. While he is Rockton’s protector and advocate, he can be a little idealistic and stubborn. They’re relatable and easy to root for and like. Readers didn’t get much insight into Will in this story, but ex-Rockton sheriff Tyrone Cypher as well as ex-resident Maryanne make appearances.
Suspense, action, and a police investigation are combined with complex characters, multiple mysteries, and excellent world-building in this well-written and entertaining novel. Filled with murder, interpersonal relations, lies, deception, jealousy, and more, the author weaves a tale with plenty of twists, turns, and surprises. The narrative provides plenty of opportunities for things to go wrong. A strong sense of place caused me to feel transported to northern Canada. The author is a superb storyteller who kept me on the edge of my seat. The complex and multilayered plot wraps up the loose ends. I enjoyed learning more about the first and second settlements as well as those people who are deemed wild and dangerous. However, the killer was too easily discerned.
I first heard of this series when book seven was released. I read it as well as the books that have been released in the Haven’s Rock spin-off series. I’m now reading the first six books in this series. It helps to read the books in order as there are quite a few characters, but the main ones are recurring making it easy to keep track of the new ones.
Overall, this was suspenseful, entertaining, and well-written, with a multilayered plot, fantastic atmosphere, and excellent characterization that kept me engaged throughout. As always, it took this reader on a compelling journey with excellent imagery and tied the subplots together well. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
I purchased a copy of this novel. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
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My 4.48 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
As the winter holidays approach, Casey and Eric decide to take a two-day camping and hiking trip since things are calm in Rockton. When Casey hears a baby crying, she investigates and finds a murdered woman buried under the snow and an alive baby in her arms. While the town doesn’t allow anyone under eighteen in, the town must care for the baby while Casey and Eric work to solve another murder and try to find out where the baby came from.
Casey and Eric are well-developed characters. They must protect the townspeople while appeasing the council that runs Rockton from afar. Casey has a relentless drive to serve and protect the townspeople and find the murderer. She’s found a purpose and a true home in Rockton. While she can also be stubborn and sarcastic, she is also diplomatic when the situation calls for it. Eric is efficient, an excellent tracker, and intelligent. He constantly scans for trouble and is a trusted and strong leader who is tough and fair. While he is Rockton’s protector and advocate, he can be a little idealistic and stubborn. They’re relatable and easy to root for and like. Readers didn’t get much insight into Will in this story, but ex-Rockton sheriff Tyrone Cypher as well as ex-resident Maryanne make appearances.
Suspense, action, and a police investigation are combined with complex characters, multiple mysteries, and excellent world-building in this well-written and entertaining novel. Filled with murder, interpersonal relations, lies, deception, jealousy, and more, the author weaves a tale with plenty of twists, turns, and surprises. The narrative provides plenty of opportunities for things to go wrong. A strong sense of place caused me to feel transported to northern Canada. The author is a superb storyteller who kept me on the edge of my seat. The complex and multilayered plot wraps up the loose ends. I enjoyed learning more about the first and second settlements as well as those people who are deemed wild and dangerous. However, the killer was too easily discerned.
I first heard of this series when book seven was released. I read it as well as the books that have been released in the Haven’s Rock spin-off series. I’m now reading the first six books in this series. It helps to read the books in order as there are quite a few characters, but the main ones are recurring making it easy to keep track of the new ones.
Overall, this was suspenseful, entertaining, and well-written, with a multilayered plot, fantastic atmosphere, and excellent characterization that kept me engaged throughout. As always, it took this reader on a compelling journey with excellent imagery and tied the subplots together well. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
I purchased a copy of this novel. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
-----------------------------------------
My 4.48 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
June 5, 2020
And baby makes three....
I’m officially back on board! After giving up on this series after 3 books, I honestly didn’t think I’d return to the secluded, locked down village of Rockton. Well gang, here I am! Once again visiting the land of dangerous criminals and those running for their lives.
Casey and Eric are taking some time away from Rockton. A vacation of sorts. Well, actually just a weekend camping trip. Ah, the serenity of the great outdoors. Or not! Casey stumbles across the body of a young woman. And In her arms is a baby, hours away from death herself.
Since Casey is the chief detective for Rockton and Eric is the Sheriff, they bear the responsibility of finding the family of the newborn. Does she possibly belong to one of the outlying settlements? Or a worse fate... maybe the hostiles? Are they willing to just hand over the baby if they suspect her life could still be in jeopardy?
A rapid-fire thriller that takes you into the lives of those living off the grid. I can’t imagine living the way they do and seem to love. But then again, even glamping is a far stretch for me. Already looking forward to Kelley Armstrong’s next release!
A buddy read with Susanne! One we both thoroughly enjoyed and grateful we jumped back in!
Thank you to Minotaur Publishing.
I’m officially back on board! After giving up on this series after 3 books, I honestly didn’t think I’d return to the secluded, locked down village of Rockton. Well gang, here I am! Once again visiting the land of dangerous criminals and those running for their lives.
Casey and Eric are taking some time away from Rockton. A vacation of sorts. Well, actually just a weekend camping trip. Ah, the serenity of the great outdoors. Or not! Casey stumbles across the body of a young woman. And In her arms is a baby, hours away from death herself.
Since Casey is the chief detective for Rockton and Eric is the Sheriff, they bear the responsibility of finding the family of the newborn. Does she possibly belong to one of the outlying settlements? Or a worse fate... maybe the hostiles? Are they willing to just hand over the baby if they suspect her life could still be in jeopardy?
A rapid-fire thriller that takes you into the lives of those living off the grid. I can’t imagine living the way they do and seem to love. But then again, even glamping is a far stretch for me. Already looking forward to Kelley Armstrong’s next release!
A buddy read with Susanne! One we both thoroughly enjoyed and grateful we jumped back in!
Thank you to Minotaur Publishing.
February 3, 2020
There are three stars in the Rockton series, the impossible non-existing town of Rockton, the irascible (such a mild term) Sheriff Eric Dalton and his detective Casey Duncan, and the Yukon forest surrounding Rockton. All are always present in the series, but in Alone in the Wild the Yukon forest takes center stage
Rockton is the very small, extremely off the grid little town somewhere in the Yukon. It is protected from detection by advanced technology and from the impossibility that it actually exists. It was started over sixty years ago to provide sanctuary from those wrong accused, convicted, or pursued by government gone crazy. It then morphed into a sanctuary for other victims. Recently the ruling outside council realized it could make some big bucks by accepting white collar criminals; and then a few serious crazies with very big bucks.
Life in Rockton is fairly primitive, but somewhat sophisticated too. It’s also a place where people can reinvent themselves. The 90 pound weakling is now a hunky carpenter. The demure grade school teacher is now a foul-mouthed witch; and the respected psychologist has turned madam. But she still accepts an occasional patient.
Then there is the Yukon boreal forest. Life in the forest is mad, bad and dangerous; also extremely gorgeous and rewarding if you pay attention.
In Rockton there are certain immutable laws. Do not ever leave the confines of Rockton unless you are in a guided group. If you are in the forest always treat the settlers with respect and do not purposely trespass on their hunting grounds. Avoid any contact with the hostiles and good luck surviving if contact is made. They kill first, eat later. Okay that last was only a nasty, probably unfounded rumor.
Another rule, no one under eighteen is allowed in Rockton. Eric has been the only exception in almost 70 years as a well meaning Rockton couple kidnapped/rescued him from the forest. A serious matter of perspective still having repercussions.
On a quick camping trip for some down time and for training the young dogs Storm and Raoul, Casey discovers the body of a murdered woman and a baby sheltered by the woman’s body.
Eric and Casey's puppy Storm reigns supreme in Rockton. Imagine how a newborn electrifies Rockton; with most of its residents not having seen a baby in years. The baby also results in Eric and Casey confronting some difficult issues in their deepening relationship.
All those rules I mentioned earlier, Eric, Casey and Will are the only ones who can usually safely break them as they forced to do in their search for the woman’s killer and the baby’s parents. Eric and Casey are forced deeper into the woods with more and more contact with settlers, hostiles, and the nomads who survive in the world between. Their contact with these inhabitants has been a fascinating study of the realpolitik of the world in a virtually unknown world.
I have been fascinated by intricate, fascinating Rockton world building from the very first book, City of the Lost. Alone in the Wild has continued tradition, this time encompassing the forest, the settlers, and providing some unexpected answers concerning the hostiles.
The problem with the forest taking center stage, there is not near enough time spent in Rockton or with the people who live there.
As always in a Rockton book there is the fine writing, inventive story-lines, characters you want to invite into your life. There is also that lovely mysterious world, the impossible non-existing small town set in one of the most stunning hostile environments on earth. Most of all there is the compassion and tenderness underlying it all. This is what will stay with the reader the longest.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Rockton is the very small, extremely off the grid little town somewhere in the Yukon. It is protected from detection by advanced technology and from the impossibility that it actually exists. It was started over sixty years ago to provide sanctuary from those wrong accused, convicted, or pursued by government gone crazy. It then morphed into a sanctuary for other victims. Recently the ruling outside council realized it could make some big bucks by accepting white collar criminals; and then a few serious crazies with very big bucks.
Life in Rockton is fairly primitive, but somewhat sophisticated too. It’s also a place where people can reinvent themselves. The 90 pound weakling is now a hunky carpenter. The demure grade school teacher is now a foul-mouthed witch; and the respected psychologist has turned madam. But she still accepts an occasional patient.
Then there is the Yukon boreal forest. Life in the forest is mad, bad and dangerous; also extremely gorgeous and rewarding if you pay attention.
In Rockton there are certain immutable laws. Do not ever leave the confines of Rockton unless you are in a guided group. If you are in the forest always treat the settlers with respect and do not purposely trespass on their hunting grounds. Avoid any contact with the hostiles and good luck surviving if contact is made. They kill first, eat later. Okay that last was only a nasty, probably unfounded rumor.
Another rule, no one under eighteen is allowed in Rockton. Eric has been the only exception in almost 70 years as a well meaning Rockton couple kidnapped/rescued him from the forest. A serious matter of perspective still having repercussions.
On a quick camping trip for some down time and for training the young dogs Storm and Raoul, Casey discovers the body of a murdered woman and a baby sheltered by the woman’s body.
Eric and Casey's puppy Storm reigns supreme in Rockton. Imagine how a newborn electrifies Rockton; with most of its residents not having seen a baby in years. The baby also results in Eric and Casey confronting some difficult issues in their deepening relationship.
All those rules I mentioned earlier, Eric, Casey and Will are the only ones who can usually safely break them as they forced to do in their search for the woman’s killer and the baby’s parents. Eric and Casey are forced deeper into the woods with more and more contact with settlers, hostiles, and the nomads who survive in the world between. Their contact with these inhabitants has been a fascinating study of the realpolitik of the world in a virtually unknown world.
I have been fascinated by intricate, fascinating Rockton world building from the very first book, City of the Lost. Alone in the Wild has continued tradition, this time encompassing the forest, the settlers, and providing some unexpected answers concerning the hostiles.
The problem with the forest taking center stage, there is not near enough time spent in Rockton or with the people who live there.
As always in a Rockton book there is the fine writing, inventive story-lines, characters you want to invite into your life. There is also that lovely mysterious world, the impossible non-existing small town set in one of the most stunning hostile environments on earth. Most of all there is the compassion and tenderness underlying it all. This is what will stay with the reader the longest.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
July 8, 2020
4 Stars.
Rockton: It is an off the grid community in the Yukon where people who have deep dark secrets go to hide out in the Mountains. For better or worse, the residents are stuck with each other. Far from civilization and technology it is the perfect place to disappear.
Right about now, with what is going on in our world, Rockton kind of sounds like heaven.
In the Yukon however, things are never as peaceful as you’d like them to be. While out camping with Sheriff Eric Dalton, Casey Duncan hears a baby’s cry. To her, it seems impossible. There are no children in Rockton, and if there is one in the middle of the forest, it must be from the Hostiles or one of the Settlements, and to her, that means danger. Her instincts are correct when she finds the crying baby, wrapped in the arms of a dead woman.
It is up to Dalton and Casey to figure out what happened to the dead woman and try and locate the parents of the little one they are now caring for.
Tensions are high when Dalton and Casey get too close, making for quite the suspenseful read! “Alone in the Wild” is the fifth novel in the Rockton series by Kelley Armstrong. I missed the prior novel “Watcher in the Woods” (though I listened to the audiobook immediately after reading this novel and loved it) and am so glad that Kaceey and I got back into this series. It is wholly intriguing and I am fascinated by it and can’t wait to see what happens next.
This was a buddy read with Kaceey and we both really enjoyed it.
Thank you to Minotaur Books and Kelley Armstrong for the arc.
Published on Goodreads on 6.5.20.
Rockton: It is an off the grid community in the Yukon where people who have deep dark secrets go to hide out in the Mountains. For better or worse, the residents are stuck with each other. Far from civilization and technology it is the perfect place to disappear.
Right about now, with what is going on in our world, Rockton kind of sounds like heaven.
In the Yukon however, things are never as peaceful as you’d like them to be. While out camping with Sheriff Eric Dalton, Casey Duncan hears a baby’s cry. To her, it seems impossible. There are no children in Rockton, and if there is one in the middle of the forest, it must be from the Hostiles or one of the Settlements, and to her, that means danger. Her instincts are correct when she finds the crying baby, wrapped in the arms of a dead woman.
It is up to Dalton and Casey to figure out what happened to the dead woman and try and locate the parents of the little one they are now caring for.
Tensions are high when Dalton and Casey get too close, making for quite the suspenseful read! “Alone in the Wild” is the fifth novel in the Rockton series by Kelley Armstrong. I missed the prior novel “Watcher in the Woods” (though I listened to the audiobook immediately after reading this novel and loved it) and am so glad that Kaceey and I got back into this series. It is wholly intriguing and I am fascinated by it and can’t wait to see what happens next.
This was a buddy read with Kaceey and we both really enjoyed it.
Thank you to Minotaur Books and Kelley Armstrong for the arc.
Published on Goodreads on 6.5.20.
February 15, 2020
Sixth in this series, another to which I always look forward. Rockton, is a unique community and the setting of the Yukon is one to which I'm drawn. Enjoy seeing what these community members are up to, and what the new storyline will be. There have been some doozies.
In this outing Casey finds a dead woman, sheltering a very alive baby. Who the baby belongs to and who the dead women is, as well as who killer will set Eric, Casey and Storm on the hunt. We will see much more of the settlers, inside their settlements and some of their members will play an important part. We will also get a closer look at some of the hostiles, never a safe bet.
This series is an original one and the characters are a strange, mix, all have interesting backstories, though some are still not revealed. The storyline moves at a fast pace and the tension ratchets up as the story progresses. I eagerly await the next.
ARC from Netgalley.
In this outing Casey finds a dead woman, sheltering a very alive baby. Who the baby belongs to and who the dead women is, as well as who killer will set Eric, Casey and Storm on the hunt. We will see much more of the settlers, inside their settlements and some of their members will play an important part. We will also get a closer look at some of the hostiles, never a safe bet.
This series is an original one and the characters are a strange, mix, all have interesting backstories, though some are still not revealed. The storyline moves at a fast pace and the tension ratchets up as the story progresses. I eagerly await the next.
ARC from Netgalley.
February 24, 2020
You know what sounds like the best part of living out in the woods, off the grid?
Nothing. Nothing about this sounds remotely attractive. Not the dirt, wild animals, lack of electricity, lack of toilets, lack of internet, lack of cell phones, lack of grocery stores and restaurants and cars and Netflix.... again - nothing sounds fun about living in this environment. And, they are in the Yukon so it is also constantly snowing and they have that whole thing where it's sunny all the time half the year and dark all the time the other. I mean, if I had to live like this I would hope that I just immediately get killed by a bear.
Because bears will kill ya. First chance they get.
Consider it done. I'll just play dead until a bear finds me if I ever get stuck off the grid.
So this series is narrated by Casey, a homicide detective who ended up moving to this place in the Yukon that is a combination of Witness Protection and jail. They will keep you safe from the people who were trying to kill you in your old life, only to put you in danger from new people who may or may not want to kill you in your new one. You might be living next door to a mob snitch, or an abused wife, or a serial killer. It's like a game. Guess which neighbor will kill you and eat you if they get the chance? The answer might surprise you!
Oh, except for the bear neighbors. You don't need to guess where their heads are at.
This is why the town needed a homicide detective. Lots of murders for some reason. I mean, who'd have guessed that putting a bunch of victims and psychopaths together in a close environment without any comforts or basic distractions would result in killing?
But, for Casey, this has been a good thing. She found her own mountain man husband and is living the good life. Well, as good as it could be considering. I mean, again, I can't emphasize enough how disgusting and boring their lives are. I mean, are they pooping in buckets? It's not mentioned, but there are no flushing toilets. Something is happening in the situation, and whatever it is is not good.
So in this one Casey finds a baby that is in the woods next to a dead woman's body. The woman has been murdered and the baby left to die. Oh, I should mention that she and her man were out further in the woods, camping, when they found the baby. Yeah. Camping in the snow. As a vacation from... what? All the distractions of no internet or cell phones? These people's only luxury in life is that they have a roof over their heads and they need to get away from all of that for a while?
Or, maybe they are just looking for bears. That would make more sense.
It's better than their current entertainment. Which is nothing.
The book is spent looking for the murderer and the baby's family. It is complicated because although they live in a "town", there are manycrazies ... no "crazies" is the right word... in the woods. It's teaming with them. Like a giant bear buffet. And, these crazies are not exactly... sane... as you can guess... so, tough witnesses.
The craziness adds a little spice to the tacos.
Things move at a pretty slow pace sometimes in this book. Like when there are conversations or tasks being done that get a little boring. But, it's probably like a whirlwind to them. 'Wow, you're making coffee? Can I watch? Best reality show ever!"
There are other things that make up for that occasional slowness, though. This series is truly unique and so it's fun and unexpected most of the time. The H and h are also very likable characters. They are smart and sensible. (Wait, did I just say "smart and sensible" as good points? I should be a salesman. I'm missing my calling here.) The mystery unravels at a good pace and is twisty while being believable. Overall, I will read as many books as she puts out in this thing.
See? I can change lanes.
Nothing. Nothing about this sounds remotely attractive. Not the dirt, wild animals, lack of electricity, lack of toilets, lack of internet, lack of cell phones, lack of grocery stores and restaurants and cars and Netflix.... again - nothing sounds fun about living in this environment. And, they are in the Yukon so it is also constantly snowing and they have that whole thing where it's sunny all the time half the year and dark all the time the other. I mean, if I had to live like this I would hope that I just immediately get killed by a bear.
Because bears will kill ya. First chance they get.
Consider it done. I'll just play dead until a bear finds me if I ever get stuck off the grid.
So this series is narrated by Casey, a homicide detective who ended up moving to this place in the Yukon that is a combination of Witness Protection and jail. They will keep you safe from the people who were trying to kill you in your old life, only to put you in danger from new people who may or may not want to kill you in your new one. You might be living next door to a mob snitch, or an abused wife, or a serial killer. It's like a game. Guess which neighbor will kill you and eat you if they get the chance? The answer might surprise you!
Oh, except for the bear neighbors. You don't need to guess where their heads are at.
This is why the town needed a homicide detective. Lots of murders for some reason. I mean, who'd have guessed that putting a bunch of victims and psychopaths together in a close environment without any comforts or basic distractions would result in killing?
But, for Casey, this has been a good thing. She found her own mountain man husband and is living the good life. Well, as good as it could be considering. I mean, again, I can't emphasize enough how disgusting and boring their lives are. I mean, are they pooping in buckets? It's not mentioned, but there are no flushing toilets. Something is happening in the situation, and whatever it is is not good.
So in this one Casey finds a baby that is in the woods next to a dead woman's body. The woman has been murdered and the baby left to die. Oh, I should mention that she and her man were out further in the woods, camping, when they found the baby. Yeah. Camping in the snow. As a vacation from... what? All the distractions of no internet or cell phones? These people's only luxury in life is that they have a roof over their heads and they need to get away from all of that for a while?
Or, maybe they are just looking for bears. That would make more sense.
It's better than their current entertainment. Which is nothing.
The book is spent looking for the murderer and the baby's family. It is complicated because although they live in a "town", there are many
The craziness adds a little spice to the tacos.
Things move at a pretty slow pace sometimes in this book. Like when there are conversations or tasks being done that get a little boring. But, it's probably like a whirlwind to them. 'Wow, you're making coffee? Can I watch? Best reality show ever!"
There are other things that make up for that occasional slowness, though. This series is truly unique and so it's fun and unexpected most of the time. The H and h are also very likable characters. They are smart and sensible. (Wait, did I just say "smart and sensible" as good points? I should be a salesman. I'm missing my calling here.) The mystery unravels at a good pace and is twisty while being believable. Overall, I will read as many books as she puts out in this thing.
See? I can change lanes.
February 23, 2023
Alone in the Wild by Kelley Armstrong
Rockton / Casey Duncan series #5. Thriller. Best read in series order.
In the remote Alaskan town where people pay to hide from the world, children aren’t allowed. When Casey finds a live baby wrapped in the arms of a dead woman, her first instinct is to investigate, but she sets it aside to save the infant. Casey becomes the de facto mother while trying to track down the missing mother.
Casey and Eric discuss terms of “what if” as they do their jobs keeping the town safe.
Riveting with expanded characters from outside of town boundaries.
Rockton / Casey Duncan series #5. Thriller. Best read in series order.
In the remote Alaskan town where people pay to hide from the world, children aren’t allowed. When Casey finds a live baby wrapped in the arms of a dead woman, her first instinct is to investigate, but she sets it aside to save the infant. Casey becomes the de facto mother while trying to track down the missing mother.
Casey and Eric discuss terms of “what if” as they do their jobs keeping the town safe.
Riveting with expanded characters from outside of town boundaries.
October 31, 2022
Ahh, what to say. I get so sucked in, and then I am mad when I have to function in real life!
It was awesome to meet new characters outside of the settlement where most of this book occurs. It was great to get more info on the Hostiles and learn about the second settlement.
There are lots of interesting characters and some intensely emotional moments.
My main complaint is that we don't know what happened with 1: the hot tub, and 2: the other group heading towards Rockton...
There will be a book 6, at least yay! Too much ground to cover still. More Storm training to accomplish as well!
5 stars for me
My Take on the Rockton Series
#1 City of the Lost 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
#2 A Darkness Absolute 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
#3 This Fallen Prey 🌟🌟🌟🌟
#4 Watcher in the Woods 🌟🌟🌟🌟
#5 Alone in the Wild 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
#6 A Stranger in Town 🌟🌟🌟🌟
#7 The Deepest of Secrets 🌟🌟🌟
It was awesome to meet new characters outside of the settlement where most of this book occurs. It was great to get more info on the Hostiles and learn about the second settlement.
There are lots of interesting characters and some intensely emotional moments.
My main complaint is that we don't know what happened with 1: the hot tub, and 2: the other group heading towards Rockton...
There will be a book 6, at least yay! Too much ground to cover still. More Storm training to accomplish as well!
5 stars for me
My Take on the Rockton Series
#1 City of the Lost 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
#2 A Darkness Absolute 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
#3 This Fallen Prey 🌟🌟🌟🌟
#4 Watcher in the Woods 🌟🌟🌟🌟
#5 Alone in the Wild 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
#6 A Stranger in Town 🌟🌟🌟🌟
#7 The Deepest of Secrets 🌟🌟🌟
February 24, 2023
Somehow we're five books in (where exactly did all those years go?), and the Rockton series continues as strong as the day it first started.
Casey and Eric are finally enjoying some down time, when of course trouble finds them - in the form of a dead woman in the snow, holding a baby. It's a new challenge for the pair, and for Rockton, and the search for the baby's mother quickly proves that the Yukon hasn't run out of problems to throw at them yet.
We get a lot of exposure to the other communities in this book, and though there's some time spent in Rockton itself, I missed it a little. But I did appreciate the widening scope too - it feels like these characters are beginning to find their place in a wider whole, and that leaves a lot of room for future stories. The gentle spanner the baby throws into Casey and Eric's relationship was extremely well-handled, too - their relationship never takes over, but there are definitely questions they didn't think they'd need to face, and their emergence is given the attention it deserved.
These books always start with minor recaps, too, and as I get more forgetful (it's either aging or reading too much) I appreciate that a lot. This is one series that I don't mind rereading, and I haven't had any problem remembering the major plot points, but minor characters and their names? The bits of info dropped into the earlier chapters of these books are invaluable.
A strong series, and this is one of the better entries (though honestly, I'd say that about all five books, just for different reasons) - and it does stand alone, but if this sounds like something you'd enjoy, trust me and read the lot.
Casey and Eric are finally enjoying some down time, when of course trouble finds them - in the form of a dead woman in the snow, holding a baby. It's a new challenge for the pair, and for Rockton, and the search for the baby's mother quickly proves that the Yukon hasn't run out of problems to throw at them yet.
We get a lot of exposure to the other communities in this book, and though there's some time spent in Rockton itself, I missed it a little. But I did appreciate the widening scope too - it feels like these characters are beginning to find their place in a wider whole, and that leaves a lot of room for future stories. The gentle spanner the baby throws into Casey and Eric's relationship was extremely well-handled, too - their relationship never takes over, but there are definitely questions they didn't think they'd need to face, and their emergence is given the attention it deserved.
These books always start with minor recaps, too, and as I get more forgetful (it's either aging or reading too much) I appreciate that a lot. This is one series that I don't mind rereading, and I haven't had any problem remembering the major plot points, but minor characters and their names? The bits of info dropped into the earlier chapters of these books are invaluable.
A strong series, and this is one of the better entries (though honestly, I'd say that about all five books, just for different reasons) - and it does stand alone, but if this sounds like something you'd enjoy, trust me and read the lot.
February 5, 2020
I'm sad about this “low” rating because I had hoped book four was a fluke and this new book would recapture the magic of the first three installments. This is such a unique premise, with interesting characters, who have plenty of unlikeable and challenging personalities to bounce off of, along with the complicated situation of their living conditions, and it all just makes for fun and exciting and thrilling stories. But these last two..
This series is about an off-the-grid town in the Yukon, called Rockton. Rockton being a town populated by people who have escaped horrors, are on the run from something in their pasts, and have found a place where they can disappear for a few years. Sometimes, too, they are the ones who caused the horrors and just paid enough to a particular group in order to be admitted in order to lay low. Our lead protagonist is Casey Duncan, who arrived to this town to help her friend escape her ex, and has become one of the three detectives who help to police the outlaw-esque locals and keep the peace.
In this particular story, Casey discovers a baby in the woods, along with the body of a dead woman.. and discovers she was not the baby's mother. It's through communicating with the two local settlements, plus in speaking with a recluse, and a former hostile (someone who was once part of one of the nomad-esque tribes of.. well, hostile people), to track down who this woman is, where the baby's parents are, and.. well, lots of that, really. There's the politics of dealing with the settlements, trade negotiations, and just general complexities in navigating all that plus the wildlife and plus the harsh weather.
What I like about this series continues to be the characters, though some are forever a frustration, and again the setting is just so different. It's great to read a contemporary where detectives can't just google shit, there's no conveniences of the kind we're used to living with, and it's a very hard life but not without lots of positive things, too. This particular mystery forced Casey and her Sheriff pseudo-husband to talk about the possibility of children, and the complications therein, and it got a little emotional there at the end. But while I also appreciate that Armstrong uses her cast of characters, most who have never lived within a modern society or any place other than the wilderness, to explore particular discussions, ie, bias, prejudice, toxic masculinity, etc, this one felt really.. preachy. I don't know. Sometimes people who are too self-aware just get side eye from me.
So, yeah. Not my favourite. But the series itself is still one I enjoy. I do wonder if the particulars of some of what was brought up in this one means there's an end date coming for the series but who knows. This is the same author who had a thirteen book series, so. Anything goes.
I'll definitely read on! But this was not a favourite.
** I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
This series is about an off-the-grid town in the Yukon, called Rockton. Rockton being a town populated by people who have escaped horrors, are on the run from something in their pasts, and have found a place where they can disappear for a few years. Sometimes, too, they are the ones who caused the horrors and just paid enough to a particular group in order to be admitted in order to lay low. Our lead protagonist is Casey Duncan, who arrived to this town to help her friend escape her ex, and has become one of the three detectives who help to police the outlaw-esque locals and keep the peace.
In this particular story, Casey discovers a baby in the woods, along with the body of a dead woman.. and discovers she was not the baby's mother. It's through communicating with the two local settlements, plus in speaking with a recluse, and a former hostile (someone who was once part of one of the nomad-esque tribes of.. well, hostile people), to track down who this woman is, where the baby's parents are, and.. well, lots of that, really. There's the politics of dealing with the settlements, trade negotiations, and just general complexities in navigating all that plus the wildlife and plus the harsh weather.
What I like about this series continues to be the characters, though some are forever a frustration, and again the setting is just so different. It's great to read a contemporary where detectives can't just google shit, there's no conveniences of the kind we're used to living with, and it's a very hard life but not without lots of positive things, too. This particular mystery forced Casey and her Sheriff pseudo-husband to talk about the possibility of children, and the complications therein, and it got a little emotional there at the end. But while I also appreciate that Armstrong uses her cast of characters, most who have never lived within a modern society or any place other than the wilderness, to explore particular discussions, ie, bias, prejudice, toxic masculinity, etc, this one felt really.. preachy. I don't know. Sometimes people who are too self-aware just get side eye from me.
So, yeah. Not my favourite. But the series itself is still one I enjoy. I do wonder if the particulars of some of what was brought up in this one means there's an end date coming for the series but who knows. This is the same author who had a thirteen book series, so. Anything goes.
I'll definitely read on! But this was not a favourite.
** I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
December 22, 2020
4.5 Stars
Rockton is unknown to the general population, set up in the Yukon, off-the-grid, and a place formed for those on the run from danger. An abusive husband, a stalker, unfair conviction? Rockton is your place to hide until the dust settles. Supposedly inhabitants are vetted so that no violent criminals are allowed in, but in the past books we’ve learned that this isn’t true.
Eric, the Sherriff of Rockton and Casey, the town’s Homicide Detective are a close team working together to keep order, their residents safe, and to solve whatever crimes. However, they’re more than that, and have been almost from the start, and part of the big draw to this series for me is their romance. There’s no drama stemming from unnecessary relationship conflict, rather the drama is from the danger they face daily from residents, the Hostiles, or from the outside Settlements.
In Alone in the Wild Casey and Eric find a very young baby, clutched in the arms of a murdered woman. Was this baby taken from her family, and if so why? They need to find a killer as well, so they set off to find answers from the two Settlements, and Tyrone Cypher the former Sherriff of Rockton.
I’ve been eagerly looking forward to Alone in the Wild and was pleased to finally get answers about the Hostiles, and a glimpse into the lives of the Settlers, people who chose to stay in the area rather than go back home after their five years at Rockton were up. Were introduced to a few new, interesting characters and a couple that sent shivers done my spine, anticipating the threats and danger they may pose in the future. I think this installment really set things up for future dealings with the Settlements and maybe some interventions with the Hostiles?
Eric and Casey, as usual, make a phenomenal team, although there was a scene where I wanted to shake Casey for being reckless, but it was a minor annoyance. With being stuck with a baby, Casey and Eric faced some fears and made a plan for the future, whatever it may bring. I loved their approach!
Rockton is one of my all-time favorite series’ and Alone in the Wild was another riveting installment fans won’t want to miss! If you haven’t tried this series yet, I highly recommend it! For audio book junkies (like myself) the audios of Rockton are amazing! The talented Therese Plummer narrates, and I’ll be buying a copy to start on Thursday with the hubby (he’s a huge fan of the series, too!).
A copy was kindly provided by Minotaur Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Rockton is unknown to the general population, set up in the Yukon, off-the-grid, and a place formed for those on the run from danger. An abusive husband, a stalker, unfair conviction? Rockton is your place to hide until the dust settles. Supposedly inhabitants are vetted so that no violent criminals are allowed in, but in the past books we’ve learned that this isn’t true.
Eric, the Sherriff of Rockton and Casey, the town’s Homicide Detective are a close team working together to keep order, their residents safe, and to solve whatever crimes. However, they’re more than that, and have been almost from the start, and part of the big draw to this series for me is their romance. There’s no drama stemming from unnecessary relationship conflict, rather the drama is from the danger they face daily from residents, the Hostiles, or from the outside Settlements.
In Alone in the Wild Casey and Eric find a very young baby, clutched in the arms of a murdered woman. Was this baby taken from her family, and if so why? They need to find a killer as well, so they set off to find answers from the two Settlements, and Tyrone Cypher the former Sherriff of Rockton.
I’ve been eagerly looking forward to Alone in the Wild and was pleased to finally get answers about the Hostiles, and a glimpse into the lives of the Settlers, people who chose to stay in the area rather than go back home after their five years at Rockton were up. Were introduced to a few new, interesting characters and a couple that sent shivers done my spine, anticipating the threats and danger they may pose in the future. I think this installment really set things up for future dealings with the Settlements and maybe some interventions with the Hostiles?
Eric and Casey, as usual, make a phenomenal team, although there was a scene where I wanted to shake Casey for being reckless, but it was a minor annoyance. With being stuck with a baby, Casey and Eric faced some fears and made a plan for the future, whatever it may bring. I loved their approach!
Rockton is one of my all-time favorite series’ and Alone in the Wild was another riveting installment fans won’t want to miss! If you haven’t tried this series yet, I highly recommend it! For audio book junkies (like myself) the audios of Rockton are amazing! The talented Therese Plummer narrates, and I’ll be buying a copy to start on Thursday with the hubby (he’s a huge fan of the series, too!).
A copy was kindly provided by Minotaur Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 7, 2020
I was going to give this 4.5-4.75 stars, then I thought what the hell, just round up to 5. This book was very ‘Rockton’, in other words - addictive, frantic and so gripping. Casey and Dalton are finally having a well earned break, a weekend camping trip, when Casey hears a scream. After discarding all the other options it dawn on her that it sounded like a small human. So she has no choice but to investigate. She finds a young woman dead, in a pool of blood and the sounds are coming from inside her coat. There is a baby hidden within. What? How? Why? Who? All good questions but with no immediate opportunity for answers all she and Dalton can do is take them both back to Rockton.
The woman, it seems was shot. She looks like a hostile but that doesn’t compute with having a baby. Casey’s sister conducts an autopsy and informs them that the dead woman is not the mother, she has never had a child. Who does the baby belong to?
This conundrum is what takes up the rest of the book and Casey and Dalton trek from settlement 1 then go to find some traders then to settlement 2 all the while being lied to. The tension builds as the net tightens. The Rockton officers just want to find the child’s parents and return her but self interest, intrigue, greed and lust make that undertaking harder and much more dangerous than it should have been. A tragic story all round. But Ms Armstrong PLEASE put us out of our misery soon and tell us - is that the end or should we expect another instalment? I can handle it, really 🤪😖😖😫, I just need to know.
The woman, it seems was shot. She looks like a hostile but that doesn’t compute with having a baby. Casey’s sister conducts an autopsy and informs them that the dead woman is not the mother, she has never had a child. Who does the baby belong to?
This conundrum is what takes up the rest of the book and Casey and Dalton trek from settlement 1 then go to find some traders then to settlement 2 all the while being lied to. The tension builds as the net tightens. The Rockton officers just want to find the child’s parents and return her but self interest, intrigue, greed and lust make that undertaking harder and much more dangerous than it should have been. A tragic story all round. But Ms Armstrong PLEASE put us out of our misery soon and tell us - is that the end or should we expect another instalment? I can handle it, really 🤪😖😖😫, I just need to know.
January 20, 2020
I adore this series! Full review to come closer to release date.
*EDITED TO ADD REVIEW*
4.5 Stars!
I adore this quirky little town with all it's quirky residents and most of all, the weird relationships and settlements that just simply work.
This might be a quiet little backwoods town but the residents themselves are anything but sleepy and still and the danger literally lurks around every corner. You just never know what you will get, who will show up next or even worse, who will be dead next.
This series is just so much fun. The mystery always keeps me on my toes and Armstrong never disappoints with what craziness can happen next.
I love that this installment delved deeper into not only Casey and Eric's relationship and past but the past of Rockton as well. We finally get more information about the Settlements and the Hostiles. It was fascinating, enthralling, and I just wanted more. And even with all the information we received, Armstrong still left just enough unsaid and undone to leave us wanting more and forming more questions and theories about it all.
This series just keeps being entertaining, delightful and truly unlike anything I have ever encountered before.
A stand out, town full of stand out characters that demand attention, respect, and so much more. I once again, will be eagerly awaiting the next release.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
*EDITED TO ADD REVIEW*
4.5 Stars!
I adore this quirky little town with all it's quirky residents and most of all, the weird relationships and settlements that just simply work.
This might be a quiet little backwoods town but the residents themselves are anything but sleepy and still and the danger literally lurks around every corner. You just never know what you will get, who will show up next or even worse, who will be dead next.
This series is just so much fun. The mystery always keeps me on my toes and Armstrong never disappoints with what craziness can happen next.
I love that this installment delved deeper into not only Casey and Eric's relationship and past but the past of Rockton as well. We finally get more information about the Settlements and the Hostiles. It was fascinating, enthralling, and I just wanted more. And even with all the information we received, Armstrong still left just enough unsaid and undone to leave us wanting more and forming more questions and theories about it all.
This series just keeps being entertaining, delightful and truly unlike anything I have ever encountered before.
A stand out, town full of stand out characters that demand attention, respect, and so much more. I once again, will be eagerly awaiting the next release.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
February 4, 2020
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
This was fantastic! I have been a big fan of Kelley Armstrong's Rockton series for quite some time so I was pretty eager to get my grubby hands on this newest installment. I went into this book with extremely high expectations and I was not disappointed. This book grabbed my interest in the first few pages and never let go. I had an incredibly hard time setting the book down anytime life got in the way. I enjoyed every moment that I spent reading this book.
This is the fifth book in the Rockton series which I think is best read in order. Casey and Eric want some time alone together so they take a quick camping trip. While Eric is off hunting, Casey hears a noise and discovers an infant in the arms of a dead woman buried in the snow. Casey needs to not only solve the murder of the dead woman but find out if someone is looking for the baby all while trying to care for the infant.
This was a wonderful and complex mystery. There were so many pieces of the puzzle that needed to be found in order to really see the big picture. I liked getting the chance to go along with Eric and Casey as they visited some of the other groups that live near Rockton. There were a lot of twists and turns in this story and I was never quite sure what would happen next. At times, it almost felt like the more I learned the less I knew as a new piece of information would negate everything I thought I had figured out.
The story was exciting and there were a few times that I was rather worried about how things might turn out. I love the fact that their dog, Storm, is a constant companion and a rather large part of the story who gets some excitement of her own. We also get the chance to learn a few things about some of the residents of Rockton and it was entertaining to see how a baby could shake things up.
I would highly recommend this series to others. This is a very well done and original series with likable yet flawed characters. I cannot wait to read more of this wonderful series!
I received a digital review copy of this book from St. Martin's Press - Minotaur Books via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts
This is probably somewhere between a 4 and 5 star read for me. I am going to go with 4 for now but may bump it up after I have some time to think about it. Obviously, I liked the book quite a bit which isn't a huge surprise since I have been a fan of the series since the start. Casey and Eric go on a camping trip together with their dog, Storm, and find an infant under a layer of snow in the arms of a dead woman. I knew from the start that Casey would have quite the mystery to solve in this book. Much of this story takes place in the wilderness outside of Rockton and I enjoyed getting to know more about the other groups sharing the area. I thought that the mystery was well done and it was fun to see both Casey and Eric dealing with an infant. I thought that this was a very well done addition to the series.
This was fantastic! I have been a big fan of Kelley Armstrong's Rockton series for quite some time so I was pretty eager to get my grubby hands on this newest installment. I went into this book with extremely high expectations and I was not disappointed. This book grabbed my interest in the first few pages and never let go. I had an incredibly hard time setting the book down anytime life got in the way. I enjoyed every moment that I spent reading this book.
This is the fifth book in the Rockton series which I think is best read in order. Casey and Eric want some time alone together so they take a quick camping trip. While Eric is off hunting, Casey hears a noise and discovers an infant in the arms of a dead woman buried in the snow. Casey needs to not only solve the murder of the dead woman but find out if someone is looking for the baby all while trying to care for the infant.
This was a wonderful and complex mystery. There were so many pieces of the puzzle that needed to be found in order to really see the big picture. I liked getting the chance to go along with Eric and Casey as they visited some of the other groups that live near Rockton. There were a lot of twists and turns in this story and I was never quite sure what would happen next. At times, it almost felt like the more I learned the less I knew as a new piece of information would negate everything I thought I had figured out.
The story was exciting and there were a few times that I was rather worried about how things might turn out. I love the fact that their dog, Storm, is a constant companion and a rather large part of the story who gets some excitement of her own. We also get the chance to learn a few things about some of the residents of Rockton and it was entertaining to see how a baby could shake things up.
I would highly recommend this series to others. This is a very well done and original series with likable yet flawed characters. I cannot wait to read more of this wonderful series!
I received a digital review copy of this book from St. Martin's Press - Minotaur Books via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts
This is probably somewhere between a 4 and 5 star read for me. I am going to go with 4 for now but may bump it up after I have some time to think about it. Obviously, I liked the book quite a bit which isn't a huge surprise since I have been a fan of the series since the start. Casey and Eric go on a camping trip together with their dog, Storm, and find an infant under a layer of snow in the arms of a dead woman. I knew from the start that Casey would have quite the mystery to solve in this book. Much of this story takes place in the wilderness outside of Rockton and I enjoyed getting to know more about the other groups sharing the area. I thought that the mystery was well done and it was fun to see both Casey and Eric dealing with an infant. I thought that this was a very well done addition to the series.
February 3, 2020
When this book showed up at NetGalley months ago, I read it that same day. I am rather lazy about writing reviews, however, and am penning this just a week before publication. However, not only do I have good recall when it comes to whatever I read, but this book, and this series, well, it has taken a special place in my heart. I love this series and will be heartbroken when it comes to an end.
Rockton is a very unusual town. You go there if you need an escape. You may be a criminal. You may be an ex-con. You may be running from an abusive spouse. So, the town is a haven of sorts. You aren't moving there forever; it is just a respite. There are no cell phones, internet, ordinary mail even. No electricity. The town's council lets you in and the town council lets you out.
All of that was to familiarize anyone jumping into this series with this book, Alone in the Wild. I have read all of the books in the series thus far, City of the Lost. A Darkness Absolute, This Fallen Prey and Watcher in the Woods. It is an undeniable fact that I am enamored with it. Oh, I think I said that already.
Our main players are Detective Casey Duncan and Sheriff Eric Dalton. In this book, Casey and Eric are out on a rare camping vacation and Casey hears a baby crying. It takes them a while to locate the sound, and when they do, they find the mother dead, but the squealing baby is lying in her arms.
Not only must residents in this unique town figure out how to care for the baby , Casey and Eric must try and figure out who the woman was. In so doing, they unearth another group of people and the danger escalates at a rapid pace.
I literally could not put this book down. Whether the scenes were involving Casey and Eric's relationship as a couple making decisions about their future, or what the fate of the baby would be, or other town's members and the state of the town itself, it was all captivating. And, then the fact of the mystery itself lending a lot of weight in this book, well, it was another winner for me.
I have now read six books by Kelley Armstrong, and realize this is nothing. She is quite prolific and has written quite a few series. For me, however, I want more of Rockton.
Many thanks Minotaur Books and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
Rockton is a very unusual town. You go there if you need an escape. You may be a criminal. You may be an ex-con. You may be running from an abusive spouse. So, the town is a haven of sorts. You aren't moving there forever; it is just a respite. There are no cell phones, internet, ordinary mail even. No electricity. The town's council lets you in and the town council lets you out.
All of that was to familiarize anyone jumping into this series with this book, Alone in the Wild. I have read all of the books in the series thus far, City of the Lost. A Darkness Absolute, This Fallen Prey and Watcher in the Woods. It is an undeniable fact that I am enamored with it. Oh, I think I said that already.
Our main players are Detective Casey Duncan and Sheriff Eric Dalton. In this book, Casey and Eric are out on a rare camping vacation and Casey hears a baby crying. It takes them a while to locate the sound, and when they do, they find the mother dead, but the squealing baby is lying in her arms.
Not only must residents in this unique town figure out how to care for the baby , Casey and Eric must try and figure out who the woman was. In so doing, they unearth another group of people and the danger escalates at a rapid pace.
I literally could not put this book down. Whether the scenes were involving Casey and Eric's relationship as a couple making decisions about their future, or what the fate of the baby would be, or other town's members and the state of the town itself, it was all captivating. And, then the fact of the mystery itself lending a lot of weight in this book, well, it was another winner for me.
I have now read six books by Kelley Armstrong, and realize this is nothing. She is quite prolific and has written quite a few series. For me, however, I want more of Rockton.
Many thanks Minotaur Books and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
December 16, 2019
The Rockton series is one of my favorites! I eagerly await each new book in this series. Alone in the Wild is the 5th book set in Rockton, a town absent from any maps where people go to get away from their problems. Far, far away. Rockton is in the Canadian wilderness and camouflaged so even airplanes flying over head can't see the town unless the pilots know it's there. No electricity. No internet. No contact with the outside world except for resupply trips. Rockton residents pay a lot of money for the privilege of disappearing. Some are running from danger. Others are criminals hiding from law enforcement. It makes Casey Duncan's job as local detective difficult at times. Her boyfriend Dalton is Rockton's sheriff. It's up to them to keep the residents safe. Sometimes that can be difficult and incredibly dangerous.
In this newest book, Casey and Dalton take a much needed rest. Things have been quiet in Rockton for months and residents are busy preparing for Christmas. So, they take a two day camping trip to get a break. When Casey discovers a baby in the forest buried in the snow with a dead woman, she and Dalton realize they need to discover the identity of the woman in order to find the child's family. Their main goal is to return the baby to its people, and to discover what happened.
This series is best read in order to fully understand the setting and the characters. Plus the plot refers to events from previous books a few times. Definite spoilers if a reader hasn't read the earlier books first.
Great read! I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The plot is engaging, well-written and suspenseful. Another great visit to Rockton! I can't wait for the next book!
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from St. Martin's Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
In this newest book, Casey and Dalton take a much needed rest. Things have been quiet in Rockton for months and residents are busy preparing for Christmas. So, they take a two day camping trip to get a break. When Casey discovers a baby in the forest buried in the snow with a dead woman, she and Dalton realize they need to discover the identity of the woman in order to find the child's family. Their main goal is to return the baby to its people, and to discover what happened.
This series is best read in order to fully understand the setting and the characters. Plus the plot refers to events from previous books a few times. Definite spoilers if a reader hasn't read the earlier books first.
Great read! I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The plot is engaging, well-written and suspenseful. Another great visit to Rockton! I can't wait for the next book!
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from St. Martin's Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
October 26, 2019
Looking once again to create all the fun and intrigue of the past four books in this series, I was very happy to receive an advanced copy of this book. Once again, I was not disappointed as I followed the adventures of Casey and Dalton, as they root out evil from a faraway place called Rockton. It was to be another exciting ride into the wilds of the Yukon and one in which many of the strange but somehow alluring characters reappear.
How could one hear a baby's cry in the woods of the inhospitable Yukon? As Casey and Dalton were away for a bit of a vacation from the frantic pace of Rockton and its many nefarious residents, Casey hears something. It couldn't be a baby, it must be an animal. However, upon tracking the sound Casey not only finds a baby, but also a dead woman covering the infant as a last attempt to keep it safe.
The mystery begins as both Casey and Dalton wonder where this child came from, who are the parents, and how could anyone leave an infant to such a fate? As they search and delve into this event, more about the outer settlements from Rockton are revealed and we begin to understand the way of life in the frozen wild is indeed very different from the world we know.
Once again, Kelley Armstrong has written an intriguing story that keeps the momentum going in this series. Her characters, many of which were definitely odious in their past lives, are seen in a light that, while not always complimentary, makes them people that we come to know and perhaps even like. She reveals more and more of her main characters's personalities, and the love story between Casey and Dalton adds a bit of spice to the tale.
If you have read the other four books, you definitely need to set time aside for this one, as you will not be disappointed. It is a riveting gripping tale that grabs you from the onset to the very last page. If you are looking for a terrific captivating series then this series is definitely recommended.
Thank you to Kelley Armstrong, St Martin's Press, and NetGalley for a copy of this absorbing tale. This book is due out February 4, 2020
My review and an interview with the author about this series can be seen here: http://yayareadslotsofbooks.wordpress...
How could one hear a baby's cry in the woods of the inhospitable Yukon? As Casey and Dalton were away for a bit of a vacation from the frantic pace of Rockton and its many nefarious residents, Casey hears something. It couldn't be a baby, it must be an animal. However, upon tracking the sound Casey not only finds a baby, but also a dead woman covering the infant as a last attempt to keep it safe.
The mystery begins as both Casey and Dalton wonder where this child came from, who are the parents, and how could anyone leave an infant to such a fate? As they search and delve into this event, more about the outer settlements from Rockton are revealed and we begin to understand the way of life in the frozen wild is indeed very different from the world we know.
Once again, Kelley Armstrong has written an intriguing story that keeps the momentum going in this series. Her characters, many of which were definitely odious in their past lives, are seen in a light that, while not always complimentary, makes them people that we come to know and perhaps even like. She reveals more and more of her main characters's personalities, and the love story between Casey and Dalton adds a bit of spice to the tale.
If you have read the other four books, you definitely need to set time aside for this one, as you will not be disappointed. It is a riveting gripping tale that grabs you from the onset to the very last page. If you are looking for a terrific captivating series then this series is definitely recommended.
Thank you to Kelley Armstrong, St Martin's Press, and NetGalley for a copy of this absorbing tale. This book is due out February 4, 2020
My review and an interview with the author about this series can be seen here: http://yayareadslotsofbooks.wordpress...
February 4, 2020
Rockton - secluded, secretive and always full of surprises. A tiny town in the Yukon where the most desperate people go to hide. Now the Yukon forest has another hidden surprise for Casey Duncan: a baby.
Alone in the Wild is the fifth in the Rockton series by author Kelley Armstrong. Centering around the town of Rockton, a secret fortress hidden in the vast Yukon forest, it is a place for those who need or can afford extreme hiding. Some of its residents are victims, some are those who have committed the crime but all of the Rockton residents are colorful, interesting nd not always law abiding. Casey Duncan and her life partner, the hard-assed sheriff, do their best to keep everyone safe - from one another, "the settlers" who have chosen to live outside of Rockton and from the "hostiles," those who have de-evolved while living in the wild.
When Casey discovers the baby under the coat of a dead "hostile" woman, she begins to search for the murderer and the baby's parents. Moral questions arise about the capability of the parents, whoever they may be, of caring for a baby through the Yukon winter. Casey's search takes her directly into the "hostile" camps, to the trailers of those who sell and trade with the "hostiles" and the "settlers" and the "settler" camps themselves. Those who have followed this series finally get a full picture of the life these outcast groups live, how they interact with one another and a deeper look into some of the Rockton residents themselves.
As an avid follower of Kelley Armstrong and the town of Rockton, I found Alone in the Wild to be one of the best written books in this series. Questions that we have had from the beginning are answered and the people, themselves, became fuller and more fleshed out. While it has been suggested that Alone in the Wild could be read as a stand-alone, I heartily disagree. Each book in this series picks up where the previous book left off and, if you are not familiar with the characters, the town and the back-story, you will be more confused than necessary than if you start at the beginning. The characters grow and change, as does the town of Rockton itself. I highly recommend Alone in the Wild for those who like improbable locations and quirky characters.
Alone in the Wild is the fifth in the Rockton series by author Kelley Armstrong. Centering around the town of Rockton, a secret fortress hidden in the vast Yukon forest, it is a place for those who need or can afford extreme hiding. Some of its residents are victims, some are those who have committed the crime but all of the Rockton residents are colorful, interesting nd not always law abiding. Casey Duncan and her life partner, the hard-assed sheriff, do their best to keep everyone safe - from one another, "the settlers" who have chosen to live outside of Rockton and from the "hostiles," those who have de-evolved while living in the wild.
When Casey discovers the baby under the coat of a dead "hostile" woman, she begins to search for the murderer and the baby's parents. Moral questions arise about the capability of the parents, whoever they may be, of caring for a baby through the Yukon winter. Casey's search takes her directly into the "hostile" camps, to the trailers of those who sell and trade with the "hostiles" and the "settlers" and the "settler" camps themselves. Those who have followed this series finally get a full picture of the life these outcast groups live, how they interact with one another and a deeper look into some of the Rockton residents themselves.
As an avid follower of Kelley Armstrong and the town of Rockton, I found Alone in the Wild to be one of the best written books in this series. Questions that we have had from the beginning are answered and the people, themselves, became fuller and more fleshed out. While it has been suggested that Alone in the Wild could be read as a stand-alone, I heartily disagree. Each book in this series picks up where the previous book left off and, if you are not familiar with the characters, the town and the back-story, you will be more confused than necessary than if you start at the beginning. The characters grow and change, as does the town of Rockton itself. I highly recommend Alone in the Wild for those who like improbable locations and quirky characters.
February 15, 2020
I’m a big fan of this series, but I felt let down by this book. I hope I can explain why.
We learn a lot more about the groups of people who live in the woods. That can be a boost in the development of the story, but knowledge belays fear. Is there still something to fear from these people now?
There was a lot of sex in this book, including an old man from the woods coming to Rockton for that specific purpose and including Storm coming into heat. I understand the reasoning for presenting this. It’s to bring about a discussion of family, procreation. It’s looked at from several angles, like a couple with a child and a couple who might want one, and whether children are welcome or prohibited or wanted or thrown away. My problem is that this subject provides none of the tension or suspense that Rockton is known for.
Most of the story takes place outside of Rockton. Casey, Dalton, and Storm hold the focus for the majority of the book. There were appearances by many Rockton residents, but there just wasn’t enough time to spend with them.
After I looked back over my reviews of the previous books, I have to give this just 3 stars. I think it’s the weakest book in the series, and I wasn’t as engaged as before. I’m still hopeful for the next book!
We learn a lot more about the groups of people who live in the woods. That can be a boost in the development of the story, but knowledge belays fear. Is there still something to fear from these people now?
There was a lot of sex in this book, including an old man from the woods coming to Rockton for that specific purpose and including Storm coming into heat. I understand the reasoning for presenting this. It’s to bring about a discussion of family, procreation. It’s looked at from several angles, like a couple with a child and a couple who might want one, and whether children are welcome or prohibited or wanted or thrown away. My problem is that this subject provides none of the tension or suspense that Rockton is known for.
Most of the story takes place outside of Rockton. Casey, Dalton, and Storm hold the focus for the majority of the book. There were appearances by many Rockton residents, but there just wasn’t enough time to spend with them.
After I looked back over my reviews of the previous books, I have to give this just 3 stars. I think it’s the weakest book in the series, and I wasn’t as engaged as before. I’m still hopeful for the next book!
February 5, 2020
When I read "City of the Lost" when it was first published in 2016, I was immediately intrigued by the story concept and the characters involved. I did not think it was possible after reading that first book, but each successive book not only gripped me from the first page, but held me captive. There is always a complex puzzle, where pieces come in, do not quite fit, but build the story line at the same time. It isn't until the very end where it all comes together and always in unexpected, and sometimes shocking, ways. I love the main characters, Casey (a Detective from the outside world now living in Rockton) and Dalton (the Sheriff of Dalton), and how their relationship and understanding of each other has changed and grown. All the secondary characters are fascinating, have equal depth and add so much to each overall story. Little bits of the secondary characters lives are revealed with each book as well. But, the real stars of the stories still remain our main characters, Casey and Dalton. They are constantly working through their separate past lives, working through their past mistakes, and finding and strengthening their personal and professional partnership. All of this is happening while facing the challenges of their unique living situation in a town that is like no other, with residents that are fugitives, psychopaths, people fleeing life and death situations, or just hiding. Tip of the iceberg to what is really going on in the background. Of course that is just a little of what they face in the small, off the grid "settlement," and does not even cover the different types of "groups of people" who live in the woods surrounding them and how they affect the "residents" of Rockton. Oh yeah, and did I mention the murders they have to solve with no "expert" help of any kind using primitive methods? These books are so fabulous on so many levels. They truly are not be missed.
The Rockton Series by Kelley Armstrong quickly became one of the best series in murder/mysteries that I have ever read. As with all the books in this outstanding series, this latest book kept me glued to my Kindle non-stop until I finished it. Damn, that was good! Now, I have to wait, once again, for the next book in this mind-blowingly great series. Sigh. ;)
The Rockton Series by Kelley Armstrong quickly became one of the best series in murder/mysteries that I have ever read. As with all the books in this outstanding series, this latest book kept me glued to my Kindle non-stop until I finished it. Damn, that was good! Now, I have to wait, once again, for the next book in this mind-blowingly great series. Sigh. ;)
February 4, 2020
Alone in the Wild is book 5 in the Rockton/Casey Duncan series. This is a series. However the mysteries are self-contained to each book.
The books take place in a remote part of the Yukon. The narrator is 32 year old detective Casey (1st person POV).
This book takes place six months after the end of the last book.
Kelley Armstrong is one of my most favorite authors. I love this series so much. So I was beyond excited to get to read Alone in the Wild.
The beginning of this book was so good. Casey and Dalton are on a camping trip in the woods. She comes across something. What she finds is the main mystery in this book.
There are three groups of people that live around Rockton. There are the townspeople who actually live in Rockton. There are the settlers who live in the forest in organized communities. And there are the hostiles who are wild and live in the forest. These groups definitely all come into play in this book.
I love Rockton so much and enjoy seeing it in each book. However in Alone in the Wild much of the story takes place outside of Rockton in the forest. Although we still get to see all of our favorite characters. Plus a few new ones. I do wish that more of this book would have taken place in Rockton. But the story definitely dictated this development. And the book was still immensely enjoyable.
I am completely obsessed with Casey and Dalton. They are such an amazing duo. I love how they work together solving cases. But they are also a romantic couple. They go through some interesting things in Alone in the Wild. What fantastic and complex characters.
I love these characters. I love this town. And the mystery was so fascinating. The end was satisfying. There were a lot of amazing twists throughout the book. I really was not sure where the story was headed until the very end! What a great book!
I just saw that Kelley Armstrong said that she is currently working on Rockton 6. I could not be more excited about this news!
Thank you to netgalley and Minotaur books for allowing me to read this book! Kelley Armstrong is one of my absolute favorite authors. And I love this series so much. I am so excited to read this book!
The books take place in a remote part of the Yukon. The narrator is 32 year old detective Casey (1st person POV).
This book takes place six months after the end of the last book.
Kelley Armstrong is one of my most favorite authors. I love this series so much. So I was beyond excited to get to read Alone in the Wild.
The beginning of this book was so good. Casey and Dalton are on a camping trip in the woods. She comes across something. What she finds is the main mystery in this book.
There are three groups of people that live around Rockton. There are the townspeople who actually live in Rockton. There are the settlers who live in the forest in organized communities. And there are the hostiles who are wild and live in the forest. These groups definitely all come into play in this book.
I love Rockton so much and enjoy seeing it in each book. However in Alone in the Wild much of the story takes place outside of Rockton in the forest. Although we still get to see all of our favorite characters. Plus a few new ones. I do wish that more of this book would have taken place in Rockton. But the story definitely dictated this development. And the book was still immensely enjoyable.
I am completely obsessed with Casey and Dalton. They are such an amazing duo. I love how they work together solving cases. But they are also a romantic couple. They go through some interesting things in Alone in the Wild. What fantastic and complex characters.
I love these characters. I love this town. And the mystery was so fascinating. The end was satisfying. There were a lot of amazing twists throughout the book. I really was not sure where the story was headed until the very end! What a great book!
I just saw that Kelley Armstrong said that she is currently working on Rockton 6. I could not be more excited about this news!
Thank you to netgalley and Minotaur books for allowing me to read this book! Kelley Armstrong is one of my absolute favorite authors. And I love this series so much. I am so excited to read this book!
April 4, 2020
As much as I adore the adventures of Casey and Dalton, I have to admit some overall disappointment with this one. This book is my least favourite and, in my opinion doesn’t compare to the previous work in this series.
I felt like this one was intended to address unanswered questions and to set the reader up for the next instalment. Fingers crossed that the next Rockton book will, once again knock our socks off!
I felt like this one was intended to address unanswered questions and to set the reader up for the next instalment. Fingers crossed that the next Rockton book will, once again knock our socks off!
August 15, 2023
As the title suggests, a great deal of this fifth installment of the Rockton series, just like the fourth, is out there in the vast boreal forest of Canada's Yukon Territory, and in the snow of December no less, but our intrepid trio is scarcely alone most of the time. First-person narrator and homicide detective Casey Butler, her husband sheriff Eric Dalton, and their year-old Newfoundland still-a-puppy-at-heart are on a dual mission to find a murderer and to find the parents of the month-old baby who was cradled in the murder victim's arms.
It's the baby girl, I guess, who fits the title. Not only did the murderer leave her alive and alone out there in the forest, but she's a winter baby. The denizens of the forest, and we meet many of them, agree that their kind of life rules out raising a child through the first months of its life during the harsh Yukon winter. (Many of them, of course, rule out having children altogether.) Was this one abandoned, then, as a horrible mistake? The postmortem shows that the murder victim (identity unknown) wasn't the baby's mother, so had she stolen the child? But if the parents (identity unknown) killed her, why didn't they take their daughter with them?
Those forest denizens, who fill most of this story, amount to at least five sets of people. There are two groups of "settlers," who left Rockton decades ago. We've already visited the First Settlement, where Eric lived before the Daltons took him to Rockton, and Eric and Casey go there first while trusted Rockton residents care for the baby. Felicity, granddaughter of the head of the First Settlement, gets involved in the investigation. Now we discover the Second Settlement, quite different in tone from the First--more peaceful, more spiritual, with communal living in two longhouses. The two groups of settlers maintain peace mainly by shunning one another, but their youths have been getting together. Hmm.
Rockton residents, except for the sheriff and his team, are forbidden to go into the forest without explicit permission, and that's because of savage attacks from the "hostiles," individuals who strayed away from Rockton and became something warped and no longer human. Now Casey and Eric learn why they're that way (no spoiler here, sorry) and that there are at least two tightly knit, family-like "tribes" that the Second Settlement folks call "the wild people." One of them is brought back to Rockton to help identify the baby and her parents.
Interpersonal communication is a dicey affair throughout this adventure--it goes without saying that trust is minimal at best between Eric's team and the forest dwellers, and all their dialogue is fairly tense; but it's only as we get to know them well, especially in the Second Settlement, that the dual mysteries can be solved.
Accordingly, this novel features excellent character development all around; it left me feeling I had really stayed for a while in the Second Settlement, while familiar characters from earlier books go through some changes too in the Rockton scenes (also plentiful). And impressive development in both character and training is true of Casey's delightful dog Storm, who of course now outweighs her.
This was a splendid reading experience.
It's the baby girl, I guess, who fits the title. Not only did the murderer leave her alive and alone out there in the forest, but she's a winter baby. The denizens of the forest, and we meet many of them, agree that their kind of life rules out raising a child through the first months of its life during the harsh Yukon winter. (Many of them, of course, rule out having children altogether.) Was this one abandoned, then, as a horrible mistake? The postmortem shows that the murder victim (identity unknown) wasn't the baby's mother, so had she stolen the child? But if the parents (identity unknown) killed her, why didn't they take their daughter with them?
Those forest denizens, who fill most of this story, amount to at least five sets of people. There are two groups of "settlers," who left Rockton decades ago. We've already visited the First Settlement, where Eric lived before the Daltons took him to Rockton, and Eric and Casey go there first while trusted Rockton residents care for the baby. Felicity, granddaughter of the head of the First Settlement, gets involved in the investigation. Now we discover the Second Settlement, quite different in tone from the First--more peaceful, more spiritual, with communal living in two longhouses. The two groups of settlers maintain peace mainly by shunning one another, but their youths have been getting together. Hmm.
Rockton residents, except for the sheriff and his team, are forbidden to go into the forest without explicit permission, and that's because of savage attacks from the "hostiles," individuals who strayed away from Rockton and became something warped and no longer human. Now Casey and Eric learn why they're that way (no spoiler here, sorry) and that there are at least two tightly knit, family-like "tribes" that the Second Settlement folks call "the wild people." One of them is brought back to Rockton to help identify the baby and her parents.
Interpersonal communication is a dicey affair throughout this adventure--it goes without saying that trust is minimal at best between Eric's team and the forest dwellers, and all their dialogue is fairly tense; but it's only as we get to know them well, especially in the Second Settlement, that the dual mysteries can be solved.
Accordingly, this novel features excellent character development all around; it left me feeling I had really stayed for a while in the Second Settlement, while familiar characters from earlier books go through some changes too in the Rockton scenes (also plentiful). And impressive development in both character and training is true of Casey's delightful dog Storm, who of course now outweighs her.
This was a splendid reading experience.
February 4, 2020
In Alone in the Wild a murder-mystery and an infant soon have Casey and Eric searching for answers. This provides readers insight into the different factions and our main characters.
The town of Rockton doesn’t allow anyone under the age of eighteen, so caring for an infant had its issues. Meanwhile, Casey and Eric need to find out what happened. Does this child have a family? Who killed the woman they found murdered?
The case takes them away from Rockton with only clues from the woman’s body. Aside from the folks who live in Rockton, the other inhabitants of the area are the Settlers, who broke off and established their own communities or the Hostiles who live wild and are nomads.
It was interesting coming across these groups. We saw characters we knew and helped a few, we also met new characters and gained greater insight. It was exciting to see the world beyond Rockton, but make no mistake this was intense with plenty of danger and nail-biting suspense.
I adored seeing Casey and Eric with a small child as Armstrong peeled layers back exposing their thoughts, fears, and histories. She isn’t afraid to expose their flaws and I like that about her writing. The author was very good at helping the reader connect with and understand the others.
While each book in the series has a case with a beginning and an end, I think the reader would cheat themselves regarding character development, relationships and the town if they read this series out of order. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
The town of Rockton doesn’t allow anyone under the age of eighteen, so caring for an infant had its issues. Meanwhile, Casey and Eric need to find out what happened. Does this child have a family? Who killed the woman they found murdered?
The case takes them away from Rockton with only clues from the woman’s body. Aside from the folks who live in Rockton, the other inhabitants of the area are the Settlers, who broke off and established their own communities or the Hostiles who live wild and are nomads.
It was interesting coming across these groups. We saw characters we knew and helped a few, we also met new characters and gained greater insight. It was exciting to see the world beyond Rockton, but make no mistake this was intense with plenty of danger and nail-biting suspense.
I adored seeing Casey and Eric with a small child as Armstrong peeled layers back exposing their thoughts, fears, and histories. She isn’t afraid to expose their flaws and I like that about her writing. The author was very good at helping the reader connect with and understand the others.
While each book in the series has a case with a beginning and an end, I think the reader would cheat themselves regarding character development, relationships and the town if they read this series out of order. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
February 5, 2020
Simply perfect. I love this world. I love this series. I want to live in this author’s mind so the story never ends.
I can’t say enough good things. Then again, I wouldn’t expect less. Kelley Armstrong is simply an amazing storyteller.
This has to be one of my favorite series ever. (Side note- Bitten has to be the best shifter book ever written and I’ve read a lot. The series is awesome too).
Back to this series. Three of my one click series released today. I had to choice between Casey Duncan, Eve Dallas and Pendergast and I chose Casey. That’s saying a lot!!!
My only complaint is the story ended. I wanted to see ;) Eric’s face when he saw the hot tub.
The narrator is simple spot on.
I can’t say enough good things. Then again, I wouldn’t expect less. Kelley Armstrong is simply an amazing storyteller.
This has to be one of my favorite series ever. (Side note- Bitten has to be the best shifter book ever written and I’ve read a lot. The series is awesome too).
Back to this series. Three of my one click series released today. I had to choice between Casey Duncan, Eve Dallas and Pendergast and I chose Casey. That’s saying a lot!!!
My only complaint is the story ended. I wanted to see ;) Eric’s face when he saw the hot tub.
The narrator is simple spot on.
February 5, 2024
I continue to enjoy this Canadian police procedural series by Kelley Armstrong. Set in the northern community of Rockton, Yukon Territory, the novels offer strong mysteries and solid character development while providing clear descriptions of the surroundings. Armstrong has delved deeply into the local traditions, sentiments and happenings as law & order seeks to prevail with a ragtag group of residents. There is something for everyone with this piece, leaving me eager to see what Armstrong has in store for the final few novels in this collection.
New seasons in Rockton bring challenges and new opportunities to succeed. Detective Casey Duncan has grown to love the town since she arrived 16 months ago. With a number of residents who have fled their lives, a collective of outsiders living in the forest, and an ever-increasing tension between the two, nothing in and around Rockton is predictable.
While camping for a few days with her boyfriend, Sheriff Eric Dalton, Casey comes across a newborn buried in the snow, lying atop a dead woman who appears to have been murdered. While not a mother herself, Casey admits the wailing infant is too much to ignore and she rushes to help the little one while alerting Eric to the urgency.
In a town where the minimal age is eighteen, an infant definitely pushes the scales into the unknown. Casey is determined to find the family and see if they are missing a. baby or if it was a case of abandonment.
As Casey and Sheriff Dalton seek to locate the family, they discover a little more about the outsiders who live on the fray of Rockton, as well as some of the politics that involve the locals. The truth is more complex than it would seem, but Casey and Sheriff Dalton are also forced to address their relationship and the future plans they have yet to solidify. Armstrong does a masterful job at adding depth to the character development of her protagonists and inching things along for the locals.
Kelley Armstrong is an excellent storyteller who can communicate so effectively. She uses her great writing to keep the reader enthused. I enjoy her narrative perspective, which vividly portrays the struggles both with locating the infant’s family and the Casey/Eric analysis of their relationship. Each chapter brings great depth to the larger story and leaves the reader enjoying things ever more. With strong characters and great story arcs, this is once more a book well with the invested time.
There are great plot points that provide strong direction and the reader remains on the edge of their seats. Armstrong keeps things moving and does not leave the reader wondering as Rockton becomes more intriguing for the attentive reader. The action stays high as new characters emerge in town, providing additional perspectives on things as simple as living conditions and as complex as inter-personal relationships. I am eager to see what’s to come and how Casey will continue to set up roots
Kudos, Madam Armstrong, for an exiting series to keep enjoying.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
New seasons in Rockton bring challenges and new opportunities to succeed. Detective Casey Duncan has grown to love the town since she arrived 16 months ago. With a number of residents who have fled their lives, a collective of outsiders living in the forest, and an ever-increasing tension between the two, nothing in and around Rockton is predictable.
While camping for a few days with her boyfriend, Sheriff Eric Dalton, Casey comes across a newborn buried in the snow, lying atop a dead woman who appears to have been murdered. While not a mother herself, Casey admits the wailing infant is too much to ignore and she rushes to help the little one while alerting Eric to the urgency.
In a town where the minimal age is eighteen, an infant definitely pushes the scales into the unknown. Casey is determined to find the family and see if they are missing a. baby or if it was a case of abandonment.
As Casey and Sheriff Dalton seek to locate the family, they discover a little more about the outsiders who live on the fray of Rockton, as well as some of the politics that involve the locals. The truth is more complex than it would seem, but Casey and Sheriff Dalton are also forced to address their relationship and the future plans they have yet to solidify. Armstrong does a masterful job at adding depth to the character development of her protagonists and inching things along for the locals.
Kelley Armstrong is an excellent storyteller who can communicate so effectively. She uses her great writing to keep the reader enthused. I enjoy her narrative perspective, which vividly portrays the struggles both with locating the infant’s family and the Casey/Eric analysis of their relationship. Each chapter brings great depth to the larger story and leaves the reader enjoying things ever more. With strong characters and great story arcs, this is once more a book well with the invested time.
There are great plot points that provide strong direction and the reader remains on the edge of their seats. Armstrong keeps things moving and does not leave the reader wondering as Rockton becomes more intriguing for the attentive reader. The action stays high as new characters emerge in town, providing additional perspectives on things as simple as living conditions and as complex as inter-personal relationships. I am eager to see what’s to come and how Casey will continue to set up roots
Kudos, Madam Armstrong, for an exiting series to keep enjoying.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
November 6, 2025
This is a good one! What would you do if you found a murdered woman in the wilderness in the middle of the winter with a baby? How do you care for this infant without the resources needed and not only find her family who live in the woods but also find the one responsible for the woman's murder?
This book takes you on that journey, with so many twists that you feel as lost as the FMC trying to solve the above situation. The ending is unexpected but exactly what you need from this story. Add this to your TBR!
This book takes you on that journey, with so many twists that you feel as lost as the FMC trying to solve the above situation. The ending is unexpected but exactly what you need from this story. Add this to your TBR!
April 24, 2020
Alone in the Wild
3.5 Stars
While on a camping trip in the woods, Detective Casey Duncan stumbles across the body of a murdered woman half-buried in the snow with a crying baby in her arms. Soon Casey and her partner, Sheriff Eric Dalton, are on the trail of a vicious killer who has no qualms about leaving an innocent and helpless baby to freeze to death in the harsh winter of the Yukon.
In this latest installment in Armstrong's Rockton series, the murder investigation and search for the baby's parents serve as a catalyst for additional world-building. The revelation of the killer's identity and motive take a back seat to the more in-depth details about the various groups residing alongside the small isolated town. While this information is very intriguing, especially the practices and rivalries of the "settlers" and the "others", the lack of focus on the mystery is disappointing and diminishes the tension and suspense of the storyline.
Casey's internal musings on the effect motherhood, or the lack thereof, would have on her relationship with Eric are excessively repetitious. Yes, this is something they need to consider, but does it have to occupy Casey's every waking moment?
Despite these issues, the setting and characters are very appealing and I hope that Armstrong will be continuing with the series.
3.5 Stars
While on a camping trip in the woods, Detective Casey Duncan stumbles across the body of a murdered woman half-buried in the snow with a crying baby in her arms. Soon Casey and her partner, Sheriff Eric Dalton, are on the trail of a vicious killer who has no qualms about leaving an innocent and helpless baby to freeze to death in the harsh winter of the Yukon.
In this latest installment in Armstrong's Rockton series, the murder investigation and search for the baby's parents serve as a catalyst for additional world-building. The revelation of the killer's identity and motive take a back seat to the more in-depth details about the various groups residing alongside the small isolated town. While this information is very intriguing, especially the practices and rivalries of the "settlers" and the "others", the lack of focus on the mystery is disappointing and diminishes the tension and suspense of the storyline.
Casey's internal musings on the effect motherhood, or the lack thereof, would have on her relationship with Eric are excessively repetitious. Yes, this is something they need to consider, but does it have to occupy Casey's every waking moment?
Despite these issues, the setting and characters are very appealing and I hope that Armstrong will be continuing with the series.
February 3, 2020
Unique, mysterious, and incredibly atmospheric!
In this latest novel by Armstrong, Alone in the Wild, she transports us back to Rockton, Yukon, a small community of fugitives and victims who suddenly find themselves discombobulated by the sudden presence of a newborn baby discovered outside their village in the arms of a murdered stranger.
The writing is descriptive and tight. The plot is tense, action-packed and full of exploration, community, surprises, suspects, hostility, savagery, deduction, desperation, parenthood, and a little romance. And the characters are damaged, multi-layered, and quirky, with the setting being a character itself with its barren remoteness and isolation.
Overall, Alone in the Wild is the creative, intriguing, suspenseful fifth novel in the Rockton series and even though it can be enjoyed as a standalone story, I highly recommend reading the first four novels in the series to truly appreciate the ingenuity of the storyline.
Thank you to Minotaur Books for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
In this latest novel by Armstrong, Alone in the Wild, she transports us back to Rockton, Yukon, a small community of fugitives and victims who suddenly find themselves discombobulated by the sudden presence of a newborn baby discovered outside their village in the arms of a murdered stranger.
The writing is descriptive and tight. The plot is tense, action-packed and full of exploration, community, surprises, suspects, hostility, savagery, deduction, desperation, parenthood, and a little romance. And the characters are damaged, multi-layered, and quirky, with the setting being a character itself with its barren remoteness and isolation.
Overall, Alone in the Wild is the creative, intriguing, suspenseful fifth novel in the Rockton series and even though it can be enjoyed as a standalone story, I highly recommend reading the first four novels in the series to truly appreciate the ingenuity of the storyline.
Thank you to Minotaur Books for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 7, 2020
It’s never boring in the Yukon and there is plenty for Eric & Casey to do and if not? Well they drum up their own work!
This author has truly created a unique world with different factions battling to be top dog in the Yukon or at least to not look weak. We have the hostiles (wild people), the first settlement, the second settlement, various trappers and traders and Rockton.
We get to see and explore more of the outside world of the Yukon and there are characters added and they are given a lot more depth and it was refreshing to see something new and for the world to develop.
Casey and Eric are out camping to recharge their batteries when Casey hears something in the woods that sounds like a baby. It is the middle of winter and Casey does find a baby wrapped up and being protected by a dead woman.
Casey & Eric have baggage that they still need to deal with but the one thing ideally the ending would have been different and in a way, I get why it isn’t but I wonder how that avenue shall be tackled.
The only right thing to do is take the baby back to Rockton, to solve the murder and to find the baby’s parents. Not easy when you don’t have a lot of evidence to go on. I don’t want to give too much away so I’ll leave it at that. Because the population of the Yukon is so small it is astounding how many crazy people live there or they just stick out more.
Not the best start to 2020 but all in all, I really enjoy this series but a very important aspect how many more books can you write before you get stuck in a rut or that the ideas run out? Personally, I think we are getting to that point but heck I shall still read the next book of the series. Alas, I can only give it three stars though.
This author has truly created a unique world with different factions battling to be top dog in the Yukon or at least to not look weak. We have the hostiles (wild people), the first settlement, the second settlement, various trappers and traders and Rockton.
We get to see and explore more of the outside world of the Yukon and there are characters added and they are given a lot more depth and it was refreshing to see something new and for the world to develop.
Casey and Eric are out camping to recharge their batteries when Casey hears something in the woods that sounds like a baby. It is the middle of winter and Casey does find a baby wrapped up and being protected by a dead woman.
Casey & Eric have baggage that they still need to deal with but the one thing ideally the ending would have been different and in a way, I get why it isn’t but I wonder how that avenue shall be tackled.
The only right thing to do is take the baby back to Rockton, to solve the murder and to find the baby’s parents. Not easy when you don’t have a lot of evidence to go on. I don’t want to give too much away so I’ll leave it at that. Because the population of the Yukon is so small it is astounding how many crazy people live there or they just stick out more.
Not the best start to 2020 but all in all, I really enjoy this series but a very important aspect how many more books can you write before you get stuck in a rut or that the ideas run out? Personally, I think we are getting to that point but heck I shall still read the next book of the series. Alas, I can only give it three stars though.
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