Monday, February 3, 2020

Review - Alone in the Wild

Title:    Alone in the Wild
Author:  Kelley Armstrong
Series:  Rockton #5
Genre:   Mystery/Thrillers
Publisher:   Minotaur Books
Format:  Trade Paperback ARC
No. of Pages:  368 
Date of Publication:  February 4, 2020
My Rating:  5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

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.

MY THOUGHTS:

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 LostA Darkness AbsoluteThis 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.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kelley 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. 


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9 comments:

  1. This looks like my kind of read. Great review.

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  2. Not my genre but I am so glad it was memorable for you! My recall is terrible and I have to write reviews right away. I even read a book back in November that I loved and had to reread the synopsis before I read the sequel in January.

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  3. This sounds like an amazing series and book! I really want to start reading this as well. Do you think it is possible to start anywhere or should I start at the very beginning? Love your review ♥

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  4. Not really my genre, but I’m glad you enjoyed it. I’m also lazy with reviews🙈

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  5. Looks like a read I would like.

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  6. Amazing review Robin I've been dying to read a book by Kelly Armstrong for a long time now, because I heard fantastic reviews about her books. And I know that I will enjoy reading her books, I'm really glad you fully enjoyed reading this book. Thank you so much for sharing your awesome post.

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