Series Review: Is this series worth your time? Does it get better as the novels progress? Or does it get worse? Find out below:
Synopsis for City of the Lost (from Goodreads):
Casey Duncan is a homicide detective with a secret: when she was in college, she killed a man. She was never caught, but he was the grandson of a mobster and she knows that someday this crime will catch up to her. Casey’s best friend, Diana, is on the run from a violent, abusive ex-husband. When Diana’s husband finds her, and Casey herself is attacked shortly after, Casey knows it’s time for the two of them to disappear again.
Diana has heard of a town made for people like her, a town that takes in people on the run who want to shed their old lives. You must apply to live in Rockton and if you’re accepted, it means walking away entirely from your old life, and living off the grid in the wilds of Canada: no cell phones, no Internet, no mail, no computers, very little electricity, and no way of getting in or out without the town council’s approval. As a murderer, Casey isn’t a good candidate, but she has something they want: She’s a homicide detective, and Rockton has just had its first real murder. She and Diana are in. However, soon after arriving, Casey realizes that the identity of a murderer isn’t the only secret Rockton is hiding—in fact, she starts to wonder if she and Diana might be in even more danger in Rockton than they were in their old lives.
SERIESous’ Top Picks: Favourite Canadian Author
Series: Casey Duncan or Rockton
Author: Kelley Armstrong
# of Books: 5 (Full Series Order)
City of the Lost was initially released as serial novellas. It has since been compiled into one novel.
Book Order: Chronological
Complete?: No, Alone in the Wild, will be published February 2020
Genre: Adult, Mystery, Thriller, Contemporary
Heat Rating: cool
Point of View: First Person, Single
Publication Dates: January 2016 – ongoing
Source & Format: Public Library–Hardcover (all); Publisher–ARC (Darkness Absolute)
Why I Picked it Up / My Expectations:
It’s no secret that I am a HUGE Kelley Armstrong fan. It’s not just because she is a fellow Canuck; she’s one talented writer in every genre she tries. I’ve enjoyed both her YA and Adult paranormal series over the years but I was really excited to see what she could do with a contemporary mystery/thriller.
I knew it was going to be suspenseful–full of great twists and strong characters–so I couldn’t wait to get started!
The Concept / The World:
First, I love the fact that this book is set in Canada! I don’t get to read many books set in my home country so that was a big bonus for me.
Then the idea that there is this isolated town filled with people trying to escape their previous lives? Fascinating. And the perfect place for trouble to brew! You’ve got this small town vibe where anyone can be a suspect and it’s just great to read about. I loved the setting for this series! (And the English Minor in me who took a single Detective Fiction course loves the perfect setting for mystery).
The Plot:
I loved, loved, loved the many layers to this series. Everything just builds from start to finish, book to book.
It’s hard to say much without giving anything away–especially for mystery novels–but I’ll just say that all the books were far from predictable. There were so many great twists and the big reveals always had me going “say what!?” in surprise.
I will say, that City of the Lost did drag for me in the middle of the novel when the plot shifted more to character development than the actual mystery. Which was fine, because it really helped established the setting for the remainder of the book–and in turn for the series–but it did feel slower than the first and latter half of the novel. I never had that problem with A Darkness Absolute however. It is a non-stop roller coaster ride from start to finish.
The Characters:
Like I said above, the small town vibe works extremely well for this series. The anticipation of figuring out whodunit when you’ve met everyone is just fabulous for a reader.
All the characters are just so well developed–even the side ones. I loved learning more about each person.
Casey in particular is a winner in my mind. She’s a strong heroine who definitely has her flaws. She’s complex but as the stories progress, you learn more about her and she learns more about herself. Her character development is a highlight for sure. She reminds me of a more subdued version of Lisbeth from The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo–a scarred girl who learns to adapt as her world expands.
The Romance:
A very minor role here but one I really enjoyed. I don’t want to give to much away…so I’m just going to leave it at that.
My Expectations for the Rest of the Series:
I really hope there are more books to this series! It’s a great world, a fantastic set of characters and the mysteries are just so good.
–October 18, 2019– Book #3: This Fallen Prey
This series just keeps getting better and better. Everything is becoming so convoluted and evolving in a way I never anticipated.
The mystery aspect of this novel was terrific. I ended every chapter with an immediate desire to star the next one. We get all these little clues along the way but you really can’t put it altogether until the end.
Flawless.
Series Rating: 4.5/5
City of the Lost 4/5 | A Darkness Absolute 5/5 | This Fallen Prey 5/5 | Watcher in the Woods TBD | Alone in the Wild TBR
Honestly, I don’t know why more people aren’t talking about this series! (Maybe I hang out in the wrong crowds). It delivers in every way that you want a mystery/thriller to.
Read if You Like: mysteries/thrillers, small town stories
Avoid if You: dislike mysteries
- Bitten by Kelley Armstrong (Women of the Underworld Series #1)
- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larson (Millennium Series #1)
