Review: The Boy Who Cried Bear

I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned it lately, but I sure am glad I came across Kelley Armstrong’s Rockton series and I’m doubly glad she’s kept the characters around for Haven’s Rock, a spin-off series that’s not really a spin-off just kinda a continuation of a series but with a different location. Or something. However you want to look at it, I was thrilled to have the chance to hang out with Casey and Dalton in The Boy Who Cried Bear, the second book in Armstrong’s Haven’s Rock series.

Here’s the book’s description:

Haven’s Rock is a well-hidden town surrounded by forest. And it’s supposed to be, being that it’s a refuge for those who need to disappear. Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton already feel at home in their new town, which reminds them of where they first met in Rockton. And while they know how to navigate the woods and its various dangers, other residents don’t. Which is why people aren't allowed to wander off alone.
When Max, the town’s youngest resident—taught to track animals by Eric—fears a bear is stalking a hiking party, alarms are raised. Even stranger, the ten-year-old swears the bear had human eyes. Casey and Eric know the dangers a bear can present, so they’re taking it seriously. But odd occurrences are happening all around them, and when a dead body turns up, they’re not sure what they’re up against.

Since this is only the second book in the Haven’s Rock series, there’s still a lot to learn about the new hidden town. Casey and Dalton are figuring out how to run the town, who on their staff they can trust implicitly, and, you know, why dead bodies keep turning up. I can’t imagine what it would be like to be in charge of protecting folks who have escaped really crappy circumstances, only to have some people disappear and others wind up dead. Turns out living in the middle of nowhere doesn’t mean you’re safe from murder. Who knew?!

The book’s description is vague about the mystery in this one so I won't go into any specific details either. I want you to be as surprised as I was with the twists and turns. I will say that I’m really curious to see what book three will bring (even though I literally just finished book two before I started writing this…the dangers of anticipated books, eh? That you’re so excited about them and then rush through reading it because you just can’t help yourself and now you have to wait for the next one) because, well, there’s a bit of a cliffhanger at the end. Or…maybe not “cliffhanger” but…the bow isn’t as neat as you might want from a mystery. As a mystery reader, I’m a little annoyed but as a reader of this particular series? I totally get it. And I trust that Armstrong has a plan and all will, eventually, be revealed. (But seriously…why do we love book series so much? I think we’re all masochists.)

I love the characters in this series so much. There are a lot of them but they really do all have a purpose. It’s like Haven’s Rock itself. You wouldn’t be there - and definitely wouldn’t be staff - if you didn’t have a particular reason for being there. I loved being able to get more of a glimpse into Casey and Dalton’s married life (they have such a great, and unique, partnership) and see how some of the other former Rockton residents were faring. I will say there’s a side, more personal, storyline, in this one that is one I personally dislike but it’s very much a Me Thing, as much as I wish it hadn’t been brought into the series.

There are a number of times biases, especially around race, come up in this particular story. Armstrong is White (or at least very much White presenting) but Casey is Asian Canadian (I think Chinese but admit I cannot recall exactly) and there are a few other characters who are not White. In this story, Anders and Yolanda talk about being one of the only Black people in their towns. And another resident spews some ridiculous (and harmful) BS right to Casey’s face about “you people” being smart. Ugh, just reading it makes me rage because I know there are real people out there making those same assumptions based solely on racial stereotypes.

I really enjoyed The Boy Who Cried Bear and am so glad I saved it for a long weekend “treat” for myself. Kelley Armstrong has created a great series that’s so enjoyable (if you could call a series that features murders etc. “enjoyable”...) and I already cannot wait for the third installment.

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, Minotaur, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: The Deepest of Secrets

I was late to the Rockton series party but I’ve been thoroughly enjoying my time in the secret town Kelley Armstrong created. The Deepest of Secrets (out today) is the last in the series (or is it?) and I absolutely devoured it.

Here’s the book’s description:

It’s not always easy to live in the hidden town of Rockton, something Detective Casey Duncan knows firsthand. Tucked away in the Yukon wilderness, the community survives—and thrives—because the residents' many secrets stay just that—secret.
But what happens when these secrets start to come out? Overnight, no one is safe. It’s not a question of if your secret will come out—but when.
Casey and her boyfriend, Sheriff Eric Dalton, need to find the culprit while protecting those who have been thrust into the spotlight. For a place built on privacy and new beginnings, Rockton isn’t handling these revelations very well. People are turning on one another, and when one of the loudest complainers turns up barely alive, it's clear that their trickster is actually a murderer.
The threat of exposure is reaching its breaking point, and no one knows what’s going to happen next.

Now, this is the last Rockton book. BUT Armstrong has teased on social media that this might not be the last book with these characters. I was excited before and am even more so after reading this one. I’m super attached to these characters and am definitely not ready to say goodbye so I’m really hoping she finds a way to bring them all back together.

Not only do I love the characters but I enjoy how Armstrong writes the mystery. It can get a tad annoying because the reader knows Casey knows something but not what and I for one can’t usually figure it out but it all comes together and it’s super satisfying and I forget that I was annoyed. The twists in this one were unexpected and I’m pretty sure I found myself saying “WHAT?!” at my ereader on more than one occasion. Is it the most ground-breaking crime thriller ever? No. But it’s hella entertaining and fast paced so I was all in from the start and couldn’t put it down. I actually read a good chunk of it while donating blood last week and I was able to totally tune out everything happening around me while reading it.

I mentioned this one was fast paced and I wonder if it was a bit too fast. Things were happening a mile a minute and I think I started to get whiplash. It wasn’t a negative, exactly, for my reading enjoyment. I really freaking liked this book. But it’s not necessarily a hallmark of a super well written and executed mystery. Does it matter in the long run? No. I’m still going to tell you to read this series. Just a consideration to keep in mind!

If the sound of this mystery series intrigues you, I definitely recommend starting back at the beginning with City of the Lost and reading all seven books. They’re quick and entertaining and I think you’ll get a lot more out of it if you know the entire history of Rockton as Casey experiences it.

I don’t want to say much more about The Deepest of Secrets because so much of what’s happened in the previous six books comes to a head in this one and it’s so much better if you go in without knowing too much of what’s going to happen. So I'll say again: this is a great series and you should read it. I’ve really enjoyed Kelley Armstrong’s Rockton series and I can’t wait to find out if we get to see these characters again!

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: A Stranger in Town

I'm finding it difficult to acknowledge that Kelley Armstrong's Rockton series will be coming to an end soon. Maybe it's because I hadn't quite realized before the Q&A I did with her (read it here) that there would likely only be seven books. A Stranger in Town, released just last week, is book six. I also didn't get into the series until the fourth book so I haven't had as long with the characters and I'm just not ready to let go of this great mystery series yet!

Here's the book summary:

Detective Casey Duncan has noticed fewer and fewer residents coming in to the hidden town of Rockton, and no extensions being granted. Her boyfriend, Sheriff Eric Dalton, presumes it’s the natural flux of things, but Casey’s not so sure. Something bigger is happening in the small town they call home.
When an injured hiker stumbles from the woods, the sole survivor of a hostile attack, it’s all hands on deck. Even a member of the elusive Rockton council comes in to help. This council member also comes bearing news: Rockton is being shut down due to the hostile situation.
Casey and Eric must now race to save the town that has allowed residents to have a fresh start, away from the mistakes of their past, while also getting to the bottom of this latest attack.

You might know that I don't often reread a synopsis before reading a book I've requested for review. In the case of A Stranger in Town, I don't even think I read it before saying, YES PLEASE. I'm so thankful the publisher sought me out (it seems to have changed publishers since the last book's release...) because I'm loving this series so much. So that means that the description, which I've now read, contained a lot of info that I didn't know before I started reading (other than someone stumbling into town - the title kind of gave that one away). I especially like to stay in the dark with mysteries because I don't want any preconceived ideas to get into my head, even if it's one the publisher is allowing out into the world. Which also makes reviewing these types of books tricky because I don't want to give anything away either!

I had absolutely no idea how the mystery was going to resolve itself. None. I couldn't figure out the links and instead of wishing I could keep up with Casey and Dalton's minds, I just rolled with it, trusting them, and Armstrong, to keep me guessing (and wondering and worrying and on the edge of my seat and entertained) until the end when everything would come together. I wasn't expecting quite as much of a big, red bow as I got but that has me more excited now for what's to come. (Excited might be the wrong word. It will not be easy and I'm sure Casey will have at least one more dead body to deal with.)

I also love the characters you meet in Armstrong's series. Yes, there are multiple books so you spend a lot of time with them and learn a lot about them, but Armstrong has a knack for letting you into their world and allowing you to really get to know them. None of them are one-dimensional, stereotypical characters. There are layers to everyone, even those who just get a passing mention in the story, and the reader learns more about them as they begin to trust and open up more to each other. That, in turn, makes the reading experience even more enjoyable.

The location was, as always, a character itself. I haven't been to the Yukon but my sister worked two summers at a camp on the Alaskan highway. It definitely wasn't as remote as Rockton (you can actually find it on a map) but her stories and pictures help make these novels come even more alive for me. An amusing anecdote before I close this review: chapter 22 begins with Casey and Dalton heading to Lynx Lake. Casey mentions that "the Yukon isn't a zoo" and many southerners don't realize that wildlife, lynx included, aren't wandering around for the tourists' enjoyment. My sister had a hell of a time spotting a moose in the wild so I snapped a pic of the paragraph and sent it to her. She enjoyed it as much as I thought she would. And what pops up on her Instagram feed the next day? This timely post from Travel Yukon.

I have a feeling I know some of what's coming in the next (last???) Rockton novel. A Stranger in Town did wrap a lot of things up, which was great, but also has left me wondering (and worrying) about what on earth is going to happen next. I cannot wait to see what Kelley Armstrong has up her sleeve for the residents of Rockton.

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the Canadian distributor, Raincoast Books, in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Author Q&A: Kelley Armstrong

Happy publication day to A Stranger in Town - the latest in Kelley Armstrong's Rockton series. I jumped in partway through the series but I'm totally into it now. I just started reading the newest on Sunday and can't wait to get back to it. Before I share my review later this week, I want to share a Q&A I was lucky enough to do with Armstrong. Thank you to her and to Raincoast Books for arranging this opportunity. I hope you enjoy!

Books Etc.: I’m a newer fan of the Rockton series so I apologize in advance for the very basic first question I have: how did the series come about? What came first – the town or the people?
Kelley Armstrong: The town. I was talking to my agent at the time, and she mentioned hearing that enough people go missing every year to populate a small town. That got me thinking, “What if there was an actual town where people went to disappear?” I figured out the logistics of the town and then started populating it.

BE: What’s it like writing in different genres? Do you find many differences between them all when writing? And do you try to switch it up with each new book?
KA: I need variety as a reader, so I also need it as a writer. They all definitely have a different tone and feel, which keeps things fresh. I do try to alternate them on my writing schedule to shake it up creatively.

BE: Casey and the Rockton crew encounter a lot of wild animals – have you had experience with foxes, wolves, or bears?
KA: While I’ve encountered all of them, my encounters are never as dramatic, thankfully! For example, A Stranger in Town has a grizzly standoff. I based the “mother and two juveniles” on a family we saw along the roadside in the Yukon, where the juveniles were the size of black bears. We’ve had grizzlies in our yard there, but they leave as soon as they hear us.

BE: What kind of research did you do on the different types of groups found in the Rockton series?
KA: You mean the different settlement types? (Note: yep, that's what I meant! I forgot the word "settlement" *face palm*) Lots of research on people who go off-grid somewhere like the Yukon. Why do they do it? How do they live? Research on isolated communities around the world for the First Settlement, research on communes for the Second Settlement. The hostiles are trickier, because I wanted to steer well clear of stereotypes. Even the language is loaded and could trigger in those stereotypes if I referred to them as savage or primitive or tribal. They are average people who went into the forest and something happened. Avoiding spoilers, I’ll only say that I did a lot of research on what could happen under the scenario I envisioned.

BE: What are some of the best and worst things you’ve done for research?
KA: For the Rockton series, the on-site research is the best—just getting out there and experiencing it. Also the excuse—I’m not just driving up to Dawson for a few days for vacation, I’m doing research. As for the worst, I can’t recall anything where I hated the whole experience, but had to do it for research. Now, when it comes to non-experiential research, my least favorite part is when I expect an easy answer to a question, end up spending hours chasing it, and later decide to edit out that section! 

Review: Alone in the Wild

It's rare for me to knowingly jump into a series mid-way through but last year I did just that with Kelley Armstrong's Rockton series. The fourth book, Watcher in the Woods, was being published and I reviewed it for Niagara Life because I thought it sounded pretty interesting. I enjoyed it and looked forward to the next book, Alone in the Wild, which was published back in February.

Here's the synopsis:

In number one New York Times best seller 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 18, 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.

When you don't read a series from the start you miss exactly how relationships are built and knowing what pieces from the past have been revealed and which are still hidden. Armstrong does a good job of recapping some information so a new reader can start to piece things together without, I imagine, boring readers who have been with the series since the beginning. 

What I've been liking about this series (one of the things anyway) is that it's a thriller that isn't falling into any of the usual tropes we're seeing right now. Yes, there's a woman who had to run from her past and may still have some issues to work out but she's living a pretty solid life and her past demons seem to be staying in the past. Of course, she's living in a town in the middle of nowhere in the Yukon and said town has a surprisingly high murder rate given there's not that many people living there. Kind of puts a damper on things.

I really like Casey. I like that she's a little bit flawed and knows it. She's in her early thirties, like me, and really seems to relish the challenge of trying to police Rockton (not a thing I would enjoy). She and Dalton, the town's sheriff, have a relationship that would make many people envious - they're settled and just recently got a new dog, Storm, who they've been training as a tracker. How a Newfoundland dog can become a tracker, I know not, but the scenes with Storm were a delight (except for the ones she was in danger...those were scary). 

I also liked how Casey's brain worked. She is well suited to being a detective because her mind is able to take the pieces of the puzzle and work them around until she has the solution. It's really interesting to read and Armstrong writes it well. Casey and Dalton had the mystery sorted out and I was still playing catch up as it was all revealed (I may blame my cold for dulling my brain...). I wasn't able to figure out the ending and I really enjoyed the puzzle as I read this story.

If you like mysteries - especially with a Canadian flavour - you should definitely check out Kelley Armstrong's Rockton series. Alone in the Wild was a lot of fun to read (well, I had as much fun as you can when you read about a murdered woman and a baby whose parents are missing) and I think I enjoyed it more than the last book in the series. I'm looking forward to the next installment.

*An ARC of this novel was provided by the publisher, Doubleday Canada, in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*