A small hidden Canadian town is thrown into turmoil by a Watcher in the Woods.

Rockton is a small village of 200 concealed in the Yukon wilderness. Originally a refuge for 1960s activists, it now hides people fearing for their life. Dalton was born in the Yukon and is now the town’s Sheriff. Casey is the only detective and also Dalton’s live-in girlfriend.

When a US Marshall comes to town looking for his man (or woman), the town is roiled by murder and suspicion. In a place where everyone has a secret past, how will Casey discover who the Marshall was chasing and why?

The innovative setting of a clandestine town is the best part of Watcher in the Woods. After reading this book, I discovered this is the fourth in the Rockton series. I will look for the others as I enjoyed the town’s brief backstory presented here. However, Casey and Dalton, along with most of the townspeople, don’t seem to be fully-fleshed out. The author frequently tells, rather than shows, the reader their motivations. This may be because this is the fourth book but it forces me to not recommend this book as a standalone. 3 stars.

Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

First and foremost, I am a longtime fan of Kelley Armstrong and have read many of her book series and I will read her in the future, but I probably should have read the first three books in this series or at least book one. Fact is, I was completely lost as character after character seemed to run through the forest of this small town. I just couldn't keep my Paul's and Peter's straight. Rockton, a town where people with a past reside needed to be better understood So, I certainly would NOT recommend reading any of KA's books in this series in anything else than in order. Because the fact remains that Armstrong is the Canadian Queen of fast paced action. In summary, writing is great, characters are intriguing, setting is fascianating, but read the books in order.

I requested this book because of the concept. When I received the book I was super excited to start reading it and it got me hooked from the start. The author has a great way of introducing the characters and I was always expecting something to happen. However, as I continued reading it I found the errors, mistakes and grammatical errors to be so pronounced that it distracted me and I could not continue as I found myself looking for those instead of reading for the plot.

I'm not one to be super distracted by grammar and can most times disregard it but because the plot of this book was so interesting to me and I so much wanted to finish the book I think the fact that the errors made me keep going back to read the passage again and again it became a disappointing task and took away from the actual enjoyment of the book.

I want to see this book published. I think if it's cleaned up a bit more this can be an awesome story. I would love the opportunity to read it again when it's fully finished.

I will not be posting this on my blog as I want to be as far as possible to the author and the challenges I encounter with the book are not attributable solely to the author.

I am giving it 3 stars but if the errors and mistakes were not there I can see the book, as far as I was able to read it, be a 4.5 or even a 5 star for me.

Thank you for the opportunity.

Ana

My thanks to St. Martin's Press and Minataur books..This is the second book in this series that I've read, and luckily they were both back to back books. I love the concept of this story. Heck, Rockton is a place I would love to be. Cut off from everything, in the Yukon and surrounded by woods, wildlife and few people. Sounds great! Sign me up. I'm just one of those strange folk who prefers to be surrounded by quiet. Well, of course I'd still need light to read by and power to blast my 80's hair band's, country and rap! Unfortunately, Rockton has people who may or may not be criminals. Some have just needed to disappear from bad people. Just a quirk with me, I suppose....😂 but I couldn't be comfortable around these residents. Comfort? Jeezum crow, I'd be one highly stressed out individual! Still, somehow people, serial killers, and stupid cops find out about this place. The residents do tend to get a bit riled. Bad stuff happens, the town Sheriff and his Deputy tend to make dumb decisions, and next thing you know I'm spending the whole book hiking through the woods again. Again. Pretty much the same as in the first story I read. I guess my point is that I really want to like these books. I've not been able to though, because while the start and finish is great, there is so much in the middle of the book that keeps going nowhere. Just circles. I need more of a plotline. This is just a mess. Funny thing is that I love Ms. Armstrong's short stories and novellas, but I'm not a fan of these books.

I am of mixed feelings about this book. I've read other series by Armstrong in the past and really enjoyed them. And I'm not saying that I didn't enjoy this one. It is the fourth in a series I have never read. That made some parts a little difficult to understand. It was like reading the middle chapters of a larger story. I did enjoy the part I did read and the story was easy enough to follow for the most part. There were just a lot of references to people and things I did not have any experience with. When going back and forth about my rating, I had to take into a account that I have ordered the first book in this series. I want to read more.

Yet another great story and plot from Armstrong! I have been a long time fan and when I saw this book I know I needed to read it! A story steeped with chaos, darkness and murder and perfect for any one of Armstrongs many fans!

This is the fourth book in Ms. Armstrong's Rockton Series. I have not read any of the previous books in this series, but I have read a different series from Ms. Armstrong. Rockton is a small and inclusive community located in the midst of the Yukon Territory. Casey is a detective in Rockton; Eric is the Sheriff of Rockton and Casey's boyfriend. When a US Marshall goes to Rockton looking for a wolf in sheep's clothing, the entire small community of Rockton is in wonder. When the Marshall winds up murdered, Casey and Eric must look in to everyone's past, the reason each person is living in Rockton, and try to stay ahead of the murderer.

I have to say that I was a little but lost in some areas of the story, but that was only because I did not read any of the first 3 books in this series. I found the story pretty easy to follow and the characters were well developed. There were so many different perspectives in Watcher in the Woods, that it kept me interested and trying to figure out who the murderer is! I highly enjoyed this book. I will happily go back and read the series from the beginning. Thank you Netgalley and Ms. Armstrong for introducing me to a new and captivating series. I can't wait to read the whole series and find out what happens next.

Watcher in the Woods is the Fourth installment in author Kelley Armstrong's Rockton series. Detective Casey Duncan, and Sheriff Eric Dalton are still sifting through the fall out of what happened in This Fallen Prey. Casey and Dalton start out the story by flying to Vancouver to request that Casey's sister April, a neuroscientist, come with them to Rockton in order to help save a man who was shot in the back. April and Casey have a tricky relationship.

A relationship that is so broken, that they haven't spoken much in the 2 years, and 9 months since Casey decided to follow her former best friend to Rockton where she was offered the position of lead Detective. After the events of the previous installment, Casey has no idea who she can really trust except Dalton, and Will Anders. There are way too many people who have secrets or who are somehow linked to the mysterious Council. A Council which seems to be in disarray now that their liaison has been removed by Casey. But, that's just the topping of what happens next.

After an intruder is caught lingering on the outskirts of Rockton, Casey learns that the man may be a US Marshal on the hunt for someone. This puts the entire town in jeopardy because now Casey and Dalton need to investigate how this man was able to find Rockton which has remained secretive for decades. When the Marshall is shot dead, it suggests that he was correct, only there is far more to it as their investigation is to prove. Given the nature of Rockton, there are an unenviable high number of suspects for obvious reasons.

Rockton is a place hidden deep in the Yukon territory. It is a place where 200 individuals live on the bare necessities, without electricity or phones, or other things we take for granted each day. The people who live in Rockton are here for reasons like they are criminals or victims fleeing and disappearing from society with their secrets in the hope of finding a refuge in Rockton. Problems are virtually guaranteed. Even here, there have been people who have taken the law into their own hands with devastating consequences.

There are the people who don't want to ever leave again. Rockton allows people to stay for 2 years minimum, or 5 years maximum. There are those like Tyrone Cypher, and the so called First Settlement, who never left, but decided to merge into the Yukon. Then there are the so called Hostiles who are growing even more dangerous by the day. One of the things that the author brings to the table is the setting of this novel.

I've always liked this setting but would never in a million years give up the conveniences of electricity, and other modern necessities. The Yukon itself is a key player in almost everyone of these stories. From the harsh winters, to people who are living in the wilderness and are considered to be hostiles by Casey and Dalton. The story is thrilling and suspenseful. It unfolds almost naturally with many twists and turns to keep you guessing until the end.

About 60% into this book, I discovered (to my vast relief) that it was part of a series -- number four, to be exact. I'd been issued an advance readers copy through NetGalley, knowing nothing about Kelley Armstrong and her work, including three previous books set in Rockton, Yukon Territory.

This was a relief because, frankly, I'd been getting lost. There were so many characters who just popped into a scene with little or no introduction. I thought the book's premise (a secret, isolated town to shelter a wide array of fugitives), its setting (the wild, beautiful Yukon forest), and its intelligent writing were promising. But who were all these people, why didn't I know anything about them, and how could I tell them apart?

Answer: they were part of a well-established posse, and I was simply late to the party. Casey, Dalton and Anders must enforce the law -- or, more accurately, keep the peace -- in this fascinating social experiment turned corporate enterprise. Everyone has a past, some illustrious, some infamous. The town's secrecy protocols intensify the suspense, and there is plenty of spot-on human insight.

All in all, I recommend Watcher in the Woods (although perhaps not as a standalone?), and those pesky pop-up characters were compelling enough that I am ordering books 1 to 3 so I can get their backstories.

Fourth in the Rockton series, Watcher in the Woods continues the story of the tiny, secret town of Rockton located in the desolate Yukon Territory where people, both criminals and victims, go to hide. Casey Duncan, a detective, and her boyfriend, Sheriff Eric Dalton are two of the main characters. A new character is introduced to the series as Casey sneaks her brilliant sister, Dr. April Duncan, into town to remove a bullet from one of the residents.

It’s the setting and the whole premise of the hidden town that drew me to the series initially. I was hoping this latest would be more intriguing but, unfortunately, I just did not find the story line to be all that interesting or suspenseful. It was a bit of a push to finish it.


FYI - I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was drawn into this book from the very beginning. I didn't realize it was the 4th in a series until after I had started reading it so while only half way through I bought the first one to start when I was done with this one. I'm hooked on Rockton and Casey Duncan and need to know her from the first moment she set foot in Rockton. While there is a lot of back story Watcher in the Woods can be a stand alone, Armstrong does a great job of catching you up on what you missed I just want all the details not just the summary. Strong plot, interesting characters and a really interesting little town. I could totally see this evolving into a tv series, as her books for Bitten did I mean who can resist a town full of fugitives...with these neighbors you never have to look for trouble - its already there.

This was my first read by this author and I enjoyed it. This book was the first in the series and I am intrigued to read future books!

I am a fan of mysteries and I heard good things about this author. I did enjoy the plot twist, but a lot of characters were introduced in this book. At times, I was a bit confused. As the series proceeds I hope that the characters are developed more. All in all, I enjoyed the book!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Netgalley, the author for providing my an ARC for my honest review.

I've been a fan of Kelley Armstrong's for many years, and I'm disappointed that I didn't find this series earlier! This was the first in the series I have read, and I've already put the other three in my TBR pile. The characters are interesting, the idea of the town and its residents is fascinating, and the plot kept me guessing. Loved it!

Interesting concept for a book. While it was hard for me to keep up with all the characters in the book at times, it was a book that I really enjoyed reading.

Casey Butler is a detective in a town full of refugee criminals of varying degrees. Her boyfriend is the Sheriff and they have their hands full trying to solve the murder of a U.S. Marshall.. While I enjoyed reading the book, the sheer number of characters made it hard for me to keep people straight at times.

Some characters in the book seemed like they could have a good build up, but then it went nowhere very abruptly. For example, the hostiles...the back story was built and then came to an abrupt end. I assume they must be present in other books in the series and that is possibly why their story line was so quick to wrap up.

I can definitely say, I didn't quite see the murderer of the Marshall panning out the way it did, but it made for a good plot twist..

Don’t ya just hate when you read a book by an author you love and don’t love it? such was the case with Watcher in the Woods by Kelley Armstrong.

She hadn’t seen her sister, Casey, in three years, but now she needs her help. She had always been subservient, seeking her sister’s approval. She didn’t have boyfriends because she killed her last one. And now…Rockton, here she comes.

Casey lives with Eric Dalton, the Rockton sheriff and is a homicide detective herself. If you have to run for help, this is a good duo to have on your list.

The Yukon is a wilderness and a great place to hide out.

There is something a little bit off about Rockton. I am ambivalent about their voting practices, among other things. The town has a dystopian feel to it, it’s secretiveness and it’s isolation, running on it’s own set of rules.

The characters, good and bad, all have their part to play, showing their reasons for being there. Definitely not the guy/girl next door. Everyone knows everyone so who is that guy, the U S Marshal who thinks he can waltz into town and take one of their residents?

Kelley Armstrong is an author very familiar to me. I see her name, I pick up her book. So simple. I’ve read numerous books by her, but this is the first one I have reviewed. And it’s a hard one.

There is a mystery…yes. It’s obvious there will be more books. Did I miss something by reading out of order? The story does seem to be complete. All that being said, Watcher in the Woods fell a little flat for me.

I love Kelly Armstrong’s writing and I did enjoy reading Watcher in the Woods, so I will definitely grab her next book.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Watcher in the Woods by Kelley Armstrong.

Fabulous!!! The only problem I had with this book is that it had to end. I just adore this series. Casey and Eric are their usual strong characters. They are written so well. Rockton is its usual type of crazy. Ms. Armstrong has taken an unusual premise and ran with it. The series keeps getting stronger and stronger without losing any of the characteristics that I found so fascinating in the first book.

Rockton an isolated community filled with criminals, victims, sociopaths and the law enforcement individuals we have come to love.

Received as an arc from Netgalley

This was like stepping into a television series in the mid season but I quickly caught on to who was who and what was going on and totally was captivated and could not put this one down! So many secrets and a killer on the loose and too many suspects. I'm not going to give anything away because I'm afraid if I start describing this one I will just give it all away...I was that captivated! I'm not sure I'm going to go back and pick up the previous ones but I will definitely keep reading if there are more in this series!

Definitely recommend this!

**Received this ARC for review from the publisher via NetGalley**

Watcher in the Woods begins almost immediately after the events of This Fallen Prey. A resident of this strange little town in the Canadian Yukon, a refuge for both the innocent and the guilty, Kenny, was paralyzed by a gunshot wound. The Sheriff, Eric Dalton, and his deputy and partner, Casey Duncan are well aware that the basic medical services in the town aren't sufficient to help him. Luckily, Casey knows that her physician sister, April, is just the person to help him recover. Unluckily, the two sisters are opposites and have been estranged for years. Eric and Casey also know that the "council" who control the Rockton finances and who comes and goes will never agree to bring her in. It will be up to the pair to persuade April to consent and to smuggle her in and out. Surprisingly April agrees but having her in Rockton for even a short time will be a challenge. On the heels of April's arrival, Eric and Casey discover a man watching the town from the surrounding woods. As they pursue him, it becomes clear that he has not just happened to find Rockton. He is there for a purpose and must be found and questioned. The watcher will throw Rockton into chaos once again. The closely held secrets of the town cannot be exposed, for everyone's safety.

Watcher in the Woods is another high energy thriller from Kelley Armstrong. This series has quickly become a favorite. The premise of the books is fascinating, and I never see who to trust. Everybody has a story and most of them aren't the real truth. No matter what happens Eric and Casey know that they can trust each other, however. I did find the numerous characters a little difficult to keep sorted this time. Some were not as well characterized as I would like and I had to keep thinking back to previous books to remember their places in the town. Watcher in the Woods could be read as a standalone, but I don't recommend it.

I am looking forward to the next one though. Thanks to Netgalley and Minotaur for an advance digital copy. The opinions are my own.

Watcher in the Woods is the fourth book in Armstrong's Rockton series. While you don't need to read the previous books, it will definitely give you a deeper understanding of the characters and town.

The book opens shortly after This Fallen Prey (book 3) with Casey and Eric trying to convince Casey's sister April to help them with a medical emergency.

April surprises them both by offering to come back to Rockton to treat the patient herself, so they sneak her into town.

Needless to say, things don't go according to plan.

First, a man claiming to be a US Marshall shows up, demanding that they turn over one of the residents but refusing to give them so much as a gender, much less a name. Then the Marshall winds up dead.

Curiouser and curiouser.

Rockton is an interesting town as it's supposed to be secret. An off the grid sanctuary for those who don't want to be found. So how did the Marshall find them? And who was he after? In a town like Rockton, everyone is a suspect.

So Casey does what Casey does best, figure out whodunit and why.

Loved revisiting Casey, Eric, Will, and the other residents. We even meet a couple of new, incredibly interesting characters that I hope stick around.

Kelley Armstrong is one of my favorite authors, so it's always nice to catch up with characters that feel like old friends. While I'd never want to visit the Yukon, much less Rockton, it makes for a great setting for interesting stories!

Rockton is still having trouble. Someone is not who they seem. Why does that cause trouble? Because it brings in someone trying to make an arrest and capture. That just cannot be allowed but the way it is stopped is not the best way to stop it. In fact that just brings more trouble. Casey Duncan and her boyfriend, Sheriff Eric Dalton are both such great characters and it is great fun following them as they try to unwind everything that is happening. There are some very interesting new characters that play a part in this story. I think the best is Casey's sister. It will be interesting to see how her story plays out in future books. This is part of a series but can be read as a standalone.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.