A Rockton Novel Number 9

We’re back in Rockton with Detective Casey Duncan and Sheriff Eric Dalton, along with all the characters we’ve grown to love! But this time the entire town may be in danger.

When a badly injured tourist from a group of four bursts out of the forest screaming and hysterical, Casey and Eric take her back to Rockton’s clinic for April to examine her. At the same time, a new resident shows up who understands the woman is speaking Dutch. Hm…

Are the hostiles at work again? Or is this something more sinister?

When one of the original founders flies in, they are suspicious that they aren’t being told everything. Why have they not had any residents in quite a while? Why is no-one getting an extension?

I am not about to tell you anymore, except we finally find out how Rockton began and if it will continue or not.

Kelley’s books are always a solid read with capable female leads and great stories. I can’t wait to see what comes next.

NetGalley/ Minotaur February 02,2021

A new Rockton novel by Kelley Armstrong that unfortunately left me wanting.

Gosh.. What can I say here: I started out liking “A Stranger in Town” and then the storyline just completely lost me.

This novel included too many characters, too many groups of people - the hostiles, the settlers, the hikers, the danish, Emilie, Jay - a new resident, Sophie - the injured hiker, all of whom simply confused me and made it such that I was unsure as to who actually was “A Stranger in Town.” Simply put, I just kind of didn’t get it.

In the newest Rockton novel, Casey and Eric happen upon several bodies while out in the forest all of whom have been murdered - save one. Some appear to be settlers, some hostiles. When they come upon Sophie, an injured hiker who appears to be alive, they of course try to save her - even though she doesn’t speak English. What happens thereafter, leaves them stunned and completely unsettled trying to figure out who Sophie really is and why she was on the outskirts of Rockton. This leads to an investigation which frankly left me scratching my head.

The outcome of all of this admittedly, left me concerned for where the series will go next. I guess we will see.

Though I didn’t feel that this was a strong showing in the Rockton series, I will undoubtedly read the next book in the series if there is one.

This was a buddy read with Kaceey.

Thank you to NetGalley, Minotaur Books and Kelley Armstrong for the arc.

Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on 10.19.20.

I was glad to get some answers about the Hostiles in this installment, and I was excited about the arrival of Emilie. This one was full of action and surprises but still made time for the sweet Eric/Casey scenes I love about the series.

Kelley Armstrong keeps bring great novels to this series! It is fresh and exciting. I cannot wait to read the next book from her.
#AStrangerInTown
#MustReadMystery2021

Kelley Armstrong's sixth book in the Rockton series foreshadows changes that may take place. Do the council want to close Rockton for good? Is that the reason for fewer people being accepted into the community?
An injured woman stumble into a gathering of teenagers by a lake. Detective Casey Duncan and Sheriff Eric Dalton happen to be there at the time and quickly realize this could be an attack by hostiles. The woman doesn't speak English and is in bad shape. Casey and Eric have a bad feeling about possible outcomes of this attack, and when they arrive at the tourists' campsite, they discover the remains of at least two men, although it is difficult to tell because of animal predation.

Casey has been pondering the reluctance of the council to admit to the problem of the hostiles, and as things go from bad to worse, Casey becomes more certain that the council is responsible for the hostiles, not simply for wanting to avoid doing anything about them.

I've liked every book in the Rockton series so far, even if this is not my favorite. My curiosity about what comes next is intense.

Armstrong's paranormal Darkest Power Trilogy and The Rising Dark Trilogy would be good for the RIP challenge. I actually liked them better than the Cainsville books.

Read in September. I will mention this again closer to the date of publication.

NetGalley/St. Martin's Press

Mystery/Suspense. Feb. 2, 2021. Print length: 368 pages.

I am a huge Kelley Armstrong fan, and A STRANGER IN TOWN lives up to her reputation as a fantastic genre/mystery writer. The Rockton series is one of my favorites, bringing back the main characters we love (Casey and Eric in particular), in a new mystery. The sixth book in the series, A Stranger in Town continues the bits and pieces we love -- Rockton, the side characters, their ongoing relationships that keep us entertained -- and adds a new conflict: Rockton is being shut down. I adore that this is the main plot for this book, because it was hinted earlier in the series, and it was SO fun to see how the dealt with this. Another great addition to the series -- I HIGHLY recommend it, as well as all the other books in this series. Thank you to St. Martin's/NetGalley/K. Armstrong for providing me an e-copy of this book in return for an honest review!

My thanks to St. Martin's/Minataur Books, Kelley Armstrong and Netgalley.
Stuffs going down in Rockton, and I'm loving it!
A few of the older mysteries are solved and a few others pop up! People die, and if course there is a lot of trekking through the woods.
I loved every moment. Can't wait to see what happens now.
This is a series that should be read from the beginning. Even though I hated it. But, something kept me coming back. I think every book is better than the last!

While I love this series, this one wasn’t my all time favorite.

Don’t get me wrong, I still liked it and I’m still all in. It’s just that this one reads more as a set up for what will make a very interesting (and necessary) next step in the series.

Casey and Eric are still awesome, and I’m loving Casey’s sister so much – she’s fast becoming one of my favorite characters. However the book focuses a bit more on the hostiles and I kind of missed the focus on the townspeople.

The book still moves at a fast pace with plenty of tense moments.

Definitely not for someone new to the series – this one takes knowing the characters and some of the history of the town – but still a very good read!

*ARC Provided via Net Galley

This is the sixth book in the Casey Duncan series and it's the big one. By the end of it we know the origin of the hostiles, some have been dealt with, and Rockton is facing trouble.

Unexpected guests are overrunning Rockton with the leader of the First Settlement stopping by, an injured person and some dead bodies filling the clinic (which really needs an addition) and a council member flying in. Bears are out with their cubs, hostiles are attacking more frequently, some people are missing, and, as usual, each and every one of these things gets Casey into trouble.

The wilderness stand0ffs are tense and exciting, as usual, and something that makes this series that much more entertaining. Whether the danger is a wild animal, the weather (as in previous books), or people those scenes are filled with detail and, particularly when it comes to animals, terrifying. That's when being inside Casey's head and reading her feelings pays off. There's a scene in this book where Casey is menaced by a grizzly bear and how she reacts and balances her fear with her respect of nature and her awe of viewing this bear and it is fantastic.

The supporting characters are an interesting bunch and it's always fun to reconnect with them. The conflict Casey faces with many of them--knowing their Rockton person and not their outside (south) person--fascinates me. How do you judge people? How do you know them? How do you trust them? This is going to become particularly interesting in the future as Rockton faces it's latest and most severe threat from the council.

I've spent the last week reading all the books in this series so, yes, obviously I enjoy them. But, as usual, the ableism in this series bothers me. Take this as a content warning. I understand the conceit, that Rockton is a wilderness town and people are valued for what they can contribute, but it's written in modern times and things can be changed or just plain ignored. The constant statements that people with physical disabilities are not welcome there for whatever reason is difficult to read as a disabled person. (Especially since an exception was made for their friend who became disabled and somehow is so valuable he's exempt from this rule.) I'm also uncomfortable with the amount of ableism against mental illnesses. They are often the focus of a book--who is a sociopath, when will they hurt me because that's all they do--but that has been changing with the inclusion of Sebastian in a previous book. Whether he becomes the token exception or a change in attitude we'll have to see.

Another thrilling story in the Rockton series. So much happens in this book. The pacing is action packed and fast. Casey and Dalton have more than one mystery on their hands. It's full of twists and tension. I love the relationship between the two and the community. Over the course of the series I have become invested in this town and the people in it. I was surprised by the direction things took. I suspect we are coming to the end of the series and I will be sad to see it end. I can't wait for the next one though!

Another great book in this series. It did start a little slow but then picked it up. The last part of the book was probably the strongest. I enjoyed getting to spend more time with Casey and Dalton and the other residents of Rockton. There were several surprises and twists. Some I figured out and others threw me for a loop. There was one big reveal that was in the blurb and should definitely be removed. I think there is only one more book in this series and I'll be very sad when it's done.

Highly recommend but only if you have read the previous books in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!!

Positively terrifying, not your typical horror, the characters feel like real people, I feel like I am always waiting for something to pop out at you.

Kelley Armstrong's books about Rockton are so interesting! Rockton is a small town of a few hundred people in the middle of the Yukon territory. The town does legally exist; it is a refuge for both wrongdoers who need a fresh start and, in some cases, victims of crimes who need refuge. Casey is a former homicide detective who serves as law enforcement for this small community, along with her partner, Eric Dalton. One of the main issues they face is keeping the peace between Rockton and settlement of other people who live in the surrounding forest, some of whom are quite violent. But when tourists are attacked in the forest, Casey and Dalton must track down the attackers - mostly to make sure no further incidents can bring unwanted attention to Rockton. Armstrong has strong attention to detail - I can fully imagine the forest and its people when I read them, And Rockton is so mysterious but so real that one will wonder whether such a community might actually exist.

4.5/ 5 stars

A Stranger in Town is the sixth book in the Rockton/Casey Duncan series.

The mystery in A Stranger in Town is self-contained to this book. However I would highly recommend reading these books in order. It is possible to read this book without having read the others. But IMO the enjoyment will not be the same. There is so much history and character development. So I feel like a reader would not really understand the relationships if this series is not read in order.

I absolutely love Kelley Armstrong. She is probably my most read author. I am obsessed with this series. So I was beyond excited to be able to read this new book.

The narrator is 33 year old detective Casey Duncan (1st person POV). This book takes place in May approximately 5 months after the end of the last book.

The books take place in a remote part of the Yukon. Casey lives in the hidden town of Rockton with her boyfriend Sheriff Eric Dalton.

The author does remind of us of some events from the previous books. I'm not sure if this is to remind the reader of certain key events. Or to give context in case people try to read this book without having read the rest of the series.

I love Casey so much. She is one of my favorite narrators. I adore her with Dalton. How they work together and their relationship is everything. I also love seeing her with her old friend Diana. And with her sister April. I am obsessed with pretty much every resident in Rockton.

The mystery in this book was really strong. And I loved seeing Casey and Dalton try to solve it.

The book definitely had some crazy developments, which I enjoyed immensely.

There were some great happenings during the last part of the book. And I really enjoyed the ending.

There is at least one more book in this series. And hopefully there will be more. As I honestly don't want this series to end.

A Stranger in Town is the 6th installment in the Rockton series, and is another winner. An apparent tourist is found in the woods outside Rockton, badly injured and incoherent. Rockton Detective Casey Duncan’s investigation leads to even more mysteries as the plot takes off. This is a great series, with interesting characters that you get invested in, and an unusual and different back story as to the origin and purpose of Rockton. This is a stand-alone book, but I recommend reading at least the first in the series for some background (you won’t be disappointed in that book either). Absolutely love this series, and hopeful to see Casey and the gang again. Solid 5 Stars!
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through @NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley, Kelley Armstrong and St. Martin's Publishing Group for early access to A Stranger in Town by Kelley Armstrong. I've been thinking aa lot about the question, "who is your favorite author?" It bugged me because I like so many authors and genres and it really depends on my mood. Then I realized that Kelley Armstrong writes so many genres, has so many series and standalone novels, and I love them ALL! A Stranger in Town is the sixth book in the Rockton series. Casey and Eric have a new mystery to solve when two pieces of bodies and a survivor are found in what looks like a hostile attack. The survivor doesn't speak any English and is brought back to Rockton. I don't want to give away any spoilers, so I won't go into anymore details, but this book might be the best in the series so far. Long investigated problems are resolved while new ones pop up. We meet some new characters and Casey and April get closer. I felt so conflicted reading this book, not because I didn't like it, but because I loved it and wanted to take my time and finish it as quickly as possible. I'm sad that I finished it, but will probably start the whole series over again. I can't say this enough, but if you ever get an opportunity to read a Kelley Armstrong book, take it. It will not disappoint, it will make you want to read more.

Disclaimer: I am a Kelley Armstrong fan. I have read all of her books and loved them all. But, there is a reason why I and at least a million other readers consider her a world class author. Her books may be fictional, her characters not someone you'd meet on the street, but you easily get to know them as she builds them from page 1 of the 1st book. Yes, this is the 6th Rockton book. It can easily be read as a stand alone, but the first 5 are just as good as this one and you really do not want to miss out. No spoilers here but I could easily go on all day about how good this series is.

Rockton is a manufactured town in Yukon territory. The citizens are all there to hide from something or someone in their past. There is a core group, sheriff Eric Dalton, detective Casey Butler, deputy Anders, doctor April Butler (Casey's sister) and a handful of others that anchor the story and the town. There are even a couple of psychopaths running from their crimes and their psyches. Eric and Casey are married, a team emotionally and physically. The town is self contained, they have the basic needs with few extras. Everyone in Rockton works to keep the town safe and operational. There are also two small settlements know simply as the First Settlement and the Second Settlement, along with small groups and individuals who live in the surrounding forest and trade with Rockton for supplies.

Book 6 starts with a day on the lake becoming an emergency situation when a hiker crashes into the group, injured and unable to speak English. She has wounds consistent with an attack by a group of settlers that have become increasing violent. Unable to give Eric and Casey information, they do understand that she was part of a larger group. All of Kelley Armstrong's books give the readers a quick jump into the multiple puzzles and keep the story moving seamlessly and quickly to the point where they all meet and must now be solved and the criminal punished. I consistently have to stay up all night to finish because there is no way I can sit the book down.

There are no boring or slow chapters in Kelley's books. Each book moves the series forward while giving readers another chance to visit a town that is not on the maps anywhere. I have reread them many times and will reread them again. Rockton could easily become the next Netflix series.

This is the sixth installment of an unusual detective series that takes place in the town of Rockton, a hidden place in the Yukon that takes in people on the run. Casey Duncan, a homicide detective in the town, is now married to its sheriff, Eric Dalton.

This “episode” begins with the discovery of an injured hiker, who speaks a different language but manages to convey she is possibly the only survivor of an attack by “hostiles.” Over the years, residents from Rockton have relocated into the wilderness for various reasons. Rockton people refer to most of them as "settlers," but some are known as “hostiles” or “wild people.” Those in the latter group are primitive and dangerous, fueled by a hallucinogenic “tea” they drink.

It happens that the newest arrival to Rockton, Jay, speaks Danish, the same language as the injured woman, and he helps interpret as April, Casey’s sister who works in their small hospital, tries to save the woman. But soon there are more injured, a member of the mysterious council governing Rockton arrives, and the matter gets considerably more complicated.

Casey and Eric not only need to negotiate with outside settlers and hostiles and navigate the rocky shoals of council politics, but learn why the council has stopped granting extensions of stay to residents, and indeed, is sending fewer new people.

Evaluation: As always, Armstrong ends with a tense run-up with everyone in danger, and with almost everyone under suspicion. Armstrong is one of my favorite authors, and I enjoy all of her work.

In this next book in the Rockton Series, when an injured hiker is found she is brought into the infirmary. It was believed that the hostiles attacked her. Then, when one of the founding members of Rockton shows up, just as more hostile attacks happen, Casey and Eric get the news that Rockton is being shut down. Now, they not only need to stop these attacks, but they need to protect their town and prevent it from being destroyed.
I love these books. They are perfect for anyone looking for a quick read with lots of action & suspense. Casey is the ideal female protagonist, with her take charge attitude, but she is likable as well. I love the uniqueness of the setting, also. Rockton is a settlement made up up people who were guilty of various crimes, and they are serving their time there rather than in prison. I definitely recommend you check out this series.

Yeah, I devoured this book. I just love Kelley Armstrong's writing, and I really enjoy this series! It's just so much fun to read, I love reading about these mysteries that Casey and Eric have to solve! And I just love how smart and logical these characters are!

The synopsis is a bit misleading, at least the one above. The whole bit about the town getting shut down, well, Casey and Eric learn about it, but not until near the end of the book, and they're not really told it until they put together some of the clues, so it's more of a confirmation then an unexpected surprise.

There was another interesting mystery, of a wounded stranger coming out of the woods. I really enjoyed seeing where it went from there, there were quite a few surprises, and we did learn more about these characters!

We do pick up with the threads from the previous book, of the origins of the hostiles. And yeah, it was really interesting to see how they'd all come about. It also tied into another plot line, which was an interesting development! I really enjoyed how it ended, it was pretty heartwarming!

This was another amazing read in this series by an amazing author, and I can't wait to for more in this series!