City Under One Roof by Iris Yamashita is a fantastically stormy suspense novel. Perfect to capture one’s attention this season as it mirrors the wintery atmosphere of this book. Is this going to be a series because I can see it going to mini-series! There could be more character development in this book but could come if there was a series...wink wink. The setting of this book was so captivating and immersive. Looking forward to reading more from this author!

City Under One Roof was an atmospheric and quick read. It felt like I was watching a fast-paced Hollywood movie.

The setting is a tiny town with 200 something residents. A cold, isolated Alaskan town called Point Mettier. All of the residents live in the same high-rise building. The condos.

After some body parts are found on a beach by teenagers, detectives from Anchorage come in to investigate. One of these detectives is Cara Kennedy. But she is there for different reasons. Cara gets stranded on this town and finds herself in the middle of a mess.

The author builds up the tension well. Claustrophobic nature of the snow-ice covered town, the said building, and tunnels, the not-very-welcoming residents of the town. And some outsiders disturbing the piece of the town. All the elements are there.

At its core City Under One Roof is a murder mystery-police procedural. But aside from the murder investigation on these pages you'll find the striking beauty of the Alaskan nature and a community of stragglers, oddballs and recluses who had chosen to live there who would rally together to protect their own at all cost.

There were a couple things I found unnecessary: the romantic relationship between Cara and J.B. and one character who makes a few appearances, Susie. It is hard to talk about those factors without spoilers.

The twist at the very end was satisfying and let my mouth open. Overall I thought City Under One Roof as a quick read with an atmospheric setting. I doubt that it will be a memorable book for me down the road but it kept me entertained for a few days

I received a complimentary ARC copy of City Under One Roof by Iris Yamashita from Net Galley & Berkley Publishing Group in order to read and give an honest review.

… Very atmospheric with a cast of quirky dynamic characters, and a twisty plot, this book, definitely unique …

Local teenager Amy Lin discovers a severed hand and foot washed up on the shore of the small isolated Alaskan town of Point Mettier When the description of the crime scene piques the interest of Anchorage detective Cara Kennedy, she makes the trip to the isolated Point Mettier to investigate. While investigating, along with local police Chief Shipley and his partner officer Joe Barkowski a.k.a. J. B, Cara uncovers the head of the deceased buried in the stall belonging to long-term townie Lonnie and her pet moose, Lonnie becomes a suspect in Cara’s eyes. Lonnie whose bizarre ramblings quickly suggest that she is innocent meaning the killer is still on the loose in Point Mettier.

Point Mettier becomes a character in itself. Eerily similar to the real town of Whittier, Alaska, a former military outpost where all the town residents and shopkeepers live and work under one roof, Port Mettier and the building called Dave-Co. amp up the atmosphere in this book. Dave-co an apartment complex that contains a network of underground tunnels, a B & B, grocery store, post office, Chinese restaurant, church, hospital, and police station (including cells) residents rarely get outside. The town so isolated is perfect for those residents who are hiding from something or someone and the only way in or out of the town is a one lane tunnel that is notorious for closing in inclement weather.

Cara, battling demons of her own after the death of her son and husband is already on shaky ground the best of days but when the tunnel is closed due to a storm, she finds herself stranded in the building, an outsider, along with the rest of the 200+ town residents including a murderer. When a gang from a neighboring town arrives with semi-automatics, another layer is uncovered, one that has residents barricading their doors and Cara on further on the edge.

A decent novel debut from author Iris Yamashita Academy Award nominated writer for the movie Letters from Iwo Jima. Very atmospheric with a cast of quirky dynamic characters, and a twisty plot, this book, definitely unique in itself, might attract fans of movies such as Fargo or Twin Peaks. Although slow to get into and I felt certain things were not really addressed or wrapped up, its ending suggests a sequel is in the works. City Under One Roof is a quirky and atmospheric read that I really enjoyed, and would definitely recommend. Look forward to reading more about Cara Kennedy and the Dave-Co residents’ stories.

A fascinating, intriguing, convoluted puzzle marks the commencement of a new Mystery series set in Alaska. I'd categorize CITY UNDER ONE ROOF somewhere on a continuum between classically Cozy and Police Procedural, dipped strongly in Psychological Thriller. A strongly determined yet feckless female heroine, paired with a feckless police officer with a sad background, investigate a strange occurrence in a beautifully scenic but highly secretive Alaskan community. I had expected Dystopian, but this is a lively puzzle-mystery, contemporary, with flavors of AND THEN WERE NONE, as during Winter the town is inescapable. The novel kept me riveted and turning those pages!

Cara Kennedy, a detective from Anchorage, is stranded in a small Alaskan town where all residents live in a single high-rise building. Cara is in town for her own personal reasons but ends up trying to solve a local murder.

What I liked: The plot was interesting and kept me wanting to read more. The book was very atmospheric – a small town in Alaska that is isolated and can only be reached in the winter months by a tunnel, snowmobile or helicopter. It’s winter and the whole town is stranded due to an avalanche. It was also unique that the whole town resided in a single building.

What I didn’t like: There were parts that were slow and there were a lot of characters. It took me a while to get everyone straight. The mystery was intriguing but the twists were just ok.

Overall, this was a solid debut. I wouldn’t consider it a thriller, but more of a mystery. If you enjoy mysteries with a unique setting I would recommend.

This was a very interesting book. While I felt like there could have been more character development, I found Cara’s narrative to be compelling and relatable. The setting was completely immersive.

Point Mettier, Alaska is a tiny town filled with people trying to escape their pasts. With all 205 permanent residents living in the same high-rise condo building, folks have a healthy respect for each others’ privacy and a distrust of outsiders asking questions. But when a personal connection to a possible murder brings detective Cara Kennedy to Point Mettier – and then heavy snow blocks the only road out – she’ll have to move quickly to determine who she can trust, and who will trust her.

City Under One Roof is a compelling page-turner that blends elements of mystery and thriller, and as stress and isolation take their toll on Kennedy supernatural elements begins to creep in. I was surprised to find out that this is Yamashita’s debut mystery novel – she has a mastery of storytelling that made this book difficult to put down. Point Mettier is a great setting for a mystery, with confining weather, claustrophobic utility tunnels, and aging buildings. It feels secure from the outside world, which makes the threat more intense when danger arrives.

And while the plotting is gripping, where the book really shines is its characters. Yamashita has created a diverse and interesting cast, and uses multiple viewpoint characters to great effect. Scenes, characters, and events are always described through the lens of the current narrator, adding layers to both what is being seen and the person doing the seeing. Lonnie (one of the viewpoint characters) lives with an unnamed mental disorder, and (though my own issues are different enough that I don’t think it’s my place to say definitively) I thought that her chapters did a good job showing how scary the world is for her instead of stigmatizing or making fun of her. Other characters are on journeys with anxiety, grief, and paranoia, but Yamashita treats them all with respect and kindness (though the narrator of a given chapter may not do so themselves).

Overall, this is a great standalone mystery that’s well-worth the time it takes to read.

(It’s worth noting that I would give this book a strong content warning for child death/endangerment and domestic abuse – a main character is grieving the death of their young child, the climax of the book involves criminals hunting for teenage witnesses, and many of the residents of Point Mettier came there fleeing domestic abuse.)

City Under One Roof is available for purchase today (January 10, 2023) and might be held by your local library. You can find it in print and support a local bookstore via IndieBound, or as an ebook at Kobo (or presumably most other ebook distributors).

BOOK REVIEW: City Under One Roof by Iris Yamashita
2023 Publication Date: January 10

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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T.I.M.E. BOOK REVIEW:
An Intriguing Mystery
Do you dream of a book that will have you guessing at every turn? If so, then City Under One Roof by Iris Yamashita is the perfect book for you. This gripping debut novel introduces readers to a stranded detective as she attempts to solve a terrible crime in an isolated Alaskan town where everyone lives in a single building. Prepare yourself for suspense and thrills as Cara Kennedy’s investigation gets underway.

Read on to learn more about this thrilling story and why it should be your next read...

The Plot and Characters
The plot of City Under One Roof is intriguing and captivating. After a local teenager discovers a severed hand and foot washed up on the shore of Point Mettier, Alaska, visiting detective, Cara Kennedy, is determined to get to the bottom of the possible murder in this unique and mysterious small town.

However, when a blizzard causes the tunnel and only access or "escape" leading out of Point Mettier to close indefinitely, Cara finds herself stuck among the townspeople — all 205 of whom live in one high-rise building and prove to be as unique and mysterious as the town they live in.

As Cara begins her investigation into the murder, she must navigate a web of secrets among Point Mettier’s residents if she hopes to solve the case before time runs out and the killer strikes again.

The characters are also incredibly well-developed and unique in City Under One Roof. Detective Cara Kennedy is determined yet vulnerable, making her an easy character for readers to root for throughout her journey. She is smart but flawed — which makes for an interesting dynamic as the story progresses — and her determination makes her an excellent detective in this compelling mystery novel.

The other characters are just as fascinating. From suspicious locals to mysterious strangers with unknown motives (that even give off a serial killer vibe with one dark secret after another), each character brings something unique to this captivating story.

Why You Should Read City Under One Roof
City Under One Roof is full of mystery and suspense from start to finish. It takes readers on a journey with Cara as she tries to unravel the clues surrounding this mysterious murder.

It also provides insight into what life is like in one of America’s most remote areas, while giving readers insight into how small towns function and how outsiders can sometimes be viewed with suspicion. And dives into themes such as redemption, forgiveness, and justice... topics that are relevant and easily relatable regardless of location.

Finally, it’s a suspense novel beautifully written in an engaging and suspenseful way that will keep thriller fans turning pages until the very end!

♡ T.I.M.E. TIP ➾ Keep an eye on this book and author... I have a feeling we may be experiencing Book 1 of a potential (but unannounced as of yet) best thriller series! Will keep you updated...

City Under One Roof by Iris Yamashita is an exciting debut novel that combines suspenseful mystery with a thrilling drama set against a backdrop of snow-covered Alaskan mountains. You are in good hands with this debut author as her previous writing experience includes an Academy Award nomination for the screenplay of Letters From Iwo Jima (Directed by Clint Eastwood).

With its well-developed characters and captivating plot twists, it’s no wonder that this book is sure to be a hit with readers everywhere! If you’re looking for your next great read, then look no further than Iris Yamashita's City Under One Roof — you won't be disappointed!...✨😎✨

Pages: 304
Genre: Best Thriller Books
Sub-Genre: Detective Thriller | Crime Novels
Time Period: Present Day
Location: Alaska (US)
Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group

IF YOU LIKE THIS BOOK THEN TRY…
Book: Kate Burkholder Series by Linda Castillo ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
TV Series: True Detective: Night Country with Jodie Foster (Upcoming 2023 HBO Release)

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A thrilling mystery novel set in an isolated and mysterious Alaskan town...

This gripping crime fiction story follows one detective’s journey as she gets stranded in Point Mettier, Alaska, and uncovers a murder that could have serious implications for the entire town.

City Under One Roof follows Cara Kennedy, an Anchorage detective who is drawn into investigating a possible murder in Point Mettier, Alaska after a teenager discovers body parts washed up on the shore. The town is only accessible through an underground tunnel and when it closes due to an unexpected blizzard, Cara finds herself stranded among the 205 suspicious residents of the town’s single high-rise building.

As Cara continues her investigation and attempts to solve the case, she discovers secrets about the locals and their pasts that could explain why someone would want them dead.

With its gripping plot that dives into themes of redemption and justice while introducing readers to what life is like in a small Alaskan town all under one roof, this book won’t disappoint.

If you’re looking for best thriller novels that will have you guessing all the way through to its final pages, then City Under One Roof by Iris Yamashita is definitely worth picking up!

BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION:
• The power of a small town's history and the secrets that can be hidden within it.
• How quickly circumstances and perceptions can take an unexpected turn and how important persistence is to find the truth.
• Understanding the importance of redemption, forgiveness, and justice to complete a full story arc with engaging characters.

BOOK QUOTE:
"She was done trying to check herself... She wanted to throw her heart all in..." — City Under One Roof by Iris Yamashita

--------------------

All my book reviews can be seen at This Is My Everybody | Simple Living | Denise Wilbanks at thisismyeverybody.com/blog/what-book-should-i-read

♡ Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

4.5/5

Thank you Berkley Pub for the gifted copy!

SYNOPSIS: Cara Kennedy shows up to the tiny town of Point Mettier, Alaska with two different motives. Outwardly, she’s investigating the body parts a teenager found washed up on the shore. Internally, however, she’s searching for clues to her own mystery. When a snow storm closes the tunnel and leaves Cara stranded, she’s thrown head-first into the drama that is the high rise where all of Point Mettier’s 205 residents live. Things are never what they seem in this mystery…

I absolutely tore through this one omg! I was instantly hooked by the opening lines — “And when did you find the body… parts?” I MEAN COME ON! Finding out that Iris Yamashita is an award-winning screenwriter instantly made sense, as this book was written in a fast-paced, easy to devour way. I’d love to see it as a movie! Following this story through Cara, Amy and Lonnie’s perspectives created a really well-rounded plot. Read this if you like a locked-room whodunnit with short chapters and lots of action.

I voluntarily read an advanced copy of City Under One Roof by Iris Yamashita. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC.

I don't exaggerate when I say this book gave me chills more than once. It wasn't that the story itself was scary, but the creation of the isolated building where all the events took place was brilliant. I am a huge fan of mystery books creating creepy vibes and locations to set their murders in, and this is one of the best that I have read in a while. The mystery was also very well-paced, and I enjoyed the switches between the various residence and our outsider cop. My only complaint was that the reason the cop showed up in the first place felt somewhat unnecessary, but it looks like it will be a theme that will go through future books starring this protagonist. Because of this, I am more lenient with the open ending of this plot arc. I give City Under One Roof 4.5/5 stars. A great debut novel and I can't wait to read the next I'm the series.

We're featuring City Under One Foor in the 13 January episode of The Library of Lost Time podcast. I loved the setup: A lady detective from Anchorage goes to an isolated town in Alaska to investigate a possible murder. All of the residents of Point Mettier — all 205 of them — live in the same high-rise building. The town can only be reached by tunnel. Then a blizzard closes the tunnel, and they're all trapped together. With a murderer. To add to the fun, there's a roving gang of hoodlums on snowmobiles with their own agenda.

I thoroughly enjoyed that author Iris Yamashita based the story on a real place, then populated it with her own cast of quirky characters. Bonus points of love for the story being told through three female perspectives. Yamashita's ability to set up character with specific details is insightful and funny (love the reference to the untrustworthyness of a man who wears a gold watch).

This is suspenseful and has a very strong sense of place — just a whole lot of fun.

This is a page turning closed town mystery set in Alaska. Yes, you read that correctly the town is basical closed due to the only winter route which is a tunnel having to shut down.

All the year round residents (about 200 people) in Point Mettier, Alaska live in one building with all amenities like the sheriff’s office either being in the building or accessible through tunnels.

Body parts are found by a group of teenagers in Point Mettier and Cara Kennedy, a detective from Anchorage, comes to investigate. She gets stranded in town and the longer she is stuck there the more the mystery heats up.

Cara has her own secrets just like most of the small group of residents so it’s a page turner to see these secrets revealed.

This is a fantastic mystery where you can just feel the cold seeping through the pages. The book is told in three points of view. Amy, a teenager, who found the body parts. Lonnie, the town eccentric, who has a pet moose. And Cara, the detective from Anchorage.
These three perspectives combined tell the story and make the book an entertaining read.

I went to Alaska this summer. It was an amazing experience. I thought often during that trip that being in these same cities in the winter would have an entirely different feel so that’s one reason this book really spoke to me.

Point Mettier, Alaska is a tiny, isolated town where all 205 residents live in one apartment building. Detective Cara Kennedy comes to Point Mettier to investigate a severed hand and foot that wash ashore and is stranded in the town when the only exit is blocked by an avalanche. Everyone has secrets

I loved this book! The setting was so unique - an entirely new take on a locked room/isolated location mystery - and the characters were all well developed and vibrant, especially Cara. Her tragic backstory was heartbreaking, and I was really rooting for her to find the answers she needed.

The ending was left open for a potential sequel - fingers crossed that there's one in the works!

This crime thriller sounded soooo good to me but was rather far from what I'd imagined and left me with mixed emotions.

I loved the snowy and isolated Alaskan setting but it never did feel as tense or claustrophobic as I wanted it to be. Unlike what the title or synopsis suggests, the focus wasn't on a single high-rise building either as you have characters all over the town. Point Mettier does feel very real despite being fictional though!

The mystery was on the underwhelming side for me but the pay-off was good. The cast really stood out and I liked how everyone isn't who they seem to be. Interestingly, the character I understood least turned out to be the most kickass and impressive one! Meanwhile, there was another bit that was super obvious to me right from the first mention of it.

Not sure how I feel about the final chapter but the detectives are memorable and likeable enough for me to be keen on a sequel. I also really enjoyed the novel's exploration of grief, loss, mental illness and other difficult topics.

Overall, this was still a suspenseful and atmospheric read despite lacking the locked-room element and propulsion that I was seeking.

City Under One Roof is a mystery thriller by Iris Yamashita. Due out 10th Jan 2023 from Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 304 pages and will be available in hardcover, audio, and paperback formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. 

This is such an atmospheric/creepy mystery. Set in an isolated tiny hamlet in rural Alaska in what had been an army base, the 200+ residents all live in the same building with outlying (mostly subterranean) buildings used as functional business sites and entertainment venues (such as they are). It's very much an island/isolation setting with most of the dramatic tension coming from the gradual exposure of secrets and crimes for each of the primary characters. 

Chapters are told in third person, rotating through the main characters which are, admittedly, quite diverse: an Asian mother and daughter who run the local restaurant, a curmudgeonly apartment building super who might have been a bank robber in her former life, a gruff police chief who has an odd caretaker relationship with a young woman with trauma and mental challenges who has a pet moose called Denny, an aging (extremely creepy) Japanese cabaret singer, and several others. Despite the quirky characters there's very little humor to be found. The book's tension arc is mostly unrelieved, ratcheting up throughout to an oddly not-wholly-satisfying denouement and resolution. 

The writing is competent and *very* cinematic. The scenery and descriptions are three dimensional and complete. I expect the movie rights are already hashed out, and the author (an Academy Award nominated screenwriter) will be able to knock the script out in a long weekend with a 6-pack of energy drinks and local takeaway restaurant on speed-dial. 

The book's main problem for me was the immoderate everything-including-the-kitchen-sink plotline. It felt overcrowded. Some of the tension was lost, for example, in the descriptions of the delivery of Chinese food to residents through the eerie hallways of the residential complex with readers expecting a jump-scare any second. Another issue was the seemingly random addition of two "wait, what??!!" twists in the *epilogue* of the book. I would also add a fervent prayer that most police departments don't work that way, hopefully. 

Four stars, mostly for the descriptions. I like "island" mysteries. This one was better than ok, but not superlative. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Iris Yamashita blends a unique setting with diverse characters in this atmospheric debut mystery novel. City Under One Roof is thought-provoking, clever, and full of secrets. Local teenager, Amy Lin, discovers a severed hand and foot washed up in a cove near Point Mettier, Alaska. Cara Kennedy, a detective from Anchorage comes to investigate the possible murder. She has her own personal reasons for doing so.

This isolated town can only be reached for part of the year via a tunnel, snowmobile, or helicopter. During the tourist season, a ferry is operated. However, a blizzard followed by an avalanche closes the tunnel while Cara is in the isolated town. Cara is stuck in town and rents an apartment at the Davidson Condos, a multi-storied building that houses all of the town’s residents. Cara teams up with local police officer Joe Barkowski to investigate, but soon other problems arise. How did the victim die? Who is it? What secrets are being kept by the local residents?

Several characters play major roles in the story and the points of view alternate between Cara, Amy, and a woman named Lonnie. Cara is haunted by her past. She suffers from PTSD and her grief can overwhelm her at times, but she is a great detective. Amy seems to be a typical teenager dealing with a boyfriend and an overprotective mother. However, her discovery and her actions after that give readers insight into her complex traits. Lonnie has had a difficult life and has secrets of her own. What roles will they play in this mystery?

The characterization is well-done. Readers get insight into the characters and their secrets as the story progresses. Their actions, reactions, feelings, and thoughts provide clues to their personality traits that helped me understand their larger roles in the story.

The premise for this novel is excellent and the mystery is riveting. However, there are a few slow spots along the way. The setting and atmosphere are terrific. This reader felt transported to Alaska and could easily feel the cold and see the blizzard. Themes include death and grief, isolation and claustrophobia, domestic violence, secrets and lies, and much more. The author says the inspiration for the town comes from Whittier, Alaska. It’s accessible only by boat or a one-way, one lane tunnel. Additionally, most of the residents live in the same building.

Overall, this story is gripping, thought-provoking, and emotional, with great world-building. This is the first book in a mystery series. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author and seeing where she takes the characters next. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

Berkley Publishing Group and Iris Yamashita provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for January 10, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

Wow this book was eery , claustrophobic and gave me chills at times!

Welcome to the Alaskan town called Point Mettier total population 205, they live under the same roof in a building called Dave-Co. The town has a one postoffice, a church, an infirmary, and a general store. You can get your take-out from only two places and one of them is Chinese restaurant. There are only two police officers of Point Mettier: Chief Sipley and J.B.
Amy is only 17 while hanging out with a few friends she finds pieces of a body which includes a severed hand and foot washed up from the shore. She’s interviewed by the two police officers and one who was brought in from anchorage. They assume it’s just a jumper from a cruise ship and they close it. To everyones surprise another Anchorage officer arrives to the town. Her name is Cara Kennedy. Cara plans to get to the bottom of the case she doesn’t think it’s a jumper. When an avalanche closes the tunnel, Cara finds herself trapped in the small town. Cara has her own past and secret. Soon a gang from a neighboring town show up and the town doesn’t like Cara digging into their secrets will she be able to uncover what’s going on before it’s to late? I loved this book it builds the tension and you can feel the small town aspects and the cold from Alaska!

City Under One Roof
by Iris Yamashita
Pub Date: January 10, 2023
Berkely
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
I was drawn to the book by the description. A stranded detective tries to solve a murder in a tiny Alaskan town where everyone lives in a single high-rise building, in this gripping debut by an Academy Award–nominated screenwriter.
This book is fantastic! It's a thriller I really enjoyed. Action packed, fast pacing, character driven story! Read this book, it's a secret gem and surpassed my expectations.
4 stars

I really enjoyed the setting for this book. The idea of a town so small it’s under one roof (and tied together with some tunnels) during the harsh Alaskan winter months. The story jumps right in with our first narrator Amy being questioned by police after she finds a hand and a food on the beach. The investigating officer leaves assuming it was parts that floated up after a suicide, but Cara another officer from Anchorage has her own suspicions and makes it to the town to do her own investigating before getting trapped by an avalanche. The chapters are short and the perspectives change between several people. The small town community was super fun and I really liked the investigation and the mystery as it unfolded. There were a couple of twist moments that weren’t as twisty as they tried to be, but overall this was a fun police centered mystery (I hesitate to call it a procedural because they improvised and were definitely not by the book) and I hope to read more by this author.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4857455943

Reading Iris Yamashita's debut novel gives me chills. Really! First, there' a chopped-off hand and foot that wash up in an icy inlet. Then there's the isolation of a community that lives in one building. Yes, a whole town in one building -- for doctors, work, groceries, schools. Everything. And there's only one way in and out of the town - a long, cold tunnel. Chilly!
When Cara Kennedy, a distraught detective from Anchorage shows up, she's met with frigid attitudes and eccentric residents.. Gang members from a nearby native village. A woman who walks a moose on a leash. And more! It's a whodunit where everyone is a suspect and all have their own motives, including the detective!