In this sequal to City Under One Roof, we follow Detective Cara Kennedy as she figures out what really happened to her husband and son.

I really enjoyed this book! It was a fantastic follow up to book one, and things really wrapped up nicely! Although I'm not sure if this author plans to continue following Cara Kennedy, I really hope she does as I really enjoy her as a character, and I'd love to see what other investigations she solves. And even if she doesn't continue writing about Kennedy, I'll be greatly anticipating her upcoming releases, as I think she's quickly becoming a favorite author!

This is a fantastic follow up to City Under One Roof. I really don’t want to say much here because there were a lot of surprises with this one. If you are watching the new season of True Detective it gave me a lot of those vibes. I really love anything set in Alaska and a mystery set there just adds to the elements. This can be read as a stand alone but I recommend reading

Cara is a detective with the Anchorage PD. In book one, she went to Point Mettier to solve a mystery. That small town is actually a town where everyone and everything is in one big condo building. In this book, she heads back there after finding a picture of her husband and son on the phone of a thug. Her husband and son were found dead a year ago, but now she’s not so sure about what happened.

I do want to preface this with the fact that I have not read book 1. So, I don’t know any of the history with Cara or what went down previously in Point Mettier. This book alternates between Cara’s point of view, Ellie’s point of view and Mia’s. Ellie is a long time resident of Point Mettier and is old and crotchety. Mia is a young woman who grew up in a small native town off the grid.

Even though I haven’t read the first book, I think this one does a nice job of letting you know some of the history without it feeling like you’re re-reading everything. I enjoyed Cara and her type of work. It didn’t seem like she fell into solving cases and she didn’t scare easily. Though to be fair, I don’t think she truly did much of the work in solving this mystery.

I’m a sucker for books that take place in Alaska because the culture just seems to different. I enjoyed all of the characters in this story and didn’t find it to be overly predictable. I think maybe it would’ve been more so if I had read the first book but, it was still enjoyable. I did get a little bit bored around the 50% mark but it did pick back up and I flew through the last 30%.


This is a solid 3.5 stars for me. The characters are strong and the plot was enjoyable and moved quickly. It was semi-predictable and, as you know, I do judge mysteries a little more harshly on that aspect. But I will say that it was nice that it wasn’t like some random solution just showed up in the end. I would be open to reading more of this series, especially given the set up for the characters at the end of the story. I would recommend this to you if you enjoy mysteries and don’t find that you need them to be overly complicated or surprise you too much.

While this is the second book in the series, it can be read as a standalone. This is important to note because if you follow my reviews at all, you know that I hate reading books out of order! The author does a great job of filling in the details of what happened in the first book.

Alaska is a beautiful state, but it can be cold and desolate in the winter. That doesn't mean they don't have their fair share of crime and misadventure. This novel blends native cultures with present-day issues. Set in a small town where everything is located in one tall building, we become involved with the lives of those residents of the Davidson Condos. This town doesn't see a lot of tourism, but if people do venture that way, there are condos for rent in this town. There is another small town that plays a factor in this book called Unity. It is an incorporated village and was set up to be a haven and refuge for abused women and their children. No men are allowed except for the children. I really enjoyed the part of the story that was based here and learning how they lived, their traditions, how they incorporated all beliefs and the structure of the village. Sometimes, leaving to discover what else might be out there doesn't mean they will be happier.

This story is told from three points of view - Cara, Ellie, and Mia. These three women are tied together without knowing it until events unfold in the novel. Each plays an internal part in the story, and while they may not trust each other, they find their commonalities and work together to bring this story to its conclusion.

I thought the book was action-packed, with just enough mystery and suspense to keep me guessing. I will say that the ending was quite a surprise. I should have expected that revelation, but I didn't.

I doubt I will go back and read the first book, but I look forward to future novels in this series. We give this book 4 paws up.

Thanks so much to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group and the author for my gifted physical copy and eARC to read and review!

Village In The Dark is the fast paced sequel to City Under One Roof, Iris Yamashita's debut novel, that takes place in the beautiful but eerily dangerous remote regions of Alaska. The thrill ride continues right where book one ended with plenty of twists, secrets, danger and suspense! In this second book, we get to deep dive into a few more of the characters from book one and find out what makes them who they are ... plus we are introduced to some new faces! With lots of heart thumping action as well as in depth character development … this book is a great combination of being character driven and plot driven all at the same time!

Just a little side note: although the author does a superb job of providing recaps and back stories from the first book … and you could probably read this as a stand alone without getting too lost … my suggestion is to read these books in order. Both books are super quick reads with short, snappy chapters … easily devourable in a weekend!

This second in the series (after "City Under One Roof") is welcome, but really requires reading the first for full appreciation. "Village in the Dark" seems to have wrapped up the initial mystery, but I'd like to se more from Iris Yamashita.

Thank you berkleypub for the gifted digital copy!

This past week Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Iris Yamashita's newest mystery hit shelves. VILLAGE IN THE DARK is the second book in the Cara Kennedy series.

Isolated setting in wintery blanketed towns including Point Mettier, Alaska (inspired but not wholly based on the real-life Whittier, Alaska), where all 205 residents live in the same high-rise building. Anchorage-based detective Cara Kennedy is on the hunt to dismantle the suspicious death of her husband and son.

I have not read City Under One Roof but
Yamashita does an excellent job of making this novel stand on its own. The pacing is moved through multiple POVs that slowly lay the ground work for the fast paced action sequence at the end. The reveal was not one I was fully expecting but it highly compliments the themes of money, power and the corrupt aspects of the medical field.

For me as a mystery/thriller reader, I thrive on fast paced and darker themes. While this was intriguing, it didn't fully hit the entertainment mark for me and went too slow in the build. The relationship aspect was well done but felt more like filler too.

If you're loving the True Detective series or enjoyed Twin Peaks, Mare of Easttown, and Broadchurch, than VILLAGE IN THE DARK is perfect for you!

Village in the Dark is the second Cara Kennedy mystery thriller by Iris Yamashita. Released 13th Feb 2024 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 288 pages and is 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.

Just as the first book in the series, this book is *full* of creepy atmosphere with a dark gothic vibe and some paranormal overtones. 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. At the end of the first book, MC Cara has learned that there is more to the disappearance and deaths of her husband and son than she had been led to believe.

Chapters are told in third person, rotating through characters who are well delineated and diverse: Cara herself, a former investigator with the Anchorage police department, a curmudgeonly apartment building super who might have been a bank robber in her former life, 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 over-the-top 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 some energy drinks and local takeaway restaurant on speed-dial.

Four stars, mostly for the descriptions. I like "island" mysteries. This one was better than ok; and better than the first book in the series. It will be interesting to see how it develops.

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

When I started reading Village in the Dark, I didn't know it was a sequel. Needless to say, I hadn't read the first book, so I went in blind. Thankfully, author Iris Yamashita gave me enough information about characters and circumstances that I was able to follow the story with no problem. Am I curious about that first book? After reading this one and meeting the characters, yes, I am, and I intend to satisfy that curiosity.
As for this book, it's very well written, and the pacing is equally good. It's the kind of pacing that, when combined with such a good storyline, you find yourself awake late into the night, one more chaptering it until the sun rises. The characters are so well developed that you'll feel like you've met them, and you'll want to know all their secrets - there are plenty of secrets.
Between what looks like a conspiracy to figuring out who's bad and who's not, the story steadily builds in intensity as it reveals its secrets. Some elements of the story seem a bit farfetched, but the characters feel so real that I barely noticed. I won't reveal those elements because I think every reader should learn them on their own as they follow these characters through each clue.
So, I'd have to say that I enjoyed this mystery by Iris Yamashita. The story pulled me in and held on through each clue the characters uncovered, and I loved how the author paints such vivid pictures with her words.

Thank you Berkley Books, #partner, for the finished copy of Village in the Dark in exchange for my honest review.

This is the second book in Iris Yamashita’s Cara Kennedy series. I was quite impressed with the first book in this series, City Under One Roof, when I read it last year and was wondering how she was going to be able to top it…well, I’m happy to say she totally did. As much as I loved that first book, this one is even better!

The last book ended up quite a cliffhanger and this one picks up that thread and runs with it. To that end, I really feel that it is probably best to have read the previous book, City Under One Roof, before coming into this book so that you are prepared for what happens here. Yes, the author does provide some backstory on the characters and the threads she is carrying over, however I feel you are only getting the bare basics. Just know that going into this one.

The story is told from three perspectives and I loved this. It kept things moving and each of the three perspectives all ultimately had a connection to the overall plot. We get Cara’s perspective, of course, and I found this to be both exciting and at times heartbreaking. She was all over the place with her emotions – what really happened to her husband and son? Were they still alive? And if so, where were they? We also have Ellie’s point of view, who we met in the previous book. She run’s the inn at Point Mettier and I loved getting a deeper dive into her past! And then there was Mia. She was the most fascinating of characters, coming from a community that basically lived off-the-grid.

I loved how these three women’s lives intersected. I had so many different theories when it came to Mia and I’m so glad I was wrong with a few of those theories. Each woman ends up being quite a force to be reckoned with and the circumstances they find themselves in really had my heart pumping. This book is full of twists and turns I did not see coming and I once again found myself glued to the pages.

This book was one of my most anticipated reads of the month and it totally exceeded my expectations! It is another thrilling, atmospheric, chilling read with hints of the NordicNoir that I so enjoy. I loved every second I spent with these characters and I hope there is more to come in this series…I’m not quite ready to say goodbye to Cara Kennedy and the residents of Point Mettier.

Even though this is a second book in a series I actually liked it , I e of the reason is I actually know a little bit about the place the author used in her story since I remembered watching a show about it on YouTube so that made the story even more interesting, and a bit different from anything I've read .

A chilling (in more ways than one!) mystery centering around three strong female characters in the dark, cold winter in Alaska. Iris Yamashita’s Village in the Dark is the second book featuring the lead character Cara Kennedy, and picks up with her pursuing more information about what led to the death of her husband and son over a year earlier.

Village in the Dark is the sequel to Yamashita’s City Under One Roof. The book picks up where the previous book left off, and offers a partial conclusion to where the first book left off. Though this is a sequel, Yamashita does a fantastic job of laying out where Cara Kennedy is at the start of the book and where she has been. You don’t need to read both to read this one.

The book opens with police detective Cara Kennedy at a gravesite in Anchorage, Alaska. But rather than burying the bodies of her husband and son, she’s having their remains exhumed. Over the past year and four months, Cara has lost her husband and son and been paced on long-term disability from her job after failing a psych eval. Though they seemingly died in an accident in the Alaskan wilderness, Cara has become obsessed with linking them to another case in Point Mettier, Alaska and proving it was foul play.

Meanwhile the owner of the Cozy Condo Inn inside the Davidson Condos in Point Mettier, Ellie Wright, is experiencing her own troubles. The town of Point Mettier has just over 200 residents, all of whom reside in the same condo building. Ellies’s son Timmy has died of an alleged drug overdose in Anchorage. When Cara finds pictures of her husband, son, Timmy, and other missing people on a phone belonging to a gang member, she’s convinced the deaths are tied together. Ellie and Cara may not always have gotten along, but their shared grief and search for answers seems to heal those past wounds.

The third storyline centers around Mia, who is a young indigenous woman working under the name Carol at the Lonely Diner in Willow, Alaska. Mia grew up on a women’s collective called Unity where she lost her mother. Mia has struggled to assimilate to life outside of the women’s refuge. She also seems to know what happened to Cara’s husband and son, but is keeping quiet about what she saw.

The first book took place fully in Point Mettier, which is based on the real life town of Whittier which is nicknamed “the town under one roof” because all of the town residents live in one building. I’m fascinated by this setting, so I was initially disappointed that this book only had portions set in Point Mettier. The claustrophobic feeling of the first book is also less present, leaving the story much more open. This made sense stylistically because the case has become much bigger than the case in the first book.

Yamashita does an excellent job building tension throughout the book. Cara Kennedy is in a bad place at the start of the book, and it seems at first like she may be continuing to spiral in the obsession that has plagued her since the deaths of her husband and son. Though Cara seems to be onto a real case, she still proves that her clarity of thought has been clouded by her trauma and mental health struggles. That doesn’t mean she won’t be able to make progress, but she puts herself and other into situations her police training would have avoided.

The plotting of the story was inconsistent, though that could potentially be intentional because the entire premise of the mystery and setting should make us feel off kilter as we try to figure out what is really going on. By the end of the book, Cara’s main storyline that dominated the first two books seems to be resolved, which leaves the question of where Yamashita may take a possible third book. Perhaps this is the conclusion of this story and a future book may revisit Point Mettier in a different way.

Thank you to Berkley for my copy. Opinions are my own.

Village in the Dark by Iris Yamashita is a riveting rollercoaster of an atmospheric mystery within the remote setting of Alaska. This is a suspenseful & twisted tale of interconnected crimes with surprising clues to past disappearances. The tangled web that is woven will have you flipping the pages deep into the night!

This is book #2 in the Cara Kennedy series. While it would give the reader a fuller picture with reading the first book in three series, this could be read & enjoyed by itself.

Village in the Dark is great for fans of…
✨ Captivating Mystery
✨ Alaska
✨ Multiple POVs
✨ Twisted Suspense

I was so excited when I found out that there was a second book in this series. It’s hard to read City Under One Roof & not be charmed by the residents & their unit as well as entertained from this story. I finished book #1 with a curiosity that this book took & strapped me in for one unputdownable ride of a mystery. Something I really enjoy about this story are the achingly real & authentic characters. Their pain, their grit & their imperfectness make it where I couldn’t look away. I also really enjoyed the constant shifting of viewpoints & the short chapters. Those are music to the ears of my ADHD brain to keep it entertained.

This book felt like the author really found their anchorage & the story catapulted into the next speed up. Village in the Dark is more fast paced than the first novel with multiple storylines in different timelines to create one fascinating mystery. It was interesting watching everything unfold as I tried to sleuth out who everyone was. I don’t want to say too much more & give away any spoilers!

I cannot wait to see what this author has up next!

If you’re looking to get lost into a suspenseful mystery with the extremely unique & remote location of Alaska, I highly recommend checking out Village in the Dark!

Massive thanks to NetGalley & Berkley Publishing for the gifted copy, which I voluntarily read & reviewed.

I am still waiting for my Amazon review to go live. I will add the link once it does!

I liked City Under One Roof, Cara Hunter book 1, but I loved this one. It can be read as a stand alone, but I think the reason I loved it so much is it followed a personal issue for Cara that was started in book 1.

This one has such a unique setting that drew me to the series in the first place. The Alaskan town’s only housing is in a high rise. While not any type of locked door, mystery. because as long as the weather permits, the residents are free to come and go as they please. But it is Alaska.

Cara is on leave from the Anchorage police department after an incident following her son and husbands’ deaths. So she has all the skills of a police officer, but isn’t working that capacity when in Point Mettier. She is on a personal mission. I really like Cara and her gutsy approach to her situation. Actually I like all the quirky inhabitants of this sleepy town. It’s a place you go to hide away and many of the residents are hiding from something. I loved getting to know these characters as the author paints each of them a rich history. They are unique and they add so much to the story.

The book is suspenseful from the onset and there were so many theories I had about the truth about Cara’s family. It’s complex and layered and kept me glued to the read. While I won’t spoil anything, I never suspected how this one would end up. I have no idea where the author would go if this series continues, but I really I hope I get the chance to find out.

Sophie Oda, Blaire Chandler and Aspen Vincent bring these quirky characters to life in the audiobook. Their voices really brought Point Mettier’s characters to life and fit with the characters they represented. I almost wished I didn’t have the ARC and could only listen to this one.

Thanks to Berkely Publishing and PRH Audio for my ARC and ALC.

Thank you @berkleypub for my complimentary eArc and @prhaudio for my audiobook. My thoughts are my own.
#penguinrandomhousepartners

I thoroughly enjoyed the author’s debut novel, CITY UNDER ONE ROOF, last year, so I was excited to receive an advanced digital copy of the sequel! While VILLAGE IN THE DARK can be read as a stand-alone novel, I recommend starting with book 1 so you can get the intriguing back stories for the main characters.

BRIEF SYNOPSIS: When Cara Kennedy’s husband and son disappeared and were later found dead, Cara was devastated. A little over a year later, she is gradually picking up the pieces of her life, and even has a new love interest, when a DNA expert tells her that the DNA of the bodies she buried does not match that of her son and husband. Could they still be alive? Cara sets out to find the truth and uncovers a tangled mystery.

MY THOUGHTS: The cold setting, unique mystery, and quirky characters drew me to the first mystery and the same can be said for this one! The story unfolds through three perspectives: Cara, Ellie, and Mia. Cara and Ellie ‘bond’ over their lost sons and Mia holds an important key. The characters are well-developed and the action moves along at a good pace. I probably enjoyed Ellie’s perspective the most, as it provided new details about her colorful past.

I love to combine reading and listening to a book. The narrators in the audiobook were perfect for the characters they portrayed. Whether you listen to or read this book, I recommend it if you like:

*mysteries in cold settings
*books in a series
*well-developed characters

This was a good follow up to the first book in the series, Under One Roof. While it is part of a series, it can also be read as a standalone. I recommend reading the first book though, as it was an amazing debut!
This book is told from the perspective of three characters: our main character Cara, as well as Ellie and Mia. Their chapters flowed together well to weave a good, suspenseful story. I do wish we had more focus on the condos as in the first book. Few things I did not expect! And some ‘neatly tied’ coincidences. I enjoyed this book overall and recommend reading it if you enjoyed the first story as well.

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart


Review copy was received from NetGalley, Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The continuation of the Cara Kennedy series is something I was very excited to read. City Under One Roof introduces us to Cara as a new widow, struggling to put herself together and get answers. The setting of Point Mettier, Alaska with its one big building and so many interesting characters was well developed.

In Village in the Dark, we again had the point of view of three female characters. Cara returns from the first book, a widow and detective from Anchorage on disability leave. Mia is a young women from a very remote village, living in Alaska pretty much her entire life. Ellie, we already know from Point Mettier.

Cara decides to exhume the bodies of her husband and son to see if she can learn more about how they died. This sets her into a new investigation. She has her new relationship with JB to support her emotionally, although people aren't happy she is investigating.

Mia is a young women who worked at Algmagor with Cara's husband, Aaron. She grew up in a different isolated village which housed only women, many trying to escape abuse or fled there after an assault. But she left there to make her way in Anchorage.

Ellie is the "inn" owner in Point Mettier, owning several condos and renting them out. Previously she rented to Cara. She gets a notification that her son has died of an overdose.

Cara has photos from a phone from one of the gang members of the last book. There is a picture of her with Aaron and Dylan, and one of Ellie's son, Timmy, and many others. Cara starts researching to find out everyone in the photos is missing or dead. She and Ellie try to work together, unsuccessfully, then each start on their own leads.

The villains from the previous book are now after Cara. She and Ellie and Mia are all struggling for answers and to survive. Eventually, things come to a head. It's dangerous and shocking. I loved it so much!

Detective Cara Kennedy faces the devastating loss of her husband and son, initially believed to be the result of a tragic accident. However, disturbing evidence surfaces, suggesting that their deaths might be connected to a series of murders. Determined to unveil the truth, Cara embarks on a relentless pursuit of justice, discovering shocking clues that point to foul play.

The narrative unfolds against the backdrop of a frigid February day in Anchorage, as Cara grapples with the exhumation of her family's graves. The investigation takes an unexpected turn when Mia Upash, a resident of the isolated village called Unity, becomes entangled in the mystery. Unity, a community of women and children in hiding from abusive men, holds secrets that may be linked to the broader web of deaths and disappearances.

As Cara, joined by police officer Joe Barkowski and other residents of Point Mettier, digs deeper into the investigation, they navigate a perilous path that jeopardizes not only their lives but also those of everyone around them. The connection between Mia's past in Unity and the unfolding mystery adds layers to the narrative, creating a gripping and suspenseful tale of danger and deception.

It is a gripping mystery that masterfully weaves together the threads of loss, intrigue, and the quest for justice. Iris Yamashita's narrative skillfully constructs a world where the chilling Alaska landscape mirrors the suspenseful atmosphere of the investigation. The author crafts a plot that keeps readers on the edge of their seats, yearning for answers alongside Detective Cara Kennedy.

The exploration of the isolated village, Unity, introduces a compelling layer to the story, highlighting the struggles of women and children hiding from abusive men. Mia Upash's connection to the mystery adds depth and emotional resonance to the narrative, creating a poignant exploration of trauma, survival, and the consequences of silence.

The characters, led by the determined Detective Cara Kennedy, are well-developed and contribute to the overall tension and intrigue. The collaboration between Cara and police officer Joe Barkowski, as well as the involvement of the residents of Point Mettier, brings a sense of community and shared purpose to the investigation.

Yamashita's prose is evocative, capturing the harsh beauty of the Alaskan setting and the emotional turmoil of the characters. "Village in the Dark" is not merely a whodunit; it's a nuanced exploration of justice, resilience, and the complexities of human relationships.

In conclusion, Iris Yamashita delivers a riveting mystery that seamlessly blends elements of suspense and emotional depth. "Village in the Dark" is a compelling read that will leave audiences eagerly anticipating each twist and turn in the quest for truth.

Thank you Berkeley Publishing and PRH Audio for my gifted copy of the book. All opinions are my own.

This was such a thrilling follow up to the first book! I love that in this series our MC, Cara isn't just wallowing in her depression but is doing something about it.

Drugs, dealers, missing people - it all gave extra to moving the plot along, and building up the mystery. The desolate location helped. It just feels like you can't really turn to anyone for help, or find a safe place to hide. Definitely helps with the tense feeling of the book.

Also, what now? Do we get to see more of Cara? I need to know!

Village in the Dark is the second book in the Cara Kennedy series. It’s best read in order.

In the last book Detective Cara Kennedy found a picture of her dead son and husband on a drug dealer’s phone suggesting that a hiking accident wasn’t the cause of their death. She teams up with Ellie, one of the residents in Point Mettier, and Joe Barkowski “JB”, the officer Cara worked with in the first book, to track down answers. Also factoring in this story is Mia, a young woman from a village apart and hidden from society.

There are three POVs: Cara, Ellie, and Mia, which are connected to the case, but as a reader you’re not sure how. I enjoyed each of the women’s perspectives, all very different in age and situation.

Cara’s was one I was familiar with as she was one of the main characters in the last book and this is a continuation of the mystery behind the death of her husband and son. I was enraged for her as things were revealed!

Ellie was kind of a crochety old woman the last book, the owner of the “Inn” in Point Mettier, a busy body with hints of a shady past. Through her POV we get her history, and I admired her for it! Ellie was a tough woman with courage and determination, and I liked her spunk!

I was eager to find out Mia’s connection, as she was obviously trying to stay under the radar.

I loved getting back to Point Mettier, Alaska and getting to know the characters more in this installment! It’s an interesting, unique setting, living so isolated in their condo-tower city, only accessible through a tunnel or by sea. It’s sort of self-governed being so out there. There’s a little romance, too, even though it’s not the focus of the story.

I really enjoyed Village in the Dark! It was exciting and suspenseful with twists I didn’t see coming! I hope there are more Cara Kennedy mysteries to come!