#Review - Watcher in the Woods by Kelley Armstrong #Mystery

Series: Casey Duncan/Rockton (#4)
Format: Hardcover, 368 pages
Release Date: February 5, 2019
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Source: Publisher
Genre: Mystery & Detective / Police Procedural

Watcher in the Woods is the next gripping installment of #1 bestselling Kelley Armstrong's riveting Casey Duncan series.

The secret town of Rockton has seen some rocky times lately; understandable considering its mix of criminals and victims fleeing society for refuge within its Yukon borders. Casey Duncan, the town's only detective on a police force of three, has already faced murder, arson, and falling in love in the several months that she's lived there. Yet even she didn't think it would be possible for an outsider to locate the town and cause trouble in the place she's come to call home.

When a US Marshal shows up demanding the release of one of the residents, but won't say who, Casey and her boyfriend, Sheriff Eric Dalton, are skeptical. And yet only hours later, the marshal is shot dead and the only possible suspects are the townspeople and Casey's estranged sister, smuggled into town to help with a medical emergency. It's up to Casey to figure out who murdered the marshal, and why someone would kill to keep him quiet—before the killer strikes again.
 

 

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.

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