have been reading Kelley Armstrong’s books for over half a decade now so it’s safe to say I am a fan. From her YA to her adult, she never fails to deliver a series of characters I find myself immediately invested in and plots I am eager to watch unfold. Watcher in the Woods is the fourth book in a series and usually, by the fourth book of a series, my interest starts to wane but a fourth book in the hands of Kelley Armstrong??? Watcher in the Woods proves that it can be a very powerful thing.

If you haven’t read this series and are a fan of well-written mystery novels that don’t involve annoying dude detectives, you should probably get on it. If you’re already a fan of the Rockton novels, I am here to tell you Watcher in the Woods is just as good if not better than its preceding novels.

We start right where we left out, with Kenny having been shot and Casey having to do the last thing she wants to — call her sister for help. AND WE FINALLY GET TO MEET CASEY’s infamous sister, April (and another new character who I won’t say much about.) Honestly, I cannot believe Armstrong can introduce new characters in book-fucking-four and I somehow end up loving them as much as the main characters by the end of the book. Of course, my review cannot all be about how much I love April and Sebastian so alas, I must move on.

Watcher in the Woods, imo, marks a turning point in this series because so many new secrets about the town come out and it all feels like its building to a bigger confrontation. The council continues to be sketchy as fuck but this time, our crew is faced with an outside intruder, a US Marshall. With the very future of their safe haven at line, our detectives must get to work figuring out what is going on. Casey and Eric continue to be extremely competent as usual and their relationship is just as amazing as ever. So we can trust they got everyone’s back. Yes, that’s a pretty vague summary of the plot but you know, this is a mystery, I don’t want to give away all the twists!!!

Before wrapping up, I do want to mention that Armstrong uses the word ‘tribal’ to describe the hostiles. Which is especially irksome given that hostiles are constantly regarded as subhuman throughout the books? To elaborate, the hostiles are regarded as animalistic creatures who no longer know how to be human. “They are also ritualistic — painting and scarring themselves and setting out totems to mark territory” (location 466/5405 in the earc.) There is some backtracking right after this is stated “But in no way should they be confused with tribal societies” (location 466/5405 in the earc.) But perhaps the word tribal shouldn’t have been used at all. Please keep in mind, I have not cross-checked this quote in the finished version so she could have chosen to use a different term.

ANYWAY, Watcher in the Woods proves to be another strong addition to the series and I cannot wait to see where Armstrong will take us from here. Clearly we’re in for a ride.

Watcher in the Woods is the fourth installment in Kelley Armstrong's highly original Rockton series featuring police detective Casey Duncan and her boyfriend Sheriff Eric Dalton. The book could technically be read as a standalone, but I wouldn't really recommend starting here since the previous entries in the series will supply readers with some much needed context. Plus, this is one of Ms. Armstrong's very best bodies of work, and I'd hate to see anyone miss out. So, I suggest picking up City of the Lost and reading on from there.

This is a hard book to review without spoiling some key plot points for the first three books, so please read on with caution if you're new to the series.

It's been a year since Casey Duncan ran away from her life as a police detective on the rise in a large Canadian city and fled to the secret town of Rockton which is located deep in the Yukon territory. During this time, she's met the man of her dreams, learned her best friend Diana - who was partially responsible for Casey's decision to move to Rockton - is a lying, scheming bitch, and matched wits with several dangerous criminals. She keeps hoping things in Rockton will settle down, but peace and tranquillity don't seem to be in the cards for Casey and Eric.

When one of Rockton's residents is gravely injured, Casey reaches out to her sister April for help, something which those in charge of running the town are not at all happy about. Part of what keeps the residents of Rockton safe is the fact that very few people are aware of the town's existence, and residents must agree to break ties with everyone from their past lives before being allowed to move there, but Casey can't see any other way to get help for the wounded man. There are no medical doctors in Rockton, at least none with the necessary skill to save his life, and April is an extremely successful surgeon. The sisters aren't at all close, and April is understandably reluctant to travel to a place like Rockton, but she eventually agrees to come for the weekend to see what she can do for the patient.

At around this same time, a U.S. Marshal shows up in Rockton, and demands that one of the residents be released into his custody. He refuses to supply a reason for this demand, and both Eric and Casey are not eager to comply with his wishes. It's no secret that Rockton is made up of both criminals escaping the law and victims of violent crime looking for a safe place to hide from those who have wronged them. Everyone is forced to adopt a new identity when they first arrive in town, so only those who run the place are aware of anyone's true identity. Casey and Eric do all they can to find out the reasons behind the Marshal's sudden appearance, but he continues to keep the facts to himself, putting them in a difficult position.

With newcomers in town, it doesn't take long for tensions to rise. Soon, it takes everything Casey has to keep those around her safe from threats from within Rockton as well as from those who would like nothing more than to put an end to the town and those who live there.

I loved pretty much everything about this book! Ms. Armstrong has created a marvelous cast of morally ambiguous characters most readers will have a hard time not falling in love with. There's something so irresistible about this group of people, all desperate for a new start, doing their best to survive in the wilderness of the Yukon. They don't have access to modern conveniences like electricity or the internet, so it forces them to rely on themselves and each other in a way they wouldn't necessarily have to if they lived in a more conventional manner.

Casey and Eric have a fantastic relationship that gets deeper and stronger with every book. Both have some major insecurities due to past life circumstances, and it's a real joy to watch them learn to trust their love for one another. Eric is constantly trying to protect Casey from danger, but she doesn't allow him to baby her, and I really admire that about her as a heroine.

With April's introduction into the novel, we learn quite a bit we didn't know about Casey's backstory. We come to understand the reasons for some of her quirks, and this made her feel even more authentic to me. The sisters don't become best friends by the end of the story, but Ms. Armstrong gives us the impression that things are looking up for them. I hope we see more of April in future books, as she has a lot to offer to Rockton as a whole.

The suspense in this story is incredibly riveting. I could feel my heart pounding through a couple of the scarier scenes, and I truly had no idea what was going to happen next. When the villain's identity was finally revealed, I gasped out loud, and I usually don't react in such a noticeable way to what I'm reading.

Watcher In the Woods is sure to delight existing fans of Ms. Armstrong's work, as well as those who are reading her for the first time. This is a truly addictive series, and I hope the author will continue writing in this world for a long time to come.

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This is the first book by Kelley Armstrong that I have read and I loved it. She kept me interested and I could not wait to see what was going to happen with Casey and Dalton next. I love that she made the characters come to life and it was like I could really understand what was going on with her sister April and her possibly being on the Spectrum. I will be looking for more books by Kelley to read as I loved this one.

I enjoyed this book. I think if I had read the first three in the series i would have liked it even more. Even so, it didn't take long to get caught up and invested in the plot and characters. I will definitely be going back and reading the other books.

I selected this book by the description and didn't realize it was part of a series. That did not stop me from enjoying this good little mystery. Casey Duncan is a complex detective with some personal issues. As with any good mystery there is a villain (or two) and it was an enjoyable read through the twists and turns. I really enjoyed the secondary storyline with Casey's sister and the effect their family conflicts brought to Rockton. This was good on it's own, but I enjoyed so much I will go back and read the earlier books to find out more about these characters.

I didn't realize this was the fourth book in a series when I requested it. Usually I don't jump in mid-stream but I'm glad I goofed and did this time because otherwise I would have missed this series. While I think reading the prior books first would provide more background on some of the characters and fill in a few holes, this book stood on its own pretty well. A mysterious town in the middle of nowhere in the Yukon full of mysterious residents was intriguing. Having driven the Alcan when moving from Alaska, I know just how empty so much of this area is and how easy it would be to hide out there. I really enjoyed the characters and I've already put a hold on the first book in the series at my local library to fill in those holes.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Review will post to my blog at simplystashless.com on 2/26/2019

I wish I had read the first three books in this series. I think that would have made some things more clear. But I stumbled through and enjoyed the book on its own merits. There is a unique setting, unusual characters, and a mystery. Plenty of action to keep the reader intrigued.

“Watcher in the Woods” was my first read by Kelley Armstrong. I was a little nervous to find out that this book is actually part four in the Rockton series. With that being said, it picks up after previous events of the third book. I will definitely be sure to go back and start with book one. I was lost at times. I did end up enjoying it however. It had many elements including mystery and murder. I will definitely be reading more from this author soon.

*I received an eARC copy of this book from NetGalley and the publishers in exchange of an honest review.*

I read the blurb on this book when I requested it, not realizing that it was the fourth in the Rockton series. This made it a little more challenging to follow characters and places that had obviously been introduced previously. However, with that being said, it was still a solid read and captivating. I loved the story-line. One of the characters had so many characteristics of me that it was hard not to think that Kelley is actually by neighbor.

I will definitely pick up the prior books in this series and wish that I had started with those, or at least the first one.

Thanks to Kelley Armstrong, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital copy and then for the follow-up physical copy of this book.. It was a pleasure to read. I can't wait to see what she does next.

#WatcherInTheWoods #NetGalley

Four and a half stars: Another thrilling installment in a fantastic series. Never a dull moment in this series.

Casey and Eric are desperate. They need a doctor to treat Kenny’s gunshot wound. Unfortunately, they know that they aren’t going to get a doctor to come to Rockton, there is far too much red tape. Casey decides to beg her sister, April, for a favor. They sneak April in town hoping to get her in and out without attracting notice. Trouble hits right away when a U.S. marshal shows up wanting to drag one of the citizens back down South. Casey and Eric refuse and then the marshal is murdered. Once again, Casey and Eric must determine who the killer is in their midst. The problem is that everyone in Rockton is a suspect. Will they catch the killer?
What I Liked:
*The Rockton’s series continues to thrill and impress me. I love this series. There is action, danger, fascinating characters and the best part is that you can’t trust anyone in Rockton as everyone is escaping something unseemly in their past. How do you catch a killer when everyone is capable of murder?
*The characters are phenomenal in this series. Seriously, all of them have deep, dark secrets and they are all hiding something. Every book delivers more shocking back stories and withheld truths. I love learning more about the residents of Rockton. I am still a big fan of Mathias, the town butcher and a former clinical psychiatrist. He reminds me a bit of Hannibal Lector. This time around we get two new faces: April, Casey’s sister and Sebastian. Both of this characters were outstanding. I loved learning more about April and understanding her issues. I am eager to see how she develops. Then there is Sebastian. He is beyond intriguing. I am excited to watch him in Rockton. I could go on and on, but I won’t. Trust me the characters in this series never disappoint.
*I continue to enjoy watching Casey acclimate to Rockton. She is a skilled detective, and it is always intriguing and exciting to watch her mind work. Plus, I am liking seeing her gain confidence and work through some of the trauma from her past.
*I love the suspense in this one. In Rockton, everyone is a suspect when it comes to murder. It is fun watching Casey and Eric dig through the stories, trying to figure out fact and fiction to find the killer. There are always plenty of twists and turns and startling secrets. I think this one had some of the most thrilling revelations.
*I liked that this one spent more time focused in town instead of running around in the forest. The last couple of installments, the action has taken place in the wild. It was nice to see most of the story unfold in Rockton.
*The ending was spot on. The mystery is solved and some of the story lines are concluded, while other threads are laid out for development in the next book. I cannot wait. I am addicted to this series.
*I listened to the audiobook version narrated by The’re’se Plummer. Ms. Plummer is one of those narrators who manages to pull off both male and female voices. I like that her male voices are believable. I think she does a phenomenal job with this series. Definitely grab the audiobooks if you can.
And The Not So Much:
*This one picks up right after the events from the last book ended. It took me a bit to pick up the story, there wasn’t much recap. If you are new to the series, you can’t jump in anytime, you really must go back to the beginning if you want to understand everything.
*I am fed up with the council. I hate that Eric and Casey have no say over what goes on in Rockton. Argh!
*This is a small niggle, but I am finding it hard to believe that the series has taken place in such a short duration. It is getting a little unrealistic to constantly have murders in this small community.

Watcher in the Woods is another thrilling and suspenseful addition to an outstanding series. If you want a suspenseful mystery in a unique setting with fascinating characters, this is one to read. I can’t get enough of this series, it is highly addictive. Drop everything and read this series!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.

Love Kelly Armstrong and this series is starting to become a favorite of mine. I love the stories and characters. I love crime fiction.

A few months ago, I accidentally requested a review copy of this book, not realizing it is book 4 in a series. So I started back at book one and read my way to Watcher in the Woods. I'm very glad I did! Not only did it introduce me to a new-to-me author, but this series has quickly become one of my favorites!

Rockton is a town in the middle of nowhere in the Canadian wilderness. It's not on any map. The city is hidden from airplanes flying overhead. And there is no electricity, no internet, very few conveniences. No cell phones. The residents there are effectively cut off....completely off the grid. On purpose. People go to Rockton to disappear, and pay a lot of money for the privilege. The corporation that funds the town and its security team take the secrecy and safety of Rockton seriously. That's why Casey Duncan and her boyfriend (Rockton's sheriff) are completely shocked when a U.S. Marshall shows up demanding to take one of the residents. He's secretive about who he has come for and why. Before he can elaborate, the marshal is shot dead, leaving Casey wondering if one of their residents might be much more dangerous than they know.

The characters in this series are just awesome. They all have a past or a significant flaw, but they all work together to make Rockton function. The corporation that funds the town is constantly causing problems by sending problematic residents, hiding important information or putting their bottom line above the safety of the town. Add in some rather violent people who live in the forest surrounding the town, and there's always some thrilling action and danger in each book. This newest book in the series is my favorite so far. There is some interesting character development in Watcher in the Woods, plus lots of suspense and action. Loved it! I'm eagerly awaiting the next book! I'm especially loving the addition of the dog!

Kelley Armstrong is the author of several series including Darkest Powers, Women of the Otherworld, Cainsville and Darkness Rising. While I'm waiting for another Rockton book, I will start reading her other books! Witches, ghosts, necromancers, vampires....her other series offer a lot of dark paranormal action. I look forward to it!

Full stars for Watcher in the Woods.....I love this series and thoroughly enjoyed this latest visit to Rockton. I saw an "in development'' blurb on IMDb for a Rockton television mini-series....so excited!! Please, please, please make the series! And....DO IT RIGHT. Armstrong has created strong characters and awesome plots....no weird changes necessary. Stick with the source material....it will be a kick ass mini-series. ("In development" also means that the project could be cancelled, changed, indefinitely delayed.....but I hope this gets produced! I love this series!)

I recommend reading this series in order because of character development and background information. The books will make more sense to readers if read in order.

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from St. Martins Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

Have to say I am coming in cold to this series, Casey Duncan Novels. I had no idea there were three previous books in this series. I simply liked how the story sounded in the description. And I have to say, I will definitely go back and read the previous three! WOW.

I'll admin, the start for me was slow and I wondered what I go myself into. Her sister came off strangely to me in the begiining and now I get it, however I stayed with it and was very impressed! Kelley writes a fantasic, most descriptive mystery. Being a visual reader, I most definitely had a movie playing in my head while I read this book!

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to read this advanced copy and for turning me onto a new series!

Very engrossing read! Once I finished it I learned that it is actually the fourth book in the series, but it really didn’t affect my enjoyment. Loved Casey and Eric and will definitely read the first three. The premise of the town of Rockton makes sense in today’s world. So many characters that left me wanting to learn more about them. I was shocked that Casey wasn’t attune to the developing romance between her sister and Kenny. Loved learning about the background of Casey and April, as well as several of the other characters. Many thanks to Kelley Armstrong, Doubleday, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this read.

WATCHER IN THE WOODS is book four in Kelly Armstrong's Rockton series. I've read all the books and this is a series that I love and I hope that Armstrong will keep on writing several more books.

READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION: http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=67815

This was really good. I have really enjoyed all of the previous books in this series so I was really eager to dive into this newest installment. This is the fourth book in the Rockton series which is a series that I think works best when read in order. This was an exciting story that I found hard to put down. I had a fantastic time with this story.

I love the basis of this series. A super secret city filled with criminals and other individuals in hiding definitely has its own unique set of problems and challenges. Over the course of the series, I feel like I have got to know some of the more colorful residents of this odd little community. Casey and Eric are a vital part of this community. Eric is the sheriff and has a lot of authority over all of the day to day decisions within the town. Casey was a detective before coming to Rockton and fills that role within the town.

I really like all of the dynamics between the characters in this series. Everyone has their roles to fill and I love how Casey is very aware of needing to let Eric take the lead on some things. The psychology behind the behavior of some of the residents is really quite interesting. I love how there is just a touch of romance with Casey and Eric's relationship but it doesn't overtake the story, only adds to it.

This was a rather exciting installment. A US Marshall shows up in Rockton intent on getting his hands on one of the residents which is a giant problem for both Eric and Casey. At the same time, they are worried about how someone found the town even though they just snuck in someone themselves. There were several mysteries happening at the same time and I was never quite sure how things would work out.

I do highly recommend this series to others. This is a series that I could really see myself picking up again just so I could watch everything play out a second time. I cannot wait to see what will happen next in the town of Rockton!

I received a digital review copy of this book from St. Martin's Press - Minotaur Books via NetGalley.

Jumping in at book 4 of this series, the characters and world were about as well-developed as you would expect. The only way I could tell it wasn't first in the series was because of how solid the relationship was between Casey and Eric as well as a few minor references to past events. No major spoilers were given that I was able to pick up on.

This was another time that I had decided to read a couple chapters before bed only to stay up all night reading until the very end. I had the kind of book hangover that you can't even regret because the book was just so incredibly wonderful. It had been quite awhile since I had read anything by Kelley Armstrong; I had forgotten just how enjoyable her writing is. Now, I have to go back and read the rest of the books in this series.

Strong characters with excellent development throughout blend beautifully with the plot. I still don't know how I feel about the U.S. Marshall introduced. The dialogue was witty, fun, and interesting. I felt that I got a good idea of how the town was set up as well as how it's routine with the outside world was established. There was a wonderful cat and mouse game set up followed by a "whodunnit" that kept me on my toes.

All and all, I felt like this was a very solid story. I would definitely recommend it.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Kelley Armstrong, and St. Martin's Press for allowing me the chance to read this story and share my honest thoughts and opinions with others.

Detective Casey Duncan needs her sister’s help. April, her sister, is a neuroscientist who consults on neurosurgery and Casey knows that Rockton needs her help if one of their own is to survive. Unfortunately, that’s not the only issue that Casey and the sheriff, Eric Dalton, are facing. A US Marshal has somehow uncovered their hidden town and demanding they turn over a resident to him. Before Casey and Dalton can find out who the Marshal wants, the Marshal has been killed. Everyone has secrets in Rockton, but who is hiding a secret that would justify killing a US Marshal?

WATCHER IN THE WOODS is the fourth book in the <i>Rockton</i> series and is best appreciated in the context of the series as a whole. No one in Rockton is ever what they seem and WATCHER IN THE WOODS only shows us further just how true this is. We are continuing to meet some of the residents, even as we learn more about the residents we’ve already met in prior books. Little by little, secrets are being revealed.

Rockton is a unique setting, one that makes this thriller stand out all the more. Kelley Armstrong has carefully crafted a modern-day version of the old frontier in Rockton. I love that Kelley Armstrong’s world isn’t static but instead we’re seeing the layers beneath the surface. The landscape of what we thought we knew about Rockton is now in flux as new situations demand changes be implemented.

I can’t talk about WATCHER IN THE WOODS without mentioning what an interesting addition April is to the series. I love that Kelley Armstrong took some risks with her character. I don’t want to say too much due to spoilers but we’re definitely getting a better picture of Casey’s life before coming to Rockton.

WATCHER IN THE WOODS is a fascinating thriller as Kelley Armstrong keeps us on our toes. I love the suspense and intrigue as every twist and turn provides just as many questions as it does answers. Even the council itself is changing, and I am intrigued to see where these changes will all lead. The <i>Rockton</i> series is one of my favorites and I can’t wait to see what Kelley Armstrong has in store for us next!

*review is in the editing queue at Fresh Fiction*

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.