Alone in the Wild is the fifth book in Kelley Armstrong‘s Rockton series. I have loved this series all along, and was very excited to get approved for an advanced copy by the publisher. But I lost interest a chapter or two into the book, set it aside for a week or more, and finally came back to it later. And while I did end up finishing most of it within a day, I didn’t love it or find it as gripping as earlier books in the series.

I think the difference is that there seems to be a different focus in this book. We’ve reached a point in the series arc where characters are maturing. There’s less focus on life and death choices, survival, acclimatization to the vast unknown of Canadian wilderness, and will they/ won’t they relationship dynamics. We’re at a point where we can start off a book with Casey and Dalton out camping on a weekend “holiday” from their law enforcement jobs in Rockton. And that’s fine, but it sets a different tone for the book. A more thoughtful book, that is less about the mystery/ murder, and more about Casey and Dalton’s relationship growth, about Casey finally facing and grappling with some of the consequences of her life before Rockton, especially the trauma she’s suffered and the damage it did to her body, and Dalton dealing with some of his own issues, and about Casey and Dalton deciding what comes next for them. It was also about taking care of an infant, and honestly that part was not very interesting to me.

This book is also about exploring the world outside town perimeters, about settlers and “hostiles” with their “primitive” behavior. On one hand, I’ve been dying to know more about the people and communities who live outside but within reach of Rockton. People who have ties, however strained or tenuous, to that original community. On the other hand, when you take us out of Rockton for much if not most of the book, we lose that “locked room” mystery atmosphere that the previous books have had, and we get little to no meaningful time with most of the characters from the previous books. This is the Casey and Dalton (and Storm) show, with only perfunctory glimpses of most of the rest of town’s residents. The people outside town, and the dynamics among themselves, and between them and Rockton/ Dalton and Casey and other communities and Rockton escapees are interesting, but apparently not what I love about this series.

Also, and this is a personal preference, but having Storm follow Casey and Dalton around stresses me out so much. I realize there are human characters frequently in peril, and that Storm is a working dog, but I’m an anxious mess worrying the whole time that someone’s going to injure the dog or worse. and it’s not a fun kind of suspense. #KeepStormSafe

I appreciated that this book FINALLY made mention of First Nation populations in Canada and specifically in the Yukon. But it’s still weird to me that this has been the first mention, and they get so little attention. Yes, there’s diversity in the population of Rockton, including Casey and April’s Asian heritage, Will’s African-American identity, and April’s autistic behavior, and even some racial diversity in the outside communities, apparently, but the series has seemed to ignore the fact that First Nation members live in the Yukon, and I don’t like that.

There were things I appreciated about the book. While it wasn’t what I expected, and didn’t create a sense of suspense or urgency in the story, I appreciated that both Casey and Dalton were grappling with issues from the past. That they were talking them through like well-adjusted adults, and communicating about their relationship expectations for the future. I could appreciate how Casey’s custodianship of the mystery infant brought up many unresolved issues that she had with her infertility (mentioned in previous stories, so not a spoiler). I liked that Casey spent some time talking about issues that she faced as an Asian-Canadian person and as a woman, especially one working in law enforcement. I appreciated that there was a little time with and development of some of the characters in town, including not just April but also abrasive Jen and Rockton’s newly resident young psychopath, whose name I can’t remember.

Overall, though, I just felt like this book wasn’t very gripping or suspenseful. It was less about the mystery or the town, and more about character development and moving the story along. It just didn’t draw me in like previous books in the series. I’m not giving up on the series yet, though. I’m curious to see what develops in what appears to be a looming showdown with the council, including how residents like Petra and Isabel will play into that, and whether we learn anything more about the origins of the hostiles. I just hope that the next book in the series can find a way to address pressing questions but still be a tense, engrossing wilderness survival locked room murder mystery. Fingers crossed.

Thank you to #Netgalley and Minotaur books for letting me read an #advancedcopy of #AloneintheWild . This is my honest opinion.

Alone in the Wild was another wonderful addition to the Rockton series. I was so excited to read about Casey and Dalton dealing with a baby, considering how their lives are and where they live, and this didn’t disappoint. It was a new challenge for them and I really liked how that made them reflect on what they wanted from life and each other.

The main mystery was also really interesting and engaging. The investigative part of it and how the pieces slowly came together was well written, though a few sections were kind of glossed over and presented in a few short paragraphs instead of developed or conveyed through dialogue? Which was a bit… odd, and it really clashed with the overall flow and pace of the rest of the novel.

Rockton wasn’t really a big part of the setting this time around, something I actually quite liked! This further developed the world-building and the overall series arc as we learned more about the hostiles and the other settlements. That was super interesting in terms of plot and how it added tension to the story. The introduction of new characters related to that was also great and there are a few faces I hope to see more of.

This installment did make me question where things are going since the arc still feels very much unfinished. I’m not sure what Armstrong has planned and how many books totally there will be in this series, but I’m a tiny bit scared that it will drag on for too long—especially considering the glossed over parts in this book, as if Armstrong got tired of writing a few sections. I’m still super invested, though, and I can’t wait to see what comes next!

Another great installment in this series. I really like the characters, and am enjoying the expansion of the world that she has created. I also like the growing depth that we are seeing in the already established characters in the town. I think this is an interesting dive into a social experiment that could truly be a reality that we don't know about.

It’s never boring in the Yukon and there is plenty for Eric & Casey to do and if not? Well they drum up their own work!

This author has truly created a unique world with different factions battling to be top dog in the Yukon or at least to not look weak. We have the hostiles (wild people), the first settlement, the second settlement, various trappers and traders and Rockton.

We get to see and explore more of the outside world of the Yukon and there are characters added and they are given a lot more depth and it was refreshing to see something new and for the world to develop.

Casey and Eric are out camping to recharge their batteries when Casey hears something in the woods that sounds like a baby. It is the middle of winter and Casey does find a baby wrapped up and being protected by a dead woman.

Casey & Eric have baggage that they still need to deal with but the one thing ideally the ending would have been different and in a way, I get why it isn’t but I wonder how that avenue shall be tackled.

The only right thing to do is take the baby back to Rockton, to solve the murder and to find the baby’s parents. Not easy when you don’t have a lot of evidence to go on. I don’t want to give too much away so I’ll leave it at that. Because the population of the Yukon is so small it is astounding how many crazy people live there or they just stick out more.

Not the best start to 2020 but all in all, I really enjoy this series but a very important aspect how many more books can you write before you get stuck in a rut or that the ideas run out? Personally, I think we are getting to that point but heck I shall still read the next book of the series. Alas, I can only give it three stars though.

Many thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review. I’ve been a fan of Kelley Armstrong for years but this series was new to me. I didn’t realize this was #5 in the series but it was written so well I didn’t really fee like I missing any back story. I definitely want to go back and read 1-4 now. The premise of the story is unique and I’d love to learn more about the communities and backgrounds of the people living there. It got a little confusing towards the end when they were getting close to solving the question of who murdered who and why... lots of characters being discussed and I had a hard time keeping them straight, but overall I still fully enjoyed the book.

When I saw this book on Netgalley I was very excited. Any chance to read Kelley Armstrong is amazing. Her writing is always so well laid out with character evolution, plot development and scenery. Whether it is one of her urban fantasy, mystery/thrillers or young adult novels, I have read them all. This book was no exception. It is the fifth book in the series and there are references to the other books, which is nice continuity, and also makes me want to reread them all to refresh my mind. I also enjoy reading them. We learn more about the history of Rockton, the two settlements and the wild people while Casey and Eric try to solve a murder and find a baby's parents. Another great book by Kelley Armstrong.

4.5/5**

I'm a steadfast Kelley Armstrong fan (Canadian? Strong female protagonists in every story? Paranormal romances? Yes, please!) and I've been fully enjoying her Rockton series. This hidden community in the Yukon is such a cool concept, especially after I had the chance to visit the Yukon this summer. It's actually surreal how many isolated or uninhabited places there are, and my husband and I had more than one discussion about how easy it would be for someone to hide out for years! As this is now the 5th book in the series, I was excited to see what would happen next for Casey, Eric, and Rockton.

Solid Character Development
I really felt like we finally saw some growth from Casey in this book! It's prequel, Watcher in the Woods, fell flat for me in some ways because Casey had stopped growing. We just weren't seeing any change in her or her relationships, so Alone in the Woods was a happy change to this! Casey is forced to rely on people she normally wouldn't trust (umm, hi Jen?) and has to comfort her own inability to have children, something that was taken from her in the past and she now confronts the reality of it. It's truly heartbreaking to watch her come to terms with things in her life that she doesn't have the ability to change. That said, it was amazing (as always) to see how Dalton continues to be the perfect mate for her and always knows the right thing to say (which isn't easy in a lot of the situations that Casey finds herself in).

Finally Some Changes in Rockton
Don't get me wrong, the hidden city idea is still really cool, but throwing a baby into the mix is such a great way to stir things up and really see how the community it forced to adapt in a short amount of time. It was also a great way to see secondary characters in a new way. I do wish we had spent more time with April because her and Casey's relationship has so much further to heal, but overall, it was really great to see characters like Phil and Jen in a slightly different light. We also spent a lot of time with different settler groups and I LOVE seeing how these other populations are living. Armstrong does an excellent job in transitioning the story away from Rockton, while still keeping the city as it's core.

Felt Like a Stronger Story
This was such a breath of fresh air after the killers we were reading about in the previous books. Although there is still murder to solve (it's Rockton, what else can we expect?), there's a lot of other development happening, including slowly coming to unravel the mysteries around the hostiles and what made them this way, which is amazing because that's been a background mystery over the last few books, so I loved getting more insight this time. While I do lament not spending any time with Jacob in this book, I really enjoyed getting to see so much more about the other communities outside of Rockton and the transition into problems that happen outside the city.

Overall, this was an excellent book and I'm so excited for it to come out so that we can all talk about it some more! I'd highly recommend Alone in the Woods to anyone who is loving the Rockton series, is a fan of thrillers and romance, or a fan of Kelley Armstrong. Alone in the Wild comes out February 4, 2020 and I can't wait to hear what you think about it!

Thank you, Netgalley for this ARC. I hadn't read any of the other books in this series, but enjoyed this anyway. I liked the characters and the story. The only thing I didn't like is I got a little confused because a couple of the men were called by their first names, then by other people, they were called by their last names (that could have been first names!)

Alone in the Wild follows Watcher in the Woods as the fifth in Kelley Armstrong's Rockton series, set in an isolated Yukon community, a haven for people running from their pasts (both victims and white-collar criminals).

A mysterious Council runs Rockton, controlling its communication with the outside world. The series lead is Homicide Detective Casey Duncan, who's in a strong romantic relationship with Rockton Sheriff Eric Dalton.

In this 5th in the series, Casey hears a baby crying in the woods, and finds the infant in the arms of a murdered woman in the snow. Casey and Eric go on quest to discover the child's origins, resulting in the continuous action, conflict, surprises and red herrings that fans have grown to expect from a Kelley Armstrong tale.

Every time I read one of Kelley Armstrong's books, I think....se can't get any better. But she always does. Alone in the Wild is the next story in the Rockton saga. Rockton is a very unique setting, no one is who they seem and nothing is what you see. The cast of characters, from Eric and Casey all the way to the settlers, fit their community. It feels real. This book starts off with Casey finding a baby where no baby should be...in fact, winter babies are not allowed to live and thrive. While the Rockton community searches for the baby's family, we readers get to see how protecting the young is a universal response from even the hardest of personalities. When Casey's heart cracks, so did mine. This book really deserves more than 5 stars.
Kelley Armstrong's books defy genres. Pick a series, any of them, and start your membership in her fan club!

I’m sad about this “low” rating because I had hoped book four was a fluke and this new book would recapture the magic of the first three installments. This is such a unique premise, with interesting characters, who have plenty of unlikeable and challenging personalities to bounce off of, along with the complicated situation of their living conditions, and it all just makes for fun and exciting and thrilling stories. But these last two..

This series is about an off-the-grid town in the Yukon, called Rockton. Rockton being a town populated by people who have escaped horrors, are on the run from something in their pasts, and have found a place where they can disappear for a few years. Sometimes, too, they are the ones who caused the horrors and just paid enough to a particular group in order to be admitted in order to lay low. Our lead protagonist is Casey Duncan, who arrived to this town to help her friend escape her ex, and has become one of the three detectives who help to police the outlaw-esque locals and keep the peace.

In this particular story, Casey discovers a baby in the woods, along with the body of a dead woman.. and discovers she was not the baby’s mother. It’s through communicating with the two local settlements, plus in speaking with a recluse, and a former hostile (someone who was once part of one of the nomad-esque tribes of.. well, hostile people), to track down who this woman is, where the baby’s parents are, and.. well, lots of that, really. There’s the politics of dealing with the settlements, trade negotiations, and just general complexities in navigating all that plus the wildlife and plus the harsh weather.

What I like about this series continues to be the characters, though some are forever a frustration, and again the setting is just so different. It’s great to read a contemporary where detectives can’t just google shit, there’s no conveniences of the kind we’re used to living with, and it’s a very hard life but not without lots of positive things, too. This particular mystery forced Casey and her Sheriff pseudo-husband to talk about the possibility of children, and the complications therein, and it got a little emotional there at the end. But while I also appreciate that Armstrong uses her cast of characters, most who have never lived within a modern society or any place other than the wilderness, to explore particular discussions, ie, bias, prejudice, toxic masculinity, etc, this one felt really.. preachy. I don’t know. Sometimes people who are too self-aware just get side eye from me.

So, yeah. Not my favourite. But the series itself is still one I enjoy. I do wonder if the particulars of some of what was brought up in this one means there’s an end date coming for the series but who knows. This is the same author who had a thirteen book series, so. Anything goes.

I’ll definitely read on! But this was not a favourite.

Happy early Christmas to me! I was so excited to get my greedy hands on this book, I was nervous I was expecting too much. I shouldn't have worried! I consumed this book in three big gulps, stopping to sleep, work and do laundry. The laundry could have potentially waited, but we were running out of some fairly important items.

Welcome back to Rockton, one of the most interesting towns you'll ever visit. I am fascinated by how Armstrong addresses the lack of technology and luxuries the town. I constantly ask myself if I could make it there or if I'd run screaming into the woods. Which brings me around to plot. We learn much more about the "hostiles," which has been a mystery within these mysteries. Armstrong is an expert in giving enough information to be satisfying, but no so much that you have ALL your questions answered.

There was a lot less time spent with the town residents this time. The story was much more tightly connected to Casey and Eric. Their dynamic is always interesting. Throw in a baby, a murder and a crazy trader family, and you come up with a hum dinger of a book. This was a lot of fun, I'm just sad that now I have to wait for the next one... again...

The Rockton series is one of my favorites! I eagerly await each new book in this series. Alone in the Wild is the 5th book set in Rockton, a town absent from any maps where people go to get away from their problems. Far, far away. Rockton is in the Canadian wilderness and camouflaged so even airplanes flying over head can't see the town unless the pilots know it's there. No electricity. No internet. No contact with the outside world except for resupply trips. Rockton residents pay a lot of money for the privilege of disappearing. Some are running from danger. Others are criminals hiding from law enforcement. It makes Casey Duncan's job as local detective difficult at times. Her boyfriend Dalton is Rockton's sheriff. It's up to them to keep the residents safe. Sometimes that can be difficult and incredibly dangerous.

In this newest book, Casey and Dalton take a much needed rest. Things have been quiet in Rockton for months and residents are busy preparing for Christmas. So, they take a two day camping trip to get a break. When Casey discovers a baby in the forest buried in the snow with a dead woman, she and Dalton realize they need to discover the identity of the woman in order to find the child's family. Their main goal is to return the baby to its people, and to discover what happened.

This series is best read in order to fully understand the setting and the characters. Plus the plot refers to events from previous books a few times. Definite spoilers if a reader hasn't read the earlier books first.

Great read! I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The plot is engaging, well-written and suspenseful. Another great visit to Rockton! I can't wait for the next book!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from St. Martin's Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

The fifth instalment in Kelley Armstrong’s Rockton series deals with the danger of good intentions and repeating the mistakes of the past. I loved this book and where it took our characters and their relationships.


I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not paid for this review.

Alone in the Wild started off with a bang. The author did a fantastic job of keeping the story focused on Casey, Eric and their search for the baby's mother. And what a story it was!!

The author did a fantastic job of keeping who killed the woman and why until the end of the book. There were several red herrings thrown out but the reason in the end stunned me. I was also stunned about why she was killed.

Alone in the Wild is currently on pre-order. Its expected publication date is February 4th, 2020.

Casey Duncan and her main squeeze, Eric Dalton, are camping, away from Rockton for the first time in a long time. Casey hears something or someone crying in the distance and discovers a dead woman with a tiny baby cradled in her arms. The woman was shot and bled out. Casey and Dalton return the baby to Rockton. It is the middle of winter and feeding a baby in the winter is a very difficult task, which is why most of the inhabitants of the extremely isolated area do not have babies in the winter. Who does the baby belong to? And why was this woman holding it. The autopsy reveals this woman was not the mother. Casey and Eric travel to the settlements that are even more remote than Rockton, inhabited by various people who have decided to live in the Canadian wilderness, for many different reasons. As the investigation deepens, Casey and Eric are forced to confront their feelings about having their own child. Place setting and character development are the mainstays of this series. Recommended and be sure and start from the beginning of the series.

Let me start by saying this isn’t a typical read for me. I wouldn’t normally pick up a book based in this setting: a hidden town in the Yukon wilderness, surrounded by independent settlers and wild savages. But I’m SO GLAD I gave this story a shot. I literally could not put this book down! It’s incredibly well-written, with plenty of twists and turns that make this thriller a masterpiece. Count me in on the entire Rockton series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

In the mysterious town of Rockton, things are never what they seem. But for once they have a break in the drama. Maybe just an overnight getaway, but that's enough for Det. Casey Duncan and her love, Sheriff Eric Dalton.

Camping out in the Yukon is quite a bit different than camping at the KOA, while the ground is covered with snow, between wolves and hostile former settlers, it's still taking your life into your own hands. 

Waking up to discover Eric gone, Casey thinks she hears a baby crying. But that isn't possible out there. Who would have a baby in the winter out here? With her overgrown pup, Storm by her side, Casey goes to investigate.

What she finds is a mysterious woman lying dead in the snow. A head injury and a shotgun pellet but the biggest surprise is inside the woman's coat. A baby. A very tiny and new baby.

Taking it back to town has everyone out of sorts. No one under 18 is allowed in Rockton. There are very good reasons for that. But while the police try and find out who the child belongs to, the baby will have to stay with some very sketchy residents.

Finding answers requires going not only to the First Settlement but also the Second. Dealing with hostiles and people who long ago forgot their humanity. And even if they find the parents, will they turn the baby over to be killed?

Kelley Armstrong writes about the most interesting town no one knows about. The cast of characters is both frightening and hilarious at the same time. This is a series. You could definitely read it as a stand-alone, however, I would suggest you just start with Book One!

I am never so happy as when I see that a new Rockton book is coming out! I honestly read this in an entire Saturday and I will definitely read the next ones!

NetGalley/ February 4th, 2020 by Minotaur Books

I've been a Rockton fan since City of the Lost (book 1 of this series). Kelley Armstrong has outdone herself with Alone in the Wild (book 5). I devoured this book, unable to put it down. Can be a stand alone story, but I've enjoyed everyone of these books. I want to thank St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for an early copy to review.

Another great book in the Rockton series. Do I have to write more? Casey and Eric are great and I love their relationship. Everyone is fleshed out with their own desires.

Casey finds an abandoned baby being hidden by a murdered woman who is not the baby's mother. She and Eric go out into the wilderness to find the parents of the baby and if the parents are worthy of keeping the baby or are savages.

Usually, the series takes place in Rockton but this one deals more with the area surrounding them and the tribes of people who Casey and Eric have an uneasy peace with. This opened up with the world more. There was even an explanation on why the savages act the way they do. It makes the world more clear and less nightmarish. Bad things can still happen but it won't because of monsters.