The Rockton series is one of my favorites! I eagerly await each new book!

Rockton is a town hidden away in the wilds of Canada. Those who can afford to pay can go there to hide out. Victims of abuse, criminals, those who want to escape their past....the residents are a mixed lot. Residents can stay for up to five years as long as they work and follow the rules. There are dangers -- wild animals, hostiles who live in the forest, illness...and sometimes even each other. Detective Casey Duncan and her boyfriend Sheriff Eric Dalton work to keep Rockton running smoothly, while communicating to the council that runs the hidden town and approves all residents. Then something strange happens.....something that never ever happens.....a stranger appears in town. An injured hiker stumbles out of the woods, and against all rules, Casey and Eric bring her inside Rockton to treat her. The injured stranger and the decision to bring her into town starts a series of events that bring the future of Rockton into question....

Loved this book! Covid and all the difficulties of juggling my job and home life at the moment led me to read this book late. I normally review before publication date...but life seems to enjoy getting in the way of my love for books and reviewing lately .... well, for the past year (just like everyone's lives have been derailed in one way or another). I finally got to visit Rockton! I grabbed the audio book of this newest installment in the series, and listened to A Stranger in Town while commuting to work, waiting for my son after football practice, while running errands....every spare moment I could find! Excellent story! And, excellent audio book!

I love how this series is developing. There are changes coming....I can't wait for the next book! Kelley Armstrong never disappoints! I wish they would make this series into a Netflix show or a movie -- I would definitely watch!

**I voluntarily read a review copy (and listened to an audio book from my awesome local library) of this book from St. Martin's Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.)

This is the sixth in Armstrong's Rockton series, and it continues some of the conflicts that have arisen throughout the series. Rockton is a hidden town deep in the Yukon forest, where misfits willing to pay for the privilege can escape their lives for a couple of years. It is run according to strict rules determined by a shadowy board and creatively enforced by the Sheriff (Dalton) and the police investigator (Casey). That Casey and Dalton are involved in a relationship would be untenable in the outside world but, within the restricted confines of Rockton and the forest surrounding it, it works to keep the residents safer.

The fact that there are so many murders in such a small town is quite plausible, given the nature of the town's clientele/residents and the outcasts that live deep in the forests. One of those groups, well outside the influence of Rockton, are the "hostiles," wild people mainly under the influence of hallucinogenics, maniacal leaders, and lack of resources. In this latest book, the hostiles are wreaking particular havoc, killing residents and visitors to the forest alike. They are not the only danger in the forest, however, and even given the violence with which they are attacking, an encounter with a mother bear and her cubs counts as the best described frightening moment of the book.

As Casey and Dalton attempt to figure out what is going on with the hostiles and other forest settlers, they uncover a plot thirty years in the making, which has them revisiting the desire to become more autonomous they expressed in the third book of the series. I had wondered if that idea would come back, as I've been following the series from the beginning. It will be interesting to see where book seven takes us next.

As always, the landscape in and around Rockton comes alive with detailed description. The events, and especially the results of the hostile attacks are possibly even a bit too detailed for comfort. That bear encounter seems almost to have jumped off the page and into my brain, creating my own personal video it is so well written. Casey and Dalton continue to develop as characters as well as a couple. Having read the previous books, the characterization makes sense, but I'm not so sure it would be as realistic to a newcomer to the series.

Most of the books in the series could work as standalones and/or entry points to the story of Rockton. Armstrong does a good job of filling in enough background so that a newcomer will not feel lost. However, so much of this latest relies upon an understanding of various social and personal dynamics, that I would not recommend starting here. That said, I highly recommend the series as a whole and suggest starting with an earlier book and working one's way to this one.

Book six in a series I have read none of but surprisingly enjoyed this part. Not really stand alone but easy enough to understand and join in. I happen to love the author, the cover was nice, but the blurb pulled me in.

What did I like? A town called Rockton somewhere in the Yukon that doesn’t exist except to the people living there. Interesting story and such a narrative for book six for enthralling story telling. I was hooked from the first chapter! Casey and her sheriff Dalton had just enough sizzle but the main story was amazing! The author has an amazing imagination! Four stars!

Would I recommend or buy? Since I loved this part I went back to see what the other looked like since this was book six. I’d love to read them but my TBR pile is too huge! Maybe someday!

I received a complimentary copy to read and voluntarily left a review!

Brilliant series with a premise that grabs your attention and imagination. I am so excited to see where this series takes us next! Always surprising, always entertaining, sometimes a bit dark.

Mesmerizing And Captivating!

The story takes place out in the desolate wilderness of the Yukon in the very small town called Rockton where all the residents are in hiding or exile from their old lives in society. There isn't any access to wifi or other outside communications because this town is completely isolated and hidden from the public for specific reasons and must remain that way to keep all of the residents safe. There are only about 200 citizens who live in Rockton and each individual must be approved by a special council in order to be relocated to this special and highly unusual community. Erik (The sheriff) and his wife Casey (a detective) are in charge of the safety and well-being of the residents and currently they are trying to find out the identity of a young woman presumably a.lost tourist who came stumbling out of the woods after she was viciously attacked and to find out where her companions are since there is no way anyone would be traveling in the Yukon alone. The story behind this woman goes much deeper than the couple could ever imagine and if they don't find answers soon many lives will be at risk and unfortunately many will be lost.

This was a captivating story for me. It was reminiscent of the old west without all the modern conveniences of normal everyday life. The atmospheric storytelling and stellar writing was spot-on and I could almost feel the chill of the air and sense the scent of the wildlife and solitude of the nearby woods that surrounded the town and I was mesmerized by the intoxicating writing that brought myself into this special, unknown little world that I felt I was part of and kept wanting to know more of this life and it's mysteries. This book is part of a series but it did well as a stand-alone read but now I want to read all the previous books in the series to find out everything I can about all the mysteries of Rockton. Maybe the author "Kelley Armstrong" would bestow a few of these fantastic books on this humble reader ( hint, hint - smile ). Well, a reader can just keep dreaming, right? I loved this book, the world of Rocton, the wilderness behind the story and just everything about this story. I can't wait to read another book from this series and I highly recommend it to any reader who wants to get away from the modern world for a little while.

I want to thank the author "Kelley Armstrong", the publisher "St Martin's Press" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this terrific book and any thoughts and opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!

I have given this Highly Captivating story 5 Mesmerizing 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Stars!!

Publication Date - February 9, 2021
Publisher - St. Martin's Press

The town that shouldn’t be there. That isn’t officially really there at all. Casey is there because they needed her skills and she, well, was tricked. That all happened books ago. They wanted a detective but they got more detective than they bargained for.

After fighting crazed, feral humans attack, the group in Rockton try to defend themselves and it all goes very badly. Now the hostiles are angry and the people of Rockton, who are by definition not who they seem to be, need to find out the truth about these dangerous people in the forest.

This is a series you really should read to enjoy this installment. There is a lot of important history here and a large cast of characters to understand. The story starts with a bang and the action never stops. A stranger wanders into the area, wounded and crazed. She appears to not speak English. Finding out what happened to her sets off an investigation that brings together all of the warring factions of the Yukon. I’d definitely recommend this entry into the series but highly recommend being familiar with the previous books.

The hidden town of Rockton in Alaska is unusual in many aspects. It is a refuge of sorts, whether wrongly accused, escaping a dangerous family member, or the like. Rockton is a place where you have to have permission to reside, and there is a time limit as to how long you can remain there. The town's members are people who truly benefit from escape in one way or another. One of the long-time residents, Detective Casey Duncan, has a job and that job of policing has given her more than ample opportunity to solve murders. She often works quite closely with the town's Sheriff, Eric Dalton, who is also her boyfriend, and the two are quite close.

Casey and Eric are beginning to notice some changes in their unusual town. For one thing, they notice they are getting less applicants for new residents. There is also something happening with some of their neighbors and these are encroaching on the restricted way of life that Rockton demands.

While Rockton has been in existence, they have remained wary of the neighbors referred to as the hostiles. Actually, the hostiles are former Rockton residents who have created a different lifestyle, one that incorporates elements that involve things like narcotics that Rockton's board members do not support. One day a hiker stumbles into town, injured by what could only be a hostile attack. Rockton's town council comes together to deal with the hostile situation before anyone else is injured or even killed.

Casey and Eric love their town. They do not want it lost, which is exactly what could happen if they do not get a handle on the hostiles. Meanwhile, whenever possible, Eric and Casey try to assist a group of teenagers that live near Rockton. They are not part of the hostiles, but neither do they live in Rockton any longer. As they happen upon the injured woman while visiting the teens, they try to save her life and keep her safe until they can discover what happened to her. There is a language barrier, and this fact just might be the key do solving other mysteries that have been occurring.

A Stranger in Town is the most complicated book in the series thus far. I would not say that this book would work well as a standalone. The facts of the town itself, as well as some specifics regarding the town's members are just two factors that would warrant following this series from the beginning. I absolutely loved this book as I have loved every previous book in the series. For a series like this to work, you have to be able to get into the mind of the author, Kelley Armstrong, and see how she developed the unique town and its residents, all while developing various plots across each book in the series. I adore this series and truly hope it goes on and on. I cannot wait to see what Casey and Eric, as well as others, come across while striving to maintain the integrity of the town that is known as Rockton.

Many thanks to Minotaur Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Excellent storyline and interesting characters make this book (and the series) well worth reading. Highly recommend.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor.

A 6th installment in the Rockton series? Yes please. Another addictive story following power couple Detective Casey Duncan and Sheriff Eric Dalton? Heck yes! These two are amazing characters that you will quickly and easily fall in love with. Their personalities are fierce, strong, and endearing and you will fall in love with these characters, their town of Rockton and their daily lives as they have mystery after mystery to solve. And they are definitely not easy feats for sure.

When this new and strange woman is found stumbling from the woods she clearly has been attacked. It is thought to be the hostile and everyone is rushing to determine what happened to this woman. Adding to the mystery is the fact that she does not speak English to talking with her and getting answers will not be easy. Soon not all is as it appears to be and they are unsure if this was in fact a hostile attack. If it wasn’t then who could be responsible? Could it be one of their own Rockton residents? Could someone from the outside have attacked this woman? What happened to the rest of the people this woman was with it the woods, and where are they?

There are so many things needing to be solved in this case, you will find yourself hooked and immersed in the storyline as you try to help Casey and Eric solve the mysteries. I just loved these characters and the town’s stories, and was thrilled to hear there was another book in the Rockton series. I definitely recommend this book and cannot recommend it enough. Even though this book is #6 in the Rockton series it can easily be read as a standalone as well. Of course I do recommend that you also read the previous 5 novels in this series at some point as well, this series is incredible and addictive.

Well done Kelley Armstrong. I am so excited to see what you come out with next, especially in the Rockton series!

A Stranger in Town was the 6th book in the (Rockton series), I had not read any of the previous books in the series or actually any from this author before. Having said that maybe this isn't a fair assessment by me, because maybe if I had read the previous books I could have connected better with both the book and the author. For me the book was very slow moving, and could not hold my interest for any long period of time. There were just so many different characters in the book and it jumped from group to group and I found myself lost. Yet having said that I will play the devil's advocate, overall the concept of the storyline was intriguing so maybe if I had read the first books in the series I would have connected with the book. I always suggest others read the book for them self because I know not everyone enjoys the same type of book and authors.

I received a ARC from NetGalley and the publisher and was under no obligation to leave a favorable review, all opinions expressed here are my own.

Rockton is a small, secret village in the Canadian Yukon, with a strange history and an even stranger purpose. Originally established about sixty years ago as a refuge for idealistic young people who had run afoul of the "establishment," usually for political views. Since then, it evolved into people who were on the run from the law, wrongly accused or convicted, or hiding from an abusive ex-partner. Lately, though, the governing body, the shadowy "council," seems to let anyone in who has the money, no matter how heinous their crime. Even so, the number of admissions to Rockton seems to be declining, a matter of concern to Sheriff Eric Dalton and his deputy and romantic partner, Casey Duncan. Casey was tricked into coming to Rockton but has found a haven and a purpose.

Secrecy is paramount in Rockton. The council has spent huge sums over the years for the technology to make the small settlement invisible, even to aircraft. However, there are hikers and explorers from time to time. When a female hiker is found nearby, stumbling, badly injured, and delirious, it is alarming. There will undoubtedly be searchers, and when she is conscious, she seems to speak only Danish. A new resident in the village "just happens" to speak Danish and offers to translate. On the heels of this, Emilie, one of the council members and one of the village founders, arrives unexpectedly. Add complications of people from the settlements who split off from Rockton and the "hostiles" who have also split off and gone completely feral, and the story becomes very complicated.

The Rockton series is one that I have eagerly followed from the beginning. Kelley Armstrong builds an entirely believable world in this village and the characters who come and go. However, in reading A Stranger In Town, I was quite often lost in the fast-paced events and new characters appearing. I was somewhat disappointed, but as this is clearly a transitional book, I will just have to wait for the next one. Thanks to Minotaur and NetGalley for an advance digital copy, The opinions are my own.

To be honest I was disappointed by this one. I originally really liked the series with its cast of interesting characters and rugged setting, however the last few books haven’t felt li,e much, especially this one. Sure we get to the backstory on the “hostile” bug yo get there we had to wade through a lot of talking. About things we’ve already read in previous books. This one just didn’t do it for me.

The review of *A Stranger in Town* by Kelley Armstrong is in the February 2021 issue of Gumshoe Review and is exclusive to them until March 1st, 2021.

Here's the link to the review: <http://www.gumshoereview.com/php/Review-id.php?id=6723>

This is book 6 in the Rockton series, and I recommend reading the series in order as each book builds on the previous book. I binge-read the first five books to prepare for reading this one and was so glad that they were all already published. One thing I really love about this series is the atmosphere of danger, menace, and mystery. And the romance - the relationship between Casey and Eric is a delight to read.

Rockton is a town hidden in the wilderness in the Yukon in Canada. It is carefully disguised to not be noticeable from the air and is not on any maps. The residents of Rockton are people who need to disappear for a time from their lives for various reasons. To say that they have some interesting pasts is an understatement, but no one asks about the past in this town. Each resident is assigned duties and in a way, reinvents themselves. Everything is strictly rationed in Rockton as all supplies have to be flown in. One thing that is so enjoyable about the series is the slow reveal of these very interesting characters.

The Rockton residents are not alone in the woods. There are groups of people who have chosen to live in the woods in a subsistence lifestyle, by hunting, fishing, and trading for goods. There is one group of people in the woods, the hostiles, that appears to have reverted to savagery and who are very dangerous.

Casey Duncan is the detective for Rockton, and her boyfriend, Eric is the sheriff. They are for once out in the wilderness for recreation, when they discover a seriously injured woman in the woods, the stranger in the title. I don't want to give too much away about this book or the series as the slow reveal is part of the fun of reading the books. In this book, we discover more about the origin of the mysterious hostiles and the town.

I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley, and have voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions here are mine.

Returning to the world of Rockton is the most electric, sensational feeling and each book leaves me insatiated for what comes next.
Review

A Stranger in Town is the sixth of the closely tied series of thrilling romantic suspenses and is not a good series to get out of order.

Casey and Eric along with the residents of the hidden remote Canadian wilderness town of Rockton are not in the midst of crisis at the moment so she and Eric join some of the young people from another settlement and one of their own by the lake for a bonfire only to have a frantic and severely injured woman rush out of the woods and collapse at their feet setting off another dangerous chain of events involving the conspiracy of the hostiles, the political intrigue of the past history of Rockton with the other settlements and the council, and the complexities of the relationships of those living in the raw wild away from civilization. Casey and Eric have a new case to solve before the inflamed fear and anger around them explodes into hostilities.

The author has a gift for a macabre tone, a twisting suspense, and complexity of character and series plot. Casey has been working on the mystery and origin of the Hostiles who are like ravenous beasts and her curiosity has her curious how the other settlements came to be and the background of the main players. This is good because it keeps her and Eric in the game when this latest mystery can only be solved by delving into the past. The injured woman who doesn’t seem to speak English is the tip of the iceberg when she is only the first of strange incidents for them to deal with including another surprise visit.

Other than a few precious moments of sitting on the deck or getting some fleeting moments as a couple, Casey and Eric are going full throttle. Several recurring side characters are part of this including some newer side characters that showed up in later books. It is good to have Casey and Eric in a solid, deep place in their relationship so they can face what comes together. The council’s plans for the town are coming to a head and they have to be ready to do what they can for this place and people that are their home.

For all that I figured out what was going on in this latest mystery, there were still some good twists and exciting moments that left me flipping pages breathlessly. These always read so fast for me because of how much I get into the story. All in all, this was riveting and I am chomping at the bit for the next installment. Those who enjoy thrillers, romantic suspense, survival-wilderness settings and macabre mysteries should give this series a try.

This is book 6 in the Rockton series. I highly recommend the whole series, but they should be read in order. This book contains a LOT of characters, but most of them are familiar if you've read the entire series.
Rockton is a town in the Yukon that doesn't exist on any map. The only way strangers find it is by stumbling upon it. So when a strange woman stumbles out of the woods, injured and alone Detective Casey Duncan and her boyfriend Sheriff Eric Dalton must discover what happened. It appears she was attacked by hostiles, but she only speaks danish, and the only translator they have is a new resident to town, Jay.
Another complication in town is the lack of new residents coming in and extensions to stay being granted. Is the council shutting down the town?
I love this series! I binged the first 4 books when my request for Alone in the Woods was granted, and I was thrilled to get a chance to read this new book in the series through NetGalley. The idea of a town like this is fascinating and I feel more a party of the town with every book I read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The views and opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Rockton is a secret, off-the-grid town in the Yukon. A place formed for those on the run from danger as a refuge. An abusive husband, a stalker, unfair conviction? Rockton is your place to hide until the dust settles. Supposedly, inhabitants are vetted so that no violent criminals are allowed in, but in the past books we’ve learned that this isn’t true.

The series is best read in order, and as this is the sixth installment reading on in my review would give spoilers if you haven’t the previous books.

I think the book description is a bit misleading as it suggests that the plot revolves around Rockton being dismantled and Casey and Eric working at a solution. While that is an issue, it’s not revealed/focused on until late in the story. The plot, IMO, was more centered on the injured hiker, her companions and how their attack came about. Is this another aggression from the Hostiles? Edwin (from the First Settlement) flings blame about and wants action. An arrival from the council in the thick of things adds another interesting dimension to the story.

There’s a lot of plot threads here and it was interesting to see how they all connect. As usual, my attention was captured and held fast right from the beginning! Of course, Eric and Casey are the heart of the story, but there are so many interesting side characters! Casey’s sister April, the brilliant on-the-spectrum doctor, Sebastian the young, dangerous sociopath (who I’ve become real fond of!), Petra, Isabel and Phil. Felicity, Edwin’s granddaughter and probable successor, and Mathias. All the animals, tame and wild.

Rockton/Casey Duncan series’ is one of my very favorites! Casey is smart, always weighing her next move to get the desired outcome. Her analytical, forward thinking makes her perfectly suited to the position of Detective in the town of Rockton. Good thing, as she needs all her wits about her to deal with all the personalities of Rockton and its Council, the Settlements, and the Hostiles! After six books, the series still manages to be riveting, keeping me on the edge of my seat at every twist and turn! I loved how everyone came together at the end! I can’t wait until the next installment!

I read an e-copy, but I’ve already purchased the audio to re-read *listen* to with my husband. He’s a big fan as well, and we’ve listened to every installment on road trips together. Therese Plummer is such a fantastic narrator! She makes the characters and story come to life!

A Stranger in Town by Kelley Armstrong is a pivotal novel in the Casey Duncan series as the outside threatens the town of Rockton. Answers, suspense and a turning point will keep readers engrossed.

Since Casey arrived in Rockton, an off the grid town, nestled in the remote Yukon territory, she has questioned how the other settlers and Hostiles came to be. In this sixth installment of the series, we finally get answers. Answers that may change everything for the people of Rockton.

While each of the books could work as a standalone, I feel that character & relationship development along with the series arc demand that the series be read in the order of its release.

Eric and Casey make a trip out to the lake where they encounter an outsider who is badly injured. While they take her back to town under April’s care, they quickly realize she was part of a camping group. When they discover the rest of the party savagely murdered, trouble begins.

The tale that unfolds was suspenseful with twists and discoveries as Casey pieces together clues from the past. We gained some insight on a few secondary characters and learned more about the council and other settlers. I enjoyed gaining further insight into the town’s past.

The story was action packed, which left very little time for romantic development. Eric and Casey’s relationship has depth, and quiet moments showed the strengthening of their relationship. Casey begins to trust and confide in other town members.

Change is coming to Rockton, and I will be curious to see what direction Armstrong takes this series. All I can say for sure is that I am all in!

Kelley Armstrong is a talented writer and I love the setting for this book. She gives readers a glimpse into the Yukon and I loved this part of the book. This is book number 6 in the series, and as I hadn't read any of the previous books, I felt like I was at a slight disadvantage, but only slightly. She does a good job of introducing the existing characters where you think you understand who they are and you don't feel lost.

This had an intriguing mystery and I liked that it wasn't obvious and some of what happened definitely took me by surprise. My favorite parts were the relationships - especially between Casey and Dalton and Casey and April, her sister. These were the best parts about this book.

Very much enjoyed it, and it might have been a 4 or 5 star read, but the mystery itself felt a little convoluted at times and there were so many characters to navigate, remember and keep track of. Not sure though if that isn't entirely due to my coming in at book 6, or just a lot of characters. I will be going back and reading the previous books, and any future ones!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley. I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is the sixth book in Kelley Armstrong’s Rockton series about a detective (Casey) and her sheriff boyfriend (Dalton) in a secret town where people who need a safe house can move to remain safe. In each book, Casey and Dalton have a crime to solve. As always, this story is very exciting with lots of action and a great resolution. My expectations were more than met. I love that the books are consistent from one to the next. She has done an excellent job telling this story.