I have been such a fan of Kelley Armstrong for many years and this book just solidifies what an excellent writer she is. Drawing you in from the first sentence, this one was hard to put down. Highly recommend.

A Stranger in Town is another solid installation in Kelley Armstrong’s Rockton series. Which is to say, it’s not super exciting, but is instead a slowly building piece of a developing world. I really didn’t find the main mystery gripping this time, perhaps because the book spent more time on Casey’s relationships with her boyfriend/ town sheriff Dalton and her sister/ town doctor April and on learning about the world around Rockton than on the mystery itself. Developments I had been waiting for throughout the series have finally started to happen, from continuing to get to know the various settlements and independent settlers better, to getting to learn more about the nature and origin of the creepy Hostiles. We also get to learn more about the origins of Rockton itself.

So this book really does feel like an organic and necessary development in the series. But as such it’s lost some of the urgency and tension of the earliest books, as it sinks into familial relationships, growing friendships, and romantic domesticity, to say nothing of the giant Newfoundland working dog/ pet. I’ll keep reading this series because each book feels like we are getting closer to an ending and new beginning, given the nature of Rockton and its inhabitants. But I’m hoping that the final developments of this installation will lend the next entry in the series some of the series’ original urgency and excitement. That there will be less talk about chocolate chip cookies and sisterly angst and sex on fur rugs in front of a fireplace and instead back to more focus on the nature of living on the edge, in constant interaction with the wild and dangerous forest around them and the wild and dangerous inhabitants of Rockton and the surrounding forest.

Diversity remains at about the same level, due to the fairly locked room nature of the setting and the admissions criteria of Rockton itself. But even when new characters are introduced, whether from within Rockton or without, there’s little diversity to be had. This book had a passing mention of Native guides used by tourists, but otherwise no acknowledgement of the indigenous nations of the region. April’s increased presence in the story offers an opportunity for more discussion about the nature of autism and neurodivergency, as well as the nature of being white-passing. We still have Black and Asian and Francophone residents, and even a resident who has become disabled due to an injury in Rockton. I think the author is trying to be more diverse, and the series is slowly diversifying, but it still feels very white and straight and cis and able-bodied and Eurocentric in this world she’s built.

Overall, not a bad book. Just solid. Fine. I certainly couldn’t recommend it to anyone who hadn’t read all previous books in the series, because I really don’t think it would make sense without them for context and background information and character development. If you have read and enjoyed the previous books in the series, and want to know what is really going on around Rockton and in the history and development of Rockton, than this should be of interest to you, as it feels like a critical point in development of the series’ story arc.

Thank you to #NetGalley and St Martins for giving me a free digital #advancedcopy of #AStrangerInTown in exchange for an honest review.

I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. What a pivot point!!! After everything we’ve been through with Casey and Eric, we finally have a huge payoff for long-standing questions, and a huge open field as to where we go from here. I love that this simple (but terrifying for the community) attack turns into the culmination of the biggest conspiracy in the town. I love that as this big change looms for Rockton, we have answers the biggest question to their safety- who are the hostiles, and how did they really start? Now the big questions are, who is the mole and where do we go from here?
Already looking forward to book 7!!

This is the sixth book in a series which I discovered after three or four had been published. I read them all quickly and have kept an eye out for new entries in the series. For me the overwhelming draw is the setting—a secret town of about 200 people in northwestern Canada where people go to escape trouble for a couple years or more.

Although I liked this book, I wouldn’t recommend that anyone start reading the series with it. There are a lot of characters with a lot of backstories and relationships between them, so find the first book in the series (City of the Lost) and start there. I tend to think of these as light, guilty pleasures because I read them so quickly, and because they’re not like any other mystery series I follow. At times, they briefly veer into the romance genre a little too much for my taste, but they’re still fun.

As someone who has lived in grizzly country, I do have to say that I found the confrontation with bears in this book extremely unrealistic (a protective mama bear is not going to twice stand over people while considering what to do), but then the premise of the whole series is unrealistic, so who am I to argue. Just sit back and enjoy.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advance copy.

A Stranger in Town by Kelley Armstrong finally pulls together some of the many strings that Detective Casey Butler has unraveled since her arrival in Rockton. A small community in the Yukon wilderness and completely off-grid, Rockton was founded to be a new start for people in a bad place. From that sprouted two other settlements who left and chose to go more "native"--and some of those have become increasingly dangerous. Casey may finally reach some answers in this novel, which hits the ground running with the discovery of dead tourists. Rockton doesn't need the attention, but maybe the threat of bad publicity will scare the ruling council to open their eyes and address some issues at hand--but when it comes to life in Rockton, it seems that things always get darker and scarier before any light can be brought in.

I enjoyed this book very much! I thought the writing was excellent and the book had me hooked from the beginning. I would recommend this to friends and fellow colleagues. I was intrigued the entire time and really enjoyed the story line of this one.

This series just gets better and better, showing the true depth of Kelley Armstrong's wordsmithing abilities! This series started strong, and just keeps getting better and better. This is a solid HIT for me and will be for my customers!

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Publishing for the opportunity to read and give an honest review of this book.

The ongoing saga of Rockton, the hidden town in the Yukon where people go to become ‘invisible’, is a series I have enjoyed from the very first book.

Dalton and Casey, sheriff and detective, form the core of the ‘police department’ in Rockton. There is always some kind of crime to solve or mystery to figure out. Outside of Rockton in the woods surrounding the town,
live settlers ( former Rockton townspeople) and the mysterious ‘hostiles’, whose origin is somewhat of a mystery.

When a foreign woman is found wounded and battered, an investigation begins. It appears the woman does not speak English. Communication is difficult until Rockton’s newest arrival offers to translate. What is his involvement with this woman? What is his history? You will have to read the book to find out the details.

This book actually delves into the history and development of Rockton, as well as the politics behind it. Finally, we are able to find out how the settler groups and primitive hostiles came to be.

Great book! Engaging from the beginning to the end. Looking forward to reading more by this author! Highly recommended!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC... this series has been an insta-buy from the very first. I’ve been roped into each story (admittedly some more than others), but this one was just a little bit too busy to give it as much love as the previous books in the series. The introduction of so many new characters left me feeling a bit whiplashed as we bounced from one issue to the next. I would give this a 3.5 star review, and hope the frenetic pace slows down a bit in the next book! I still enjoyed the story, but would caution new readers to follow the novels from the beginning.

I was super excited to be approved for this book. So much better than the last edition of this series. You are pulled in from the very first page. It feels like the first two books where you are absolutely enthralled with Rockton and its community. Another perfect read from Kelley Armstrong.

Kelley Armstrong’s A Stranger in Town is the sixth novel in her “Rockton” series. This series follows Casey, city detective, who relocates to the remote “town” in the vast Yukon. Rockton is special—its residents are criminals or or people who are running away from dangerous situations and need to disappear and live off the grid for a few years..

As with any series, I’d recommend reading these novels in order. One of my major complaints wit the previous novels is that very little time passed between novels—the novels picked up a few weeks later. I was happy to see that “A Stranger in Time” opens with Casey having settled in Rockton, having lived there for over a year. The previous books showed Casey adjusting to life in the Yukon, finding her place among the residents, and solving many murders.

In the background, Casey has also been investigating the dangerous hostiles who live in the wild. A Stranger in Town has a murder to solve but also advances Casey’s investigation of those hostiles.

A Stranger in Town is one of the best of the Rockton series. Armstrong’s pacing was strong and her writing was better. The mystery was complex, and the story line linked the previous books nicely.

The ending is abrupt—definitely a cliffhanger. I was initially concerned as I thought that A Stranger in Town was the final book in the series. However, a quick search of Armstrong’s website revealed that she’s working on number 7. I can’t wait to see where number 7 takes Rockton.

Loved this book. Can't wait for the final book in the series and see how Armstrong ties it all up. The mystery the unfolded in this book kept me on the edge of my seat, I kept trying to figure out what would happen next and every hypothesis I had was wrong. Love the relationships between the characters and I always feel like I am there when reading the book

Conspiracy lovers who want to be proven right, this is the book for you! For the past few books in this series, the main arc dealt with the "hostiles". These are people who have gone "wild" in the Yukon and have become increasingly violent and brutal against Rockton and the different settlements. Whilst this book can read as a standalone, it is recommended to read the previous books in the series to fully understand how the town of Rockton works and the different relationships between the key people in the town.

Casey and Eric are shocked to come across a stranger in the woods. It is rare for people to come this far into the Yukon. Tourist will probably not survive the weather, regardless of the unusual warm weather. When this stranger is not only a lost tourist but severely injured, Casey and Eric need to make a hard decision, can they bring this person into their closed and secret town?

Ms. Armstrong does an amazing job at providing clues for Casey to figure out what is going on in the town and outside of it. The political maneuvering between the Rockton, the different settlements and a specific "clan" can cause a headache. It feels like everyone is a potential foe that may or may not be a frenemy, just for today.

The twists and turns that happen in this story keep me riveted. Casey keeps trying to figure out what is going on and each new piece of information and dead body only complicates it. I am impressed where the story takes us because I was baffled and a few times I had to back track just like Casey. I love when an author keeps me on my toes. Ms. Armstrong continues to develop the main characters and their complexities show through in their interactions with each other.

Whilst the hostiles inception and situation is finally solved by Casey, I don't believe this is the end. There has been a foreboding regarding the motives of the board and council. With the latest developments in this book, it appears Ms. Armstrong is setting up for the next arc. I am eager to see what happens to Casey, Eric and the Rockton core group.

There is one subplot that still bothers me and I am not sure what to think of it. It surrounds Eric's childhood and how he came to Rockton. I cannot help but think of Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart. They are not the same but the underlying principle is there... colonization and civilizing savages. It speaks to a bad time where people with the best of intentions cause unintended consequences with their hubris. Eric's childhood seems to be a wound unable to heal. It will be interesting to see if there is ever a resolution to this travesty.

This mystery thriller is highly recommended to readers who enjoy watching the the road to hell, paved with good intentions.

This is book 6 in a series. You can read and enjoy this mystery without reading the earlier books, as the author is very skilled and briefs as you go along, but it is more satisfying to start with book 1.

A Stranger in Town was a very satisfying read. The immediate mystery is solved, as well as a running subplot is resolved in a way I did not expect at all. When I finished the book, I was all admiration for the great story Armstrong had come up with. In book 6, quite the achievement. As with all good series, we learn more about everyone, and their fascinating environment.

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I am noticing that more of my Netgalley reviews are of series I have already started. I think this is because I want to be sure I will finish the book, and minimise the risk of utterly hating it.

Every time I return to the world of Rockton, KA surprises me with how far she is willing to push her readers and what diabolical situations she has in store for her characters. And she never disappoints. I was on the edge of my seat from the very beginning and I can't wait to see what will come next for Casey and Rockton.

I had a hard time getting into this story, and almost didnt finish reading it. The beginning was too drawn out for me. I felt like there was too much babble going on and it was taking too long to get to the crux of the story.
However, once I got past the initial slow beginning, I enjoyed it.
The story is set in Rockton, a small secret town that is in the middle of nowhere Canada,
Detective Casey Duncan is baffled as to who the hurt and frightened stranger is that stumbled into their town. Was she attacked by animals, or was it the hostiles? Or, was it something more sinister?
This book (series) is unique, A unique town, with unique situations. Pretty cool if you ask me.
I want to thank Netgalley for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Holy cow! Although this book had many characters, it wasn't all that difficult to follow, especially if you've been reading the entire series. If you hadn't read any of the other books, you might find it a bit difficult to understand. Yet, it was a fantastic edge of your seat read. I recommend this book whole-heartedly to anyone who likes mysteries, alternate lifestyles, espionage, and just straight action adventures!

Welcome to Rockton, a place that most of us would hate needing to go live. This is where you go to escape your life, whether you need a breather from 'real' life or you are escaping a possibly justifiable crime. You pay to live here -deep in the backcountry, no phone, no electricity, grizzly bears, wild people and all!

What a ride this was, and the storyline had me a bit worried that this would be the last book in the series. But upon further reading, I don't think this is the end, folks, and thank goodness for that!

I bought this series on my own dime. Still, I was lucky enough to be offered the opportunity to read an early reviewer's copy of this. However, I will always buy my own copy, so the author will be encouraged to keep writing this series

Receiving this book from Netgalley prompted me to start at the begging and work my way back to this one and oh my What a time it has been....

So this time around we start with an injured stranger presumed to be a lost tourist stumbling through the woods. Naturally she happens upon Casey and Eric because well because of course she did. And naturally they try to help her getting her desperately needed medical care despite a language barrier. Luckily they are presented with a resident of Rockton that speaks her language. From there everything gets crazy... as it tends to do in this series...
Lost injured tourist, far too many bodies in the woods and the issue of the Hostiles... never a dull moment when Casey is on the case. If that wasn’t enough on her plate it’s possible that the town is shutting down with the council secretly downsizing. Oh and a couple kidnappings because this series basically goes from one bad thing to like 50 others.

Sometimes the bunches of crazy things happening thing works sometimes it doesn’t. The 2nd book was bad and the 5th a lot of drama and nonsense... the first book made all the crazy work seamlessly. I say all that to say that after reading the whole series it’s become exhausting. Though to be fair had I started with this book I wouldn’t have been invested enough to keep reading. Maybe it’s the fact that this is all told from Casey’s POV but all of her unnecessary guilt and doubt and whining over what she did all those years ago is exhausting. I get it she’s a flawed person with a lot of issues and maybe it’s because I read the first 5 books in five days straight but Casey can be very annoying. I like the idea of the town and the story but at this point it’s become a series of increasingly ridiculous events.

This book in particular though they do finally get to the bottom of the mystery of the Hostiles. Some of it I guessed and some not so much. I doubt anybody could fully guess how that all came about, it took Casey most of this book to put the pieces together and get confirmation. Which comes in the form of an unexpected visitor from the council who knows a whole lot about a whole lot.

All and all this wasn’t a bad story on its own but taking in the series as a whole it’s not great. It’s ok and I will likely read the next one as I assume with the way this ended there has to be another. I like the series enough to keep going and well it’s never boring a bit extra yes but never boring.

Prior to this series read-a-thon I was familiar with the author’s work though I had no idea she did mystery so this was interesting to me since I’ve recently become obsessed with mystery.

This is the 6th book in the series and I always wonder how the story is going to proceed without it getting to repeat the same thing over and over. Kelly Armstrong is doing a good job in keeping the story interesting. New developments of past history come to the surface. Not always putting the people involved in a favorable light. AS the series is continuing I feel that at minimum you need to read the previous two books before this one. It is not that we have cliffhangers but the interaction between the townspeople might lose some of its value if you have not seen the development of the relationships in the past. I find these series fun books to read and I’m already looking out for the next one..