Set in the isolated forests of the Yukon, Rockton was a city that was built for one reason. To make money from people who are desperate enough to want an escape from their real life. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a resort town, this is a town that survives because its inhabitants work to make it survive. They arrive in Rockton with no past, their lives scrubbed clean. However, the reasons they’ve left the world behind may not be easily wiped clean, coming out in their habits and personalities. When the committee starts accepting people who are no longer escaping bad situations but are bad themselves, the community begins to change and Casey’s life investigating crimes becomes much busier, but the one thing that stays consistent is that no one knows anyone’s history. In The Deepest of Secrets, that ideal is threatened. The first to have his secret revealed is fellow officer, Will Anders, one of Casey’s best friends.

This series has been so enjoyable because of the complicated characters, their bonds with each other, and the city and location. It’s mysterious, eery, and the perfect setting for a fantastical mystery series. These flawed people have worked hard to make a community, made friends and built connections all while a mysterious committee has the power to change their lives. That fear of not knowing what comes next is a huge theme in this book. Casey is solving a mystery, but she’s going against their rules and running out of time. This sense of urgency is prevalent throughout the novel making my stomach churn with an uncertainty. Is this the last novel in the series? I am sad that it may be over, but boy, it was a fantastic ending. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher for my honest review and it was honest.

Detective Casey Duncan has become use to the town of Rockton and all its peculiarities. The town is hidden away far from any cities and its many residents have moved there to keep their secrets hidden. Things take a bad turn when people's secrets start to come to light. No ones secret seems to be safe and residents don't feel safe. Casey and her boyfriend who is the sheriff of Rockton know they must figure out who not only knows everyone's secrets bit who is spreading them for all as well. Everyone is the turning on their neighbors and chaos is beginning to reign. With such a threat alive and well the two know that they need to figure out who offender is and why he has turned the town upside down. Will the two be able to discover what brought all the discord forward or will the town be destroyed before they can?

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to review this eBook title.

I absolutely love this series by Armstrong. She does such an amazing job of keeping my curiosity running wild and towards the end, I always wonder if this will be the last one in the series.

When I read this title, I knew I was going to escape to the wilderness of Rockton which is off the grid. For some reason, I like how it’s so far off the grid and the counsel is in control of the bigger decisions. The characters have a job to do at Rockton and not all of them are really trained, but rely on their life experiences to get them by.

The characters are easy to follow and it is character driven. The variety of characters and newcomers definitely helps keep this novel as mysterious as it should be too. It has some language, but easy to look over

This series never disappoints and I was happy to see this one did not either. You can read this one as a stand alone, cause it offers a catch-up at the beginning, but you’d be missing out if you didn’t start with book one.

The Deepest of Secrets is very well written I was drawn in right away. Although new to the series the characters are realistic and engaging. The storyline is compelling and I was invested in the town and it's survival. I highly recommend this book and series!

I had a hard time getting into this one. Admittedly, this was book 7 in the series and my first. I’m not sure if I would have liked it more had I started at the beginning or not. There was certainly enough back story to fill me in, which I appreciated. But I didn’t really like the characters and had a hard time getting into the plot. My thanks to the pub for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review!

4.25 stars--THE DEEPEST OF SECRETS is the seventh and final (?) instalment in Kelley Armstrong’s contemporary, adult ROCKTON mystery, thriller, suspense series focusing on the fictional town of Rockton, in the Yukon.

SOME BACKGROUND: Rockton Yukon does not exist on any map, and the residents all have a questionable past, fake names and false histories. Most were once considered to be white collar crimes but with increasing regularity, hardened criminals have somehow paid their way into Rockton, seeking sanctuary against future prosecution, a safe place for two years before seeking asylum somewhere else. Built in the 1950s, Rockton is a refuge for people in trouble but a refuge run by a ‘council’ with the ultimate control, moving Rockton from a commune into a for-profit institution. Entirely off-grid, with no modern amenities, Rockton’s secrets are about to be exposed.

NOTE: If you are new to the series, the author offers up an introductory chapter focusing on the history of Rockton, and the key residents who have made a name for themselves throughout the series including Detective Casey Butler and her partner Eric Dalton..

Told from first person perspective (Detective Casey Duncan Butler) THE DEEPEST OF SECRETS focuses on the search for a killer who is targeting the residents of Rockton, Yukon, taking aim at the people in charge. Someone has uncovered the truth, the backgrounds and crimes, about several residents of Rockton, and in this, the remaining people have taken it upon themselves to ferret out the person responsible, targeting the ‘guilty’ before any chance at redemption. The once tepid relationships between the residents is threatened when betrayal reveals a murderer among them, someone who they believe has not paid for their crime but as a number of residents find themselves the victim of a potential killer, the council steps in to shut down a town that doesn’t exist. As Casey, and her partner/ common-law husband Sheriff Erin Dalton begin an investigation, people begin disappearing, and the number of suspects grows with every clue.

THE DEEPEST OF SECRETS is a story of betrayal and vengeance, power and control, murder and obsession, distrust and uncertainty, innocence and guilt. Kelley Armstrong pulls the reader into an intriguing, twisted and haunting tale of what if? Or how? A though provoking series wherein if you were able to disappear without a trace, would you? Could you? Without any thoughts about who or what you left behind. The premise is detailed, intense, dramatic and original; the characters are spirited, edgy and often tragic. THE DEEPEST OF SECRETS is open ended, the main characters are considering their next step, outside of Rockton Yukon.




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For those new to this series, Rockton is an off the grid refuge town for those trying to escape something in life like a stalker, abusive mate, or punishment from a crime. The residents are supposedly non- violent offenders, however Eric and Casey, Rockton’s Sheriff and Detective, have found out the hard way many of the residents are not as their paperwork has presented them. Over the past installments Casey and Eric have had to defend the town and themselves from some very dangerous people. Both Casey and Eric love their life, limited and imperfect as it is, they’ve found a place to belong, safe and fulfilled with each other. However, things have come to a head with the council that controls the town and change is in the air.

In this newest installment, one of Casey and Eric’s close friends has the reason for his exile exposed to the whole town and there are threats of more being revealed. A few members are stirring up trouble, questioning Casey and Eric’s leadership and authority so there’s a lot of turmoil and distrust swirling about. One of the troublemakers is nearly murdered and another goes missing. Add to that is the suspicion that the council is planning on shutting Rockton down and there’s a lot going on here in The Deepest of Secrets.

I’ve loved the Rockton/Casey Duncan series from the start and The Deepest of Secrets was another riveting installment, hard to put down! I love how Casey pieces together the clues even without the aid of technology, hunting down leads until she’s left with the truth. Eric and Casey make a wonderful team, both professionally and romantically; their relationship is one of my favorite things about the series. With how things ended it’s going to be interesting to see how the series continues on and I’m excited by all the changes! What will happen next? It seems like the possibilities are wide open.

If you haven't read the Rockton series, you are missing out! It's one of my favorites! There's a new mystery introduced and wrapped up with each book, but there are relationships and an ongoing background story arc that make it best to start at the beginning.

I alternated between an e-copy and the audio version, which is how I’ve read most of the books in the past. Therese Plummer is one of my all-time favorite narrators, so the audio versions are always an auto-buy.

I love the cover of The Deepest of Secrets by Kelley Armstrong, and the title. Secrets…they are delicious and I have a feeling that they will be revealed.

Rockton. Population 171. The Yukon. Where people go to hide. No roads. No phones. No internet.

Rockton started out as a place that rescued those who needed a place to hide and be safe. Now, it’s all about the money. Sound familiar?

Casey is the detective, Eric is the sheriff and her husband, and Will is the deputy. Storm is Casey’s K-9, a Newfoundland. She will be needed to do her part as the town begins to fall apart.

A council runs the town…and, something fishy is going on. One bad apple spoils the barrel applies in this very small community, where the residents start to turn on each other.

I loved the chase in the forest. It had me cracking up, but you will need to read The Deepest of Secrets by Kelley Armstrong to find out why.

Secrets…they are always problems, especially when they are exposed. Danger, intrigue, mystery and betrayal abound in the last Rockton novel. I missed a lot of the series, but I enjoyed my visit. Would I have enjoyed it more, if I had read the entire series and was more invested in the characters? Maybe. Either way, I do recommend the series.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Deepest of Secrets by Kelley Armstrong.

See more at http://www.fundinmental.com

I was late to the Rockton series party but I’ve been thoroughly enjoying my time in the secret town Kelley Armstrong created. The Deepest of Secrets (out today) is the last in the series (or is it?) and I absolutely devoured it.

Here’s the book’s description:
It’s not always easy to live in the hidden town of Rockton, something Detective Casey Duncan knows firsthand. Tucked away in the Yukon wilderness, the community survives—and thrives—because the residents' many secrets stay just that—secret.
But what happens when these secrets start to come out? Overnight, no one is safe. It’s not a question of if your secret will come out—but when.
Casey and her boyfriend, Sheriff Eric Dalton, need to find the culprit while protecting those who have been thrust into the spotlight. For a place built on privacy and new beginnings, Rockton isn’t handling these revelations very well. People are turning on one another, and when one of the loudest complainers turns up barely alive, it's clear that their trickster is actually a murderer.
The threat of exposure is reaching its breaking point, and no one knows what’s going to happen next.
Now, this is the last Rockton book. BUT Armstrong has teased on social media that this might not be the last book with these characters. I was excited before and am even more so after reading this one. I’m super attached to these characters and am definitely not ready to say goodbye so I’m really hoping she finds a way to bring them all back together.

Not only do I love the characters but I enjoy how Armstrong writes the mystery. It can get a tad annoying because the reader knows Casey knows something but not what and I for one can’t usually figure it out but it all comes together and it’s super satisfying and I forget that I was annoyed. The twists in this one were unexpected and I’m pretty sure I found myself saying “WHAT?!” at my ereader on more than one occasion. Is it the most ground-breaking crime thriller ever? No. But it’s hella entertaining and fast paced so I was all in from the start and couldn’t put it down. I actually read a good chunk of it while donating blood last week and I was able to totally tune out everything happening around me while reading it.

I mentioned this one was fast paced and I wonder if it was a bit too fast. Things were happening a mile a minute and I think I started to get whiplash. It wasn’t a negative, exactly, for my reading enjoyment. I really freaking liked this book. But it’s not necessarily a hallmark of a super well written and executed mystery. Does it matter in the long run? No. I’m still going to tell you to read this series. Just a consideration to keep in mind!

If the sound of this mystery series intrigues you, I definitely recommend starting back at the beginning with City of the Lost and reading all seven books. They’re quick and entertaining and I think you’ll get a lot more out of it if you know the entire history of Rockton as Casey experiences it.

I don’t want to say much more about The Deepest of Secrets because so much of what’s happened in the previous six books comes to a head in this one and it’s so much better if you go in without knowing too much of what’s going to happen. So I'll say again: this is a great series and you should read it. I’ve really enjoyed Kelley Armstrong’s Rockton series and I can’t wait to find out if we get to see these characters again!

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

The Deepest of Secrets of Secrets: A Rockton Novel
By Kelley Armstrong
Minotaur
February 2022

Review by Cynthia Chow

The off-the-grid town of Rockton, Canada has existed for nearly 70 years, ostensibly as a safe haven for those fleeing threats that legal resources have been unable to provide. Detectives Eric Dalton and Casey Duncan shouldn’t have been too surprised that the well-intentioned project has been twisted into a for-profit organization, with the Board sending in criminals wealthy enough to pay for a new start as they elude prosecution. Everyone in Rockton has their secrets, and now someone has begun exploiting that with blackmail threats and defamation. An accusation of murder against Deputy Will Anders isn’t’ without its truth, but the tragedy of PTSD is left out and as a result stirs up the paranoia and anger of other Rockton refugees. Dalton and Casey are closing in on the suspect when they find him buried in the woods, unconscious but alive. While the town consensus quickly judges Anders as the culprit, it’s not long before they realize that their blackmailer had a long history of crimes and that he was continuing into the present.

As Dalton and Casey do what they can to calm the fears of the Rockton people, another threat looms over them all. Hints that the Board funding the town intend to close down Rockton entirely have been growing stronger, and when the news comes down the Detectives must decide how to prevent panic and how to move forward. Many in Rockton don’t enjoy the rough, no-frills enforced lifestyle and would be happy to leave for the luxurious accommodations they expected, but others are depending on being hidden from the threats endangering their lives. Another murder only accelerates the schedule for the town to be shut down, so Casey and Dalton must juggle their future plans with an investigation based on uncovering the secrets that Rockton was established to hide.

This 7th in the series leads into what could either be the end of a series or an exciting start to an entirely new one. The concept of a town existing in secret is fascinating, especially considering the prevalence of the internet and social media would seem to make it impossible. Casey left behind her old life after committing a justifiable act of violence, but she’s found a new career and life that she’s not ready to give up. Eric Dalton has become her partner in life as they protect and govern over Rockton, and together they bear the responsibilities of managing what has become a near-sustainable community. The recent arrival of Casey’s brilliant but socially challenged sister April has not only mended the relationship between the sisters, having a doctor on site has provided them with much needed medical and forensic resources. Casey’s massive dog Storm is as instrumental in their investigations as ever, but it’s the relationships Casey and Dalton have built between their unique townspeople that help them plan their future. Casey’s wry humor and Dalton’s deadpan demeanor keep this slow-burn thriller lively and fun, building up to a revved up conclusion. Hopefully this will only lead into even more exploits of the Rockton and the fascinating premise behind it.

Kelley Armstrong's books make for addictive reading. But, I have to say, the Rockton series is my favorite. The Deepest of Secrets is the seventh entry.

Rockton is a town that doesn't exist on any map, completely off-grid, hidden in the Yukon. The residents? They're all running from something or hiding from someone. Nobody asks too many questions. A town full of liars, thieves and criminals provides a wealth of opportunities for story telling. But even this town needs some laws - and someone to enforce them. That's where Detective Casey Duncan comes in - she was a homicide cop 'down south'. She and Sheriff Eric Dalton are partners at work - and at home. What a great premise!

This latest finds secrets being brought to light - and bodies to go along with them. The books are written from Casey's point of view. I enjoy being 'with' her as she investigates. I enjoy her internal reasoning and subsequent deductions as she investigates. The mysteries Armstrong presents are not easily solved and I quite like being kept guessing. This latest is no exception.

Casey is such a great lead - she's tough, intelligent and determined - but not perfect. Her relationship with Dalton is well written. I'm not a big romance reader, but Armstrong does it well. Their relationship is believable, not 'over the top' and enhances the book, rather than being the main focus. There are many, many supporting players, each with their own secrets, strengths and weaknesses. They all have a role to play and I've come to appreciate how they add to the overall depth of the plots and the fabric of Rockton.

Why do I love this series so much? I'm fascinated with the idea of a hidden town in the northern reaches of Canada. It's certainly a possibility. Armstrong's imagining of this is so detailed, from settings inside the walls and beyond. But there's another threat in Rockton in this latest entry. The council, who dictate from afar what happens in Rockton, have issued a new edict. One that threatens everything and everyone in Rockton.

The Deepest of Secrets was another great read for me. I have my hopes (and fingers crossed) for where Armstrong might take this series.

(Although there's a 'catch up' introduction, I would start with the first book, City of the Lost.)

***** REVIEW IN MAILER *****

Hello Quirkies!

As you know, I'm incredibly picky about which books I recommend to you. They have to be great stories that are well told and well written.

And, for any of you who have been following along on our book recs, you know that Kelley Armstrong is an absolute favorite author of mine -- and the Rockton series is one of my auto-reads.

I know several of you have been reading along with me as the series comes out, but for those of you who aren't - GET ON THAT. It's a great premise and some of my absolute favorite characters. And listen, Dalton was my favorite Grumpy Hero long before Ted Lasso gave us Roy Kent.

What can I say without spoiling the book for those of you who are just getting it this week?

We get to revisit some favorite characters and find out the fate of Rockton (what is that fate and how will it play out??? I'M NOT TELLING!

I will say we learn a lot of fates in this book. There are definitely a few surprises -- one literally made me say "Oh I had NO IDEA they would do that and change their path big time in this world."

Usually, with this series I can give you some hints a little bit of plot in my "get this book" but honestly, this one would be spoiled by anything. Don't put off reading it because you'll be so excited when you see how it plays out.

RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU ALREADY HAVE IT AND ARE DIVING IN.

Way back at the end of 2020 over a rather short period of time I read all the prior books in this series which meant I had plenty of time to be annoyed by the characters... however it’s been over a year now so I have no idea what it was that annoyed me now and I knew I was always going to be curious enough to see how it ends... First off though I really remember almost nothing like I know about the town and all that I removed Casey and a few others and the fact that people live in settlements in the forest but considering I read 6 books I’m drawing a lot of blanks which is strange anywho my own failing memory aside tis time to see how it ends...

Rockton is a small secretly privately run and operated town in the middle of literal nowhere Canada, it’s residents are made up of people who are in general running from some situation or crime and need to lay low for awhile do they pay for the privilege of hiding out in a town with little to no electricity and not much to do other than work whatever job they end up with. Sounds nice right? There’s also all kinds of wilderness dangers and it’s really really cold. But nobody knows who you really are or what secrets may have brought you to this place. The keeper of the secrets is Sherif Eric Dalton who knows why each and every resident is there. Some of the background is known by his homicide detective/girlfriend Casey but did the most part nobody knows their secrets. Though over the course of the series Casey and Eric have found that the company that funds the town is more than a little corrupt and has been sending in more dangerous criminals with fake backstories without warning anyone cause money. With some internal power struggles going on within the company it’s been decided that the town will be shut down sometime in the near future...

In this the beginning of the end someone is spilling the secrets of the residents revealing why they are in Rockton starting with Deputy Will Anders... that’s what it says this book is about but really it’s not only Will’s secret is revealed and the person who did it made it painfully obvious and could have gotten away with it if they weren’t such a narcissist but lady karma does visit that person and everything is figured out. Case is solved by the 50% mark. Then we move on to the issue of the town closing because it’s no longer just a looming threat the date has been set using this recent mess as proof of the incompetence of those in charge of the town.
Casey and her close circle then have to decide what they are going to do now. Because the idea of living in the regular people world is too much for her boyfriend so she wants to stay living in the middle of literal nowhere with him. Others don’t want to go back either for a variety of reasons so they consider the possibility of creating a new town that won’t be run the way Rockton was. No more secrets and lies, corruption and spies. Except during the closure of the town a murder and attempted murder causes some issues. Though the powers that be don’t actually want to deal with any of it they just want it swept under the rug... what does it matter the town is closing?
I think I remember why this series started to annoy me... in the first book it was kind of a series of increasingly crazy event and a lot going on but it somehow worked. As the series goes on though it’s the same only it doesn’t work. Casey is irritating at times. This one threw a bunch of things together and it was like basically just stuff time fill time. Was that whole last situation from the murder to everything that happened after necessary? Not really... was it interesting? Also not really... Casey isn’t great at her job because some things seem pretty obvious to me and I’m no detective.

And they all lived happily ever after or something I guess. With plans for their new town and ways to make it happen. I don’t regret reading it because I like to know how things end but it was just a very anticlimactic ending.

The Deepest of Secrets by Kelley Armstrong is the last book in the Rockton series. Tucked away in the Yukon wilderness, the council is slowly shutting down the town until someone reveals secrets and bodies turn up dead. An exciting conclusion that has left me hoping for a spinoff.

We are once again back with Detective Casey Duncan and her boyfriend, Sheriff Eric Dalton, in the hidden city of Rockton. The town is slowly winding down. Most people come for two years and can ask for a five-year extension, but the Council isn’t approving those. Casey, Eric and others have been talking about alternate plans.

Armstrong delivered a clever mystery that made it feel almost as if the town was turning on each other and on Casey, Will and Eric. Philip tries to advise them and the council is less than helpful. Someone reveals Will’s reason for coming to Rockton in the middle of town. This causes the townsfolk to become divided. Some want him removed, particularly from the force.

Everyone is in Rockton because they were running from something, but none are supposed to be violent offenders. Only those who need to know are aware of what each town member did before arriving. Who is uncovering their secrets and how are they getting access to this information? Is the council involved? With a fresh murder and clues pointing to Will, Casey and Eric will have to solve this case fast.

I loved the murder-mystery and working the case with our motley crew. I was very curious about how Armstrong would wrap this up, and I think she did a great job. It gave closure but also left the door open for more books or a spinoff series.

I became attached to these characters and the new ones we met along the way. Knowing this was the end made each encounter with these characters bittersweet. I looked forward to a new book each year and this series ending will leave a gapping hole.

The last chapter was heavy with content. A lot happening and some parts felt rushed, but in the end I was left satisfied even if I will mourn the loss of this series.

I had a wonderful (but slightly bittersweet) time visiting Rockton again. It's the last book in this very intriguing series, which makes me a little sad. I'll miss the town, the people, Eric and Casey, and all the quirkiness. But maybe not the murders (LOL).
Kudos to the author for writing such a fun and interesting series.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

Yay a new Rockton book! I love getting to head back into our town full of secrets and more murder! Poor Casey and Eric are dealing with a lot and now secrets are getting leaked. I really loved the scenes of domestic bliss and friendship that we saw during the book. It’s so hard when you live in a town where you suspect everyone’s backstory of being false.

The deepest of secrets bought us back to our favourite characters and I was pretty sad that this was going to be the last book set in Rockton but I heard this won’t be the last we see the characters.

This review was originally posted on <a href="https://booksofmyheart.net/2022/02/15/%f0%9f%8e%a7-the-deepest-of-secrets-in-town-by-kelley-armstrong/" target="_blank"> Books of My Heart</a>
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<i>Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.</i>

I have loved every one of the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/164879-rockton" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em><strong> Rockton</strong></em></a> series.  I would not try to read this as a standalone. The whole series is amazing and   I highly recommend them.  I listened to the whole series on audio, as I love Therese Plummer.

Rockton is built on all kinds of secrets.  The council has not shared with Eric or any residents the history of the people which has made Eric and Casey's job more challenging as the council  sends more violent criminals.   Now they are derisive to Eric, Phil and those who deal with them,  and unhelpful, acting like every problem was the fault of Eric, Casey and their team.

In <strong>The Deepest of Secrets</strong>,  a resident decides to start collecting dirt on other residents to use as a form of blackmail to get his way on various things.  The first outed is Will.  It makes the situation so tricky.  His girlfriend breaks things off knowing the truth.  Will is honorable, but the town realizes that it isn't only white collar criminals here.  The rumor mill goes wild and the murders begin.

I love watching Eric and Casey handling everything as honestly and safely to protect the residents, even if they don't like them.  The council is providing no support and eventually admits they are going to shut down Rockton and they need to start planning the evacuation and tear down.  This causes some new issues for where some people will go if they like Rockton and didn't want to go.

I am so proud of Eric and Casey and how they manage everything and sort the problems and the criminals.  The emotional toll of losing their homes is rough, but gives them an opportunity to start fresh in their own way.   The conclusion of this series is as amazing as the other books and very satisfying, although I hate to give up the characters and world.

The Rockton series has built a fantastic and riveting series arc, provided intense and intriguing murder mysteries along the way, and delivered a core group of characters who instilled deep reader love. Now, it is driving toward a climax that will hold us spellbound and keep us reading into the dark hours.

The Deepest of Secrets is the seventh installment in a very connected series of books that provided gritty suspense, sensual romance, political intrigue, captivating Canadian wilderness setting, and pulse-pounding thriller action and police work. Do yourself a solid and read them in order.

As the town of Rockton recovers from the latest murderous rampage, and the secret of the wild people is now in the open, Casey and Eric along with a few trusted others know the clock is ticking down to when the Council closes down their hidden wilderness town. It is when, not if, and they will be forced to make a huge decision.

They don’t need this latest anonymous antic that stirs the town into a frenzy. Someone has posted a huge sign at the center of town outing Deputy Will Anders’ big secret. It divides and creates a nasty atmosphere especially when the main person vocally against Will and the other leaders is nearly murdered. Casey tries to solve the case even as the Council is coming down with decisions that force her to work with one hand tied behind her back so to speak and many townspeople barely trust her to do her job because of the fervor stirred up against the police.

I have no idea if The Deepest of Secrets is to be the last book, but it certainly had that feel the whole time I was reading. All that has gone before has led to this point and still, Kelley Armstrong manages to rev it up to a whole new level. The Council has been sending in types who are dangerous and volatile and expecting Eric and his team to stay on top of it. The cauldron has reached the boiling point and is ready to boil over. In the midst of great change and time for a big decision, there is this new mystery. Someone is outing deadly secrets on people in the town and a murderer is on the prowl in their midst. The pace and tension was perfect, but so was the emotional impact especially when poor Will had to face down his past under a spotlight with witnesses. This time, I pegged the culprit early even with some other villains causing their own brand of trouble. I was just hazy on motive until later.

The character growth across the series has made it so Casey and the others are in a place personally and with each other to face what is happening. The malice was heavy on several fronts including from the Council, but Casey was one tough operator who took the hits, went down, dusted off and came up ready for more. She and Eric are an amazing team as police and as romantic partners. They faced all that got thrown at them so well.

I didn’t want to stop reading once I got started. There was never a moment when I felt it was a good place to stop. Every bit was pulling me in and most of the time I was flipping pages madly to see what came next. I felt this one wrapped things up logically, but also left room for more. Please, let there be more. If you haven’t started this series yet and you really love murder mysteries or especially outdoorsy thrillers, grab this series up.

While this is toted as the end of Rockton , the book ending leaves us guessing as to whether that is true. Armstrong has definitely left room for more. Rockton is an intriguing town set deep in the Yukon, off the grid and open to those with not so stellar of a past. Originally it was for lesser crimes, but in the past couple years, those that are true criminals have crept in and in this book there is much bloodshed and as secrets come to light of those living in Rockton. It’s up to Dalton and his deputy Casey to find out just who is behind all the havoc. This was not my favorite book of the series, but it’s always fun catching up with characters that you’ve come to know in previous books.

Closing up Rockton has been hanging over their heads for a while. They always assumed that the council would come up with an excuse to have the town terminated and now the day has come. Not only are Casey, Eric and Will dealing with the closing and the council which is less then helpful with their ultimatums so trying to clear up the newest problems seems to be an impossible task. So far I have loved every book in the series and feel each one is better than the previous one. The ending can proof as the final of the series which I hope it is not but also leave the tiny possibility of a spinoff series. Personally I’m not ready to say a final goodbye to my favorite characters.