The Deepest of Secrets by Kelley Armstrong (Rockton #7) 4.5 stars

Detective Casey Duncan works for the community of Rockton with her partner Sheriff Eric Dalton. Rockton is a small exclusive community with a secret and the inhabitants are not always friendly. What happens when someone starts to reveal the secrets of the inhabitants? Murder and mayhem follows.

This is probably the last book in the Rockton series and it tries to tie up all the lose ends and give the main characters some closure. The powers that be, the mysterious "Council" has been moving towards closing Rockton forever. Casey and Eric have been fighting a rear action battle while trying to formulate their own contingency plans. They didn't need trouble at this juncture, but this helps the "Council" excuse the closure. I found the mystery methodical and straightforward. The strength of this series lies in the characters that have been there from the beginning and those who have stayed midway. I will miss Casey and Eric and the others. But Ms. Armstrong is starting another series with the first book to be "A Rip Through Time". I can't wait.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martins Press/Minotaur Books for this ARC.

This was fantastic! I have been a huge fan of this series from the beginning and have eagerly anticipated each installment. I went into this book with pretty high expectations and I was not disappointed. This is the seventh book in the Rockton series and I would recommend reading this series in order since events from the previous books play a role in this story. Once I picked this book up, I had a very hard time putting it down. I found this to be a very exciting and entertaining read.

I love how Casey, Eric, Will, and the rest of the group work together to solve crimes and keep the town of Rockton safe. In this installment, it felt like the town was against them. Between the council and the problems in town, I had no idea how they would keep things together in this book. Things never get boring in Rockton and in this installment, someone in the town seems to be out to discredit certain individuals and the town is in an uproar. Throw in a little murder and things get very interesting very quickly.

I was completely taken with this mystery. I had no idea who might be responsible for everything going on in Rockton but I couldn’t wait to find out. I love the way Casey approaches a mystery and I always enjoy watching her go through the investigative process with other members of her team. This book had plenty of action and excitement that kept me glued to the pages. A lot of things that have been brewing for a while came to the forefront in this book and I am really curious about where the series goes from here.

I would highly recommend this series to others. This has been an excellent series filled with great characters, a unique setting, and mysteries that keep you guessing until the very end. I cannot wait to read more from this talented author!

I received a digital review copy of this book from Minotaur Books via NetGalley.

The Deepest of Secrets is the 7th book in Kelley Armstrong's amazing Rockton series. I started this series on book 5 and loved both it and book 6. Will you be lost if you're starting with this book? No doubt. I'm still rather confused, and I've read the previous two. The stories left me on the edge of my seat; they were that intriguing and thrilling, so I just followed the best I could and let the stories take me away. I believe this is the last book in the Rockton series. Nooooooooooo! I'm not ready to let go of Casey, Eric and Storm!

Rockton is a hidden, off-the-grid town deep in the Yukon wilderness. The residents are there for different reasons, and their reasons are known only to the "council" that controls Rockton. The town thrives because of the secrets kept. But when the hidden lives of the residents begin to be revealed, things start going downhill very quickly. First Deputy Anders' tragic past is revealed, and his friends Detective Casey Duncan and Sheriff Eric Dalton are intent on discovering who outed him. When their main suspect is discovered close to death, they begin to realize they have a killer on the loose. The residents begin to turn against one another. What happens to a town built on secrets when its secrets begin to be revealed, and who will be next?

This story started a bit slowly, but once it started to move more quickly it never let up! Things were beginning to go bad when secrets were released, but to make matters worse, the council revealed that it was shutting Rockton down completely. What would happen to all of the residents? They had enough on their plates without having to deal with another crisis. Casey and Eric have become particular favorite characters of mine. They are common-law spouses by now, and they are both very protective of each other and share a deep love, though romance doesn't bog down the suspense. They both acknowledge the other's strengths and they can investigate on their own without being attached at the hip. The residents of Rockton are a diverse bunch, all having secrets of their own. Some are immensely likable, like Anders, April (Casey's sister, a doctor on the autism spectrum) and Jacob (Eric's brother). Others you hate right off the bat. Mostly, though, there are those you just don't know where they stand, and that's what makes Rockton intriguing and dangerous. Of course, my favorite character is Newfoundland pup Storm, who has a personality all its own. Who doesn't love a huge, smart, protective and cuddly dog? There is a great storyline here, one that pits resident against resident. I love the humor here, especially the attempted escape of the most inept criminal ever. The action near the end of the book will have you hanging onto your seat; it's that exciting! I know this is the end of Rockton, but the fangirl in me is hoping for a spin-off series surrounding the building of a new settlement. Please?

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Love this series. I have *read* can you say audio, all of them This is actually the first one I read., e-book. I missed the narrator, but I could hear her/Casey in my head. I had no idea of the rumor this was to be the last book. Please, please, please let it be false. Let this be as someone else said, transitional. If you have not read the first 6, you will not be lost due to the prologue the author was kind enough to write. If you have had not read the first 6 you do yourself a disservice, go get them, indulge and reap the reward of this great premise. Enjoy the growth and the mystery and the constant clever twists. The people are fleshed out, real, the landscape vivid. I highly recommend this series. Thank you for the arc, I freely volunteer my thoughts and opinions, and thank you, thank you Macmillian /Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read this arc.

Everything about Rockton is a deep secret. Its very existence, its location way off the grid, the crimes or criminals the residents are escaping, the crimes behind the crimes that gain certain residents entry for large amounts of money, the mysterious background of the young sheriff, and with two exceptions, the faceless council existing only behind a radio receiver.
In The Deepest of Secrets Rockton #7 the biggest secret of all to the town’s leaders is whether or not the council shutting Rockton down. Suddenly the council isn’t adding new residents, nor are they allowing extensions to the current residents.
Rockton was originally established to protect people from the political craziness of the fifties, then the protestors of the sixties, now…it’s become just another money making operation. Those killer rabbits Casey and Eric are always waiting to appear? They must be the far-away, never seen town council.
The residents of Rockton see the deepest secret differently; for them the reason for their flight to Rockton is the deepest secret of all. When someone maliciously exposes the background of one of Rockton’s most beloved residents, well, “Things fall apart, the center cannot hold”.
Other backgrounds are threatened with exposure. Then the real fun begins with the violence, the mistrust, blackmail and the underlying ugliness of people turning on one another.
It seems as if the town council made a big mistake in adding the former Casey Duncan to the population of Rockville. A detective was desperately needed to solve some horrific crimes.
Casey and the Sheriff, Eric Dalton fell in love and over time became Rockton’s true town leaders with the help of their deputy, the town madam, the sociopath butcher (how perfect is that?), the council assassin (yes indeedy) and a few others. No one is boring in Rockton. In fact the old saw about watching out for the quiet ones……
The council’s mistake: Eric and Casey will do almost anything to keep Rockton safe and on an even keel; including circumventing the council. Once again Eric and Casey have almost too much to contend with in having to finding out who is releasing secrets, who is blackmailing whom, who is killing people and if maybe one person is doing it all.
Halfway through the book, the boom is lowered and the council declares Rockton closed down to the last board in the last house. They will transfer the current residents to a new location. This is no surprise, the last few books have strongly hinted about this, and Armstrong has made no bones about this being a seven book contract.
Luckily Eric and Casey have made a plan B, others have made their homes in the Yukon forest; but it is an extremely hard life. The forest isn’t trying to kill you, it just does. Their plan B might be vague, but they have people who want to join them.
Rockton is located far off the grid in the boreal forests of the Yukon with the wilderness and wildness beyond imagining. Armstrong beautifully writes of the beauty and danger of the flora and fauna. Armstrong can also combine humor and terror in one encounter as she does with a previous episode of Casey and her bear cub bowling.
Yet in The Deepest of Secrets too many people seem to ignore Rockton's number #1 rule of not going into the forest alone; too easy to get lost, too easy for a deadly predator encounter.
Or is it the characters that fascinate? They actually act in mature ways. The characters talk to one another to solve problems; friendships might be severely damaged at some points, but grown up people usually find their ways back. So Casey and Eric are shocked to see how the townspeople react to this first exposure.
Secondary characters are sometimes introduced the Rockton way, with their true selves revealed as the books go on. Some are charming, some not so much.
The Rockton books are always action packed but underneath is always a layer of sweetness.
I feel as if the last half was rushed, I wanted more details about plan B. What I really want is another series detailing what happens next.
This might be book # 7 in one of the three best series I have ever read, but Armstrong writes a prologue that quickly brings new and old readers up to speed.
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press/ Minotaur Books for sending me an ARC. The opinions are entirely my own.

In this installment the culmination of all their fears come true which has Eric and Casey scrambling all while trying to solve a murder or two. This series is always intriguing, and The Deepest of Secrets is no different. This story is filled with twists, turns and misdirection. Fantastic addition.

I honestly have to say the journey through this series has been trippy, and I have loved every minute of it. The seventh book in the Rockton takes us through a mystery for Casey, Eric, and Will to solve. Someone is blackmailing the residents and it spirals down from there. The main difference with this story is it is held mostly in Rockton. So we get to see all of our favorite residents who we have grown to know.

The interactions with all the characters of this crazy town is what makes the story pop. They are very well thought out, and developed. I just love visiting Rockton every year, and I hope this is not the last time. That being said, I really enjoyed the ending. I felt everything was tied up nicely. If this is the end of the series - OK. If not, I would love to read more.

Thank you to St. Martin's and Netgalley for the ARC.

A town that doesn’t exsist. Residents who live by committee. A town subsidized by unknown money for reasons seemingly benign but sinister none the less. Living in the Rock has its own challenges and the residents have come to rely on the anonymous life they enjoy. A life upended by greed and suspicion. A chase in the sky sets the scene for an ending of a time suspended in sunlight. A life gone forever and a chance to start again .

Rockton is changing and not for the better. Casey and Eric have to control the information that other residents are sharing about the backgrounds of the residents who are there before it's tool late. The council wants to close down Rockton. Besides, dealing with the imminent closure of the town, Casey and Eric have to deal with murder and blackmail. There is a lot of suspense and action and the ending will make you want to learn what the future holds for the residents of Rockton.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

Interesting concept, place and people! This is the first book I've read in this series, and thankfully the author knows there are people like me who will pick up a book in the middle of series, because she gives a synopsis of what has been going on so far. And after reading this book, I cannot wait to read the next one, and then go back and read the first six.

So I unfortunately heard a rumor that this will be the last book in the Rockton series. I hope we get at least one more, because this book is the end of Rockton as we know it as they move on to something better, much better, than what they have now. I really love this series and if it's the last book, I'll be sad to see them go. However, due to the way the book ended, I think we'll get at least one more. I hope so! This one was well written and just as dramatic as always - especially the last few chapters! I enjoyed this one just as much as I've enjoyed all the rest. 4 stars!

Things are already unsettled in Rockton when someone outs Anders by posting a piece of paper with what sent him to this refuge of sorts on the movie screen. Who did it and why? That's the immediate question, because Rockton residents have secret back stories - so who knew Anders- but then the murders start. Fans of the series and new readers alike will no doubt appreciate that Armstrong has provided a short synopsis up front because this is the 7th in a complex series. Casey, a detective, and Eric the Sheriff (and her life partner) find themselves racing against time to find the underlying rot in a community which has always carefully balanced things. Who can be trusted? There's a core group-Casey, Anders, Eric,Phil, Isobel, Petra, April- and then there are the others. I've come to really like these characters (even the less likable ones) because they are vivid. No spoilers from me but Armstrong amps up the tension and keeps this moving quickly. It's twisty, that's for sure. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I admit to being a fan so I'm holding out hope.....

The Deepest of Secrets is the 7th book in the Rockton series, which is one of my all-time favorite series. For anyone not already familiar with the premise of the series, Rockton is a hidden, secret small town (village, really) of about 200 people, far north in the Yukon in Canada. People are sent there to disappear for a couple of years. Many of them are victims seeking safety, but some are criminals, which makes for an interesting assortment of residents. Their backstories (the reason they are in Rockton) are kept confidential. While I generally like to read a series in order, I feel that it is virtually a requirement for the Rockton series.

In The Deepest of Secrets a Rockton resident has “outed” the background of one of the main characters, Will Anders, and trouble starts. Who did it and why? How should Sheriff Eric Dalton and his detective, Casey Butler handle this, since Will is their trusted deputy? At the same time, “the council” has decided, for various reasons, to shut Rockton down, which had been hinted at in a previous book. It now looks like this will be the final book in the series.

I will most definitely miss the characters who make up the population of Rockton, having grown fond of them over the course of these seven books: Eric and Casey and Will, April, Isabel, Phil, Jen and many more, including Casey’s Newfie tracking dog, Storm.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

The Deepest of Secrets is the Seventh installment in author Kelley Armstrong's Casey Duncan/Rockton series. Welcome to Rockton, a town located somewhere in the Yukon wilderness where people come her under false names and false histories, and they must stay a minimum of 2 years. Extensions can stretch to 5 years, but recently, nobody has been receiving extensions from the mysterious Council. The people of Rockton live off the grid with no access to phones, or the internet. There are a few key characters you should know about.

Casey Duncan, aka Casey Butler, is the lone detective in Rockton who has been her for almost 2 years after following her friend Diana here. Eric Dalton is Casey's common-law husband as well as the Sheriff. Will Anders is the lone deputy and then there's Storm, Casey's Newfoundland dog, and April, who is not only the towns doctor, but Casey's sister. The town's representative is Phil, who is much better than the previous council rep. Petra is a former assassin, Mathias is a psychiatrist, while Isabel runs the only bar known as the ROC which doubles as a brothel.

Rockton is a secret town filled with secrets. The only person who knows the backgrounds of the people here is Eric, and once in a while, Casey gets clued in on the fact that some people paid big money to escape their fated destinies with prison. A few months ago, Casey solved the mystery of the hostiles and how they came into existence. Her award? The council is shutting them down. Just when you though you've seen everything, someone posts a secret about Will as well as his former name before coming here.

In Rockton, revealing the details of a persons previous life violates Rockton's rules, but with the Council seemingly more interesting in covering up their own malfeasance and shutting down the town, Eric and Casey have almost too much on their hands. They have to find out who is releasing secrets, who is blackmailing whom, who is killing people and if maybe one person is doing it all. On top of all of this, Eric and Casey will do almost anything to keep Rockton safe and on an even keel; including circumventing the council.

Apparently, according to information seen on Goodreads, Armstrong was contracted for seven books, and this, my friends is the seventh book. So, with residents being sent off to places unknown, and Eric and Casey refusing to continue to be treated like pond scum by the Council, I honestly have a hard time seeing another book in this series. A slightly slower start quickly accelerates as the plot develops and Casey’s investigation takes off. While this could be read as a stand-alone, readers will be better served to read the series in order to better understand the full background of the residents and how the town operates.

My Thoughts

Time spent in Rockton means living rough with people who are accustomed to luxuries of a life spent in civilized areas of the country.

Coming to Rockton is the last resort for a chance to start over, a chance bought and paid for to people behind the scenes whose power over the town and its inhabitants has finally taken a very ugly turn.

While things in town implode Casey, Eric and others do their best to contain each situation as it occurs.

All the while there is a new killer on the loose causing damage and death amongst people who are already on the edge.

From the first book this has been a series I found compelled to read.

With book 7 that compulsion to read was even stronger as it ends these characters time in my head.

I mourn the end of the series but am happy with its conclusion in many ways while still feeling that would love to further explore what happens next.

[EArc from Netgalley]

On every book read as soon as it is done and written up for review it is posted on Goodreads and Netgalley, once released then posted on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles as well.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. It has been a few months since I have read the previous entry in the series, so I have to say that including a synopsis of the plot to this point in the beginning of this book was very helpful. There is a fairly large cast of characters, and that saved me a few moments of "who is this person again? ". Which I needed, because there was a lot going on in this book.
The story begins with a plot to discredit our dear other deputy, Will Anders. Someone has gone to great lengths to tell his secrets, and in a town like Rockton, that is a very dangerous thing to do. Casey and Dalton had to try and solve the mystery and save their friend before the town revolted.
This book felt very much like a transitional story. The front half of the book was one mystery, the second half was the set up to what I'm assuming is the next story arc for the series. Casey and Dalton spent hardly any time together on page, which was a bit disappointing, because their relationship is the heart of the series. I could be wrong, and there is only so much I can say without spoilers, but this led me to feel like this was less of a conclusion than a way station. Huge changes were made, and there was a fair bit of action involving a moose, but this book read a little differently than the rest of the series. While I did enjoy myself, I will have to wait and see what happens to the Rockton crew in the future.

I'd like to thank NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of this book in return for an honest opinion.

I've been a fan of Casey Duncan and the Rockton novels since I first discovered them a year or so ago. The series follows Casey Duncan, a Chinese-Canadian police detective forced to disappear from her life "down south" due to mistakes made in the past. She moves with her friend, Diana (who is escaping an abusive boyfriend), to the off-the-grid town of Rockton, hidden deep in the wilds of the Yukon and populated by others fleeing their past lives. There, she is hired as a detective on the town's small police force and establishes a relationship with the sheriff, Eric Dalton. One would expect that life in this secret town would be quiet and uneventful. But put a group of people trying to keep their pasts secret, trouble begins to brew, keeping Casey, Eric, and deputy Will Anders very busy.

The seventh book in the series - The Deepest of Secrets - lives up to the quality of the previous novels. In this installment, Casey and Eric are trying to find the culprit responsible for revealing the secrets of some of the town's residents. Rockton survives and thrives because the residents' many secrets stay just that - secret. And, in a place built on privacy and new beginnings, the town's population 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 the trickster is actually a murderer. And perhaps a serial vivisepulturalist (yes, I learned a new word reading this book).

Like previous novels in the series, the action is non-stop with one small incident building on another until it seems like everyone is a suspect. All of the usual characters are along for the ride: Isabel (the local bar and brothel owner), Phil (the town council representative), April (town doctor and Casey's sister), Matthias (town butcher and past psychiatrist), Diana (town nurse and Casey's old friend) plus Jen and Kenny (town militia members). And, of course, Storm (Casey's pet Newfoundland and the police force's official tracking dog).

The Rockton series is definitely one that needs to be read in order so please keep that in mind.

Ahoy there me mateys!  I received an eArc of this thriller through NetGalley in exchange for me honest musings.  This be the seventh book of a series and seemingly the series finale.  While I try to post no spoilers, if ye keep reading this log then ye have been forewarned and continue at yer own peril . . .

I love Kelley Armstrong!  I discovered her through her young adult book, sea of shadows, and she became me most read author of 2016. I have really been enjoying this series and I didn't even read the blurb before I requested this one.  While ye can read books 1 - 3 and get the gist, books 4 - 7 build on each other.  I do recommend starting at the beginning.

This novel continues the adventures of Rockton's detective, Casey Duncan.  For those who be adventurous and are readin' this post having not read the previous books, Rockton is an off-the-grid town in the Yukon.  People pay a council to spend time in this town to hide from their pasts.  Some flee domestic abuse.  Some flee other more unsavory problems.  Suffice to say, the town is not an idyllic wonderland.

Casey is always getting pulled into trouble.  This time, residents' secrets are getting exposed.  How is this information getting out?  And who is willing to kill because of these secrets?

Rockton books are always a little over the top and this one was no exception.  I actually really loved the first half of the book and thought it was very humorous.  The second half of the book felt a little rushed.  Sadly the ending was kinda horrible.  The mastermind was obvious and how that plotline resolved was ridiculous.  Even for this series.  I rather wish that we could have had better resolutions for me favorite side characters.  No regrets about reading this series though.  It was fun!

So lastly . . .

Thank ye kindly St. Martin's Press!

The Deepest of Secrets – Kelley Armstrong

The town of Rockton is a secret town, tucked deep into the Canadian woods, far from civilization and prying eyes. You won’t find it on any map, you can’t spot it from the air. Originally designed as a refuge of sorts for those in need, its members live largely off the grid, with backgrounds and secrets kept safe. Each individual has an assigned job, some essential, some not, and goods, services - and alcohol – are rationed, with extra credits that can be earned. No one questions the histories of the others…until now…

Detective Casey Duncan & her boyfriend Sheriff Eric Dalton have been Rockton residents for a while now and things appear to be changing. The “Council” - the entity that oversees the town – has not allowed anyone to extend their scheduled stay in quite a while. The volume of new residents seeking asylum has dwindled, and amongst the remaining townspeople, the pervasive worry that the Council will be shutting them down is growing.

Casey, Eric and a couple of friends are gathered together one evening when they are summoned to some trouble in the town square. As they arrive, they see a large sign that has been posted, detailing the alleged crime that led a deputy to Rockton, putting everyone on edge. In a place where secrets are supposed to be safe, someone suddenly seems determined to expose them all.

Casey and Eric begin an investigation, but soon the body of a female Rockton resident is found - then another townsperson claims to have escaped a similar murder attempt. Meanwhile, the Council has indeed decided to close the town, leaving Casey & Eric in charge of the dismantling of what has become their sanctuary, as they try to unveil a murderer…

This book is the 7th in a series, and until I visited the author’s website, I wasn’t aware that it was written as a final installment, although I have fervent hopes that the author will find a way to incorporate these characters into later projects. I’ve grown quite fond of many of them and truly hate to think this is the last I’ll read of them. A great series and a great premise in these crazy times of ours!

I received this book as an Advance Reader Copy from Netgalley & St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an objective review. Do you love to read?? Visit netgalley.com and start reviewing books today!!

Hard to believe that this is the last installment to Armstrong's Rockton series. Sometimes wrapping up a series can be disappointing to read,I count this as the exception! The Deepest of Secrets may in fact be my favorite book in this series.
Kudos to Armstrong for including the prelude. While I have followed the adventures of Rockton and "her" inhabitants from book one,the prelude is a helpful reminder and helped to set the tone for the book.
What really stands out for me is this humor that stands out in chapters 17 and 18. While this series does not usually lean too hard into comedy/sarcasm these chapters prove that Armstrong has the ability to pull of the levity.
I am hopeful we will see more of our favorite characters in a future Armstrong series.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC copy!