I very rarely read a whole series. In fact I rarely read beyond the first book. The Rockton series is an exception for me because I love Casey Duncan's voice. She cuts through emotional bullshit with an ease that it's impossible not to admire, and Kelley Armstrong consistently puts Casey in such convoluted situations that are so satisfying to see her solve. If this is the last book in the series, it's well done. But I will miss these characters and likely revisit from time to time.

I have enjoyed following the journey with the crew of Rockton. We have known for the last couple of books that the Council had plans to shut Rockton down. This book deals with the how and the when of that decision. Without going into spoilers, there was a LOT going on in this book. Rockton goes from a safe place with some infrequent events to a place where things have kind of gone off the rails.

Things seem to go crazy. It is a bit hard to believe the events - everything seems to spiral out of control - we are following along as people are running in circles. And the events, well, it seems to push the boundaries of believability....as if everything before this made sense, well....it is hard to not have moments of thinking "okay, this might be a little much".

The story itself has a completed story arc (kind of...there is still a question of what now?) but for the most part, we have seen the ending of the town of Rockton. But, with the ending, there is the question of what happens to those that we have become invested in....and that my friends, is what makes us wait for the next book.....

If this is the last book in the Rockton series, I'm sad to see it finished, but I found the ending satisfying. If this is the last time we get to see Casey, Dalton, Will, et al, I feel confident that they'll all be okay and happy in their new lives.

As this is the 7th book in the series, we've all come to love these characters, including the most important character in the series: the town itself. I adore the idea of Rockton, and the thought of saying goodbye to it is as hard for me as it is for Eric and Casey. The last few books in this series were a bit of a let down, because the town had fallen into more of a secondary setting, and these books shine the brightest when the action is taking place in town. But this installment gives you all of the drama you could ask for IN TOWN..

That being said, I do wish the case in this novel hadn't included so many new characters. There's so much going on here with a whole cast of established characters we know and like. Adding 5-6 new, unlikeable characters was frustrating. They were all so stereotypically villainous it was a little hard to keep track of their devious actions, and why they were doing what they were doing. If this was the last book in this series, I hate that so much of the story was devoted to people we don't like/care about, when characters we've grown to love/love-hate got so little time (i.e. Mathias, Jacob, Cypher, Jen, Diana, etc.).

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I'm a fan of the Rockton series and I've enjoyed all the books. This one wasn't my favorite, but it was a fine conclusion to the series. I wish there were more adventures in the Rockton series, but I'm glad it had a good ending.

Well, the previous book hinted at the end of the Rockton series, and The Deepest of Secrets is the 7th and final book about Rockton and its inhabitants. A lackluster conclusion to a fun series. read in September

NetGalley/St. Martin's Press; Mystery/Thriller; Feb. 15, 2022.

You know how it is when your favorite TV series gets renewed when they didn't expect it and the next season kind of runs around willy nilly because the team of writers didn't know how to get from where they left off to where they're going? That's how this book felt. It wasn't bad. There are a lot of pieces of a Rockton book. But there's no additional development of Casey and Eric's relationship, which is the thing I'm reading for. Eric is barely on the page because he's off dealing with other things during the chaos that ensues from the events of the book. It feels like we barely got more than cameos from most of our Rockton favorite residents. This book sets up big changes for the series to come and I think what comes after will end up being back to form, but the book itself feels like nothing but transition.

Any ongoing mystery series with one or two main characters often sees a decline in quality after a couple books, no matter how popular. The mysteries and plotlines get more simplistic and straightforward. The characters get much less development beyond a few "moments" here and there, because the author can casually just refer back to previous stories and count on the reader to remember. By the time a book 7 rolls around, I'm almost always ready for a series to end.

The Rockton series is no different even though I've certainly enjoyed reading the whole thing. But I'm disappointed that we went out with a whimper instead of a bang. The characters and the town deserved a better send off. I was expecting far more of a denouement but instead it was just plot plot plot riiiight up until the last few pages. The mystery itself wasn't bad (but again - few red herrings or twisty turns to surprise me). But as a whole, rather anti-climactic. Read if you've been invested in the whole series, but don't feel bad if you never end up getting around to it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is the seventh book in the Rockton series and I’m not sure it works as a stand alone because of the extensive back story of all the events and characters. I really appreciated the introduction because I read a lot of series and it had been a while since I read the last book so it was good to be able to get caught up. I wish more authors would do that.
The story begins with Casey and Eric still wondering if and when the council will shut down Rockton. Rockton is a town of secrets and nobody wants their secret told. One resident finds out Will’s secret past and outs him to the town. Everyone gets nervous about their secrets getting out. Nervous enough to maybe kill? Casey needs to find the culprit and nip them in the bud to stop the town from further implosion. Meanwhile, the council has been strangely uncooperative and Phil is having to deal with more and more problems.
I really like the way this story is progressing and am sad that this book may be the last. I hope the publisher finds value in continuing the Rockton series because a lot happened in this book that I think needs more books to truly flesh out. Of course, I love everything I’ve read by Kelley Armstrong and this is another good one so I want more books in the series. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. ALL opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to read The deepest of secrets by Kelley Armstrong. This is book 7 and is the last of The Rockton series. As been hinted in the previous book the Council has decided to shut down Rockton. This does not sit well with Casey and Dalton, and they have been quietly talking about building a New Rockton. Rockton is hit with protests from the inhabitants when someone starts spilling the real reasons why some have come to hide in their town, and this results in murder. Casey must follow the clues and her instincts to solve the crimes before Rockton is closed down for good.
The author has hinted that while the series is ending with this book, there may be other stories in the future (as she has done with her other series!) I will look forward to any novellas/stories because I am not quite ready to let go of the characters I have come to love: Casey, Dalton, Mathias, Cypher, and of course Storm!!!!
If you haven't read any of the Rockton books I suggest starting with the 1st book, City of the Lost. While I am sure you can read them as stand alones, you will not get the benefit of each character's growth through the series. Totally recommend this mystery/thriller series!!!!

Kelley Armstrong is my favorite author. And I adore the Rockton series. This book was everything that I wanted from a series ender and more.

The Deepest of Secrets is the 7th and final book in the Casey Duncan/Rockton mystery/thriller series. Each book has its own mystery. So you could technically read this as a standalone. But IMO these books are meant to be read together. However the author does start this book with an introduction to help new readers and remind faithful readers of what they need to know about this series.

The narrator of this book is once again Casey. She is a 33 year old detective (1st person POV). This series is set in the Yukon town of Rockton. Rockton is a secret off the grid town that is a safe haven for people in hiding.

I love Casey and Sheriff Dalton so much. So reading this book and knowing that it was the final book in the series was so bittersweet.

There is an amazing mystery in this book. It is action-packed. And the Rockton residents have so many secrets, many of which the readers don't know. So it was amazing to learn more about the people in the town.

I was anxiously trying to figure out how the book would end. The author packed a lot into the last chapter. But it was a very interesting and for me satisfying ending. I absolutely cannot wait to see what novellas the author writes for these characters!

This is potentially the last book in the Rockton series, which is disappointing if true, but Armstrong does a good job wrapping things up in the secret Yukon town of Rockton. Detective Casey Duncan and Sheriff Eric Dalton are one of my favorite fictional couples, so I do hope we see more of them, but I'm satisfied with where things have been left. As usual with series, it's hard to say much without giving away spoilers for earlier books, but do yourself a favor and read these in order as the character development matters. The threat that has been looming over Rockton for several books is finally coming to pass, in the midst of Casey and Eric trying to solve several murders in their town. The action is nonstop, as usual, and the side characters are always interesting. Parts of the book felt a little rushed, but then so did the events taking place, so that may have been purposeful. My thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books, and Kelley Armstrong for the opportunity to read and review this advance copy.

Thank you to the publisher, the author, and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and give an honest review of this book.

Another murder in Rockton, that mysterious, secluded, community in the Yukon where people go to “get lost”?

This time someone knows Deputy Will Anders’ reason for being in Rockton and isn’t afraid to let everyone know. A mystery filled with blackmail, attempted murder, and actual murder is keeping Casey and Eric busy.

When instructions come from ‘the council’ that runs Rockton, from afar,
Casey and Eric are basically told to cover up the murder because Rockton is being closed down and dismantled, anyway.

This is the only home Sheriff, Eric Dalton has ever known. He and common law wife, Casey begin to plan for life after Rockton with the possibility of developing their own community. Will that happen? I guess we have to wait for the next book to see.

Armstrong has made a mind traveler out of her audience with the Rockton books. Having read all of her Women of the Otherworld series and the Cainsville books, I can attest to the brilliance of Armstrong's imagination, whether it is paranormal beings, witches, omens, or straight up mystery. I will miss visiting Rockton and its inhabitants, without giving too much away , i hope to see them soon though! Casey Dalton and the merry band of misguided , and some times highschool behaviored adults, are setting out for new adventures in this novel..and of course everything goes sideways. Thankfully Storm is there to solve the case .

I received an advanced copy from NetGallery for an honest review*

Having enjoyed the Rockton series, I was anxious to read the last, final (hopefully not!) installment. I didn't find it as polished as the others in the series. It was more of a roller-coaster. Slow beginning with sprinkles of adventure throughout. I will give it, didn't see the results of the investigations!

Overall it was a good end of the series, leaving us hope that maybe one day it will be revisited with a new series. Or, at the very least, a novel!

Kelley Armstrong takes us back to the secret town of Rockton for possibly the last time. Casey and Eric are faced with losing the place they have come to love and the life they have envisioned together. Rockton has always been a place for secrets and new beginnings. Now secrets are being told and people are dying. The Deepest of Secrets made me feel like I was holding my breath. So many questions! Can Rockton be saved? Who is telling secrets? Is that why people are dying? Armstrong has always written the Rockton series with plenty of action, description and memorable characters but The Deepest of Secrets has Casey considering her future but also second guessing her suspicions. It seems like she is losing focus and confidence in her detective abilities. Maybe it's the uncertainty about the survival of Rockton, her future with Eric, her relationship with her sister..... read the book, find out the answers to Casey's uncertainty and survival of Rockton. It's well worth your time.
I voluntarily received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

In the 7th installment of the Rockton series, the council is in the process of shutting down Rockton when someone starts spilling everyone's secret as to what crime landed them there at Rockton. As accusations fly, people are discovered buried alive, and one person is found murdered, it is up to Detective Casey Duncan & her boyfriend, Sheriff Eric Dalton to find the culprit or culprits before there are any more casualties.

I am a huge fan of this series and this may be the best one yet. It ended in a big cliffhanger that I was not expecting. I really hope this was not the end of the series and there are more to come. The books are meant to be read in order but this had an excellent introduction to the series at the beginning that completely summed up the series, so someone could read that and not be at all lost if they had not read the previous books. I love the Rockton setting, which is in the Yukon, and they have no communication with the outside world. If you are a fan of mysteries, then you will love this series.

I am so grateful for an ARC of "The Deepest of Secrets" from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Rockton series is one of my all time favourites - I recommend everyone read it. Kelley has created such vivid setting, with characters you easily fall in love with. The concept of Rockton is very intriguing to me, and it makes you wonder if something like that exists in our vast landscape.

I will say, I was extremely sad to see the series end. I was so torn about reading this last novel - wanting to race through it because I love it, but also not wanting to finish it knowing that there won't be another following it in the next while. I absolutely loved how this series was wrapped up, and how it does leave you wondering what could be happening next.

Overall, this book did not disappoint, and I truly believe this series needs to be on everyone's TBR.

Shoot, I think this must be the last Rockton book! Things were definitely coming to a head in the last book, so it’s not a huge surprise, but I’m sad to say goodbye to Casey, Erik, and the gang.
This one was a page-turner—which is great—but I would have liked a few more quiet scenes with Erik and Casey. They were running around a lot in this one and there wasn’t time for much love stuff, I guess.
The ending felt rushed, and it left me wanting more. I was glad about how everything went down, but a lot of the good stuff really zoomed by.
I did enjoy this series. Some books were better than others, but I got very attached to the characters, and I’m sure it’s destined for a reread.

I received this ARC by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This is Armstrong’s seventh book in the Casey Duncan series. Casey is a detective on the police force in a secretive town of Rockton deep in the Yukon territory. The townspeople that live in Rockton all have secrets and are told from the beginning not to ask anyone else their secret. What happens when Will Anders, a deputy in the sheriff’s office, secret is posted in the middle of town for everyone to read. How did someone find out his secret, who is out to get him, what happens when he tells the town and how do the townspeople react and how does Casey try to find out who posted his secret. How does this impact other townspeople and their secrets. Read and find out how Detective Duncan and Sheriff Dalton solves this latest mystery in Rockton.

This is the seventh book in the Rockton series, though you could read it as a standalone, the author provides the backstory of the series at the beginning, but I would recommend reading all the books as they are all very good. Rockton is an off the grid town in the Yukon, the people who populate it are there at their own request after being vetted by the "Council', a group of people who oversee the town. The people sent to Rockton are all avoiding prosecution for something they had done 'down south', usually white collar type of crimes, but some have gotten to Rockton that have committed far more serious crimes. Casey and her boyfriend Dalton are the town police, he's the sheriff and she's an investigator (something she was before she came to Rockton). A note has been publicly displayed that reveals the details of the crime of one of the town people, details which are supposed to be a secret from all including Casey and Dalton. Casey investigates to find out who posted the sign and over the course of her investigation discovers one person buried alive, another dead and one attacked by another. Hanging over the heads of the residents is closure of the town, the Council is shutting it down and moving all the residents to another location for reasons unknown to the residents. I have enjoyed all the Rockton books and this one was no different, I am hopeful that the author will continue the series, a 'New Rockton' so to speak. Highly recommend. Thanks to Netgalley and the author for the ARC.