Village in the Dark by Iris Yamashita

February 13, 2024
Berkley
Pages: 280
Genre: Women’s Detective Fiction
KKECReads Rating: 4/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

I wish I had read the previous book before reading this, but I found the descriptions stunning. The writing was detailed enough that I was able to catch on and continue the story, but I would recommend starting at the beginning so you’re not missing anything.

This is the type of novel where the little details matter and add up, so starting at the beginning would be beneficial. Iris is a beautiful storyteller and created breathtaking visuals. I swear I could feel the crisp Alaskan air and smell the trees.

I want to go back and read this from the beginning. This feels like a series I will be hooked on!

Village in the Dark is the sequel to City Under One Roof. This one picks up right after the events of the first book. Cara has clues and evidence that suggest her husband and son were murdered, not killed in a hiking accident. With the help of Joe from Point Mettier, she sets out to figure out what really happened. DO not read this one first. It definitely ruins the experience of the first book.

I thought this was a solid follow up. There is an over-arching mystery that does involve Cara's husband and son. The twist was a surprise, yet very satisfying. Cara is a great detective. I'm not sure if this is a duology or if it's a series, but I would love more of her. The story is told through a few different perspectives and for a while it is unclear how the all fit together. The author seamlessly blended the different threads in the end. I highly recommend this one a well as the first.

This book explored intriguing themes! However, I had a hard time connecting with the story and that is obviously on me and not the book. I recognize that it has great potential to appeal to other mystery/thriller readers and I encourage others to try it out! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book.

Village in the Dark by Iris Yamashita is the second in a detective series set in Alaska.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Berkley Publishing and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Series Background: (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)
Anchorage Detective Cara Kennedy has been on medical leave for failing the psych evaluation, while grieving the loss of her husband Aaron and six-year old son Dylan, after the camping trip that was meant to renew their relationship went awry.  Their bones were not found for nine months.  Originally, Cara had thought it was an accident, but has recently found that things are pointing toward murder.  She found pictures of her family on a thugs camera while in Point Mettier, a small Alaskan town which can only be accessed by a tunnel.  Almost all of the 205 residents of the town live in a single high-rise building.  That's where she met Police Officer JB Barkowski

 
My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Cara is about to exhume the bodies of her husband and son, looking for clues that they may have been murdered.  A picture of them has been found on the phone of a criminal.  Another picture on that same phone turned out to be the son of Ellie,  a resident of the condo in Point Mettier.  Further investigation shows that there seem to be a number of dead or missing people in these photos.

Meanwhile, we learn a little about Mia, a woman who grew up in a small women-run community called Unity.  Mia has changed her name and moved around a lot,  She knew Cara's husband.

Cara and others will put their lives on the line to find out what is going on.


My Opinions:
I had problems with this one. 

I continue to like the characters of Point Mettier.  They are well thought-out, had depth, and are really interesting.  A really intriguing group, with very diverse backgrounds, and a lot of secrets.

However, I definitely struggled with the writing.  It seemed very dis-jointed between Ellie's story, Mia's story, and Cara's story.  Yes, it all came together, but it just wasn't smooth.   As well,  the book was overly detailed, and really dragged.   Nothing really happened in the first half, and I came close to giving up.  Thankfully, the second half was much better -- it sort of evened things out.    The plot was very predictable, and I had already guessed much from reading the first book.  However, the identity of one of the criminals was a real surprise...and I loved that.

Anyway, I know some are going to absolutely love this book so take a chance, and I recommend that you read the first one before jumping in to this one, only so that you understand that Cara has a relationship with Point Mettier.

Last year this series burst onto my radar, and blew my mind. It got a five star rating from me, and I loved the characters and the peek into the frigid world surrounding Anchorage, Alaska that Yamashita had described so vividly it felt as if I’d been there.

I’m glad that I did a quick reread of the first book, City Under One Roof, before starting this book. This is the kind of book where it builds on the information from the previous book in the series, and if you don’t know the characters, setting, and circumstances, you’ll already start out at a disadvantage.

This story is told through the eyes of three main characters, Cara, Mia, and Ellie, a woman from the previous book who rents out rooms in Point Mettier. I liked getting to know each of the characters a little better, and even seeing little cameos of some of the other Point Mettier residents. However, some of the dialogue felt forced at times, and it felt especially difficult for me to connect with Mia’s character. Having been raised in a completely isolated village protected from modern society, I had a hard time with her extreme naïveté and the tone of her chapters.

The pace was inconsistent throughout the story. At times it felt just right, while at other times it felt very slow and as though the story was dragging. Overall, the positive aspects of the story (complex and multi-layered plot line, uncovering what really happened to Cara’s wife and son, well-rendered characters, fantastic world-building) far outweigh the negatives (uneven pacing, some dialogue that feels forced). While I didn’t love this book as much as the first, I’m still left with a strong desire to continue reading this series … and make plans to visit Alaska as soon as I can.

Village in the Dark captures the reader’s attention from the very start. The brisk pacing makes it a perfect quick read, and the narrative is skillfully crafted to keep the pages turning. Yamashita’s storytelling shines through with an intriguing twist that adds depth to the plot. The decision to limit scenes at the Davidson Condos in Point Mettier is a clever move, allowing the characters to explore new horizons and maintain a fresh perspective. The character of Cara is particularly well-developed, with a backstory that unfolds across the series. This book is a commendable addition to the series, offering a satisfying blend of mystery and character development.

Thank you to Berkley Pub and PRH Audio for the copies!

Detective Cara is in mourning for her husband and son after their bodies were found following a camping trip. Cara has not recovered and her life is in shambles. However, she has found clues to their deaths that may mean foul play so her investigation begins.

Have you ever heard of the town of Whittier, Alaska? It’s a town where everyone lives and works in one building throughout the year. Unity is a town in the book based on Whittier. It had to be my favorite part! How they lived and functioned was fascinating. A character possibly linked to Cara’s family deaths is from there.

The mystery slowly builds as secrets of characters are revealed. The atmosphere and setting were done well to build the suspense of a snowed in mystery. While I prefer a faster paced read, that ending was everything I love in a novel. It was action-packed and a thrilling ride. I did not know this was book 2 in a series because the author made it stand on it’s own very well.

I recommend this for those that love a slow build detective story full of secrets!

AUDIO REVIEW: I really enjoyed the audio version because the narrators were so great with voices. My favorite was the voice for the older lady character that was hilariously perfect and accentuated the sass so well.

Great second book in the Cara Kennedy series! I can't wait to see what happens next. If you like the rural setting of Alaska and women detectives, you've got to give this series a try. Start with City Under One Roof.

Although I did not read the first book in this series, I didn’t have any issues reading this story, so it can be read as a stand-alone. This is Alaskan noir and involves indigenous people which was the most fascinating part. I think that the author tried a little too many things and it got a little convoluted in the execution. That being said, I still was able to read it in less than a day and was satisfied with the resolution.
Cara Kennedy is a detective in a remote Alaskan village who is grieving the loss of her husband and son. When some bones are found in the woods, they are presumed to those of her family so she buries them. But she was left to wonder whether it was an accident m or did something happen to them. Then when a photo turns up leaving her to question their deaths all over again she has their bones exhumed and that starts the real story. What really happened to them and why?
We have three POV’s intertwining- Cara’s; Ellie’s, who is the owner of the local hotel and who seems to know everything about everyone in town, and Mia, an indigenous woman from the remote village of Unity, where women go to hide from abusive men, Mia has ties to the story, though it takes a long time to find out just what they are. I did enjoy learning more about her village though and eventually how she tied into the mystery of Cara’s family.
Though the setting is very descriptive and unique, the pacing is quite slow. But if you love shows like Tein Peaks or Broadchurch then you will probably enjoy this book!
Thanks to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

In this sequal to City Under One Roof, we follow Detective Cara Kennedy as she figures out what really happened to her husband and son.

I really enjoyed this book! It was a fantastic follow up to book one, and things really wrapped up nicely! Although I'm not sure if this author plans to continue following Cara Kennedy, I really hope she does as I really enjoy her as a character, and I'd love to see what other investigations she solves. And even if she doesn't continue writing about Kennedy, I'll be greatly anticipating her upcoming releases, as I think she's quickly becoming a favorite author!

This is a fantastic follow up to City Under One Roof. I really don’t want to say much here because there were a lot of surprises with this one. If you are watching the new season of True Detective it gave me a lot of those vibes. I really love anything set in Alaska and a mystery set there just adds to the elements. This can be read as a stand alone but I recommend reading

Cara is a detective with the Anchorage PD. In book one, she went to Point Mettier to solve a mystery. That small town is actually a town where everyone and everything is in one big condo building. In this book, she heads back there after finding a picture of her husband and son on the phone of a thug. Her husband and son were found dead a year ago, but now she’s not so sure about what happened.

I do want to preface this with the fact that I have not read book 1. So, I don’t know any of the history with Cara or what went down previously in Point Mettier. This book alternates between Cara’s point of view, Ellie’s point of view and Mia’s. Ellie is a long time resident of Point Mettier and is old and crotchety. Mia is a young woman who grew up in a small native town off the grid.

Even though I haven’t read the first book, I think this one does a nice job of letting you know some of the history without it feeling like you’re re-reading everything. I enjoyed Cara and her type of work. It didn’t seem like she fell into solving cases and she didn’t scare easily. Though to be fair, I don’t think she truly did much of the work in solving this mystery.

I’m a sucker for books that take place in Alaska because the culture just seems to different. I enjoyed all of the characters in this story and didn’t find it to be overly predictable. I think maybe it would’ve been more so if I had read the first book but, it was still enjoyable. I did get a little bit bored around the 50% mark but it did pick back up and I flew through the last 30%.


This is a solid 3.5 stars for me. The characters are strong and the plot was enjoyable and moved quickly. It was semi-predictable and, as you know, I do judge mysteries a little more harshly on that aspect. But I will say that it was nice that it wasn’t like some random solution just showed up in the end. I would be open to reading more of this series, especially given the set up for the characters at the end of the story. I would recommend this to you if you enjoy mysteries and don’t find that you need them to be overly complicated or surprise you too much.

While this is the second book in the series, it can be read as a standalone. This is important to note because if you follow my reviews at all, you know that I hate reading books out of order! The author does a great job of filling in the details of what happened in the first book.

Alaska is a beautiful state, but it can be cold and desolate in the winter. That doesn't mean they don't have their fair share of crime and misadventure. This novel blends native cultures with present-day issues. Set in a small town where everything is located in one tall building, we become involved with the lives of those residents of the Davidson Condos. This town doesn't see a lot of tourism, but if people do venture that way, there are condos for rent in this town. There is another small town that plays a factor in this book called Unity. It is an incorporated village and was set up to be a haven and refuge for abused women and their children. No men are allowed except for the children. I really enjoyed the part of the story that was based here and learning how they lived, their traditions, how they incorporated all beliefs and the structure of the village. Sometimes, leaving to discover what else might be out there doesn't mean they will be happier.

This story is told from three points of view - Cara, Ellie, and Mia. These three women are tied together without knowing it until events unfold in the novel. Each plays an internal part in the story, and while they may not trust each other, they find their commonalities and work together to bring this story to its conclusion.

I thought the book was action-packed, with just enough mystery and suspense to keep me guessing. I will say that the ending was quite a surprise. I should have expected that revelation, but I didn't.

I doubt I will go back and read the first book, but I look forward to future novels in this series. We give this book 4 paws up.

Thanks so much to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group and the author for my gifted physical copy and eARC to read and review!

Village In The Dark is the fast paced sequel to City Under One Roof, Iris Yamashita's debut novel, that takes place in the beautiful but eerily dangerous remote regions of Alaska. The thrill ride continues right where book one ended with plenty of twists, secrets, danger and suspense! In this second book, we get to deep dive into a few more of the characters from book one and find out what makes them who they are ... plus we are introduced to some new faces! With lots of heart thumping action as well as in depth character development … this book is a great combination of being character driven and plot driven all at the same time!

Just a little side note: although the author does a superb job of providing recaps and back stories from the first book … and you could probably read this as a stand alone without getting too lost … my suggestion is to read these books in order. Both books are super quick reads with short, snappy chapters … easily devourable in a weekend!

This second in the series (after "City Under One Roof") is welcome, but really requires reading the first for full appreciation. "Village in the Dark" seems to have wrapped up the initial mystery, but I'd like to se more from Iris Yamashita.

Thank you berkleypub for the gifted digital copy!

This past week Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Iris Yamashita's newest mystery hit shelves. VILLAGE IN THE DARK is the second book in the Cara Kennedy series.

Isolated setting in wintery blanketed towns including Point Mettier, Alaska (inspired but not wholly based on the real-life Whittier, Alaska), where all 205 residents live in the same high-rise building. Anchorage-based detective Cara Kennedy is on the hunt to dismantle the suspicious death of her husband and son.

I have not read City Under One Roof but
Yamashita does an excellent job of making this novel stand on its own. The pacing is moved through multiple POVs that slowly lay the ground work for the fast paced action sequence at the end. The reveal was not one I was fully expecting but it highly compliments the themes of money, power and the corrupt aspects of the medical field.

For me as a mystery/thriller reader, I thrive on fast paced and darker themes. While this was intriguing, it didn't fully hit the entertainment mark for me and went too slow in the build. The relationship aspect was well done but felt more like filler too.

If you're loving the True Detective series or enjoyed Twin Peaks, Mare of Easttown, and Broadchurch, than VILLAGE IN THE DARK is perfect for you!

Village in the Dark is the second Cara Kennedy mystery thriller by Iris Yamashita. Released 13th Feb 2024 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 288 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and paperback formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

Just as the first book in the series, this book is *full* of creepy atmosphere with a dark gothic vibe and some paranormal overtones. Set in an isolated tiny hamlet in rural Alaska in what had been an army base, the 200+ residents all live in the same building with outlying (mostly subterranean) buildings used as functional business sites and entertainment venues (such as they are). It's very much an island/isolation setting with most of the dramatic tension coming from the gradual exposure of secrets and crimes for each of the primary characters. At the end of the first book, MC Cara has learned that there is more to the disappearance and deaths of her husband and son than she had been led to believe.

Chapters are told in third person, rotating through characters who are well delineated and diverse: Cara herself, a former investigator with the Anchorage police department, a curmudgeonly apartment building super who might have been a bank robber in her former life, and several others. Despite the quirky characters there's very little humor to be found. The book's tension arc is mostly unrelieved, ratcheting up throughout to an oddly over-the-top denouement and resolution.

The writing is competent and *very* cinematic. The scenery and descriptions are three dimensional and complete. I expect the movie rights are already hashed out, and the author (an Academy Award nominated screenwriter) will be able to knock the script out in a long weekend with some energy drinks and local takeaway restaurant on speed-dial.

Four stars, mostly for the descriptions. I like "island" mysteries. This one was better than ok; and better than the first book in the series. It will be interesting to see how it develops.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

When I started reading Village in the Dark, I didn't know it was a sequel. Needless to say, I hadn't read the first book, so I went in blind. Thankfully, author Iris Yamashita gave me enough information about characters and circumstances that I was able to follow the story with no problem. Am I curious about that first book? After reading this one and meeting the characters, yes, I am, and I intend to satisfy that curiosity.
As for this book, it's very well written, and the pacing is equally good. It's the kind of pacing that, when combined with such a good storyline, you find yourself awake late into the night, one more chaptering it until the sun rises. The characters are so well developed that you'll feel like you've met them, and you'll want to know all their secrets - there are plenty of secrets.
Between what looks like a conspiracy to figuring out who's bad and who's not, the story steadily builds in intensity as it reveals its secrets. Some elements of the story seem a bit farfetched, but the characters feel so real that I barely noticed. I won't reveal those elements because I think every reader should learn them on their own as they follow these characters through each clue.
So, I'd have to say that I enjoyed this mystery by Iris Yamashita. The story pulled me in and held on through each clue the characters uncovered, and I loved how the author paints such vivid pictures with her words.

Thank you Berkley Books, #partner, for the finished copy of Village in the Dark in exchange for my honest review.

This is the second book in Iris Yamashita’s Cara Kennedy series. I was quite impressed with the first book in this series, City Under One Roof, when I read it last year and was wondering how she was going to be able to top it…well, I’m happy to say she totally did. As much as I loved that first book, this one is even better!

The last book ended up quite a cliffhanger and this one picks up that thread and runs with it. To that end, I really feel that it is probably best to have read the previous book, City Under One Roof, before coming into this book so that you are prepared for what happens here. Yes, the author does provide some backstory on the characters and the threads she is carrying over, however I feel you are only getting the bare basics. Just know that going into this one.

The story is told from three perspectives and I loved this. It kept things moving and each of the three perspectives all ultimately had a connection to the overall plot. We get Cara’s perspective, of course, and I found this to be both exciting and at times heartbreaking. She was all over the place with her emotions – what really happened to her husband and son? Were they still alive? And if so, where were they? We also have Ellie’s point of view, who we met in the previous book. She run’s the inn at Point Mettier and I loved getting a deeper dive into her past! And then there was Mia. She was the most fascinating of characters, coming from a community that basically lived off-the-grid.

I loved how these three women’s lives intersected. I had so many different theories when it came to Mia and I’m so glad I was wrong with a few of those theories. Each woman ends up being quite a force to be reckoned with and the circumstances they find themselves in really had my heart pumping. This book is full of twists and turns I did not see coming and I once again found myself glued to the pages.

This book was one of my most anticipated reads of the month and it totally exceeded my expectations! It is another thrilling, atmospheric, chilling read with hints of the NordicNoir that I so enjoy. I loved every second I spent with these characters and I hope there is more to come in this series…I’m not quite ready to say goodbye to Cara Kennedy and the residents of Point Mettier.

Even though this is a second book in a series I actually liked it , I e of the reason is I actually know a little bit about the place the author used in her story since I remembered watching a show about it on YouTube so that made the story even more interesting, and a bit different from anything I've read .