First, thank you to Netgalley & Berkley Publishing for the digital ARC in exchange for a review – all thoughts are my own.

I read City Under One Roof last year and was intrigued enough to want to continue with the same set of characters, mainly Cara Kennedy for the sequel. Going back to that review, I gave it a 3.5/5 star and that is my exact star rating for this one as well, but for different reasons. I actually did like this one better for the majority of the book, because I had noted that City Under One Roof felt very open-ended and I wasn’t sure if there would be more closure in a second book but there were enough threads that it could continue. And here we are.

Village in the Dark picked up pretty soon after the events of City Under One Roof ended and I’m thankful for the slight recap in the beginning of this book to help piece it all back together. Here we start with Detective Cara, obsessed with finding out what happened to her missing husband and son who had been declared dead when bones were found in the Alaskan wilderness. At the end of City, she found their picture on a gang member’s phone, evoking suspicion that foul play was absolutely the cause of their deaths instead of the accident it was originally ruled. This is a strong plotline that we get to follow throughout the book, so I liked that main thread propelling the characters forward. This book seemed more grounded because of that.

I enjoyed keeping Cara’s perspective but adding two different ones in Ellie & Mia as opposed to Lonnie & Amy. The shift made sense and I loved the three strong female leads. Short chapters and different POVs with a little bit of flashback/alternating timelines thrown in kept me turning the pages. I didn’t want to put it down.

My main complaint would be that this book breezed through the ending. For as violent as the action was and the quick pace making it an easy-to-binge book, the conclusion was a little lackluster. I have some spoilery thoughts (below), but there was so much set up and backstory for Cara, Ellie, and especially Mia in this book that by the time we got to the climax, it jumped ahead. Like oh, okay, I didn’t read all 250+ pages of build up and backstory to fade to black in the last 10 pages. However, the loose ends felt a lot more wrapped up in this one but I could easily see picking up another Cara Kennedy mystery in the future if the author wanted to continue.

Overall thoughts: still a very creative setting with clear research into the Alaskan wilderness and natives. These are quick reads, both under 300 pages in a wintery setting to binge and pick up again when a new one comes out. Recommended for those who want mystery but not necessarily “scary” – there were some intense parts in this book, but nothing too eerie that would keep you up at night.
**spoiler starts here

Let’s start with what I referenced above about the conclusion being lackluster. Cara’s whole motivation in life is to find out what happened to Aaron and Dylan and when it’s revealed that they are alive and they reunite, she spends virtually no time with Aaron. They keep getting interrupted while she is questioning him and her reaction is very mellow. Then he’s immediately killed and she’s like well, at least I’m in love with JB. It felt like such an odd way to react.

In City, I described Cara as smart and easy to root for. She made some rookie mistakes in this book that felt like a backslide. For one, she starts by recruiting Ellie and trying to walk into the gang’s house that she just killed and maimed. How was this going to accomplish anything? Then she believes her car is being tracked as opposed to her phone?! Girl. It is 2024. Phone data is everywhere and easily accessible and you don’t even hesitate to say it’s the car being tracked and quite literally nothing else could’ve led them to us. Okay.

JB… my dude. He bothered me by the end of this book so much. Cara learns her husband and son are ALIVE and his first question is whining asking if she’ll still be his girlfriend. Be better. Their chemistry never really made sense in City and it never really flourished in this one either, so that added layer of drama felt really forced. I’m okay that they ended up together because he seems like a better person overall than Aaron (if my husband faked his own dead and took my child and didn’t bother to try to make contact for years, I would probably shoot him on the spot upon reunion haha). But the “woe is me” attitude to get there kind of made me not root for him for a few pages.

I think I liked Ellie’s perspective the most. Mia’s was interesting because she was so removed from most of the characters the whole time but Ellie stayed the most true to character. She’s an elderly hardass who set out on a mission and accomplished it without a lot of outside help. I liked that she was able to get a bit of a redemption arc when she found Dylan and he stayed with her while Cara was in the hospital.

The Village in the Dark is the second book in the Cara Kennedy series set in Alaska. Detective Cara Kennedy lost her husband and son after they went missing on a hike in remote Alaska. But now, it seems that their deaths may be tied to other deaths and disappearances so their bodies have been exhumed. As the story unfolds, we learn about things that her husband never made Cara aware of which leave more questions about what really happened to her family. With the help of Joe Barkowski and the people of Point Mettier, Cara digs deep to unravel the truth. This story is full of atmosphere, action, and twists. The author's style of writing brings the characters and events to life. This one was a real page turner for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishers for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

I received a gifted galley of VILLAGE IN THE DARK by Iris Yamashita for an honest review. Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review!

Rating: 3.5 / 5
Publication Date: 2/13/2024

VILLAGE IN THE DARK is the second book in the author's Cara Kennedy mystery series set in Alaska. Cara has uncovered new information leading her to more questions about the death of her husband and son, leading her to exhume the bodies for answers. Mia is a young woman who grew up entirely off the grid in a community called Unity, a place where women and children can hide from abusive men. Mia has ties to the mystery in play, though the exact connection is not known.

I enjoyed CITY UNDER ONE ROOF when I read it last year, so was looking forward to having the opportunity to read the follow up. The first book had a well wrapped up mystery, but it also started to ask questions about Cara's lost loved ones which led naturally into this second book. While the book does catch the reader up on where things were left off in the first book, I do think you get more out of this book if you go back to the previous installment.

I had a good time with this mystery and guessing how the different POV characters would wind up all merging together in one book. I did wind up enjoying Cara's POV the most. Mia's story took me a bit to get invested in, but I really wound up enjoying learning more about the village where she grew up and how she tied into the mystery of Cara's family. The third POV is a return character from the first book and that one didn't draw me in quite as well as the other two, but overall I enjoyed the story arc.

I was glad to revisit this unique setting in Alaska and would definitely pick up more from this author in the future!

I read the first one in this series and was familiar with the characters. I suppose you could read it as a stand alone because it does give you details from the first book, but it would be easier to read in order.

True to form, the first half is the mystery unraveling and the second half is intense. Murder. Conspiracy. Drugs. Gangs. People on the run. Foul play. Cover ups. Relationships. Death of family members. Mystery. Found family. Web of lies and intrigue. Remote village in Alaska. Female detective AKA badass.

Village in the Dark by Cara Kennedy is an enthralling mystery that takes readers on a journey deep into the heart of a dark and twisted plot. As Detective Cara Kennedy delves into the case, secrets start to unravel and nothing is as it seems.

Pros:
✅ The author's descriptive writing style vividly brings the eerie setting to life, left me on the edge of my seat, most of the time.
✅ The plot is complex and multi-layered, with unexpected twists and turns.
✅ The character development is good, with each character having a unique and important role to play in the story.

Cons:
❌ While the plot is engaging, there are certain parts that feel dragged out and could have been condensed to keep the pacing steady.
❌ The dialogue comes across as stiff and unnatural at times, making it harder to fully immerse oneself in the story.

Note that this is the second book in a series and I had not read the first book, which may have impacted my experience reading the book.

Many thanks to Berkley Publishing Books and Netgalley for providing me with an advanced reading copy. This book will be coming out on 13 Feb 2024.

Village in the Dark by Iris Yamashita is the second book in the Cara Kennedy series that started with City Under One Roof. This mystery series is set in Alaska and features a detective on forced leave. It acts as a continuation of Book 1, and I devoured it quickly as it solved a case I eagerly wanted to know more about from City Under One Roof. You definitely want to read these books in order.

First, I absolutely loved all the twists and turns, many of which I didn’t see coming, and the fast pace. I sped through it quickly in one day, as I couldn’t put it down until it resolved into something that could very possibly lead to more books in the series. I loved that the mystery of what happened to Cara’s husband and son is no longer a mystery. After reading the first book, I wanted to know more but was afraid it would never be known. I am satisfied with having that mystery solved once and for all.

The only thing that could have been different for my reading taste is that all the backstories could have been condensed. The drama of the last 25% could have been drawn out more from a development perspective. Obviously, I can’t say too much. Still, I would have liked Cara to have a chance to get everything out more fully (in a way that the reader could experience it) that’s been haunting her for the last year.

Ultimately, this is a fantastic new thriller series with a unique setting and a cast that brings on all of the feels.

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley for a copy of this book.

3.5⭐️
An atmosphere police/detective murder mystery set in a small village in Alaska.
This is the second in the series and I feel it would have been even better if I read that first. Which is my fault! I definitely recommend reading that first.
This book has three POVs, Cara, Ellie and Mia. Cara, a police officer, just lost her husband and son in a terrible accident. Ellie learns of her son’s death, which is deemed an overdose. We learn of Mia’s story which involves working at a big pharmaceutical company leads us to where she is today which links to the other two ladies. After twists and turns we find out that the deaths and disappearances are related to one another. And they set on a dangerous path to learn the truth.
This is a fast paced thriller that will have you hooked. Be sure to read the first book and preorder the sequel today!

**Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the eARC of this title.**

I do think I would have enjoyed this one a bit more if I had read the first book in the series (oops, that one's on me.) However, I found the dialogue and characters to be a bit too ridiculous to really connect with. Just the way the main character spoke and behaved was extremely erratic, and I couldn't make myself connect to her or any of the major supporting characters.

I thought the plot was interesting enough to get this one to 3 stars for me, and the author did an amazing job of setting the scene and making this one chilly and atmospheric. I think it helped a bit that I went to Alaska for the first time last September, and even went through a creepy long tunnel similar to the one in this book!

Check this one out if you like detective novels, boisterous characters, and chilly settings. I recommend reading the first book to get a bit more background before diving into this one, but worth a read either way!

Village in the Dark has something for everyone. Corporate greed, lots of shoot-outs, some romance, fast pace, and more. There are a number of inconsistencies and at least one unbelievable moment when Aaron confides in Mia, whom he barely knows. Anyone who likes a fast-paced read and doesn’t mind a lot of blood and a touch of cruelty, will devour the book.

Wow! Fast paced, quick read! Great follow-up to the first book. Excited for the next!
On medical disability, Cara continues to push the investigation into the deaths of her husband and son.
Ellie learns of her son's death - rule an overdose. She partners with Cara to uncover the truth.
Mia weaves her own story between these women - a strong young woman, detailing the treacherous truth behind a massively powerful pharmaceutical company.
Loved the writing, to the point and fast paced plot. Excellent read.

At the conclusion of City Under One Roof (see my review), Detective Cara Kennedy became aware of a photo of her presumed dead husband and son on the cell of a criminal; shortly thereafter, a mysterious caller, either a prank or real, says they’re alive. As Village in the Dark begins, Cara is exhuming the bodies–presumably–of her husband and son to see how they died. What she doesn’t expect is the DNA test to inform her that these are not the bodies of her husband and son. This news places Cara back at square one. Are her husband and son still alive? What exactly did happen to them?

Like City Under One Roof, Village in the Dark has three narrators: Cara; Ellie Wright who runs the “inn” in Point Mettier and has a colorful, bank-robbing past; and Mia Upash, a young woman who leaves her hometown of Unity that lives off the grid to see what life is like in Man’s World. All three characters become entwined by the evolving set of circumstances.

Again Iris Yamashita has created a tight, well-paced story with twists and enough action to keep the veteran mystery reader satisfied. I also enjoyed the characters, especially Ellie Wright who proved herself to be a force to be reckoned with.

It was unclear at the end of Village in the Dark whether there will be more in the series, unlike at the end of the previous book. However, I hope that Yamashita gives us more either continuing with this fascinating story and locale or something equally fresh and intriguing.

Many thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy.

If you're looking for your next winter thriller - look no further than the minuscule town of Unity, where secrets abound in the frozen scape of the Alaskan wilds.

Detective Cara Kennedy is back in the second installment of the Cara Kennedy series, and this time... she has only a few clues leading her to discover more about the death of her beloved husband and son. Someone knows something, though.. and it might just be a woman who knows more about the inner workings of Unity than she lets on.

This is a fun cat-and-mouse battle of wills, perfect for a quick weekend read or even for someone looking for an inflight read!! And if you like true crime and don't believe that all accidents are really accidents - you'll love the reveal in Village in the Dark!

NOTES:
- While I didn't realize this was part of a series - I'm still glad I read it!!
- CWs: The loss of husband and child is talked about in quite a bit of detail.

**Thank you to Berkley & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤

Cara, Anchorage Detective, lost her husband and son a year ago. Now, she is having their bodies exhumed because evidence has come to light potentially linking them to a string of other deaths and disappearances.

These are tied to Mia, who grew up in an isolated village called Unity, a community of women and children hiding from abusive men. Mia never imagined the trouble she would find when she left, but she remains haunted by a tragedy of what happened to the man and the boy she knew from the woods.

Cara’s investigation will lead her on a dangerous path that puts her life, and those around her in mortal jeopardy, but what if the pay off is bigger than she ever imagined?

This was a really good book and I enjoyed it, but I strongly suggest you read the first in the series before reading this one. There is a lot of backstory that would have been useful to know prior to reading this one, but after reading this one I’d love to go back and get more of the characters. Once I got into the story, things started to pick up and I became really invested in how things were going to work out. I enjoyed getting this story from the three women’s different perspectives, they were all so different and unique. I enjoyed all the character’s stories and the overarching plot of this one. I did feel that the romance between Cara and J.B. was a little off, but it was fairly understandable given that Cara’s husband and son were murdered in the previous book. I also loved the beautiful scenery that was present in this book, makes me want to head to Alaska right now…except it’s a little cold for me.

Thank you so much to Berkley @Berkleypub for inviting me to read this one on @Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love secrets…

I’m not very good at keeping them but I sure do love when you tell me them!

Village in the Dark, is compelling murder mystery, jam packed with secrets and a twist you will never see coming.

I had JUST received this early copy around 5pm yesterday and the sole reason I jumped on it as fast as I did was the description. I had been in the biggest slump and I was looking for something original.

Original?
That, it is.

it also helped that I loved the creepy cover .

I had been looking for a new author to love up on and I think Iris Yamashita is exactly what I was looking for (I have since downloaded a copy of her debut novel, City Under One Roof.)

The characters, so vividly described I could smell the toothpaste on their breath.

Now don’t get me wrong, I usually pass on detective/police procedurals but this one was so well done it didn’t seem so black and white . I was so anxious when the crumbs of clues were dropped that I turned in my laptop for a badge and played amateur detective right alone side, Cara Kennedy.

I was so eager to solve the mystery!!!!!!

How far will one woman go to unlock the truth on what happened to her family?

Pre-order yourself a copy to find out!

Big thank you to Berkley, Iris Yamashita, Loren Jaggers, and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Village in the Dark, was my cure and instant fix to getting out of this slump .

Check out this teaser :

Detective Cara Kennedy thought she’d lost her husband and son in an accident, but harrowing evidence has emerged that points to murder--and she will stop at nothing to find the truth in this riveting mystery from the author of City Under One Roof.

On a frigid February day, Anchorage Detective Cara Kennedy stands by the graves of her husband and son, watching as their caskets are raised from the earth. It feels sacrilegious, but she has no choice. Aaron and Dylan disappeared on a hike a year ago, their bones eventually found and buried. But shocking clues have emerged that foul play was involved, potentially connecting them to a string of other deaths and disappearances.

Somehow tied to the mystery is Mia Upash, who grew up in an isolated village called Unity, a community of women and children in hiding from abusive men. Mia never imagined the trouble she would find herself in when she left home to live in Man’s World. Although she remains haunted by the tragedy of what happened to the man and the boy in the woods, she has her own reasons for keeping quiet.

Aided by police officer Joe Barkowski and other residents of Point Mettier, Cara’s investigation will lead them on a dangerous path that puts their lives and the lives of everyone around them in mortal jeopardy.

Post will be showcased on my Instagram @thrillbythepage_ on 2/9/24. !!!!

The detective Cara Kennedy thought that she had buried her husband and child but evidence turns up that shows they could have been murdered. The detective is determined to get the truth and she realizes through DNA evidence that something is not right. She and her new man friend go on a search and they discover both are alive, This book will keep you on the edge of your seat. A really good thriller that grabs your attention.

Yamashita's debut, City Under One Roof, was one of my favorite books I read in 2022, and I NEEDED to know what happened next for Cara after the huge cliffhanger ending, so Village in the Dark was at the top of my most-anticipated reads list!

The things I loved:
- The setting! I was so happy Point Mettier was revisited while expanding into other Alaskan locations as well.
- Cara! Girl has been through some s*** and is so strong and brave - I would read twenty books with her as the main character (please and thank you).
- Mia & Ellie -- the more badass ladies the better

The things I didn't love:
- J.B. felt a little flat/like an afterthought in this book -- there was such good potential tension and it never quite got as heated as I wanted (though, to be fair... I've been on a previously unmatched romance bender this month, so this *could* very realistically be a situation of me wanting things that don't belong in this book rather than an actual, valid issue). I'll be curious to see what other readers think about this.
- The ending. No spoilers of course, but things were a little too tidily wrapped up in some departments - I think I wanted more drama?

Despite my dumb beefs, this was a super fun read and I highly recommend it (and 100% advise reading City Under One Roof first). Keeping my fingers crossed for a third Cara book!!!

Village in the Dark
by Iris Yamashita

Found family can be such a comfort and source of mutual assistance. Unity Village is refuge and strength for women fleeing abuse. The Davidson Condos at Pt. Mettier (the city under one roof, which reminded me of the Minneapolis skyways) is another such refuge, with neighbors on the lookout to keep each other safe. The outside world finds its harmful way in, gangsters from Chugach Village, ruthless pharma researchers, supposed friends who aren’t.
This is a twisty, surprising tale. I’ll warn that it felt a bit confusing for a bit, worth sticking it out, like so much in life.

I read Iris Yamashita's first book which also took place in Alaska and featured the village in a building. The setting and the characters were both marvelous so I greatly looked forward to reading this second of the series and it did not disappoint. And... getting ahead of myself here, I now am looking forward to a next book in this series which I feel sure must be coming!
Those readers of Yamashita's first book will be in for a lot of surprises and though she introduces some new characters, the previous characters are not forgotten and indeed we are once again immersed in Alaskan culture and secrets.
As for how it reads, I had the same feeling I had with the first one of not wanting to finish the book because I was reluctant to leave this world behind. Surely I won't be the only reader wondering it moving to Alaska would be feasible!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. Yamashita is turning into a favorite author for me and I can't wait for more!

Iris Yamashita blends unique settings with diverse and memorable characters in this atmospheric mystery novel. Village in the Dark is thought-provoking, clever, and full of secrets. Cara Kennedy, a detective from Anchorage who is on disability, watches as the caskets of her husband and son are raised from the ground. Cara believes foul play may have been involved and intends to send them to a private lab for testing. Mia Upash grew up in the isolated village of Unity, but left it and is working at a diner. However, she’s haunted by past events. Cara is aided in her investigation by police officer Joe Barkowski and other residents of Point Mettier. This town can only be reached for part of the year via a tunnel, snowmobile, or helicopter. During the tourist season, a ferry is operated.

Several characters play major roles in the story and the points of view alternate between Cara, Mia, and Ellie. Cara is haunted by her past. She suffers from PTSD and her grief can overwhelm her at times, but she is normally a great detective. Mia is full of secrets and still learning how to survive away from Unity. Ellie lives in Point Mettier and operates an inn there. Joe is still recovering from recent injuries, but is anxious to get back to work.

The characterization is well-done. Readers get insight into the characters and their secrets as the story progresses. Their actions, reactions, feelings, and thoughts provide clues to their personality traits that helped me understand their larger roles in the story.

The premise for this novel is excellent and the mystery is riveting. The settings and atmosphere are terrific. The plot is complex and multi-layers with twists and surprises. The ending is action-packed and intense.
Overall, this story is gripping, thought-provoking, and emotional, with great world-building. It’s the second book in the series which should be read in order. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author and seeing where she takes the characters next.

Berkley Publishing Group and Iris Yamashita provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for February 13, 2024.

3.5 STARS!
I feel a bit sad – Most of the book was spent tying things together while trying to figure out the complete story since I had missed book number one. I feel it is a lost opportunity for the reader and I hope that even the word Sequel would be included on the book cover for the potential reader.

Be that as it may, the story is a unique and interesting tale that is loaded with memorable, deep characters who are the epitome of tough Alaskans. Thick-skinned, wary of strangers, loners, survivors; including those trying to hide from society.

The author has crafted a story that is complex and deeply inner-twined with book one. In this sequel, the main character, Cara, and others are being hunted as they are searching for answers in the murder of her husband and child.

With detailed descriptions and short, concentrated chapters, each page ramps up the reader with meticulous action, crime sprees, and murder; teasing us with twists and turns along the way. The climax is intense and fast-paced with surprises along the way.

Village in the Dark is an impressive read that will get your attention. It’s a good thriller shot through with suspenseful action.