Starred review from March 14, 2016
Best known for her books set in the supernatural Otherworld universe (Otherworld Secrets, etc.), bestseller Armstrong introduces homicide detective Casey Duncan, who’s haunted by a violent crime she once committed, in this excellent first in a new thriller series. Duncan’s best friend, Diana Berry, also has a traumatic past: an abusive ex-husband determined to find her. After the latest beating, Diana persuades Duncan to go on the run with her once more—this time to the self-sustaining town of Rockton in the wilds of Canada’s Yukon Territory, a place for people seeking refuge. Rockton’s sheriff is reluctant to let the two women join the community, but Duncan’s skills as a detective are needed to investigate a series of gruesome murders. Duncan finds that some residents have made it to Rockton under false pretenses—and are more dangerous than anyone imagined. A highly unusual set-up sets the stage for a distinctive cast of characters and a page-turning plot. Agent: Helen Heller, Helen Heller Agency (Canada).