Genres: Mystery Romance, Romantic Suspense
Published by Minotaur Books
Released on May 3, 2016
Pages: 416
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased
The Delight
An off-grid town full of people with dark secrets has a murderer on the lose. The town’s newest resident, Detective Casey Duncan, joins up with the brooding sheriff to follow a twisting trail to the truth. Casey’s no innocent, but this new start, even with a sadistic killer on the loose, may be just what she needs.
Review
City of the Lost is the first book in the Casey Duncan series (or Rockton series- depending on where you look) and its a thriller with a slow burn romance element. Casey is a city detective and does her job well. She’s got a dark past, but between her job and efforts to be there for her long-time friend, Diana, she’s doing all right. Diana’s abusive ex won’t stay gone and Casey’s past includes a dark alley and a shooting so she is more than willing to give Diana’s hair-brained idea to disappear to a city designed for those who need to leave behind their lives a chance.
Only, when they get there, Casey lands in the middle of a gruesome murder investigation, a lifestyle that is beyond her experience, and people who even shock a cop who has seen it all. And, this group is led by a man who is to most beyond her scope of experience and he just happens to be her new boss.
The book pulled me in right away when Casey admits to murder and then the story flashes back to what led up to this. I enjoyed how the author took the reader from the set up for a normal thriller or mystery and goes off the beaten path to a primitive place deep in the Yukon. It was like a frontier town with a few modern amenities. People who came from the modern world, but lived far from civilization. I found the set up and background of story and characters not just believable, but riveting.
There is savagery from the beginning with a murder that turned my stomach. The mystery was good and had some nice twists so I was pointing the finger all around. But, the mystery is set inside a deeper mystery and among people who offer several other mysteries. It was a great beginning for a new series.
I liked the main characters and enjoyed the way the author developed them along with the surrounding characters. People are complex and often deeply flawed . The romance is organic to the story and takes a backseat as Casey and the others work the case and Casey gets used to her new surroundings while attempting to make peace with her past. She is a tough, resourceful woman and has to be. Her romance is just as tough as she and it suits the story when it finally moves from the sidelines to being one of the strong story elements.
So, I can definitely see why many of my book pals are raving and I am jazzed to keep going with this series. Thriller and romantic suspense fans are definitely in for a treat if they pick this one up.
Challenges
COYER Winter #26
Recommendations
Preview
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I was so curious about this book when I tried it because of the review but I think I expected too much because I was a bit disappointed… It reminded me about a movie, The Village (well it’s the name in French)
Yes, high expectations have killed some of my pleasure in a book before, too.
I think I’ve seen that movie about the isolated village. It creeped me out. LOL
I feel like I have read a book by this author. Mhmmmm
You might have. She’s written a lot and in more than one genre.
I have seen so many reviews on this book. I thought I already owned it and I checked, I’ve had it since 2017. I really need to read it!
I’ve seen Melanie and Kimberly reading this series and loving it so I had to pick it up at the last library sale. 🙂 Yes!!! I think you’ll get into this one.
Now you have me curious about the murder, one so gruesome it turned your stomach. The story sounds intense.
Yeah, it was the hi, welcome to town, and oh hey, here’s our first case- gross dead body and scary implications…
I was hooked. I think you would probably like this one (not because of the gore), Nadene. 🙂
I love this series. I’m so glad you decided to give it a try. I love Casey and the town of Rockton. I just finished book four, and I’m still in love. 🙂 Great review.
Your reviews were one of my biggest motivators. That is great that book four still has you in love with the series. I’ve got book two now so hope to read it soon. 🙂
Oh it’s been a long time since I’ve read her. I hadn’t seen this one. Sounds like a real nice job. Ergs on the start, though. lol
This was my first time. I was hooked once we got up north to the hidden town. I’ve got book two on the burner when I get the chance.