The follow-up to #1 NYT bestseller Kelley Armstrong’s acclaimed City of the Lost, Rockton town detective Casey Duncan makes a terrible—and dangerous—discovery in the woods outside of town. When experienced homicide detective Casey Duncan first moved to the secret town of Rockton, she expected a safe haven for people like her, people running from their past misdeeds and past lives. She knew living in Rockton meant living off-the-grid completely: no cell phones, no Internet, no mail, very little electricity, and no way of getting in or out without the town council’s approval. What she didn’t expect is that Rockton comes with its own set of secrets and dangers. Now, in A Darkness Absolute, Casey and her fellow Rockton sheriff’s deputy Will chase a cabin-fevered resident into the woods, where they are stranded in a blizzard. Taking shelter in a cave, they discover a former resident who’s been held captive for over a year. When the bodies of two other women turn up, Casey and her colleagues must find out if it’s an outsider behind the killings or if the answer is more complicated than that...before another victim goes missing. Casey Duncan returns in another heart-racing thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong.
This series is so cool, I just love it! I didn't like this one quite as much as the previous, but it was still really good overall.
So basically we've got this little town, Rockton, way in the middle of freakin' nowhere, Yukon Territory, Canada. It's completely off the grid and hidden from civilization, and the only people living there are those hiding out from someone, like an abusive ex, or some thing, like the law. Casey Duncan, who was brought in as a detective, doesn't always get the full background on the residents living there, either. She's on a need-to-know basis, and the anonymous council who governs Rockton from afar does not always give up information willingly. That means when a crime is committed, everyone living in Rockton is a suspect. But you also can't forget about wild animals, other settlers living in groups or alone around the area, and the "people" who have gone way off the deep end, otherwise knows as "Hostiles" - they're all suspects, too. Nobody knows what makes the Hostiles so...hostile, but they are so animalistic that Casey questions whether they have the mental capacity to carry out a premeditated crime, like the one Casey discovers when she finds a woman in a cave who has been held captive there for over a year. Who would do such a thing? Like I said before, just about anyone is suspect.
Obviously I don't want to spoil the outcome, but suffice it to say that I never had a clear idea of who the culprit was. There were many twists and turns along the way to discovery, and I only grew more attached to Casey and Eric Dalton, her love interest. Their relationship is unique, sweet/hot, and awesome! If you haven't started this series and you enjoy creepy, well plotted, suspenseful reads, you need to run out and start ASAP, because this is the cream of the crop in my opinion.
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EXCERPT:
“Have you flown before, Kat?”
“No.” I swallow hard and tighten my hands into fists.
“Okay, take a deep breath,” he says. He’s not touching me, which is good because I’d have to break his nose, and this is already stressful enough. But his voice is soothing. “Good. Take another one. Miss, can we get a bottle of water, please?”
I just keep breathing. The flight attendant returns with a little baby bottle of water, which Mac uncaps and holds out for me.
“Take a drink of this. Just a small sip.” I comply, the cold water feeling good on my throat. I feel ridiculous. This flight is full of people who are not having panic attacks.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper. “This is my biggest fear.”
“I can tell,” he says gently, and I raise my gaze to meet his. He’s a handsome guy, his short hair styled nicely, his jaw firm, eyes direct. He’s tall, with long arms and legs and a lean body. “How are you feeling?
“Better,” I reply, surprised to find it true. “The water helped. Thank you.”
“No problem. Are you going to Napa Valley on vacation?”
“Work,” I reply, shaking my head. “I’m attending a conference.”
“So you’re a wine enthusiast then?”
“You could say that,” I reply with a smile. “I own a wine bar in Portland.”
His eyes narrow for just a moment. “Really? Which one?”
“The one inside Seduction.”
“I’ve heard great things about that place.”
I smile widely now, intensely proud of the restaurant that my four friends and I have built from the ground up. Seduction is our baby, our pride and joy.
“That’s nice to hear,” I reply. “You’ve never been?”
“Not yet, but I’ll make a point to go the next time I’m in the area.”
So he doesn’t live in Portland.
Bummer. Mac is one guy I wouldn’t mind running into again.
About Kristen Proby:
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Kristen Proby is the author of the bestselling With Me In Seattle and Love Under the Big Sky series. She has a passion for a good love story and strong, humorous characters with a strong sense of loyalty and family. Her men are the alpha type; fiercely protective and a bit bossy, and her ladies are fun, strong, and not afraid to stand up for themselves.
Kristen lives in Montana, where she enjoys coffee, chocolate and sunshine. And naps.
About Kristen Proby:
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Kristen Proby is the author of the bestselling With Me In Seattle and Love Under the Big Sky series. She has a passion for a good love story and strong, humorous characters with a strong sense of loyalty and family. Her men are the alpha type; fiercely protective and a bit bossy, and her ladies are fun, strong, and not afraid to stand up for themselves.
Kristen lives in Montana, where she enjoys coffee, chocolate and sunshine. And naps.
