City of the Lost

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).