Detective Casey Duncan harbors a secret, one that has followed her since college. Years ago, she killed a man, something she confesses to each new therapist she sees. The only other person who knows her secret is her best friend, Diana. Diana has her own demons, as an abusive ex-husband keeps popping back into her life. Unfortunately, the past is now coming back to haunt both Casey and Diana and the idea of disappearing begins to sound appealing. Diana has heard rumors of a CITY OF THE LOST, but will it be the perfect place for Casey to thrive rather than just survive?

I love Casey! Admittedly, I was a little worried when I opened up the first few pages and she seems almost blasé about killing a man. Kelley Armstrong quickly shows readers the circumstances and one can't help but feel for the trauma Casey has endured. However, it is her friendship with Diana that fascinated me the most as Casey takes the role of rescuer to heart. I love that Kelley Armstrong digs further into their friendship as we see Casey throw away her current living arrangements simply to help Diana escape Graham.

Rockton, the village Casey and Diana relocate to, is quaint, practically self-sufficient, but oh so creepy! In fact, the overall atmosphere of CITY OF THE LOST is quite eerie at times, particularly once the killings start. Kelley Armstrong packs one heck of a punch with the storyline, as CITY OF THE LOST takes readers on some wild twists!

And oh, I can't not mention Sheriff Eric Dalton! Dalton appears grumpy and tough as nails on the surface but his love for his job and the people of Rockton is evident. Dalton takes his job seriously, and by the end of CITY OF THE LOST, I'd almost forgiven Kelley Armstrong for Casey so callously dumping Kurt in the beginning.

CITY OF THE LOST is a unique concept and the start of what promises to be a fascinating series. I look forward to seeing how the Casey Duncan series progresses as I can't wait for the next book! CITY OF THE LOST is highly recommended for fans of thrillers, particularly if you like unusual twists and turns.

Book Summary

Casey Duncan is a homicide detective with a secret: when she was in college, she killed a man. She was never caught, but he was the grandson of a mobster and she knows that someday this crime will catch up to her. Casey's best friend, Diana, is on the run from a violent, abusive ex-husband. When Diana's husband finds her, and Casey herself is attacked shortly after, Casey knows it's time for the two of them to disappear again.

Diana has heard of a town made for people like her, a town that takes in people on the run who want to shed their old lives. You must apply to live in Rockton and if you're accepted, it means walking away entirely from your old life, and living off the grid in the wilds of Canada: no cell phones, no Internet, no mail, no computers, very little electricity, and no way of getting in or out without the town council's approval. As a murderer, Casey isn't a good candidate, but she has something they want: She's a homicide detective, and Rockton has just had its first real murder. She and Diana are in. However, soon after arriving, Casey realizes that the identity of a murderer isn't the only secret Rockton is hiding—in fact, she starts to wonder if she and Diana might be in even more danger in Rockton than they were in their old lives.

An edgy, gripping crime novel from bestselling urban fantasy writer Kelley Armstrong, City of the Lost boldly announces a major new player in the crime fiction world.