Reviews

A Stranger in Town by Kelley Armstrong

romancebookloverinseattle's review

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3.0

Kelley Armstrong is a talented writer and I love the setting for this book. She gives readers a glimpse into the Yukon and I loved this part of the book. This is book number 6 in the series, and as I hadn't read any of the previous books, I felt like I was at a slight disadvantage, but only slightly. She does a good job of introducing the existing characters where you think you understand who they are and you don't feel lost.

This had an intriguing mystery and I liked that it wasn't obvious and some of what happened definitely took me by surprise. My favorite parts were the relationships - especially between Casey and Dalton and Casey and April, her sister. These were the best parts about this book.

Very much enjoyed it, and it might have been a 4 or 5 star read, but the mystery itself felt a little convoluted at times and there were so many characters to navigate, remember and keep track of. Not sure though if that isn't entirely due to my coming in at book 6, or just a lot of characters. I will be going back and reading the previous books, and any future ones!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley. I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

kate_and_books's review against another edition

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4.0

A letter to the author.
Dear Ms. Armstrong,

I have loved this series of Rockton ever since I read the City of The Lost. A town off grid for those in need, sign me up. There are great characters and unique situations. You have truly created indepth characters and the backtories that they have.

However what I am not happy with is that it took so long for the situation with the hostiles to be cleared up, a total of what three books and finally you have given it to us. However what now? How can one bring further development into a series when you have limited characters?

Nevertheless with all the questions I have, I can see this series going good places. But you need to turn Casey's guilt and mea culpa trip down a notch or two. I need to see the relationship between Casey and Dalton progress give him more of a voice. Please don't keep on repeating things. I love your writing style and the world you have built. But you need to expand.

I can't wait till 2022 to get the next book. I am a fan and will stay a fan of this series. I pray give us something more.

Regards

Kate

peachyteachy's review

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5.0

Love this series!

blogginboutbooks's review

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4.0

This is one of my favorite mystery/thriller series and I've loved each installment, even if some of them get a little repetitive. A STRANGER IN TOWN is no exception. Just like its predecessors, it's got it all: complex, likable characters; an exciting, engrossing plot; a vivid, well-imagined setting; vibrant, engaging prose; humor; romance; etc. I enjoyed the read/listen.

aganethadyck's review against another edition

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challenging dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

guylou's review

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5.0

thepeachmartini's review against another edition

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4.0

A Stranger in Town (Rockton/Casey Duncan #6) by Kelley Armstrong
Date Read: 25 Oct 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Gah! we’re almost at the end of the series! I tried to make this one last as long as possible.

The plot line in this was a bit out there….but not totally out of the realm of possibility (come on, we have congresspeople spending campaign money on Botox and OnlyFans…nothing is impossible).

Things are starting to wind down with the series, though, since this is the 2nd to last book, and Armstrong handles that nicely with this storyline.

salimah's review

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3.0

This book frustrated me for the same reasons the third book did. Casey and Eric make one less-than-ideal decision after another while in territory known for more than one kind of mortal danger, and of course they encounter every single variety of it. At least three of their missteps in this segment of the book could have been avoided.

I love that Kelley Armstrong allows keen insight into the psychological dynamics of her characters' relationships and insights into their motivations from moment to moment, but if I have to endure one more of Casey's tortured moments of hesitation when she just needs to fire her damn gun, I swear. . .

Additionally, for as much as Rockton is supposed to be a guarded secret, people certainly have no issue slipping in there (or being allowed to come in by Casey or Eric). I raise this issue because while Felicity has been shown to be a potential ally, she still has ties and loyalty to the first settlement. Her grandfather has not been proven to be a trusted ally. Members of the first settlement consistently prove they are erratic and still prone to violence and weird feelings of entitlement where the citizens of Rockton are concerned.

This is a running theme in these books. A known untrustworthy element (or person) is out there (or in their own backyard) and Casey, mostly, continues to engage that element without completely eliminating that threat at the first sign of trouble. I know the author wants to dissolve some of these established divisions for the sake of story and plot, but it requires a suspension of disbelief that a detective from a major metropolis "down south" would be willing to take so many chances that rely on the basic goodness of others when 9 out of 10 encounters in her environment are nearly fatal.

I know the hostiles are a metaphor for the castoffs of society (the unhoused, the mentally ill), but they are not the part of this world that really interests me and every time they are given focus they suck all the air out of the parts of this series that I have loved. That, I'm sure, is something I should interrogate.

On to book 7!

jennie_cole's review

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4.0

A Stranger in Town is the next installment in the Rockton series. (If you have not read the previous books you need to first.) It appears that the hostiles have started attacking after the death of their leader and they have started with some Danish tourists. But was it really a hostile attack and who are these tourists?
Over the last five books we have learned some about Rockton, the Settlers, and the Hostiles but this book gives us the full history and origin stories. For the future of this series this particular book was a must otherwise they would have gotten a formulaic feeling over time. I think A Stranger in Town really allows the series to move forward in a different direction by giving us history as well as various paths forward for the characters. I very much enjoyed it and it refreshed my interest in the series. I look forward to book seven.

artsyandbookishme's review against another edition

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mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5