Book Review: A Darkness Absolute by Kelley Armstrong

Title: A Darkness Absolute
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Source: NetGalley (advance free read in exchange for an honest review)

Goodreads Summary:

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.

My Thoughts:

I simply love this series. Casey is an awesome badass. She is ballsy, smart, tough, and a woman of conviction. She has her demons, but who doesn't, especially those who live in Rockton, hidden away in the deep woods and wilderness of the Yukon. Eric Dalton is a great match for her, and the longtime resident and sheriff. Longest resident by far, which you know all about if you have read the previous book.

This time around, the book begins in a whiteout. While Casey and Will Anders, fellow deputy, venture out of the town's city limits and into the woods to look for a missing citizen, they are struck by sudden blizzard, putting their lives in danger. And not just from the weather, they soon learn. The duo take cover in a cave, and discover they are not alone - following cries for help, they find a missing person, just not the one they were looking for. Instead they find Nicole, who has been missing for a year, and had been presumed dead. This is only the beginning of a new crime to solve, and the twists and turns the story takes keeps you guessing and involved. I was glued to my Kindle, reading whenever I could. It did give me some tense moments, but I made it through! One of the strengths of this book are the characters, who have distinct personalities and voices, love them or hate them. The reader learns about the character Mathias, who is as fascinating as he is enigmatic, and well, sometimes you are just not so sure about him. Each individual character has their own story, and that is one of my favorite parts, having that story revealed.

Overall, I enjoyed this second book in the series just as much as the first, City of the Lost, if not even more. I definitely recommend this series for those who love a good thriller/suspense.