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arnoldad1's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sholt's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
aliyyahj's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
caaleros's review against another edition
4.0
City of the Lost is about a town of people who need to disappear. There is also murder. It’s amazing.
I was drawn to this book because I was looking for something similar to Jennifer Lynn Barnes’ The Naturals. Apparently I am drawn to books that feature dysfunctional human beings with dark pasts solving murders. Detective Casey Duncan fits into this trope right from the first line when she meets with another therapist to confess the murder she committed years before. It all gets crazier from there when events lead Casey to Rockton: a town in the Yukon that is completely off the grid and is a haven for both the innocent and the guilty who need to disappear. Because Rockton is cut off from the rest of society the town functions under the rule of the sheriff, Eric Dalton, who decides the town needs a detective after the disappearance of one of the town members.
It takes time for Casey to fit into her role in the police department, but the dynamic between Casey, Eric, and the deputy, Will, is my favorite thing in the book. I’ve read two of Armstrong’s YA series, so I knew the book would take some time to pick up speed, but she does a great job building characters, relationships, and the town. While I enjoyed the whole book, the last hundred pages really exploded everything and kicked it to a whole new level. I never saw the twists coming!
I read City of the Lost in about 24 hours and I totally had a book hangover after I turned the last page. I suspect this series will only get better as it goes on and I can’t wait to read more about Casey’s adventures in Rockton.
I was drawn to this book because I was looking for something similar to Jennifer Lynn Barnes’ The Naturals. Apparently I am drawn to books that feature dysfunctional human beings with dark pasts solving murders. Detective Casey Duncan fits into this trope right from the first line when she meets with another therapist to confess the murder she committed years before. It all gets crazier from there when events lead Casey to Rockton: a town in the Yukon that is completely off the grid and is a haven for both the innocent and the guilty who need to disappear. Because Rockton is cut off from the rest of society the town functions under the rule of the sheriff, Eric Dalton, who decides the town needs a detective after the disappearance of one of the town members.
It takes time for Casey to fit into her role in the police department, but the dynamic between Casey, Eric, and the deputy, Will, is my favorite thing in the book. I’ve read two of Armstrong’s YA series, so I knew the book would take some time to pick up speed, but she does a great job building characters, relationships, and the town. While I enjoyed the whole book, the last hundred pages really exploded everything and kicked it to a whole new level. I never saw the twists coming!
I read City of the Lost in about 24 hours and I totally had a book hangover after I turned the last page. I suspect this series will only get better as it goes on and I can’t wait to read more about Casey’s adventures in Rockton.
kitkat175's review against another edition
3.0
This book rating is a 3.5 rounding up.
Rockton would be so quite and I would be able to get so much reading done, and there would be nobody to bug me. Sounds like the perfect dream. Also with all those murders though I don't know how safe I would feel.
I am maybe a little biased because I have loved Kelley Armstrong books since I was probably 16 I think I can't remember when I started reading the Darkness Rising books.
This so called best friend of hers need a kick to the face wtf, who does that to somebody.
Kind of want to go to Rockton and experience it for myself, just to see what it's like and to see Anders and Eric. I loved how much they talked about Canada in this book just the subtle mentioning of it. The Sheriff I don't know if he know another words than the word F***, with him being a sheriff you think he would have a better vocabulary. I am excited to read the 2nd book in this series, I have already basically bought the whole series I just don't have 4 or 5 I think. This book was a slow mystery but I still quite enjoyed reading it. I liked how the romance was slowly introduced into the book near the end.
I have a ton of hatred towards her best friend Diana, there were a lot of words I would have said to her that are not nice at all.
I wish my library had an audiobook of this series, I think they only have book 6 and 7. I love listening to Kelley Armstrong as audiobooks. They make is seem realistic and just more creepy.
I can't wait to read more Kelley Armstrong books, she is one of my favourite authors, I am excited to read the romance book that she is coming out with called Finding Mr. Write. The only books I have read by her were Mystery and Fantasy. I am very excited to see how she does with a full romance book.
Rockton would be so quite and I would be able to get so much reading done, and there would be nobody to bug me. Sounds like the perfect dream. Also with all those murders though I don't know how safe I would feel.
I am maybe a little biased because I have loved Kelley Armstrong books since I was probably 16 I think I can't remember when I started reading the Darkness Rising books.
This so called best friend of hers need a kick to the face wtf, who does that to somebody.
Kind of want to go to Rockton and experience it for myself, just to see what it's like and to see Anders and Eric. I loved how much they talked about Canada in this book just the subtle mentioning of it. The Sheriff I don't know if he know another words than the word F***, with him being a sheriff you think he would have a better vocabulary. I am excited to read the 2nd book in this series, I have already basically bought the whole series I just don't have 4 or 5 I think. This book was a slow mystery but I still quite enjoyed reading it. I liked how the romance was slowly introduced into the book near the end.
I have a ton of hatred towards her best friend Diana, there were a lot of words I would have said to her that are not nice at all.
I wish my library had an audiobook of this series, I think they only have book 6 and 7. I love listening to Kelley Armstrong as audiobooks. They make is seem realistic and just more creepy.
I can't wait to read more Kelley Armstrong books, she is one of my favourite authors, I am excited to read the romance book that she is coming out with called Finding Mr. Write. The only books I have read by her were Mystery and Fantasy. I am very excited to see how she does with a full romance book.
kathydavie's review against another edition
4.0
First in the Casey Duncan psychological thriller series set in the wilds of Canada and revolving around a detective on the run.
My Take
It's a thrilling mystery with plenty of twists and red herrings, anxiety and terror, and it's more of an exploration of Rockton. The investigation is simply the path Armstrong takes to introduce us to the town and its inhabitants, how it evolved, the psychology of living there, and to facilitate that very odd romance. I am curious about those arbitrary lengths-of-stay. If the inhabitants need to disappear from the world, why would a two-year disappearance be enough? Especially when you find out what some of them have done!
That byplay with Dalton at the beginning where he tries to blackball her from coming to Rockton didn't work for me. It didn't make any sense, especially when we get to Rockton. He already knows he needs help, that she's good, so…? To be fair, Dalton does reveal much later that he has good reason to be wary, even as he's impressed with how quickly she gets to the root of other issues he's worrying over. For some reason, Armstrong downplays this big worry of his at the end. It's as if it never existed.
I can understand Casey's concerns about Isabel's establishment setting up a mindset for the men that all the women are available for a price, but I don't understand men who think it's true. Yeah, yeah, yeah, all you guys out there are thinking…"and what about the cost of that dinner, the flowers, the candy, the…" That's totally different from shoving some money at a woman as she's getting out of bed. How can Casey claim Isabel's catering to the men who can't keep their pants zipped is an insult to the men if she's also whining about the high rate of sexual assaults as well as the approaches that have been made to her? And if Casey knows there's a high rate of assaults, that means the cops know about it. Why aren't they doing something about it? They've got lots of chores these guys can do. There's always the forest where they can walk back to civilization. This "sexual exploration" makes no sense to me. It's more like Armstrong dropped it in to sex things up.
Lol, Diana gets pissy when she finds out about Casey's place and it's so much better than hers. It sure reinforces the concept of meritocratic "police state". Those punishments were practical too.
All that said, Armstrong starts off strong and gets stronger. I hated that jerk boyfriend of Casey's, and I think he got off lightly. Of course, I also think Casey was nuts to be blabbin' away to those therapists, although I'd believe as she did that the client confidentiality would hold. After all, that murder was years ago, and it's not like he didn't have it coming.
While Casey is a decent human being (with a huge martyr complex), she is damaged due to how her parents treated her, raised her. Diana's parents should have had to undergo psychiatry to determine if they should have children…right alongside Diana's parents. I did have to laugh later, though. Casey's parents were doctors whose daughter went into law enforcement while Beth's parents were in law enforcement whose daughter went into medicine. And both sets were disappointed.
Gimme a break, even I didn't think the mysterious figure was Ricci. Casey certainly has enough reason to think the situation could be dangerous, and why she fluffs it off, I don't know. I wish Armstrong had played on the emotional attachment between Casey and Kurt more. It's more of a tell that doesn't pull at me. As for Eric, yes, he's a pain. But from the sound of that town, they need an autocratic guy like him, and it sure sounds like the town respects him. Except for that one thing, you'll always know where you stand with him. Nor does he hold anything back when he lets Casey know what he thinks of Diana and her new friends. I gotta say, as the story goes on, I agree with Dalton. Jesus. As for Val. I don't think the woman has ever even talked to Dalton. The man she's describing is not the man I've been getting to know. Although, it is pretty easy to see where she's getting her ideas from. That woman is one sick puppy.
I do like the plan Casey comes up with to counter the extortion the investors are holding over Eric. And that new judgment on Diana has me whooping, and I cannot wait until 2017 for A Darkness Absolute.
The Story
Casey bargains hard for Diana. She's her friend and she's under attack. Again. She's willing to step back to ensure Diana's safety. Instead, she gets six months to prove herself.
It's a captive population in many ways, for all that they have their freedom.
The Characters
Detective Casey Duncan "Butler" began as a police recruit, knocked back, who struggled to come back as a police detective. Cricket will become her horse. Her disapproving parents — Dad is a cardiologist and Mom is chief of pediatric surgery — don't last long. Kurt is her ex-con bartending boyfriend working to make it right…and if this isn't the sweetest guy…sigh…
Diana Berry, Casey's best (and only) friend, is an accountant who can't hold a job and certainly never ascends the ladder of success. She's fleeing her abusive lawyer husband, Graham Berry.
Rockton, Ontario, does…
…not exist, and its population is 70% self-sustaining. Valerie is the firm representative and client liaison, and boy, does she have her issues. The people in charge are the investors, one of whom is Phil. Sheriff Eric Dalton has been in office for five years and has some intense secrets of his own. Blaze is the gelding he rides. His dad was the sheriff in Rockton. Deputy Will Anders has his own secret past in the military and is a sweet, outgoing man. Dr. Elizabeth Lowry fled a potential criminal case and is now the local medico.
Kenny, a former high school math teacher, is with the local militia. Isabel Radcliffe, a psychologist in her previous life, now runs the Roc, a bar and bordello. Mick is Isabel's boyfriend, a former city and local cop. The Red Lion is another bar, more of a Western saloon. Pierre Lang is a pedophile. Jen is a nightmare of an addict. I wouldn't mind if she walked into the forest. Ted. Jerome Hastings is the town chemist. Dalton thinks he's the one manufacturing rydex. Richard (Rich, Dick) and the artistic Petra are some of Diana's new friends. Irene is a horticulturalist on the run. I think Rodrigues works in the greenhouses.
Harry Powys had been a doctor in his past life; he's only the latest. Irene Prosser was Harry's ex-girlfriend. Abbygail Kemp was a young girl who'd had a bad start and was coming back into her own. A sweet girl about whom everyone in town is worried.
Brent had been a mildly bipolar bounty hunter who now lives full-time in a cave. Jacob is a settler and hostile with family issues.
The settlers are those who disapproved of the changes from a communal Rockton to a police state while the hostiles are those who lost their humanity and have turned more animalistic.
Timmons is Casey's partner back in the big city. Detective Stefan Ricci is a new detective from Special Victims. Constable Wiley is something of a jerk. Ms. Lang is a rape victim who was strangled almost-to-death by her abusive addict boyfriend. Britnee Spencer got some "private" lessons from Graham. Larry is a co-worker of Kurt's. Blaine Saratori is a wannabe drug-pushin' thug who is an arrogant coward. Leo Saratori is his mobbed-up grandfather.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a forest of bare trees in silhouette against a foggy winter twilight sky, lonely, with a woman striding into the forest in her black leather coat, her long black hair flowing down her back. The author's name is in a frosty deep yellow with the title below it in a matching frosty white.
The title is what it is, a City of the Lost, those who want to disappear.
My Take
It's a thrilling mystery with plenty of twists and red herrings, anxiety and terror, and it's more of an exploration of Rockton. The investigation is simply the path Armstrong takes to introduce us to the town and its inhabitants, how it evolved, the psychology of living there, and to facilitate that very odd romance. I am curious about those arbitrary lengths-of-stay. If the inhabitants need to disappear from the world, why would a two-year disappearance be enough? Especially when you find out what some of them have done!
That byplay with Dalton at the beginning where he tries to blackball her from coming to Rockton didn't work for me. It didn't make any sense, especially when we get to Rockton. He already knows he needs help, that she's good, so…? To be fair, Dalton does reveal much later that he has good reason to be wary, even as he's impressed with how quickly she gets to the root of other issues he's worrying over. For some reason, Armstrong downplays this big worry of his at the end. It's as if it never existed.
I can understand Casey's concerns about Isabel's establishment setting up a mindset for the men that all the women are available for a price, but I don't understand men who think it's true. Yeah, yeah, yeah, all you guys out there are thinking…"and what about the cost of that dinner, the flowers, the candy, the…" That's totally different from shoving some money at a woman as she's getting out of bed. How can Casey claim Isabel's catering to the men who can't keep their pants zipped is an insult to the men if she's also whining about the high rate of sexual assaults as well as the approaches that have been made to her? And if Casey knows there's a high rate of assaults, that means the cops know about it. Why aren't they doing something about it? They've got lots of chores these guys can do. There's always the forest where they can walk back to civilization. This "sexual exploration" makes no sense to me. It's more like Armstrong dropped it in to sex things up.
Lol, Diana gets pissy when she finds out about Casey's place and it's so much better than hers. It sure reinforces the concept of meritocratic "police state". Those punishments were practical too.
All that said, Armstrong starts off strong and gets stronger. I hated that jerk boyfriend of Casey's, and I think he got off lightly. Of course, I also think Casey was nuts to be blabbin' away to those therapists, although I'd believe as she did that the client confidentiality would hold. After all, that murder was years ago, and it's not like he didn't have it coming.
While Casey is a decent human being (with a huge martyr complex), she is damaged due to how her parents treated her, raised her. Diana's parents should have had to undergo psychiatry to determine if they should have children…right alongside Diana's parents. I did have to laugh later, though. Casey's parents were doctors whose daughter went into law enforcement while Beth's parents were in law enforcement whose daughter went into medicine. And both sets were disappointed.
Gimme a break, even I didn't think the mysterious figure was Ricci. Casey certainly has enough reason to think the situation could be dangerous, and why she fluffs it off, I don't know. I wish Armstrong had played on the emotional attachment between Casey and Kurt more. It's more of a tell that doesn't pull at me. As for Eric, yes, he's a pain. But from the sound of that town, they need an autocratic guy like him, and it sure sounds like the town respects him. Except for that one thing, you'll always know where you stand with him. Nor does he hold anything back when he lets Casey know what he thinks of Diana and her new friends. I gotta say, as the story goes on, I agree with Dalton. Jesus. As for Val. I don't think the woman has ever even talked to Dalton. The man she's describing is not the man I've been getting to know. Although, it is pretty easy to see where she's getting her ideas from. That woman is one sick puppy.
I do like the plan Casey comes up with to counter the extortion the investors are holding over Eric. And that new judgment on Diana has me whooping, and I cannot wait until 2017 for A Darkness Absolute.
The Story
Casey bargains hard for Diana. She's her friend and she's under attack. Again. She's willing to step back to ensure Diana's safety. Instead, she gets six months to prove herself.
It's a captive population in many ways, for all that they have their freedom.
The Characters
Detective Casey Duncan "Butler" began as a police recruit, knocked back, who struggled to come back as a police detective. Cricket will become her horse. Her disapproving parents — Dad is a cardiologist and Mom is chief of pediatric surgery — don't last long. Kurt is her ex-con bartending boyfriend working to make it right…and if this isn't the sweetest guy…sigh…
Diana Berry, Casey's best (and only) friend, is an accountant who can't hold a job and certainly never ascends the ladder of success. She's fleeing her abusive lawyer husband, Graham Berry.
Rockton, Ontario, does…
…not exist, and its population is 70% self-sustaining. Valerie is the firm representative and client liaison, and boy, does she have her issues. The people in charge are the investors, one of whom is Phil. Sheriff Eric Dalton has been in office for five years and has some intense secrets of his own. Blaze is the gelding he rides. His dad was the sheriff in Rockton. Deputy Will Anders has his own secret past in the military and is a sweet, outgoing man. Dr. Elizabeth Lowry fled a potential criminal case and is now the local medico.
Kenny, a former high school math teacher, is with the local militia. Isabel Radcliffe, a psychologist in her previous life, now runs the Roc, a bar and bordello. Mick is Isabel's boyfriend, a former city and local cop. The Red Lion is another bar, more of a Western saloon. Pierre Lang is a pedophile. Jen is a nightmare of an addict. I wouldn't mind if she walked into the forest. Ted. Jerome Hastings is the town chemist. Dalton thinks he's the one manufacturing rydex. Richard (Rich, Dick) and the artistic Petra are some of Diana's new friends. Irene is a horticulturalist on the run. I think Rodrigues works in the greenhouses.
Harry Powys had been a doctor in his past life; he's only the latest. Irene Prosser was Harry's ex-girlfriend. Abbygail Kemp was a young girl who'd had a bad start and was coming back into her own. A sweet girl about whom everyone in town is worried.
Brent had been a mildly bipolar bounty hunter who now lives full-time in a cave. Jacob is a settler and hostile with family issues.
The settlers are those who disapproved of the changes from a communal Rockton to a police state while the hostiles are those who lost their humanity and have turned more animalistic.
Timmons is Casey's partner back in the big city. Detective Stefan Ricci is a new detective from Special Victims. Constable Wiley is something of a jerk. Ms. Lang is a rape victim who was strangled almost-to-death by her abusive addict boyfriend. Britnee Spencer got some "private" lessons from Graham. Larry is a co-worker of Kurt's. Blaine Saratori is a wannabe drug-pushin' thug who is an arrogant coward. Leo Saratori is his mobbed-up grandfather.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a forest of bare trees in silhouette against a foggy winter twilight sky, lonely, with a woman striding into the forest in her black leather coat, her long black hair flowing down her back. The author's name is in a frosty deep yellow with the title below it in a matching frosty white.
The title is what it is, a City of the Lost, those who want to disappear.
rosemwood's review against another edition
5.0
This is the first book in the Series and I am looking forward to reading more. The main female character, Casey narrates this mysterious, suspenseful, crime romance. There is a couple of steamy scenes but I would rate the spiciness a 1
jenngraham's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
yodamom's review against another edition
5.0
4.5Kelley Armstrong writes books that I enjoy reading. She wraps her stories around characters, very interesting deeply layer characters. Her other books are paranormal character reads, this one is suspense/thriller, I wasn't sure if it would fit with me. I am an unreal monster fan. Silly me, I was so glued to this book I skipped out on work and feeding the family. Cereal is a healthy food right, three times a day ? Okay I wasn't that bad but close.
So what do I tell you a bout this book ? The blurb does not give it justice, very underwhelming. I almost didn't read it after reading the blurb, so don't go on the blurb. Well there is a detective, who has a secret, a needy friend and a huge heart. Huge as in she gives her friend everything she can. I admired her, wished for a friend like her. But dang the sacrifices, are major. Okay that's enough there, no spoilers given here.
There are twisted twists, liars, cheats and dead bodies. There is a stoic man, a drug dealer or two, some ladies of the night, trees. Northern Lights, and a Fox. Every page brings new light on the story, I did not see the who done it, at all. I loved it and am buying it on audio too so I can listen to it again to see if I missed clues.
I loved it. Loved the setting, the characters the pacing, all of it.
So what do I tell you a bout this book ? The blurb does not give it justice, very underwhelming. I almost didn't read it after reading the blurb, so don't go on the blurb. Well there is a detective, who has a secret, a needy friend and a huge heart. Huge as in she gives her friend everything she can. I admired her, wished for a friend like her. But dang the sacrifices, are major. Okay that's enough there, no spoilers given here.
There are twisted twists, liars, cheats and dead bodies. There is a stoic man, a drug dealer or two, some ladies of the night, trees. Northern Lights, and a Fox. Every page brings new light on the story, I did not see the who done it, at all. I loved it and am buying it on audio too so I can listen to it again to see if I missed clues.
I loved it. Loved the setting, the characters the pacing, all of it.