VILLAGE IN THE DARK by Iris Yamashita is the second novel featuring Anchorage Detective Cara Kennedy and her continuing pursuit to understand the deaths of her husband and son. Her investigation will have her revisiting the small, remote Alaskan village of Point Mettier, where its 205 residents endure the harshest of winters and provide support to battle the worst offenders. Detective Cara Kennedy took a psychological leave after the deaths of her husband Aaron and six-year-old son Dylan. They disappeared on a family camping trip in the Talkeetna wilderness, and their bodies were found nine months later in a ravine. At first, Cara believed their deaths were accidental and caused by exposure, but now a picture of her family, taken right before their camping trip, is found on a dead gang member’s cell phone. Why did he have their picture? The phone also contains pictures of other individuals, whom Cara will soon learn are also missing or dead.
Cara’s search for answers will take her back to the remote village of Point Mettier, where all the residents live in one high-rise building called Dave-Co. The city is only reached by a tunnel, where the toll booth operator keeps a close eye on all who enter. There’s an eclectic group of people living here, including landlord Ellie Wright, entertainer Mariko Ishida, officers Chief Sipley and JB Barkowski, and general store owner Chuck Marino. Cara enlists Ellie’s help to obtain information from the Chugach Village gang. Ellie has her reasons for wanting to find out more about the gang’s recent activities. As the investigation continues, Cara finds herself delving into the lives of the other individuals on the gang member’s phone, including Mia Upash, a young woman with several identities from the Unity community. When Cara uncovers the connection between the victims, she soon understands the scope of the danger she has brought to not only her doorstep but to others as well.
VILLAGE IN THE DARK is an atmospheric, hard-edged thriller that will keep readers captivated. Life in the Dave-Co complex is a fascinating social study. The residents are all hiding from either past hurts, bad choices, or abusive exes, and their loyalty to each other exemplifies how a community should work. They watch out for each other and lend a hand when needed. The mystery of Cara’s husband’s and child’s deaths is compelling as the clues surrounding a pharmaceutical company’s involvement surface. What are the limits of research? When do you cross the ethical line? All the characters are expertly crafted and nuanced, making readers truly understand their motivations and baggage. There are bad situations and bad people but hope and redemption also surface, and the final pulse-pounding ending with an attack on another village will leave readers clamoring for the good guys to prevail. Filled with ethical questions, difficult emotions, and harsh circumstances, VILLAGE IN THE DARK will keep readers entertained and on the edge of their seats.
Detective Cara Kennedy thought she’d lost her husband and son in an accident, but harrowing evidence has emerged that points to murder--and she will stop at nothing to find the truth in this riveting mystery from the author of City Under One Roof.
On a frigid February day, Anchorage Detective Cara Kennedy stands by the graves of her husband and son, watching as their caskets are raised from the earth. It feels sacrilegious, but she has no choice. Aaron and Dylan disappeared on a hike a year ago, their bones eventually found and buried. But shocking clues have emerged that foul play was involved, potentially connecting them to a string of other deaths and disappearances.
Somehow tied to the mystery is Mia Upash, who grew up in an isolated village called Unity, a community of women and children in hiding from abusive men. Mia never imagined the trouble she would find herself in when she left home to live in Man’s World. Although she remains haunted by the tragedy of what happened to the man and the boy in the woods, she has her own reasons for keeping quiet.
Aided by police officer Joe Barkowski and other residents of Point Mettier, Cara’s investigation will lead them on a dangerous path that puts their lives and the lives of everyone around them in mortal jeopardy.
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