A Darkness Absolute: 01/30/18

A Darkness Absolute by Kelley Armstrong is the second of the Casey Duncan trilogy set in the wilderness of the Yukon. The book opens during a manhunt through a driving snow storm. There's a crash. There's blood. There is an igloo and a cave. And then a shocking discovery — a missing woman, presumed dead — alive but emaciated and imprisoned in the cave.

Before Nicole's discovery, I half expected the entire book to take place during that snow storm — away from the town, trying to fight the elements. Or trying to escape the cave. Or being captured and trying to escape before unthinkable things happen.

Thankfully my worse case scenario didn't play out. Although if you'd like a middle grade fiction with those plot elements and wolves, I recommend Hear the Wolves set in next door Alaska.

Rockton is a remote place within a remote province. It has a small, rotating population with most people only given five years residency. It's small enough that everyone knows everyone. Near it are two other populations — the settlers, the original Rockton population who decided not to leave but couldn't stay in the town for reasons. Then there are the wild ones are akin to the Reavers of Firefly. Altogether there's a population of maybe three hundred (and two hundred of that is in Rockton). The book itself though has all of a dozen characters — and that's if you include Casey's new puppy.

My point is, that there just aren't that many people to pick from to be the criminal. If you read enough mysteries — especially if you've read early Agatha Christie when she was dabbling in thrillers — the criminal is obvious within the first fifty pages. It takes Casey and crew until there are only about fifty pages left to put the pieces together.

My alternate theory for why Casey and friends can't figure shit out is that Casey is actually in a coma back in Toronto. She fell in the line of duty and she's dreaming up this weird other life while she recovers.

Book three, This Fallen Prey comes out February 6th. I will be reading and reviewing it next month.

Three stars

Comments (2)

Comment #1: Wednesday, January 31, 2018 at 10:25:47

Laura @ Library of Clean Reads

I should make time to read at least one of the mystery books from this Canadian author. I'm so curious about her work.

Comment #2: Friday, February 02, 2018 at 09:31:00

Pussreboots

If you're looking for a place to start, I suggest her YA books. In particular, The Summoning.