ARC Review: This Fallen Prey by Kelley Armstrong

This Fallen Prey
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Series: Casey Duncan Novels (Book 3)
Publication: Minotaur Books (February 6, 2018)

Description: In This Fallen Prey, the next installment of New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong’s thriller series, Casey Duncan is about to face her toughest job as police detective in Rockton yet.

When Casey first arrived at the off-the-grid town, an isolated community built as a haven for people running from their pasts, she had no idea what to expect, with no cell phones, no internet, no mail, and no way of getting in or out without the town council’s approval. She certainly didn’t expect to be the homicide detective on two separate cases or to begin a romantic relationship with her boss. But the very last thing she expected was for the council to drop a dangerous criminal into their midst without a plan to keep him imprisoned, and to keep others safe.

Of course Oliver Brady claims he's being set up. But the longer Brady stays in town, the more things start to go wrong. When evidence comes to light that someone inside Rockton might be working as his accomplice, helping him to escape, Casey races to figure out who exactly Brady is and what crimes he’s truly responsible for committing.

In the next page-turning entry in Kelley Armstrong’s gripping series, life in Rockton is about to get even more dangerous.

My Thoughts: This most recent adventure with Casey Duncan in the isolated and hidden town of Rockton starts with the Council flying in a serial killer despite the fact the the town isn't at all equipped to keep him securely. Keeping him gagged and isolated polarizes a number of the other people in town who are torn between lynching the threat and letting him go.

Oliver Brady is accused of being a particularly brutal serial killer. When his gag is removed, he insists that he is being framed by his stepfather Gregory Wallace who wants Oliver to die before he gains a trust fund that should be his on his next birthday.

Casey and Eric have no idea who to believe but it really doesn't matter since their only job is to keep Brady under control. However, they are having some trouble keeping him safe. First he's shot at while being taken on a walk in the forest and Eric is hit instead. Then, there is an attempted poisoning. Then a fire is started with pulls attention to fire fighting and allows Brady to escape with a hostage.

Casey and Eric immediately organize a search but things get complicated in a hurry. Brady seems to have an accomplice in the town. Casey tries to figure out who that could be but would an accomplice try to kill his partner?

When Gregory Wallace comes to Rockton full of apologies for dumping his serial killer son on the town. He joins the hunt too. While hunting they encounter settlers who are suspicious of anyone from Rockton and hostiles who have reverted to something like savagery. They are also being hunted by a sniper who is taking random pot shots at them.

This was a fast paced, action packed thriller with more twists and turns than your average roller coaster. It seems like everyone by Casey and Eric have secrets that are impacting the events in this story. No one can be trusted. Everyone is lying. I am so eager for the next book because the ending of this one leaves lots of hanging plot threads.

Favorite Quote:

"Does she ever answer you?"

Dalton's voice drifts in as the front door clicks shut.

I wait until he appears and say, "She's not supposed to. She's my Watson."

He lowers himself beside me. "I thought I was your Watson."

"Watson is the guy Holmes talks at. A sounding board to hear his theories and tell him he's brilliant. You can do that last part if you like."

"Better stick with the dog."

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.