Village in the Dark, Iris Yamashita
Village in the Dark, Iris Yamashita
1 Rating(s)
List: $20.00 | Sale: $14.00
Club: $10.00

Village in the Dark

Author: Iris Yamashita

Narrator: Sophie Oda, Blaire Chandler, Aspen Vincent

Unabridged: 7 hr 53 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Published: 02/13/2024


Synopsis

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.

About The Author

Iris Yamashita is an Academy Award–nominated screenwriter for the movie Letters from Iwo Jima. She has been working in Hollywood for fifteen years developing material for both film and streaming, has taught screenwriting at UCLA, and is an advocate of women and diversity in the entertainment industry. She has also been a judge and mentor for various film and writing programs, and lives in California.


Reviews

Goodreads review by PamG on February 06, 2024

Iris Yamashita blends unique settings with diverse and memorable characters in this atmospheric mystery novel. Village in the Dark is thought-provoking, clever, and full of secrets. Cara Kennedy, a detective from Anchorage who is on disability, watches as the caskets of her husband and son are r......more

Goodreads review by Linzie (suspenseisthrillingme) on March 21, 2024

Over a year ago, Detective Cara Kennedy’s husband, Aaron, and son, Dylan, vanished while on a hike in the Talkeetna wilderness of Alaska. After the bodies of a man and young boy were discovered, however, Cara buried her family and tried to move on—a feat she didn’t exactly pull off. Now on disabilit......more

Goodreads review by Nilufer on August 28, 2023

I eagerly devoured the preceding adventure of Detective Cara Kennedy in "City Under One Roof," and my anticipation for this sequel had been building since the spine-tingling cliffhanger that hinted at a possible connection between the deaths of Cara's husband and son and the departed gang member, Mi......more

Goodreads review by Sandra on February 12, 2024

VILLAGE IN THE DARK is the stunning, highly visual sequel to Author Iris Yamashita's award-winning debut novel CITY UNDER ONE ROOF. If you missed book one, I highly advise you grab and read it before the release of this sequel although Yamashita does a fantastic job of filling in much needed backgro......more

Goodreads review by Chris on December 15, 2023

3.5 STARS! - I wish the synopsis of the book would include whether it’s part of a series in which you need to read the prior books. A missed opportunity. This one would’ve been so much better had it been called out. ~~~~~~~~~~~ I feel a bit sad – Most of the book was spent tying things together while......more


Quotes

Praise for Village in the Dark

"Cannily consructed. . .distinctive." --
Wall Street Journal

"Riveting
. . .[A] chilling murder mystery. . .with memorable characters and a stunning conclusion.  Readers will be glued to the page." -- Publishers Weekly

"[B]reathlessly exciting. . .a masterful example of pacing and suspense." --Book Reporter

"
Stunning. . .a one-of-a-kind, irresistible, highly atmospheric suspense thriller." --Mystery & Suspense

"Ingenious plotting filled with corpses, shootouts, and plenty of clever misleads." -- Booklist

"[A] compelling story, perfect for readers of crime novels set in isolated areas or those that feature strong, independent characters." -- Library Journal (starred review)

"Bring[s] a hardscrabble community alive. Reaching beyond its core whodunit, her story probes the lives of people struggling to survive. A sharp and gritty mystery." -- Kirkus

"These are fascinating characters and circumstances, and the story that brings them together and sees them struggling against inner demons, and very real danger, is gripping." -- First Clue

Praise for City Under One Roof


"Captivating." -- New York Times Book Review

"Yamashita deliciously exploits the eerie mystique of Whittier [and] conjures up fresh plot twists galore."—Washington Post

“A gripping, unsettling and oppressive thriller that welcomes a wonderful new talent to the genre. Prepare to be quickly immersed in this dark and moody murder mystery.”—Mary Kubica, New York Times bestselling author of Local Woman Missing
 
Northern Exposure meets Dexter in this clever thriller in which an isolated community is rocked by a twisted murder, increasingly dark secrets and the terrifying knowledge that the people they always thought they knew are now the ones they should fear the most.”—Lisa Gardner, #1 New York Times bestselling author of One Step Too Far
 
“Electric and fast-paced, this debut thriller is a testament to Yamashita’s skills as a storyteller. There’s no escape from the isolated Alaska setting for either the murder investigator or the reader . . .I couldn’t come out until I read the final page.”—Naomi Hirahara, Edgar-winning author of Clark and Division
 
“Iris Yamashita delivers! Compelling characters, clever plot twists, and a story that will chill you to your bones. . . . [A] must-read thriller.”–Laura Griffin, New York Times bestselling author of The Texas Murder Files

“[W]onderfully claustrophobic and atmospheric.”—Ann Cleeves, New York Times bestselling author of The Long Call and Vera Stanhope novels

“Yamashita blasts into the world of crime fiction by doing something spectacular: introducing us to a totally unique location and sub-culture. A compulsive page-turner.”—C.J. Box, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Shadows Reel

“[An] atmospherically charged debut…that leads to a spellbinding, unforgettable climax and an unpredictable resolution….This distinctively original perspective on a ‘community of stragglers, oddballs, and recluses’ heralds the arrival of a major new talent.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"The claustrophobic atmosphere in this unique one-building town, isolated by tunnels, weather, and secrets, builds a memorable debut crime novel."—Library Journal (starred review)

“An urban Alaska detective unlocks menacing secrets in a frigid, sinister small town. . . .[R]iddles large and small add fuel to the mystery on the way to the final solution. An offbeat, sharply written thriller.” – Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Yamashita knows how to keep her pages turning with plenty of close-up-ready characters…[her] plotting proves addictive.” -- Booklist

"Yamashita makes the most of this claustrophobic environment, making 'City Under One Roof' the perfect locked-room mystery… a rousing debut.” --South Florida Sun-Sentinel

“Clever and claustrophobic, dark and atmospheric, the well-crafted, expertly executed City Under One Roof is crime fiction at its best. It's a perfect winter read, guaranteed to hold your attention rapt.”  --Mystery Scene Magazine