Iris Yamashita's debut, CITY UNDER ONE ROOF, was one of my favorite crime novels of 2023. Its evocative Alaskan setting and compelling characters made for a fictional world that I wanted to return to (and that's saying something, since I really don't like cold weather). Well, bundle up (and buckle up), because Yamashita's follow-up, VILLAGE IN THE DARK, is every bit as exciting as its predecessor.

At the end of the first book, former Alaska PD detective (she's been placed on psych leave) Cara Kennedy was stunned to come across a photo of her recently deceased husband and son on the phone of a gang member. Was it possible their death wasn't a tragic accident after all, but something far more sinister? When she issues an order to exhume their remains, she discovers something even more perplexing. According to new DNA tests, the burned body fragments she'd assumed were those of Aaron and Dylan actually don't match their DNA at all. Who do these bones belong to? And where are her husband and son?

"Yamashita's screenwriting chops continue to serve her well, as the novel is a masterful example of pacing and suspense."

That gang member's phone, it turns out, also contains a photo of Ellie Wright's son, who has died of a drug overdose. Ellie, who runs the Cozy Condo Inn on a floor of the Point Mettier apartment building (the "City Under One Roof"), hasn't had much of a relationship with her son in recent years. But when her investigation into his death raises more questions than answers, she knows she can't just let it rest.

The third primary character here is a new one: Mia Upash, who grew up in a remote and isolated village named Unity, home only to women and children. As a young adult, Mia set off to learn about what residents of Unity called Man's World, where she got a job as a cleaner for a company doing pharmaceutical research. When she starts noticing odd things going on there, she is asked to assume huge risks and take potentially unethical actions. But it's all for a good cause. Right?

Cara, Ellie and Mia are the focus of short, rapidly shifting chapters that make up Yamashita's breathlessly exciting novel. Close readers will quickly discern how the three narratives will intersect, but even the most diligent reader will encounter more than a surprise or two before the explosive ending. The book proceeds faster than a snowmobile but still allows plenty of breathing room for consideration of ethical dilemmas, such as Cara's growing feelings for a fellow police officer --- even though there are now questions about her husband's fate --- or Ellie's willingness to let a harmful figure from her past back into her life. Yamashita's screenwriting chops continue to serve her well, as the novel is a masterful example of pacing and suspense.

I read VILLAGE IN THE DARK in its entirety during a recent trip that was capped off by a significant flight delay. I wouldn't wish a travel postponement on anyone, but let's just say that no matter what your circumstances, you'll want to set aside some time to read. Because once you start this book, you're not likely to want to stop until you turn the final page.