Happy early Christmas to me! I was so excited to get my greedy hands on this book, I was nervous I was expecting too much. I shouldn't have worried!  I consumed this book in three big gulps, stopping to sleep, work and do laundry. The laundry could have potentially waited, but we were running out of some fairly important items.
Welcome back to Rockton, one of the most interesting towns you'll ever visit. I am fascinated by how Armstrong addresses the lack of technology and luxuries the town. I constantly ask myself if I could make it there or if I'd run screaming into the woods. Which brings me around to plot. We learn much more about the "hostiles," which has been a mystery within these mysteries. Armstrong is an expert in giving enough information to be satisfying, but no so much that you have ALL your questions answered.
There was a lot less time spent with the town residents this time.  The story was much more tightly connected to Casey and Eric. Their dynamic is always interesting. Throw in a baby, a murder and a crazy trader family, and you come up with a hum dinger of a book. This was a lot of fun, I'm just sad that now I have to wait for the next one... again...