Mallory Monroe
Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | City Under One Roof | 2023 | Iris Yamashita | Buy |
| 2 | Village in the Dark | 2024 | Iris Yamashita | Buy |
The Cara Kennedy series takes place in some of Alaska’s most isolated locations. Detective Cara Kennedy investigates crimes in communities cut off from the outside world, where the brutal environment and close quarters create unique challenges. In City Under One Roof, an entire town lives in a single building during the harsh winter months. Village in the Dark continues this pattern of isolation and claustrophobia.
Yamashita uses the Alaskan setting as more than atmosphere. The weather, darkness, and remoteness shape how crimes unfold and how they must be solved. Kennedy has to navigate small communities where everyone knows each other and secrets run deep. The series has been compared to Nordic noir for its bleak landscapes and psychological tension.
Readers who enjoy atmospheric crime fiction and police procedurals with strong sense of place will find the series compelling. The mysteries are tightly plotted, and Yamashita’s screenwriting background shows in her pacing and visual descriptions.