Review: City Under One Roof by Iris Yamashita

Author: Iris Yamashita
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: January 2023

A stranded detective tries to solve a murder in a tiny Alaskan town where everyone lives in a single high-rise building, in this gripping debut by an Academy Award–nominated screenwriter.

When a local teenager discovers a severed hand and foot washed up on the shore of the small town of Point Mettier, Alaska, Cara Kennedy is on the case. A detective from Anchorage, she has her own motives for investigating the possible murder in this isolated place, which can be accessed only by a tunnel.

After a blizzard causes the tunnel to close indefinitely, Cara is stuck among the odd and suspicious residents of the town—all 205 of whom live in the same high-rise building and are as icy as the weather. Cara teams up with Point Mettier police officer Joe Barkowski, but before long the investigation is upended by fearsome gang members from a nearby native village.

Haunted by her past, Cara soon discovers that everyone in this town has something to hide. Will she be able to unravel their secrets before she unravels?"

Finally, I have read an enjoyable thriller in 2024. In City Under One Roof, Detective Cara Kennedy  travels to a small town in Alaska to investigate a potential murder.  There is only one way into the town and when a blizzard blocks the tunnel, Cara finds herself stranded.  People begin to disappear.  Cara must figure out what happened before it's too late.

As I said, I really enjoyed this one.  The mystery was a page turner and kept me guessing.  I didn't guess the ending.  I was also really satisfied with how it ended.  It does leave the door open for a sequel, but it had it's own satisfying ending.    I really like Cara as a character.  She is smart and tough.  She also has a vulnerability about her because of the loss of her family and she has an ulterior motive for being in the town.  The characters of the town are quirky and also full of secrets.  I highly recommend this debut novel.  I look forward to reading the next book.