City under one roof by Iris Yamashita

 "City under one roof" by Iris Yamashita -A mystery?

This book it’s published by Berkeley publishing corporation in Jan 2023 and has 304 pages. 

DavCon is a single building town of around 200 in remote Alaska. It’s accessible with one tunnel. 

Two body parts (a hand and a leg) are found in a cove. Detective Cara Kennedy reaches there to investigate and the tunnel closes due to snow. She is stuck in DavCon.

Can she solve the murder? Who is involved? Will the inhabitants cooperate? Who’s body parts are they? Why does Spence make Amy lie?

A small town where everyone knows everyone. A godforsaken place in the middle of nowhere. A place where no one wants to spend their entire life. It’s a town of mysterious people, quirky people. Everyone has secrets. No one appears to be in the clear. Even those who aren’t from the town have secrets. 

The story has assortment of characters. Detective Cara Kennedy is federal investigator. She has lost her husband and son a few years ago. She’s claustrophobic. JB is a young handsome police officer helping Cara. Lonnie is an old timer, not quite right in the head. She was institutionalized after her mother’s death. Now her Moose, Denny, is her only companion. Amy, a teenager, has found the body parts. Spence is Amy’s friend. Debra Blackman, Spence’s mom is English and history teacher. Chief Sibly is the police chief. 

It’s a slow story. Very slow. A a result I was reading this book for three months (Pun intended). Lonnie is an interesting character. She thinks of multiple words for every feeling. I liked author’s concept of showing a person who isn’t normal. 

The end of the book is unnecessarily drawn. Asa result the impact of revelation is lost. 

The story ends with an unnecessary twist of a ghost. Wasn’t really necessary. There are two loose threads pointing towards the death of Cara’s family. Probably preparation for a sequel. 

Why did I read this book? Japanese author name +American setting. 

What did I like? Lonnie as explained above. 

What I didn't like? Pace.

Not a must read.