The Rockton series was one of my favourite series by Kelley Armstrong, and Haven’s Rock didn’t let me down. Two seemingly unconnected cases for Casey to solve in an unfinished town…she doesn’t get first sight of her new home in quite the way she wanted.

While I would have liked to see more character development in this book, like there was in the previous series, the case was exciting and anything by Armstrong is always a good read. And what a cliffhanger ending!

*review will be posted on 7/3/24

I was so excited to get approved for this ARC. I'm a huge fan of Kelley Arstrong's work and I loved her Rockton series. Although this is a spinoff of the Rockton series, you can read this series without going back. Armstrong does a great job of summing things up and filling in gaps as she goes without it being too overwhelming. That said, I would still strongly encourage you to read the Rockton series because you'll be able to appreciate the character growth. It's a great series and I highly recommend it. 

It was great returning to this world and reconnecting with all the characters. Armstrong still finds ways to keep challenging them as individuals and helping them work through their flaws to grow. It's honestly impressive to still be able to do that this many books late and I love it because the series never feels static or stale. 

I was, of course, most excited to see Eric and Casey finally calling the shots. Even though the town isn't fully built, it was great being able to see what they could do. The setting was described so vividly that I felt like I was there. Her descriptions of the wild were so immersive. I also love how Armstrong makes the environment a constant challenge to the cases that Casey investigates. 

The mystery was really well done as always. The pacing was great and I was glued to every page. The ending left me dying to get my hands on the next book. Leave it to Casey and Eric to pick out a great spot and still find unfriendly neighbors (who I'm eager to learn more about). Overall, I think this was a great way to start off the series and I can't wait to see what's next for these characters!

Prolific author Armstrong follows up her best selling Rockton series with this launch of a linked story featuring detective Casey Duncan and her husband Eric Dalton. Deep in the Canadian wilderness they are looking for a fresh start with a goal of building a town that will become a sanctuary for those who need to disappear but have been failed by witness protection. When two members of their construction crew go missing in the forsest they launch a search for them. However the body they discover is not one of their crew and they suspect foul play escalating the pace and the danger level. . Where are their people and what is going on in this isolated part of the Yukon? Armstrong is a very creative diverse wordsmith and I have enjoyed many of her stories. The unique premise intrigued me and being ill versed in wilderness survival and living I found it to be very informative with the authentic seeming details of day to day tracking and living. A very entertaining read.

I absolutely loved the Rockton series and was sad when the series ended. I could read about Casey and Eric all day long. I love their characters, how they work well together, and reading their story and reading about their character development that makes them who they are today. They are a dynamic duo that everyone just loves!

I was thrilled to learn there would be a new series to continue reading about this couple. Murder at Haven's Rock was an incredible read that continues on with the story of Casey and Eric, as well as some familiar other characters from the Rockton series, as they try to move on in another town and rebuild things all over again.

I loved the twists and turns and shocking discoveries that are revealed in this novel and I loved trying to guess what was happening and who was responsible for everything. I love guessing and second guessing myself and I cannot recommend this novel enough!

Well done Kelley! I look forward to more books in this series.

A good solid mystery. I love the premise of a hidden sanctuary in the Yukon! The story seamlessly flows right from the Rockton series. The characters are genuine and the details draw you into the story transporting you into the Yukon

After being enthralled with Kelley Armstrong's Rockton series, I was excited to see that it was getting a spin-off. In Haven's Rock, Casey and Eric are trying to continue the good parts of Rockton without the issues the previous town had. However, before construction is even finished, danger come stalking again.

The plots from this author continue to surprise me. Her police procedurals are excellent and I really like the characters she has created in this world. Casey's continued determination to make the best choices she can while admitting that the world is not perfect and Eric's solid bedrock character for her make them a delightful couple to follow through the series. This particular mystery was twisty and involved and the ending was satisfying.

I love love love everything Kelley Armstrong writes! I first found her through her urban fantasy, but have followed her to her Rockton thriller books and beyond. Murder at Haven's Rock is a high-stakes return to the world of Rockton, but it is also the start of a new series and very accessible to new readers.

I loved the first book in this spinoff series of the Rockton novels. I fell in love with the characters in Rockton so I’m so excited to see some are returning to Haven’s Rock. Of course like all the other books this mystery just kept me reading and turning the pages. I can’t wait for more books in this series!

If you love detective shows this book is for you. This reminded me so much of growing up watching these shows with my mom.

Multiple I gasped out loud as things twisted and turned and action happened. The mystery was fun one to be dragged along.

I can not wait for the next and go back to the orginal series this is a spin off of.

I don’t know why, but the idea of living way up north in a tiny, hidden town really appeals to me. The original settlement, Rockton, is no more, but Casey and Eric are building a new and improved version in an even more remote location, still providing a haven for those needing to disappear. This town, though, will not accept bad actors who simply want to buy their way out of uncomfortable situations, just those who truly need a secure safe place in which to ride out a storm. Oddly enough, though, even the most seemingly pristine forest has its human denizens, and some of these are stirring up trouble before the town’s construction is even complete. Of course, Casey and Eric are able to sort it all out and make sure justice is served. I’m looking forward to more!

I really liked the premise of this book. I was coming from reading Kelley Armstrong's Cainsville series, which was a whole different genre, however the suspense and inability to put the book down carried right over into Murder at Haven's Rock. These characters were very relatable, even when they irritated me I could relate to that. LOL.
Overall, a solid 4.5 stars for me and I'll definitely be looking for the next book.

Have to admit to being bummed when I thought the Rockton series was going to.end. Loved the location, Alaska and the Yukon territory, and the idea behind the settlement. A place where people can go to hide from their past misdeeds, to hide away from lives that had become dangerous.
Now though it appears that a new settlement is being built at Havens Rock. Eric and Casey and their rock star pup Storm will be in charge, and many of my favorite characters will be joining them

I was excited when I heard that Kelley was continuing the Haven series and this book exceeded my expectations so much!

The fresh setting brought back the same enchanting atmosphere that initially captivated me when I first began reading the series. Casey and Eric's relationship remains a highlight for me, and to top it off, I adored exploring the new town... despite the inevitable occurrence of yet another murder. I mean can it be a Casey town without murder? 🤷‍♀️

The next book definitely can’t come soon enough for me. I’m hoping that we see a lot more of our familiar residents coming into their new home!

Casey Duncan and Eric Dalton are back in the first book of the Haven's Rock series - the spinoff/continuation of the Rockton novels. I was excited for and looking forward to the continuation of the Rockton series in a new locale and Kelley Armstrong doesn't disappoint.

Haven's Rock, the new refuge town deep in the Yukon wilderness that is being opened by the Rockton alumni, is under construction and two key members of the crew have disappeared into the surrounding woods. Casey and Eric are called in to investigate and locate the missing members of the crew. As they begin to explore their new town, the surrounding woods, and what their new corner of the Yukon will have in store, they begin to uncover new dangers that could threaten the future of Haven's Rock and its occupants.

Many of my favorite characters from the Rockton series appear in Murder at Haven's Rock and we're introduced to some fascinating new characters who will help to keep this new series fresh. Casey and Eric are very strong and well-developed characters and I'm very much looking forward to the next offering in the series.

Rockton may be gone but the new town seems just like home with missing crew members and dead bodies. ARC from NetGalley.

I've read and loved the seven books in Kelley Armstrong's Rockton/Casey Duncan series. #MurderAtHavensRock is the start of a new series featuring many of the same characters from the Rockton series. It reads more like a continuation of that series than the start of a new one. In fact, when I started reading it, it felt like I'd missed a major plot point. It turns out there's a novella that takes place between The Deepest of Secrets and this book. I'd definitely recommend reading Dead Letter Days before Haven's Rock. While Haven's Rock is filled with familiar characters (and a FANTASTIC murder mystery), it's also a breath of fresh air with new characters and a new location (the titular Haven's Rock.) There's a lot of world building, but Armstrong manages to infuse that into the mysteries, so we get a plot-focused, twisty mystery and great characters development and world-building.

Murder At Haven’s Rock by Kelley Armstrong

Kelley Armstrong’s Rockton novels had one of the most unique towns in crime fiction. This novel is a spin-off, a fresh start, with a few new dangers that threaten everything. Before bit even begins.

I enjoyed the first half of this novel. Then it became repetitive, repeating the same facts over again. Too much time spent in the forest before there were results. Hated the ending.. Now that all the former crime and incidents are solved, we have a new enemy.

Murder at Haven's Rock is the first book in new spinoff mystery series by Kelley Armstrong. Released 21st Feb 2023 by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 352 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback due out from the same publisher in 4th quarter 2023. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats.

This is a follow-on series from the author's Rockton series with roughly the same premise: an isolated created haven for folks who need to disappear and stop living a life on the run. Nothing is really uncomplicated when people are involved, and evidence of a crime and violent death mean that Detective Casey Dalton and her husband Eric have crimes to investigate before the Haven's Rock project is really even off the ground.

The two main protagonists met in the other series and are well developed and believable. The writing is taut and the action driven plot is well engineered. There are plenty of twists and an interesting denouement and resolution.

There is a novelette length prequel available and the second book in the series is due out from the same publisher in first quarter 2024.

Four stars. Well written wilderness thriller and promising series starter.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Ebook/Mystery: I want to thank Netgalley for a copy of the book.
I have noticed an isolation theme in many, if not all of Kelley Armstrong's books. Before I requested the novel, I went to Wikipedia to get the cliff notes to the series (I had not read) that comes before this one; they are tied together. I'm glad I did because those cliff notes helped me understand the characters. I will say that I was completely wrong about the murderer.

I was so worried when Rockton ended buy this new series is going to be just as good, if the first book is any indication. Same amazing writing and so many twists and turns! Can't wait for the next book.