I absolutely loved the Rockton series and was beyond thrilled to get this ARC of Haven’s Rock from NetGalley. It was great to catch up with some of the old gang and also get to meet a new cast of characters in the new settlement. I agree with a previous reviewer that this book’s tone is lighter than some of the Rockton books but, have no fear, there’s still plenty of action and intrigue!
I went back and forth between a 4 or 5 star rating. Too often, I find that mystery books keep the investigator’s thought process obscured so we can be shocked in real time with the final reveal. I appreciate how this book closely follows Casey’s thought process from start to finish. That being said, it was a bit repetitive through the middle with the interior monologue running the same suspicions and scenarios over and over. Still, I devoured this book and have only myself to blame for how long the wait will be to experience the next installment!
PS- I will definitely listen to the audiobook when it releases to the public, assuming the ever sublime Therese Plummer will be at the helm once more!
PPS- I did listen to the audiobook and it was every bit as good as I knew it would be!

Thank you, NetGalley for the opportunity to review this e-audiobook.

This is a series I have followed by Kelley Armstrong and she has finally branched off from this series and started a new series with this title.

A lot of the main characters from the previous series have carried over and they created a new home for themselves in a remote location off the grid. Her books always keep me guessing and then she always lets me know at the end that there will be another book.

Great novel!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC! As a fan of Armstrong and the Rockton series, I was excited to see where this new book took Casey and Eric. While this felt like a Rockton novel under a new name, I did find the story and plot enjoyable, albeit familiar. Although t the two main characters find themselves in a new town ready to start over, their drama is very much the same (someone is murdered and they track the killer) Unfortunately, the plot is very similar to the other Rockton novels. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the stories from Rockton, especially the first few, but I was hoping this new start for them would bring new stories.

An awesome start to the new series Haven's Rock.
Casey and Eric are loking for a few weeks to have some time to then self while the new Haven's Rocks has the finishing toch to it,'Before that can happens they were called to the town because a couple of contractors have disappered,
THey find that that is alot more mystery and danger they missing peole.
Always great suspense,twists,danger and interesting characters and intrigue.
Looking forwar to the series and more of all the old and new characters.
Really enjoyed the story.
Narrator was awesome. Voluntarily reviewed

Love love love Kelley Armstrong and was so excited to get this book early. I read the entire rock ton series and am so excited it has a spin-off into a new series. Her books always have a great storyline, a great twist and good character development. This book did not disappoint and I cannot wait until more books come out for this series!

Book 1 of the new Haven's Rock series, but truly a continuation of the Rockton series. I would <b>highly</b> recommend reading that complete, 7 book series first.

After the council shut down Rockton, Detective Casey Butler and Sheriff Eric Dalton are contructing a new town. One without a council where they can get back to the intended purpose of Rockton-providing sanctuary for people who need it. Except they are called to town early, before the builders have finished. Two workers have gone missing. Misadventure? Or do they already have a murderer in their midst?

The Rockton series was hit or miss for me. I loved a few books, but others seemed repetitive. This fell in the repetitive category. Perhaps it is on me- I have read all eight books in about two and a half weeks. Maybe they would feel less repetitive if I didn't read the series in such a short period of time. This book was also lacking some of my favorite Rockton characters.

Thérèse Plummer narrates, as she did the original seven books. She always does a good job.

I received an audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

I'm so happy to see Casey and Eric back and establishing a new settlement, but, if you've loved the Rockton novels, you know that everything probably isn't going to go smoothly. Now that I've mentioned the Rockton series, you can enjoy Murder at Haven's Rock as a stand-alone, but I think it really has more depth if you have the backstory. With this first book in the new series, I'm already intrigued to see what happens next. There are so many potential threads to pull and weave together...or unravel. Thanks so much for the opportunity to review!

NYT bestselling author Kelley Armstrong of the popular Rockton Novels returns with a new spin-off series, (Haven's Rock #1) — MURDER AT HAVEN'S ROCK, set in the wilderness of Yukon.

Detective Casey Duncan (a former homicide detective) and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton (Sherriff and tracker), are financing a new town, Haven's Rock—a place for people to disappear. They have a tracking dog named Storm. Casey's sister, April, is their physician on the autism spectrum.

A modern wilderness town with a touch of the old west. They have a crew of 30 working on building the village and have isolated for more than two months.

The couple met in Rockton, a Yukon town, to serve as a refuge for domestic abuse victims and those for whom the legal system's protections were insufficient. Casey and her sister are using their inheritance to fund the construction of a similar community, Haven's Rock. Evidently, things at Rockton were compromised.

This is an isolated secret sanctuary, and shortly after the book opens, the architect, Penny, and the engineer, Bruno, disappear. What does Yolanda, the contractor, know?

They do not want any outsiders. They need privacy. They must find who is invading their space.

As the book opens, Penny is eavesdropping on a heated conversation as the participants storm off— Bruno, the engineer, and Yolanda, the contractor.

There is one rule at Haven's Rock. NEVER GO INTO THE FOREST. Wolves, moose, grizzlies, and more dangers exist in the dark woods.

Where are Penny and Bruno, and did they leave together? Who can be trusted?

Someone steals Casey's backpack, and then she discovers a woman that had been stabbed. Who is this woman, a stranger? The woman was murdered. It is not Penny.

There are lots of dark secrets in this atmospheric mystery whodunit.

I have not read the Rockton series, so this can be read as a standalone; however, it may be more enjoyable if you have read the previous series, as there are cameo appearances and some major characters back in the spin-off series.

Haven's Rock, like Rockton, is a new town designed to provide a temporary refuge for people in danger. The protagonists of the previous novels, who managed the last village and protected its residents, plan to continue in those roles.

I enjoyed Casey and Eric's characters and look forward to seeing how the town develops and what new crimes the duo will be called to solve in the upcoming books. I did not care for Yolanda's character or her attitude.

AUDIOBOOK: I listened to the audiobook narrated by the fabulous Thérèse Plummer for an outstanding performance and listening experience for all voices. I also enjoyed the accompanying ebook.

MURDER AT HAVEN'S ROCK is ideal for those who enjoy danger, nature, wilderness, cop procedurals, and mysteries.

Thanks to #MinotaurBooks #StMartinsPress #MacmillanAudio and #NetGalley for a gifted ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review. #MinotaurInfluencers #SMPInfluencers

Blog Review Posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pub Date: Feb 21, 2023
Feb 2023 Must-Read Books

If you, like me, mourned the end of Rockton, rejoice because while Rockton is gone, the new refuge Casey and Dalton dreamed of is almost finished. Haven’s Rock is a new location, but the rule ‘Do not go into the forest’ still exists - and is also still broken. Casey and Dalton are called in before construction is completed when the architect and engineer go missing. Narrator Therese Plummer IS Casey and her pacing and her characterization is superb. Wilderness, action, misdirection and quirky characters all come to life in Armstrong’s new world. I couldn’t stop listening. This can stand alone, but treat yourself to the Rockton series. Highly recommended.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance review audio copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

The first in a new spin-off series, this book would definitely better be appreciated if you've read the Rockton books. That said, I hadn't and I did still enjoy this detective mystery story set in the remote Yukon wilderness.

Casey and Eric return as they attempt to create a new isolated settlement in Haven's Rock. Unfortunately their first order of business is finding two missing people and then solving a murder when one of them turns up dead.

Full of twists and turns a cast of new and returning characters, this was also really great on audio narrated by Thérèse Plummer! Recommended for fans of authors like Louise Penny or Alice Henderson. Much thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a physical ARC and early audio copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

I am listening to Murder at Haven's Rock by Kelley Armstrong, thanks to Netgalley. It was billed as the first in a series, but it's actually a spin off a different series, so while it's perfectly fine that I do not know any of these characters and their backstories, it seems like it's better to know what's going on beforehand. But so far so good with the plot. I'm not too big a fan of the FMC Casey or MMC, her husband, Dalton... but I am trying to look past what's annoying me about them and focus on the story. The story did seem a little longer than necessary, but I liked it overall in the end.

Two construction crew members disappear in Yukon after they stepped foot in the forest. Detective Casey and Sheriff Eric arrive shortly after to begin their investigation. As their investigation begins, it is a whirlwind!! There's off the grid folks that live in the forest and miners who are suspicious of everyone and the writing was very compelling.
The narrator, Therese Plummer, did an amazing job narrating the story and bringing the characters to life. She certainly kept me engaged till the very end! So much so that I listened to this story in a day! It was so hard to pause the audiobook. The characters are complex and are so relatable. I look forward to continuing on with this series as I'm very curious as to what can happen in a isolated town.

A very special thanks to Macmillan Audio Minotaur Books, and Netgalley for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Adventure of the Yukon! I was ready for a good who dun-it! I liked the way the story twisted one way then back again. It you weren’t paying attention you might have guessed it wrong! I did also like the descriptions of the wilderness as it added another character to the story. The narrator was excellent. I hope you enjoy this story and that more will follow.

I received an ALC (advanced listener copy) of this audiobook from Netgalley.

This is a spin off series to the Rockton series where we first meet Casey Duncan and now husband Eric Dalton. So if you want to see how that all goes down I suggest reading that series first then diving into this one.

This book is book 1 of a new series where Casey and Eric fund and build a new town deep in the wilderness of Canada's Yukon. It is to be a place for people who need safety, apply for residency and then get placed here.

Haven’s Rock is to be the new and improved Rockton. I can’t freaking wait for more books to come. This one had me on the edge of my seat. Casey and Eric are called in because two of the crew building their new settlement go missing. And well to keep Haven’s Rock secret Casey and Eric need to investigate.

I really enjoyed Casey’s inner monologue throughout this book. I never guess right, so hearing her thoughts, and how they mimicked my own. Helped me to see that I might not always get the whodunnit right. But my way of thinking isn’t always so way off.

You're going to get some twists and turns and you are going to think you know who, what, and why but it's not so easy. I just enjoyed the heck out of this book and I can’t wait for more to come.

The narration is Thérèse Plummer who also narrates the first series and I couldn’t ask for a better narrator. Her tones, and inflection just adds layers to the story.

MURDER AT HAVEN’S ROCK by Canadian author, Kelley Armstrong, is the first book in the new spin-off of the Rockton Series. I was so happy when Ms. Armstrong announced this new series. This book felt like coming home. I love the awesome cast and although I am sad that some characters from the first series will not be joining the second, this first book set the tone for this new series and I like it. I also love that this is taking place in the Yukon wilderness. Detective Casey Duncan, her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton, and Storm, their Newfoundlander dog, are a perfect trio to solve murder cases and deal with the most heartless villains. This is a fantastic start, and I can’t wait to read the next book.

This was a great thriller! I hope this will be a series, I really enjoyed the characters. The narration was well done, and I liked guessing what was going on.

I am going to add some notes I made along the way as part of my review as it may explain better what I thought of this book.
20.0% "This book said it was book #1 I didn’t realize it is a spin off from another series so I have no background on these 2 characters from a previous series. So right now I am not sure if this town is a cult? Or just people starting a town (which still sounds like a cult)."
55.0% "This is not a book 1 this is a continuation because I feel like I am missing a lot of the story because I don't understand the background of the characters and it's not delved into because the author assumes you know the main characters past, which I don't. I still think it's some kind of cult."

As I said above this is a continuation people are mentioned, the old town is mentioned, things that happened previously are mentioned like you are supposed to know what is happening, so I will recommend this book to people who have read the first series which is Rockton.


Narration by Thérèse Plummer was very well done.

This one is barely a three star book for me just because I felt lost and wished I understood about this town, if you have read the previous books then you’ll probably like this one but for me it was a miss.

I received this book from the publisher Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for a fair and honest review.

3 stars

For everyone who was sad at the demise of Rockton, you now have Haven’s Rock. Just checking in on their new home at Haven’s Rock, Casey and Dalton are met with missing people and murder.

Haven’s Rock is a spin-off of the Rockton series. Many of the same characters will be moving with the sherriffs. But there will be a lot of new faces. Most probably weren’t in this book. Most of these characters were the people building the new town. The most important thing is there are going to be new rules. Everyone walked into Rockton for a reason. They all needed to disappear. They could stay for a short time and then return to civilization. It will be interesting to see how well the former inhabitants deal with making all of the decisions for themselves.

This book was really a bridge to the new series. I expect a lot more in the future.

***Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
I am beyond excited that Kelley Armstrong decided to continue this series! Rockton 2.0 has new problems and new characters, but keeps the main characters who I've come to love.
Casey and Dalton are back, married, and united in their creation of a new home where people can find a safe haven without dealing with outside forces controlling and manipulating the settlement. New problems arise and I am excited to see how this group of quirky, flawed characters handle themselves. Can't wait for more installments.

So excited to continue the characters from Rockton's journies in this new series. I enjoyed the familiar tone and structure in a new setting. Audio narration was well done. Looking forward to the next one already!