This is the second installment to Kelley Armstrong’s spinoff of her Rockton series. I don’t really want to spend a lot of time comparing Haven’s Rock to Rockton because they are really two different series. I don’t want to leave the impression that Haven’s Rock is the awkward younger sibling to the better, more exciting Rockton series. They are each different and good in their own right.

One of the things that I like about Haven’s Rock is the whole different resident pool, like families with kids. It brings a whole different environment and direction for the storylines and series. Rockton had a lot of criminals who were hiding out. The book summary is pretty vague so let me elaborate. Max, a 10yr old Haven’s Rock resident, thinks he saw a bear – maybe, but with human eyes. Throughout the story, he refers to what he saw as the bear man. He goes missing after he heads out to woods one night to prove he saw the bear man because nobody believes what he saw, especially his older brother Carson, who is a little $#^!head!

There is also another storyline around Max and his family, which also consists of his mother, Dana. There is a lot of speculation in Haven’s Rock about the real reason that Dana and her kids are in Haven’s Rock. Dana and her kids came to Haven’s Rock from the WITSEC program after Dana’s husband and the kid’s father was killed for testifying against a murderer after he and Dana witnessed the murder. There is also another storyline about Haven’s Rock’s distant neighbors, a mining company, who have basically hired Eric and Casey to find some wild mountain man who assaulted one of the mining company’s employees. Eric and Casey call the mine owner, Mr Rogers. They also suspect that Max’s bear man is Mr Rogers wild mountain man.

Most of the story revolves around searching for Max as well as figuring out who the kidnapper is. It’s well into the second half that the storylines combust into a humungous mess. This is, apparently, a set up for future storylines. Just like in Rockton, having suspicious and dangerous neighbors was a key element to the series. I don’t see any reason why that can’t continue in Haven’s Rock. It worked and it certainly gives Armstrong a lot of future storylines and directions to take the new series.

I liked this installment better than the first one. In this one, Haven’s Rock is finally starting to stand on its own and is moving away from Rockton’s shadow. I like the continuing character development between the MC’s Eric and Casey and look forward to seeing the growth in their characters in the next installment. Most of the story was a solid 4star read for me. I didn’t like the conclusion of the Max storyline. Wwwaaayyy too messy for my liking. However, I want to think that I understand why Armstrong went that way. If I could give it 3.5stars, I would, but I’m going to round up because I like the way the series is going so far. I want to thank NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #StMartin’sPress #TheBoyWhoCriedBear

I found this novel compelling, and was able to get into the story quickly. Although it's not the first in the series, I found it easy enough to catch up on the backstory as I read. I love the unusual premise--a couple have founded a haven for people who need to disappear off the grid for reasons that they haven't chosen, e.g., a family in witness protection who have been compromised, women fleeing from abuse, etc. The couple, former police detectives Casey and Eric, are intriguing characters, and I love how their relationship develops throughout the story, with the added tension of dealing with the news of Casey's pregnancy, a potential threat to her health because of underlying issues. The suspense picks up when Max, a ten-year-old living with his mother and brother, disappears into the forest in the remote part of Alaska where the town is located. A group of mysterious miners camped nearby and a wild mountain man dressed in a bearskin pose additional threats to the couple and their deputy as they search for the missing boy. The pace is great, with action moving along quickly as the story switches between the POV of Max and Casey. There are some twists to the story, but none are unbelievable or out of nowhere, as is sometimes the case with thrillers; the writer really earns the elements of surprise by careful plotting and gradual revelations. I've already bought the book preceding this one in the series!

I just don’t know how Kelley Armstrong does it. For the second time in a row, I was blown away by one of her crime fiction novels. The Boy Who Cried Bear had everything you could want in just such a book. With the perfect locked room mystery type setting, intriguing characters, and finely layered plot, I was hooked from the very first word. Even better, however, was the dread laced through the pages. Trust me when I say, I read just one more chapter more times than I could count.

Between the characters and the layout of the plot, the former just barely won out as the star feature. Starting off with the endearing couple at the center of the action, Casey and Eric came complete with a sweet relationship that I can’t wait to watch unfold further. Second, but not far behind, was the rest of the cast of characters who were both somewhat unreliable as well as wholly relatable. Running from unknown events, we don’t know whether to trust them or not, which plays perfectly into the premise.

As for the storyline, there were several different subplots going on at the same time. And while that could’ve been confusing, it was anything but. At the same time, I couldn’t, for the life of me, figure out how all of the threads came together. Part of me, though, still doesn’t quite… But I’ll come back to that in a bit. All in all, told primarily from Casey’s POV with the occasional chapter from Max, this crime fiction tale felt decidedly more action-packed than most, with plenty of enticing thrills and chills as well as dynamite twists.

Okay. So there was one aspect that didn’t fill me with glee. By the end of the book, not everything was wrapped up with a nice, tiny, little bow like I prefer. On the contrary, there was one whopper of a cliffhanger that tied in directly to the main plot of the book. Granted, there was a definite happily ever after as well, but I personally like all of my answers spelled out. If this doesn’t bother you, take my warning with a rather large grain of salt.

Given that, however, I was still a huge fan of the second book in the Haven’s Rock series. Supposedly suggested as a stand-alone, I highly recommend reading these in order. Otherwise, you’ll miss out not only on characters and their growth (of which there was plenty), but underlying drama within the complex group dynamics. That said, the events in this novel didn’t extend from book one, which will surely not be the case as the series continues.

Wrapping up my review, I must say I’m even more of an Armstrong fan than I was going in. Original and fresh, this plot deviated greatly from all crime fiction that I’ve read in the past, but only in the best possible way. I also loved how there was a depth to the characters as many were struggling with past trauma, including Casey herself. All said and done, two massive thumbs up. Now I sadly have a long, impatient wait for book three. Rating of 4.5 stars.

Disclaimer: I am a Kelley Armstrong fan. I've read every book in her library of titles. Her titles cross genres, reaching readers with stories so well written that her series are FB recommended reads in groups dedicated to paranormal, horror, mystery, thriller, romance......pretty much everyone who reads her work, recommends her work. THE BOY WHO CRIED BEAR is the second book in the Haven's Rock/ Rockton series. If this is your first time reading the series, you have missed some seriously great books and need to schedule a weekend binge read soon.

Haven's Rock is a manufactured town in Yukon Territory. The town was designed to provide sanctuary for those who could not escape the danger threatening them. The boy referred to in the title is in Haven's Rock with his mother and older brother because Witness Protection has failed them, allowing his father to be killed and his mother injured. Anyone living in Haven's Rock must work and contribute to the community, obeying the community's rules and accepting the guidance provided by the staff.

The main group of characters are carried over from the Rockton series. These characters are amazing. Sheriff Dalton and his wife/ detective Casey are joined by her sister, April, the doctor, Will Anders, the third person in the law enforcement office and many more, each has unique talents that contribute to the community's safety and health. It is very easy to become invested in this community. Kelley Armstrong has another easy 5 star read. The only problem is now we have to wait for book #3.

Another enjoyable book by Kelley Armstrong - spinning off the Rockton series. The second novel in the Haven’s Rock series - still following Casey and Eric and their band of unforgettable characters living mostly off the grid in the Canadian wilderness. I’m not 100% sure why I love these so much but they are familiar read, characters I enjoy and always leaving me with a little cliffhanger about what comes next.

This time a 10 year old boy is kidnapped from Haven’s Rock and it’s up to our fearless sheriff and detective to find him and save him from his captor.

I am a huge fan of Kelley Armstrong and specifically the Rockton series. I love these characters and am thankful for the Haven’s Rock series.

I enjoyed this book. I love the mystery that this series always delivers on.

I love seeing all my favourite Rockton characters. I wish we saw more of the townspeople. This book was mostly just Casey and Eric searching. I miss some of the drama that older characters stirred up.

One thing I wasn’t a fan of was the Max chapters. I enjoyed the content but disliked how they were written in the third person, whereas Casey’s chapters were written in the first person.

Even though this wasn’t my favourite book of the series, it is still a series I wholeheartedly recommend.

The Boy Who Cried Bear by Kelley Armstrong is the 2nd book in the Haven's Rock series. Haven's Rock now has its first residents which include two children. Emilie is in charge of vetting those admitted to the settlement and feels this family needs the protection of Haven's Rock. Casey, Will and Dalton continue with monitoring the town's safety and management.

During one of the town's organized hikes, the youngest child Max thinks he sees a bear tracking the hikers...but not just any bear as this one has human eyes. Casey and Dalton investigate and discover that much in their woods isn't right, especially when Max goes missing. What kind of stalker are they pursuing? Does the mining camp figure into this and are the miners a danger? As people start pointing fingers, who in Haven's Rock is connected to this? When there is no further need to pursue the bad person(s), is Haven's Rock safe?

Armstrong presents all these questions and more; however, in this second book, she doesn't provide all the answers. The author is setting up for the third book, but her readers don't need that encouragement or irritation. They will pick up the next one in this series.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Kelley Armstrong and NetGalley or this ARC.

Rockton and Haven's Rock series.
Awesome suspense ,mystery, murder, twists.
Really great characters especially Casey and Eric.
Max thinks he sees a strange looking bear stalking the group.
Casey and Eric goes to investigate that when they find a body.
Was it attacked by a bear or something else.
Love the series can't wait for the next story..
Voluntarily reviewed.

Deep in the Yukon wilderness lies the town of Haven’s Rock. It’s a refuge for those who need to disappear from the outside world, and Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton, are its protectors. They try to keep less wilderness-savvy residents from wandering off alone. So when 10-year-old Max spies what he thinks is a bear stalking their hunting party, Casey and Eric take it seriously. But even stranger, the boy swears the bear had human eyes.

All is not as it seems in the wilderness. When a dead body turns up, and Max goes missing, Haven’s Rock seems anything but a safe haven. Casey and Eric must work to find their missing resident, while negotiating their town’s needs against the needs of a nearby mining camp.

Casey and Eric are strong, believable protagonists, and the wilderness mystery unfolds in an intriguing way. Armstrong does an excellent job of keeping the suspense going until the final page.

I mean, its Kelley Armstrong! You KNOW you can't go wrong, but with this newest from the Rockton series, I'm just tickled to death that she's making this ongoing. LOVE it!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
I loved the Rockton series and recommend it to everyone. I’m really intrigued with the Haven’s Rock series. Love that some of the old characters are present and chose to follow them to a new town. Though I feel in both books they briefly mention the characters. Im hoping in the future books we can get more time with our beloved characters. I really want to see what happens with Kenny and April. I’m loving April and Casey’s relationship. In the beginning I worried it was going to be a book about the little boy being murdered but luckily that was wrong. I never expected the who behind the kidnapping. I thought it would have been something more connected to Rockton. With what they learned after being in Rockton it is interesting to see what changes they make to that model and how it’s working out so far. With the mining camp nextdoor this book has shown how the different takes on living up there and wanting no one to know you are there and what you are doing. It shows how green the mining group is at living in the Yukon. The mining camp had a nasty surprise for themselves. I’m interested in finding out more on what their intent is.

Thank you Netgalley and Minotaur Books for the chance to read an advance copy of The boy who cried bear by Kelley Armstrong. This is the 2nd book in the Haven's Rock series, but you can read it by itself, as each book is a standalone mystery, but with the same narrator, Casey Duncan. The town of Haven's Rock has been started by Casey and Dalton, when their town of Rockton was closed down. Children are now welcomed to Haven's Rock, and when Max, a new resident, see a bear stalking the hiking party, he raises the alarm. After some don't believe him, he sets out to check what he saw, a bear with human eyes and quickly disappears. It is up to Casey and Dalton to discover what happened to Max, and solve the mystery.
A long fan of the Rockton series, and main characters, Casey and Dalton, this 2nd book in the sequel series had me hooked. I enjoyed the mystery, loved finding out what is happening to my favourite characters, and was intrigued by the new residents. As stated you can read this by itself, but one of the best part is how the series is character driven. Totally recommend!

The Boy Who Cried Bear had all the elements I've come to love from Kelley Armstrong's Rockton and Haven's Rock series: an interesting plot, expansion on the pre-existing relationships between characters, the Yukon setting, and of course the mystery. Overall, this thriller is another great addition to her catalogue.

always love a good mystery book and this one mostly delivered. The Yukon setting was definitely unique and intriguing as was the concept of a Utopian type community that is a haven for people who want to disappear.

I had not read the first book in this series, so was a bit lost in the beginning. However, Armstrong did a good job of repeating names, along with references to the roles of various people in the community, so that I was eventually able to straighten out everyone's identity.and significance to the plot.

The characters of Casey and Dalton were well developed and endearing. They have a respectful, loving, mutually beneficial relationship that seemed real and appropriate for their roles in the community and the plot. I did get tired of all the "negotiating a relationship" and "respecting boundaries", etc. talk. Just seemed to slow down the action. Max, the other main character, was very resourceful as he tried to survive captivity. He did seem a bit mature for a ten- year- old, Maybe surviving severe trauma made him more savvy about escaping captivity.

The title was puzzling. While the book centered on finding the missing boy, it was much more about the people searching for him and the problems they had with the miners. Some chapters did focus on Max, but very few compared to the total number of chapters.

The ending left readers with lots of questions. Were the two miners really child predators? ( Seems unlikely.) or were they set up by a nefarious mining boss? Why are the miners so secretive? What is really going on with the mining operation? Were some of the Haven's Rock residents in on the abduction, and just weren't caught? There were a lot of loose ends that left me dissatisfied. Maybe things will come to light in the sequel. However, it seemed things should be better resolved in this book.

I was really enjoying this book until the end. Lots of plot twists keep you interested but I did not like how it ended. To me,it felt unfinished. I wanted to know more about the "neighbors" as well as what happened to the occupants of the town

Another enjoyable title in the Haven series. Casey is well developed and complex, with a new twist she needs to deal with. I did feel the Dalton didn't have as much depth or character arc in this one as the previous books. He felt a bit secondary, which was unfortunate as this series is as much about his character development and that was missing. What is happening for Casey will affect him, and I wanted to see more of his struggles and character development as well.

Still a great book and perhaps some of those issues with be dealt with in the next book in the series.

I’ve now read several of this author’s books from different series and they are always consistently great. This one was no exception. She does such a nice job with genre novels, where even if the premise is unrealistic the story still feels real and believable.

I was a bit skeptical of this one at first because thrillers that focus on kids can go a bit sideways, but I shouldn’t have worried. This book was a page-turner with just the right amount of narration from the child’s perspective but a lot of adult themes interwoven as well. I love the Haven’s Rock story and look forward to more installments in the series.

I’m an avid Kelley Armstrong reader and was grateful for the opportunity to read this book in advance. “The Boy Who Cried Bear” is the second in the Haven’s Rock series. I would recommend reading the first book to better understand some of the connections., though this could work as a standalone. Haven’s Rock is a town that houses the most at-risk people from the witness protection program. This series installment introduces the newest residents. There is so much tension and mystery in this book. It’s a real pageturner! I will definitely recommend near publication day.

A solid addition to the Rockton world! I am always happy to read another story about Casey, Dalton & Co. This book is similar to the others where they’re solving a case and they’re out in the woods. Even in its formula it’s an interesting, easy read. There are some serious unanswered questions about their neighbors that make me excited for the next installment!

My thanks to St. Martin's Press, Kelley Armstrong and Netgalley.
There's just something about this series that I love. There is a certain warmth of feeling and a love of place that somehow grounds me. Does that sound a bit silly and stupid? Fine. Call me silly and stupid. Sticks and stones.
I've always had an ideal place in my head. That place would be far, far out of reach from anyone, but also smack dab in wild life country! Not too hard to imagine, as I live in Montana. Nobody here wants to see grizzly bears, but they turn up in the most unlikely places! I saw a bobcat in my neighbor's yard not too long ago. Weird? Nope. Just Montana. Still, I've been here since 1995 and had never seen a bobcat before.
I was initially hesitant about this new series. How would the new dynamics change? Well, not much as it turns out, and that right there may be where Ms. Armstrong and I part.
I've read a few series of books by various author's and have found that they can't change their habits. I personally think that I'm ready for more of a change. Into what? Don't know. Man, I'm a reader not a writer!
I love this series and the characters. Even the back drop is a character. Yukon? Please. Since I was 4 and read Jack London the Yukon has always been alive.
I do love the newest arrivals and am curious about the next book.
I will say that sometimes these books come up lacking on the whodunit. This? Definitely one of her better mysteries.
I love and actually anticipate new books in this series.
With a warning...something must change, or else a new and deadly threat must emerge.I
Otherwise I will read elsewhere.
Please don't become Janet Evanovich! Talented but tiresome.