Set in a Yukon refuge community as part of a witness protection program, the second book in the Haven's Rock series focuses on Dana and her 10 year old son, Max, and his brother Carson who have moved into the program after their father was murdered. Max wanders into the woods because he knows he saw a man dressed in bear skins. Max is kidnapped and then is lost in the wilderness for two days. Mystery revolves around the search when residents begin to question Dana's story. Additional plots include the guarded mining community adjacent to Haven's Rock and Detective Casey Duncan's unexpected pregnancy. The Boy Who Cried Bear is an oddly curious novel that readers will stick with till the end.

Kelley Armstrong does it again!

If you haven’t read the Rockton series I would highly recommend starting there. The Haven’s Rock series is a break off of Rockton with a lot of the same characters as well as always adding new ones in each book. It is always the series that made me a forever fan of Kelley Armstrong!!

I really enjoyed this additional to the series! Haven’s Rock is a getaway for people that need to escape bad things that have happened to them in their real lives. A safe HAVEN if you will ;) Both series take place in the Yukon wilderness in little towns built for people to hide much like witness protection.

❤️ The returning characters and the continuation of their backstories
❤️ Addition of children
❤️ The story line, the suspense
❤️ That there will be another one for sure and it will continue the story of the miners
❤️ Dalton’s burly attitude and sarcastic humour
❤️❤️❤️ Dalton and Casey’s new adventure coming

I love this series (and Rockton before it) so much, I sailed through this book in record time. This installment showcases some of the differences between Rockton and Haven's Rock in terms of residents, rules, etc., but we still have frustrating personalities, mysterious characters, odd behavior, solid friendship and found family. And murder. Because there's always at least one murder, right?

One of the unique differences between Rockton and Haven's Rock is that Casey & Eric decided to allow couples and children to join the new settlement, which adds an unexpected security element to the mix. The story is told partly from the missing child's perspective, but mostly from Casey's POV. There are also some major changes coming for Casey & Eric, which are hinted at early on in the story and then confirmed later, but final resolution on the matter doesn't come until the very last chapter. (Sorry, I'm trying not to spoil anything...)

If you love this series like I do, this new addition will not disappoint. There are some loose ends at the close of the story, but that's to be expected and allows for overarching story lines in the series.

I'm a HUGE fan of Kelley Armstrong (I've been reading her for 20+ years!) and the Rockton series was amazing. The Boy Who Cried Bear is the 2nd book in a spin off series, where Casey and Eric have gone off to create their own little town in the wilderness. I will be honest, I'm struggling to get into this new series. I feel like the author is leaning into the good old repetitive behaviors and thoughts of these characters a little too much, and it keeps it from feeling fresh and different. In this book, a child named Max reports seeing a bear with human eyes, which launches a new mystery. I'm giving 4 stars because anything Kelley is excellent, but I'd love to see this feeling fresher for book 3.

I am a huge fan of the Rockton books and am excited for the new direction the spin off series is taking. Book 2 keeps the suspense rolling, with different pressures in the new community, including how to accommodate couples and families. A few of the new characters are really settling in and I enjoyed this volume. Very curious about the over arching villain that seems to be developing too. Excited for the next one!

The Boy Who Cried Bear is the second book in the Haven's Rock series by Kelley Armstrong, a spin-off of her popular Rockton series. The book follows detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton, as they investigate a series of strange events in their new town, a refuge in the Yukon for people who need to disappear. Haven's Rock is now accepting children and when ten-year-old Max reports seeing a bear with human eyes stalking a hiking party, the mystery gets underway.

The book does a good job of creating a suspenseful atmosphere and introduces some new and interesting characters, Casey and Eric take centre stage in this book, which I found to be a plus as some of the later Rockton books focused on too many secondary characters whom I didn't love.

While it was a good mystery, the resolution was a bit unsatisfactory and left some questions unanswered, This seems to be purposefully done to set up the next book in the series but may frustrate some readers who want a more satisfying conclusion.

Overall, The Boy Who Cried Bear is an enjoyable and entertaining read for fans of Kelley Armstrong and the Rockton series. It is a solid addition to the Haven's Rock series, and it promises more mystery and adventure in the future

4.5/5 stars

I love Kelley Armstrong, loved the Rockton series, and also love the Haven's Rock spinoff. This was book 2 in the spinoff series, and we're currently getting to know the residents and workers in Haven's Rock. This is Rockton 2.0, and you can definitely see the difference in the two settlements already - for one thing, families/children are allowed here. This is new, and not altogether a bad thing...until one of the kids goes missing, possibly abducted, in the woods. As always, Casey and Eric spring to the rescue - but this time they're also dealing with an issue of their own, that may or may not be more complicated due to events in Casey's past. Will everything turn out okay? I'm not spoiling it for you - read and find out!

I enjoyed this book. I have not read the previous book in the series but I had read one or two of the Stockton novels featuring some of the same characters. This book held my attention and kept me occupied trying to figure out whodunit. The concludes satisfying and they left a few loose ends to tie up in future installments.

Edit/update. I really did not like the beginning of this book (whiny children) so set it aside after several chapters. However, I needed a book to read and forgotten I'd quit this one so picked it up again last night because of the great title. This time I did like it and finished the book. I didn't recall it was a mystery/thriller. It definitely had an interesting plot line and the writing was better/more interesting after the first twenty-five percent of the book. Great setting and some interesting, atypical characters.

Once again, I dislike having to say I dislike a book. This one seemed like it would be interesting but it seemed to be the same old riff on a kid that goes missing in the woods. The writing style seemed stale to me but maybe I just prefer books that pull the reader along..Either way, this was a DNF for me. The Yukon was an interesting choice of settings.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for gifting me an early copy of this novel. Below you'll find my honest review.

Haven's Rock is a fledgling little town, Eric and Casey's attempt to rebuild a better, stronger Rockton. This one really raises the stakes as we learn that the "neighbors" hinted at in the first book have built themselves up and are now a full-fledged mining camp, very close to Haven's Rock and threatening the safety of Haven's Rock's residents.

In addition, Haven's Rock has made some drastic changes from Rockton, including the acceptance of families with kids into the fold.

When one of those kids goes missing, Casey and Eric and the rest of the town go into full search and rescue mode, and are reminded yet again that nothing is ever as it seems in the wilderness of the north.

I absolutely loved this one. No complaints whatsoever.

Highly recommend, but please please please read the rest of the series (both Rockton and Haven's Rock).

Series Info/Source: This is the second book in the Haven's Rock series. I got a copy of this to review on ebook through NetGalley.

Thoughts: I enjoyed this overall. It started a bit slow but then the pace really picked up about 25% of the way in.

The story starts some time after Casey and Eric have opened Haven's Rock and started accepting residents. Haven's Rock is different from Rockton in that they are allowing families and couples. However, trouble arises when one of the kids sees a bear while on a group hike. While investigating the bear they find out it might not be a bear at all but something more sinister. Then one of the kids goes missing and the hunt is on.

This book switches POV between Casey and Matt (the kid that goes missing). I think that the POV switching made the beginning a bit slow. It just took some time for us to meet the new characters and get going before the story really grabbed me and started pulling me in.

In addition to the overall mystery about the bear in the woods and Matt's disappearance, there is also some drama going on in Casey and Eric's life that should be intriguing as the series moves forward.

While I wasn't huge on the turn the story ended up taking, (without spoilers I can only say it ends up involving the miners that are camped nearby) I did find the story very engaging. There are numerous twists and turns which kept me guessing.

My Summary (4/5): Overall I enjoyed this, I just thought it started a bit slow. I did enjoy a lot of the new characters introduced and also liked the twists and turns to the mystery here. I also enjoyed some of the new story elements introduced and am curious where future books will go with those.

This is the second book in the Haven's Rock series, a spinoff from the Rockton series. Haven's Rock is the new Rockton, only more selective of the people that it admits. It is a very small town hidden in the Yukon. a place where people can go who need or want to disappear.

One thing I love about these books is how well the author makes the reader feel how menacing being in the woods can feel: where silence is a sign of danger, there are no bars between humans and apex predators, and how easy it is to get lost.

There is a lot going on in this book. A bear may be approaching their town too closely, and may have stalked Max, the youngest resident. Or was it a bear? Even though they have vetted every person admitted to Haven's Rock, now they begin to question if their investigations were thorough enough.

Men from a mining company have also been seen uncomfortably near their settlement, and Casey and Eric realize that there are gaps in their town planning. They also have a very personal decision to make.

I don't think it is necessary to have read the previous books to appreciate this one, but it might certainly inspire a desire to read the Rockton books and the first Haven's Rock book for the backstory. I received an e-ARC from publisher St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books via NetGalley, and voluntarily read and reviewed this book.

Every time I think Kelley Armstrong won't top the last book she wrote, she proves me wrong. This book was everything I wanted, and needed it to be, as a longtime reader who was nervous about a new series with familiar characters.

As with any Rockton, or now Haven's Rock book we are introduced to a small new cast of characters, keeping with the theme of the Haven's Rock being that haven for someone needing to escape a bad situation in their life, or seek protection.

Like with Rockton money talks, but not as much as the morality of the characters who live their, with Casey and Dalton wanting to genuinely be able to help people without being worried about what they might've done prior to arriving in Haven's Rock.

In this book we are introduced to the curious, and frankly adorable Max, his angst ridden older brother Carson and their injured mother, Dana.

When Max disappears, the Haven's Rock squad is on the case to find him and get him back to his mother. But as always there are sinister forces at work, some of whom despite their nickname of Mr. Rogers I do not trust.

I also might not trust Gunner, and might have lost my mind at the very real problems that faced Casey and Dalton in this book.

But as always, as long as Haven's Rock exists in literature form, I will keep on reading.

Best one yet to come out of Kelly Armstrong anything she writes I will devour she is an insta but author for me

Thank you to Netgalley for this read !

Loved this book, but then again I am a little biased as I love this author and the series.
Another great novel, could not put down and had to read all the way!

Pros
Great to see the storyline for this series to continue but in another different way.
Can not wait for more!

Cons:
The storyline is starting to be similar to other storylines, and the dialogue back and forth seemed pointless at times

This is the third book I've read by Kelley Armstrong since I've joined NegGalley this year alone, I can't wait to check out more of what she has to offer. I didn't realize this book was the second book in the Haven's Rock series, I enjoyed it without knowing the first book and didn't feel lost, but I look forward to reading it just to get the full background story.
Haven's Rock is a community that brings in families displaced by the witness protection agency, each member of the group has their own unique skills to bring to the table. When a Mother and her two sons are brought in after surviving an attack that left their mother injured and their father killed. Soon 10 year old Max spots a bear in the woods, but when he begins saying the bear has human eyes they are left wondering what to believe. Is it just a bear or a 10 year old confused and scared from a recent trauma. But when Max disappears and they are forced to join forces with another group living in the woods to save him.
I really enjoyed all the characters and the woodsy setting described in the book. Although I wasn't really sure what to make of Max's story, it quickly became apparent that things aren't what they seem. I love a good mystery and this checked all the box's.

This is turning out to be a really great series! I haven’t read the Rockton series (which this series is a spin-off of) but I would definitely read more from this author. I love the idea of such a remote town where people are screened first before they can live there. Dana and her two sons are a new family in town. When her one son Max swears that he sees a grizzly bear with unusual (possibly human) eyes, Casey and Eric are on the case. I could not put this book down and was intrigued and thrilled the entire time. This is a really great series and I can’t wait to read more! It is both thrilling and entertaining. I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! I feel so blessed to have received this advanced copy of my favourite spin off series.

As always, Kelley delivers 10 fold in this book. The characters were beloved and epic, Haven's Rock continues to grow and build, and the twists and turns keep you on the edge of your seat. The ending too, I just know there's more to come!

Absolute must read. While you wait for this, read Rockton and the first Haven's Rock!!!

4.5 stars - I was sad to see the end of Rockton, but am overjoyed that Haven's Rock is giving us everything that was great about the previous series and adding enough new elements to freshen thing up.

The Boy Who Cried Bear was solid. I liked the addition of the families to the hidden town and I liked that mysterious new neighbors look to give Casey and Eric a reason to stay alert for trouble. It was great to see the continuing cast and there's fun news to wrap this episode up with a bow. Can't wait for more.

I thoroughly enjoyed this new book in the Haven’s Rock series by Kelley Armstrong. Thank you to Kelley and Minotaur books for allowing me to read this book (and feed my addiction to this series)!

While each book tells its own mystery, it is very much part of a series. Haven’s Rock is the “spinoff” to the Rockton series by Kelley Armstrong. So far, this series nails it, being just different enough to be a whole new storyline (you could read it alone), but is a great continuation of the story left off in the Rockton series.

This book is told from the usual POV of Casey Duncan, town detective. It involves your already-beloved characters, and digs deeper into newer ones that you just know have more going on. It’s a new forest with new dangers, and everyone brings their past fears to town.

As usual, Kelley Armstrong brings the atmosphere of the town and it’s dark surrounding forest to life, letting you tag along while the mystery unfolds for Casey. If you think you’ll beat Kelley to the punchline in this one—you won’t!