In this 2nd installment of the Rockton spin-off, Haven's Rock, the first residents arrive and things do not go according to plan. There's a bear stalking the town and with their first resident minors having arrived, they need to track it and scare it from the town borders. But, what if it's a man in bear skins similar to the hostiles near Rockton? What goal would he have in mind? And how big of a threat would that be? Then their youngest resident goes missing, was he trying to get a closer look at the bear? Or is he just hiding in town somewhere after the epic teasing he got from his brother? You'll have to read to find out how this bear/manhunt turns out. I highly recommend reading all the books in both the Rockton and Haven's Rock series, but Kelley Armstrong fills the reader in on enough details that it can also work as a standalone.

Having recently finished “The Boy Who Cried Bear" by Kelley Armstrong, I am happy to have had the chance to read the Advanced Reader’s Edition e-copy; thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books!

Drama is always happening in Haven’s Rock and this time it was the presence of a fierce-looking bear-man who disturbed the community and caused concern. With one little boy lost in the woods looking for proof of what he believed he saw, this intense and mysterious search will have you trekking along the Yukon trails as the hunt for Max unfolds.

The Boy Who Cried Bear is a well-written, meticulously plotted, entertaining mystery with multifaceted characters set in a quirky town with a community that feels like family. The book has it all: murder, secrets, corruption, mystery, and plenty of suspense and atmosphere that keeps readers turning the pages into the wee hours of the morning; I would highly recommend it.….…

I have enjoyed everything I have read from author Kelley Armstrong and The Boy Who Cried Bear; the second book in her Haven's Rock series is no exception.

Haven's Rock is a small hidden town in the wilds of Yukon, Canada, a haven for people who need a place to lay low. Built by a wealthy benefactor, Haven Rock is so remote that it is a perfect place to hide. When Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton, start bringing people in, no questions asked. They live in close quarters and, although consisting of vastly different personalities, they get along for the most part. For the first time, the town has let in children; a young Mother, Dana and her two young sons, Max and Carson, find refuge there after witness protection fails to protect them, leaving Dana widowed and severely injured to care for her children. Much to his brother's dismay, Max thrives as the only child in Haven's Rock. Max loves the wilderness and spends time getting trained by a group led by Eric and Casey on how to survive in the woods. On a group hike, ten-year-old Max believes he saw a bear stalking the hikers, but no ordinary bear; it walked on two legs and had human eyes. Although Casey and Eric take Max's sighting seriously, they both agree it is just a bear, but it is still concerning, as it is out of the bear's normal behaviour.

When Max fights with his older brother, he runs away to sit by the woods only to be blindfolded, kidnapped, and taken deep in the woods by a man dressed head to toe in bear skins. After days and nights spent in the woods searching for Max, Casey becomes ill, but there seems more to it. The town comes together, and strange notes appear as the investigation remains fruitless, implying that someone from Dana's past has returned to exact revenge. The more they dive into the case, the more the leads point in different directions, including to the town's neighbours, a corrupt mining company with a mysterious facility secured by armed guards.



Once again, Armstrong delivered a well-written, compelling mystery with multifaceted characters set in a quirky town that kept me glued to the pages. Alternating between Casey and Max's POVs, the reader has insight into what Max was going through while Casey and Eric searched for him. I couldn't swipe the pages on my iPad fast enough!

The book has it all: murder, secrets, corruption, mystery, and plenty of suspense and atmosphere that keeps readers turning the pages into the wee hours of the morning; I highly recommend it! I look forward to the next book in the Haven's Rock series. I was lucky enough to get an ADC and ALC I paired the ADC and ALC (IMO) Therese Plummer did an fantastic job narrating this story. She is one of my favourites and this performance was up to her usual high standards. I felt like I was there with Casey and Eric, trying to find this boy in the woods. The voices she used for the characters brought the story to life, and I thought she added just the right amount of emotion to her performance, which fully immersed me in the plot.

<b><br /> I would like to thank NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for the ADC and ALC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 ⭐️

I was so exited for this one but I just didn’t like it as much as the first one. Overall the story is griping and the ending definitely set up what I expected to be a very exciting book 3 but .. the story did drag on and we really didn’t get much new character development … there were also way too many references to Rockton - which was somewhat ok in the first book - as it is a spin off but I don’t think it was really that necessary
I feel like the overall story could have been told in a novella - which this author is very good at doing as well - there’s actually a 0.5 novella for this series I still need to read and

Haven's Rock is the establishment that Casey Duncan and her husband, Eric Dalton, have established deep in the Canadian wilderness to hide people who need to be off the grid completely. A woman and her two boys have arrived in town; she is recovering from gunshots that killed her husband and traumatized the children. One of the boys, Max, begins to tell everyone he has seen a man dressed as a bear in the woods and when he disappears, it seems as though he may be right. As Casey and Eric search for Max, they begin to question if their retreat may be doomed to failure.

4.5 star rating.

WHY IT'S NEARLY A FIVE: As always, Ms. Armstrong is a master storyteller and writer. We have all the key elements we loved from Rockton: the scrappy group of survivors, a mystery that leads to more questions instead of fewer, and a potential bad guy who could derail everything.

One thing about her books is how difficult they are to review because you want everyone to have the same fabulous experience you do with no spoilers. This book is a must read for all Rockton fans.

WHY NOT A FIVE: While I enjoyed the first book of the Haven's Rock series I had some reservations. It felt such a tightrope balancing act of what I loved about Rockton and what I missed fighting each other. I'll admit, there's a character in this new series (the I have a right to do whatever I want bc of who I'm related to character) that honestly has series-ruining potential. I literally had to start skipping her. Instead of being the sharp or dangerous potential derailers that one Petra was or the mystery of the council she's just... entitled and annoying. Like, she vibes like a 12yo girl who didn't get invited to the pizza party.

As always an amazing read. I love the relationships between the characters, it's what always keeps me coming back for more of these books. I love seeing what kind of mystery there is to solve as well as watching the new town grow.

I continue to find this series charming. I know that the Haven's Rock books are considered a separate series to the Rockton books, but I think readers are going to get the most out of the series by reading them all. There is an adage in the TV world where the addition of children to a series can be "jumping the shark", but I think letting kids into the new community allows for further character development among these well known characters. The pacing of this book was quick and compelling as always, and kept me turning pages. These books are pretty simple, but the characters and the setting keep bringing me back. Good fun.

I read book 1 to prepare for this ARC only to find out there are 7 more books of the previous series I needed to read! I am so glad that I did, I could not love this series more!! I love all the relationships in the series, even the tense ones! I can't wait to see what happens in the next installment and to see what kind of parents they are going to be!

Write fast, Kelley Armstrong! This is my 2nd series from her that I have enjoyed very much, she is now on my always-read list!

The Boy Who Cried Bear is the second book in the Haven's Rock series by Kelley Armstrong. A quick, fast-paced read, it jumps into the action from the start and you never know where it's going to end up.

We're back in Haven's Rock with Detective Casey Duncan and Sheriff Eric Dalton, where they've created an off-the-grid community. New to their little town is a family of three who are on the run from some bad people. The younger son Max, who is ten, is getting a little obsessed with the wilderness around them, learning everything he can from Dalton. Then he says he sees a Bear while out on a group hike, so Casey and Dalton start to investigate. In their search, they come upon their not-so-friendly neighbors, the miners. One of their men says he was attacked by a wild man in a bearskin hide. Now, it's up to them to figure out if there's a bear in their forest or a man, and when Max goes missing, it's a race against time to find their bear-man.

Bringing you in from the beginning, this was a quick read for me. You don't need to read Murder at Haven's Rock to read this, although I would highly suggest it, the book was great. There was just enough explanation of the background in this book to give a refresher of this isolated town. Well written with interesting and fully fleshed out characters, not everyone likes each other but they know they must work together in this small isolated town.

All in all, another great book from Kelley Armstrong. With a strong female main character, and a marriage that is a complete partnership, this is total girl power. If you enjoy Kelley's other books, then definitely give this series a try. I would recommend for fans of Christina Dodd, Anna Carlisle, or Heather Graham.

Thank you to @NetGalley and @Minotaur_Books for a digital copy for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.

A wonderful mystery with a bit of a darker twist. The mining encampment makes you wonder, giving many ideas for continuing the series. And many people dream of being Lilith with faithful Nero. All the characters and details are solid- pulling you into the story seeing it in your minds eye! I eagerly await more in this series!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Boy who Cried Bear is book 2 in this series and it is not recommended to read as a stand alone. It also ties in to Kelley's previous "Rockton" series which is recommended prior to starting this series.

I love this series and the writing style sucks me in every time. This one features a child getting kidnapped and the kidnapper does end up being a pedophile however, no harm comes to the child and he is found safe. I had a hard time because of that so this one took me a bit longer to get into. Still a great series and I will continue to read it but this one was a little harder to finish for me.

**This is book 2 in the Haven’s Rock series. It is a standalone story but there is a connecting story arc so I recommend that you start with book 1, Murder at Haven’s Rock.**

In the wilderness town of Haven’s Rock, Detective Casey Duncan and Sheriff Eric Dalton find solace in its familiar surroundings, reminiscent of their past in Rockton. As they settle into their roles, they recognize the importance of safety in the wilderness, especially for residents unfamiliar with its dangers. When Max, the town’s youngest member, alerts them to a possible bear threat with human-like eyes, Casey and Eric delve into investigating, wary of the peculiar events unfolding around them, including the discovery of a dead body.

Rating:
1. Plot and Storytelling: 3/5. The plot was well-developed and written, but it didn't quite resonate with me as much as other books in the Rockton/Havens rock series.

2. Characterization: 5/5 I adore Casey, Will, and Sheriff Dalton, and witnessing their growth throughout the series has been captivating. This book particularly marks significant changes for Casey and Dalton, and I'm eager to see how their journeys unfold together.

3. Writing Style: 5/5 Kelley Armstrong's writing style is a delight for me. It's wonderfully paced, engaging, and descriptive, and encompasses everything I look for in a book.

4. Originality: 4/5 The mystery in this book brings a unique twist, and the setting presents intriguing challenges for both the reader and the author. Overall, I found it refreshingly original.

5. Emotional Impact and Resolution: 3/5 While I thoroughly enjoyed the book, it didn't evoke strong emotions in me one way or another. However, I appreciated the well-wrapped-up resolution and look forward to seeing how the interpersonal relationships and character journeys unfold in the future.

Overall score: 4/5

If you enjoyed this book, I do recommend that you check out the beginning of the series in Stockton Kelley Armstrong also has a supernatural series, The Otherworld, that exhibits her strong writing and storytelling style.

The Boy Who Cried Bear left me disappointed. Despite the intriguing premise, the execution fell flat. Kelley Armstrong’s attempt to blend the expected mystery with the police procedural didn’t quite hit the mark. The characters lacked depth, the reasoning was out of nowhere, and the reader was left with an unsatisfying conclusion.

I craved more substance, energy, even Mathis’ humor. Unfortunately, the novel failed to deliver on any of the points that have been present in Armstrong’s previous books. Overall, a missed opportunity.

Solid mystery set in the deep forest, hiding a village of citizens not wanting to be found for various reasons. A boy goes missing. Is the family's past catching up with them; neighboring menacing miners; or the crazy bear-man?

The Boy Who Cried Bear is the next installation in Casey’s story. This installation faces new challenges and dynamics that keeps the storyline fresh and evolving from the Rockton series. As always, I enjoyed exploring the Yukon wilderness through the vivid descriptions. The cast of characters, features old and new faces who are hilarious, beloved, and frustrating in complicated ways. The mystery is solid with the continued growth of Dalton and Casey’s relationship. Looking forward to the next chapter.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for allowing me to read and review The Boy Who Cried Bear on NetGalley.

Published: 02/20/24

Stars: 2.5

This is book two in the Haven's Rock Series and my last. The story is simple and several times it was so familiar I thought I had read it. Alas, it was the first book in the series that I read. The outcome for both is the same. Armstrong and I are not a good combination.

The town is made up of a family that appears to be in witness protection, and with some other shady characters who she may be setting up for WP as well. Everyone has a story and there are a lot of secrets. This town is in the Yukon and there are gold miners to be dealt with too.

The subject matters are too deep for the writing.

There are patches of foul language.

First off, I really like the title. It's evocative and gives a hint of what the book is about. In the new hidden Yukon town of Haven's Rock (#2 in the Rockton spin-off series), the founders have expanded the singles-only requirement of the previous series to allow families and children. This is meant to both broaden the social environment and to serve a population that wouldn't have been provided with a haven in Rockton. Along with the positive aspects of the change in policy, however, come new challenges. These challenges are suddenly quite obvious when a 10-year-old boy, Max, goes missing after claiming to see a bear with a man's eyes.

Max is a combination of a naïve boy and a budding outdoorsman, so as Casey and Eric search for him there is actually hope that he is alive. A number of theories as to his disappearance emerge, ranging from an actual bear attack, to someone following his family up to Haven's Rock to exact revenge, to involvement by the mining organization located not too far off, to someone from Haven's Rock hiding secrets. Aspects of the search turn up clues that could fit many of these theories, and there are many twists and turns.

Armstrong transports the reader to the remote setting, and particularly to the forest surrounding Haven's Rock. The writing about the location is, as always in this series and the previous Rockton series, evocative. The characters are developing as the new series begins, and Armstrong provides enough background and detail to many of them to bring them alive. It would not be difficult nor disorienting to begin the series with this book. There is a kindness and sense of the underlying good of people that permeates Casey's musings throughout the series, in spite of the harshness of the setting and the fact that the books always involve pain, danger, and evil. The plotting is complex and engaging, and the pace picks up to a blistering speed at the end.

In addition to the search for Max, this book deals with a personal issue for Casey and Dalton. While that issue has an impact on the search, it primarily helps define the characters of the detective and sheriff. It also sets up a plot line for future books in the series. In fact, although the disappearance of Max is brought to a resolution in this book, the town's relationships with the miners and others in the forest outside of the town are left open enough to provide future fodder for the author. I am definitely looking forward to seeing where she goes with it in the third book of the series.

I really like this book. When I received the advanced copy, I didn’t realize it was part of a series. I read it anyway. It’s about a missing boy. Very intricate story. Very exciting too. I am going to read the rest. Available in the series. Thank you NetGalley, and publisher for providing this to me

The Boy Who Cried Bear is the second in the Haven's Rock series, which is a spinoff of the Rockton series following Detective Casey Duncan and Sheriff Eric Dalton.

Rockton was a town hidden in the Alaskan wilderness providing a refuge to people who needed to be able to get away from society for a few years and Haven's Rock has carried on the tradition of Rockton - this time under Casey, Eric, and their group's terms.

As the first set of residents are settling in, a group of them goes on a hike into the surrounding wilderness and Max, the town's youngest resident, sees a creature he describes the creature as a bear with human eyes stalking the hiking group in the woods. The alarm is raised and Casey and Eric investigate, turning up strange tracks. When Max goes missing and dead bodies begin to turn up around Haven's Rock, Casey and Eric become concerned that the location of their new town may not be a well-hidden and unoccupied as they had originally believed.

The Rockton series, and now the Haven's Rock series, are compelling and entertaining stories, layered on a fascinating premise. I highly recommend The Boy Who Cried Bear for fans of the Rockton/Haven's Rock series. While it could be read as a standalone novel, it works best as part of the series.