4.5stars—THE BOY WHO CRIED BEAR is the second instalment in Kelley Armstrong’s contemporary adult HAVEN’S ROCK mystery, thriller series set in the fictional town of Haven’s Rock, Yukon a spin off from the author’s ROCKTON series focusing on Detective Casey Duncan and her husband Sheriff Eric Dalton.

SOME BACKGROUND: Rockton Yukon did not exist on any map, and the residents all had a questionable past, fake names and false histories. Most were once considered to be white collar crimes but with increasing regularity, hardened criminals have somehow paid their way into Rockton, seeking sanctuary against future prosecution, a safe place for two years before seeking asylum somewhere else. A serial killer destroyed the people and ultimately the town of Rockton Yukon, and with the help of some of their former friends and a big influx of cash, Detective Casey Duncan and her husband Sheriff Eric Dalton, begin the task of building a new town, known as Haven’s Rock, a town that will expose our couple to more murders and questionable inhabitants.

Told from first person perspective (Casey Duncan) and several omniscient third person perspectives including Max, THE BOY WHO CRIED BEAR follows in the wake of the possible abduction of a ten year old boy. Out for a walk in the Yukon wilderness, ten year old Max claims he saw a man-bear, a possible wild man but no one believes his story. Desperate to prove everyone wrong, Max goes into the forest alone, and doesn’t return, leading the people of Haven’s Rock to believe one of their own may have taken the ten year old boy. A search ensues under the direction of Detective Casey Duncan and her husband Sheriff Eric Dalton but a missing boy is the least of their worries. A dead man from a neighboring mining camp is just the beginning, and now there is a possibility of a killer on the loose.

THE BOY WHO CRIED BEAR is a slow building story of mystery and suspense. Like most of the townsfolk, we no very little about the individuals who have sought refuge in Haven’s Rock, but the possibility of a another killer in their midst means someone else may have lied about the who, how and why. The members of an all-male mining camp are suspect but when lines are drawn, Casey and Eric begin to suspect a much bigger issue at play.

Kelley Armstrong pulls the reader into a story of power and control, madness and obsession, family and friendships. The premise is dramatic and intense. There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, determined, and desperate characters, not all of whom will survive.



THE READING CAFE: https://www.thereadingcafe.com/the-boy-who-cried-bear-havens-rock-2by-kelley-armstrong-review/


GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5736175316


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B&N (Sandy_thereadingcafe) 4.5stars—THE BOY WHO CRIED BEAR is the second instalment in Kelley Armstrong’s contemporary adult HAVEN’S ROCK mystery, thriller series set in the fictional town of Haven’s Rock, Yukon a spin off from the author’s ROCKTON series focusing on Detective Casey Duncan and her husband Sheriff Eric Dalton.

SOME BACKGROUND: Rockton Yukon did not exist on any map, and the residents all had a questionable past, fake names and false histories. Most were once considered to be white collar crimes but with increasing regularity, hardened criminals have somehow paid their way into Rockton, seeking sanctuary against future prosecution, a safe place for two years before seeking asylum somewhere else. A serial killer destroyed the people and ultimately the town of Rockton Yukon, and with the help of some of their former friends and a big influx of cash, Detective Casey Duncan and her husband Sheriff Eric Dalton, begin the task of building a new town, known as Haven’s Rock, a town that will expose our couple to more murders and questionable inhabitants.

Told from first person perspective (Casey Duncan) and several omniscient third person perspectives including Max, THE BOY WHO CRIED BEAR follows in the wake of the possible abduction of a ten year old boy. Out for a walk in the Yukon wilderness, ten year old Max claims he saw a man-bear, a possible wild man but no one believes his story. Desperate to prove everyone wrong, Max goes into the forest alone, and doesn’t return, leading the people of Haven’s Rock to believe one of their own may have taken the ten year old boy. A search ensues under the direction of Detective Casey Duncan and her husband Sheriff Eric Dalton but a missing boy is the least of their worries. A dead man from a neighboring mining camp is just the beginning, and now there is a possibility of a killer on the loose.

THE BOY WHO CRIED BEAR is a slow building story of mystery and suspense. Like most of the townsfolk, we no very little about the individuals who have sought refuge in Haven’s Rock, but the possibility of a another killer in their midst means someone else may have lied about the who, how and why. The members of an all-male mining camp are suspect but when lines are drawn, Casey and Eric begin to suspect a much bigger issue at play.

Kelley Armstrong pulls the reader into a story of power and control, madness and obsession, family and friendships. The premise is dramatic and intense. There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, determined, and desperate characters, not all of whom will survive.



THE READING CAFE: https://www.thereadingcafe.com/the-boy-who-cried-bear-havens-rock-2by-kelley-armstrong-review/


GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5736175316


AMAZON COM: https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R3RQZZT279IBCG?ref=pf_ov_at_pdctrvw_srp


BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/1417584160


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This is book two in this series. I would say it’s as good as the first one. It has two mysteries to solve.
It’s a fast paced book which I did think dragged at times. Definitely recommend this author’s books
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Great suspense with an enjoyable cast of characters and well flowing plot.

I voluntarily read an advanced copy.

I haven’t read the other books in the series but was able to glean enough Information from what was provided to sufficiently create the backstory.
It’s a unique community deep in the Yukon and it’s unlike any other community I’ve read about in fiction.
Casey and Dalton are the law enforcement team and they diligently track and probe for missing Max.
I was intrigued by the bear man angle and couldn’t wait to find out who was behind it.
The ending is good and left me wondering what happens in the next book.

In book 2, our characters are trying to get more settled, even though their timeline has been sped up significantly for their first new residents, which for the first time includes children. When the youngest, ten year old Max, first sees a "bear-man" and then disappears, Casey is thrust into a situation even more nightmarish than usual, with her own frailties on display.

Each story allows for more growth in Casey and Eric's relationship, as well as allowing to get deeper into the difficulties in a community such as theirs. Her determination and deductive powers are important in solving the mystery, but her heart and concern for the people in her care take the community policing to a special level. I cannot wait to continue following their story.

Reading the books in this series (and the series it follows) is like watching a serial television show. You are just getting a bit of the life of the people of Haven Rock. The story builds the characters from before, brings in new characters, and some situations are solved. Others will continue on through another book or many books. Truly understanding the danger of living in the middle of a wild forest is hard to really relate to. I live in a forest and I know to be careful. I can still not fully appreciate the danger.

The story this time centers on children and families. That's new because those were never allowed in Rockton. Unfortunately, we lost some of my favorite characters in the move. I'm still warming to our new folks. That's the thing, though. Most of these new people do not appreciate the conditions they agreed to live by and often they aren't held to the standard. Maybe it would be boring if they were.

Still, can't wait to read the next installment. There are some newbies I'd like to get to know a little better.

Kelley Armstrong's captivating storytelling had me hooked when I discovered her thrilling Rockton series on Audible, and I have since completed the entire series, and am now moving on to this exciting spin-off, Haven's Rock. While this latest novel can be read as a stand-alone, one will truly appreciate the depth of the characters and their backgrounds by starting with the Rockton series. Fans of Armstrong will not be disappointed with this new addition to the series.

In this sequel, we are introduced to new characters and a compelling new challenge for main characters Casey and Eric. IE: The addition of children in Haven's Rock. This addition adds a new level of urgency and suspense as one child goes missing, leading to a gripping search that kept me on the edge of my seat.

The secluded Yukon setting adds to the suspense of the novel, and Armstrong's expert storytelling weaves a tale full of twists and turns that kept me captivated throughout. The development of the characters, particularly Casey and Eric, and the return of familiar faces from the original series add depth to the story and keep readers engaged.

While the main mysteries in this sequel are resolved, Armstrong leaves tantalizing threads for the next installment, promising more thrilling adventures to come. I can't wait to read more from this series!

Overall, Kelley Armstrong once again delivers an outstanding read with Haven's Rock. Her skillful storytelling and engaging characters make this novel a must-read for fans of the series.

THE BOY WHO CRIED BEAR is yet another strong offering from Kelley Armstrong. The community and potential for tension continues to rise at newly settled Haven's Rock. I'm excited to see where the storyline with the neighboring "mining operation" goes in the longer term.
It's always so fun to revisit these characters, and I finished this book in one very satisfying sitting.

The Boy Who Cried Bear is the second book in Kelley Armstrong's thrilling series Haven's Rock, which is a spinoff of her hit series Rockon. I started Rockton in the middle of the series, yet I immediately fell in love with the characters and location. I was devastated when Rockton came to an end, but was thrilled to discover that Casey, Eric and Storm would continue anew in a new sanctuary location of their own. If you haven't read any of the prior books, the mystery stands alone here, so you won't be lost. But I can promise that you'll want to go back and see all your missed. Luckily I was able to start Haven's Rock from the very beginning.

Deep in the Yukon wilderness, Haven's Rock is a refuge for people who need to disappear. Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton, set up their new town their way when it was time for them to leave Rockton. It already feels like home to them. They know how to navigate the woods and deal with the various wildlife and dangers present, but many of the citizens do not. That's why no one is supposed to wander off into the woods on their own. Max, a ten-year-old boy, is the youngest resident of the town. He's being taught how to track animals by Eric, so when he believes a bear is following a hiking party, everyone is alarmed. Weird thing is, Max believes the bear has human eyes. Casey and Eric take the threats seriously, especially since odd things are happening in the area. Suddenly Max disappears, a dead body shows up....and just what is going on with the secretive mining operation that's close to Haven's Rock?

This book started out with a bang and never let up on the mystery and suspense! Max, his brother and mother are the first family of residents with children. When the boys' father is killed and mother is shot, they seek refuge in Haven's Rock. Max is settling in, his older brother hates it and their mother is dealing with suspicions from other residents. When the boy goes missing, Casey and Eric don't know if their decision to allow children will result in the boy's death. Was Max lost in the woods, was he taken by the "bear-man" he and others reported seeing, or was the disappearance something even more sinister? The suspense is ramped up with the discovery of a dead body and its association with the miners located near Haven's Rock, who are a rather secretive bunch that Casey and Eric greatly mistrust. The entire tale was exciting, but as with Rockton, it's the characters in Haven's Rock that are the biggest draw in this series. Casey and Eric are two of my all-time favorite characters. Individually they are both interesting, likable and engaging, but their magic occurs when they are together. There is mutual love, respect and trust there, and they don't smother each other's independence. Here they are dealing with a possible medical issue for Casey from the physical sexual assault years ago that was her impetus in seeking refuge at Rockton. I just adore the witty reparte they have and their obvious love for each other. Rounding out their little family is Storm, a Newfoundland dog they have trained to be a tracker. This young dog has a personality all her own; even if you're not a big dog fan, you will be charmed by Storm. Some of the residents from Rockton moved to Haven's Rock with Casey and Eric; my favorite among them is Deputy Will Anders; they can always trust Will to have their backs. New characters who appeared in the first Haven's Rock book are back for more, most notably Lillith (a wildlife photographer) and her pet wolf Nero, Yolanda (their benefactor's granddaughter) and Gunnar (who worked on the construction crew and is now...well...seems to be the town's go-to love for the lonely women in town). Max and his family are a welcome edition to the series. It's going to about kill me to have to wait another year for the next Haven's Rock novel; there are sure to be surprises in store!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

The Boy Who Cried Bear is book two in the Rockton spinoff, where Casey and Eric have started their own refuge town, Haven’s Rock, after Rockton was dissolved. The series is best read in order as there’s a lot of history even though each book has a separate mystery that’s solved by the end.

I have loved the Rockton series from the start! A town off-the-grid, hidden, a shelter for someone when conventional justice has failed, such as a victim of stalking, an abusive partner, wrongfully accused, etc., While Rockton supposedly vetted the people before granting sanctuary, only allowing the innocent, non-violent in, we found out that wasn’t always the case.

In this installment, there are several candidates that Emily has sent their way, and unlike Rockton, there are couples and even families in the mix. One family is Dana and her two sons, thirteen-year-old Carson, and ten-year-old, Max. Dana was shot, and their father was murdered. On one of their hikes, Max spots a “bear man” stalking their party. This is the second time Max has seen this and the first time there was little evidence to corroborate his account and so he’s hesitant to even say anything, but another in their group, Gunnar, also spots something. Is there a bear stalking the residents or is something more dangerous afoot?

There’s a personal issue that comes up for Casey and Eric, but they must put that on the backburner while they have such a serious, time-sensitive situation.

This was a disturbing case that had me on the edge of my seat! As usual Casey and Eric filter the nonsense out and get to the heart of the matter. I love that Casey and Eric work so well together, mostly a step ahead of nasty people. The revelations about their location set up a potentially dangerous situation as they try and make Haven’s Rock a refuge for the vulnerable! I absolutely love this series and I’m eager to find out what happens next!

I alternately listened to and read Murder at Haven’s Rock and recommend either version! Thérèse Plummer narrates the audio version, as with the previous books, and she performs all voices, male and female wonderfully! She’s one of my all-time favorite narrators and her performance here is perfection! I listened at my usual 1.5x normal speed.

I received a complimentary ARC copy of The Boy Who Cried Bear by Kelley Armstrong from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press /Minotaur Books in order to read and give an honest review.

… a well-written, meticulously plotted, entertaining mystery with multifaceted characters set in a quirky town. The book has it all murder, secrets, corruption, mystery along with 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 hide. Built by a wealthy benefactor, Haven Rock is so small it is a perfect place to hide, and it was intended to be just that. When Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton start bringing people in no questions are asked, they live in close quarters and although consisting of vastly different personalities, but 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 failed to protect them leaving Dana widowed and severely injured to care for her children. As the only children in Haven’s Rock Max thrives, much to his brother’s dismay. Max loves the wilderness and spending time getting trained in how to survive in the woods by a group led by Eric and Casey. When 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 are convinced it is just a bear, but it is still concerning, as it is out of the bear’s normal behavior.

When Max has a fight 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 as the investigation remains fruitless, strange notes appear implying that someone from Dana’s past has come back to exact revenge. The more they dive into the case the more the leads point in different directions including to the town’s neighbors, a corrupt mining company with a mysterious facility secured by armed guards.

Overall, The Boy Who Cried Wolf is a well-written, meticulously plotted, entertaining mystery with multifaceted characters set in a quirky town. The book has it all murder, secrets, corruption, mystery along with plenty of suspense and atmosphere that keeps readers turning the pages into the wee hours of the morning, I would highly recommend it! I look forward to reading more from Kelley Armstrong’s Haven Rock series.

In the past few months I’ve been reading and watching as many mystery/thrillers that take place in wintery remote communities. French and Polish mountains. Yukon Territory. Alaska. The setting adds as much character to the stories and the thrilling mystery as the actual characters do. Of course, what started the trend for me was Kelley Armstrong’s Rockton novels (Seven novels in the series). While that series ended, the same characters moved a distance away but were still in the Yukon Territory in Armstrong’s new series, Haven’s Rock. Today is the book birthday for the newest novel in the series, The Boy Who Cried Bear.

In setting up their new town, Casey and Eric made the major decision to allow families into the community. This was made, in part, because they thought that in the future they would like to start their own family. Of course, allowing families comes with a new set of problems. Like what happens when a 10 year old boy disappears, especially a savvy one who knew he wasn’t supposed to go into the woods when there is a grizzly bear on the prowl? Did someone take him that was affiliated with their problems pre-witness protection? Or, is he lost in the very wild, dense woods?

While the mystery adventure was intriguing–as always with a Kelley Armstrong novel–I found The Boy Who Cried Bear to have a bit too much navel gazing over Casey and Eric’s domestic situation for my liking. I just wasn’t feeling the warm cuddlies that were intended so those parts of the novel, which occurred several times, were boring to me and made me wonder if that would carry on in any future books and whether I really wanted to continue on this journey with them. Is the resistance because couples who are at odds with each other provide a more interesting dynamic?

Apart from my dread of domestic bliss ( 😏 ), I did enjoy the story. The mystery possessed a twisty twisted ending that demonstrated how lawless isolated areas can be and that greed is a potent motivation in most places.

Many thanks to Minotaur Books for sending me a copy.

Kelley Armstrong is one of my favorite authors so I was thrilled to receive not only an e-ARC but a physical ARC of this as well! It came in handy because I could not put it down!

The Boy Who Cried Bear is the second book in the Haven’s Rock series which is a spin-off to the Rockton series. While not required, I highly recommend reading that first to really get to know these amazing characters.

Haven's Rock is a well-hidden town in the Yukon that serves as a refuge for people who need to disappear. One day while on a hike, ten year old Max claims to have seen a bear with human eyes. Casey and Eric are unsure what to make of this but decide to search the forest as they know how dangerous a bear can be.
When Max goes missing and a dead body turns up, time is of the essence. Tension in the town is at an all-time high as Casey and Eric must determine if Max was abducted by an outsider or one of their own residents.

I absolutely love these characters so it was great being back with Casey and Eric as they tried to solve the mystery of the bear-man. At the same time, Casey is struggling with frequent bouts of nausea which raises further concerns about her health and future.

Once again, Armstrong has delivered a well-written, compelling mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat. Alternating between Casey and Max’s POVs, we’re given insight into what Max was going through while Casey was searching for him. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough!

I can’t wait to find out what the future holds for Casey, Eric and their community.
The storyline with the miners has me so intrigued that I need book 3 in my hands ASAP!

(4.5) I got hooked on the original series (Casey Duncan/ Rockton) through Audible, with Therese Plummer. This is the second series a spinoff. Casey and her husband Eric have started their own "Rockton" and children are allowed. Haven's Rock is in the Yukon away from civilization. Max sees a bear.. or does he. Kelley Armstrong never disappoints, but for me I could have done with a few pages less of Casey's thought process. Intriguing mystery with characters you care about. Twists and turns. I am intrigued with Gunnar is he going to be more bad then good, what is his plan. Love hearing more and more of everyone's back story and looking forward to see where this series is going. Thank you for the arc. I freely volunteer my thoughts and opinions. #TheBoyWhoCriedBear #HavensRock #KelleyArmstrong #StMartinsPress #Minotaur #NetGalley

Also left at Facebook, Kobo, X and Pineterest

I have read a few of Kelley Armstrong's books and I just can't get enough of them. This was another well written and entertaining mystery read. This is the second book in this series but I felt like it was fine in a standalone but I will be going back and reading the first book as well. This was a fast paced book for me. The characters were well written and I enjoyed them. This was definitely a page turner and the ending was so good!! I can't wait to read more books from Kelley. I would highly recommend this book and her other books as well!


Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for allowing me to read this ARC in advance for my honest opinion.

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart


Review copy was received from Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I am always so excited and ready to read books by Kelley Armstrong, especially the Rockton series now Haven's Rock series which is a spin-off as well as a direct continuation of the previous series. Our point of view has been and is Casey. I personally would start with the previous series because of the background and character development but also because it is amazing! Haven's Rock is a new town with Casey and Eric along with a few others as the owners, making a fresh start and hopefully better situation than Rockton.

Haven's Rock is set up to provide shelter for people who made a mistake and need a fresh start. An example of this is people in domestic abuse situations, or the type of folks who need witness protection. Casey and Eric make choices with such kindness and integrity. Now for the first time, they have children in their town.

Max and Carson are young boys who have suffered their father being murdered and their mother shot. Max is smart and adjusting as well as he can; he loves to learn about the wilderness animals and sounds. Carson is angry and mostly plays video games. On a supervised hike, Max sees a bear. Then a few days later, he and Gunnar see a bear except the bear is on two feet and has human eyes. Casey and Eric believe him but his brother makes fun of him. Next thing, Max is missing.

Casey and Eric spend their time hunting for a bear, looking for Max, dealing with their "neighbors," and having some personal changes in their lives. The town's residents are not always helpful, even when a child is missing, so they also have to handle that part of the situation.

My respect and love for them grows in each book. Casey and Eric are hard working, and better people than I could be at times. I'm SO excited to see how things will go forward to them as the town is more settled.

Haven's Rock is a sanctuary of sorts -- one where people can go with things in their past that aren't held against them. Think witness protection or just bad bad luck. The town is run by the people who live there and they have built their own little world that is their safe zone. This safe zone is threatened multiple times and multiple ways in The Boy Who Cried Bear.

Max and his family were formerly in a witness protection program that went bad, and now they are recovering in Haven's Rock. One of Max's favorite things to do is to go into the forest. When out hiking one day, he sees what the thinks is a bear -- but a strange bear with human eyes. When Max goes missing days later, the search is on for the ten year old and the bear.

Complicating everything is the mining village in close proximity. They are very secretive and want to dictate just what and where Eric Dalton (the town sheriff) and Casey (his detective wife) are doing to search for the boy. I just really liked these two characters -- the way they interact, how they solve the mystery, and how they deal with some personal life things that happen to them along the way. Oh, and their dog Storm is pretty awesome too!

I had no idea that there was a first book in this series, so this one reads well as a standalone. It took a few pages to understand who was who, but that wasn't a big deal. I was hooked on this story early on and found every single free moment to read this to its conclusion in just a day or two. The story held my interest throughout and now I want to go back and read that first book in this series.

The Boy Who Cried Bear is an action-packed mystery set in a secluded northern location. While this mystery is sort of concluded by the final pages, I can sense there are many more stories that could come out of Haven's Rock, so I'm putting this on my favorites of 2024 and going to keep my eyes out for more in this series. Loved it!

Oh my gosh, I have been eagerly waiting for the second entry - The Boy Who Cried Bear - in Kelley Armstrong's Haven's Rock series.

Now, you could read the book as a stand alone, but you'd be missing some great tales in the books before this title.

What is Haven's Rock? It's a well-hidden town surrounded by forest, way up north in the Yukon. It's a refuge for those who need to disappear. Which opens the door to so many plots!

All of the favourite characters are back - notably Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton. The core group of supporting players are also back. But, there are some new faces as well. And for the first time, a child has been granted a place in the town.

Max is only ten. When he goes into the forest, he thinks he has seen a bear. But when he goes back to town and tells everyone that the bear had human eyes, he is told not to tell tales. Yeah, you can see where the plot is gong to go, right?

Here's the things that I love about this series. The plot is never a straight road, instead there are new ideas, events, deductions and more that change that road into a winding path to the final answers. I change my opinion on whodunit with each new revelation. I really enjoy how Casey and Dalton think things through, coming up with new avenues. They're adept in reading both people and the wilds. They're a couple in both work and at home. Their personal lives move forward with each book.

The idea of that town off the grid is somewhat tantalizing. What would it be like to walk away from it all? Armstrong gives us a look at her idea how it might look - and how it would function. There has to be some structure. And there will always be someone who says differently.

There's answers to the goings on in this latest, but the door is open for what's going to happen next. I can't wait!

I really like Armstrong's writing. Her books make for addictive reading. So, my advice would be to clear a day on your calendar, hunker down and make a visit to Haven's Rock. An easy five stars!

The addition of new characters to the exclusive community of Haven’s Rock lent an aura of mystery, suspense and realism to an already good series. Casey and Eric have their work cut out for them when a bear that may or may not be Sasquatch appears to multiple inhabitants. The plot thickens when one of the new young residents disappears. I enjoyed reading about all of the regular characters, especially the wise and sarcastic Isabelle. The plot was fast paced with constant action and unexpected twists. I enjoyed the story and the visit to Haven’s Rock, although the scenario of a non-bear bear was somewhat out there, the author made it work and made the story interesting and actually believable. The best thing that can be said about this book is “don’t miss it” and “expect the unexpected.” Good from beginning to end with some really tense moments and high drama!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Happy Pub Day to Kelley Armstrong’s latest Haven’s Rock novel The Boy Who Cried Bear. In this installment, the first residents of Haven’s Rock, the secret community in the Canadian Yukon designed to provide safe haven to those running from their pasts, have arrived. Unlike Rockton (the original community on which Haven’s Rock is based), they are admitting families with children which means a new way of operating things. When 10 year old Max reports seeing a strange bear with human eyes, the town is mixed on whether or not to believe him. Then Max goes missing and Casey and Dalton realize something is definitely afoot.

The Rockton series was my first introduction to Kelley Armstrong as an author and she is now truly one of my favorites. She can seemingly write anything—current day thrillers, historical mysteries, time travel romances—she even has a rom com coming out later this year. While The Boy Who Cried Bear could be considered the 9th book in a long running series, Armstrong still manages to keep things fresh and interesting. The Haven’s Rock reboot has allowed her to start over with engaging new characters and new threats. Here we are starting to get a sense of how the mining outfit that emerged nearby is more than it seems (and potentially a problem for Haven’s Rock longer term). I also really liked how Armstong manages to keep Casey and Dalton’s (now well established) relationship from getting stagnate (although to say more would be to reveal definite spoilers). I am certainly looking forward to seeing how the series progresses!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s for the e-ARC; all thoughts and opinions are my own.