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.

A lovely play on the boy who called wolf - Haven Rock provides shelter for those seeking to refuge. With strict policies and rules. Max and his family are new residents - the first children as well as Latinos, they struggle against racism. Done so well showcasing human tendencies. Max spots a bear - a man bear. And disappears.
Dalton and Casey race to find him - struggling to maintain their respectful distance from the miners nearby. As their search continues, it's clear the miners are hiding something - and involved.
Great suspense, plot and character development.

Publication date: February 20, 2024

The Boy who cried Bear is the second book in Kelley Armstrong’s Haven’s Rock series. This is a spin off of the Rockton series where many of the characters come from.

Haven’s Rock is a hidden community in northern Yukon. It’s beyond off the grid and is meant that way. Detective Casey Duncan and her husband Eric Dalton are the leaders of the community. They welcome the residents who need to be forgotten from their real lives. Whether they are running from their past or witness protection wasn’t enough to keep them safe. The community of Haven’s Rock don’t ask many questions, they just accept you.

For the first time, Haven’s Rock accepts a mother Dana and her two young boy Carson a sullen teenager and Max a curious 10 year old. After witness protection failed them and they lost their husband/father to the criminals they were hiding from, they were sent to Haven’s Rock.

After Max claims he saw a Bear/Man on one of the community hikes, the team investigates the possibility of having a wild mountain man so close to their community. While they determine how to approach the search, Max goes missing and the hunt to find Max alive begins.

As Casey and Dalton continue to run into roadblocks every time they think they’re getting close, Max is waiting to be found and has to stay another night with his captor or alone in the deep northern Yukon woods. Time is running out and Max’s life depends on them figuring out who took him and where he is.

I really liked this second book of the series. You definitely need to read this series in order to really understand Haven’s Rock and the characters. I also loved the personal family drama that was overlaid around the mystery and loved the ending. It certainly leaves plenty of room for the next book. This a 4 star for me!

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#NetGalley #kelleyarmstrong #theboywhocriedbear

Haven’s Rock is a sanctuary built in the Yukon for people who need to disappear. Recent arrivals include Dana and her two sons, Max and Carson, who recently survived a home invasion. They were in witness protection, but when her husband was killed they came to Haven’s Rock. The community is run by Casey Duncan and her husband Eric Dalton. Max is ten years old and has been learning about the forest surrounding the compound from Eric. On a group walk Max spots a bear, but it is walking upright as it stalks them and it has human eyes. A bear poses a risk to the residents. As sheriff of the community, Eric organizes a hunt to find the bear, but their dog loses the scent. When Max sees the bear again from a perch in the compound he tries to get Carson to listen, but his brother ridicules him. By evening Max is missing, taken by a man disguised by a bear hide. While they search for Max, suspicions are also raised in the town. Dana believes that Gunnar, one of the town’s workers, is responsible. He befriended Max and was seen with him shortly before his disappearance. Louie, one of the residents, believes that it is Dana’s fault that Max disappeared. He falsely assumes that her husband was involved in something illegal and Max’s disappearance is caused by revenge. There is a mining camp in the forest that is heavily guarded. Casey and Eric must deal with the manager to gain access to search their land for Max. There is something about the camp that has Casey and Eric questioning whether they can be trusted. Finally they stumble upon a body that had been viciously attacked. The search intensifies before Max becomes another victim.

Casey and Eric created Haven’s Rock deep in the forests of the Yukon after a similar sanctuary had been compromised. While they have a close relationship, Casey is holding a secret from Eric. She has discovered that she is pregnant, but an attack and assault in her past left it questionable whether she could carry a child to term. While she deals with how to tell Eric, she must also contend with the physical changes she is experiencing and their effects on her ability to contribute to the search. Kelley Armstrong keeps the tension building as she switches from Max’s story to the desperate search for him. He has suffered trauma from the loss of his father, but his lessons from Eric in the forest play a part in his ability to survive. Armstrong’s story adds some unexpected twists that will have you glued to the pages. I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur for providing this book for my review.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. For being number two in a series I thought I would be missing more information, but this worked well for a standalone book. There were times where I thought things were a little drug out but that would be my only complaint. Great plot, multiple POV, and likeable characters.

The Boy Who Cried Bear by Kelley Armstrong is the second novel in the Haven’s Rock mystery series. Set in a remote, secret village in the Yukon, Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton, have their hands full when a young boy goes missing and reports of an irregular bear led them to suspect foul play. A gripping tale perfect for a cold winter’s day.

Everyone is settling into the new town, including newcomers, and this time there are children. Because the area is still new and with discovery of the miners, the townsfolk have been limited to organized walks in the surrounding woods.

Max, the town’s youngest resident, has been learning to track thanks to Eric’s tutelage. When he reports of a strange bear walking on its hind-legs, it alarms Casey & Eric. When Max spots the bear again, he runs off into the woods to track it and goes missing. But the townsfolk don’t know that, and soon accusations are made. The tale that unfolds hooked me with the mystery, daily life and troubles they face.

Armstrong has created quite the spin-off, welcoming both newcomers and those like me who devoured the Rockton series. We are meeting new players, dangers and allies. The missing person’s case was intense, with plenty of twists and foul play.

While Casey & Eric are married, an unexpected complication has unrisen. I loved this thread and look forward to learning more.

Fans of isolated small-towns, danger in the wilderness and mystery thrillers will find a lot to love about the well-paced, action-packed story/series.

Ahoy there me mateys!  If ye have not read the Rockton series, then I do not recommend that ye start here.  This spin-off builds off of the first series and honestly, I do believe a new reader would have a hard time because of the history and interpersonal relationship drama that feeds directly from the first series into this one.

I loved loved loved this book.  On a hike, ten year old Max believes that he saw a bear with human eyes.  Casey and Eric, the town leaders, feel that Max is not quite clear on what he saw due to his recent trauma.  Though a bear is nothing to take lightly. Of course life in Haven's Rock gets more complicated when Max goes missing.

Aye, this series continues to be excessive with animal encounters and has silliness but this was such outright fun.  It matched me mood exactly.  I loved Max as a major character and enjoyed getting chapters from his point-of-view.  The interactions of Casey and Eric with the miners was also fun.  I thought that overall the solution to Max's situation was well done.  I particularly like that Max had some agency - unlike many of the adults throughout the troubled town's past.

But ultimately, it is watching the recurring characters evolve that continue to make this series delightful.  There were a couple of particular episodes of Casey and also with miners that suggest intriguing future possibilities.  Can we also please have more of Mathias?  I need the next one!  Arrr!

I sometimes forget how much I love this series. But, once I started reading I could not put this book down. This is the second book in the Haven's Rock series, which followed the Rockton series. When the Rockton series ended I was so sad, because the series was so good. Then the Haven's Rock series started. It is wonderful to be immersed in the world of Casey and Eric and all the odd characters who make up their small isolated town.

This story revolves around Max who is a 10 year old boy who is kidnapped. The entire town tries to determine what happened to Max with Casey, Eric, and Anders leading the search. The plot is very similar to many of the books in this series, and maybe that is what is comforting about this book. You have faith in where the author is going, and you are just along for the ride.

The best thing about this book are the characters. The main characters are well developed and I truly enjoy stepping into a part of their lives. The secondary characters are interesting also, and many times because you really don't have a clue who they really are. The setting of the Yukon perhaps is the main character, and the descriptions of this wilderness are very well done.

I will continue to read the rest of the books in this series and hope they are as well written as this one is.

Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur for the ARC

#TheBoyWhoCriedBear:

Thank you always to @minotaur_books and @macmillan.audio partner, for my gifted copies!

My husband and I both love Kelley Armstrong, so usually I’ll read it and let him read it when I get done. His exact words after I told him I was done were, “man, you haven’t finished a book that fast in a while” I NEEDED this Casey Duncan book y’all.

I am in the firm belief that you cannot read these as stand-alones. I think you had to read the Rockton series to truly understand the dynamics that have now come to play in Havens Rock. I also feel like you’ve had to read the first Havens Rock to understand who their neighbors are, what their intentions are, kind of this new understanding of their community. I love these books so much, and Armstrong gives you so much in each book that I don’t think coming in on a whim really helps you truly understand the journey.

Casey’s big dilemna was so good. I was not expecting it and I’m so attached to these characters. Is it a major spoiler? Yes. While she’s over here trying to figure out her dilemna, we’ve got big problems with a missing kid. I was sucked in and did not want to sleep until I knew everyone was safe and sound.

Audio always 10/10. Thérèse Plummer, always going to make it a hit. I always will recommend the audio because Plummer keeps me on the edge of my seat.

Overall, dare I say my favorite Rockton/Havens Rock book? It is! I loved the mystery and the internal conflict happening. We are one step closer into understanding the neighbors and I can’t wait to see what’s next!

Out tomorrow.

QOTD: Name a favorite author.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

This is book two of a break off series featuring Haven Rock. I loved the original series and highly recommend starting there to get full character development and background story. This book is still enjoyable even if you didn't start with the Rockton origin series.

This book still focuses on our main couple Casey and Eric (who I will forever ship!) and the newly established town. There are some of our past residents who make an appearance but most on page are the newbies. Of course, we have murder, mystery and secrets...this time our story surrounds a missing boy who sees a bear with human eyes. That is the start of the suspense filled storyline trying to answer all the questions and unravel the mystery of the here and now plus the past lives of the residents. There is a side story dealing with the personal life of our married couple who I absolutely adore and every scene with the two of them.

Another strong installment and I can't wait to see what happens next.

4 stars

Haven’s Rock, the town founded to replace Rockton, is now up and running with Casey and her husband, Eric in charge. Many of the original inhabitants from Rockton are now settled in this new town as well as a few newcomers. Among the new families is a woman and her two children. The youngest, ten-year-old Max, has adapted very well to this new environment. Because of its isolation in the Yukon, hikes are conducted through the forest surrounding the town. On one of these hikes, Max spots what he thinks is a bear except he swears it has human eyes. Then a dead body is discovered and Max goes missing. The town is put on lockdown as Casey and Eric search for the lost boy with the aid of their dog, Storm.

The Boy Who Cried Bear is the second in the Haven’s Rock series and it is one hell of a page turner. It is well-plotted with the narration split between Casey and Max. There’s a great deal going on here with plenty of suspense, action, and twists and turns. It was fun to reunite with many of the old characters from Rockton as well as meeting new characters, both likeable and not, but all interesting and well fleshed out. There is a cliffhanger at the end but, honestly, I’m okay with that because it means there will soon be another addition to this series and I can’t wait to see where it takes us in the future.

Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review

#TheBoyWhoCriedBear by #KelleyArmstrong is a decent enough book at least for the amount that I read.
Honestly I DNFd it a little less than halfway through. Set in a community isolated in the mountains everyone that lives there is running or hiding from something. When a mother and her sons comet to stay it seems danger has decided to follow. The youngest son swears he has seena grizzly bear more than once in the woods, but the second time he see's it he ins't alone. The only problem is that the man who is with him didn't see everything he did, didn't see the human eyes within the bears face.
Now the boy is missing and must be found, was it human or animal that abducted him?


Thanks to #Netgalley for the chance to read #TheBoyWhoCriedBear in return for a fair and honest review.

This is the first book I've read by this author and while I was able to keep up with the many characters, I have a feeling it would have been a richer read if I would have also read the first book. That aside, the premise of a secret town in the Yukon for people in need of remaining hidden is intriguing. There are multiple layers to how things work in the town, including the secrecy of the extent of Detective Casey Duncan and Sheriff Eric Dalton's involvement.

The townspeople have been warned that there are dangers in the woods and that they are not to go into them alone. Then Max goes missing after he went into the woods alone, and the search is on to find him. There is plenty of danger as Casey and Eric search for Max and some very confusing clues, including the fact their dog loses his scent. Thankfully, Max has been taught some survival skills which helps him survive. But even when it seems the case is solved, there are more surprising twists.

Thank you to NetGalley, St Martin's Press, and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.