Someone drugs and attacks a resident of Haven’s Rock but they are able to escape and let people know. There is evidence that it is someone from town. Shortly after a snowstorm comes and they find a frozen body in the forest. From there it is a race to figure out if it was a murder and if so who was involved all while worried about Casey's pregnancy and the residents of Haven’s Rock. Casey is eight months pregnant at the start of this book and this is the first heavy investigation in months.

Wow. These books just keep getting better and better. Till the last moment I was even second guessing and praying that people I love were not involved. Casey manages to walk the line between being too stubborn and making practical sense in terms of working the case while pregnant. Kelley Armstrong is so good at plotting these mysteries and making us love and question characters we think we totally trust. I think this one left me the most on the edge.

Once again Thérèse Plummer is such a great narrator. I felt every emotion she conveyed and her top notch narration just brought the story to life all over again. This crime was darker than most from this series and every chapter was more tense and you really feel that in the audiobook as well. You don't technically have to read these in order but it really helps if you do just to see how far they have come in terms of this new community and the residents we have come to care for.

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books| Macmillan Audio for sharing this book with me in exchange for my honest review.

Kelley Armstrong’s Haven’s Rock series is full of mystery, suspense, and atmosphere. The third book in the series proves this storyline keeps getting better and better. This is a spin-off continuation series after the Rockton series ended after seven books. The unique setting adds another layer to the tone of the book. Haven’s Rock is a hidden town built somewhere in the Yukon wilderness of Canada. It’s a place for people to disappear and a sanctuary for those that need a refuge. Individuals are carefully researched before being allowed to become a resident of the community.

Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton met in the original town of Rockton and are feeling at home in their new town. While they know how to navigate the woods, many of their town’s residents don’t. Casey and Dalton are starting a family and with Casey a month away from having her baby, they’re hoping for calm until after the baby is born.

However, one of the town’s residents is drugged and dragged into the nearby woods. She’s saved when someone hears her screams. As Casey and Dalton investigate the assault a snowstorm hits. When a frozen body is found and conflicting accounts are given of the woman’s last movements, the two wonder who they can trust in their supposedly safe haven.

Casey and Eric are well-developed characters with plenty of depth. Casey is driven, a great investigator, and frequently finds dead bodies. She’s a good listener, independent, empathetic, and understanding. Eric is a fantastic tracker, needs alone time in the woods occasionally, is truthful and intelligent, and asserts himself when needed. He also gets short-tempered and blunt with annoying or bothersome people at times, and isn’t good at small talk. He’s also extremely protective of Casey as the baby gets nearer. As always, it’s great to renew our friendship with Deputy Will Andrews, Casey’s sister April - a neurosurgeon functioning as the town’s doctor - and many other characters.

As always, complex characters, one or more mysteries, and excellent world-building are the backdrop for this well-written and entertaining novel set in an off-the-grid sanctuary town. The prologue immediately captures reader’s attention and pulls them into the storyline. As the story progresses, Casey and Dalton realize that they’ve become somewhat complacent and need to relook at procedures to ensure everyone’s safety. It will be interesting to see the direction these changes take in future books. Weather and isolation continue to play a role in each novel. The author does a great job of equalizing the relationships and the mysteries to make each novel more impactful. The one thing I wasn’t entirely satisfied with is a discussion Casey has at the end of the story with one of the residents.

Overall, this is an intriguing and suspenseful thriller that’s full of murder, trust, secrets, lies, and deceptions. While this can be read as a stand-alone, readers will gain a better understanding of the key characters and their backgrounds if they read the Rockton series first as well as the earlier two books in this series.

St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books and Kelley Armstrong provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for February 18, 2025. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

I was a bit disappointed with this third book in the series . The book felt kinda repetitive with the references to Rockton and trying to remind us who all the characters in town are ( I feel like this series needs a character list with brief descriptions in the beginning or something ), and Casey’s pregnancy seemed to have taken a front seat in the story pushing the actual mystery to the back seat

Book 3 in a series, but still a great read! I want to go back and read the first two books just so I know more about the characters, but despite this being my first "toe dip" into Kelley Armstrong's work and the location of Haven's Rock/characters of (detective) Casey Duncan and her hubby (Sheriff) Eric Dalton I was drawn in!

Haven Rock #3. Hidden deep in the Yukon wilderness Have Rock is a sanctuary town specifically designed for those with a need to disappear off the grid for their safety. Now that the town is established with regular routine and maintenance Detective Casey Duncan and her husband are starting a family. Due to a past injury Casey's pregnancy is considered risky and difficult so she is doing all she can to safely carry to term. When a female resident is drugged and an attempt is made to drag her into the forest the town goes on high alert. Then days later in a blinding blizzard another woman disappears. When the storm clears searchers find her naked body frozen in the woods victim of a heinous crime. Casey is determined to bring the perpetrator to justice despite the risk to herself and her child. Unsure who she can trust and confide in Casey begins to doubt herself and the rules they established for the town. Armstrong is an amazing wordsmith creating unique and diverse scenarios and characters in every entry. I was fascinated with her concept of a sanctuary community. The clever and concise way she set about the requirements and regulations for a self sufficient community in a frozen isolated area are informative and enlightening. The returning cast of characters are well drawn each with own quirks and are believable and engaging. We all have a back story. I hope that the chronicles of Haven's Rock continue for a long time to come as I find them captivating and compelling and I think many other readers will also.

With meticulously vetted residents and Casey and Eric's supervision, serial killers aren't supposed to be able to sneak into Haven's Rock. It looks like one has managed it though.

When a resident is attacked and barely escapes, Casey who is eight months into a difficult pregnancy sees a gap in their security. With less than 100 residents, Haven's Rock should have to worry about roofies and date rape. At first, that is the conclusion that Casey and Eric come to.

But when Lynn disappears during a blizzard and is found staked out on the lake when the weather breaks, it becomes clear that a murderer has made it into Haven's Rock. An unknown murder that is. Haven's Rock is a refuge for a couple of people, including Casey, who have committed murder.

With Casey nearing the end of her pregnancy and suffering from potential complications, it becomes necessary to leave the investigation and fly out to Whitehorse to be nearer to medical help. Casey is tron between the needs of her unborn child and the needs of the investigation.

This was another excellent addition to the Haven's Rock series. I like the way Eric and Casey are growing their relationship. I also like catching up with some of my favorite residents including Mathias and Sebastian. The story was very suspenseful.

Haven’s Rock is a small settlement hidden in the Yukon wilderness. It exists as a haven for those who need to disappear from the “real world” in order to be safe. Casey Duncan and her husband Eric Dalton are both owners/leaders of the settlement as well as its law enforcement. One of the town’s resident’s is drugged and almost abducted which means one of the other residents is more than they appear to be. Casey insists on leading the investigation even at 8 months pregnant but the investigation into an attempted abduction turns into first a missing person, then a murder investigation when a woman disappears and then her naked, frozen body is found. It is a race to find the murderer before Casey gives birth.
The action is almost non-stop, taking place over the course of maybe 2 weeks. The criminal is not apparent, truthfully the murderer was not on my radar until Casey started to zero in on them. We learn some more about the pasts of some of our regular residents and watch the town coming into its own as a haven for those in need. And, of course, Casey and Duncan become parents and a baby joins the town’s residents. I really enjoy this series, as well as its predecessor, the Rockton series, and cannot wait to see what is in store for Casey, Duncan and the other residents of Haven’s Rock in the future. Highly recommended.

I read this courtesy NetGalley and Minotaur Books. In this, the latest Haven’s Rock story by Kelley Armstrong, we have a variation of the locked room mystery, but in a small isolated town where women are being drugged and murdered. Detective Casey Duncan, who is very pregnant, and her husband/town sheriff Eric have to hunt for the killer…who they realize must be someone in their midst, someone they must know all too well. Armstrong’s usual excellent writing shines in this work.
#ColdAsHell #NetGalley

Loved this book!! I read it as a stand alone book and still felt like I learned a lot about the characters and had some background for them!
Havens Rock is a remote place for people to come and start a fresh life in the Yukon. The story starts when one of their own is possibly almost kidnapped. Another one goes missing in a whiteout snowstorm, and things really start to pick up. I did not want to put this one down. From who was behind the abductions to the sheriff preparing to deliver her baby this book will keep you on the edge of your seat!
Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

After reading books two and three (I still haven't read the first), Haven's Rock has rapidly become one of my favorite mystery series. With a secluded Yukon setting, the weather is often a character in itself, and the murders are practically locked room.

Casey's experienced a couple of scares during her unexpected, complicated pregnancy, but she's made it to her eighth month. She and sheriff husband Eric are choosing names and excited to become parents. And then a woman is attacked. She narrowly escapes, but didn't see her attacker. The next woman isn't as lucky. With a murderer on the loose in Haven's Rock (population around 70), Casey and Eric have their work cut out for them. The safety of Haven's Rock and its residents is their first priority.

As with the last novel in this series, I didn't guess the identity of the culprit. All my suspicions were incorrect. The last 20% of the novel is so gripping, I think I held my breath for most of it. While tracking the murderer, the characters battle the elements and lack of tech (snowstorm, iced over river, sat phones missing) and Casey is dealing with additional stress. All I can say is that she's a badass, and my hat's off to her. Shoutout to Storm for being the best tracking dog/protector ever.

Perfectly paced, red herrings to throw readers off track, nail-biting scenes - mystery/thriller fans can't go wrong with this series. Each book can be read as a standalone. Recommended to readers who enjoy secluded settings, locked room-type mysteries, and well-crafted characters.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I don't think I'll ever get tired of these books featuring Casey and Eric building their life together in the remote Yukon wilderness, no matter how preposterous the plots and murders get. Since this is the 10th book (if you count from the beginning of the Rockton series), I understand that Armstrong has to keep digging deeper for intriguing storylines, but this one was pretty off-the-rails. And I was there for every page of it. These books are sheer enjoyment for me, despite some eye-rolling moments. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for a digital review copy.

It's been a long time since I've read a book in this series so when I was surprisingly gifted this book by the publisher I was jumping at the opportunity. Even though this continues where the last book left off and you're thrown back in that same world it was almost like I had never left. The characters, as well as the mysterious nature of their environment left me wide-eyed and amazed once again. I was pleasantly surprised when just like the first few we are left with our same characters we have grown to know and love over the series but yet again they are thrown into a completely new situation. Casey Duncan, now newly pregnant by her husband Eric, should be relaxing and living the high life, however as the town sheriff, and as a person always trying to solve things that just isn't in the cards for her. So once again when troubles shows up at the doorstop of their town it is up to the two of them to get to the bottom of things. This time however it's a little different as a killer seems to be loose in their little town. how could this be when they formed their town from the beginning and it's as safe as possible? Casey and Eric are determined to get to the bottom of things and restore not only peace but also the sense of security and refuge that the town has become for those who need it most. As a huge fan of this series as well as everything that this author is written I knew that there was only going to be positive things I could say about this book. Just like the previous stories, what I love the most about this series is that while each book has ties to its successors, their plots are so different that they read almost like standalone novels. The plots are fantastic however it is always been the characters that really tug at my heartstrings. The characters' realism are amazing and just like all of her other works Kelley Armstrong really pulls you in as a reader not just into her plot but also into the lives of those she created. My favorite character yet again had to have been Eric, something about the way that he supports Casey but doesn't try and overshadow her is something that I always love to read about in novels because we don't always get to see that in real life. As a writer Kelly's authors style is one that can never be matched as she has such a way with creating characters and worlds that really resonate with readers. Whether it be mystery, fantasy, horror or any other genre that Kelly decides to attempt she always surpasses my expectations but seeing her come back to a staple series is something that will always make me smile as a reader. I love that she never forgets where she came from and even though one book may be finished she never shelves those characters for long and this is a perfect example of that. As a long time fan of her work I'm always going to be ecstatic when I see a book come out with her name on it no matter what the subject, but going back to her roots always makes me super excited. Great read as always, however I do suggest if you are going to read this book that you start not only at the beginning of this series but also at the beginning of the Rockton series as well because that is where the world and the characters are truely born.  After a whirlwind like this book I cannot wait to see the next one, although my heart might need a little break after the intensity that was this story.

Another solid book with decent character development. At the beginning, I was afraid that this book would continue much as the last one where Dalton got left out of the pregnancy issues Casey faced. Because this one had the added challenge of a disappearance to deal with, Dalton did factor into this book much more than the last, which made me very happy. The interplay between Casey and Dalton was one of my favourite aspects of this series (including Rockton) for me.

With the ending to this book, it will be interesting to see where this series goes from here.

Dianne's reviewJan 19, 2025 · edit
it was amazing
bookshelves: 2025, galleys-arcs, netgalley



This book is part of a series; while you don't NEED to read the past books, I would highly encourage you to do so as they (Characters and such) play parts in this book.

If you have been following this series, you will remember from the last book that Casey found out she was pregnant. This book jumps about 8 months, and she is now in her final stages of pregnancy. It doesn't really help her at all to find out that a serial killer may be in their midst.

What starts out as something horrible yet innocuous soon turns deadly, and Casey and Eric are on the hunt. Mix in some complications with the pregnancy, and things soon turn even more lethal.

This is an exciting and excellent addition to this series, and remember that this is a spin-off of the Rockton books---which I am going to turn around and re-read until the next highly anticipated book in this series comes out!

*ARC supplied by the publisher Minotaur Books/Macmillan Publishers, the author, and NetGalley.

Kelley Armstrong never fails to deliver! Haven’s Rock has yet another emergency to deal with, but this one has a wrench in the cogs: Casey is 8 months into an at risk pregnancy. Not only that, but her friends are being murdered and the town is right in the middle of a blizzard. Casey and Dalton are a kick a$$ law enforcement couple though, and the no mere blizzard is going to keep them from doing their jobs. I absolutely love the Haven’s Rock series. I swear, it gets better with every book. I hope it goes on forever!

Huge thanks to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!

Be prepared for some twists in this intriguing mystery set in a hidden Yukon refuge. Haven’s Rock is a sanctuary town that is supposed to keep people safe but nowhere is perfect. A woman is drugged at the bar and she barely escapes being kidnapped into the woods. Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton need to quickly determine the culprit before another woman is endangered. The attempted kidnapping is just the start of a very suspenseful mystery. Complicating matters, Casey is eight months into a high-risk pregnancy. I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. This is now one of my favorite series. The interesting characters, an intriguing mystery and the twists keeping me looking forward to the next in the series.

Well here we are back at Haven's Rock with Casey and Eric, and another terrific murder mystery unfolds. Kelley Armstrong has crafted a fascinating world that utilizes an almost locked-room mystery, in that everything that happens is in the isolated town of Haven's Rock and it's inhabitants. Because there is no where else to go. Women are being abducted and it has to be someone that is known, because who else could it be? Casey being the lead detective is of course handling the case, even though she is 8+ months pregnant.

The best thing about these stories is that you feel the isolation and claustrophobic feel of this town that is essentially in a bubble in the wilderness. The town itself is a character in these stories. I really enjoy watching the relationship between Eric and Casey as their lives continue to grow and change. And of course, revisiting the characters we have grown to know and love.

The story is very plot driven and it is fascinating seeing it all laid out and then coming together. And, of course, nothing goes as it should or easily. I truly hope Ms. Armstrong continues with this series as the stories are always interesting and continue to show character growth. Another fantastic read in the Haven's Rock series.

Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC.

Cold as Hell picks up 8 months after the events from The Boy Who Cried Bear. Casey is 8 months pregnant and preparing for the possibility of a difficult delivery. When a woman is drugged and assaulted, Casey must investigate. While she is investigating, Casey and Eric find a frozen body, naked in the snow. Together, they must determine who is responsible for both crimes while questioning who they can trust in Haven's Rock.

This series is fantastic! I think Cold as Hell is my favorite so far from the Haven's Rock series and I would highly recommend the audiobook. The narrator is the same throughout the series and always does a great job in bringing the story to life. I was completely captivated from the first chapter, and I couldn't put this book down. I loved the character growth of Casey and Eric as they prepare for Casey's delivery and enjoyed how they worked together to investigate the possibility of a killer in Haven's Rock during a snowstorm. I am excited to see what is next for Haven's Rock in the next installment.

Cold as Hell is out February 18th.

Thank you to NetGalley, MacMillan Audio and St. Martin's Press. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Really enjoy this author’s writing style, and the vibe to this book. Dangerous killer loose during a snowy storm; good times!! Enjoy a mystery! Despite being very much pregnant, Detective Casey, shows her tenacity and embarks on trying to solve the case. An entertaining read! I haven’t read the previous books, but felt fine going into this one. This book has its own storyline and conclusion. I didn’t really love any of the characters, but the story is still an interesting one. This is kind of a weird setup and I just feel the majority of these people in this little remote community are just depressed and hating life. I would definitely not trust living in this desolate community. Living conditions sound miserable; low supplies, low resources, barely any bathrooms, not enough security, and shady people. This community just seems like such a bad choice; which is proven right by the murderer on the loose. The mystery unfolding was good though; I like how that played out. Overall, I enjoyed the story and look forward to checking out the previous books!

Wow! This is how to write a thriller! Casey is 8 months pregnant and now their little hidden sanctuary community has an active killer among them. The characters are diverse and fascinating, the setting in a cold Alaska spring is chilling, and the mystery is top-notch. Investigating while pregnant and in a blizzard adds to the tension, while Casey and her husband try to identify the killer before anyone else becomes a victim.
I didn’t read the first two in the Haven’s Rock series (though I will now!), so this one works well as a stand-alone. I couldn’t put it down! Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC.