Thank you St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for allowing me to read and review Cold as Hell on NetGalley.

Published: 02/18/25

Stars: 2.5

Meh. My last in the series. The unique premise in conjunction with the location had me try again. After three attempts I'm finished. The writing is simple. The characters lack maturity. This book felt like Armstrong had tidbits and wrote a story without thinking it through.

I am disappointed, this could have been a great series,

I did not realize this was part of a series. I haven’t read any of the other books. So going into it was a little weird. I know it is more likely a standalone. But I like to have all the pack story.

Murder mysteries are not usually my style but Kelley armstrong is. This one took a pretty dark and twisty turn, I’d definitely check trigger warnings. But Kelley knows how to keep you guessing. You really don’t have any idea who the killer is until the big reveal. The ending was exciting, with the stakes about as high as they go. Overall an enjoyable read for a genre jump for me

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

This one was SO good!! I find some of the series repetitive but this one had me hooked. If you are looking to check it out, make sure you read the series in order prior to jumping in!

Highly recommended. Kelley can do no wrong no matter what she's writing. LOVED

Another great installment in a terrific series that continues to be as compelling in the spin off series.

This was a great book. I loved every paragraph, every sentence and every word of this masterpiece! I read it in 12 hours, which is a lot for me to do! It had everything and more laid out in the novel! I sure hope There is more to come from this author! I am totally hooked!

This book is the 3rd book in a series and I did not realize it when I picked this one up. So the first 25% was a bit confusing, and it took a bit to understand the backstory of this town and that the characters were known prior to this book. That is definitely a me problem and not a book problem.

This book takes place in a hidden community named Haven's Rock. The residents of the community are there to escape something in their previous life, they are vetted before allowed into this small community of less than 100 residents. Detective Casey Duncan and her husband Sheriff Eric Dalton were the oringinal architects of this community. They are expecting their first baby soon, as Casey is 8 months pregnant. Some minor complications and their remote location make Casey and Eric plan to leave town to have the baby, but just before they are set to leave, a woman is drugged and attacked, and another is found dead in the forest. Oh and there is a blizzard!

How do you begin to investigate a crime when all of your suspects are people you know and live closely with? Not only that, but all the residents had to apply and go through background checks before being allowed to move to town. This was such a great mystery, lots of misdirection, and the environment they live in working against them. I loved Casey's dedication to the case and the town. I loved Eric's dedication to Casey, he understood her need to solve the case, but also worked to make sure she took care of herself. I liked learning about the residents of Haven's Rock and I really need to go back and read the first 2 books in this series!

The twist was really good, and it was someone I did not expect at all!

3/5 ⭐️ Stars - Thank you to NetGalley & the publishers for an ALC of ‘Cold As Hell’ by Kelley Armstrong. I’m not really sure where to begin with this one. For me, 3 stars means a book was decent but nothing that really wowed me or stood out in a big way. I’ll admit I almost stopped listening early on because it just wasn’t clicking. Later I realized this is actually the third book in the Haven’s Rock series. After some Googling, I found out it can be read as a standalone, but I wish NetGalley had flagged that detail upfront—I probably wouldn’t have requested it if I’d known.

The pacing was uneven: the first half dragged quite a bit, while the second half—and especially the last 25%—picked up and delivered more suspense. That said, it still felt somewhat drawn out and at times a little far-fetched.

The story is set in Haven’s Rock, a sanctuary town created for people who need to disappear from regular life (a key detail I missed at first and only discovered halfway through). Our main characters are Detective Casey and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton, who are expecting their first child. One resident is kidnapped and drugged but narrowly escapes, while another woman is later found frozen to death after a snowstorm. Casey and Eric set out to uncover who is targeting the town, facing obstacles along the way that add some tension.

One small pet peeve: the inconsistent use of first and last names when referring to characters—it made the first few chapters unnecessarily confusing.

In the end, I’m glad I finished this book, but I don’t think I’ll be continuing with the series.

When started this book I did not realize that it was part of a series. However, it is one that does not have to be read in order exactly in my opinion. It takes place in the Yukon Wilderness of Canada in a secluded town called Haven's Rock - a sanctuary for those seeking a place to disappear off the grid while leaving their pasts behind. The secluded setting and mother nature combine to create a highly atmospheric, locked room style thriller that's guaranteed to keep readers up late at night to finish those last few pages. Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton, arrived in Haven's Rock from Rockton and have finally settled into their new home and started a family. When one of the women from town suffers confusion from a drugged drink served at the local bar and wanders into the forest surrounding the town alone, she falls victim to an attack, barely escaping with her life. This book has mystery, murder, intrigue, I would recommend it to those who in joy mysteries. Thanks to NetGalley for the ebook to preview.

I'm hating that this series is coming to an end, its one of my favorite contemporary mysteries. Hopefully she'll keep them going!

Another great Haven’s Rock mystery. Casey and Eric have a killer on the loose, and it’s their job to investigate. Could this be one of their own? I highly recommend this series..

I recently discovered the world of Haven’s Rock! This latest entry did not disappoint, Casey is a hell of a lead. Keep em coming!

This book was so good! Very chilling and full of suspense, the mystery was so well done, with lots of twists I didn’t see coming! I would recommend this book to everyone!

Overall, a total solid read! I didn't realize that this was part of a series so I felt like I was playing a bit of catch up on the characters and story. All that to say, the cold setting, the pregnancy and the supernatural bits kept me engaged! Thanks so much St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Book and NetGalley for the ARC!

First, I will warn that my review is slightly impacted by not knowing that this was part of a series and not knowing that it was connected to another series entirely.

This book was enjoyable, with a couple of things keeping me from raving about it. I liked the premise of the secluded town, locked door mystery, and the single narrator. The setting truly made this book for me. The clues that were sprinkled in were nice and I felt like I was able to solve the mystery along with Casey.

Unfortunately there were bits that let the book down for sure. First, there were many switches between first and last names that made the book sometimes hard to follow, especially since whole names were not used more than once or twice for many characters. Second, there were many references to rhe Rockton series — both the town and backgrounds for characters. Finally, there was a twist at the end that was hard to believe (spoiler: it was hard to believe as a woman who has given birth before…)

Overall, a solid read. Recommend to read the entire series rather than as a stand alone.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for rhe eARC.

I’m a big fan of this series, and the series that preceded it. But here I had real issues with some choices the author made. I never believed that Casey, late in a miracle pregnancy, would have risked so much to hunt a criminal, even a horrible one. And the conclusion felt very soap opera.

This is the third Haven’s Rock novel. There is a lot that happens in this one! Casey and Eric are expecting their first child and it’s not a great time to find out there is a killer targeting residents. I love how much the characters have grown and the community they have created. This book was nonstop suspense.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC. This was a freezingly good thriller that I would definitely recommend for the hottest day of the year.

As a longtime fan, Kelley Armstrong's "Cold as Hell" delivers exactly what I crave from the Haven's Rock series! The isolated, high-stakes setting is as chilling and atmospheric as ever, perfectly complementing the twisting mystery. Casey Duncan's pregnant state adds a compelling layer of vulnerability and tension to the already dangerous situation. Armstrong masterfully weaves in character development and unexpected twists, keeping me guessing until the very end. It's a fantastic addition, maintaining the series' signature blend of suspense, action, and compelling characters.

Cold as Hell by Kelley Armstrong expertly blends mystery and supernatural elements, creating a story that immerses readers in a cold, tense world fraught with danger and intrigue. The novel delivers the perfect balance of suspense and paranormal thrills, keeping readers hooked from the first page to the last. Armstrong’s skillful storytelling and vivid atmosphere make this book a must-read for fans of suspense and supernatural fiction.