Another gripping thriller set in Haven's Rock, Alaska, a private sanctuary town. The author provided even more atmosphere and suspense than usual. Although, I thought the main characters made some uncharacteristically dumb decisions in this one that reduced my enjoyment a bit.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free e-ARC of this book.

"New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong returns to Haven's Rock in Cold as Hell as Casey Duncan hunts down a dangerous killer during a deadly blizzard.

Haven's Rock is a sanctuary town hidden deep in the Yukon for those who need to disappear from the regular world. Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton, are starting a family now that they've settled into their life here. As Casey nears the end of her pregnancy, she lets nothing, including her worried husband, stop her from investigating what happens in the forbidden forest outside the town of Haven's Rock.

When one of the town's residents is drugged and wanders too close to the edge of town, she's dragged into the woods kicking and screaming. She's saved in the nick of time, but the women of the town are alarmed. Casey and Eric investigate the assault just as a snowstorm hits Haven's Rock, covering the forest. It's there they find a frozen body, naked in the snow. With mixed accounts of the woman's last movements, the two begin to question who they can trust - and who they can't - in their seemingly safe haven."

Basically a locked-room but encompassing a snowbound town. I love it, it's like deadly Northern Exposure!

Cold as Hell by Kelley Armstrong is the continuing story of Eric and Casey in Haven's Rock. Sometimes when I finish a book I hate that it's over. I want to stay in the story and in the location. Some books I would even love to find somewhere similar that really exists and move there. Haven's rock is not one of those places. Not to say this is not a great book. It most definitely is! And every story about Havens Rock that Armstrong writes I will be the first in line to read it. And I will thoroughly enjoy it! But, by the time I have finished reading one of these books, I am sore from being so tense. All my muscles are just knotted up. Kelly Armstrong has a gift of not having a down time in a book. There is literally no part of the story where you can just enjoy the dialogue, enjoy the description of the surroundings, Haven's Rock is a place where your nerves are always on edge and you have to turn the page because there's no place to stop and put the book down. In Cold as Hell we have the added stress of Casey being pregnant. And just from her Rockton series you know Armstrong is not going to make it easy. Throw in a killer targeting women and a complicated pregnancy and Eric and Casey are on edge through the entire story. I have to say I seem to be enjoying the Haven's Rock series better than the Rockton series simply because the type of people in Rockton came from sketchy backgrounds. Haven's Rock is different so when there is evil in the community it's surprising. But of course it's going to happen because it's Kelly Armstrong! I voluntarily received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

The Rockton books are one of my favourite ongoing thriller series, and Cold as Hell was no different.

Cold as Hell freaked me out enough when I home alone at night that I had to stop reading! It had all Kelley Armstrong’s flair for twists and turns, and an extra spooky mystery to solve after a woman is found dead, seemingly from exposure.

I’m excited to see where the story goes next, and look forward to the next book!

This was a fun thriller that was bogged down a little by all the backstory on the townspeople. There was a fairly large cast of characters and while it was interesting learning all their sordid stories, it did take away from the main case and slowed the story down a lot. I think it could have been edited down to make a more focused story, and less characters to keep track of for the reader. That being said, I enjoyed the story, it's well written and would definitely read this author again!

So I before I get into it I do want to say I had no idea this was part of a series. I feel it is definitely best to read in order as it was difficult to not have the backstories or events that happened beforehand. So I will DEFINITELY be reading the first two and then reading this one again.
It was still engaging from beginning to end and suspenseful. Very intriguing mystery and I’m looking forward to starting this series from the beginning!

Return to Havens Rock for another intense mystery. The characters are wonderful. I love Casey and Dalton. I really like that this new series brings along my favorite characters from Rockton. This story kept me guessing right up to the shocking reveal. I can't wait to read more.

I am so glad I stumbled on this series! I am a long-time fan of Armstrong, but in her paranormal writing capacity. As such, I always assumed the Rockton books had a supernatural element, and had them in the back of my mind as a series to look into when I had time. When I saw this latest Haven's Rock book (after seeing but not requesting the two previous on here), I assumed more of the same, but something about this latest drew me in more than the others and so I requested it, knowing I'd be able to catch up on the series through my local library. I started the first book and finished it in a day. The second quickly followed and I consumed it with the same voraciousness.

This is a marvelous series with such a fantastic construct! I love when an author just dances the line between weird things going on and *natural* explanations. It's so realistic and heightens the tension for me in a way that is delightful. This is a fabulous cast of characters and their world - the Yukon off-grid - is so unlike anything I know or have experienced, yet Armstrong brings it to life through her marvelous descriptions and the experiences of her characters.

While I do have to engage in some significant suspension of disbelief, especially as the series develops (if you lived in a town populated by only dozens of people and had already lost 6 or 7 to murder, wouldn't you rethink your decision to stay??), I find that I don't care or mind, because the stories are so well presented. I'm definitely going back to check out the Rockton books while I wait for the next Haven's Rock!

I adore both the Rockton and Haven’s Rock series, but Cold as Hell really tested my patience. While I completely understand Kelley Armstrong’s commitment to keeping her main characters at the forefront, there are limits to how much suspending disbelief one can muster. Picture this: a woman, eight months into a high-risk pregnancy, traipsing through the remote Yukon wilderness to pursue a killer. It's infuriating and, frankly, baffling that her partner Eric, would venture off in the opposite direction, leaving her vulnerable. This narrative choice felt downright frustrating.

You won’t believe how much this book made me talk back to its pages. Of course, I acknowledge that women are strong and capable, but let’s be realistic—this portrayal made Casey come off as both reckless and narcissistic.

On a more positive note, the core storyline is engaging, with your mental murder board in constant flux. Mathias and Sebastian remain my favorite characters and I enjoy every moment they make an appearance. Their unique code of ethics adds an interesting layer to the narrative, even if they aren't universally loved.

Despite my frustrations, I will continue with this series and other works by Kelley Armstrong. However, I will be scrutinizing Casey Duncan closely, especially considering how their child will need a village to raise them while mommy is off saving the world.

Cold as Hell is the third book in the Haven's Rock series by Kelley Armstrong. This can be enjoyed as a standalone mystery or as part of the series. Haven’s Rock is a spin off of the author’s Rockton/Casey Duncan series and can be enjoyed without reading those first. (I’m definitely going to read them soon though!) This book was so good that I read it all in one day!!! I could not put it down!

There is so much depth in this book. I found the characters to be fascinating and I look forward to learning more about them! The mystery is intense. There are so many viable suspects and there is so much that is hidden. It was awesome!

I highly recommend this book! I will definitely be diving into the Rockton/Casey Duncan series because I could not get enough of Murder at Haven's Rock! I can't wait to see what happens next. I know it'll be intense!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Cold as Hell (Haven's Rock #3) by Kelley Armstrong
Publisher: St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Expected Publication Date: February 18, 2025

I really love this series. Casey is a relatable character with demons in her past but she doesn’t let them hold her back or define her. She’s heavily pregnant but still determined to do her job as much as she can. It’s refreshing to see the struggle of balancing responsibilities with family needs and actually seeing the realistic blowback that happens when the two collide. I enjoyed all of the twists and turns that happened through the investigation of the murder and it kept me guessing until pretty much the end. I’ll definitely be looking for the next book in the series.

Received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Cold As Hell is a great addition (book three) to the Haven’s Rock series. Set in the Yukon at a remote location, this fast paced mystery kept my interest from beginning to end.

Although it is part of a series, the author gives enough backstory to read this book as a standalone.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys suspense.

I look forward to more titles in this series.

Cold As Hell is #3 in the Haven's Rock series by Kelley Armstrong. Though I grew up in a very cold Canadian province and winter is my enemy, it is different to read about it from afar in a much more hospitable climate. Still, it gave me mental chilly vibes!

Detective Casey Duncan is expecting her first child with her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton in the wintery wilds of the Yukon. Haven's Rock sounds both blissful (the wilderness and seclusion) but the isolation can take its toll on residents. I sought adventure and lived in such a town up north for two years as a young married adult and absolutely loved it. But not every aspect is rosy as the characters in this series know. The forest has secrets and is off limits. But not for a female resident who was dragged into its mysterious depths.

Kendra is a social worker and northern climate plumber who has fallen for the unique charms of Haven’s Rock. April, Casey's neurosurgeon sister, is another fascinating character in this sanctuary town. Each person has special skill sets suited to the northern way of life. But death has a sneaky way of yanking victims into frozen places.

I like the setting and atmosphere but am less enamored with this particular novel in the series. It doesn't click with me even though I can relate to northern isolation. I'm not fond of or invested in the characters. It was OK but didn't reach my heart.

My sincere thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this captivating novel.

I DNF’d this book at about 10%
I just don’t think this authors writing is for me! Also my bad for not realizing this was part of a series, that probably didn’t help.
There was just too many characters for me to try to keep up with, something about it was just hard to read. From what I read, it felt like more mystery than thriller.
I’m sorry this one didn’t work out for me :(
Thank you for the e-arc NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press!

This was a very suspenseful mystery set in the Yukon! I honestly love anything Kelley Armstrong writes, so I was thrilled to get the opportunity to read this one! 🙌

While this is the third book in the Haven’s Rock series, I read this as a standalone and had absolutely no issues connecting with the characters and understanding their dynamics. Now I want to go back and start with the Rockton series! 🤓

Definitely recommend this one to thriller and mystery lovers! 👏

Thank you to NetGalley, Minotaur Books, St. Martin’s Press, and Kelley Armstrong for the opportunity to read the eARC in exchange for my honest review! ❤️

Mysteries are not my normal genre, but I love Kelley Armstrong's writing. She has developed an interesting cast of characters in Haven Rock. The latest installment is a twisty ride.

Didn’t care for this at all. The story was laughably bad at times and the writing felt like a slog. Plot was predictable and not enjoyable.

No wonder I was confused! I was so excited to see another book on NetGalley written by Kelley Armstrong that I forgot to check if it was the first book in a series.

It turns out that “Cold As Hell” is the third book in the “Haven’s Rock” series. Definitely read these in order. I managed pretty well after my dumb mistake but still kept having the feeling I was missing something about the story. In addition, Casey Duncan is also the main character in a previous series, “Rockton,” which comprises eight books. I’d recommend starting at the beginning for maximum enjoyment.

Casey and her husband, Eric Dalton, work in law enforcement in a small community in the Yukon, Haven’s Rock. Its residents are people who want to live safely out of sight. They are screened so as to ensure the safety of all. Unfortunately something goes wrong. Haven’s Rock suddenly seems like quite a dangerous place.

This murder mystery is a bit gritty but Casey has a pretty snarky sense of humor, especially considering that she is nine months pregnant. That eases the tension a bit. “Cold As Hell” has well-drawn characters and the plot has enough twists to keep the reader engaged.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance reader’s copy of this book. This is my honest review.

Holy crap Kelley Armstrong! That was a messed up story. That killer is crazy and the situations they place their victims in are reminiscent of the Saw movies, very imaginative and twisted.

I loved the ending and I cannot wait to read the next book in the Haven's Rock series (no pressure, I know you are working on multiple different series right now) so we can see if this killer had any lasting effects on the community and the way they do things. In the meantime, I will read Death at a Highland Wedding while I wait.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.
Unfortunately, this book was not my cup of tea. With that being said, I may try to read this book again at a later date to see if I like it more.