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.

4 stars
Expected publication - February 18, 2025

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, for an eARC to review. All opinions are my own.

Haven's Rock is a small settlement in the Yukon where people go to disappear. They all live and work together and are fully investigated before being allowed to disappear into the community. After an attempted kidnapping, followed by a brutal murder, the residents begin to wonder if a bad apple slipped through the cracks. Detective Casey Butler is almost full term pregnant while investigating this murder during a massive blizzard. She is in a race against mother nature to figure out who the murderer is before she needs to get to the nearest town to give birth. But, will she make it in time....?

I really enjoyed this series (The Haven's Rock series). The storylines were gripping, and the setting was beautiful. Eric and Casey were annoying to me for some reason, I am not sure exactly why I felt this way 🙃 But, that did not stop me from thoroughly enjoying the books. The colorful cast of side characters made up for it.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book and give an honest review.

This is book number 3 in the Haven Rock series. The community of 70 people in the Yukon is by invitation only. The citizens are hand picked. You would think that it would lead to a good outcome. So, when one of the women in Haven Rock escapes being abducted, Casey and Dalton get to work investigating.
Casey, eight months pregnant, is a bit slowed down in her investigating.
Things take an ominous turn when a woman from the town turns up murdered in a sadistic way. Upon further investigation, Dalton and Casey discover that one of the town’s pre-approved citizen may be a serial killer bent on continuing his killings. As they get closer to finding the killer, Casey goes into labor.
This book will keep you interested until the end. You won’t be able to foresee the ending.

I am a huge, long-time fan of Kelley Armstrong. I'm so glad she transitioned the Rockton series into the Haven's rock series--I would have been sad to see these characters' story at an end! That said, I found myself cringing a little at some of the pregnancy stuff in this book--it felt a little overdone and at times written that way for the sake of trying to up conflict. It just felt artificial. This particular book is about Casey and Eric trying to find missing women, and as usual, the wonderful, fleshed-out characters delivered. Looking forward to the next installment.

This was quite a read. Like her other books, it is well written with a plot that keeps the reader going. Strong characters. I am not sure where - or when - Haven's Rock is, but the story works well. Since this is a series, I'll need to go back in the first books and follow it. The last third of the book really grabs the reader's attention. You'll see when you get the book!!! Recommended!

"Cold as Hell" by Kelley Armstrong is a thrilling and captivating read that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Armstrong's expert world-building and vivid character development immerse readers in a chilling yet fascinating supernatural world. The protagonist’s journey is filled with twists and turns, blending action, suspense, and emotion seamlessly. Armstrong’s writing is gripping and evocative, making it impossible to put the book down. Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to her work, "Cold as Hell" delivers an exciting, unforgettable experience. A must-read for lovers of isolated mysteries.

This was ok! Starts off interesting and I love the description of the setting but I just struggled to connect and care for the characters.

This is the third installment in the Haven's Rock mystery and the story starts off with the police deceive, Casey, 8 months pregnant with some complications. She needs to take it easy as she has some scares early on in the pregnancy. But taking it easy will not be something she can do when one woman is almost abducted and then another one goes missing. Casey, her husband Eric and follow law enforcers of Haven Rock are trying to find the missing woman, keep their hidden town safe and find out who is behind all of it.

I absolutely love this series and the list of characters in the Haven Rock Community. I wish there was more of a story line with Sebastian as I feel like he is just a complex character that could get a storyline all to himself. The twists were perfectly placed and some were just jaw dropping! Some places were a bit predictable but that didn't take away from the story at all.

Kelly Armstrong is a talented writer and I can't wait to see what is next with this series.

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Great book, but read in series order

I enjoyed this book (especially the parts about the Newfoundland dog, my favorite breed). But, it was the first I have read in this series of three and I was lost for parts as I had no idea what the community was about or who some of the characters were. For example, the main character Casey refers to her husband as "Dalton". Later someone is talking to Eric. I had to go back and remind myself that his name was Eric Dalton. The back stories on the characters would have made the book a much more enjoyable read for me. Rockton, to which this town of Havens Rock seems to be a spin-off, was referred to often without much explanation. I did order the previous two books as I like the series and enjoyed other work by this author.

It is a fairly dark book in tone and setting, set in a remote spot in Canada (Yukon Territory?)

I definitely recommend this, but after the first two books.

In the last stage of her pregnancy, Detective Casey Duncan and her husband Sheriff Eric Dalton are trying to take things easy in their new community of Haven’s Rock. But when a woman resident is found murdered out on the ice, Casey and Eric soon realize that the residents of their hidden community have many secrets.

Love this series. Just keeps getting better. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

<b>BOOK REPORT</b>
<I>Received a complimentary copy of Cold as Hell, by Kelley Armstrong, from St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books/NetGalley, for which I am appreciative, in exchange for a fair and honest review. Scroll past the <b>BOOK REPORT</b> section for a cut-and-paste of the <b>DESCRIPTION </b> of it from them if you want to read my thoughts on the book in the context of that summary.</i>

This entire series has a nearly-unbelievable premise, and the books themselves are formulaic.

And I thoroughly enjoy them.

Mainly, I guess, because I like spending virtual time in Alaska, no matter the season. And because I like the idea of the premise, and I like getting to know the characters (although Casey in particular is getting to be a little be too predictable in her actions and communications patterns for my liking—I mean, c’mon, lady, shouldn’t you trust your husband and your sister by now? AND KNOW BETTER THAN TO GO OUT INTO THE FUCKING FREEZING WOODS ALONE????).

Ahem.

Ready for the next one already! And, Note To Future Kristi: Remember that you want to read all the books in this author’s Cainsville series, as well.

<b>PS</b>
It is a testament to how much I love my husband that, when he returned from a five-day business trip yesterday afternoon, I put this book down to pay complete and total attention him, although I was already halfway through.

It is a testament to how much I enjoy Kelley Armstrong’s work that, when said husband attempted to have a discussion with me this morning as I was finishing it, I squinted over my phone at him and said, “Twelve more electronic pages.” (Which is my polite way of saying don’t talk to me until I finish this book.)

His response?

“That’s between you and your publisher.”

😂😂😂

<b>DESCRIPTION
<ii>New York Times</i> bestselling author Kelley Armstrong returns to Haven’s Rock in <i>Cold as Hell</i> as Casey Duncan hunts down a dangerous killer during a deadly blizzard.</b>

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.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I hadn't read any of the Haven's Rock series before, but the premise sounded interesting so I jumped at the chance to read this. Even not having followed the series, I was able to dive right in, and the story gave contact that referenced the earlier books.

I could not put this down! Casey is so relatable and sarcastically funny that I found it impossible to put the book down. I liked this book so much that I am definitely going to read the whole series. As a thriller, this was great. The story is easy to become completely immersed in.

Kelley Armstrong does a great job keeping you on the edge of your seat. I needed a good thriller to break a reading slump, and this one was perfect! Armstrong keeps you guessing throughout the story, and there is something about her writing style that I really enjoyed. It is almost like the characters are talking directly to you, telling you a wild story.

4.25/5

Haven’s Rock #3. WooHOO! What a fantastic suspensive thriller that had me hooked from the get-go!! Loved it!! Set in the frozen wilderness of Northern Canada, deep inside Yukon territory, this follows Det. Casey Duncan (she’s 8 mos pregnant), and her husband Sheriff Eric Dalton who are investigating a mysterious case of an attempted kidnapping followed by a deadly murder. A major winter storm is moving in giving Casey and Eric little time to hunt down their perp.
I have to say this surprised me in the best possible way. Between the audio and book this was a fantastic reading experience. I was kept on the edge of my seat, terrified for Casey’s safety, also at the amount that happens then gets derailed. You never knew which way was up until the very end. I loved that Armstrong gave you all the feels for Casey, her unborn baby, and Eric. I have no doubt I’ll be reading the previous two books in this series. Highly recommend!! 🤩 5 stars — Pub. 2/18/25

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press via Netgalley for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

**4.5 Stars**
This was another very solid read in the Haven's Rock series, which is a perfect mix of murder mystery/thriller and off the grid survival. It seemed like this one was a little bit darker than some of the others (which is surprising since all the mystery elements of the previous books dealt with murder, abduction, possible torture...) but the tone of this book just seemed darker, but maybe it was just how I interpreted it. That being said, I recommend this to anyone who has enjoyed all the previous books (in both series) and likes a good murder mystery with lots of possible suspects.