I’m completely invested in these stories after reading the Rockton series and now Haven’s Rock. Casey and Eric’s romantic partnership is always a part of each novel, but it’s a mystery that cements each story and keeps me coming back. Cold As Hell wraps the two things together. Casey’s pregnancy is problematic and her doctor wants her in a city closer to a hospital when they find the body frozen on the lake. Reluctantly they leave town in the capable hands of their deputy, Anders, but Casey’s detective instincts never turns off and she’s able to investigate from afar and finds out some things that lead them back to Haven’s Rock away from the safety of healthcare nearby. This ads to the tension of the mystery keeping the reader on the edge of their seat.

The fact that each person in town was handpicked and not supposed to have any predilections to violence is also an added twist to the story. How could this happen? How do they ensure the safety of their residents in the future? etc. It opens the door to more re-creations to this town they want to build and call home. I relished being back in Haven’s Rock and can’t wait to see what future installations will bring.

Cold as Hell is the Third installment in author Kelley Armstrong's Haven's Rock series, which you know is a spin-off of the author's Rockton series. Living at Haven's Rock is never dull. You are living in the middle of Yukon. You are dealing with dangers you've never seen in the city, and the weather can be tricky. It is a place for people to disappear and start over. Residents must rely on the land, each other, and Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton, to keep them safe. Both are dedicated to their jobs and keeping the people of Haven's Rock safe.

But there are more challenges. Especially when Casey is 8 months pregnant and waiting until she has to leave to have the baby, which her sister April all but pushes her to go so she doesn't have the baby here. But baby or not, things are always tense in a town that Casey and Dalton built with help from their friends. When a knock on their door comes in the middle of the night, Casey and Dalton know there's trouble. It seems that a woman has been attacked but thankfully saved by a local resident. Soon thereafter, another woman goes missing and is found murdered.

As the storm blows in literally, Casey and Dalton struggle to find the killer before Casey ends up having her baby in the snow instead of a hospital. As Casey and Dalton investigate the assault, the two wonder who they can trust in their supposedly safe haven. After all, there are people in town who have a history of violence and are willing to push the envelope in order to keep friends safe from outsiders. Casey and Duncan made sure that they made changes in policy when they began building Haven’s Rock, and thanks to Emilie, their beneficiary, things seem to be clearer regarding who arrives and who doesn't.

But no system is perfect, and once again, it seems that someone in Haven is not supposed to be here. Casey wonders if it's their fault that they are not investigating people who come here more thoroughly before arriving. With only 3 real police in town, they have to walk a line between doing what's right and doing what's best for those who live here. This is a story where almost everyone is in suspense, even those who came here from Rockton. The author once again brings the reality of the Yukon to light. The climate of their remote town is almost a character in itself, with winter blizzards, dangers in the surrounding forest, and their isolation from society. One could say that Casey's pregnancy is more of a story than the mystery of the killer because this is her first time getting this far, and anything can happen and does, including a direct fight for her life against the Haven killer.

This suspenseful mystery, set against the backdrop of a remote wilderness, will grip readers with its chilling atmosphere and relentless intrigue. Fans of wilderness survival tales and psychological thrillers will be captivated by the story's pregnant protagonist, who must face not only the harsh elements of her isolated surroundings but also the terrifying presence of a serial killer. As the suspense builds, readers will find themselves on the edge of their seats, desperate to uncover the truth and see justice served. This novel is perfect for those who crave a dark and suspenseful read that explores the depths of human resilience and the terrifying consequences of isolation.

Cold as Hell by Kelley Armstrong in the third in her Haven’s Rock series. In this book, pregnant detective Casey and her husband Eric are working to discover a murderer amongst their small community in the Alaskan Yukon.

Unfortunately, I hadn’t read books 1 or 2 prior to reading this. I think that was a mistake on my part. Throughout the book I felt as if I didn’t have a clear understanding of some of the specifics of the community where the book takes place. I think that would have been apparent in the earlier books.

Overall, this was a meh read for me. I liked the mystery aspect, but felt throughout the whole thing as the background I was missing was impacting my enjoyment of the story. I’m also not a huge outdoorsy person so that setting didn’t appeal to me. I think many readers will thoroughly enjoy this, it just wasn’t for me.

Cold as Hell is the third book in Kelley Armstrong's thrilling Haven's Rock mystery series, which is a spinoff of her Rockton series. I was heartbroken when I discovered that Rockton was ending, but thank goodness that Ms. Armstrong kept our favorite characters - plus some new ones - and moved them to their own new hidden sanctuary. You can read the books alone, but you will definitely want to see what you missed, because both series are AWESOME! All the books in Haven's Rock are wonderful, but Cold as Hell is definitely my favorite so far.

Haven's Rock is a sanctuary town hidden away in the Yukon of Canada. Do you need to disappear? If so, this place is for you...if you can stand not knowing the background of your fellow residents, or don't mind wild animals and snow. Lots and lots of snow. Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton, have settled into their life here, and they are about to start a family. In the 8th month of her unexpected pregnancy, Casey won't be left out of the investigation into what happened near the edge of town, though Eric would prefer her to stay home safe. One of the female residents is drugged at the bar, and when she goes near the edge of town, she is grabbed and carried into the woods, fighting and screaming. Luckily she is saved in time, but now residents are becoming frightened. As a snowstorm hits Haven's Rock, Casey and Eric - and their Newfoundland dog Storm - are investigating the assault, when they find the body of a frozen woman, naked in the snow. There are different accounts of the woman's last movements, so now not only do they have a murder, but they also don't know who they can really trust in their sanctuary.

Kelley Armstrong has crafted an exceptionally thrilling mystery with characters you'll either love, dislike, or not be sure if you can trust them or not. The concept of a Haven's Rock-type sanctuary is quite interesting. Would you be able to leave everything you know and love and take refuge in a remote sanctuary? What would be your reason? Witnessed a crime...or committed a crime but deserved a second chance? The reasons are quite varied for those who live in this frozen Yukon location. We've witnessed the transformation of this isolated spot since book one, which was tailored to the specifications of Casey and Eric, along with their benefactress who funded the project. Now that they are settled in, Casey and Eric are awaiting the birth of their first child. Casey had a prior injury that could impact the health of their baby and they had a previous scare, so Eric wants Casey to play it safe, as he has quite the protective streak. But Casey can't stand the thought of sitting out an investigation, so she makes concessions - like being driven in a sled, which makes her feel like a slacker. The investigation was quite exciting, but some of my favorite parts of the story dealt with these two stubborn law enforcement officers dealing with naming the baby, or fears of a breech birth or having the baby in a toilet because she thought she needed to poop. (That particular passage had me about laughing on the floor!) Some of the supporting characters were great, especially Will Anders (Eric's deputy), April (Casey's sister, a physician on the autism spectrum), Yolanda (head of the construction crew and granddaughter of the town's benefactress) and Sebastian (a sociopath who murdered his parents but was given a second change in the frozen Yukon). Of course, my favorite supporting character is Storm the dog. This dog who was trained to track has as much personality as the human characters, and I adore her! The mystery was positively exciting, trying to figure of who killed the woman, and the discovery of the killer and his past was chilling. And speaking of chilling, the way Ms. Armstrong describes the freezing cold and the snow had my shivering in my chair. Casey's predicament at the end of this book almost had me putting down my e-reader, fearing fate would not be kind! This is a series you must check out; and be sure to take a look at the Rockton series, as well. You'll thank me for steering you in that direction.

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Book 3 in the Haven’s Rock series
I read the book and listened to the audio about a month apart. I give it a 5-star rating for both versions.
We see Casey and Eric dealing with the latest problems in the newly established safe area. A woman disappears out the camp during a major snowstorm. This after one other woman had been drugged and abducted. Luckily, someone else appeared, leaving the abductor to flee into the woods.
Casey has a tough time at 8 months pregnant to accept the limitations of her body. A good thing Eric and her sister April are managing to enforce a couple of rules for her safety and that of the baby. This does not stop Casey from getting herself into a predicament. To be fair it really was not her fault.
I really loved the audio book. Now I admit that some of the reaction might be from hearing the story for a second time. The emotions came through more by how the narrator presented it. The scene while been in the plane. The husband wife relationship. The worry of the snowstorm.
Casey’s fear after been captured and her worry about her unborn child not surviving. Even with already knowing the outcome the Narrator had me captivated.

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 stop her from investigating

When one of the town's residents is drugged and wanders too close to the edge of town, she’s dragged into the woods. Casey and Eric investigate just as a snowstorm arrives. Then a other body is found, making them question the safety of the town..

The setting for Cold As Hell is very unique. The cold from a snowstorm further enhances the tension and atmosphere. However, I would have liked a little more description for it.

I found the beginning of the book confusing as it jumps right into the story. It would have helped to have read the previous two books in the series and I would recommend it for anyone wanting to read this.

There is a lot of action to keep things moving. The climax is intense. I found myself uncomfortable with some of it. Readers looking for a different setup for a mystery thriller may enjoy this book.

I have read many books by Kelley Armstrong and I have enjoyed most of her books.

Cold As Hell is a good one. I enjoyed it and I recommend this series.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kelley Armstrong, and St. Martin's Press for the ebook. Though I’m new to the series, I was quickly able to catch up and felt like I hadn’t missed anything. Now, I’m eager to go back and read the first two books in the series, as well as the previous Rockton series! The concept is so unique, and I absolutely love the characters. I couldn’t put the book down and can’t wait to read more!

I got about 30% through this book before I just couldn't keep going. I didn't realize this book was part of a series and I just ended up feeling confused. I may pick this up again and give it a try if I can get to the first two books.

Kelley Armstrong has a perfect setup for the "locked room mystery" with her Haven's Rock series. A hidden town in the Canadian wilderness, whose inhabitants are all in hiding from something in their past, with no outsiders allowed. And in the third book in the series, Cold as Hell, she ups the ante by having a blizzard roar through town, meaning no one from the outside could get to the small settlement even if they knew it was there.

Casey Duncan, the narrator, and her husband Sheriff Eric Dalton, are responsible for the safety and anonymity of the people in town. When one of the inhabitants is murdered during the blizzard, the two have to investigate even though Casey has been advised to rest so as not to endanger her unborn child. Watching her try to find a balance between searching for the killer and protecting her child adds to the suspense of the story.

Knowing that the killer is one of the townspeople, someone they have trusted, drives both Casey and Dalton to solve the mystery. Then another townsperson disappears. And Casey is ordered to fly to the nearest town to be near a hospital. But another blizzard threatens to interfere with both the investigation and the childbirth.

I liked Armstrong's Rockton series, which is a prequel to Haven's Rock, but I have to admit that I am enjoying the new series even more. Casey and Dalton are in charge here, and designed the town the way they wanted it run. The inhabitants are people truly needing to hide, not just people who could afford the high price of Rockton. This creates more emotional stakes for Haven's Rock. When someone in the town is the victim, and someone else in the town is the killer, Casey takes it personally.

You don't have to read the first two books of Haven's Rock to enjoy this one, although I recommend them as well. But definitely read this one if you like locked room mysteries, suspenseful stories, weather-driven stories, or just a great mystery with a surprising but plausible twist. Lots to love about this book!

This suspense novel is so intense I had to stop reading at several points. I bravely persevered and it was worth it, but wow.

In the Yukon community of Haven's Rock, Casey Dalton is in the eighth month of a difficult pregnancy, with her protective husband and colleague Eric Duncan watching her every move, when a woman is drugged and dragged into the forest. She escapes, but while Casey and Duncan are investigating which member of their very small community is responsible, Casey has a pregnancy scare during a blizzard, As the blizzard subsides, they realize another woman, Lynn, has disappeared. Casey and Duncan are in a race against time--they need to not only find Lynn and her captor, but get Casey to a place where there is better medical care before she goes into labor.

As mentioned, this novel is extremely taut and fraught. It is the third in a series, and I am proof that you do not need to have read the first two books in the series to follow along, although you might want to. Because it's that good. #ColdasHell #NetGalley

An intricate, Thrilling Adventure!!

My first read from this author, so I am jumping into number three in this series. I actually found it quite intriguing as the uniqueness of both the origin of the town, and the trials the inhabitants have gone through to arrive here. While I am interested enough to read the prior stories, I did not feel confused or lost in any way.

What a delightful, complex, creation of the situations that lead to missing and/or murdered. Add in the relationships, the pregnancy and pure survival and you have a robust read which is not to be missed. I’ve found a new author to follow!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review "Cold As Hell", the latest in Kelley Armstrong's "Haven's Rock" series.
Ms. Armstrong has done it again! Crafted another taut, suspenseful novel set in the successor to Rockton - Haven's Rock (a haven for those who really, really need to disappear from their past lives)
Now in the latter stages of a problematic pregnancy, Casey Butler and her Husband/Sheriff Eric Dalton don't really need any more problems; but of course the universe isn't listening!
First off, a nearly successful abduction and attack. Who amongst their carefully vetted community could have it in for Kendra? And what was the purpose of the attack? While investigating this event, one of their other people suddenly vanishes in the middle of a massive snowstorm.
Is this the same perp, and where on earth is Lynn? As Casey and Eric, along with their Deputy and other leaders of the community check alibis (the husband is always the main one) and attempt to track her into the wild, they soon come upon a terrible crime scene which rocks them to their core.
As they dig deeper and deeper into the people who live in Haven's Rock, it soon becomes apparent that something very wrong has come to their community - will they be able to get to the bottom of things before there are more victims? And can they do it amidst the impending arrival of their child.
You'll be holding your breath right until the end of "Cold As Hell" - and your heart may take some time to thaw out.
I would not recommend this as a standalone read - you really the backstory.

2⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for an advanced copy of Cold As Hell.

Detective Casey is married to her husband Eric who is the sheriff. They live in Haven’s Rock and they are expecting their first child. One day they get a call about a woman who was drugged and abducted but was rescued. While they are investigating her case another woman is reported missing and eventually found dead. In their town almost everyone could be a suspect but can they find out the culprit before someone else goes missing.

I was not aware that this book was part of a series and I definitely think it would have been helpful to read the prior books because it was really difficult to connect either the characters and town in this book without knowing the backstory. I think that is why I was so confused because I kept feeling like I was missing information about the town when in reality it was discussed in previous books.

Kelley Armstrong returns with her popular Haven's Rock Series COLD AS HELL #3, The Boy Who Cried Bear#2, and Murder at Haven's Rock#1.

This time around, things get scary as their haven may no longer be secure. Casey hunts down a dangerous killer among them during a deadly blizzard while ready to deliver her baby in this spine-chilling latest installment, Whodunit Suspense thriller.

About...

As you may know, if you have read this series, Haven's Rock is a sanctuary town hidden in the Yukon for those who need to escape from the world.

Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton, are starting a family, but of course, they must make plans since they are in the middle of nowhere.

As Casey gets close to her due date, there is a crime, and Casey will not rest until the murderer is found. Who among them is a killer?

What starts as one of the women in town is drugged and then carried into the woods, luckily saved, but now everyone is worried.

Then Casey and Eric are investigating an assault, a brutal crime that shakes the entire community. This leads them into a snowstorm blizzard, where they discover a frozen body naked in the snow, adding another layer of mystery and danger to their investigation.

TRUST NO ONE!

My thoughts...

COLD AS HELL is another gripping suspense thriller to the Haven's Rock collection. This time around, the stakes are high as their small community needs to feel safe, so who among them could be a murderer, and what is the motive?

From Murder, Mystery, and Intrigue in this twisty and complex WHODUNIT.

With Casey being pregnant and her hubby worried for her and the baby, they get stuck in the storm with a killer, making this another riveting suspense thriller.

Atmospheric, the author keeps you in suspense with each gripping page turn, introducing red herrings and suspects in their (off the grid) now not-so-safe haven. The action is packed with a diverse and engaging cast of characters, each with their secrets and motives.

Audiobook...

I read the e-book and listened to the audiobook narrated by the fabulously talented Thérèse Plummer, which elevated the story and made the characters come alive in this atmospheric setting with intensity and suspense.

I recommend reading the first two books in the series to get to know the characters! I have enjoyed all three.

Recs...

COLD AS HELL is for fans of the author, the series, and those who enjoy cop/detective procedurals by Robin Mahle, Tami Hoag, and Willow Rose.

Thanks to Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for an advanced review and listening copy via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4 Stars (book); 5 Stars (audio)
Pub Date: Feb 18, 2025
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Cold as Hell is book three in Haven's Rock series by Kelley Armstrong.
This series is such an enjoyable mystery.
And I’ve enjoyed all three books so far.
Armstrong's engaging storytelling and relatable characters make this a compelling read.
The plot is well-paced and keeps readers intrigued throughout.
I was invested and engrossed in the story from the beginning.

Kelly Armstrong is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. This is my second book I’ve read from her and I’ve already bought two more on my kindle to read. I loved this story. The killer took me by surprise. They weren’t even on my radar at first and I’m usually pretty good at guessing who it is. I instantly liked Casey and Dalton and how solid their relationship is and how well they worked together. It seems like most books have the couple treating each other badly in one way or another, and I enjoyed a couple that gets along and respects each other. Even though this is the third book in the series it can be read as a stand alone and the author did a great job of briefing explaining the backstory that you need to know. I definitely recommend this series.

Summary:


Casey and Dalton are excited to be starting their family. Towards the end of her pregnancy, Casey and Dalton hear about a resident of Haven’s Rock that had been drugged and dragged into the woods. While investigating this horrid act, they stumble upon something even more gruesome. A frozen body. Will they solve the case before the baby comes?


What I liked:

As with the other two in the series, I really enjoyed the dynamic between Casey and Dalton. Storm is always a favorite simply for the reason of who doesn’t love dogs?
I also like the serial killer angle.

What I disliked:

The entire story. I felt as if they kept piling crime upon crime to make it interesting. It pulled me out of the story and made it difficult to finish. I wish the serial killer angle was done better. As someone who in currently studying psychology, I wish there would have been some current up to date facts about serial killers instead of what feels to be outdated.

Overall:

Not my favorite and won’t continue with the series.

Thank you to MacMillan audio for the ALC and Minotaur for the ARC!

I really love the Haven’s Rock series. In the third installment, we pick right up where the second leaves off. It’s winter now, our FMC Casey is heavily pregnant, and due to her past injuries, is high risk. But she and her husband/partner Eric still have a job to do when a resident of their community is found disoriented and another goes missing.

Casey is the ultimate badass. She doesn’t let anything (small spoiler - even giving birth) - stop her from protecting the people she and her husband are responsible for. The concept of Haven’s Rock has always appealed to me - a safe, separate community that is a fresh start for people. All the books in this series are very atmospheric, with the Yukon wilderness playing a big role in the story. But the winter weather in this story gives the wilderness an added layer, reminding readers of how dangerous it could get.

“Cold As Hell” is out February 18, 2025! This review will be shared to my Instagram blog @books_by_the_bottle shortly :)