Armstrong’s murder mystery is set in an unlikely settlement in the Yukon, where one character is almost as unique as the other. With the unassuming daily duties of those who live there, Detective Casey has her hands full with not only the mystery, but with the impending birth of her baby, less than a month away.
This story is part of a larger series which I didn’t realize at first. Although I followed along well, reading some others first may have given more details to the background stories of these characters. With that, the setting and plot were uncommon, set in rural Yukon where its isolation and remote, natural ruggedness lends a creepiness to the mystery. The characters are all varied and most definitely a bit of a misfit mix, but it works completely. I was engaged from the start and although I had a bit of it figured out, the conclusion was nothing like I envisioned originally.

Haven's Rock is supposed to be a safe, hidden away, community for those who need to disappear. Everyone is screened and through checks are done before anyone is allowed in. So when a woman is drugged and dragged into the forest, who could have done it? Then during a terrible snowstorm a woman disappears and is later found dead in a horrible fashion. Can Detective Casey Butler and her husband Sheriff Eric Dalton find the person responsible before more harm is done. Casey is trying to solve the crimes, but being eight months pregnant and having what she hopes are minor issues with said pregnancy. She just hopes everything ends for the good of all involved.

Haven's Rock, population 67, is once again the site of a murder. A woman is attacked in the woods outside the drinks, probably spiked, in the one restaurant. She is able to escape, but is unable to identify who attacked her. Casey Butler, Detective, who happens to be eight months pregnant, and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton, no sooner begin to investigate when a blizzard hits the area. A woman goes missing and is later found dead, striped of her clothing, left to freeze to death.

Haven's Rock is meant to be a sanctuary. People that are allowed into the settlement are carefully vetted. How did a murderer get in? Everyone is on edge. Casey wants to find the culprit, but knows she needs to keep her baby safe.

The story moves quickly and will keep you turning the pages. There are some red herrings thrown out and the isolated environment, being totally off the grid adds to the suspense.

This series is one of my favorites, starting with the Rockton series of books and continuing into the Haven's Rock series. Kelley Armstrong has created an entire world with fully developed characters that we have engaged with throughout the series. The desolate Yukon territory with its vastness and unknowns is itself, a major character. This can be read as a stand-alone but I highly encourage reading this series from the beginning, City of the Lost, the first that introduces us to Casey, Eric, and the concept of a "safe haven". I look forward to the next exciting adventure with Casey, Eric, the citizens of Haven's Rock, and of course, Storm, tracking dog extraordinaire.

Thank you to NetGalley, and the publisher, Minotaur Books, for an ARC. The review is my own.

Cold as Hell is book 3 in the series, and dare I say this one maybe my favorite so far. Murder and Mystery in a winter setting makes for a great winter read by the fire. This book was very well written, which is no surprise because all of her books are well written. The pregnancy storyline can be a little triggering for some.

Cold as Hell is the 3rd book in the Haven's Rock series by Kelley Armstrong. I had not read any of the previous books in this series, but I had no problem keeping up with the story line in my opinion can very easily be read as a stand alone. I found this book to be full of suspense, mystery and action packed. I little different from my normal reads, because I don't believe I have read a book that has this type of background, where everyone in the small community has a reason to be there, and vetted to know everything they can about the person. I found this to be a very good read, and I would recommend it to others.

I received and ARC from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, and I am leaving my review voluntarily.

Kelley Armstrong books never cease to amaze me and draw me directly into her storyline. They're full of suspense, bits of romance, and thrill. Her characters are full of atmosphere and her world building is easy to see.

Haven's Rock is a safe place in the deep wilderness of Canada. It's a refuge for people who need to disappear for one reason or another. The town is set up to be a full livable space. A possible rape scare alerts the towns officials that something has gone wrong. They scan everyone who gets in, so what has happened.

This is the 3rd addition in the Haven's Rock series. I read this as a standalone and it was great. I know the series as a whole will be spectacular!

5* read from me!

Thank you to Kelley Armstrong, NetGaley and Minotaur Books for allowing me this early read in exchange for my opinion.

A very exciting spin on the usual locked room mystery: this time the mystery is set in a remote town in the Yukon which has been specifically created for people who need to 'disappear' from the world.

When one woman narrowly escapes being dragged into the woods by an attacker and another is later found dead, it is obvious the killer must be one of the 70 people living in remote Haven's Rock. Detective Eric Dalton and his wife Casey get right to work to solve the crime before anyone else gets attacked but there's one problem--Casey is expecting their first child and is hugely pregnant and experiencing problems so they are torn between these high priorities. Then throw in blizzard conditions and you have one heck of an exciting, atmospheric story.

I bravely jumped in on this series after being offered an arc by the author and publisher via NetGallery. At first I felt totally lost. Not only is this the third book in the Haven's Rock series, but it is a spin-off from an earlier series called Rockton about another such community, so there was a lot of backstory to unpack. But the current story really drew me in so I relaxed and enjoyed the ride. I appreciated the crazy scenario and liked these characters enough that I might go back and read the previous books when I get the chance.

I really enjoyed this book. Admittedly, I had not read the first 2 when I read this one, which was actually fine in the context of the novel (Armstrong does a great job at filling the reader in on any important aspects of the previous books); however, given how good this book was, I do wish I read the others first. Casey is a spunky, pregnant detective who is married to town sheriff, Dalton. They run a very small community of people who require sanctuary from their previous lives. I love this concept- a community existing in complete isolation, not found on a map or any road sign. When women seem to be getting targeted, it makes the question of who is responsible all the more complex. I really enjoyed the dialogue in this book- it comes across as natural speech, making it relatable. I would definitely recommend this book (and read the first 2 so you don't miss out!). Thank you to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for the ARC!

Nice addition to the series as the isolated town is attacked Thankful the detective and he husband, the Sheriff, prove to have it under control eventually.

This was one of the best Haven's Rock books yet. A serial killer is hunting the citizens of Haven's Rock, and the killer is one of their own. There are scenes with pulse-pounding excitement. Casey is also very pregnant, so that makes hunting down the killer difficult. However, she has a whole town to support her.

Another solid installment of the Haven’s Rock series. A twisty murder to solve in the middle of the Yukon.

A little heavy on the pregnancy storyline at times and a bit too many references to Rockton, the town that’s the setting for the authors companion-type series. Those contribute to the dock in a star for me.

This is also the third book in this series that I’ve read in the past month, might be a bit burnt out, but still a good read and I’d recommend this series to others.

I received this book free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

Thrilling suspense, twisted serial killer, small isolated town, Cold As Hell… So good! I was at the edge of my seat! Definitely recommend! Storm, the Newfoundland tracking dog is amazing! This is my first book in the Haven’s Rock series. I am definitely going to read the others!

Thank you to NetGalley, St Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for this ALC and ARC!

I greatly enjoyed this third book in the Haven’s Rock series. I love the characters in this series! As always, there’s a lot of suspense and the pacing is spot on. As mentioned, this is the third book in the series, and I recommend reading the first two ahead of this one, as the author does not really provide much backstory moving in to set the scene. I believe this is meant to be the final installment, so will be looking forward to the next series!

Reading this during a couple of chilly days really made this story feel real and I was sucked into the town of Haven's Rock as a storm hits, women are being attacked and going missing, and Casey is coming up on her due date which has its own joys and fears. Haven's Rock may be small and hidden in the Yukon but so many things continue to happen, which is understandable when the residents are on the run and need protection. I love the duo of Casey and Eric, they work so well together and it is easy to see how strongly they love each other. The other long term residents, like Gunnar, Kendra, Yolanda, Will, and April who make up the core and help solve these cases are also mostly easy to like and I keep holding my breath so that nothing bad happens to them.

So, this is another great book in the Haven's Rock series, full of twists, thrills, and so much cold weather! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to dive back into the town of Haven's Rock and have another thrilling read!

I've been a fan of this series, as well as of the Rockton series from which it was spun so know that I did not have the issues with this that new readers likely will-namely that Armstrong doesn't give backstory for anyone and just thumps you down in the middle of a blizzard hitting Haven's Rock. And that was actually an issue even for me because it would be nice to be reminded sometimes of how people got there especially if, as happens once, one character says that another just learned the back story of a third. Just give us a sentence- what was that back story? This installment sees Casey, now 8 months pregnant, and Dalton hunting for a missing resident and then for the person who murdered her. They interview various residents (we are reminded repeatedly of Sebastian's back story). And all along the way, Casey is having contractions, first because the baby is in breech and then.....I like Casey and, as always, her sister April is a treat as is Eric. This would be a better book had it been edited by someone who had not read the preceding books so that gaps could have been filled and (minor quibble) the naming Mae consistent (sometimes he's Eric, sometimes Dalton, sometimes Will, sometimes Anders). All of that said, I enjoyed spending time in the Yukon and look forward to the next installment. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. Nicely atmospheric (cold!) and twisty.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of Cold As Hell by Kelley Armstrong, published by St Martin's Press
Excellent series and I think I enjoyed this last book as much if not more than the first. Great characters and plot, excellent setting and descriptions. I listened to the first 2 1/2 books on audiobook, and really enjoyed reading this 3rd and last novel. There was plenty of drama, well established characters and some great who dunnit and investigative work. This can be read as a stand alone, but reading the whole series makes it that much better. A great and thrilling read.

There is plenty of action and suspense in this story. Casey and Eric are expecting their baby soon and they may have to leave town for a while so she can be closer to a hospital. Just as they are getting ready to leave, someone is almost kidnapped. As they are investigating, a huge storm blows in and then another woman goes missing. Casey really doesn't want to go away with this going on, but she doesn't have much of a choice. Then they find the woman dead. Eric knows that she really can't leave it, but she has to go. The more she investigates, the murkier it gets. It had to be an outsider, right? Casey and Eric will have quite the story to tell their child when she is older. Good story.

In the third Haven's Rock novel, Casey is at the end of her pregnancy, and she & her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton are preparing to welcome the baby into the settlement. Then, one of the women in the settlement is drugged when she is out having a drink with friends, and someone tries to drag her off into the forest. She manages to escape, but then another woman isn't so lucky. Soon, all of the men become suspects, and it is up to Casey & Eric to figure out who is doing this to the women of Haven's Rock, and bring peace back to their safe haven.

I love this series. Casey & Eric make up an awesome partnership & they never fail to find their perpetrator, and keep Haven's Rock safe for everyone in it. I love the backdrop of the wilderness, deep in the Yukon, and all of the additional challenges that brings to solving crimes, as well as living off the grid. If you are a mystery lover then you should definitely check this series out. Each book could be read as a stand-alone, although they are like M&M's.... you won't be able to stop with just one. I highly recommend them!

Cold as Hell
by Kelley Armstrong
Pub Date: Feb 18 2025

Cold as Hell is the 3rd book in the Haven's Rock series, but can be read as a stand a lone. I did not read the first two books but after finishing this book I plan on reading them! It was full of suspense, at times I could feel my heart pounding, it definitely kept me turning the pages!

Synopsis: 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.

Many thanks to #NetGalley #StMartin'sPress for providing me and E-ARC of this 5 star book!

Kelley Armstrong returns to her secluded town in the Canadian North, Haven's Rock, for another, tense instalment in this offshoot series of her Rockton stories.

Casey and Dalton are trying to create the town they really wanted after experiencing various failures at Rockton. And things do seem to be going well. Except….this novel opens with Kendra stumbling about after a couple of drinks at the Rock, and wondering how she can keep losing time when all she had were two drinks. Then, she's grabbed and dragged into the forest. Thankfully, Sebastian was walking his dog at the time, and gets to her in time.

This puts Casey and Dalton on alert: who would do this? Why, when it's not clear exactly clear what the intent was, despite sexual assault being a possible cause.

Casey is constrained in her investigating by her 8-month along pregnancy, which has various risks, and a need to very carefully manage her energy and actions. She and Dalton begin questioning people, but have to halt things temporarily because of a blizzard. The next day, they discover another woman is missing, and begin searching as soon as conditions are clear. They eventually find the woman, dead, seemingly from exposure. Not only is something bugging Casey about the dead woman's condition, but Casey's body is complaining, and she has genuine fears for her baby. A trip to a larger centre for medical care is necessary, even during this second investigation, and a realization that even with the changes they've made at Haven's Rock, more care and rules will be necessary in the future, once they can figure out what is really happening and who the culprit is.

Wow. I could not put this book down. Having read some of the Rockton series as well as the two previous entries in this series, I was familiar with the setup of the isolated towns and the reasons behind them, and how people end up there. It's not at all critical knowledge, as Kelley Armstrong easily conveys necessary backstory in her confident and economical way. Armstrong never lets up on the tension that just keeps building till the reveal of the perpetrator, and their twisted aims. And then, she ratchets things up further, and though I'm used to Casey in danger from previous stories, this time I felt even more concerned, what with her compromised mobility. But Casey's greatest strength is her ability to keep thinking even when faced with dangerous situations, and she shows, again, why she's such a great character, and why I keep returning to this author's work: it's tautly written, with great characters at its centre, with the action and emotional moments well balanced.

I switched back and forth between the text and the audio, and Thérèse Plummer again does a great job with voicing all the characters. I love Casey's confident tones, as well as how Plummer takes us through Casey's thought processes. I also have a particular fondness for her prickly Yolanda and the wonderful Anders.

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for these ARCs in exchange for my review.