Detective Casey and her husband Eric run a brand new, off the grid community called Haven's Rock, in remote Alaska for individuals who need a safe place to hide, similar to witness protection. In this third book of the series a woman is dragged into the woods, but manages to escape her attacker, but then realization dawns that one of the other women in the community has gone missing. When she is found dead Casey and Eric must determine whether it was exposure as it seems or if there is something more sinister going on. Casey deals with a lot in this one, she truly is one bad ass woman!

I listened to the audiobook version with my hubby as well, and the narrator does an excellent job of capturing the emotions throughout the novel.

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 settled into their life, and Casey is pregnant. She is nearing delivery time, but she has a new case to investigate. Someone is taking women from the town and leaving them to die in extreme pain. One escapes, but the next night another disappears and is found dead. During a snowstorm, no one could hear her scream. The town is now in turmoil. Someone who lives there is a killer. Suspicions cause issues and Casey is afraid to leave, but knows she must for the safety of herself and her baby. Will they be able to find the killer before someone else ends up dead?

I enjoyed seeing what is happening in Haven's Rock, seeing the residents living their lives and supporting one another. When Casey's sister April discovers that there is a problem with Casey's baby, she tells her she needs to leave to have the baby. She and Eric try to prepare the others in their police force, but the murder puts a wrench in the works. I will say that this killer is really sick. As we learn more about previous deaths that were rather gruesome, I was scared for Casey. This was a complex story, one that was very atmospheric, had well developed characters and pulled me in from the start until the ending. I definitely recommend you read this series in order to see the growth of the community and meet the characters. The audiobook was well narrated by Thérèse Plummer. She is definitely the voice of this series. I enjoy the voices she gives the various characters with their accents and individuality. If you like audiobooks, I recommend you listen to this one.

This is the third entry of the Havens Rock series. I haven’t read earlier books and I didn’t feel like I needed to. However, it contains spoilers for earlier books. The series follows a group of folks that have chosen to isolate in the froze woods of the deep north, escaping their pasts. They dont even know what one another are there. The application process should vet out any bad seeds, but since this is the third book - it must not work!

Casey and Eric, a couple, are also law enforcement in the small settlement. A woman has reported being assaulted, just as a snowstorm hits. Casey is 8.5 months into a high risk pregnancy, but won’t allow the baby, her sister the physician, or Eric, to stop her from running lead on the case. This starts with an assault but soon a body turns up and things escalate. Our killer likes to put people in situations where they can watch them die, slowly. Like freezing to death, while naked and chained to a tree in the snow! Yikes! I love how that Armstrong writes diverse complicated characters! Besides a pregnant policewoman, Eric is a golden retriever husband, willing to choose his partner over anything, a physician on the spectrum, race and age diversity. Kudos! NetGalley sent me the audio version of this and I thought the sound was clear and the voices well done.


*This review will be shared on 3/10 along with a review for 5 other Armstrong books!

When I got this audiobook I did not realize it was a third in a series. However, I do feel it stood alone just fine.

The narrator, Therese Plummer, did an excellent job and made the story come to life.
I loved the characters and the dedication to their little community of misfits looking for a better life.
Alas, there's a serial killer among them! Added to that, a woman detective on the verge of having her baby any moment,
but, oh wait, she has to figure this all out first, surely builds up the intensity of the story. I absolutely loved everything about
this book and will be looking for more to read from Kelley Armstrong.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the Arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Cold As Hell by Kelly Armstrong........audio book

If you move to a remote part of the world to a safe refuge and purposefully disappear you're probably expecting a type of Garden of Eden ( albeit ensconced in snow and ice) where you can have the existence of your dreams.
Not so much in the new town of Haven's Rock. It's a communal town: skills and work is shared willingly for the peace they sought by applying to live there. Past lives and what brought you to this Yukon landscape are your secrets to keep. But there is trouble in Paradise.
One of the ladies is drugged and was a victim of an attempted kidnaping but was rescued. The second lady was not as fortunate.
The descriptives of the icy desolation and remoteness were so tangible. it was interesting to see how police react to a crime without normal conveniences of a large city to chase down a murderer. Especially in a town where they al know each other.
The characters were all quirky ......you don't move that far north without bringing some scary baggage. The fact that one of the police officers was 8 months pregnant added a normalcy to the craziness of the place.
Very engaging portrayals of the various characters and the landscape. An exciting thriller.

Audio: the narrator was on warp speed. It took me a bit to accustom myself to her tempo. It didn't deter my listening to the book but it was MUCH faster than any other audio book I have had before.

This twisty mystery casts suspicion on people you’ve grown to enjoy through both series and do not want to be the guilty party. When the book opens up, Casey is going to give birth. Her doctor is telling her to go to a hospital. And Casey keeps wandering around the forest, putting pressure to solve this case. Other people look after her to ensure she doesn’t go overboard, but she doesn’t make it easy. I hope she won’t be as frustrating in the next book. She needs to learn to trust other people.

I did not realize this is book 3 in a series as enough background information was given, I was completely confused. I do however suggest starting with book 1. I know I am still left with questions over this little settlement.

Overall, I loved the story and the mystery. Several times I was holding my breath when it came to the pregnancy and labor of the MFC.

I will be reading the first two and excited for the next book.


The narrator was great with the characters, but a little slow for me and I did have to speed the book up. I listened to it two days time.

I enjoyed this book by audio! Kelley Armstrong is new to me but I will look for more of her work. She writes with normalcy, with characters that have a sense of humor, and you laugh and worry along with them. Plus you like these characters. The narrator Thérèse Plummer did a fantastic reading. Thérèse Kept the pace, made you feel the tension, and overall brought the book to life.
This book is about a small community in the Yukon that those who are approved can disappear too. Those who need to disappear. Haven’s Rock is so small all who live there are always known and accounted for. When one disappears Detective Casey Duncan and her husband the sheriff are first to set out looking for her. Casey is 8 months pregnant but that won't stop her from doing her job. Even if she's been having false labor or is it?
As they work the case they soon discover someone around them is a sadistic killer but who could it be? Every single person living there has been carefully screened before being allowed to join this community.
As Casey pedals the layers of suspects apart she has to try and keep from having this baby as she struggles with weather conditions and off-and-on labor while trying to find a killer. Her husband Eric has to walk a fine balance between not over-protecting his wife and knowing she is the best one to help find the killer.

I was so engrossed in this story, paused it, and then it disappeared! I am so happy that the audiobook somehow found its way back onto my shelf!

This was my first book in this series but I can say it definitely won’t be my last. I will probably even start with the series before this one, although I don’t feel like it’s necessary to enjoy this book. “Cold as Hell” even works as a standalone in my opinion, if you don’t realize it’s the 3rd book in a series.

Thérèse Plummer, did an excellent job, giving personality to the characters while also making it clear when it was the voice of the narrator.

So, Haven’s Rock is remote. The residents are screened and the population tops out around 70 with one more about to make an entrance. The town detective who is married to the town’s sheriff is close to having her baby.

It doesn’t mean she is letting others investigate when one of the residents is drugged and dragged into the forest. She’s lucky. Another resident, not so much.

This book had a lot of twist and turns, including a blizzard with whiteout conditions and I was shocked at the ending.

If you like mysteries, unreliable characters (not the narrator) and a book that will keep you guessing until the end? Pick up a copy today.

#ColdAsHell #NetGalley #KelleyArmstrong #Murder #Mystery #Tension

Thank you to @NetGalley @KelleyArmstrong and @MacMillionAudio for this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

Once again another stellar book from Kelley Armstrong! I love this series and these characters.

I don't want to say too much, because I don't want to give anything away, but Casey is heavily pregnant, there is lots of snow, and a serial killer!

I want to thank Netgalley, St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for both a kindle and an audiobook of this story. I was able to read and listen off and on to this book. Having gotten a free book I still bought an the audiobook of this book for my audio library. I know that I will listen to this series again!

As always Therese Plummer adds a special something to these stories. To me she is Casey Butler!

Although you don't need to start this series with the Rockton series, I would advise it. You learn so much about the main characters if you start at the beginning.

Also Ms. Armstrong I would really love even a novella with Mathias's story!!

Another great installment in the Haven's Rock series from Kelley Armstrong. You get exactly what you expect from this book- a intriguing mystery, character development from the ones you've known since the beginning of the Rockton series, and an overall good story. I will always want to go back to this town, and see how it is progressing. The only complaint that I could have is that we don't spent as much with some of the other characters from previous books, as we have before. The narrator also did an amazing job. She really brings these characters to life for the listener.

This was my first in the series and it read well as a standalone, though reading the others might have given some background info and insight and been helpful. A group of seventy carefully selected people all wanting or needing to get away from their previous lives move to a self contained community in the Yukon. They all know the rules before signing on to live there so crime shouldn’t really be an issue. And yet, Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton find themselves days away from the birth of their child while trying to figure out which of the seventy townspeople is a serial killer. The author was so descriptive that I could visualize the environs, the people and be right along with Casey and Eric all through the investigation to its fruition. It was a dark, creepy, twisted, well narrated listen. I am very much looking forward to the next in the series.

Casey finds herself in the middle of yet another gripping investigation—only this time, she’s navigating the case while heavily pregnant, which adds an extra layer of tension and urgency. When a local resident is drugged and taken into the woods, barely surviving the ordeal, it quickly becomes clear that this was not an isolated incident. As Casey and Eric race to uncover the truth, the stakes rise when another woman from town vanishes and is later found dead. Determining the cause of death—and whether it was murder—becomes a top priority, making it essential to stay vigilant and wary of those around them.

I loved how the mystery kept me guessing, with plenty of action and suspense woven throughout to keep things engaging. Kelley Armstrong masterfully crafts a thrilling atmosphere, and listening to her books on audio enhances the experience, making it feel like a full cinematic event.

The tension, the richly developed characters, and the unpredictable twists make this a must-read (or listen) for mystery and thriller fans.

Kudos to Kelley Armstrong for crafting another suspense filled masterpiece. This was my first tango with an audiobook and I must admit, I thoroughly enjoyed every second. Therese Plummer was a brilliant voice for our beloved protagonist, Casey.

Despite being the third book in the Rockton spinoff series Havens Rock - Cold As Ice can be read as a standalone. While it can add to the reading experience, it is not necessary to have read the first two books. The story flows seamlessly enough to be appreciated on its own.

The environment and world of Havens Rock is a fully rounded character on its own. The hostile and unpredictable state of the climate creates an antagonistic setting for the real story to build on. I’ve always been intrigued by remote, Northern communities. The endurance and resilience of humankind is a testament to the power of the human spirit. It’s one thing to live in an area with extreme weather, it’s another thing entirely to seek out these places and feel empowered by the lack of technological advancements that exist in the wilderness. To live in an area so remote that there is little to no emergency help available, if you ever should need it.

All these factors considered, it’s scary place to live whilst experiencing a high risk pregnancy. Book three opens with a hot mess of realworld drama - small town acts of violence and Casey and Dalton having a major health scare.

As a reader, you’re thoroughly engrossed from beginning to end. Equal parts riveting action and suspense, driven forward by a charismatic cast of key players. Casey and Dalton are my favourite fictional couple. They truly operate as a team and have a successful marriage rooted in respect, love and honesty. Their playful banter is ever-so charming. Casey and their darling doggo Storm are the investigative dream team. I love just how much detail Armstrong has included on the canine member of the family. It takes the believability/real-world elements of the series up a few notches.

Full review available at:

https://maisonmoonchild.wordpress.com/2025/02/26/audiobook-review-cold-as-ice-by-kelley-armstrong/

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.

I enjoy this series. It is full of intensity and has a great setting! It is not necessary that you read them in order.

Now, I did think Casey’s pregnancy and the way she had her baby was a bit predictable. But I did enjoy the action. And let me tell you this is action packed and full of intensity. I mean, Casey has all kinds of safe guards in place but someone slipped by all of those and lived among them.

I love the narrator by Thérèse Plummer. She has some wonderful narrations. However, in this book, she tended to get faster during the tense moments…and there are a lot of those!

Need a good hunt for a killer…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

I really enjoyed this book even thought it was book 3, I feel I have to read the first 2 books too, no spoilers!

Cold as Hell is just another great trip to the Canadian Yukon. Casey and Dalton have the extra pressure of her pregnancy that was not supposed to be. And then the fact that Haven’s Rock is full of people with questionable pasts. And the others in the few settlements around them are not to be trusted. All of that always leads to trouble. Each installment of the two series has new residence and the chance for new trouble. This time, of course, there are murders. Our two sheriffs have to balance trying to solve the murder, keep everyone safe, and have this baby.

I really like these characters. That is what kleeps me coming back to Rockton and Haven’s Rock. I like them and I love their dog. The mostly changing supporting cast is often hit and miss. I am also often left wondering if they will ever figure that this place is just a murderer’s haven, too.

I went into this one not realizing that it was part of a series. I think I would have enjoyed the full story, and it made me want to go back and read the others, but I don't think it is necessary in order to enjoy the book.

The book is set in what seems to be an off the grid commune (which I think this is where I would have understood the background more if I had read the previous books. It is a tight community until there is a killer afoot.

Our main character is one of the three people on the police force. It was kind of a police procedural with a different kind of spin since they were their own small community.

I don't have much more to say other than I enjoyed it but would encourage people to start at the beginning of the series.

Cold as Hell is the third book in the Haven’s Rock series that’s best read in order. Better yet, go back and start with the original series: Rockton. Like Rockton was (or claimed to be) Haven’s Rock is a place of refuge for those on the run. A community off the grid and under the radar. A place for someone trying to escape a whole range of situations: a stalker, abusive partner, or an unjust conviction. Applicants are vetted for violence risk, meaning someone who poses a threat to others will not be admitted.

In this installment, Eric and Casey are getting ready for the birth of their baby, excited and nervous as the due date approaches when one of their members is drugged and narrowly escapes abduction. They’re both shocked and relieved, because it could’ve turned out so much worse, yet now they know there’s a predator in their midst. Their vetting process is better than Rockton’s, so they wonder how this could be. While investigating another woman goes missing with deadlier results.

Cold as Hell is one you want to make some time for because you’re not going to want to put it down! I love the methodical way Casey and Eric go over each mystery, checking and re-checking the facts and witness accounts. The devil is in the details! With this case the murderer is a special kind of evil and I was so worried for everyone involved! The ending was a nail-biter, and I stayed up late to finish! That last bit, how everything finally resolved was gratifying! Maybe that makes me a bit ruthless, but that needed to be done!

I’ve alternately read and listened to the entire series (and bought the hardcovers to keep on my shelf!) and I recommend either version. Thérèse Plummer narrates the audios and they are fantastic! She seamlessly performs both male and female characters and infuses them with just the right emotions bringing the story to life!

This was great! I am a huge fan of Kelley Armstrong’s writing and have really enjoyed the books featuring this group of characters. This is the third book in the Haven’s Rock series, a spin-off of the Rockton series, where we first meet these characters. I went into this book with high expectations and am happy to report they were all met. This was a highly entertaining read!

Casey is thrown into the middle of another investigation. This time she trying to solve the case while hugely pregnant, which makes things even more interesting. It appears that one of their residents was drugged and taken into the woods. She survived but it was a close call. Unfortunately, it isn’t an isolated encounter so Casey and Eric need to figure things out before more people are put at risk. I loved that the mystery kept me guessing and there was plenty of action mixed in to keep things interesting.

Therese Plummer does a fantastic job with the narration. I am a big fan of this narrator’s work and was excited to see that she performs this series. I thought that she did a great job of bringing this cast of characters to life through her reading. She adds just the right amount of emotion to her reading to take the story to the next level. I am certain that her performance added to my overall enjoyment.

I would highly recommend this series to others. I have grown to love this group of characters and was eager to see how things would work out both in the mystery and in their personal lives. I can’t wait to read more of this talented author’s work.

I received a review copy of this book from Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio.