First of all, I am so glad this is the same narrator from the Rockton novels. There could not be a better narrator for these two series.
Cold as Hell is the third book in the Haven's Rocker series. This book could be read without having to read the other two, but I recommend reading the first and second book to have a back story for the characters.
Casey and Eric first meet in the original Rockton series where they did not get along at first. Now, they have a town if their own to try and make it better.
Casey and Eric are expecting their first child, and it comes with some complications. Casey is a bad ass detective who is solving crimes while pregnant.
Even though they are trying their hardest to make it better, Casey and Eric find themselves faced with problems they never thought would happen with the security measures they take to let someone into their town.
Cold as Hell has all new twists and suspenseful turns. No one knows what lies behind the corner.

I adore this world Kelley Armstrong has built! I am a huge fan of books with a small town survival feel and this series is exactly that. I know this series is a mystery/thriller but I still feel like I am visiting ld friends with each book. As always I didn't know who the bad guy is until the big reveal. I love Casey and Eric so much but I also love all the main side characters like April & Will. At the end of this book I was left wondering how the changes in Casey & Eric's lives will effect the next book. I know it will be different and I am here for it!! I feel like if Kelley Armstong decided to write 100 booka in this world I would stick around for them all! Can't wait for book 4!

I don't really feel like I need to bother reviewing the narration because it is Therese Plummer and she is ALWAY awesome!!

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.

Ok wow! This is my first time reading any book from Kelley Armstrong, and it will definitely not be my last! I was perusing through #NetGalley and saw the cover and title and they intrigued me a lot! So I put in a request and I’m so glad I was approved! What I realized later on is that this is part of the Havens rock series, but before starting this book I googled if I needed to read the others prior to this one and this was the answer:

Not strictly necessary:
“Cold as Hell” can be read as a standalone, but you might miss some character depth and plot nuances

So even though it is recommended to read the first two, it is not necessary… I will be going back and reading the first two though! I was just wanting to get this one finished as soon as possible so I can review it! I loved the FMC Casey! Talk about badass!! The story follows her investigation while in her third trimester of a somewhat complicated pregnancy but she is so dedicated to her job and keeping Havens rock a safe place! The story is Action packed, and kept me guessing the whole time. The central case, involving a drugged resident and a frozen body in the woods, unfolds with plenty of intrigue. The isolation of Haven’s Rock, compounded by a snowstorm, enhances the sense of claustrophobia and danger, making this a true winter thriller.
I cannot recommend this book enough… And now I’m gonna go and find the first two so I could read those also!!

Lastly, I loved this as an audio! The narration was perfect! Thank you Kelley Armstrong, NetGalley and Macmillan audio for a chance to listen/review this❄️🩵

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!

The narration by Thérèse Plummer was absolutely incredible! I loved how she brought this book to life!

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
Narrated by Thérèse Plummer
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Expected Publication Date: February 18, 2025

This book had me guessing the entire time. It was well written and kept my interest. Honestly I didn't predict the ending!

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.

Therese Plummer’s narration is outstanding and she is quickly becoming one of my favorite narrators.

I look forward to more titles in this series.

Casey has to be the dumbest pregnant woman on the planet. I suffered through this one.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

Such a great books with so many twist! It kept me on my toes the whole time! I really hope there is a fourth that will be coming out!

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.

Thérèse Plummer did a great job narrating this story and I am glad that she has been narrating these books since the start of the Rockton series.

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.

I’ve been excited about finally getting around to this new installment. The Haven’s Rock (HR) gang, Erik, Casey, Will, April, and the rest of the staff and residents of this secret sanctuary, in the Yukon, are all back for the latest mystery and drama that comes from living off the grid like they do. HR was specifically established for folks who need to “disappear” and unlike the former compound, Rockton, HR allows couples and families with children, which creates a whole new level of challenges for Sheriff Eric and lead detective, Casey, and the rest of the folks that make up the small staff that run HR.

The book summary introduces the primary storyline that picks up several months after the last one because Casey is now eight months pregnant and is experiencing a mixture of excitement and anxiety about the impending birth. Casey has never gotten this far along before and is trying not to worry about all the things that “might/could” happen. She misses her ankles and is sooo over hubby Erik’s over protectiveness and coddling. So, when HR resident/staffer, Kendra, is drugged, attacked, and dragged out into the forest, in the dead of night, Casey wants to go all in to investigate who attacked her and bring them to justice. Fortunately, a fellow resident, Sebastian, heard her screaming and came to her rescue and scared off the attacker. Or did he? Hmmm…

Most of the story revolves around the investigation of the Kendra’s attack and Erik, Casey and Will, the other detective, focus on the HR men, assuming that Kendra’s attacker is a man who wanted to rape her. It’s not long before another resident, Lynn, goes missing and is found the next day in the forest, not far from HR; she was naked and frozen to death. Or was she? Hmmm…

There is also the secondary storyline of Casey’s impending childbirth that is complicated with a bout of false labor concerns. Because of the complications that could arise and her doctor’s concern for her and the baby’s health, Casey and Erik are going to fly into Whitehorse (where the closest medical facility is), but are grounded because of a huge blizzard that has blown in. This also makes it more difficult to investigate the case.

The end comes fast and in a wild and crazy flurry of freaking scary and intense scenes and passages. It had me both on the edge of my seat as well as cracking up. OMG!!! All #%!! breaks loose and Casey is a total bad@$$!!! LOVED the final ending too!!!

The continuing character development of Casey and Erik along with a couple of other staff members was well done. I like how Armstrong revealed more about the backgrounds of some of the staff members and residents. The pace was steady to fast with a very interesting storyline. The writing was on par for the series, which is to say that there are still the comparisons of HR to Rockton. Three installments in and those comparisons should be getting less and less. HR is its own location and is different than Rockton. I’m looking at an overall rating of 4.4 that I will be rounding down to a 4star review. I want to thank NetGalley and St Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #StMartinsPress #MacmillanAudio #ColdAsHell

*1/31/24- Updating for the audiobook release. I’m bumping the rating up to 4.5 because Thérèse Plummer’s narration makes every book better!!

8/8/24- I’m ever so glad that the Rockton series continues! It’s a challenging series to write at this point because the new community is small enough that pulling off a surprise mystery becomes harder with each book. I guessed the “baddie” early enough, if only by process of elimination. I had issues with some of Casey’s decisions at the end, but I’m looking forward to what’s next for the gang. I hope we see more of the core group in the next one!
*Thanks to St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ebook copy

These books are perfect for all my crime junkies who love a good CSI crime or detective book. I started with Murder at Haven’s Rock (the first book), and I loved the Alaskan wilderness setting. It was so fun to see all of the mysteries unravel. I also enjoyed the audiobook narrator on these as well. Definitely recommend!

This was a bit of my mistake not realizing that this was book 3 of a series and maybe I would have felt more of a connection to the characters having read the first two books. A good crime novel and I enjoyed the narrator. It was okay as a stand alone but may go back and read the first two sometime. Its was a quick and it kept me engaged.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this audiobook.
3.5 star

OH. MY. GOSH! This book about sent my anxiety through the roof!! I’ve read all of the Havens Rock series books, and while I enjoyed the others, this one ramped up the intensity in a big way.

I find the whole concept of a hidden town off the grid so intriguing, and Armstrong has done a great job setting up the atmosphere through each book as the town grows and mysteries surround each one. With Casey being 8 months pregnant (with a high risk pregnancy to boot!) in this third book, it just really escalated the danger and intensity. I was fully invested in seeing where the story went and Wow, it did not disappoint! Can not wait to see where the series goes from here!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my ALC in exchange for my honest feedback!

4.5 stars! I am a new fan of Casey Butler and her investigative skills! Although I have never read any of this author’s books, The audiobook narrator was phenomenal. She made the story so immersive and very enjoyable. Not only that, but I appreciated how the characters were written. They were diverse and received well by myself as a woman of color. The book also had queer representation which is always a positive in my books. Although I know Casey has solved investigations in previous books, I didn’t feel like I couldn’t follow the story as the character development was concerned.

I will absolutely be listening to more audiobooks from this author, but only if the narrator is the same. Because she did amazing.

Thanks to netgalley for my first ALC!

I love this series, it definitely needs to be read in order or you will not understand anything, I don't know why this one just didn't work like the others did for me. It was good suspenseful and fast paced, but there was just something that was missing that I got from the others that I didn't get from this one. The story had some inconsistencies and things that just did not make sense. I will still continue this series, but it just wasn't my favorite.

I didn't realize when I requested this ARC book that it was part of a series, so I will have to go back and read books one and two. Even without reading them, though, I was able to enjoy this book immensely. This novel is perfect for thriller and murder mystery fans!

Imagine living in a town hidden deep in the Yukon wilderness where no one knows where you are. That is Haven's Rock—a safe place for people looking to escape trauma and life. Life seems ideal with a profoundly in-depth intake process and only 70 residents. Everyone works and contributes to the town until one day, a woman is drugged and almost abducted. A few days later, another is found murdered; now, 8-month-pregnant detective Casey and her sheriff husband must work to solve the case before the birth of their baby. But how could this have happened? Everyone goes through extensive background checks before being brought to Haven. In a town the size of Haven's Rock, it should be easy to figure it out, but with a blizzard pushing in on the town it is anything but. The misdirection in this book was beautiful, and it kept you guessing until the end who the murderer was.

The narrator did a great job of inflicting tone and emotion into their reading, and I was hooked from the beginning. The fast pace keeps you engaged and waiting with bated breath to discover what happens next.

This one definitely kept me guessing throughout the book. A place for anyone looking to start over and you don’t have to share your past….. what could possibly go wrong!?!? Very good story building, I felt like I was watching it first hand!!