As always with a Kelley Armstrong book, the mystery was well done and the characters feel real and like friends. I was invested and engrossed in the story from the beginning. The narrator for this series is so good! I can't wait for the next book in the series and will be sad to see this one end!

Haven's Rock is the continuation of the Rockton series and is just as fast paced and action packed. I recommend beginning with that one first. Each book can be read on its own from a mystery standpoint but the character development and relationships would be a spoiler.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

This is an excellent addition to Kelley Armstrong's Haven's Rock series and it can be read as a standalone.

Casey Duncan and her husband Eric Dalton are in charge of an isolated village in the Yukon. The town was constructed as a place of refuge for those who want or need to disappear from civilization. The surrounding woods can hold dangerous animals, so residents are not allowed to roam at will.

Max, the town's youngest resident, fears that a bear with human eyes is following him. His older brother and some of the other residents make fun of him. But, should he be believed and how dangerous is the situation! Is it a bear or a human in disguise?

As Eric and Casey continue to build Haven's Rock, young resident Max goes missing and the two must find the "bear-man" who took him.

I really enjoyed this series at the outset, but I am beginning to lose interest. There has been very little character development since the move to Haven's Rock. I am missing familiar faces and the new 'monsters' in the wilderness are less scary than those in Rockton.

The Boy Who Cried Bear is the second mystery novel in the Haven's Rock series, which is a continuation of the Rockton series. On a hike in the woods outside town, Max, the youngest resident, thinks he sees a bear. Did he see a bear? Is he making it up? Then, of course, a dead body appears, and a death investigation begins. I've loved all of the mysteries in both the Rockton and Haven's Rock series, but this one is one of the best. I'm already impatiently awaiting the next Haven's Rock mystery.

The Boy Who Cried Bear by Kelley Armstrong was a very enjoyable read. The second book in the Haven’s Rock series, introduces the reader to the growing pains felt by the members of the new compound, the deals made with their neighbors, and the potential dangers of living so far from the general population.

Unlike Rockton, Haven’s Rock is allowing children into the community. One day a 10 year old boy reports seeing a bear, or what could be a “man-bear” lurking in the woods. A search party is dispatched to check out the report, but comes back without finding anything. Several days later the boy disappears, and so the mystery begins.

The tension builds in town, with members (mostly new characters to this story) throwing around accusations, and casting doubt on Haven’s Rock’s success.

The mystery and subplots were well written, a few a bit long and drawn out, but it all worked out well in the end,

I wish to thank St. Martin’s Press | Minotaur Books, and the author Kelley Armstrong for a digital ARC of this novel supplied by NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. The book has been published Feb 20th, 2024 in all formats.

For me this was a four out of five star read

The second in the Haven's Rock series. I enjoyed this one a bit more than the first, I think because I've had time to adjust to this whole "refuge town" concept. It's still strange to me and the characters are strange too, main and secondary. But, strange is interesting! The plot centers around a young boy who goes missing after having spotted what he identified as a bear man. I thought the mystery was well done and I enjoyed getting to spend more time with these strange characters. :)

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free e-ARC of this book.

This was such a fantastic read, the secluded community of people who had to be isolated for witness protection purposes, their differing backgrounds, the tension in the air throughout, not a chosen community but one rife with distrust. A marvelous setting for a very twisty, very captivating thriller in this fantastic series. Could there be an outsider sho can gain access ? Or could someone even have fooled the system and be living in their midst with nefarious purposes ? And in this book especially, what about the kids thrust into circumstances that may resemble a wacky fieldtrip but that also don‘t allow them any contact to old friends or classmates, even to chat forums and the like ….
I loved this book and now i want to know where the story goes from here especially with the additional „complication“ revealed on the last couple of pages …

This spin-off series from the Rockton books by Kelley Armstrong keeps getting better and better! I loved the Rockton series. The concept of a town hidden in remote Canada where people can go to disappear for awhile just really intrigued me. I read every single book, and every plot kept my attention from start to finish.

Some residents of Rockton were criminals, some people were running from danger, and others just wanted to disappear for reasons of their own. Nobody knew their stories except for Sheriff Eric Dalton and his deputy, Casey Duncan. Rockton fell apart as more and more dangerous people came into town, and ulterior motives for the existence of the town were revealed. So, Eric and Casey plus several residents of Rockton, set out to form a new town, Haven's Rock.

But it seems trouble has followed them.

I'm loving this new series just as much as I enjoyed the Rockton books! Eric and Casey are now in charge, but they are finding that the basic premise of a very remote town for people who need to disappear is just a dangerous situation.The location is dangerous -- residents of Haven's Rock are told firmly that nobody is to wander into the forest alone. The forest isn't safe. And, people are dangerous. Those who need to disappear and live totally off the grid often have dark secrets, dark pasts or even darker intentions.

In this second book in the series, a young boy reports a seeing a strange man-bear thing while on a group hike in the woods. Then soon after, a dead body is discovered and the boy goes missing.

This story can be read as a stand-alone book, but I really recommend reading the Rockton series before delving into the Haven's Rock books to fully understand the characters and background.

As usual I got totally sucked into this story from the start and it kept my attention to the very last word. There is a lot going on! The suspense is awesome!

I actually read an ebook copy of this story while listening to the audio book. I love to do that especially with horror or suspense novels. I don't miss a word....and there's just something about having a suspenseful story read out loud! The audio book is a bit over 10 hours long and is narrated by Therese Plummer. Plummer did a great job of voice acting as usual! She reads at a steady pace, does a great job of voicing each character, and brings out the suspense of the story in her performance.

Another great book in this series! I can't wait for the next one! Kelley Armstrong states on her website that she is editing Book 3 while writing Book 4 in this series. Yay!! I can't wait to find out what happens in Haven's Rock next!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from St Martin's Press and listened to the audio book from Macmillan Audio. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

This book had a perfect setting to allow for the creepy element to it! A town that all the residents are there because they are running away from something. So many residents have a dark past, even murder. Plus the bear(is it really one?) and the woods add to that thriller feel.

I felt like the book to awhile to get going even after Max was lost in the woods. The twists and turns near the end kept me guessing and wanting more. This book has a bit of a classic mystery feel with Detective Casey, but really felt thriller closer to the end.

Each character's unique backstory really made this book, since that provided a lot of potential suspects.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.

KELLEY ARMSTRONG has done it again. Rockton is my favorite series and this spin off is just as good! I would give it 10 stars if I could and we have already ordered it for our library.

The Boy Who Cried Bear (Haven's Rock #2) by Kelley Armstrong
Publisher: St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Expected Publication Date: February 20, 2024

The Boy Who Cried Bear is the second 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!)

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!

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.

Haven Rock #2. Haven Rock is a secluded town in the Canadian forest, founded as a sanctuary for those who need to disappear off the grid some having been failed by the witness protection program. Detective Casey Duncan and her husband Sheriff Eric Dalton are diligent in protecting the residents and keeping things running smoothly. When ten year old Max reports seeing a bear while hiking they set out to pinpoint its location and assess the danger. When Max goes missing and a miner's body is found they suspect they are looking for a predator who walks on two legs not four. Casey and Eric are well developed engaging protagonists and the ominous wilderness setting enhanced this solidly plotted mystery novel. The premise of a hidden town founded as a safe haven for those escaping from dangerous abusive people intrigued me and I will continue to follow the series to watch its development. There is evidently a prequel series featuring an earlier incarnation of the concept Rockton which I have not read but intend to check out. Despite this and this being the second entry in the series it worked well as a stand alone. The diverse cast of characters were interesting and they seemsto be forming a close tight knit community in their isolation. An enjoyable read.

The premise is intriguing: a tiny community hidden deep in the Yukon wilderness, developed by a wealthy benefactor to house people who need to hide. Readers will like the characters and the mystery. I had not read the author before and did not know of previous books following the characters, but it was still an exciting read.

The Boy Who Cried Bear is book two in the Haven's Rock series. Haven's Rock is a spinoff of The Rockton series. These series and these characters are some of my favorite ever. I don't know what I will do when Armstrong stops writing them. I loved this one just as much as all the others and have already started re-reading it. 5 stars, duh.

The Boy Who Cried Bear is the second in the Haven's Rock series. I recommend starting with the first book but it can be read as a stand alone book. Haven's Rock is a refuge for those who have no where else to go, it's off the gird in the Yukon. I enjoyed this book but felt it was a little incomplete and hope there is another book that ties it all together. If you are a fan of Kelley Armstrong's Rockton series you will enjoy this book.
Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for my review copy.

The Boy Who Cried Bear by Kelley Armstrong is the second book in the Haven's Rock series. Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton are trying to solve a case that involves a bear that may or may not be real. Every book I've read by Armstrong has been so well-written and enjoyable, and this book was no exception. Highly recommend this book as well as the previous series of books, the Rockton series. Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned it lately, but I sure am glad I came across Kelley Armstrong’s Rockton series and I’m doubly glad she’s kept the characters around for Haven’s Rock, a spin-off series that’s not really a spin-off just kinda a continuation of a series but with a different location. Or something. However you want to look at it, I was thrilled to have the chance to hang out with Casey and Dalton in The Boy Who Cried Bear, the second book in Armstrong’s Haven’s Rock series.

Here’s the book’s description:
Haven’s Rock is a well-hidden town surrounded by forest. And it’s supposed to be, being that it’s a refuge for those who need to disappear. Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton already feel at home in their new town, which reminds them of where they first met in Rockton. And while they know how to navigate the woods and its various dangers, other residents don’t. Which is why people aren't allowed to wander off alone.
When Max, the town’s youngest resident—taught to track animals by Eric—fears a bear is stalking a hiking party, alarms are raised. Even stranger, the ten-year-old swears the bear had human eyes. Casey and Eric know the dangers a bear can present, so they’re taking it seriously. But odd occurrences are happening all around them, and when a dead body turns up, they’re not sure what they’re up against.
Since this is only the second book in the Haven’s Rock series, there’s still a lot to learn about the new hidden town. Casey and Dalton are figuring out how to run the town, who on their staff they can trust implicitly, and, you know, why dead bodies keep turning up. I can’t imagine what it would be like to be in charge of protecting folks who have escaped really crappy circumstances, only to have some people disappear and others wind up dead. Turns out living in the middle of nowhere doesn’t mean you’re safe from murder. Who knew?!

The book’s description is vague about the mystery in this one so I won't go into any specific details either. I want you to be as surprised as I was with the twists and turns. I will say that I’m really curious to see what book three will bring (even though I literally just finished book two before I started writing this…the dangers of anticipated books, eh? That you’re so excited about them and then rush through reading it because you just can’t help yourself and now you have to wait for the next one) because, well, there’s a bit of a cliffhanger at the end. Or…maybe not “cliffhanger” but…the bow isn’t as neat as you might want from a mystery. As a mystery reader, I’m a little annoyed but as a reader of this particular series? I totally get it. And I trust that Armstrong has a plan and all will, eventually, be revealed. (But seriously…why do we love book series so much? I think we’re all masochists.)

I love the characters in this series so much. There are a lot of them but they really do all have a purpose. It’s like Haven’s Rock itself. You wouldn’t be there - and definitely wouldn’t be staff - if you didn’t have a particular reason for being there. I loved being able to get more of a glimpse into Casey and Dalton’s married life (they have such a great, and unique, partnership) and see how some of the other former Rockton residents were faring. I will say there’s a side, more personal, storyline, in this one that is one I personally dislike but it’s very much a Me Thing, as much as I wish it hadn’t been brought into the series.

There are a number of times biases, especially around race, come up in this particular story. Armstrong is White (or at least very much White presenting) but Casey is Asian Canadian (I think Chinese but admit I cannot recall exactly) and there are a few other characters who are not White. In this story, Anders and Yolanda talk about being one of the only Black people in their towns. And another resident spews some ridiculous (and harmful) BS right to Casey’s face about “you people” being smart. Ugh, just reading it makes me rage because I know there are real people out there making those same assumptions based solely on racial stereotypes.

I really enjoyed The Boy Who Cried Bear and am so glad I saved it for a long weekend “treat” for myself. Kelley Armstrong has created a great series that’s so enjoyable (if you could call a series that features murders etc. “enjoyable”...) and I already cannot wait for the third installment.

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, Minotaur, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

I love Kelley Armstrong's books...it doesn't matter which genre it is. Rockton is one of my favorite series by Kelley Armstrong and I'm loving Haven's Rock just as much. Here we have book 2 and Casey and Dalton are looking for a missing boy from their wilderness community. It's been fun watching their relationship grow through each book and I can't wait for the next installment!

I also listened to the audio version. Therese Plummer is one of my favorite narrators, so this was an enjoyable one to listen to!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Publication date: 20 February 2024

The second Haven’s Rock novel picks up some time after the first book. There are more people in town; Casey wonders if they’re all vetted sufficiently. This concern grows when Max, a ten-year-old, disappears in the woods after saying he caught sight of a bear man. No one believes that it's sasquatch, or that the boy even saw anything, as his older brother feels.

Casey, Dalton and Storm begin searching, concerned for the boy’s welfare, and others in town are in some cases sympathetic, and in others dismissive, assuming the worst of the boy’s single mother, who is Latinx and whose reason for being in Haven’s Rock and the boy’s disappearance surely is drug-related. No bigots present in this town....

Casey and her older sister are still working on their relationship, but in addition to the disappearance, Casey has a health concern, which her sister April is annoyed Casey did not investigate years earlier. Casey is nauseated, dizzy, exhausted, and has missed her period.

So even though neither she nor Eric talked about children, this extra weight lands on her shoulders while the pair exhaust themselves trying to find the missing boy. They must, unfortunately, infringe on their neighbour's land, which has a secretive mining operation on it with suspicious a security team guarding it, and learn a few new concerning things about the settlement.

I have read much of Kelley Armstrong's work, and find her plotting and pacing compelling, and her characters well drawn, who experience extraordinary things while often struggling with personal or professional problems. Casey is someone I immediately liked in book one of Armstrong's Rockton series, and she continues to be competent, smart, vulnerable, and prone to self-doubt when dealing with her sister or when asking for things for herself. She's further along her journey, and I like that though Armstrong is slowly doling out bits of information about the mysterious neighbours, she leaves us with plenty of great character moments for Casey and even for young Max, who is in quite a lot of danger for most of the novel.

I thoroughly enjoyed this new exciting entry in this series, and cannot wait for the next Haven's Rock story.

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

Quick take: 4 stars. More Yukon whodunnit vibes, but with a kidnapping. I had no idea reading about people tracking other people in the woods would be compelling to me.