Thanks so much St Martin's Press and NetGalley.

This is book #2 in the Haven's Rock series.

The youngest resident, Max, disappears after seeing a bear, but not quite a bear. Casey and Eric are desperately trying to find him. There's something odd about this disappearance and a bunch of other odd things keep popping up.

I thought this was a good second series book. I like the behind the scenes happenings a lot more than the actual mystery. It was good, but I thought there were some confusing parts to the story. I hope there is a third book so I can follow what is going on with Casey and crew!

My Thoughts
2nd look into this series has introduced a new element, 2 children have moved to the town with their mother.

Ten-year-old Max turns out to be a youngster who keeps his wits when he needs them, learns from his mistakes and does not think Haven's Rock is a bad place to be after he, his older brother and their Mom relocate to it.

When Max sees what he believes to be a bear following the hiking party group he is in at the beginning of this story there are alarms raised, those who believe him and of course those who do not.

What starts out slowly builds quickly as other elements come into play.

For me this is once more a solid mystery that showcases how Casey and Eric have become a solid team, both in and outside the bonds of matrimony.

The books end result leaves readers with some resolution but also new avenues to look forward to exploring further as series continues.

One in particular affecting Casey and Eric I really especially look forward to!
EArc from Netgalley]
book read as soon as it is done and written up for review it is posted on Goodreads and Netgalley, once released then posted on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles as well.

I received a copy of this from netgalley in exchange for a review.

I love everything Kelley Armstrong writes, but even I was a little concerned that Haven’s Rock would just be Rockton 2.0 and not be as interesting because it would basically be the same things going on, just a different location. But like Casey and Eric, she seems to have taken all the best things about Rockton and repackaged them and added new things to keep readers intrigued.

I am sooo curious about what’s going on with the super shady mining outfit. Everything we learn about them makes me so suspicious.

And Casey’s news? I only hope it doesn’t lead to heartbreak, but I’m excited to see how a new baby is handled!

I really enjoy that they have kids in Haven’s Rock - it definitely adds a layer of intrigue because it’s worry about them in the forest, but also so interesting to see how our fave characters learn to react to them. I’m still unsure about Gunnar, but I feel like we’ll learn more about it and I’m hoping it’s all good. I did like how he was with Max before the main plot kicked in - letting Max know to trust his instincts about people.

There are definitely tough subjects that are discussed in the book - sexual assault of children, pregnancy loss the two major ones I don’t remember being in Rockton novels as much. But I think both are handled well.

I really liked Max, I felt so much for him. He definitely handled himself so much better than I would have. Carson was a PITA, but understandably.

I love how Eric cares for Casey so much. And how Casey and him have gotten so good at communication. They’re one of my fave couples.

Thank you, St. Martin's Press, for this advanced reader copy.

When I started the Haven Rock series, I was worried it wouldn’t hold up to the Rockton series. But so far, two books in it holds up. It’s a spin-off where you keep all the characters you love from the original, but the location and situation changes a bit. But the character arcs from the original keep going. It’s a great refresh to a favourite series.

Do you have to read Rockton first? No, but you should. It’s not too long, only seven books.

This adventure is a big change. It introduces new allies and enemies. And it changes the town dynamic by adding a family with children. The stakes are really high and it's a page-turner. I couldn't put it down. Already looking forward to the next one... is it 2024 yet?

The Boy Who Cried Bear, A Haven's Rock Novel, by Kelley Armstrong.

I loved the original Rockton series and am loving this Haven's Rock spinoff. Things start to really pick up and get a bit... complicated in The Boy Who Cried Bear.
Unlike the final years in Rockton, Haven's Rock allows families to join; couples, and even kids. Despite the town not being fully constructed, residents are pouring in and mixing things up a bit. And, unlike in Rockton, these residents are under the impression that they should have more of a say in how things are run, which changes the dynamics a bit.
Two of the residents to join are traumatized kids, brothers. When one of the kids goes missing the town goes into panic mode and rules are tested. Did they make the right decision to let kids into Haven's Rock?
This book is fast paced, written in Miss Armstrong's unique style. I devoured every page and cannot wait for the next installment. Five stars.

#bookreview #2023 #crimethriller #rockton #havensrock #fivestars #brothers #pedophile #wittnessprotection #wildmanofthewoods #netgalley

Great visit back to Haven's Rock with its many mysteries and intriguingly interesting concept.
Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton return with another great story centered
living in a self contained, hidden town, where everyone's past is a mystery known to none. People
come here to disappear and start a new life - with no one any the wiser on what they are fleeing from.
When one of their young residents claims to see a "bear like man" in the woods surrounding the town
and then disappears, everyone comes together to try to find out what happened and to bring him home.
And maybe his disappearance is more sinister than they imagined.
Just a great little town with so many possibilities for future stories.
Great character developments with mystery abounding around almost everyone - and a plot that just
blows the word boring right out of the dictionary.
Here's to the next visit and hoping its real soon.

“The Boy Who Cried Bear” was a fantastic read and I highly recommend!

Author, K. Armstrong writes skillfully with this book having an exceptional easy/smooth flow. I did not realize was the 2nd in a series! Regardless, this book easily stood on it is own for me not having read other titles from K. Armstrong.

I also enjoyed the parallel stories along the tale, along with multi-characters views, which made for a great detective/thriller read and one I did not put down. I was very impressed by her story telling ability and I look forward to other titles from K. Armstrong.

Thank you to both NetGalley, St. Martin Press, and Minotaur Books for providing me the opportunity to review "The Boy Who Cried Bear” prior to publication . I am appreciative and leave my review voluntarily.

The Boy who Cried Bear is the second book in the Haven’s Rock series which is a spin-off of the Rockton series. Haven’s Place is a town for people to disappear and get a fresh start. Sheriff Eric Dalton and Detective Casey Duncan run the town. When a young boy thinks he sees a bear, he goes into the woods to find it and never comes out. When a man from a neighboring town also goes missing, it is clear that something or someone dangerous is in the woods. Dalton and Duncan need to get to the bottom of it in order to protect the residents.

Another great read by Kelley Armstrong. Full of twists and turns, it will keep you turning the pages. The characters are well described and endearing. You will find yourself wanting to know more about each one. I can’t wait for the next book in the series!

The Boy Who Cried Bear is the second in Armstrong’s new Haven’s Rock series, a spinoff of her previous Rockton series that I enjoyed. This series is very similar, and there’s no need to read the previous series, or even earlier books in this one to enjoy the story (though they were good, so I’d still recommend reading em’).

The books, at this stage, are somewhat predictable - someone is going to go missing or turn up dead, people in the town are going to point fingers at one another, we’re gonna threaten to kick someone out of town. While this book had all of the elements we’ve seen in each of the last ones - it did add some new, more complex themes - including the addition of youth to the town and the dangers that come with that, alongside an unexpected pregnancy. While the story, and its conclusion were predictable, these new pieces helped keep my interest and leave me wanting more.

I know this is an advanced copy, and that some editing and formatting issues are to be expected. However, I will note that the copy I received was very confusing at the end - the chapter last chapter switched POV’s part way through, then jumped 5 days, and then the story just randomly ended, even though it didn’t actually feel like the mystery was fully resolved. Hopefully this is a kink that’ll get sorted out before publication!

Overall, 4 stars. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review.

This review is my opinion and my opinion only. I love Kelley Armstrong’s books. This is the second book in the Haven’s Rock series, a spin-off of the Rockton series. This series is about Casey and Dalton and how they are building a new Rockton. In this book, the community has started and they let a family move in. Normally, there is no children allowed, but they decided to experiment. Only problem is one of the children goes missing after saying he saw a bear with human eyes on a hike. In this book, we get to meet some of the new residents and revisit some of the old characters.
Kelley Armstrong knows how to pull a reader into the story, and never let you go. You just want to sit and read and forget everything else. lol I highly recommend this story!

4.25 stars out of 5.

This was a really good book! I did not read the first book in the series and felt this could be read as a standalone book. That being said, I am definitely going to go back and read the first book in the series since this one was so good. The characters were well written and interesting, I especially liked Eric and Casey. Once I started this book I was immediately hooked and could not put it down. I like how the ending was wrapped up and has set everything up for the next book in the series.

In The Boy Who Cried Bear, we are in the own of Haven's Rock, a town surrounded by forests and is very remote. Max, a 10 year old boy, is on a hike with others from the town when he spots a bear with human eyes. Eric and Casey set out to track the bear and neutralize the threat if needed. Then, Max disappears along with other weird events. Eric and Casey are tasked to find Max and figure out the mystery behind the bear-man.

Overall, this was an excellent mystery, thriller book that will have you on the edge of your seat. There are twists and turns I did not see coming which added to the suspense. Highly recommend!

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is the 2nd book in the Haven’s Rock series, a spin-off of the Rockton stories, as Casey and Dalton, the law enforcement duo, try and settle in to their new town. Haven’s Rock is an off the grid community in the Yukon wilderness for people who need to disappear for a while, and the focus of this book is a mother and two young sons whose father was killed after the family testified against someone. When the younger son spots what he thinks is a “bear-man” in the woods, the new town is on edge, and Casey and Dalton spring into action. This new series, like the former, does not disappoint, and the Boy Who Cried Bear flows easily, with familiar faces, an interesting and straightforward plot, and a bit of a cliffhanger ending, which sets up the next book nicely. This is a great series, and if you haven’t read any of the books, this is a good one to begin your journey, and you’ll be eager to backlist all the rest! Loved it. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this and immediately recommended it to my teens. Great story. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to reach this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Kelley Armstrong does it again. Another mystery for Casey and Dalton to solve. I enjoyed getting another glimpse into Haven's Rock and I am already looking forward to the next case. Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for my advanced copy.

I am so glad that this series has continued. I love that Casey and Eric and a few of the gang from Rockton have carried on with a new town, Haven’s Rock. One thing they have changed is that children and families are let in. This story centers around one such family, and the young boy who is in the very wrong place in a very bad time.
Great mystery, great characters, I recommend this highly.

Well-written book that is the second in the series. It is filled with suspense and mystery. I would read the first one too.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. I have read all the books in this spinoff as well as the original series (nine novels plus a novella in total). As someone who doesn’t love cold climates or wintery weather, I don’t normally gravitate to stories set in this sort of environment. But what can I say … the Rockton/Haven’s Rock series captured my attention in a way I never expected. This book is a great addition to the series and I would recommend it to any fans.

The Boy Who Cried Bear by Kelley Armstrong is an entertaining, action packed read. A wilderness adventure set in a small rural community that includes a group of unique characters. There are multiple mysteries with numerous twists and turns. Very good addition to the series.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

I loved it! This is my favorite series! I wish I could read about Detective Casey and Dalton and everyone else in the new Roc every day. The way they track through the forest and work through an investigation is fascinating. Casey is especially perceptive to personality flaws and faults in people and seeing their true nature. She's amazing. Excellent author.

The Boy Who Cried Bear (Haven’s Rock Book 2) by Kelley Armstrong

352 Pages
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books
Release Date: February 20, 2024

Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Small Town, Yukon Territory

This is the second in the book series. The town of Haven’s Rock is completed and residents are arriving. The latest arrivals are a family with a single mother, and two boys. They were in witness protection but were found and the husband was killed. The mother was also injured in the event. Her youngest son, Max, loves the outdoors. Sheriff Eric Dalton is teaching him about the wilderness, how to track and how to listen. Max is out on a group hike in the woods when he thinks he saw a bear. At second glance, he said it had human eyes. When it spots is again, he goes into the woods looking for it but does not come back out. Sheriff Dalton and his detective wife, Casey Butler must use all their skills to find the missing ten year old.

The book has a steady pace, the characters are developed, and it is written in first person point of view from Casey and Max. The writing is descriptive and I felt as if I was there in the Yukon with the residents. If you like small rural communities with mysteries, you will probably enjoy this book.