*Review will be posted on 7/5/24

I was so excited to receive this ARC and return to Kelley Armstrong's Haven's Rock series. One of Armstrong's greatest strengths is she always finds a way to keep her stories fresh. She anticipates what her story/reader needs and fills the gap. 

In this book, she challenges Eric and Casey as a couple by revisiting an old topic. I don't want to spoil too much, but it definitely forced them to face Casey's past and consider their future together in a new way. I love it and can't wait to see them grow together. Plus, I imagine it will come with new challenges considering their jobs and the nature of the town. 

As for the plot and the investigation, it had some bumps but I really loved it overall. It was great getting the victim's POV and seeing their attempts to survive and escape. There was a lot going on in this book; the missing boy, the mother's backstory, the mining company, and some other details meant to distract or mislead. I think it might have been a bit too busy compared to her other books, but not enough to make it unenjoyable. 

And speaking of the mining company, I'm glad we were able to learn a little more about them in this book (or at least interact with them). In comparison, I think it took us longer to interact with the hostiles in the Rockton series. 

The ending was exciting and left me eager for the next book. I can't wait to see what happens next between Haven's Rock and the miners. Plus, I'm eager to see more of Casey and Eric. Overall, it's definitely worth continuing the series!

The second book in the Haven's Rock series did not disappoint. Continuing with the small community of Haven's Rock and its residence. The book was slow, but once it got going it did not slow down. There were also times that the bear storyline seemed overdone. I enjoyed learning more about the resident's of Haven's Rock, especially their backgrounds. I can not wait to seen what else Kelley Armstrong has in store for the resident's of Haven's Rock.

The audiobook was paced beautifully. The narrator, Thérèse Plummer, did a fantastic job of bringing Casey Duncan to life.

3.5 rounded up to 4 starts for Goodreads.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced listening copy, and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for an ARC of this book.

"The Boy Who Cried Bear" by Kelley Armstrong is a delightful tale that combines mystery and adventure with a touch of whimsy. Armstrong's engaging storytelling and relatable characters make this a compelling read for young and old alike. The plot is well-paced and keeps readers intrigued throughout. This book is a solid 4-star read for anyone who enjoys a good mystery with a fantastical twist.

I have loved Kelley Armstrong's previous books in this series and the rockton ones before it -- but this one really lacked stakes. I DNF-ed at 30% because I just couldn't keep my interest in it. It didn't feel like anything was happening and the mystery wasn't enough to hold my attention.

I didn’t realize this was the second book in a series, but it can be read as a standalone. The author provided enough backstory that I didn’t feel as if I’d missed much.

Haven’s Rock is kind of an alternative for witness protection. It’s a small, well-hidden town whose residents undergo an approval process before being allowed entrance. Ten-year-old Max, his older brother, and mother are there after being the victims of a horrific tragedy. During a hike, Max and another person see a bear. But only Max gets a close look – and he swears it had human eyes. A couple days later, Max disappears.

The series revolves around Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton, characters I immediately liked. She’s an exceptional investigator, he’s a talented tracker, and they’re both intelligent and logical – exactly the type of people you’d want on your side for a missing persons case. And then a body turns up, which increases the stakes even more.

A few of the chapters are told from Max’s POV. He’s learned about the forest from Sheriff Eric and has experienced more tragedy that anyone his age ever should. He’s smart and a survivor. With a few suspicious characters in the town and a mining camp nearby, there are enough suspects to keep the reader guessing. The secluded wilderness and its wildlife are an added element of danger. Just when you think the mystery is solved, guess again. The author adds some nice twists while wrapping up this mystery and setting the stage for the next book.

I found it difficult to put this novel down and finished it in a couple sittings. I’ll be looking for the next book in the series and reading the first while I wait. Recommended for readers who enjoy complex, well-developed characters, nail-biting mysteries, and survival stories.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Haven's Rock is a place where people go to disappear. Then, one of the youngest residents, Max, reports seeing a bear in the woods shortly before disappearing. Casey and her husband Eric lead the search to find him, but is the bear really a bear? Other sightings suggest there is a wild man out in the woods wearing a bear skin. Did he kidnap the missing boy, or did someone from Haven's Rock or the nearby secretive mining camp have something to do with it?

This book is the second book in a series, but I didn't read the first book (because I didn't realize it was actually a series until I was a few chapters in, oops!), but I don't think you absolutely need to read the first book to understand this one. I kind of like this idea of a utopian style community in the middle of nowhere where you get in on your merits, not on how much money you have (though I think you can also buy your way in but still have to be approved by a council so money doesn't always guarantee you entrance). This particular community seems to focus more on people with questionable pasts who are not the sum of their past action, rather the sum of what they'll do in the future. There are disturbing elements to this book (mentions of pedophilia), but there is nothing graphic on page, nor is it implied to any of the minor characters.

I have always enjoyed Kelley Armstrong's books, having read many of her early paranormal books, and I was really interested to see how she handled a book set in the "real" world without any paranormal elements--though there are a few things in this book that make you think that maybe...maybe there's something supernatural out there masquerading as a bear.

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.