The Boy Who Cried Bear by Kelley Armstrong
Haven’s Rock series #2. Spinoff of the Rockton/Casey Duncan series. Thriller police mystery.
Detective Casey Duncan and husband Sheriff Eric Dalton are the founders and enforcement of the remote and isolated small community of Haven’s Rock. Max is the youngest of the town residents and he, like everyone else, is taught to be mindful of the wilderness and not to go into the woods on their own. On a hike, Max feels their group is being followed. He catches a glimpse of something brown between the trees and voices a warning. He swears it had human eyes though no one is sure what that means. When a dead body is found and Max goes missing, it’s lockdown for the community while Casey and Eric search for clues and tracks in the woods.

Pulse pounding suspense as they figure out what’s going on even as Casey is sick. She’s still out tracking with Eric and their search dog doing their best to find Max before it’s too late.

🎧 I alternated between an ecopy and an audiobook copy. The narration is done by Therese Plummer who does a fantastic job of keeping the reader on the edge of the seat. Emotions are clear, with separate voices for Eric and Casey and several secondary characters. The same narrator does both this series and the Rockton series so the minute you start listening, you are already visualizing the woods, the remote and roughly built cabins, and the big loving dog. You can feel the cold because we’ve already been here and know what to expect.
The continuity is a great aid to throw you into the setting and the performance will keep you engaged.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and publisher Macmillan Audio.

Good follow up to the first in the mystery-thriller Haven's Rock series. Armstrong has created a secret society in the wilderness of Alaska where people can escape. Many people have found sanctuary here, including a family looking to hide. Max, one of the boys in the family, is startled when he thinks he may have seen a bear in the woods during a hike. The bear looks suspiciously like a bear-man, so he informs the town's Detective Casey and Sheriff Eric Dalton about the possibility of someone dangerous in the woods. After Max goes back into the woods alone to prove what he saw, he is kidnapped. Casey and Eric do what they do best: find missing people. Was Max kidnapped by the bear-man or someone even more threatening?

You do not need to read book 1 to understand the premise of this one because Armstrong does an incredible job introducing everything. The story is told primarily through Casey's POV with Max thrown in periodically. There are many trails to search, people to interview and Casey's story kept me glued to the pages. Casey and Eric are married and this was a nice addition to the story. Their relationship is very sweet and gave me some moments of rest that were needed - especially being able to see that these people have lives beyond their jobs.

There are many subplots in this book, including Casey's backstory about her ability to get pregnant, a neighboring mining corporation with intense security issues and other society members' reasons for being in hiding. All of these may seem like too many to keep track of, but Armstrong does an incredible job of keeping them credible. I was slightly disappointed by the ending only in the sense that most of the subplots were not concluded, which leads me to believe there is another book coming. But this wouldn't be a bad idea. I am definitely intrigued by this series.

Thank you Netgally, Minotaur publishers and Kelley Armstrong for the ARC.

I was not aware this was a second in the series but halfway through realized but kept reading. I believe reading the first one would have given me a background to some things but for the most part I was able to read without issue. I wi go back and read the first one in the series.

I enjoyed the story line and the characters. The mystery was good but didn’t much care for the ending but figure it’s due to possibly more books to come in the series. Would I recommend this book yes but read the first one before.

Detective Casey Duncan and Sheriff Eric Dalton are back for another exciting and dangerous adventure within their new town of Haven's Rock!

Casey and Eric have been working hard to create their own town in the Yukon which offers refuge to people whose lives have been in extreme danger and they have a need to disappear. Haven's Rock is in it's very early stages and they only have about twenty-four people in the community so far and two of them happens to be children which is a completely different situation for them to handle since children or families were not allowed in Rockton previously and this could open the door to different sets of problems if not handled properly.

The youngest boy is only ten years old and one day on a learning hike he thinks he sees a bear following the group but the bear is walking on two legs and has human eyes. Casey and Eric are unsure what to make of this sighting although they know the child saw something upsetting and they will investigate the forest because there could be a rogue or sick bear near their town especially when the bears should be in hibernation but many of the adults laugh the sighting off leaving it to a boy's imagination or in need of attention.

Strange occurrences around town begin to cause distrust and chaos among the community while Casey and Eric search for answers and when a dead body unexpectedly turns up in the forest and a missing person in town doesn't leave any clues to their whereabouts, they wonder if Haven's Rock will still be able to have a future since their whole community may be in danger from unknown human predators as well as wild animals.


Kelley Armstrong has done it again and written another wonderful and exciting standalone book to her new series of Haven's Rock. I can't get enough of her Yukon series with it's many flawed characters and personalities that make me crave the adventures of their patrons, many who have criminal pasts. The excitement stems from the townspeople being thrust into more or less primitive environment when compared with the lives they have all left behind. The only way in or out of Haven's Rock is only by small planes or helicopter plus there isn't any electricity so obviously no cell towers for internet or phones which are not allowed so every resident is kept safe and the town will always keep their anonymity and be safeguarded from the public ever being aware of Haven't Rock existence.


This book involving some new and old characters and bringing in children to the storyline just added another dimension to the isolated wilderness and the dangers that abound around every corner. If anyone gets hurt badly the nearest hospital is hours away although they do have a doctor on site who just happens to be Casey's sister, April. There were several different storylines within this novel and it really had myself guessing and guessing but the way all the back-stories intertwine is just magic! I always feel a little sad when I finish these books since I get so immersed in these terrific characters'. lives and the atmospheric writing of the isolation of the forest and the town only having the bare necessities of survival. This is a testament to the outstanding writing and storytelling by this wonderful and clever author!

I highly recommend "THE BOY WHO CRIED BEAR" to all readers and I can't wait for the next book to come out in this superb series!


I want to thank the publisher "St. Martin's Press" for the opportunity to read this novel and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!

I have given a rating of 4 1/2 OUTSTANDING AND ISOLATED 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌠 STARS!!

This is the second book in the series, which is a spin-off of the Rockton books. What a great story, but now I have more questions. What are those miners up to? I recommend reading the Rockton series first to see why they are at Haven’s Rock. ARC provided by Netgalley, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The second Haven’s Rock finds Casey investigating rumors of a bear roaming close to town. As she investigates, she realizes there might be something more nefarious going on.

I’d recommend reading the first in this series before this just so you are familiar with the premise of Haven’s Rock. If you liked that one though, you will enjoy this one!

Away from civilization in an off the grid town, a boy who saw a bear-man goes missing. Every moment counts, but is the threat out there in the wilderness or closer than they think for Casey and Eric. The latest installment in the Haven Rock series kept the suspense taunt from cover to cover.



The Boy Who Cried Bear is the second in the Havens Rock series which is a follow up series to the Rockton series. One could read this latest out of order in a pinch, but for the full, wonderful experience getting the original Rockton series and then this series in order is for the best.



The first book, Murder at Haven’s Rock, placed Casey, Eric, and the wonderful Rockton gang into a new setting and also introduced a few more characters who are settling in as wonderful, quirky recurring figures who I was glad to encounter again. Even that ominous group in the mining camp and the interesting and isolated lady photographer and her wolf add to the color.



The focus of the book is a missing child, but of course there are layered elements surrounding the situation so Casey and Eric have a multi-layered case to solve involving some of the newer residents of Haven’s Rock with their secret pasts and potential secret agendas. The intrigue that this world of books is known for is building as the series arc moves into the second book. I like feeling that build even as there is a current adventure going on.



Also, on a private and relational level, Casey and Eric’s relationship has come to the point when the question of starting a family has come up. Casey’s traumatic past comes into play as she wonders if she can even carry a baby to term and if there would be more than the usual complications in delivery. They said they wanted kids at some point in the future and would put a pin in that discussion, but Casey is spotting physical evidence right and left that she might have accidentally blew past that discussion when she accidentally missed taking her daily pill. My heart was there with her as she wrestled with this and wondered about Eric’s reaction all while they are burning every waking moment searching for a missing child.



There were some great twists toward the end and the climax was as riveting as I could want. The denouement was good wrapping up some matters and leaving others tantalizingly open so I’m anticipating the next book hard.



I can’t recommend this series and the earlier Rockton series enough.

The Boy Who Cried Bear was a captivating read which had Casey and Dalton dealing with several issues. I enjoyed being back in the Yukon with them and the community members who I was introduced to in the first book in the series. They are an interesting, and for the most part, likeable bunch. Plus, those dastardly miners always seem to pop up.

The central mystery in this book is what happened to Max. Where could he be? Has someone taken him? Did he get lost in the woods? As the search goes into high gear, rumors swirl in the community of Haven's Rock. Fingers will be pointed, suspicions will be made, and some residents will show their true colors.

I also appreciated how Armstrong dealt with trauma in this book. Many characters deal with trauma, loss, PTSD, guilt, and relationship issues in this book. They are all handled with care.

I love Kelley Armstrong's books, and this was no exception.

This is Haven's Rock book #2 by New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong. This book does make reference to things that occurred in book one; however, it's a good stand-alone. There did seem to be a lot of different characters at the beginning and it was a little work to learn who was who. I haven't read book one, but I will be sure to now that I have been introduced to the excellent writing of Kelley Armstrong. I also look forward to the next book in this series.

"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," Haven Rock is located in the Yukon, which is a territory in northwest Canada. It's known for being wild with lots of mountains and few people. In a way, the setting itself is like a character in this book.

The novel starts with getting to know some of the characters. And after ten-year-old Max sees a bear with human eyes while on a hike, the story becomes pretty much nonstop action. I found myself turning pages and wanting to know more. I also speculated who were the good guys and who weren't. I found the book compelling, well-written, and layered, including a subplot involving the married duo: Detective Casey and Sheriff Dalton.

It's easy to understand why this book is an Amazon Editors' pick for Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense.

Many thanks to Minotaur Books, Kelley Armstrong, and NetGalley for my ARC (Advance Reader Copy). Publication is set for Feb. 20, 2024.

In the second book in the Haven's Rock series, Max, the town’s youngest resident—taught to track animals by Sheriff Eric Dalton—fears a bear is stalking his hiking party, and the 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. When Max goes missing, it is a race against time to try to find him before the bear (or whatever it is that Max saw) finds Max.

I love this new series. I was already a big fan of the previous Rockton series, that this is a spin-off of. On top of the mystery in this book, there is a big surprise in this book, which I will not reveal because I do not want to spoil anything, but I am SO excited. I can't wait to see the trajectory this will send the series on. If you are a fan of mysteries, then this is an excellent series. I highly recommend it!

The Boy Who Cried Bear is the second book in the Haven's Rock by Kelley Armstrong, having more insight into the characters as the story progresses. Everyone is free to go or stay as long as they abide by Haven’s Rock’s rules. In the Yukon, this is a place for those needing a refuge or disappear from their past life. Because it is in the wilderness, there are dangers. However, it still remains to be people that are the most scary and dangerous. In this case it is a preteen boy who is missing, a sighting of a bear, or is it a bear and an unwelcomed nearby miner’s camp. The plot is complex but smooth, making it a compelling read.

The characters include the eclectic staff and the people who have come to stay there. Some of them I like and some I loathe, not necessarily because they were villains in this book. Yet, all are interesting as I formed opinions about them. Perhaps my opinions will change as the series continues. It certainly did for one supporting character as his past is revealed in this story.

Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton build this sanctuary as such after the problems at a place called Rockton from which this series is a spin-off. I did not read that series but do not feel that I am lacking in enjoying this one because of that fact. The case is solved completely in this story but did leave some unanswered questions.

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Reading challenge category - 2023 Booklist Queen: animal on the cover ("bear")

Thanks to #Netgalley for the ARC.

Haven's Rock is a small town in the Yukon forest that basically functions like an off the books witness protection program. (You'd think they'd make it further than 10 miles from the local mining civilization, but *shrug*). One of the first two kids to be in town, Max, thinks he sees a bear-man and then goes missing. Casey, the town detective, and her husband Eric, the town sheriff, investigate his disappearance and find unexpected things along the way.

This was a very slow start, even though I had just finished the first book. It really feels like a series for people who read the Rockton series. I am not invested in these characters, so the personal storyline throughout felt unnecessary and hollow. It was an okay read, but I don't think I'll continue the series if she writes more. 3/5 stars.

I have read all of the previous books in regard to these characters. I enjoyed this book. The suspense was there. I was a little disappointed with the ending. Louie was not explained enough. The miner problem was left too vague.

Enjoyable story of select families in witness protection. Hidden away in a new encampment for their safety, but sometimes even that may not be totally safe. Best selling author Kelly Armstrong has written another wonderful story. 10 year old Max spots a bear…with human eyes??? Now Max is missing and Detective Casey and her husband, Dalton must solve the mystery.

Do you like reading long series? This is my 9th Casey Duncan book - while it’s the second in the Haven’s Rock series, it’s a spin-off from the Rockton books. What I love about staying with a long series is the comfort of catching up with characters that feel like old friends. Instead of spending the first few chapters trying to orient yourself to a new location and all new characters, you can just slip back in and see how everyone’s doing!

That said - this wasn’t my favorite in the series. I felt the actual case was just so-so but I loved catching up on Casey and Dalton and seeing the changes in their relationship. I also want to mention these books are excellent on audio! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the free ebook and audiobook to review.

Let me start by saying I am a HUGE Kelley Armstrong fan. This series has my entire office in a chokehold we have a bookclub basically going. So I'm not going into this unbiased.

With the first children entering Haven's Rock immediately things go awry. Casey and Eric's dynamic is great, the plot while predictable as a broad scope always leaves me guessing on the whodunit train right until the end. We are roughly 9 books in this series and where I normally fatigue out with longer series Kelley's storytelling always has me coming back.


As per usual Kelley has left me wanting more and I will absolutely be adding this to my physical collection once released.

“The only reason people like that let you live is if you have something they want. If you saw something, they want you dead. The dead don’t talk.”

A young boy, while trekking through the woods, sees what he initially thinks is a bear. He soon realizes that is actually seems to be a man 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 a bear suit.

This is a solid murder mystery focused on a remote town deep in the Yukon Territory designed to be invisible and protect those that don’t wish to be found. When I started this book I didn’t realize it is book 2 in the Haven’s Rock series. Although fine as a stand alone I did have some questions initially that I feel may have been answered if I had read the first book (Murder At Haven’s Rock). It definitely felt like I was missing something.

Detective Casey Duncan is such a bad ass and I loved her character! I loved her dynamic with her husband Eric Dalton, who never tries to extinguish her fire. My favorite type of man!

The audiobook was done well and I enjoyed listening to it.

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books, and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Let me preface my review of this novel by saying I received an advance copy from the publisher with the express purpose of providing my honest opinion. Despite not having read any other books in this series or about these particular characters, the ample backstory provided got me engrossed immediately.

Set in a small town nestled in the Yukon, the community comprises individuals seeking to vanish and escape their past lives. Among them is a mother and her two children. When ten-year-old Max is kidnapped, Casey, the town's detective, and her husband Eric, the sheriff, are tasked with tracking down the kidnapper.

Without revealing crucial plot points, the story captivated me from the outset. The concept of a town populated by people fleeing their pasts due to unfortunate circumstances is a refreshing and unique setting. I particularly appreciated that the main protagonists, while "the good guys," are deeply flawed and carry their own traumas, steering clear of typical white knight tropes. The diverse cast left me eager to learn more about their individual stories and histories.

The plot kept me guessing, with enough red herrings to throw me off the trail until the very end. I eagerly anticipate the next book in this series—I'm completely hooked!

The Boy Who Cried Bear is the second book in the Haven's Rock series, which is in itself a continuation/sequel to the Rockton series. While this series can be read on it's own, you'll be doing yourself a disservice if you don't read Rockton first, as it's amazing.

Our protagonist is Detective Casey Duncan, and she and her husband Sheriff Eric Dalton are in charge of a hidden town deep within the wilds of the Yukon, called Haven's Rock. This town acts as sanctuary for people who desperately need a new start, and a safe place to hide. The Yukon isn't a safe place to wander on your own, so between keeping the residents safe from outside conditions and from their own bad decisions, Casey and Eric have their hands full. One day a ten-year-old says he saw a bear with human eyes while on a supervised hike, and it causes some concern. Then a dead body turns up - what's going on?

Every book in this series and the Rockton series are absolute page turners. It's plot driven but the characters have depth and complexity that keeps you coming back. You have to care about the characters and their relationships if you're going to keep coming back, and Armstrong has done a bang up job of delivering people that we want to know more about. It's a unique setting and a solid mystery with twists that keep you guessing. And we get a conclusion to the main story thread while setting up more questions and mystery that will keep you coming back to the series to find out what's going on in the bigger picture.

This is absolutely a 4.5 star book for me, and I can not wait to see what happens next in Haven's Rock.

I enjoyed this book as much as the first and am looking forward to reading more. A strong series with characters I like.

Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.