Living through winter in Canada is no joke, and even less so when you're in the isolation of the Yukon Wilderness. Combine the frigid cold and whiteout snowstorms, not to mention the wildlife, with murder, mystery, and the horrors that humanity brings and you'll get the Rockton and Haven's Rock crime thrillers.

I love these series, so it comes as no surprise that I thoroughly enjoyed this latest installment as well.

Cold As Hell is the third book in the Haven's Rock series, which is a continuation of the completed 7-book Rockton series. It has everything readers have come to love in these books. Tangled in with the murder mystery, we have lingering feelings of tension between the townsfolk - as you would likely expect when stuck in close proximity with your fellow refugees in a secret, off-the-grid town in the middle of nowhere. Especially when you throw in the suspicions of which of your neighbours is a dangerous criminal.

This is a hard review to write without giving away too much of the plot, so I'll leave it at this: Like it's predecessors, Cold As Hell does a great job of keeping the reader on their toes and guessing who the culprit may be!

It is difficult to not get emotionally invested in Casey and Eric's story in Haven's Rock. They have established a new community taking the good from Rockton and leaving the bad. At this time of their lives they are ready to move to the next step - parenthood.

Casey is near the end of her pregnancy and struggling with the work/life balance. A few medical scares has her (and Eric) on edge about a healthy birth. One evening a resident is lured to the woods after 2 drinks at the bar. After fighting her attacker and another resident happening onto the scene Sheriff Eric and Detective Casey are informed. They discover the resident was drugged - but was she targeted?

As Casey balances her roles another resident is missing during a snowstorm. Several people have conflicting stories about her last actions in town. When she is found frozen and naked in the forest everyone goes on high alert. Eric and Casey fight time (while focusing on her safety) as they rush to identify the killer.

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.

You know what's a great idea when it is freezing cold outside?
Read a book that makes you feel even colder!!
Or not. YIKES!
This book is aptly named, not just for the weather conditions featured in the book, but also for one of the characters who has everyone fooled that they are a good person. Spoiler: they are not.

This is book three in the series, and being this is the first book I've read from the author, I didn't fully understand the community of Haven's Rock, other than the people of the town all one another and have been heavily vetted, so to speak. So, when women start being attacked, the town goes on high alert. Who attacked the women and why? While many of the townsfolk have colored pasts, so darker than others, this town offers them redemption. It was also supposed to offer safety, but clearly is no longer the case.

In this installment, Casey Butler tries to determine who the suspect may be . . . during a blizzard . . .while very pregnant. DOUBLE YIKES!! She definitely has the cards stacked against her, but her diligence and determination ultimately pay off. Is it who I thought it would be? No, and that's ok, I like a good surprise. I particularly reveled the little twist at the end, a bit of vengeance if you will.

If you enjoy police procedurals and are looking for a good winterlike read, look no further.

3.5 stars

Casey's pregnancy added an extra level of tension to this third entry in the Haven's Rock series, and the murderer was especially terrifying. The first third or so was mostly procedural and explainy, but then it became quite a page-turner. I liked the details about Havens Rock, the improvements they were trying to make on Rockton, and the flaws in the system that still emerged. Armstrong did a great job incorporating the harsh environment into the plot to up the stakes. I went from being glad about Casey's choices to extremely frustrated with them, and I'm not sure I bought the extremes at the end. I'm curious where they go from here and how long the series will go.

Another absolutely chilling installment in the Rockton series. I have loved all the books since the switch to Haven’s Rock, but this was definitely my favorite of the new era.
This thriller not only had the tension and stress of solving a murder, but also solving that murder while 8 months pregnant. That combo kept me and the main characters even more on edge than usual.
In so many ways this book felt a bit more like one of the early Rockton books. The cast of characters felt smaller, in a good way. And yet we still got face time with all our faves.
The twist in this book really got me in a way I did not expect. Definitely one of the most interesting and truly nightmare inducing killers they’ve had.
I can’t wait to re-read it and see if I catch new clues or signs the second time around. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read it early.
This was truly a fantastic thriller and all readers of this series will be glued to the book until the very end. 10 out of 10.

Incorporating pregnancy and the potential loss of both the mother and the baby, is terrifying. The suspense and stress are at any all time high throughout the story until all of the loose ends come together in a twisted/messed up little bow. It is an awesome read, highly recommend during the Chilly winter months...

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.

Hidden away deep in the Yukon Wilderness of Canada is a secluded town called Haven's Rock - a sanctuary for those seeking a place to disappear off the grid while leaving their pasts behind. After applying for residency, each person coming in is carefully researched before being approved, leading to a small community of people safe within the borders. The secluded setting and mother nature combine to create a highly atmospheric, locked room style thriller that's guaranteed to keep readers up late at night to finish those last few pages.

Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton, arrived in Haven's Rock from Rockton and have finally settled into their new home and started a family. Casey is devoted to her job and the people of the town and finds it hard to slow down even as she's entering her final months of pregnancy, much to the chagrin of her husband. When one of the women from town suffers confusion from a drugged drink served at the local bar and wanders into the forest surrounding the town alone, she falls victim to an attack, barely escaping with her life. With Eric by her side, Casey investigates, stumbling across another victim frozen in the snow. There are no outsiders in Haven's Rock, leaving Casey to assume someone living among them is a murderer. Who among the town's carefully vetted residents is killing the town's women?

COLD AS HELL is a complex, atmospheric thriller with well-developed characters readers can connect with. I enjoy the contrast between the personalities of Casey and Eric as they play off each other's strengths and weaknesses. It's great to catch up with some of the series support characters from previous books and yet new to the series readers will be comfortable jumping in as each book stands alone. Author Kelley Armstrong has taken time to build a world that serves as a character within itself with extreme weather and isolation creating a locked room style setting in COLD AS HELL. Mystery, murder, intrigue, and isolation all combine to make this an intensive whodunnit perfect for fans of mysteries and suspense thrillers.

I had read and enjoyed the first book in this series,so I expected a lot out of this one. I was not disappointed. Great writing. Constantly keeps you guessing as to what is happening next and who the bad guy is. The characters are very well written and believable.

This was a nice descriptive book and the title certainly was true. I felt the cold the whole time I was reading the book. I did think it was a slow moving slow build story. Maybe a little too slow for my liking. It did have a few surprises and was a good add to the series.

I wish I knew how to put what I'm feeling into words right now ..... I'm pretty blown away after finishing this book.

I had high hopes for this book when I started it and it honestly exceeded my expectations. I couldn't wait to sit down and continue reading.

I needed to know what was going to happen but I never expected things to unfold quite like it did.

Kelly Armstrong knows how to grab you and keep you engrossed in her books. They are full of mystery, suspense, and intrigue. Cold as Hell is the third book in her Haven's Rock Series. This series is a spin-off from her Rockton Series she ended after 7 books.

Armstrong's writing was superb in Cold as Hell. I stayed up until after 1 this morning, finishing it. I COULDE NOT put it down. I had to know who it was and what was going to happen because I thought I knew the person. I was wrong! I love that when I can't figure the mystery out.

Armstrong has developed Eric and Casey throughout the Rockton Series and now the Haven's Rock Series. I have watched them mature and grow. It's so great when a writer gives you the chance to fall in love with their characters. When it feels like you are visiting old friends. Armstrong writes in a way that makes you feel like you are right there with her characters going through whatever they are with them.

I just have to say, if you haven't read Kelly Armstrong, I don't know what you are waiting for! If you are interested in the Haven's Rock Series or never read them or the Rockton Series, I would suggest you start with the City of the Lost, the first book in the Rockton Series. That way, you get to know all the characters in the series and the back story. I highly recommend the Haven's Rock Series and the Rockton Series.

Tentative Publication Date:
February 18, 2025

Thanks to Netgalley, Saint Martins Press, and Kelly Armstrong for the E-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

😊 Happy Reading 😊

#Netgalley #stmartinspress #KellyArmstrong #ColdasHell #HavensRock #Serieslove2025 #Read2025 #Alphabetchallenge2025 (C)

Someone drugs and attacks a resident of Haven’s Rock but they are able to escape and let people know. There is evidence that it is someone from town. Shortly after a snowstorm comes and they find a frozen body in the forest. From there it is a race to figure out if it was a murder and if so who was involved all while worried about Casey's pregnancy and the residents of Haven’s Rock. Casey is eight months pregnant at the start of this book and this is the first heavy investigation in months.

Wow. These books just keep getting better and better. Till the last moment I was even second guessing and praying that people I love were not involved. Casey manages to walk the line between being too stubborn and making practical sense in terms of working the case while pregnant. Kelley Armstrong is so good at plotting these mysteries and making us love and question characters we think we totally trust. I think this one left me the most on the edge.

Once again Thérèse Plummer is such a great narrator. I felt every emotion she conveyed and her top notch narration just brought the story to life all over again. This crime was darker than most from this series and every chapter was more tense and you really feel that in the audiobook as well. You don't technically have to read these in order but it really helps if you do just to see how far they have come in terms of this new community and the residents we have come to care for.

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books| Macmillan Audio for sharing this book with me in exchange for my honest review.

Kelley Armstrong’s Haven’s Rock series is full of mystery, suspense, and atmosphere. The third book in the series proves this storyline keeps getting better and better. This is a spin-off continuation series after the Rockton series ended after seven books. The unique setting adds another layer to the tone of the book. Haven’s Rock is a hidden town built somewhere in the Yukon wilderness of Canada. It’s a place for people to disappear and a sanctuary for those that need a refuge. Individuals are carefully researched before being allowed to become a resident of the community.

Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton met in the original town of Rockton and are feeling at home in their new town. While they know how to navigate the woods, many of their town’s residents don’t. Casey and Dalton are starting a family and with Casey a month away from having her baby, they’re hoping for calm until after the baby is born.

However, one of the town’s residents is drugged and dragged into the nearby woods. She’s saved when someone hears her screams. As Casey and Dalton investigate the assault a snowstorm hits. When a frozen body is found and conflicting accounts are given of the woman’s last movements, the two wonder who they can trust in their supposedly safe haven.

Casey and Eric are well-developed characters with plenty of depth. Casey is driven, a great investigator, and frequently finds dead bodies. She’s a good listener, independent, empathetic, and understanding. Eric is a fantastic tracker, needs alone time in the woods occasionally, is truthful and intelligent, and asserts himself when needed. He also gets short-tempered and blunt with annoying or bothersome people at times, and isn’t good at small talk. He’s also extremely protective of Casey as the baby gets nearer. As always, it’s great to renew our friendship with Deputy Will Andrews, Casey’s sister April - a neurosurgeon functioning as the town’s doctor - and many other characters.

As always, complex characters, one or more mysteries, and excellent world-building are the backdrop for this well-written and entertaining novel set in an off-the-grid sanctuary town. The prologue immediately captures reader’s attention and pulls them into the storyline. As the story progresses, Casey and Dalton realize that they’ve become somewhat complacent and need to relook at procedures to ensure everyone’s safety. It will be interesting to see the direction these changes take in future books. Weather and isolation continue to play a role in each novel. The author does a great job of equalizing the relationships and the mysteries to make each novel more impactful. The one thing I wasn’t entirely satisfied with is a discussion Casey has at the end of the story with one of the residents.

Overall, this is an intriguing and suspenseful thriller that’s full of murder, trust, secrets, lies, and deceptions. While this can be read as a stand-alone, readers will gain a better understanding of the key characters and their backgrounds if they read the Rockton series first as well as the earlier two books in this series.

St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books and Kelley Armstrong provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for February 18, 2025. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

I was a bit disappointed with this third book in the series . The book felt kinda repetitive with the references to Rockton and trying to remind us who all the characters in town are ( I feel like this series needs a character list with brief descriptions in the beginning or something ), and Casey’s pregnancy seemed to have taken a front seat in the story pushing the actual mystery to the back seat

Book 3 in a series, but still a great read! I want to go back and read the first two books just so I know more about the characters, but despite this being my first "toe dip" into Kelley Armstrong's work and the location of Haven's Rock/characters of (detective) Casey Duncan and her hubby (Sheriff) Eric Dalton I was drawn in!

Haven Rock #3. Hidden deep in the Yukon wilderness Have Rock is a sanctuary town specifically designed for those with a need to disappear off the grid for their safety. Now that the town is established with regular routine and maintenance Detective Casey Duncan and her husband are starting a family. Due to a past injury Casey's pregnancy is considered risky and difficult so she is doing all she can to safely carry to term. When a female resident is drugged and an attempt is made to drag her into the forest the town goes on high alert. Then days later in a blinding blizzard another woman disappears. When the storm clears searchers find her naked body frozen in the woods victim of a heinous crime. Casey is determined to bring the perpetrator to justice despite the risk to herself and her child. Unsure who she can trust and confide in Casey begins to doubt herself and the rules they established for the town. Armstrong is an amazing wordsmith creating unique and diverse scenarios and characters in every entry. I was fascinated with her concept of a sanctuary community. The clever and concise way she set about the requirements and regulations for a self sufficient community in a frozen isolated area are informative and enlightening. The returning cast of characters are well drawn each with own quirks and are believable and engaging. We all have a back story. I hope that the chronicles of Haven's Rock continue for a long time to come as I find them captivating and compelling and I think many other readers will also.

With meticulously vetted residents and Casey and Eric's supervision, serial killers aren't supposed to be able to sneak into Haven's Rock. It looks like one has managed it though.

When a resident is attacked and barely escapes, Casey who is eight months into a difficult pregnancy sees a gap in their security. With less than 100 residents, Haven's Rock should have to worry about roofies and date rape. At first, that is the conclusion that Casey and Eric come to.

But when Lynn disappears during a blizzard and is found staked out on the lake when the weather breaks, it becomes clear that a murderer has made it into Haven's Rock. An unknown murder that is. Haven's Rock is a refuge for a couple of people, including Casey, who have committed murder.

With Casey nearing the end of her pregnancy and suffering from potential complications, it becomes necessary to leave the investigation and fly out to Whitehorse to be nearer to medical help. Casey is tron between the needs of her unborn child and the needs of the investigation.

This was another excellent addition to the Haven's Rock series. I like the way Eric and Casey are growing their relationship. I also like catching up with some of my favorite residents including Mathias and Sebastian. The story was very suspenseful.

Haven’s Rock is a small settlement hidden in the Yukon wilderness. It exists as a haven for those who need to disappear from the “real world” in order to be safe. Casey Duncan and her husband Eric Dalton are both owners/leaders of the settlement as well as its law enforcement. One of the town’s resident’s is drugged and almost abducted which means one of the other residents is more than they appear to be. Casey insists on leading the investigation even at 8 months pregnant but the investigation into an attempted abduction turns into first a missing person, then a murder investigation when a woman disappears and then her naked, frozen body is found. It is a race to find the murderer before Casey gives birth.
The action is almost non-stop, taking place over the course of maybe 2 weeks. The criminal is not apparent, truthfully the murderer was not on my radar until Casey started to zero in on them. We learn some more about the pasts of some of our regular residents and watch the town coming into its own as a haven for those in need. And, of course, Casey and Duncan become parents and a baby joins the town’s residents. I really enjoy this series, as well as its predecessor, the Rockton series, and cannot wait to see what is in store for Casey, Duncan and the other residents of Haven’s Rock in the future. Highly recommended.