My favourite author!! Always a page turner and this book didn’t disappoint. Couldn’t put it down. Can’t wait for the next book

As a huge fan of Kelley Armstrong and the Haven's Rock series, I eagerly anticipated Cold As Hell, the third book. This series, spun off from Rockton, retains Detective Casey Duncan as narrator, with each installment offering a self-contained mystery and consistent main characters. In Cold As Hell, Casey and Dalton tackle a complex case under pressing circumstances - a blizzard, a kidnapping, and a heinous murder - all while Casey navigates her difficult pregnancy. Talk about an anxiety ride!

Armstrong effectively transports readers into the heart of the storm, crafting an atmosphere of tension and suspense. While some background information is provided, familiarity with the series enhances character understanding. The narrative masterfully balances tension and release, culminating in an engrossing and emotionally resonant conclusion that leaves readers eagerly awaiting the next installment.

Thank you so much for the opportunity!

Can't go wrong with Rockton/Havens Rock or Kelley Armstrong. Had the killer figured out but still a few twists. Will continue to follow the series!

5/5 stars! I was hooked from the very beginning and couldn’t out this book down. I love Kelley Armstrong’s books and have read quite a few of them and this one did not disappoint. Cold as Hell is book three in the Haven’s Rock series. Cold as Hell is released February 18, 2025. Thank you to Netgalley and Kelley Armstrong for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

Reading a New Haven's Rock novel is like coming home after a long absence. I am always so excited to find out what Casey, Dalton, and Storm have been up to since the last time we spent time together. In this installment, it was no surprise to find out that trouble was brewing in town! I really enjoyed getting to know this new community that Casey, Dalton, and friends are building. The new location and the new combination of residents brings a new dynamic to this series which has been a favorite of mine since the first Rockton book was published. Read this one on a blustery snowy day if you can!

The environment is harsh and the judgements are final, but this is a more peaceable community than you find around here these days. I really like the idea of a sanctuary town where the inhabitants are vetted before joining the community, and that the staff are the leaders chosen to join the colony because of their skills. If this doesn't exist, maybe it should to help reform our inmates - could do a better job than our overcrowded prison system. Even with the criminal backgrounds, the crimes were so unexpected and scary. Armstrong masterfully blends the emotional tension of impending delivery, the shock of an attack and murder in a closed community, and a storm descending upon this frozen town. I could not put the book down once I started it. I finished it pretty quickly because, every time I thought I was at a break, something else happened that pulled me in deeper. A town full of intense characters and perilous events makes this a real page-turner! This is an author to follow!

Cold as Hell is the 3rd Haven's Rock book and I don't recommend starting here. In fact, I feel readers are best served by starting with City of the Lost which is the first book in her Rockton series. There is a lot of backstory that definitely makes a difference in the reading experience.

What amazes me about Kelley Armstrong and these two series, is that she can write such compelling thrillers with such a limited character pool, a very small setting, and based on the nature of the genre, a minute window of believability (how many murders can there be??). Cold as Hell succeeds in providing another fresh mystery for Casey to solve.

I did give this book a lower rating than normal. Normally I enjoy the POV, but I got really tired of hearing Casey's thoughts and justifications in this one. I hope Armstrong finds a way to switch it up in the future.
I also struggled with the big scene at the end...no spoilers here, so I'll just say I struggled with the plausibility of the whole scene. Plus, Casey made some really dumb decisions which were a bit out of character. We do get a detailed explanation of her thought process, but even then, I wasn't buying it. Still, I'm curious to see what's next for the group and look forward to book 4.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC. I'm sharing my review voluntarily.

This book was pretty good! I wish there had been more information about the compound so I didn’t have to puzzle it out, but all in all a pretty great mystery! The characters were really well written and the twist was impressive. I didn’t feel like I had read this book before, which is always a plus.

I love the Haven's Rock series even more than the Rockton series. There is just something about the idea of chucking it all away and moving off the grid to another place. This installment kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I had no clue at the end who did what to whom, so the ending was a shock, but in a good way! After some seemingly different events turned out to be linked, Along with Casey being 8 months pregnant, the urgency of the situation contributes to the heightened tension.

Haven’s Rock #3


Hidden deep in the Yukon, Haven’s Rock is just that. A haven. For those who may need to disappear for a bit or longer.


With Det. Casey Duncan and her hubby, Sheriff Eric Dalton, are very close to giving birth to their first child.


With some complications expected, the couple needs to fly to the closest town with a hospital. But first they need to find out what is going on in their hidden town.


When one of the residents is drugged and dragged into the woods, only to be rescued by the town sociopath, they need to find out fast if one of their own is killing people. The discovery of a frozen body seems to point in that direction.


So much tension in this one and oh my what an ending!




NetGalley/ St. Martin’s Press February 18, 2025

Loved reading the captivating and engaging story. Casey and her husband, Eric, are trying to solve the mystery of who drugged and dragged Kendra out into the woods. Read the highly recommended, wonderfully written full of mystery and suspense, and a must read riveting story by the amazing and awesome author, Kelley Armstrong.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

I've read the Rockton and Haven's Rock series' in their entirety and overall, I do enjoy them. This book, however, did miss the mark for me. I found we were *really* stuck in Casey's head/thought process and I *really* didn't enjoy the scenes involving her giving birth (which I can't go into detail on without spoiling the plot).. All that aside, I will continue to read Armstrong's books in the future, especially the Haven's Rock series.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Kelley Armstrong’s latest installment in the Haven’s Rock series, Cold as Hell, is a masterclass in suspense and atmospheric storytelling. Set against the unforgiving backdrop of the Yukon, this novel plunges readers into a chilling mystery that is as relentless as the blizzard that engulfs the town.

Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton, are no strangers to the dangers lurking in Haven’s Rock, a sanctuary town for those seeking to escape their pasts. As Casey nears the end of her pregnancy, a new threat emerges when a resident is found drugged and nearly abducted. The stakes are raised when a frozen body is discovered in the snow, leading Casey and Eric into a labyrinth of secrets and lies.

Armstrong excels in crafting complex, relatable characters. Casey’s determination and resilience shine through, even as she navigates the physical and emotional challenges of her pregnancy. Eric’s protective nature and unwavering support add depth to their relationship, making their partnership both professional and personal a cornerstone of the narrative.

Armstrong’s prose is evocative and precise, painting a vivid picture of the harsh, yet beautiful, Yukon landscape. Her ability to build tension is unparalleled, with each chapter leaving readers on the edge of their seats. The dialogue is sharp and authentic, further immersing readers in the world of Haven’s Rock.

Cold as Hell explores themes of trust, survival, and the lengths one will go to protect loved ones. The isolation of the setting mirrors the characters’ internal struggles, creating a poignant and gripping read. Armstrong deftly balances the mystery with moments of introspection, allowing readers to connect deeply with the characters’ journeys.

Cold as Hell is a compelling addition to the Haven’s Rock series, showcasing Kelley Armstrong’s talent for blending suspense, character development, and atmospheric storytelling.

Fans of the series will not be disappointed, and new readers will find themselves quickly drawn into the icy grip of this thrilling mystery. Highly recommended for those who enjoy a well-crafted plot, engaging characters, and a story that keeps you guessing...

4.5 rounded up

This was so good! I always love returning to these characters and seeing what’s new in their town. Some big developments are happening for our sheriff and detective, during this time someone is drugged and attacked. Thankfully they are saved in the nick of time, but a snowstorm hits and someone else isn’t so lucky. Eric and Casey race to find answers, while maintaining the health of Casey and their unborn child during these rapidly declining weather conditions. They worry for the safety of the female residents, people who came to Haven’s Rock for sanctuary! They also worry that someone among them is behind these horrific attacks, but who? Who can they trust? With the weather continuously raging outside, they are in a race against the storm (erasing evidence and making travel hard) and the baby’s clock, and the killer. It was really enjoyable to see some new character development for some that we have come to know in town. Highly recommend, but I would check for possible triggers before starting.

Set in Canada's Yukon Territory, the private city of Haven's Rock is a place to go and hide from your past.

Police Chief Det. Carey Butler and her husband, bush pilot Eric Dalton are expecting their first child when a gruesome murder takes place in the forest at the edge of town. Is there a serial killer in the population? How could that even be possible with all of the prescreening protocols in place?

The characters in this series are memorable, their investigations thorough, the dedication to the town & the concepts that founded it are noble.

I have read all of the previous episodes and strongly suggest reading those to fully understand the who, what, and why of Haven's Rock, though reading this as a stand-alone could be possible.

A Canadian author from rural Ontario setting this series in the Canadian Yukon is a boost to Canada's people and geography.

Thank you to Net galley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this arc. This is an honest review.
This review is complicated by the fact that I have not read the first 2 in the series and so there were many times where I had to guess at why certain things happened or were said nd if it mattered. I have read other books by this author most of which I liked better. The characters are well drawn, the setting is great and the storyline is intriguing. The supporting characters are well defined and things should come together well but for some reason they don't. Maybe there was way to much self recrimination on the part of the lead character, over and over again any failure was her fault. And I mean repeatedly. Some was just foolish actions on the part of a supposedly very bright police team. Just didn't quite work for me.
This story involves the mystery of abducted and murder women from a secluded Yukon settlement. Members of this community all have pasts which require them to change their identity and remove themselves from the general population. To complicate matters Casey, the lead detective , is 8 months pregnant. I would actually rate this book a 3 1/2 stars.

This is the third book in the Haven's Rock series, I have read the previous two and all the ones from the series that preceded this one, Rockton, both books take place in remote northern towns that had been created as a place for people who need to disappear (usually because they have either done something wrong or because someone is after them), you have to have deep pockets to get into Haven's Rock. Although you could read this as a standalone it would probably help if you read at least one of the two before this one, there is a lot of back story that would provide a lot of information of the inhabitants of the town. In this story a woman has left the local, and only, watering hole after having a couple of beers, she finds herself out of sorts and staggering, although she's not a heavy drinker (no one can be alcohol is limited) two beers should not have her feeling like she does, someone takes her arm and starts to help her though she soon realizes they are leaving the town and going into the woods, she screams which attracts the attention of a person on patrol and she is taken into the clinic where a tox scan reveals she had been drugged. Casey and Eric, the detective and Sheriff of the town, start to investigate, Casey is 7 months pregnant and though her pregnancy is going good so far, she and Eric are going to head to Whitehorse for her to have the baby. But that doesn't stop her from investigating and when a woman is found naked and frozen on the nearby lake, the investigation heats up, someone in their town has killed. I found this to be a really fast paced story and the pregnancy just added a whole other level of stress, especially when Casey has false labor and finds the baby is breech. The ending was really nail biting, I zoomed through that part. I would highly recommend. Thanks to #Netgalley and #Minotaur Books for the ARC.

4.25 Stars ⭐️

This is the third book in the new spin off series Haven's Rock. By this time, long term readers- who started in Rockton and followed Casey and Dalton to their new camp- are pretty much loyal fans.

This storyline starts with the drugging and attempted abduction of one of the female staff members of Haven's Rock. Unfortunately, the settlement is a closed settlement in the middle of the Yukon, so the suspect field is definitely limited. Add to that that Casey happens to be very, very pregnant. 8 1/2 months pregnant. Eric is trying his hardest to curb his protective tendencies, but when you are in the middle of the wilderness, and very far away from a medical facility (well, not counting her sister April) let's just say that he is having hard time.

So this case comes at the very worst time. As usual, things move fairly quickly and the tension continues to build until we get to the crazy climax. Was this circumstance a bit out there? Yep, but then to be fair, most of them are.

So, those of us that have been here since the beginning just do what we do best. Suspend belief just a little bit and go with the flow. Trust me....it works.

Thank you to NetGalley and to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. The opinions above are mine and mine alone. This book will be available for publication on February 18, 2025.

My Thoughts

If you were to ask me what place on earth I would be the least likely to choose as a place to live that would have to include anywhere these fictional characters resided.

Casey Duncan, now known as Casey Butler, and Eric Dalton are great characters that have once again found themselves with a dead body.

Add in the added impediment of Casey being hugely pregnant along with the bitter and dangerous weather that Haven’s Rock residents are dealing with you get some serious obstacles our couple has to overcome during their investigation.

I can truly say that winter in the Yukon may be a beautiful sight to behold in photographs but in person for Casey and Eric this particular winter has turned into a foe even more deadly than the human one they are trying to find.

The intensity of this story never stops and it is my favorite read in the series so far.

[EArc from Netgalley]
On every 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.

Kelley Armstrong has done it again! I go back and forth with wanting to escape to Haven's Rock, and then being worried that a lot of people seem to die there! But I think I would give it a go. Lots of action and suspense.