Last week, book 3 in @kelleyarmstrongauthor’s Haven’s Rock series was published. I absolutely love this series and Cold as Hell is a fantastic addition. I highly recommend this book if you love:
❄️ fast paced crime thrillers
❄️ smart & tough female protagonists
❄️ secluded settings
❄️ atmospheric writing
❄️ unexpected twists

I do recommend reading this series in order. Haven’s Rock is a spinoff of the Rockton series, but you do not have to read the Rockton books first.

I am looking forward to the next installment of Haven’s Rock adventures.

Cold as Hell was everything, the author knocked this one out of the park. This is my first book in the series, but I really enjoyed it and not having read the first two books didn't affect the story. I would recommend that they are read in order but its not required. The storyline is very interesting and it keeps you turning pages for more, you never know what is going to happen next. I cannot wait to see what's next in this series.

Thank you for sending me an early copy of this book to review. Like always with any kelley armstrong book I loved it. Probably my favorite book in the newer series. Loved all the twists and turns on who could be the suspect and then the ending was crazy! Never saw that coming!

Cold as Hell is a tense thriller set in the remote Yukon town of Haven’s Rock, a secret refuge for people looking to disappear. Everyone there has been carefully vetted, making it a haven, until a woman is drugged and attacked, and another body is found frozen in the snow. With no outsiders in town, Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton, must uncover which of their carefully chosen residents is a killer.

The harsh wilderness and isolation create a gripping, locked-room mystery - one of my favourite settings to read. The pacing is steady, with a strong mix of action, investigation, and character development. Casey, despite being in the final months of pregnancy, refuses to back down, making her a BADASS and very compelling lead.

With an eerie setting, well-developed characters, and plenty of twists, this is a must-read for fans of atmospheric thrillers and police procedurals. Even if you haven’t read the previous books in the Haven's Rock series, you can easily jump into this one. Highly recommended for those who enjoy dark, suspenseful mysteries!

When one of the town’s residents is drugged and wanders too close to the edge of town, she’s dragged into the woods kicking and screaming. She’s saved in the nick of time, but the women of the town are alarmed. Casey and Eric investigate the assault just as a snowstorm hits Haven’s Rock, covering the forest. It’s there they find a frozen body, naked in the snow. With mixed accounts of the woman’s last movements, the two begin to question who they can trust—and who they can’t—in their seemingly safe haven.

I enjoy this series. It is full of intensity and has a great setting! It is not necessary that you read them in order.

Now, I did think Casey’s pregnancy and the way she had her baby was a bit predictable. But I did enjoy the action. And let me tell you this is action packed and full of intensity. I mean, Casey has all kinds of safe guards in place but someone slipped by all of those and lived among them.

I love the narrator by Thérèse Plummer. She has some wonderful narrations. However, in this book, she tended to get faster during the tense moments…and there are a lot of those!

Need a good hunt for a killer…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

Casey and Eric are back and wouldn't you know it, there is another dead body. The Butler Did it! This newest book in the Haven's Rock series gives the vibe of an Agatha Christie's murder mystery. Why? Because in an allegedly closed environment, the killer has to be someone in the community. I'm riveted and try to solve the mystery along side with Casey and Eric. They are racing against the clock because, Casey is heavily pregnant and due at any moment.



This story is more than trying to figure out who it is that is dragging a woman off and killing them. It's more than betrayals and not knowing the real background of the "refugees" looking to stay in Haven's Rock. The last story involved what happens when a no frills settlement includes children. This one brings forth new beginnings with a baby born in the settlement.

Yet this ties back to Eric and his past. Specifically how he came to be adopted. His story is beyond heartbreaking and I'm horrified at what "civilized" people think they should be doing. It reminds me of colonization and how invaders believe their way is the best way. I'm surprised Eric was able to grow up as well as he did. I'm also sad for him because he can never reconcile with his birth parents.

This story may be set as a murder mystery, but it is so much more with the weaving in of characters. Casey and Eric's relationship deeps. As well as Casey's relationship with her high-functioning sister. It is an interesting social experiment version 3.0 with Haven's Rock. I am intrigued with where this will all end. Recommended for murder mystery readers.

Cold as Hell is just another great trip to the Canadian Yukon. Casey and Dalton have the extra pressure of her pregnancy that was not supposed to be. And then the fact that Haven’s Rock is full of people with questionable pasts. And the others in the few settlements around them are not to be trusted. All of that always leads to trouble. Each installment of the two series has new residence and the chance for new trouble. This time, of course, there are murders. Our two sheriffs have to balance trying to solve the murder, keep everyone safe, and have this baby.

I really like these characters. That is what kleeps me coming back to Rockton and Haven’s Rock. I like them and I love their dog. The mostly changing supporting cast is often hit and miss. I am also often left wondering if they will ever figure that this place is just a murderer’s haven, too.

This is such a good series with an unusual premise. The series revolves around a sanctuary, off the grid town hidden in the Yukon. Residents have to be vetted prior to being eligible to become part of the community. Casey and Dalton are thrust into investigating the foiled assault of one of the female residents. Before they can make much progress in their investigation, a snowstorm hits and another female resident goes missing and is eventually found dead. What is initially thought to be death by exposure, is revealed to be a brutal murder. Casey and Dalton race to find the murderer before her high risk pregnancy necessitates going south to be nearer a hospital. This is a really good story that keeps you in suspense until the end!

When an attempted abduction and a murder occur in a small sanctuary town in the Yukon, a very pregnant detective, Casey, and her husband, Sheriff Eric work diligently to solve the crimes prior to the birth of their baby. This is one of the most suspenseful books I’ve read. Nature and the weather work against their efforts. The characters are well written and intriguing. I couldn’t put this book down.

Read this book in one sitting. I. LOVE. THIS. SERIES. I don't know what it is about this series, but it has me in a chokehold. I've read all the Rockton/Haven's Rock books and they are all always five stars for me. The premise of these books is just so unique (to me anyway). Ms. Armstrong could write 50 more books in this series and I would eat them UP. This particular book brought lots of drama and lots of major changes for our beloved Haven's Rock residents, and I'm impatiently waiting for the next book to see how the new town resident changes things for the gang! Thank you, NetGalley, for the gifted ebook!

Overall I enjoy this series but I find some of the context to be quite repetitive ( backgrounds . History etc) almost would be better to have a character list and a summary in the beginning to make the flow of the story better

Upon getting approved for this arc, I quickly realized this was the third book in a series. And, unlike any sane person, who’d either abandon the ARC or attempt to go in blind, I went ahead and read the first two books in this series, only to discover it was a spinoff of another 7 book series. Suffice to say, these three books (ARC included) have convinced me to go back to the beginning because I’m kind of obsessed.

I love Casey and all the mishaps occurring in Haven’s Rock. Honestly I just find it funny that this place meant to be a safe haven is riddled with so many crimes and assaults. This installment was no different with gruesome sadistic atrocities that made for a compelling, page turning read.

Cannot wait to start going through the OG Rockton books to get a closer look into Casey’s history and the beginnings of Haven's Rock.

Another nail-biting installment in this thrillingly fantastic series.

Casey is adaptable, smart, and incredibly capable, as usual. I love that she and Eric always present such a united front and that they are each other's safe haven, even though they may not see eye-to-eye all the time. They work exceptionally well together, and I also love the rhythm that they've found with the other staff at Haven's Rock.

The vivid descriptions of the snow and weather conditions were just as chilling as the crimes committed. This time the villain was even more disturbing, and the reveal of their identity added a rich layer and interesting twist to this already gripping mystery. And let's not forget the stressful moments surrounding Casey's pregnancy.

This book was almost impossible to put down and will have you riding high on tense emotions. I can highly recommend this entire series and the preceding Rockton series if you like suspense with some romance thrown in. Each book can be read on its own, but I think there's more value in reading them in order.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

As a newcomer to Armstrong's Haven's Rock series, I felt completely lost in a world that needed more explanation than it provided. While many reviews suggest this works as a standalone, I disagree. The fundamental questions about this sanctuary town--why it exists, how it operates, who these people are running from, weren't adequately explained for new readers. I felt like I walked into the middle of a conversation.

The narration by Thérèse Plummer is the book's saving grace, but even great narration couldn't overcome my confusion about the basic setup and character relationships.

The mystery itself proved predictable enough that once I figured out who the killer was, I skimmed to the conclusion. The constant focus on Casey's pregnancy became repetitive, with characters treating her like she might shatter at any moment. While the isolated setting justified some medical concerns, the endless fretting over her condition overshadowed the actual plot.

The wintery Yukon setting showed promise, but between the execution of the storyline, overemphasis on the pregnancy, and lack of sufficient background about Haven's Rock itself, this book didn't convince me to explore more of Armstrong's work.

For readers considering this title, I'd strongly recommend starting with the first book in the series rather than jumping in here, despite claims of it working as a standalone.

Wow...This is book three in the Haven's Rock series is so good. I hadn't read the first two books in the series or the numerous books in the preceding series and kind of felt that I was missing something for about the first third of the book. After that, the story took off and I stayed up way too late reading!

Haven's Rock is a town in the Yukon for people who need to disappear. Something or someone in their past makes them need to leave their old life and come to this new town. But, what if someone gets in by slipping through a loop hole in the vetting process? How can Casey and Dalton protect those they've sworn to protect?

Now, Casey is pregnant with a somewhat high risk pregnancy so needs to slow down. With less than a hand full of people responsible for safety and security, there is an attempted kidnapping then a horrific murder. Can Casey and Dalton figure out who is behind these crimes? Will Casey be able to get to the hospital out of town for the birth of her baby?

A very gratifying story and the ending was perfect!

This was the absolute perfect winter thriller! The small hidden town, up in the middle of nowhere in the Yukon, was so wonderfully creepy, as were all the characters! The majority of what happens (in every situation) in this book would be my personal version of hell, but make some great true crime, lol! Highly, highly recommend!!!

Thank you to NetGalley, @kelleyarmstrongauthor, and St. Martins Press for an early copy in exchange for an honest review!!

I am always up for a Kelley Armstrong novel, so when I saw Cold As Hell was available on NetGalley, I promptly clicked, requesting a copy.

I haven’t read all the books in her unique towns series, but I don’t feel lost following along. I love books that deal with storms, and a blizzard makes for some extra danger to the characters.

Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton are expecting a child, but that does not stop her from investigating the murders in the small sanctuary town of Haven’s Rock.

The action begins from the opening pages. Kendra had grown up Indigenous in Canada, and her idea of going out means one drink. But, here she is, staggering around, being dragged through the snow, kicking and screaming. Thank goodness someone sees what’s happening and saves her from something worse. How could she be drunk on one drink? Did someone drug her?

Haven’s Rock is a small town and everyone knows everyone and all their business. It shouldn’t be that hard to figure out who is the villain.

I did get some chuckles from Kelley’s creative writing.

I’m so accustomed to lumbering around like my dog that I suspect after the baby is born, I’ll fall flat on my ass leaning backward for balance.

“Will has even promised me a T-shirt. ‘I escaped a serial killer, and all I lost was this lousy pinkie toe.’ I will be sorely disappointed if he’s joking. I want that shirt.”

I love some humor with my danger and Kelley is a pro at supplying them both. I love that the characters all have lots of baggage. Of course, they do. That seems to be a requirement to becoming a resident in Haven’s Rock. That being the case, there are lots of suspects to choose from. The villain is truly evil. The torture he submits to his victims is dark, brutal. I loved the ending, but I won’t be telling you anything about it. You’ll need to find out for yourself.

Thanks NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read Haven’s Rock by Kelley Armstrong.

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I'd love to live in a town like Rock Haven. However, it is always these types of towns that, for years go untouched and are deemed safe, only for something (or someone) to wreak terrible havoc, frightening everyone. This book also has unreliable characters, so some times you don't know who you can and can't trust, which makes for a thrilling read that will keep you up into the late hours of the night. Read this when snowed in or hunkered down in your house with cold temps, because that made this book even more appealing for me as I read it.

Cold as Hell is the third book in the Haven’s Rock series that’s best read in order. Better yet, go back and start with the original series: Rockton. Like Rockton was (or claimed to be) Haven’s Rock is a place of refuge for those on the run. A community off the grid and under the radar. A place for someone trying to escape a whole range of situations: a stalker, abusive partner, or an unjust conviction. Applicants are vetted for violence risk, meaning someone who poses a threat to others will not be admitted.

In this installment, Eric and Casey are getting ready for the birth of their baby, excited and nervous as the due date approaches when one of their members is drugged and narrowly escapes abduction. They’re both shocked and relieved, because it could’ve turned out so much worse, yet now they know there’s a predator in their midst. Their vetting process is better than Rockton’s, so they wonder how this could be. While investigating another woman goes missing with deadlier results.

Cold as Hell is one you want to make some time for because you’re not going to want to put it down! I love the methodical way Casey and Eric go over each mystery, checking and re-checking the facts and witness accounts. The devil is in the details! With this case the murderer is a special kind of evil and I was so worried for everyone involved! The ending was a nail-biter, and I stayed up late to finish! That last bit, how everything finally resolved was gratifying! Maybe that makes me a bit ruthless, but that needed to be done!

I’ve alternately read and listened to the entire series (and bought the hardcovers to keep on my shelf!) and I recommend either version. Thérèse Plummer narrates the audios and they are fantastic! She seamlessly performs both male and female characters and infuses them with just the right emotions bringing the story to life!

As always, Kelley Armstrong took me on the ride of my life with this third book in the Haven’s Rock series, Cold As Hell. Starting off like a rocket, there was enough mystery and suspense to keep me intrigued down to my core. Even better, however, was how fast-paced and riveting the plot was as it twisted and turned. And boy was the great, big twist a gasp-inducing stunner. Catching me completely unawares despite my reveal-guessing talents, my jaw dropped in ecstasy as I whispered “No f***ing way!” Perfectly teeing up an explosive climax that had my fingers burning as I flew through the pages, I couldn’t have read the last third of the book any faster even if I had tried.

As for the characters, as always they were the special sauce to Ms. Armstrong’s crime fiction novel. Complex, fully-fleshed-out, and blessedly realistic, I’ve fallen in love with Casey and Eric more with each book in the series. This time around we were blessed with the arrival of their adorable child. Does everything go to plan? Of course not. It wouldn’t be a book by this author if it did. Filling even that heartwarming subplot with dread and foreboding, I relished what this new turn of events did for all of the characters in their development. From April and her endearing yet quirky behavior to Yolanda and her often irritating personality, they were all a home run for yours truly.

The only piece of the puzzle that bothered me just a bit happened to be that propulsive, blindingly fast yet far-fetched climax. Requiring a definite need to suspend all disbelief, it just felt somewhat off in relation to the rest of the novel. After all, while the idea of an isolated town out in the middle of the bush might not be all that realistic, the world-building surrounding it made it 100% feasible despite its many questionable traits. With mostly believable events and descriptions that made Haven’s Rock come alive, the bulk of this novel felt undeniably real. The climax in comparison, however, just went a bit too far into the absurd—at least for this reader.

All said and done, Kelley Armstrong hit it out of the park yet again. Stuffed full of dark secrets, long-buried lies, and spine-tingling deceit, this book was probably my favorite out of this compulsively readable series. With precise plotting, an unguessable conclusion, and thoroughly relatable characters, there was no end to the fun as I flew through the pages. And let me tell you, that conclusion was utterly perfect. Soul-satisfying but with a dark, unexpected twist, I ate it up at an ever-ratcheting speed. So please…don’t wait. Head to Amazon and order this puppy right now. After all, you’re not going to want to miss a minute with Casey and Eric. Rating of 4.5 stars.

Thank you to Kelley Armstrong, Thomas & Mercer, and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.