I want to thank NetGalley, St.Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and the author Kelley Armstrong for the opportunity to read an ARC of her February 18, 2025 release, Cold as Hell, This review reflects my honest opinion. Cold as Hell is the third book in Armstrong's Haven's Rock series and a spinoff of her Rockton series. I really struggled through the first part of the book; actually thought it might be a DNF. I am glad I stayed with it, but there were times that I was quite confused. In order to fully enjoy Cold as Hell, I highly recommend reading the first two Haven's Rock books first. Haven's Rock is a town hidden deep in the Yukon of seventy residents and three police officers. "Haven's Rock is a town of refugees, of people who need sanctuary, people who may have fled abuse, stalkers or would be killers." The main characters are: Sheriff Eric Dalton and his wife Detective Casey Duncan; Casey is pregnant with their first child. The "controlled community" is funded by a wealthy philanthropic woman who reviews the applications for residency and after a thorough investigation is conducted decides who will be admitted. The story begins with a foiled abduction of Kendra, a social worker and the community plumber, after being drugged in the Roc, the local pub." Following that incident another woman goes missing. I won't share anymore of the storyline; suffice to say in spite of my initial misgivings I was hooked. I found the number of characters overwhelming, and frequently had to reference my notes. The "controlled community/world building" concept was foreign to me, initially I had trouble wrapping my head around it. Honestly I ended up en joying the book; it was a definite page turner. I am going to read the first two book, and then I am confident that I will have an even greater appreciation for Cold as Hell. 3.5 stars

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, and honestly? It scared the shit out of me.

I know it's weird, but I love this series so much. They give me major bouts of anxiety, and I am not strong hearted enough for the murders and violence sometimes, but god, do I love this series so much.

I love Casey, and her character progression over time. She has grown so much since she first arrived in Rockton, and I really appreciated how much she talked about her past trauma, even if it was just to herself, and also discussed learning how to show people she loves them, though she could do without the hormonal crying.

Eric? How I love him so much. He's so strong, but he too has changed, and learned when it's okay to be hard and when it's okay to be soft, especially when it comes to dealing with survivors, his friends and of course, Casey.

Will remains steadfast, strong and loyal, and there wasn't near enough of him in this book.

The setting as always is a character in itself, warmer weather turning suddenly into a abrupt, deadly snowstorm. The Yukon is not for the faint of heart, and it shouldn't be, as people learn in this book.

The mystery as always is addicting, and there were parts of this book that had me talking to myself, the book and then basically screaming at friends. I read half of it in one night, and had to force myself to put it down before reading the second half the next day, fittingly, during snowmageddon here in Canada.

I received a complimentary ARC copy of Cold As Hell by Kelley Armstrong from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press /Minotaur Books in order to read and give an honest review.

A huge fan of author Kelley Armstrong and Cold As Hell,the third installment in this spin-off series, delivers another gripping thriller. Set in Haven’s Rock,a small hidden town in the wilds of Yukon, Canada, a haven for people who need a place to hide is so small and isolated it was intended to be just that. Detective Casey Duncan and Sheriff Eric Dalton, now expecting their first child, find their peaceful existence shattered when a resident is drugged and nearly assaulted, with the town’s isolation means that someone who lives there is stalking the women of Haven’s Rock. When another woman goes missing and with the discovery of a of her frozen body, it appears the perpetrator has struck again. As a blizzard descends, cutting Haven’s Rock off from the outside world, Casey and Eric must unravel a complex web of secrets and lies within their seemingly safe haven, questioning who they can truly trust. Armstrong expertly weaves suspense and atmosphere, creating a palpable sense of unease within the remote and unforgiving landscape.

I think Casey and Eric are truly a dynamic duo, their individual strengths and vulnerabilities add depth and believability to their characters. Casey’s determination to solve the case, even as her pregnancy progresses, clashes with Eric’s protective instincts, creating compelling tension. The supporting cast, includes quirky characters all with a secret to hide and pasts that are less than perfect. Armstrong’s skillful world-building continues to impress, with the unique setting of Haven’s Rock playing a crucial role in the story’s overall tone. The isolated community, populated by individuals seeking refuge from their pasts, becomes a breeding ground for suspicion, deception and hidden agendas.

While Cold As Hell can be enjoyed as a standalone novel, readers familiar with the Rockton series and the previous Haven’s Rock books will find this a natural progression for the characters as they move through each book in the series. Armstrong’s knack for crafting suspenseful plots, combined with her ability to capture the atmosphere of the Yukon wilderness, makes this a truly captivating read. The story is full of twists and turns, keeping readers guessing until the very end. This is a compelling thriller that will leave readers eagerly anticipating the next installment in the series. I highly recommend!

My first in this series, though that was ok. Knowing more of their back story would have been good, but it didn’t hinder me in any way. I still enjoyed the mystery, danger, and suspense of the story. On the edge & stressed at times lol. I’ll definitely go back & start from the beginning

This series just keeps getting better. Cold as Hell is the third book in the Haven’s Rock series, which is actually a spinoff series of Armstrong’s Rockton series. Haven’s Rock is a small town hidden in the Yukon. It’s a place for people to disappear from regular society. A place for a fresh start. Of course just because it’s secluded doesn’t mean it’s problem free by any stretch. After a number of trying times, Detective Casey Duncan and Sheriff Eric Dalton (yes, from the Rockton series, though note that you don’t have to have read that series to enjoy these books, and each of these could be read as a standalone if you wanted.) are now settled in, and with Casey pregnant it would great if things were calm/boring. But of course that isn’t the case, far from it. It starts with a woman being drugged and dragged off into the woods, but that’s only the beginning. Wonderfully atmospheric, great characters, and a tight, tense story make Cold as Hell another winner. I’d like to thank St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of Cold as Hell.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R218F8X0B01BPY/ref=pe_123899240_1043597390_SRTC0204BT_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

Cold as hell is now my fav of this series. The return of Casey & Eric and their hidden town is full of interesting characters and a sadistic killer. And the suspense of whodunnit kept me flipping the pages. I’m glad the bad guy got what he deserved in the end instead of just getting caught and tossed in jail. Another highlight in this book is the new addition to Casey & Eric’s family. Can’t wait to see what their next adventure will entail.

The murder mystery held my attention but overall, I don't think I will be coming back for more.

Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton, do their best to keep the citizens of their tiny hidden oasis safe, even from each other. Most of the citizens of Haven's Rock are in hiding for one reason or another, some from abusive spouses, some like Casey are hiding from a mob hit. When it looks like someone tried to drug and assault one of their residents, the whole town is on high alert but even high alerts can't keep everyone safe when a white-out blizzard hits the town.

One of the woman is found out in the snow, not more that 500 yards from the town, naked. With no evidence of assault, they might have chalked it up to an accidental freezing and the loss of clothing due to "paradoxical undressing" where the body feels a burst of heat while freezing to death. The problem is that the body defrosts they catch the slight ligature marks which are popping up on the arms and legs. Did someone strip her and stake her to the ground? More horrifying, did they sit there and watch while she died?

Casey is about the give birth and she and Eric trying to get down to a major hospital but how can they leave with someone that dangerous out in their woods, or worse, someone that dangerous hiding in their midst.

THOUGHTS:
This is the third book of the Haven's Rock series, spinoff of the Rockton series. Both series take place in an off the-grid-town in the Canadian Yukon where people are hiding for one reason or another. This is an interesting premise even though I was reading about the frozen Yukon tundra while it snowed outside my own window and made me feel even colder and more miserable.

This was also a very closed-room mystery since there are only about 70 people in the town, and we only focused on a handful of the closer acquaintances and friends to Casey and Eric. I started highlighting names and makes notes of questionable answers they gave. I was definitely invested in the who's and why's of what was happening, and one of my notes was on point. Ha!

There were also some interesting secondary characters in the story which I won't discuss as to not give away any of the suspects but I did enjoy meeting most of them.

It was a good premise with good characters and an engaging mystery so why am I not more invested in more Haven's Rock? There was a lot of discussion of the original Town (series) Rockton and the corruption involved in the ultimate failure of that Town. They are supposedly more scrutinizing with Haven's Rock but as this is the third story, they still can't keep the people there safe. I don't know if it a feeling of how can we have more issues with a tiny town of 70 people who are all hiding from the world themselves or that I had a hard time accepting this weird modern Little House on the Prairie (in a snowstorm) lifestyle. I have a hard enough time with small town novels as there is nothing small town about where I live. I barely know my neighbors, let alone the business of everyone in town.  How do 70 people trust each other when you don't know the details but you do know there is something off about everyone in Town.  I would be locking and barring my door every night, not from the bears or dangers lurking in the woods but from those questionable neighbors.

I might have to wait and see what the next story is about but if anyone wants to convince me to keep up with this series, I am willing to listen.

Did i binge-read the first two books of this series so I could finish this by publication day? Yes. Was it extremely enjoyable? Also, yes. Reading 3 books in 48 hours isn't my typical reading speed, but thanks to #KelleyArmstrong and her absolutely beautiful literary abilities, i just could not put these books down! After reading Murder At Haven's Rock, I immediately wanted to jump into The Boy Who Cried Bear (the first two books in the series), and after finishing the both of them, I knew I was going to spend my day reading Cold as Hell.

Kelley Armstrong has truly mastered the art of character and story building while creating layers of suspense and the most thrilling action scenes! Reading this series felt like I was watching the most bingeworthy TV series (note: I would LOVE to see this series turned into a TV show), it had EVERYTHING!

A small, isolated sanctuary community filled with residents harboring their own hidden truths and pasts, all while attempting to uncover the mysteries that their neighbors may be keeping. Unpredictable weather that can turn even the most mundane daily tasks into challenges in an instant. A terrible crime committed right outside of the town.... a town full of people who needed a place to start over. A dangerous individual is amongst them. Who can they trust?


Thank you, #netgalley, Martin's press & minotaur books for the #ARC.

Cold as Hell is book 3 in the Haven’s Rock series and best read as part of the series. Once again the sanctuary of Haven’s Rock is threatened by a killer. This case finds Casey with a lot more on the line as she’s over eight months pregnant, fighting off early labor and other complications. Someone is taking women out in the woods and watching them die from exposure and hypothermia. Casey and her husband Eric must pursue a killer among one of their own residents while protecting their unborn child. Suspenseful and action packed, book three is probably the best Haven’s Rock story yet. The environment is hostile and everyone is keeping secrets in Haven’s Rock for a page turner in the series that always has me coming back for more. My voluntary, unbiased, and non-mandatory review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart


Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I love this Rockton series, now Haven's Rock series which is a spin-off as well as a direct continuation of the previous series. I personally would start with the previous series because of the background and character development but also because it is amazing! Haven's Rock is a new town with Casey and Eric along with a few others as the owners, making a fresh start and hopefully better situation than Rockton.

Casey is the whole point of view for this world. She is smart, skilled and compassionate. She does so well at keeping her capabilities strong or she'd have died in at least 7 of the 10 books already! I was pretty worried about her in Cold As Hell with her being pregnant and all. Casey handles everything with her usual strength and intelligence.

Women are being drugged and hauled off into the wilderness, it seems. It starts with someone who is obviously drugged and wondering but found and brought back to town. Then another woman goes missing as a big snow storm starts. They have to search in the snow. The evidence makes it clear it is not their unwanted gold mining neighbors. As more women are abducted, it's a race against time to save them before they die.

Casey and Eric look at the information about when the women were last seen and try to mesh up the accounts. No matter how they analyze, it's clear the threat is in their town, someone they probably trust. It's heartbreaking for them trying to set up a good place for people.

Casey and Eric are hard working, and better people than I could be at times. My respect and love for them continues to grow. Casey in addition to her marriage, pregnancy and detective work, manages to deal with all the personalities including her neurodivergent sister April. I'm not exactly a fan of Yolanda who got some FAFO here. Casey and Eric learned a lot this time about safeguards they need as they process applications for living in Haven's Rock.

I'm excited to see how a baby works into their lives and the community. I hope Casey doesn't always have to be the one facing danger for her child's sake. I really love this series and will read every one Kelley Armstrong writes.

Cold as Hell is the third book in the Haven’s Rock series which is a spin-off to the Rockton series. It’s just as thrilling as its predecessors. I highly recommend reading the first two books - and the Rockton series - before starting this to really get to know the characters and their history.

Casey and Eric are starting a family. Nearing the end of her high-risk pregnancy she needs to take it easy but much to Eric’s dismay, things don’t work out that way. When a woman is drugged and dragged into the woods she manages to make enough noise to draw the attention of another resident. But the next woman isn’t as lucky.
As Casey and Eric investigate, they’re forced to question just who they can actually trust in what is supposed to be their safe haven. With a deadly blizzard and pregnancy complications, it’s a race against the clock to catch a killer before it’s too late.

One of my favorite things about these books is the remote setting of the Yukon wilderness. It’s so atmospheric and perfect for a whodunnit. With so much at stake - horrible snowstorms, a missing woman, Casey’s pregnancy and need to get to town for a doctor - this makes for another wonderful murder mystery. The suspense, especially near the end, had me on the edge of my seat. I couldn’t read this fast enough.

I love these characters so much and when I finished this it was pretty late so the only thing in my notes app was “I love Mathias”. The end was perfect.

I can’t wait to find out what the future has in store for Casey, Eric and the residents of Haven’s Rock!

I've only read the first Haven Rock book and now this so I didn't know everything that has gone on in the other books. I was a bit out of the loop but not too much. A great series and one I would like to reread the first and all the others leading up to this one.

Cold as Hell is the latest installment in Kelley Armstrong’s long running Rockton/Haven’s Rock mystery series. In this one, Casey and Dalton have settled into life in the recently established Haven’s Rock, the hidden town in the Canadian Yukon they run as a sanctuary for select individuals who are trying to leave their—often dangerous—pasts behind them (it’s a sort of voluntary witness protection program where everyone is in the same boat). Unfortunately, things don’t seem to be going quite as well as they thought when one of the residents is drugged and almost abducted and then another goes missing—and all signs point to the perpetrator being one of their own. Casey and Dalton must solve the case and figure out where they went wrong in the resident selection process while also dealing with a blizzard and Casey about to give birth.

I always enjoy Armstrong’s mysteries and this series in particular—the Canadian wilderness as the backdrop for this unusual town provides an extra thrill. Cold as Hell was definitely a page turner—the added time constraints associated with the blizzard and Casey’s impending labor added a whole other layer to the usual anticipation. I was also happy to see the return of Rockton faves Matthias and Sebastian who hadn’t had much page time since we moved to Haven’s Rock. All in all, a great read! I can’t wait to see how the newest resident changes life in Haven’t Rock!

Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the e-ARC; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I aways get excited when I see that Kelley Armstrong has a new book out. Especially when it's a Haven's Rock novel! The third entry, Cold as Hell, has just arrived. And I feel like I’m settling down with old friends. What’s happening?!

Haven’s Rock is a hidden village up in the Yukon, for those who don’t want to live in a regular town…or can’t. There's been a horrific murder and it looks to be one of the residents that is the culprit. But who?

Armstrong has given her lead characters rich personal lives that always moving forward. I am just as curious about their personal lives as I am in regards to the newest mystery. Detective Casey and her husband Sheriff Dalton are the law in Haven's Rock.

The book is told from Casey’s point of view. I really like her voice and especially her investigative skills. The reader is privy to her thoughts. Armstrong's mysteries are not easy to solve. And a blizzard is not going to make things any easier.

Another excellent read from Kelley Armstrong.

I’m completely invested in these stories after reading the Rockton series and now Haven’s Rock. Casey and Eric’s romantic partnership is always a part of each novel, but it’s a mystery that cements each story and keeps me coming back. Cold As Hell wraps the two things together. Casey’s pregnancy is problematic and her doctor wants her in a city closer to a hospital when they find the body frozen on the lake. Reluctantly they leave town in the capable hands of their deputy, Anders, but Casey’s detective instincts never turns off and she’s able to investigate from afar and finds out some things that lead them back to Haven’s Rock away from the safety of healthcare nearby. This ads to the tension of the mystery keeping the reader on the edge of their seat.

The fact that each person in town was handpicked and not supposed to have any predilections to violence is also an added twist to the story. How could this happen? How do they ensure the safety of their residents in the future? etc. It opens the door to more re-creations to this town they want to build and call home. I relished being back in Haven’s Rock and can’t wait to see what future installations will bring.

Cold as Hell is the Third installment in author Kelley Armstrong's Haven's Rock series, which you know is a spin-off of the author's Rockton series. Living at Haven's Rock is never dull. You are living in the middle of Yukon. You are dealing with dangers you've never seen in the city, and the weather can be tricky. It is a place for people to disappear and start over. Residents must rely on the land, each other, and Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton, to keep them safe. Both are dedicated to their jobs and keeping the people of Haven's Rock safe.

But there are more challenges. Especially when Casey is 8 months pregnant and waiting until she has to leave to have the baby, which her sister April all but pushes her to go so she doesn't have the baby here. But baby or not, things are always tense in a town that Casey and Dalton built with help from their friends. When a knock on their door comes in the middle of the night, Casey and Dalton know there's trouble. It seems that a woman has been attacked but thankfully saved by a local resident. Soon thereafter, another woman goes missing and is found murdered.

As the storm blows in literally, Casey and Dalton struggle to find the killer before Casey ends up having her baby in the snow instead of a hospital. As Casey and Dalton investigate the assault, the two wonder who they can trust in their supposedly safe haven. After all, there are people in town who have a history of violence and are willing to push the envelope in order to keep friends safe from outsiders. Casey and Duncan made sure that they made changes in policy when they began building Haven’s Rock, and thanks to Emilie, their beneficiary, things seem to be clearer regarding who arrives and who doesn't.

But no system is perfect, and once again, it seems that someone in Haven is not supposed to be here. Casey wonders if it's their fault that they are not investigating people who come here more thoroughly before arriving. With only 3 real police in town, they have to walk a line between doing what's right and doing what's best for those who live here. This is a story where almost everyone is in suspense, even those who came here from Rockton. The author once again brings the reality of the Yukon to light. The climate of their remote town is almost a character in itself, with winter blizzards, dangers in the surrounding forest, and their isolation from society. One could say that Casey's pregnancy is more of a story than the mystery of the killer because this is her first time getting this far, and anything can happen and does, including a direct fight for her life against the Haven killer.

This suspenseful mystery, set against the backdrop of a remote wilderness, will grip readers with its chilling atmosphere and relentless intrigue. Fans of wilderness survival tales and psychological thrillers will be captivated by the story's pregnant protagonist, who must face not only the harsh elements of her isolated surroundings but also the terrifying presence of a serial killer. As the suspense builds, readers will find themselves on the edge of their seats, desperate to uncover the truth and see justice served. This novel is perfect for those who crave a dark and suspenseful read that explores the depths of human resilience and the terrifying consequences of isolation.

Cold as Hell by Kelley Armstrong in the third in her Haven’s Rock series. In this book, pregnant detective Casey and her husband Eric are working to discover a murderer amongst their small community in the Alaskan Yukon.

Unfortunately, I hadn’t read books 1 or 2 prior to reading this. I think that was a mistake on my part. Throughout the book I felt as if I didn’t have a clear understanding of some of the specifics of the community where the book takes place. I think that would have been apparent in the earlier books.

Overall, this was a meh read for me. I liked the mystery aspect, but felt throughout the whole thing as the background I was missing was impacting my enjoyment of the story. I’m also not a huge outdoorsy person so that setting didn’t appeal to me. I think many readers will thoroughly enjoy this, it just wasn’t for me.

Cold as Hell is the third book in Kelley Armstrong's thrilling Haven's Rock mystery series, which is a spinoff of her Rockton series. I was heartbroken when I discovered that Rockton was ending, but thank goodness that Ms. Armstrong kept our favorite characters - plus some new ones - and moved them to their own new hidden sanctuary. You can read the books alone, but you will definitely want to see what you missed, because both series are AWESOME! All the books in Haven's Rock are wonderful, but Cold as Hell is definitely my favorite so far.

Haven's Rock is a sanctuary town hidden away in the Yukon of Canada. Do you need to disappear? If so, this place is for you...if you can stand not knowing the background of your fellow residents, or don't mind wild animals and snow. Lots and lots of snow. Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton, have settled into their life here, and they are about to start a family. In the 8th month of her unexpected pregnancy, Casey won't be left out of the investigation into what happened near the edge of town, though Eric would prefer her to stay home safe. One of the female residents is drugged at the bar, and when she goes near the edge of town, she is grabbed and carried into the woods, fighting and screaming. Luckily she is saved in time, but now residents are becoming frightened. As a snowstorm hits Haven's Rock, Casey and Eric - and their Newfoundland dog Storm - are investigating the assault, when they find the body of a frozen woman, naked in the snow. There are different accounts of the woman's last movements, so now not only do they have a murder, but they also don't know who they can really trust in their sanctuary.

Kelley Armstrong has crafted an exceptionally thrilling mystery with characters you'll either love, dislike, or not be sure if you can trust them or not. The concept of a Haven's Rock-type sanctuary is quite interesting. Would you be able to leave everything you know and love and take refuge in a remote sanctuary? What would be your reason? Witnessed a crime...or committed a crime but deserved a second chance? The reasons are quite varied for those who live in this frozen Yukon location. We've witnessed the transformation of this isolated spot since book one, which was tailored to the specifications of Casey and Eric, along with their benefactress who funded the project. Now that they are settled in, Casey and Eric are awaiting the birth of their first child. Casey had a prior injury that could impact the health of their baby and they had a previous scare, so Eric wants Casey to play it safe, as he has quite the protective streak. But Casey can't stand the thought of sitting out an investigation, so she makes concessions - like being driven in a sled, which makes her feel like a slacker. The investigation was quite exciting, but some of my favorite parts of the story dealt with these two stubborn law enforcement officers dealing with naming the baby, or fears of a breech birth or having the baby in a toilet because she thought she needed to poop. (That particular passage had me about laughing on the floor!) Some of the supporting characters were great, especially Will Anders (Eric's deputy), April (Casey's sister, a physician on the autism spectrum), Yolanda (head of the construction crew and granddaughter of the town's benefactress) and Sebastian (a sociopath who murdered his parents but was given a second change in the frozen Yukon). Of course, my favorite supporting character is Storm the dog. This dog who was trained to track has as much personality as the human characters, and I adore her! The mystery was positively exciting, trying to figure of who killed the woman, and the discovery of the killer and his past was chilling. And speaking of chilling, the way Ms. Armstrong describes the freezing cold and the snow had my shivering in my chair. Casey's predicament at the end of this book almost had me putting down my e-reader, fearing fate would not be kind! This is a series you must check out; and be sure to take a look at the Rockton series, as well. You'll thank me for steering you in that direction.

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Book 3 in the Haven’s Rock series
I read the book and listened to the audio about a month apart. I give it a 5-star rating for both versions.
We see Casey and Eric dealing with the latest problems in the newly established safe area. A woman disappears out the camp during a major snowstorm. This after one other woman had been drugged and abducted. Luckily, someone else appeared, leaving the abductor to flee into the woods.
Casey has a tough time at 8 months pregnant to accept the limitations of her body. A good thing Eric and her sister April are managing to enforce a couple of rules for her safety and that of the baby. This does not stop Casey from getting herself into a predicament. To be fair it really was not her fault.
I really loved the audio book. Now I admit that some of the reaction might be from hearing the story for a second time. The emotions came through more by how the narrator presented it. The scene while been in the plane. The husband wife relationship. The worry of the snowstorm.
Casey’s fear after been captured and her worry about her unborn child not surviving. Even with already knowing the outcome the Narrator had me captivated.