Haven’s Rock is a sanctuary town hidden deep in the Yukon for those who need to disappear from the regular world. Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton, are starting a family now that they’ve settled into their life here. As Casey nears the end of her pregnancy, she lets nothing stop her from investigating

When one of the town's residents is drugged and wanders too close to the edge of town, she’s dragged into the woods. Casey and Eric investigate just as a snowstorm arrives. Then a other body is found, making them question the safety of the town..

The setting for Cold As Hell is very unique. The cold from a snowstorm further enhances the tension and atmosphere. However, I would have liked a little more description for it.

I found the beginning of the book confusing as it jumps right into the story. It would have helped to have read the previous two books in the series and I would recommend it for anyone wanting to read this.

There is a lot of action to keep things moving. The climax is intense. I found myself uncomfortable with some of it. Readers looking for a different setup for a mystery thriller may enjoy this book.

I have read many books by Kelley Armstrong and I have enjoyed most of her books.

Cold As Hell is a good one. I enjoyed it and I recommend this series.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kelley Armstrong, and St. Martin's Press for the ebook. Though I’m new to the series, I was quickly able to catch up and felt like I hadn’t missed anything. Now, I’m eager to go back and read the first two books in the series, as well as the previous Rockton series! The concept is so unique, and I absolutely love the characters. I couldn’t put the book down and can’t wait to read more!

I got about 30% through this book before I just couldn't keep going. I didn't realize this book was part of a series and I just ended up feeling confused. I may pick this up again and give it a try if I can get to the first two books.

Kelley Armstrong has a perfect setup for the "locked room mystery" with her Haven's Rock series. A hidden town in the Canadian wilderness, whose inhabitants are all in hiding from something in their past, with no outsiders allowed. And in the third book in the series, Cold as Hell, she ups the ante by having a blizzard roar through town, meaning no one from the outside could get to the small settlement even if they knew it was there.

Casey Duncan, the narrator, and her husband Sheriff Eric Dalton, are responsible for the safety and anonymity of the people in town. When one of the inhabitants is murdered during the blizzard, the two have to investigate even though Casey has been advised to rest so as not to endanger her unborn child. Watching her try to find a balance between searching for the killer and protecting her child adds to the suspense of the story.

Knowing that the killer is one of the townspeople, someone they have trusted, drives both Casey and Dalton to solve the mystery. Then another townsperson disappears. And Casey is ordered to fly to the nearest town to be near a hospital. But another blizzard threatens to interfere with both the investigation and the childbirth.

I liked Armstrong's Rockton series, which is a prequel to Haven's Rock, but I have to admit that I am enjoying the new series even more. Casey and Dalton are in charge here, and designed the town the way they wanted it run. The inhabitants are people truly needing to hide, not just people who could afford the high price of Rockton. This creates more emotional stakes for Haven's Rock. When someone in the town is the victim, and someone else in the town is the killer, Casey takes it personally.

You don't have to read the first two books of Haven's Rock to enjoy this one, although I recommend them as well. But definitely read this one if you like locked room mysteries, suspenseful stories, weather-driven stories, or just a great mystery with a surprising but plausible twist. Lots to love about this book!

This suspense novel is so intense I had to stop reading at several points. I bravely persevered and it was worth it, but wow.

In the Yukon community of Haven's Rock, Casey Dalton is in the eighth month of a difficult pregnancy, with her protective husband and colleague Eric Duncan watching her every move, when a woman is drugged and dragged into the forest. She escapes, but while Casey and Duncan are investigating which member of their very small community is responsible, Casey has a pregnancy scare during a blizzard, As the blizzard subsides, they realize another woman, Lynn, has disappeared. Casey and Duncan are in a race against time--they need to not only find Lynn and her captor, but get Casey to a place where there is better medical care before she goes into labor.

As mentioned, this novel is extremely taut and fraught. It is the third in a series, and I am proof that you do not need to have read the first two books in the series to follow along, although you might want to. Because it's that good. #ColdasHell #NetGalley

An intricate, Thrilling Adventure!!

My first read from this author, so I am jumping into number three in this series. I actually found it quite intriguing as the uniqueness of both the origin of the town, and the trials the inhabitants have gone through to arrive here. While I am interested enough to read the prior stories, I did not feel confused or lost in any way.

What a delightful, complex, creation of the situations that lead to missing and/or murdered. Add in the relationships, the pregnancy and pure survival and you have a robust read which is not to be missed. I’ve found a new author to follow!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review "Cold As Hell", the latest in Kelley Armstrong's "Haven's Rock" series.
Ms. Armstrong has done it again! Crafted another taut, suspenseful novel set in the successor to Rockton - Haven's Rock (a haven for those who really, really need to disappear from their past lives)
Now in the latter stages of a problematic pregnancy, Casey Butler and her Husband/Sheriff Eric Dalton don't really need any more problems; but of course the universe isn't listening!
First off, a nearly successful abduction and attack. Who amongst their carefully vetted community could have it in for Kendra? And what was the purpose of the attack? While investigating this event, one of their other people suddenly vanishes in the middle of a massive snowstorm.
Is this the same perp, and where on earth is Lynn? As Casey and Eric, along with their Deputy and other leaders of the community check alibis (the husband is always the main one) and attempt to track her into the wild, they soon come upon a terrible crime scene which rocks them to their core.
As they dig deeper and deeper into the people who live in Haven's Rock, it soon becomes apparent that something very wrong has come to their community - will they be able to get to the bottom of things before there are more victims? And can they do it amidst the impending arrival of their child.
You'll be holding your breath right until the end of "Cold As Hell" - and your heart may take some time to thaw out.
I would not recommend this as a standalone read - you really the backstory.

2⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for an advanced copy of Cold As Hell.

Detective Casey is married to her husband Eric who is the sheriff. They live in Haven’s Rock and they are expecting their first child. One day they get a call about a woman who was drugged and abducted but was rescued. While they are investigating her case another woman is reported missing and eventually found dead. In their town almost everyone could be a suspect but can they find out the culprit before someone else goes missing.

I was not aware that this book was part of a series and I definitely think it would have been helpful to read the prior books because it was really difficult to connect either the characters and town in this book without knowing the backstory. I think that is why I was so confused because I kept feeling like I was missing information about the town when in reality it was discussed in previous books.

Kelley Armstrong returns with her popular Haven's Rock Series COLD AS HELL #3, The Boy Who Cried Bear#2, and Murder at Haven's Rock#1.

This time around, things get scary as their haven may no longer be secure. Casey hunts down a dangerous killer among them during a deadly blizzard while ready to deliver her baby in this spine-chilling latest installment, Whodunit Suspense thriller.

About...

As you may know, if you have read this series, Haven's Rock is a sanctuary town hidden in the Yukon for those who need to escape from the world.

Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton, are starting a family, but of course, they must make plans since they are in the middle of nowhere.

As Casey gets close to her due date, there is a crime, and Casey will not rest until the murderer is found. Who among them is a killer?

What starts as one of the women in town is drugged and then carried into the woods, luckily saved, but now everyone is worried.

Then Casey and Eric are investigating an assault, a brutal crime that shakes the entire community. This leads them into a snowstorm blizzard, where they discover a frozen body naked in the snow, adding another layer of mystery and danger to their investigation.

TRUST NO ONE!

My thoughts...

COLD AS HELL is another gripping suspense thriller to the Haven's Rock collection. This time around, the stakes are high as their small community needs to feel safe, so who among them could be a murderer, and what is the motive?

From Murder, Mystery, and Intrigue in this twisty and complex WHODUNIT.

With Casey being pregnant and her hubby worried for her and the baby, they get stuck in the storm with a killer, making this another riveting suspense thriller.

Atmospheric, the author keeps you in suspense with each gripping page turn, introducing red herrings and suspects in their (off the grid) now not-so-safe haven. The action is packed with a diverse and engaging cast of characters, each with their secrets and motives.

Audiobook...

I read the e-book and listened to the audiobook narrated by the fabulously talented Thérèse Plummer, which elevated the story and made the characters come alive in this atmospheric setting with intensity and suspense.

I recommend reading the first two books in the series to get to know the characters! I have enjoyed all three.

Recs...

COLD AS HELL is for fans of the author, the series, and those who enjoy cop/detective procedurals by Robin Mahle, Tami Hoag, and Willow Rose.

Thanks to Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for an advanced review and listening copy via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4 Stars (book); 5 Stars (audio)
Pub Date: Feb 18, 2025
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Cold as Hell is book three in Haven's Rock series by Kelley Armstrong.
This series is such an enjoyable mystery.
And I’ve enjoyed all three books so far.
Armstrong's engaging storytelling and relatable characters make this a compelling read.
The plot is well-paced and keeps readers intrigued throughout.
I was invested and engrossed in the story from the beginning.

Kelly Armstrong is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. This is my second book I’ve read from her and I’ve already bought two more on my kindle to read. I loved this story. The killer took me by surprise. They weren’t even on my radar at first and I’m usually pretty good at guessing who it is. I instantly liked Casey and Dalton and how solid their relationship is and how well they worked together. It seems like most books have the couple treating each other badly in one way or another, and I enjoyed a couple that gets along and respects each other. Even though this is the third book in the series it can be read as a stand alone and the author did a great job of briefing explaining the backstory that you need to know. I definitely recommend this series.

Summary:


Casey and Dalton are excited to be starting their family. Towards the end of her pregnancy, Casey and Dalton hear about a resident of Haven’s Rock that had been drugged and dragged into the woods. While investigating this horrid act, they stumble upon something even more gruesome. A frozen body. Will they solve the case before the baby comes?


What I liked:

As with the other two in the series, I really enjoyed the dynamic between Casey and Dalton. Storm is always a favorite simply for the reason of who doesn’t love dogs?
I also like the serial killer angle.

What I disliked:

The entire story. I felt as if they kept piling crime upon crime to make it interesting. It pulled me out of the story and made it difficult to finish. I wish the serial killer angle was done better. As someone who in currently studying psychology, I wish there would have been some current up to date facts about serial killers instead of what feels to be outdated.

Overall:

Not my favorite and won’t continue with the series.

Thank you to MacMillan audio for the ALC and Minotaur for the ARC!

I really love the Haven’s Rock series. In the third installment, we pick right up where the second leaves off. It’s winter now, our FMC Casey is heavily pregnant, and due to her past injuries, is high risk. But she and her husband/partner Eric still have a job to do when a resident of their community is found disoriented and another goes missing.

Casey is the ultimate badass. She doesn’t let anything (small spoiler - even giving birth) - stop her from protecting the people she and her husband are responsible for. The concept of Haven’s Rock has always appealed to me - a safe, separate community that is a fresh start for people. All the books in this series are very atmospheric, with the Yukon wilderness playing a big role in the story. But the winter weather in this story gives the wilderness an added layer, reminding readers of how dangerous it could get.

“Cold As Hell” is out February 18, 2025! This review will be shared to my Instagram blog @books_by_the_bottle shortly :)

Armstrong’s murder mystery is set in an unlikely settlement in the Yukon, where one character is almost as unique as the other. With the unassuming daily duties of those who live there, Detective Casey has her hands full with not only the mystery, but with the impending birth of her baby, less than a month away.
This story is part of a larger series which I didn’t realize at first. Although I followed along well, reading some others first may have given more details to the background stories of these characters. With that, the setting and plot were uncommon, set in rural Yukon where its isolation and remote, natural ruggedness lends a creepiness to the mystery. The characters are all varied and most definitely a bit of a misfit mix, but it works completely. I was engaged from the start and although I had a bit of it figured out, the conclusion was nothing like I envisioned originally.

Haven's Rock is supposed to be a safe, hidden away, community for those who need to disappear. Everyone is screened and through checks are done before anyone is allowed in. So when a woman is drugged and dragged into the forest, who could have done it? Then during a terrible snowstorm a woman disappears and is later found dead in a horrible fashion. Can Detective Casey Butler and her husband Sheriff Eric Dalton find the person responsible before more harm is done. Casey is trying to solve the crimes, but being eight months pregnant and having what she hopes are minor issues with said pregnancy. She just hopes everything ends for the good of all involved.

Haven's Rock, population 67, is once again the site of a murder. A woman is attacked in the woods outside the drinks, probably spiked, in the one restaurant. She is able to escape, but is unable to identify who attacked her. Casey Butler, Detective, who happens to be eight months pregnant, and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton, no sooner begin to investigate when a blizzard hits the area. A woman goes missing and is later found dead, striped of her clothing, left to freeze to death.

Haven's Rock is meant to be a sanctuary. People that are allowed into the settlement are carefully vetted. How did a murderer get in? Everyone is on edge. Casey wants to find the culprit, but knows she needs to keep her baby safe.

The story moves quickly and will keep you turning the pages. There are some red herrings thrown out and the isolated environment, being totally off the grid adds to the suspense.

This series is one of my favorites, starting with the Rockton series of books and continuing into the Haven's Rock series. Kelley Armstrong has created an entire world with fully developed characters that we have engaged with throughout the series. The desolate Yukon territory with its vastness and unknowns is itself, a major character. This can be read as a stand-alone but I highly encourage reading this series from the beginning, City of the Lost, the first that introduces us to Casey, Eric, and the concept of a "safe haven". I look forward to the next exciting adventure with Casey, Eric, the citizens of Haven's Rock, and of course, Storm, tracking dog extraordinaire.

Thank you to NetGalley, and the publisher, Minotaur Books, for an ARC. The review is my own.

Cold as Hell is book 3 in the series, and dare I say this one maybe my favorite so far. Murder and Mystery in a winter setting makes for a great winter read by the fire. This book was very well written, which is no surprise because all of her books are well written. The pregnancy storyline can be a little triggering for some.

Cold as Hell is the 3rd book in the Haven's Rock series by Kelley Armstrong. I had not read any of the previous books in this series, but I had no problem keeping up with the story line in my opinion can very easily be read as a stand alone. I found this book to be full of suspense, mystery and action packed. I little different from my normal reads, because I don't believe I have read a book that has this type of background, where everyone in the small community has a reason to be there, and vetted to know everything they can about the person. I found this to be a very good read, and I would recommend it to others.

I received and ARC from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, and I am leaving my review voluntarily.

Kelley Armstrong books never cease to amaze me and draw me directly into her storyline. They're full of suspense, bits of romance, and thrill. Her characters are full of atmosphere and her world building is easy to see.

Haven's Rock is a safe place in the deep wilderness of Canada. It's a refuge for people who need to disappear for one reason or another. The town is set up to be a full livable space. A possible rape scare alerts the towns officials that something has gone wrong. They scan everyone who gets in, so what has happened.

This is the 3rd addition in the Haven's Rock series. I read this as a standalone and it was great. I know the series as a whole will be spectacular!

5* read from me!

Thank you to Kelley Armstrong, NetGaley and Minotaur Books for allowing me this early read in exchange for my opinion.