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.

A very exciting spin on the usual locked room mystery: this time the mystery is set in a remote town in the Yukon which has been specifically created for people who need to 'disappear' from the world.

When one woman narrowly escapes being dragged into the woods by an attacker and another is later found dead, it is obvious the killer must be one of the 70 people living in remote Haven's Rock. Detective Eric Dalton and his wife Casey get right to work to solve the crime before anyone else gets attacked but there's one problem--Casey is expecting their first child and is hugely pregnant and experiencing problems so they are torn between these high priorities. Then throw in blizzard conditions and you have one heck of an exciting, atmospheric story.

I bravely jumped in on this series after being offered an arc by the author and publisher via NetGallery. At first I felt totally lost. Not only is this the third book in the Haven's Rock series, but it is a spin-off from an earlier series called Rockton about another such community, so there was a lot of backstory to unpack. But the current story really drew me in so I relaxed and enjoyed the ride. I appreciated the crazy scenario and liked these characters enough that I might go back and read the previous books when I get the chance.

I really enjoyed this book. Admittedly, I had not read the first 2 when I read this one, which was actually fine in the context of the novel (Armstrong does a great job at filling the reader in on any important aspects of the previous books); however, given how good this book was, I do wish I read the others first. Casey is a spunky, pregnant detective who is married to town sheriff, Dalton. They run a very small community of people who require sanctuary from their previous lives. I love this concept- a community existing in complete isolation, not found on a map or any road sign. When women seem to be getting targeted, it makes the question of who is responsible all the more complex. I really enjoyed the dialogue in this book- it comes across as natural speech, making it relatable. I would definitely recommend this book (and read the first 2 so you don't miss out!). Thank you to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for the ARC!

Nice addition to the series as the isolated town is attacked Thankful the detective and he husband, the Sheriff, prove to have it under control eventually.

This was one of the best Haven's Rock books yet. A serial killer is hunting the citizens of Haven's Rock, and the killer is one of their own. There are scenes with pulse-pounding excitement. Casey is also very pregnant, so that makes hunting down the killer difficult. However, she has a whole town to support her.

Another solid installment of the Haven’s Rock series. A twisty murder to solve in the middle of the Yukon.

A little heavy on the pregnancy storyline at times and a bit too many references to Rockton, the town that’s the setting for the authors companion-type series. Those contribute to the dock in a star for me.

This is also the third book in this series that I’ve read in the past month, might be a bit burnt out, but still a good read and I’d recommend this series to others.

I received this book free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

Thrilling suspense, twisted serial killer, small isolated town, Cold As Hell… So good! I was at the edge of my seat! Definitely recommend! Storm, the Newfoundland tracking dog is amazing! This is my first book in the Haven’s Rock series. I am definitely going to read the others!

Thank you to NetGalley, St Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for this ALC and ARC!

I greatly enjoyed this third book in the Haven’s Rock series. I love the characters in this series! As always, there’s a lot of suspense and the pacing is spot on. As mentioned, this is the third book in the series, and I recommend reading the first two ahead of this one, as the author does not really provide much backstory moving in to set the scene. I believe this is meant to be the final installment, so will be looking forward to the next series!

Reading this during a couple of chilly days really made this story feel real and I was sucked into the town of Haven's Rock as a storm hits, women are being attacked and going missing, and Casey is coming up on her due date which has its own joys and fears. Haven's Rock may be small and hidden in the Yukon but so many things continue to happen, which is understandable when the residents are on the run and need protection. I love the duo of Casey and Eric, they work so well together and it is easy to see how strongly they love each other. The other long term residents, like Gunnar, Kendra, Yolanda, Will, and April who make up the core and help solve these cases are also mostly easy to like and I keep holding my breath so that nothing bad happens to them.

So, this is another great book in the Haven's Rock series, full of twists, thrills, and so much cold weather! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to dive back into the town of Haven's Rock and have another thrilling read!

I've been a fan of this series, as well as of the Rockton series from which it was spun so know that I did not have the issues with this that new readers likely will-namely that Armstrong doesn't give backstory for anyone and just thumps you down in the middle of a blizzard hitting Haven's Rock. And that was actually an issue even for me because it would be nice to be reminded sometimes of how people got there especially if, as happens once, one character says that another just learned the back story of a third. Just give us a sentence- what was that back story? This installment sees Casey, now 8 months pregnant, and Dalton hunting for a missing resident and then for the person who murdered her. They interview various residents (we are reminded repeatedly of Sebastian's back story). And all along the way, Casey is having contractions, first because the baby is in breech and then.....I like Casey and, as always, her sister April is a treat as is Eric. This would be a better book had it been edited by someone who had not read the preceding books so that gaps could have been filled and (minor quibble) the naming Mae consistent (sometimes he's Eric, sometimes Dalton, sometimes Will, sometimes Anders). All of that said, I enjoyed spending time in the Yukon and look forward to the next installment. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. Nicely atmospheric (cold!) and twisty.