Cold as Hell is book #3 of the Haven's Rock series, which follows immediately after the Rockton Series. I love Kelley Armstrong as a writer, and this novel just makes me want more. It follows Casey Butler (Duncan) and Sheriff Eric Dalton, deep in the Yukon, where they have setup their new Haven's Rock after Rockton was shut down. In this novel, Casey is very pregnant and looking to head to civilization before the baby's arrival Unfortunately, just before they leave, a town resident is drugged and almost dragged into the woods before someone comes to rescue her, hearing her screams. Shortly after, before they can investigate, a snowstorm hits. The next day, another resident is missing and later found, frozen to death and leaving them questioning her cause of death. Is there another serial killer on the loose? Can they find him before he kills again?

After reading all of Rockton and now the Haven's Rock series, I feel like I know Casey and Eric. They have been developed as strong and relatable characters. This book kept me reading into the wee hours of the night to find out what would happen next. Just when you thought you knew, bam, you were wrong again. I completely enjoyed this book and can't wait for the next in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this e-book, in exchange for my honest review.

I have read and enjoyed each book in this series, but this was the darkest/goriest of the bunch. The plot was perfectly snappy, especially considering how small Haven’s Rock is and how much of the investigation is just them walking around talking to people. This suffered a bit from me not having read #2 recently… I had a hard time remembering some of the side characters. I’d recommend this for crime fiction lovers who are OK with some grittiness. And a lot of snow.

Thank you to the publisher - I received a complimentary eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the third book in the Haven’s Rock series. Casey is heavily pregnant as she is tasked with investigating an attempted kidnapping of a resident woman. Despite Dalton’s protests, Casey is determined to catch the culprit before anyone else is harmed…and before she gives birth. I really enjoy this series, and the addition of a baby in Haven’s Rock will move the series along nicely.

I love this spinoff series and the original series. I just can’t get enough of Casey and her crew as they solve these murders.

I love the setting of Haven’s Rock because it’s such a small community but this book definitely reinforces that anyone can infiltrate the community and they will never see it coming.

It had me on the edge of my seat and I couldn’t put it down until I reached the end.

I love any book with the word “cold” in the title for some strange reason. I’m not sure why but It just draws me into a book and I’m so glad it did with this one! This book is chock full of thrills and suspense! I scrambled to turn the pages as fast as I could. I totally love the set up of a small sanctuary community in the Yukon. Our main characters are a detective, extremely pregnant, Casey and her husband, Eric, the sheriff. Things heat up when a member of the community gets drugged and almost gets dragged away into the woods. Casey and Eric try to figure out who tried to take her while dealing with escalating problems with her pregnancy. This book was a thrill ride!

I did not realize this was part of a series when I started so it absolutely can be read as a standalone. I loved the setting and I'm super intrigued by the town in general. I may go back to the beginning of the series at some point and find out more about the town and townspeople. I truly did not figure this mystery out while reading and it made for a great reading experience.

Thank you to Minotaur Books, Netgalley and St. Martins Press for access to an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

First of all, *deep breath* everything is fine with Casey's pregnancy so go ahead and dive into this book.

In case you didn't know, this is the third in the Haven's Rock series which is a spin-off from the seven book Rockton series. While it is possible to jump-in either at the start of Haven's Rock or with this book Cold As Hell, you will be missing so much context to the world that Armstrong has built and the relationships she's developed between these characters. I'd highly recommend starting from the beginning.

Cold as Hell follows Casey and Eric as their off the grid town once again encounters inexplicable violence. There's such a good blend of tension and suspense, along with the introduction of some new long term foes, plus we get a side of romance with Casey and Eric's relationship developing even more.

I have read so many books from Kelley Armstrong across multiple genres and I think her two series following Casey Duncan are possibly her very best. Every book in the series is better than the last. I don't know how I'm going to be able to wait until the next one comes out.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for my ARC.

I really love this series and the author Kelley Armstrong has a talent for creating characters that keep me coming back for more. Excitement, romance, danger, mystery and suspense all wrapped up in one book!

This third installment in the series is a remarkable literary achievement. From the outset, readers will be captivated by the engaging plot and well-developed characters. The protagonist, a formidable female, embodies unwavering determination in pursuit of justice.

The setting serves as a catalyst for the unfolding of the narrative, compelling the characters to confront their own challenges. The author’s creative writing prowess is evident throughout, showcasing their exceptional storytelling abilities. Readers will develop a profound sense of camaraderie with these unconventional characters.

It is not necessary to have read the preceding two books in the series to fully comprehend the narrative or develop an affinity for the story.

A fast-paced supernatural western with a strong female lead and plenty of action. Kelley Armstrong blends paranormal elements and classic Wild West tropes in a way that feels fresh. The world-building was rich, and I loved the sister dynamic. I did find the pacing a little uneven at times, but overall, it’s a unique and entertaining start to a promising series.

"Cold as Hell" by Kelley Armstrong is the third in the series and a wonderful addition. It just helps the story get better. The characters are well developed the town is a fully built by Armstrong. She has really hit her stride as an author. Each one solid.

First time reading this author and this is part of a series which I have not read the previous books and could follow but reading the previous books would provide additional details to invest in the plot line. Hidden away deep in the Yukon Wilderness of Canada is a secluded town called Haven's Rock - a sanctuary for those seeking a place to disappear off the grid while leaving their pasts behind. After applying for residency, each person coming in is carefully researched before being approved, leading to a small community of people safe within the borders. The secluded setting and mother nature combine to create a highly atmospheric, locked room style thriller that's guaranteed to keep readers up late at night to finish those last few pages. Detective Casey Duncan and Sheriff Eric Dalton are called out to help with a woman who was drugged and almost attacked, they are on edge. Soon thereafter, another woman goes missing, with more drastic outcomes. A killer is on the loose and a winter storm is pushing in, sure to cover all evidence under a pile of snow. The characters are likeable and interesting. The momentum is propelled with numerous happenings in a great setting, providing something that lurks in the background for something to derail. Definitely recommend. Thank you to NetGalley, Kelley Armstrong, and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity and introducing me to another new author.

The following review was published on Goodreads on 4.16.25:

Although it's grittier than my usual fare (and this installment is especially so), Armstrong's Rockton/Haven's Rock series is a favorite of mine. I love the power couple at its center, both as individuals and as a pair. Casey and Eric are brave, compassionate, smart, and capable. They listen to each other and support each other in every way. They're funny as well. It's enjoyable to watch them interact as they run the town they've created together.

In this installment, Casey and Eric discover they're unintentionally harboring a killer in Haven's Rock. With Casey about to give birth and a winter storm on the horizon, it's exceptionally bad timing. This setup makes for a tense, exciting plot with lots of action and suspense. The killer's methods are especially sadistic, which means COLD AS HELL is more disturbing than some of the other installments in the series. Still, the book kept me riveted, just as all of Armstrong's books do. The murderer wasn't a complete surprise, but their identity wasn't obvious either.

Not surprisingly since this is a favorite series of mine, I enjoyed COLD AS HELL. I always listen to these books on audio because Therese Plummer narrates them to perfection. Even though I had two paper copies of this book, I still waited in a long library line to get the book on audio. I'm glad I did.

If this were a movie, it would be rated: R for strong language, violence, blood/gore, disturbing subject matter, and scenes of peril

WE HAVE A BABY! Ok, getting ahead of myself here. Casey is uber pregnant in this book and it’s not going as smoothly as she or Eric would’ve hoped. While going south to civilization and a real hospital is definitely in the cards, they have a problem in Haven’s Rock. Someone has drugged one of the residents and was seen leading them out into the woods. Luckily another resident saw them and managed to save her. Then during a huge snowstorm, another resident appears to have gone missing. A case of getting lost in white out conditions or something more sinister? As the mystery heats up, Casey starts having more complications with the pregnancy and intends to go South. After her and Eric leave, she starts piecing together more of the puzzle and realizes they both need to go back to Haven’s Rock. ASAP. When they return to find yet another resident missing and presumably in danger, she must fight through more than she could ever imagine before getting the culprit under control.
I thought the ending was very fitting and loved how one of my favorite characters managed to mete out justice in the end. I’ll be interested to see how things will change there going forward and definitely think this is one of the best Haven’s Rock books thus far!

I always love reading a Kelley Armstrong book. This is the third book in her spinoff rockton series, and I really enjoyed it! Trapped in a snowstorm and trying to find the person who savagely tortured and killed on of the community members? I couldn’t stop reading to figure it out! I also really enjoyed seeing Casey come into being a mother (with the baby’s birth coming in the most epic way ever!) highly recommend this series!

I always enjoy the Rockton/Haven’s Rock books and this is no exception. There is humor as Casey and over-protective Dalton deal with investigating while Casey is eight-months pregnant. I did not see the end coming in the twisty mystery. I like that the setting is such a strong element in these books and the storm adds tension and urgency to the mystery and the issues with Casey’s pregnancy. Highly recommended.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was a new series for me, despite this one being the third book along. I did a little research on my own to get some background for the story, but it could easily be read as a standalone.

Detective Casey Duncan and her husband Sheriff Eric Dalton are in control of who enters Haven’s Rock, or that’s the way it was set up since it’s a sanctuary town for people who need to disappear from the real world for awhile (or longer). Casey and Eric are starting a family and their first baby is due pretty soon.

The cardinal rule for residents is “don’t go near the forest!” One of the women is attacked and dragged into the woods after being drugged. Thankfully she’s saved, but the residents (especially the women) are justifiably alarmed. The subsequent investigation leads them to find a frozen naked body in the snow, and rest of the story is a saga about who they can (and who they can’t). Therapy entrance requirements for Have’s Rock are stringent, but *somebody* got in that’s undesirable, obviously!

I really liked the book, and I’m interested in reading the previous books in the series. This one is a winner for sure! 4.5 stars, rounded up!

I received a copy of the digital ARC via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

I absolutely love this series, and Cold as Hell was yet another great addition! Kelley Armstrong delivers another thrilling mystery in the Haven's Rock series. The only slight problem with this one and my reason for 4 stars instead of 5 was because Casey's stubborness kind of drove me a little crazy this time around.

Casey is now eight months pregnant, and she has had some complications, but that hasn't stopped her from investigating a murder once again. There were times during this book that I thought she should have slowed down a bit, and that was frustrating. Besides that, though, this was an excellent mystery. The plot was fast-paced and kept me engrossed all the way through.This story has just about
everything you could want in a great
mystery novel, suspense, tons of tension, and plenty of twists and turns. The characters were entertaining, and the writing was great. I'm definitely looking forward to the next installment in this series!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Cold As Hell by Kelley Armstrong is book three in the Haven’s Rock series. If you like mystery, whodunit, romantic, crime thrillers then you will love this book.

This is my first book by Kelley and definitely not the last. She did an amazing job with the storyline and plot. Casey is a detective in Haven Rock, who happens to be eight months pregnant. She is married to the towns sheriff Eric. During a snow storm they learn there is someone killing the women in town. Imagine looking for a killer during a snowstorm, due any day now. This book kept you hooked from page one with so many twists and turns, and a husband who wants his detective wife to take it easy. Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions.

As Casey Duncan and her husband continue to try to make Haven's Rock what Rockton was supposed to be - a haven for people whom others cannot help - even her pregnancy cannot stop her from trying to help others. In a blizzard, investigating a woman's disappearance is even more difficult without all the modern methods. I love the way Casey is fierce about helping people and how she has surrounded herself with all the right people to help her. I also appreciate that she has not let herself become numb to emotions even when it is difficult. These books continue to enthrall and I love seeing the way the mysteries unspool. 4.5 stars