Member Reviews

"Cold as Hell" by Kelley Armstrong is a thrilling and captivating read that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Armstrong's expert world-building and vivid character development immerse readers in a chilling yet fascinating supernatural world. The protagonist’s journey is filled with twists and turns, blending action, suspense, and emotion seamlessly. Armstrong’s writing is gripping and evocative, making it impossible to put the book down. Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to her work, "Cold as Hell" delivers an exciting, unforgettable experience. A must-read for lovers of isolated mysteries.

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This was ok! Starts off interesting and I love the description of the setting but I just struggled to connect and care for the characters.

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This is the third installment in the Haven's Rock mystery and the story starts off with the police deceive, Casey, 8 months pregnant with some complications. She needs to take it easy as she has some scares early on in the pregnancy. But taking it easy will not be something she can do when one woman is almost abducted and then another one goes missing. Casey, her husband Eric and follow law enforcers of Haven Rock are trying to find the missing woman, keep their hidden town safe and find out who is behind all of it.

I absolutely love this series and the list of characters in the Haven Rock Community. I wish there was more of a story line with Sebastian as I feel like he is just a complex character that could get a storyline all to himself. The twists were perfectly placed and some were just jaw dropping! Some places were a bit predictable but that didn't take away from the story at all.

Kelly Armstrong is a talented writer and I can't wait to see what is next with this series.

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an ARC in return for an honest review.

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Great book, but read in series order

I enjoyed this book (especially the parts about the Newfoundland dog, my favorite breed). But, it was the first I have read in this series of three and I was lost for parts as I had no idea what the community was about or who some of the characters were. For example, the main character Casey refers to her husband as "Dalton". Later someone is talking to Eric. I had to go back and remind myself that his name was Eric Dalton. The back stories on the characters would have made the book a much more enjoyable read for me. Rockton, to which this town of Havens Rock seems to be a spin-off, was referred to often without much explanation. I did order the previous two books as I like the series and enjoyed other work by this author.

It is a fairly dark book in tone and setting, set in a remote spot in Canada (Yukon Territory?)

I definitely recommend this, but after the first two books.

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In the last stage of her pregnancy, Detective Casey Duncan and her husband Sheriff Eric Dalton are trying to take things easy in their new community of Haven’s Rock. But when a woman resident is found murdered out on the ice, Casey and Eric soon realize that the residents of their hidden community have many secrets.

Love this series. Just keeps getting better. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

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<b>BOOK REPORT</b>
<I>Received a complimentary copy of Cold as Hell, by Kelley Armstrong, from St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books/NetGalley, for which I am appreciative, in exchange for a fair and honest review. Scroll past the <b>BOOK REPORT</b> section for a cut-and-paste of the <b>DESCRIPTION </b> of it from them if you want to read my thoughts on the book in the context of that summary.</i>

This entire series has a nearly-unbelievable premise, and the books themselves are formulaic.

And I thoroughly enjoy them.

Mainly, I guess, because I like spending virtual time in Alaska, no matter the season. And because I like the idea of the premise, and I like getting to know the characters (although Casey in particular is getting to be a little be too predictable in her actions and communications patterns for my liking—I mean, c’mon, lady, shouldn’t you trust your husband and your sister by now? AND KNOW BETTER THAN TO GO OUT INTO THE FUCKING FREEZING WOODS ALONE????).

Ahem.

Ready for the next one already! And, Note To Future Kristi: Remember that you want to read all the books in this author’s Cainsville series, as well.

<b>PS</b>
It is a testament to how much I love my husband that, when he returned from a five-day business trip yesterday afternoon, I put this book down to pay complete and total attention him, although I was already halfway through.

It is a testament to how much I enjoy Kelley Armstrong’s work that, when said husband attempted to have a discussion with me this morning as I was finishing it, I squinted over my phone at him and said, “Twelve more electronic pages.” (Which is my polite way of saying don’t talk to me until I finish this book.)

His response?

“That’s between you and your publisher.”

😂😂😂

<b>DESCRIPTION
<ii>New York Times</i> bestselling author Kelley Armstrong returns to Haven’s Rock in <i>Cold as Hell</i> as Casey Duncan hunts down a dangerous killer during a deadly blizzard.</b>

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, including her worried husband, stop her from investigating what happens in the forbidden forest outside the town of Haven’s Rock.

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.

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Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I hadn't read any of the Haven's Rock series before, but the premise sounded interesting so I jumped at the chance to read this. Even not having followed the series, I was able to dive right in, and the story gave contact that referenced the earlier books.

I could not put this down! Casey is so relatable and sarcastically funny that I found it impossible to put the book down. I liked this book so much that I am definitely going to read the whole series. As a thriller, this was great. The story is easy to become completely immersed in.

Kelley Armstrong does a great job keeping you on the edge of your seat. I needed a good thriller to break a reading slump, and this one was perfect! Armstrong keeps you guessing throughout the story, and there is something about her writing style that I really enjoyed. It is almost like the characters are talking directly to you, telling you a wild story.

4.25/5

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Haven’s Rock #3. WooHOO! What a fantastic suspensive thriller that had me hooked from the get-go!! Loved it!! Set in the frozen wilderness of Northern Canada, deep inside Yukon territory, this follows Det. Casey Duncan (she’s 8 mos pregnant), and her husband Sheriff Eric Dalton who are investigating a mysterious case of an attempted kidnapping followed by a deadly murder. A major winter storm is moving in giving Casey and Eric little time to hunt down their perp.
I have to say this surprised me in the best possible way. Between the audio and book this was a fantastic reading experience. I was kept on the edge of my seat, terrified for Casey’s safety, also at the amount that happens then gets derailed. You never knew which way was up until the very end. I loved that Armstrong gave you all the feels for Casey, her unborn baby, and Eric. I have no doubt I’ll be reading the previous two books in this series. Highly recommend!! 🤩 5 stars — Pub. 2/18/25

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press via Netgalley for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

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**4.5 Stars**
This was another very solid read in the Haven's Rock series, which is a perfect mix of murder mystery/thriller and off the grid survival. It seemed like this one was a little bit darker than some of the others (which is surprising since all the mystery elements of the previous books dealt with murder, abduction, possible torture...) but the tone of this book just seemed darker, but maybe it was just how I interpreted it. That being said, I recommend this to anyone who has enjoyed all the previous books (in both series) and likes a good murder mystery with lots of possible suspects.

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Title: Cold as Hell by Kelley Armstrong
Genre: Thriller/Suspense
Pub Date: February 18, 2025

Police Procedural
Deadly Blizzard
Whodunit

This one had me on my toes from the first chapter. The twist was done so well, I never could've guessed! I liked the "whodunit" aspect and the finger pointing to keep the reader guessing. If you enjoy police procedurals/crime thrillers, you'll love Cold as Hell ❄️

Thank you so much Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the digital review copy

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The suspense in this story is such an exhilarating whirlwind! There is a full cast of characters with lots of red herrings and fast pacing. The electrifying climax kept me on the edge of my seat. I couldn't put it down. The setting was beautiful along with the cover of the book.

This is the third book in the series of Haven's Rock. 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 feel that they are finally settled into their life at Haven's Rock and are ready to start a family. As Casey nears the end of her pregnancy, a women gets attacked which leads her to think it is sexual assault. Casey and Eric begin to investigate the assault when a snowstorm hits the town. Then they find a dead body and the investigation takes a turn.

And the suspense keeps going throughout the whole book. I loved it and look forward to the next book in this series. I highly recommend the series if you like suspense, red herrings and a fast paced thriller.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this ARC.

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Kelley Armstrong delivers another chilling and suspenseful story in Cold as Hell, a fantastic continuation of the Haven's Rock Novel series. Set in the remote sanctuary town of Haven’s Rock, Detective Casey Duncan and Sheriff Eric Dalton face new challenges as they prepare for parenthood. Armstrong expertly balances the couple’s personal dynamics with the gripping investigation of a drugging, an abduction, and a frozen body found in the forbidding wilderness. With a snowstorm closing in and tensions rising, the mystery deepens as trust becomes a scarce commodity. Packed with atmospheric tension, complex characters, and a web of secrets, Cold as Hell keeps readers hooked from start to finish.

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Casey is expecting a surprise baby , now that they finally established their new home things seem to be going well until it isn't . There is a killer in Havens Rock , the timing sucked but Casey will do all she can to find the person before all hell breaks loose , pulse ponding , page Turner!

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I am new to this series and will likely go back and read the others. I felt a little lost at times but overall I really enjoyed reading it and didn’t want to put it down. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

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I hate that this book took me so long to read just because life is busy! I really liked it. I am a huge fan of the entire series and I love the new addition to Casey and Eric’s story!

It is hard to describe these books if you haven’t read the entire series so I would suggest starting at the beginning!

The constant suspense is fantastic, the humour is fantastic, the friendships also so great and the family that had been built on trust.

Every book gets better than the last!

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Every book in this series is hugely enjoyable, just like its predecessor series set in Rockton. The mysteries are always well done and believable, but it’s always the characters that stand out for me. They feel fully realized and very real, and their relationships are very well developed. Casey and Eric face another set of challenges in their newly built town of Haven’s Rock, all made more difficult by worries over Casey’s advancing pregnancy and bad winter weather. As always, they work together so well in both their professional and private capacities, aided by friends who remained after Rockton and some new characters. I’m already looking forward to the next one. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy. All views are entirely my own and offered voluntarily.

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2.5⭐️

To start this review, let it be known that this book is part of a series and while you may think mystery novels such as these can be read as a standalone, this is the exception. It can be read on its own, but it takes majority of the book for plot points to be connected or for you to connect them on your own.

The entire mystery was solved by talking to people in the town, which came off as tedious to me since there’s quite literally almost no evidence for the main characters to analyze. I also liked the dynamic between the two main characters that are in a relationship, but I felt this book was more about pregnant women being independent rather than the actual mystery. The circumstances of the murder was really interesting and not something I’d read before, but it was hard to get sucked in by the mystery when I’m constantly hearing about how the main character can’t investigate because of her pregnant stomach. I have no vendetta about pregnant women to be clear, but after a certain point I do get tired of hearing about it.

The overall mystery was intriguing, but I could tell from a mile way what the main characters issue was going to be at the end of the book, and that issue overshadowed the entire mystery.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced e-copy.

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I found Kelley Armstrong through the Twist in Time series she put out starting in 2022. Excellent story that I am still reading! What a pleasant surprise to find that she is skilled enough to write well in other areas as well!! This was a total delight.

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This was a strong return to Haven's Rock and enjoyed the way this was written, it had that suspenseful atmosphere that I was looking for and was glad everything worked together. The characters had that feel that I wanted and thought they worked in this universe. It had that element that I was looking for from Kelley Armstrong and was glad I read this.

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This is probably my favorite so far (#3) of Kelley Armstrong's series Haven's Rock. Detective Casey Duncan is 8 months pregnant and it is the middle of winter in Haven's Rock. It's bitterly cold yet a woman from Haven's Rock is found frozen to death and it is up to Detective Casey and her work/ romantic partner Sheriff Eric Dalton to figure out what happened and who the killer is in their small, isolated community. There's a baby on the way but can Casey and Eric solve the crime before the baby comes? There was a lot of action in the book and I couldn't put it down until I finished it. A great read.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin Press for an ARC of this book.

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