I love a great crime thriller, and this one delivered. Before I was even done, I went to download the previous books in the series. This crime series is different from any other ones that I’ve read. It is set in a remote and snowy place called Haven Rock where people go to start their lives over. The residents have pasts that they are looking to escape from for a plethora of reasons, and Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton promise to keep the residents safe.

This was my first book by this author, and I’m hooked on her writing style. This book packs a chilling and tense vibe. This book has great character development, and I’m excited to go back and read the previous books in the series to get to know the characters on an even deeper level. I love Casey and her husband Eric, and I enjoyed their relationship and the way they work together.

The plot developed at a great pace that kept me engrossed in the case they were working on, as well as their personal life. This story has everything you could want in a thriller - mystery and suspense, tense filled scenes, twists and turns, great characters, and awesome writing.

Thérèse Plummer was the perfect narrator. Her voice carried all the emotions needed when appropriate. I’m looking forward to the next installment in this series!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you, Net Galley and the publisher's, MacMillan Audio and Kelly Armstrong for the opportunity to listen to and review this book!
I was so pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book! I felt like the Wild West met Men in Black and had a baby. The story line and plot twists kept me on edge and wanting to know more, the whole time! Also, I didn't realize this was a series and have already gone back and read the first in this series! I LOVE IT! THANK YOU! Now I have a new author to add to my favorites!
5 STARS ALL THE WAY!

I would read Kelley Armstrong’s grocery list. What a versatile and talented author! She is a leading author in Ontario and for good reason. This was my first book from this series, and I am seeking out the others now. It was suspenseful, well crafted, and had great pacing. I’m invested in this character and series now!


Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Kelley Armstrong delivers another gripping installment in the Haven’s Rock series with Cold as Hell. Set in the remote, snowbound Yukon wilderness, this thriller blends atmospheric tension with emotional depth as Detective Casey Duncan—eight months pregnant and determined as ever—dives headfirst into a chilling mystery.

The story kicks off with a disturbing attack in the town’s only bar, leading to a harrowing investigation that uncovers more than just a single crime. Armstrong excels at creating a claustrophobic, high-stakes environment where trust is scarce and danger lurks in the shadows. The blizzard setting adds a layer of urgency and isolation that keeps the pages turning.

Casey’s dynamic with her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton, is both touching and frustrating—his overprotectiveness is understandable but occasionally grating. Still, their partnership grounds the story in a relatable emotional core. The pacing stumbles slightly in the middle, and some comparisons to the previous Rockton series feel repetitive, but the finale makes up for it.

Overall, Cold as Hell is a compelling, character-driven mystery that balances suspense with heart—a must-read for fans of atmospheric thrillers and strong female leads.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kelley Armstrong, and Macmillan Audio for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was thoroughly captivated by Murder at Haven’s Rock and quickly devoured The Boy Who Cried Bear—so it’s no surprise that Cold as Hell continues Kelley Armstrong’s atmospheric and masterfully written series with equal strength and style. This installment reaffirms everything I love about the world of Haven’s Rock: richly developed characters, a vividly rendered setting, and a gripping plot that balances suspense with emotional depth.

Casey and Eric remain standout protagonists—resilient, intelligent, and unwavering in their commitment to safeguarding their remote Yukon community. The supporting cast is equally compelling, each adding texture and nuance to the broader narrative. The concept of an isolated, carefully curated sanctuary town deep in the wilderness is both original and endlessly fascinating, offering fertile ground for mystery and tension.

I’m particularly drawn to novels set in snowbound, remote landscapes, and Armstrong captures that environment with cinematic precision. Her prose brings the setting to life—I could hear the crunch of boots on snow, feel the bite of cold air on skin, and picture the flurry of snowflakes falling in the dark. The chilling atmosphere seeps through every page.

Cold as Hell brims with suspense, danger, and edge-of-your-seat moments. The pacing is taut, the stakes high, and the emotional beats well-earned. I found myself completely immersed and eager to see what would unfold next.

I highly recommend this series to fans of smart, atmospheric mysteries. While this third installment can certainly be enjoyed as a standalone, starting from the beginning will offer a richer appreciation for the characters’ development and the subtle threads woven across the series.

A great addition to the Haven's Rock series! I have enjoyed this series from the first book. We finally get to see what happens if the background check of all the residents does not go as planned. This book is fast paced, and concludes just as fast. This would have been 5 stars, but some research was needed as to the pregnancy and delivery. Even with this, it is still a great book!

Thérèse Plummer does a fantastic job of bringing this book to life. The emotion and infection of voice keeps the listener involved.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for an advanced reading and listening copies of this book.

Cold as Hell by Kelley Armstrong is a thrilling and immersive listen. The audiobook brings the chilling atmosphere and sharp dialogue to life, making it easy to get lost in the story. The narration is engaging, perfectly capturing the characters' personalities and the tense, supernatural vibes. Armstrong's world-building is excellent, with vivid descriptions and a gripping plot that keeps you hooked from start to finish. If you enjoy paranormal mysteries with a strong protagonist and plenty of twists, this audiobook is a fantastic choice. Highly recommended for fans of supernatural thrillers!

I am a huge fan of Kelly Armstrong's work in general and the Rockton/Haven's Rock series in particular.
"Cold as Hell" was an absolute nail biter and the narrator did an excellent job of conveying that.
I cannot wait for the next installment and recommend this series to anyone who enjoys strong female characters and a good murder mystery that keeps you guessing until the end.

There’s never a dull moment in Haven’s Rock.

Just ask Detective Casey Duncan and her husband Sheriff Eric Dalton, the town’s protectors, who work to keep the town running smoothly, and crime to a minimum. Unfortunately for them, some of Haven’s Rock’s residents have other ideas. When a woman turns up naked and drugged, an investigation ensues. The fact that Casey is pregnant and about to give birth any day complicates matters.

A series that has kept me entertained for years and leaves me longing for my own private sanctuary (albeit without the violent crime and drama).

A stellar narration by the fabulous Therese Plummer!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the alc.

This was such a fantastic read, the secluded community of people who had to be isolated for witness protection purposes, their differing backgrounds, the tension in the air throughout, not a chosen community but one rife with distrust. A marvelous setting for another very twisty, very captivating thriller in this fantastic series. Could there be an outsider sho can gain access ? Or could someone even have fooled the system and be living in their midst with nefarious purposes ? It is winter in its most treacherous days and access to this remote part of the Yukon is quite limited, the cold is a killer in itself. But was it really the cold that killed ?
The story of Cold As Hell picks up several months after its predecessor, with Casey now eight months pregnant. She’s experiencing a mix of excitement and anxiety as the birth approaches, and since this is her first pregnancy at this stage, she’s trying to stay calm despite the “what-ifs” that loom over her. Casey is tired of her husband Erik’s overprotectiveness and longs for some relief from the constant coddling. Kendra, a staff member is drugged, attacked, and dragged into the forest in the middle of the night, Casey is determined to investigate the assault and bring the perpetrator to justice. What about Sebastian, the fellow resident, did he hear Kendra’s screams and come to her rescue or did he just play the hero?

Much of the plot revolves around the investigation into Kendra’s assault. Casey, Erik, and Detective Will focus on the male staff, suspecting that the attacker may be someone who intended to harm Kendra sexually. However, when another resident, Lynn, goes missing and is found the next day in the forest—naked and seemingly frozen to death—new questions arise. Did she undress at the final stages of hypothermia or is something more sinister going on ?

Meanwhile, Casey’s pregnancy takes a complicated turn when she experiences a bout of false labor. Concerned for her and the baby’s health, Casey and Erik plan to fly to Whitehorse, where the nearest medical facility is located, but a massive blizzard prevents them from leaving. The storm complicates both their travel and the investigation.

The finale hits hard with an intense and thrilling sequence of events that kept me at the edge of my seat while also making me have to suspend disbelief in between the nail-biting moments.

An absolutely thrilling mystery! A killer is in a remote private Alaskan town in the middle of a snowstorm . The main fete is 34 weeks pregnant. This book was intense and nail biting! It kept me on the edge of my seat!!

I love the setting of the Yukon Wilderness and the atmosphere. Excited to the continue the goings on of Haven's Rock and Casey and Eric's story. Cold as Hell continues setting up the series as complex, atmospherics thrillers and well-developed characters that grow along the way. I love the relationship dynamics of Eric and Casey. And the supporting cast of characters are interesting and entertaining. The mystery is solid and looking forward to the rest of the series. And as usual, the narration was perfect,

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ALC.

I'm going to caveat this review by saying, I was not aware that this was part of a series, which I think taints my review. However, this is my honest opinion of the book, nonetheless.

I found this book very difficult to get into. Partly because it was confusing (which was due in large part to not having the backstory) and partly because it was heavily driven by dialogue between characters, and I found them to be quite dull. Ultimately, I DNFed it. Had I read the first books in the series and understood more of what was going on, I may have a completely different opinion. But based on my experience with the book, I was not able to get into it and I had no desire to keep reading it.

Detective Casey and her husband Eric run a brand new, off the grid community called Haven's Rock, in remote Alaska for individuals who need a safe place to hide, similar to witness protection. In this third book of the series a woman is dragged into the woods, but manages to escape her attacker, but then realization dawns that one of the other women in the community has gone missing. When she is found dead Casey and Eric must determine whether it was exposure as it seems or if there is something more sinister going on. Casey deals with a lot in this one, she truly is one bad ass woman!

I listened to the audiobook version with my hubby as well, and the narrator does an excellent job of capturing the emotions throughout the novel.

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 settled into their life, and Casey is pregnant. She is nearing delivery time, but she has a new case to investigate. Someone is taking women from the town and leaving them to die in extreme pain. One escapes, but the next night another disappears and is found dead. During a snowstorm, no one could hear her scream. The town is now in turmoil. Someone who lives there is a killer. Suspicions cause issues and Casey is afraid to leave, but knows she must for the safety of herself and her baby. Will they be able to find the killer before someone else ends up dead?

I enjoyed seeing what is happening in Haven's Rock, seeing the residents living their lives and supporting one another. When Casey's sister April discovers that there is a problem with Casey's baby, she tells her she needs to leave to have the baby. She and Eric try to prepare the others in their police force, but the murder puts a wrench in the works. I will say that this killer is really sick. As we learn more about previous deaths that were rather gruesome, I was scared for Casey. This was a complex story, one that was very atmospheric, had well developed characters and pulled me in from the start until the ending. I definitely recommend you read this series in order to see the growth of the community and meet the characters. The audiobook was well narrated by Thérèse Plummer. She is definitely the voice of this series. I enjoy the voices she gives the various characters with their accents and individuality. If you like audiobooks, I recommend you listen to this one.

This is the third entry of the Havens Rock series. I haven’t read earlier books and I didn’t feel like I needed to. However, it contains spoilers for earlier books. The series follows a group of folks that have chosen to isolate in the froze woods of the deep north, escaping their pasts. They dont even know what one another are there. The application process should vet out any bad seeds, but since this is the third book - it must not work!

Casey and Eric, a couple, are also law enforcement in the small settlement. A woman has reported being assaulted, just as a snowstorm hits. Casey is 8.5 months into a high risk pregnancy, but won’t allow the baby, her sister the physician, or Eric, to stop her from running lead on the case. This starts with an assault but soon a body turns up and things escalate. Our killer likes to put people in situations where they can watch them die, slowly. Like freezing to death, while naked and chained to a tree in the snow! Yikes! I love how that Armstrong writes diverse complicated characters! Besides a pregnant policewoman, Eric is a golden retriever husband, willing to choose his partner over anything, a physician on the spectrum, race and age diversity. Kudos! NetGalley sent me the audio version of this and I thought the sound was clear and the voices well done.


*This review will be shared on 3/10 along with a review for 5 other Armstrong books!

When I got this audiobook I did not realize it was a third in a series. However, I do feel it stood alone just fine.

The narrator, Therese Plummer, did an excellent job and made the story come to life.
I loved the characters and the dedication to their little community of misfits looking for a better life.
Alas, there's a serial killer among them! Added to that, a woman detective on the verge of having her baby any moment,
but, oh wait, she has to figure this all out first, surely builds up the intensity of the story. I absolutely loved everything about
this book and will be looking for more to read from Kelley Armstrong.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the Arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Cold As Hell by Kelly Armstrong........audio book

If you move to a remote part of the world to a safe refuge and purposefully disappear you're probably expecting a type of Garden of Eden ( albeit ensconced in snow and ice) where you can have the existence of your dreams.
Not so much in the new town of Haven's Rock. It's a communal town: skills and work is shared willingly for the peace they sought by applying to live there. Past lives and what brought you to this Yukon landscape are your secrets to keep. But there is trouble in Paradise.
One of the ladies is drugged and was a victim of an attempted kidnaping but was rescued. The second lady was not as fortunate.
The descriptives of the icy desolation and remoteness were so tangible. it was interesting to see how police react to a crime without normal conveniences of a large city to chase down a murderer. Especially in a town where they al know each other.
The characters were all quirky ......you don't move that far north without bringing some scary baggage. The fact that one of the police officers was 8 months pregnant added a normalcy to the craziness of the place.
Very engaging portrayals of the various characters and the landscape. An exciting thriller.

Audio: the narrator was on warp speed. It took me a bit to accustom myself to her tempo. It didn't deter my listening to the book but it was MUCH faster than any other audio book I have had before.

This twisty mystery casts suspicion on people you’ve grown to enjoy through both series and do not want to be the guilty party. When the book opens up, Casey is going to give birth. Her doctor is telling her to go to a hospital. And Casey keeps wandering around the forest, putting pressure to solve this case. Other people look after her to ensure she doesn’t go overboard, but she doesn’t make it easy. I hope she won’t be as frustrating in the next book. She needs to learn to trust other people.

I did not realize this is book 3 in a series as enough background information was given, I was completely confused. I do however suggest starting with book 1. I know I am still left with questions over this little settlement.

Overall, I loved the story and the mystery. Several times I was holding my breath when it came to the pregnancy and labor of the MFC.

I will be reading the first two and excited for the next book.


The narrator was great with the characters, but a little slow for me and I did have to speed the book up. I listened to it two days time.