When I picked this book up, I didn't realize that it was book 3 in a spin-off series, but the author did a great job informing me about the town and people in the town without making it an info dump. I loved Casey and Dalton, as investigators and as a couple. The blizzard and cold setting increased the tension and suspense. It made the investigation harder, which kept me on the edge of my seat wondering how Casey was going to solve this problem. The solution to the mystery was nothing I would have expected! It was such a great twist.
If you are new to this series, you can pick up here and not be lost. Be aware though. It will make you want to pick up all the previous books in the series.
If you have read this series before, I think you will be pleased to see how the members of the town of Haven Rock are progressing, as well as how this mystery gets solved.

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart


Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I love this Rockton series, now Haven's Rock series which is a spin-off as well as a direct continuation of the previous series. I personally would start with the previous series because of the background and character development but also because it is amazing! Haven's Rock is a new town with Casey and Eric along with a few others as the owners, making a fresh start and hopefully better situation than Rockton.

Casey is the whole point of view for this world. She is smart, skilled and compassionate. She does so well at keeping her capabilities strong or she'd have died in at least 7 of the 10 books already! I was pretty worried about her in Cold As Hell with her being pregnant and all. Casey handles everything with her usual strength and intelligence.

Women are being drugged and hauled off into the wilderness, it seems. It starts with someone who is obviously drugged and wondering but found and brought back to town. Then another woman goes missing as a big snow storm starts. They have to search in the snow. The evidence makes it clear it is not their unwanted gold mining neighbors. As more women are abducted, it's a race against time to save them before they die.

Casey and Eric look at the information about when the women were last seen and try to mesh up the accounts. No matter how they analyze, it's clear the threat is in their town, someone they probably trust. It's heartbreaking for them trying to set up a good place for people.

Casey and Eric are hard working, and better people than I could be at times. My respect and love for them continues to grow. Casey in addition to her marriage, pregnancy and detective work, manages to deal with all the personalities including her neurodivergent sister April. I'm not exactly a fan of Yolanda who got some FAFO here. Casey and Eric learned a lot this time about safeguards they need as they process applications for living in Haven's Rock.

I'm excited to see how a baby works into their lives and the community. I hope Casey doesn't always have to be the one facing danger for her child's sake. I really love this series and will read every one Kelley Armstrong writes.

Narration:
Therese Plummer is completely in my head for this series and I love her work. She has distinctive voices for the characters and I recognize them easily. Her performance IS Casey, Eric, Will, April and more. I was able to listen comfortably at my usual 1.5x speed.

I aways get excited when I see that Kelley Armstrong has a new book out. Especially when it's a Haven's Rock novel! The third entry, Cold as Hell, has just arrived. And I feel like I’m settling down with old friends. What’s happening?!

Haven’s Rock is a hidden village up in the Yukon, for those who don’t want to live in a regular town…or can’t.

Armstrong has given her lead characters rich personal lives that are always moving forward. I am just as curious about their personal lives as I am in the newest mystery. Detective Casey and her husband Sheriff Dalton are the law in Haven's Rock.

The book is told from Casey’s point of view. The reader is privy to her thoughts and investigative skills. There's been a horrific murder and it looks to be one of the residents that is the culprit. But who? Armstrong's mysteries are not easy to solve. And a blizzard is not going to make things any easier.

I find that some stories are even better in a audio format. That's the case for this title for me. The narrator was Thérèse Plummer and she did a great job. The voice matched the mental image I'd created for Casey. She has an interesting undertone to her voice that works. She's pleasant on the ears and enunciates well. Voices have been created for other characters including males that are believable and recognizable. Plummer captured and presented the story very well!

When I started this, I had no idea that it was book 3 of a spinoff series until I went to mark it on goodreads. I still went for it, and you can easily read this without reading the others. I'm sure there is plenty of backstory that explains the setting and history, but I was able to follow the story easily with no issue.

That said, it was pretty good. A classic whodunit situation in a very small, secluded town of people, each hiding from their past. I honestly couldn't figure it out, but I was mainly just enjoying the story. It was a bit slower as to be expected with police procedural type of stories, but the ending was crazy! This is the second book I've read by this author, and I would definitely read more.

Book 3 in the Haven’s Rock series
I read the book and listened to the audio about a month apart. I give it a 5-star rating for both versions.
We see Casey and Eric dealing with the latest problems in the newly established safe area. A woman disappears out the camp during a major snowstorm. This after one other woman had been drugged and abducted. Luckily, someone else appeared, leaving the abductor to flee into the woods.
Casey has a tough time at 8 months pregnant to accept the limitations of her body. A good thing Eric and her sister April are managing to enforce a couple of rules for her safety and that of the baby. This does not stop Casey from getting herself into a predicament. To be fair it really was not her fault.
I really loved the audio book. Now I admit that some of the reaction might be from hearing the story for a second time. The emotions came through more by how the narrator presented it. The scene while been in the plane. The husband wife relationship. The worry of the snowstorm.
Casey’s fear after been captured and her worry about her unborn child not surviving. Even with already knowing the outcome the Narrator had me captivated.

Imagine you find your safe haven, only to discover there is a perpetrator in your midst.

Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton, have made their home and their respective law-enforcement careers in Haven’s Rock, a small, secret town with 70-odd residents in the middle of the Yukon offering sanctuary and refuge to those that need to disappear from their previous lives. With mere weeks weeks from the birth of their first child, Casey and Eric’s seemingly only worry is whether her high-risk pregnancy will require her to leave Haven‘s Rock to deliver the baby. But when one woman narrowly escapes an abduction into the forrest at the edge of Haven’s Rock, and the naked body of another town resident is found mere days later, Casey and Eric realize that their safe haven has an intruder in its midst.

The idea of Haven‘s Rock as a community of people fleeing their former lives for various reasons is certainly interesting and had me hooked, though its execution reminded me of a socialist commune at times. I also enjoyed Casey and Eric‘s relationship, their wonderful dog, Storm, and some of the quirkier residents of Haven Rock. And the weather was very much a character in its own right in this novel.

However, the further into the story the book got, the more security issues there were with the town - that seemingly no one seemed to have previously thought of (and mind you, this is the third book in the series, so the residents have been there a while)!

I also wasn‘t crazy about the use of Casey‘s pregnancy - with it being high-risk, it basically unnecessarily complicated everything during the investigation, but then when it came right down to it, Casey still ended up making the most irresponsible choice most of the time.

Because of this, there were certainly some frustrating, eye-rolling moments.

Overall, this was a solid and creepy mystery, but I‘m not sure I‘ll be returning to Haven‘s Rock.

I listened to the audiobook, which was impeccable.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

„Cold as Hell“ is slated to be released on February 18, 2025.

Book #3 in the Haven’s Rock Series.
To be released tomorrow, February 18, 2025!

So, Detective Casey and Sheriff Eric are back and trying to keep the small, off the grid town, safe…as always.

When one of their good friends ends up drugged and led into the woods and almost gets killed, they are in an uproar…trying to track down WHO the culprit is, and why…

As they are investigating, another woman goes missing. One who’s been having some problems with her husband… So now they are investigating the attempted murder, AND, the new missing woman.
Unfortunately, things do not turn out as planned, and they realize that there is a murderer living among them…

Now remember, from book #2… this town is off the grid. (Think Witness Protection type of off the grid…) Strict process for getting admitted into the town. No cell phones/service. So, really, you’re out there on your own…except for the townspeople…one of which MIGHT be a murderer! 😮

Oh, and the way the women were found…. the first one, who actually escaped, but still almost died….and the second… just horrible.

Oh…and Casey and Eric are VERY pregnant…but as usual, nothing is going to stop her….not…even…labor…

4 1/2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 for me, rounded up to 5!

#ColdAsHell by #KelleyArmstrong and narrated beautifully (by another of my favorites), #TheresePlummer.

Terrific psychological thriller read!!

Thanks to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for an ARC of the audiobook which releases 2/18/25! So, look 👀 for it then!

Thanks so much for checking out my review!!
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Kelley Armstrong delivers another gripping mystery in the Haven’s Rock series, and what a ride it is! This book is packed with suspense, tension, and enough twists to give you whiplash. The snowy, isolated Yukon setting adds to the eerie atmosphere, making every discovery more chilling—especially when a body is found frozen in the woods. Detective Casey Duncan is as fearless as ever, despite being near the end of her pregnancy. Her dynamic with Sheriff Eric Dalton continues to be one of the highlights of the series. The final face-off scene is absolutely off the charts crazy—I can't stop thinking about it! The narration by Thérèse Plummer was outstanding, adding an extra layer of intensity to an already chilling story. Her delivery gave me actual chills! I love how this series remains binge-worthy with its strong character relationships and unpredictable mysteries. Hoping for many more books to come!

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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Gosh this is a dependably good series! As thrillers go, they're pretty dark and lurid, but it's impossible to put them down. Ms. Armstrong is a pro at plotting and pacing, but I think the special sauce here is the terrific cast of characters she's assembled. Knowing the history of this series and the one that preceeded is nice, but additional kudos on how well each installment stands on its own. They may be slightly guilty pleasures, but the pleasure is real!

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 :)

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Kelley Armstrong, and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

This is the third installment of the Haven Rock series and it continues to be worth the read. The style of writing Armstrong provides is fast paced, easy to read, and keeps you wanting more. I hope this story line continues, but this book gave good closure if it does not.

I really enjoyed this thriller mystery audiobook. Had me hooked from the first chapter. Narrator was really good too, she didn’t seem robotic like some I’ve heard. This is the first book I have listened to by this author and I now understand it’s part of a series but that didn’t seem to affect anything. I could easily follow along and understand everything that was happening.

I loved the first two ch l books but I just couldn't get into this one the same way. What a bummer because I was looking forward to it

Deep in the Yukon, Haven's Rock was built as a sanctuary for people who need to disappear. One of the town's residents gets drugged and wanders away but is found before anything serious could happen to her. Casey and Eric start their investigation to find out what happened but more women are targeted.

This is the third book in the Haven's Rock novels but can easily be a standalone as the author does a good job filling in the background information. When I realized this was a series, I got my hands on the previous 2 books and I'm so glad I did. Each book was very well done and kept you in suspense. As this is a review for Cold as Hell, I'll stop with the prior books but after each book I was getting more and more excited for this installment. I also highly recommend the first two books, not because you need them to understand Cold as Hell but because they're really good :) I did find this book to be more mature than the other 2. I found the writing to be very detailed and the characters were well developed and complex and I love the remote setting and atmosphere of the book. The book is full of suspense and keeps you on your toes, I didn't want to stop listening to the book. I'm so glad i found this series and will be recommending the whole series.

The audiobook narration by Thérèse Plummer is done flawlessly. The way they quicken the pace for the suspense of the scene is fantastic. It really adds to the whole chilling atmosphere of the book. They do a great job distinguishing the characters of the book so you always know who the scene is about.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thérèse Plummer is as always a FANTASTIC narrator. This was almost hard to read at times because of Casey being in such a vulnerable position -- being 8 months pregnant and tracking a serial killer -- but I still loved the latest installment. I can't wait for more and feel like this series is still going strong! If you like this series, you will be on the edge of your seat in this latest installment.

Cold as Hell comes out next week on February 18, 2025, and you can purchase HERE!

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. The narrator was excellent as well and kept good pace with story's energy.

Thank you, Net Galley for the advanced audio of COLD AS HELL by Kelley Armstrong. I didn't read the blurb completely since I requested this because of the author so do give you fair warning this is the third in the series and after reading this, I have to read the whole series. This novel captured my interest immediately. The characters were extremely relatable, and the plot was interesting. Though I had a few moments of 'would that really happen', the author explains the logic behind her premise making it quite plausible. The narrator's voice felt to me like the main character reading to me and was very good.

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!

Thank you @NetGalley and @MacmillanAudio for the ARC. I did not realize that this was book 3 in a series. I think it can also be read as a stand alone. Kelley Armstrong does a great job making you think something sinister is around the corner. Haven's Rock is supposed to be a second chance from violence and a safe haven. Yet, someone is playing a game of cat and mouse and hurting the residents. Casey Duncan has to find out before she delivers her baby and they both become victims. Lots of suspense, a good read.