Cold as Hell by Kelley Armstrong is the third novel in the Haven’s Rock mystery thriller series. Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton, have their hands full when a woman is attacked and dragged into the woods. Now more than ever it’s important who they trust.
by Kelley Armstrong
Series: Haven's Rock #3
Genres: Mystery
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong returns to Haven’s Rock in Cold as Hell as Casey Butler hunts down a dangerous killer during a deadly blizzard.
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.
The Haven’s Rock series is a spinoff of her Rockton series featuring Detective Casey Duncan. While each book offers a standalone mystery, I recommend reading the series in order.
Set in a remote location, the town of Haven’s Rock lives entirely off the grid. The town is hidden deep in the Yukon and offers sanctuary for its residents. Until one of the woman is attacked and dragged into the woods before being rescued.
A riveting mystery and relationship growth had me flipping the pages late into the night. Armstrong is a favorite author of mine, and she created a good mystery with plenty of suspense, suspects, and twists. All the residents have secrets, some Casey and Eric know others are – need to know.
The climate of their remote town is almost a character in itself with winter blizzards, dangers in the surrounding forest and their isolation from society. The police team comprises three and they will all need to work together as a suspect becomes clear, but doubts are raised. When a second victim is found, it becomes clear they are dealing with something darker.
Casey’s pregnancy adds another complication. She is due any day, and April is concerned. She wants Casey to travel down the mountain to deliver. Weather and Casey’s own stubbornness have Eric pulling out his hair. I love seeing their relationship evolve and having the townsfolk come to their aid.
Cold As Hell was a gripping edition to the Haven’s Rock mystery series. I am not sure I will ever grow tired of these characters and cases they tackle.
About Kelley Armstrong
Kelley Armstrong has been telling stories since before she could write. Her earliest written efforts were disastrous. If asked for a story about girls and dolls, hers would invariably feature undead girls and evil dolls, much to her teachers' dismay. All efforts to make her produce "normal" stories failed. Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She's the author of the NYT-bestselling "Women of the Otherworld" paranormal suspense series and "Darkest Powers" young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.
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About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
Lisa Mandina (Lisa Loves Literature)
I love when a series is one that you know you’ll probably never get tired of! Great review. And it was cold as hell last week here where I live, lol.
Rachel @Waves of Fiction
This one was intense! I listened with my husband and we both stayed up late to finish! Got to say I was happy with that vigilante justice in the end! This one truly deserved it!
Rolé @ Hooked By That Book
I just started reading it (got my copy from NetGalley). I thought I had more time to get to it, but then, clearly, I do not.
Lindsi
I’m skimming your review since I have this one coming up! I’m currently reading the first book in this series and haven’t read the Rockton series (even though I was told it had important background information). I plan on going back and reading it later though. 🙂 Glad this one was enjoyable! All five cups.
hena
I have been meaning to read a Kelley Armstrong book.. might be time to start.
Carla@CarlaLovesToRead
Great review, Kimberly. I really enjoy this series. I wish I had read the Rockton series and probably still will.
Nadene
My kind of story. I hope to get to this series soon.
Mary Kirkland
That does sound like a good one.
sherry fundin
I loved this one too.
Anne - Books of My Heart
Excellent review! It’s 5 hearts from me too. My review is tomorrow.