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Haven's Rock #0.5
Dead Letter Days
Eric Dalton spent most of his life in Rockton, a hidden town in the Yukon for people who need to disappear. Now that sanctuary is gone, and he’s holed up in a wilderness lodge with his girlfriend, Casey Duncan, and their friends, as they scout for a place to build their own Rockton. When Eric and Casey find a literal message-in-a-bottle, it leads them to the mystery of a woman who went missing decades ago, having never received that vital message. As they investigate that cold case, Dalton must finally lay to rest the ghosts of his own past and make some overdue decisions before he’s ready to step forward in his new life with Casey.
Note: This is not a full-length novel. It’s a novella set between the end of the Rockton series and the beginning of the Haven’s Rock spinoff
Note: This is not a full-length novel. It’s a novella set between the end of the Rockton series and the beginning of the Haven’s Rock spinoff
87 pages, ebook
First published February 20, 2023
372 people are currently reading
1973 people want to read
About the author
Kelley Armstrong
302 books33.5k followersKelley 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.
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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 177 reviews
January 16, 2024
Dead Letter Days
by Kelley Armstrong is a novella set between the end of the Rockton series and the beginning of the Haven’s Rock series. It’s set in and near a wilderness lodge in British Columbia as Casey Duncan and Eric Dalton, along with some of their friends and staff from Rockton, are planning where to build their new refuge and what they need for it. It’s to be a sanctuary for people to escape whatever they need to escape. Eric and Casey find a message-in-a-bottle while they are out walking with Casey’s dog, Storm. It leads them to a cold case where a woman went missing thirty years ago. As they investigate the cold case, readers learn about Eric’s past and his need to make some decisions.
Casey and Eric are well-developed characters with plenty of depth. Casey is driven, a great investigator, and frequently finds dead bodies. She’s a good listener, empathetic, and understanding. However, she stumbles when she doesn’t feel competent. Eric is a fantastic tracker, needs alone time in the woods occasionally, is truthful and intelligent, and asserts himself when needed. He also gets short-tempered and blunt with annoying or bothersome people at times, and isn’t good at small talk. In this novella, it was great to see some of the secondary and tertiary characters again including getting a better feeling for Casey’s sister April.
While solving the cold case, it was great to get Eric’s background and see him make some overdue decisions. Additionally, this story was from Eric’s point of view instead of Casey’s. It was great to see his internal thinking process as he mulled his decisions. Themes include domestic abuse, emotional versus logical choices, companionship, love, friendship, family, and much more.
Overall, this is well-written and entertaining with a solid mystery and complex characters. While this can be read as a stand-alone, readers will gain a better understanding of the key characters and their backgrounds if they read the Rockton series first. Fans of Kelley Armstrong and the Rockton series will likely thoroughly enjoy this novella.
I purchased a copy of this novella. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date was July 3, 2023.
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My 4.36 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
Casey and Eric are well-developed characters with plenty of depth. Casey is driven, a great investigator, and frequently finds dead bodies. She’s a good listener, empathetic, and understanding. However, she stumbles when she doesn’t feel competent. Eric is a fantastic tracker, needs alone time in the woods occasionally, is truthful and intelligent, and asserts himself when needed. He also gets short-tempered and blunt with annoying or bothersome people at times, and isn’t good at small talk. In this novella, it was great to see some of the secondary and tertiary characters again including getting a better feeling for Casey’s sister April.
While solving the cold case, it was great to get Eric’s background and see him make some overdue decisions. Additionally, this story was from Eric’s point of view instead of Casey’s. It was great to see his internal thinking process as he mulled his decisions. Themes include domestic abuse, emotional versus logical choices, companionship, love, friendship, family, and much more.
Overall, this is well-written and entertaining with a solid mystery and complex characters. While this can be read as a stand-alone, readers will gain a better understanding of the key characters and their backgrounds if they read the Rockton series first. Fans of Kelley Armstrong and the Rockton series will likely thoroughly enjoy this novella.
I purchased a copy of this novella. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date was July 3, 2023.
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My 4.36 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
February 26, 2024
3.5 Stars
One Liner: Informative
Eric Dalton and his girlfriend, Casey, along with their friends, are currently holed up in luxury lodges in the wilderness. After the destruction of Rockton, a haven for those who want to disappear, they decide to build a similar community with a lesser focus on profit and hopefully fewer murders. One day, Eric and Casey find an old love letter and try to find out what happened to the woman who wrote it.
The story comes from Eric’s first-person POV.
My Thoughts:
This novelette does what it is supposed to do – connect two series and act as an introduction for the new series. Readers who haven’t read the seven Rockton books can start with this one to dive into the Haven’s Rock series (with the same lead characters but in a different setting).
The book gives a light summary of what happened earlier while also bringing closure to Eric’s past and solving a simple mystery on the side. We get an idea of the characters, their relationship, the dynamic between the friends, etc. It also helps to see things from Eric’s POV (since the series comes from Casey’s perspective).
To summarize, Dead Letter Days is a short read and a necessary one if you want to begin Haven’s Rock series. That’s the only reason I grabbed this book.
One Liner: Informative
Eric Dalton and his girlfriend, Casey, along with their friends, are currently holed up in luxury lodges in the wilderness. After the destruction of Rockton, a haven for those who want to disappear, they decide to build a similar community with a lesser focus on profit and hopefully fewer murders. One day, Eric and Casey find an old love letter and try to find out what happened to the woman who wrote it.
The story comes from Eric’s first-person POV.
My Thoughts:
This novelette does what it is supposed to do – connect two series and act as an introduction for the new series. Readers who haven’t read the seven Rockton books can start with this one to dive into the Haven’s Rock series (with the same lead characters but in a different setting).
The book gives a light summary of what happened earlier while also bringing closure to Eric’s past and solving a simple mystery on the side. We get an idea of the characters, their relationship, the dynamic between the friends, etc. It also helps to see things from Eric’s POV (since the series comes from Casey’s perspective).
To summarize, Dead Letter Days is a short read and a necessary one if you want to begin Haven’s Rock series. That’s the only reason I grabbed this book.
December 9, 2023
As a big fan of Kelley Armstrong’s Rockton series, I was so bummed when she ended it after only seven installments. However, I was really excited when she started the spinoff Haven’s Rock that has many Rockton regulars as part of the new series.
As the book summary indicates, this novella takes place between the last Rockton installment and the first Haven’s Rock installment. It’s all from Eric’s, both Rockton’s and Haven’s Rock’s sheriff, POV, where he reminisces about meeting and falling in love with Casey and his unresolved feelings for both his biological and adoptive parents.
There was also a secondary storyline about a missing women that certainly added to the story. This novella does exactly what novellas in between full installments is supposed to do, provide additional background on MC’s and/or storylines.
As the book summary indicates, this novella takes place between the last Rockton installment and the first Haven’s Rock installment. It’s all from Eric’s, both Rockton’s and Haven’s Rock’s sheriff, POV, where he reminisces about meeting and falling in love with Casey and his unresolved feelings for both his biological and adoptive parents.
There was also a secondary storyline about a missing women that certainly added to the story. This novella does exactly what novellas in between full installments is supposed to do, provide additional background on MC’s and/or storylines.
November 13, 2024
This is a short novella bridging the Rockton and Haven’s Rock series. The old town has been demolished and the new town hasn’t yet been started, so the key residents who will be making the transition are temporarily ensconced in a small resort near the coast to finalize plans for the new location and construction.
Eric and Casey are chafing at the forced inaction. Eric is trying to decide on whether or not to continue contact with the Daltons, the people who took him from his birth family and kept him in Rockton. New evidence has emerged that throws shade on the story that was told to Eric and the town council, and he must come to his own conclusions.
Meanwhile, Casey is a detective with nothing to detect until the discovery of a message in a bottle presents her with a decades-old mystery to solve. A woman apparently fleeing her abusive husband wrote a cryptic letter and promptly disappeared without a trace. Was she harmed at the hands of her possessive husband, a victim of some other predator, or did she achieve her goal of starting a new life away from anyone who knew her?
Fast paced and tightly plotted, this is an engaging short story filled with the characters I enjoy.
Eric and Casey are chafing at the forced inaction. Eric is trying to decide on whether or not to continue contact with the Daltons, the people who took him from his birth family and kept him in Rockton. New evidence has emerged that throws shade on the story that was told to Eric and the town council, and he must come to his own conclusions.
Meanwhile, Casey is a detective with nothing to detect until the discovery of a message in a bottle presents her with a decades-old mystery to solve. A woman apparently fleeing her abusive husband wrote a cryptic letter and promptly disappeared without a trace. Was she harmed at the hands of her possessive husband, a victim of some other predator, or did she achieve her goal of starting a new life away from anyone who knew her?
Fast paced and tightly plotted, this is an engaging short story filled with the characters I enjoy.
March 1, 2023
Loved that we finally get Eric's POV!
Gene Dalton is a piece of work! Some happiness here, too!
Nice little mystery/prequel to Murder at Haven's Rock.
Gene Dalton is a piece of work! Some happiness here, too!
Nice little mystery/prequel to Murder at Haven's Rock.
February 23, 2023
It was satisfying to see/read about Casey and Eric's nuptials and also to see Eric finally get some answers about his parents. I didn't need the extra small-stakes mystery included here, but I did love that April was behind it.
Honestly, I could stand more of these novella sidebars. . . One from April's POV, maybe? I think it would be fascinating to hear her thoughts from her and to see the other characters through her particular lens.
Honestly, I could stand more of these novella sidebars. . . One from April's POV, maybe? I think it would be fascinating to hear her thoughts from her and to see the other characters through her particular lens.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 28, 2023
I was born in the forest, grew up in it, and I'm never happier than when I'm there. Being out there with someone else, though, meant doing a task: fishing, hunting, gathering. If I wanted to enjoy myself, I went alone. That's changed. I still go out by myself sometimes, when I'm not fit company, but otherwise, I'd rather be with Casey. It's as comfortable as being alone, with the added benefit of, well, not being alone.
I reread this series when the first Haven's Rock book came out, with the end result that now I don't remember it at all. This prequel, from Eric's point of view, was a perfect jump back in that I really enjoyed. We get a little recap of the crew from Rockton who are making it to the new series, a short mystery with a satisfying conclusion, and a very sweet moment for Eric and Casey. This series really is ultimately escapism, but it works for me so I'll suspend my disbelief and jump right back in!
I reread this series when the first Haven's Rock book came out, with the end result that now I don't remember it at all. This prequel, from Eric's point of view, was a perfect jump back in that I really enjoyed. We get a little recap of the crew from Rockton who are making it to the new series, a short mystery with a satisfying conclusion, and a very sweet moment for Eric and Casey. This series really is ultimately escapism, but it works for me so I'll suspend my disbelief and jump right back in!
February 8, 2024
After making my way through Kelley Armstrong’s Rockton series, things are set to change drastically. Those who have taken the time to read all seven novels know what I mean. This novella is a means of bridging the old (Rockton) with the new and upcoming (Haven’s Rock). Told from Eric Dalton’s point of view, it unearths old sentiments and releases new ideas as the adventure takes a turn. Residents seek to plant new roots in Northern British Columbia and create a fresh start while remain a cohesive unit. A refreshing short piece by Armstrong, sure to introduce things well as the path ahead remains a mystery.
While Eric Dalton was a successful sheriff in Rockton, his life-long journey in the Yukon Territory was not free of issues. The lingering story about how he was ‘adopted’ by the original sheriff of Rockton remains a sore spot and when some old letters emerge, he is eager to discover more. All this runs parallel to the discovery of a message in a bottle that hints at another old mystery and a woman who has disappeared. Alongside his lover and former law enforcement colleague, Casey Duncan, Eric helps clear away some of the cobwebs. With a new community to construct and many of Rockton’s old residents wanting to stay, the new community relies on him to keep the peace. New adventures in Haven’s Rock await , as Casey and Eric have one more surprise for everyone.
This is a great way to end one series and get a new one started. Kelley Armstrong uses her abilities as a writer to paint two distinct pictures of the communities, drawing parallels while also providing newness to the conversation. Strong narrative approaches help pave the way ahead, using strong references to past characters who will surely play a key role in the new series. I am eager to see what awaits everyone, as Armstrong showed her ability to develop a short piece with all the ingredients for success. Onwards into Haven’s Rock, as Rockton is left, dismantled while its ghosts linger.
Kudos, Madam Armstrong, for a great ending and planting seeds for the next beginning.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
While Eric Dalton was a successful sheriff in Rockton, his life-long journey in the Yukon Territory was not free of issues. The lingering story about how he was ‘adopted’ by the original sheriff of Rockton remains a sore spot and when some old letters emerge, he is eager to discover more. All this runs parallel to the discovery of a message in a bottle that hints at another old mystery and a woman who has disappeared. Alongside his lover and former law enforcement colleague, Casey Duncan, Eric helps clear away some of the cobwebs. With a new community to construct and many of Rockton’s old residents wanting to stay, the new community relies on him to keep the peace. New adventures in Haven’s Rock await , as Casey and Eric have one more surprise for everyone.
This is a great way to end one series and get a new one started. Kelley Armstrong uses her abilities as a writer to paint two distinct pictures of the communities, drawing parallels while also providing newness to the conversation. Strong narrative approaches help pave the way ahead, using strong references to past characters who will surely play a key role in the new series. I am eager to see what awaits everyone, as Armstrong showed her ability to develop a short piece with all the ingredients for success. Onwards into Haven’s Rock, as Rockton is left, dismantled while its ghosts linger.
Kudos, Madam Armstrong, for a great ending and planting seeds for the next beginning.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
July 13, 2023
*Source* Amazon
*Genre* Mystery
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
Kelley Armstrong's Dead Letter Days is a 120 page novella that takes place between the end of the Rockton series, and the beginning of the authors new Haven Rock series. This story, however, is narrated by Eric Dalton who was the Sheriff of Rockton. This story once again takes place in the Northern British Columbia area which you can call the Yukon. The new town of Haven Rock is slowly coming into existence with the help of the usual suspects like Casey, April, Will, Phil, Isabel, Kenny, and Diana with financial help from Emilie.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Mystery
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
Kelley Armstrong's Dead Letter Days is a 120 page novella that takes place between the end of the Rockton series, and the beginning of the authors new Haven Rock series. This story, however, is narrated by Eric Dalton who was the Sheriff of Rockton. This story once again takes place in the Northern British Columbia area which you can call the Yukon. The new town of Haven Rock is slowly coming into existence with the help of the usual suspects like Casey, April, Will, Phil, Isabel, Kenny, and Diana with financial help from Emilie.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
February 22, 2023
This is a Rockton novella set after The Deepest Of Secrets (and before Murder At Haven's Rock).
It is from Eric's POV and includes a fun little mystery. I absolutely loved it!
It is from Eric's POV and includes a fun little mystery. I absolutely loved it!
July 16, 2023
We get to look inside Daltons head for once.
The Rockton series was always told from Casey's point.of view (apart from a few excerpts) so it was nice to catch up with the core crew who are moving on from Rockton to the new town of Havens Rock. The group are staying in a holiday lodge while they work on the logistics for the new town. There's the landscape, architecture, community property, like the bar and bakery and most importantly the new site for the town. Which is Flat on and Casey's responsibility. But, there's also time for some relaxation, some people are taking the time to visit or reconnect with relatives and friends others like Dalton and Casey have everyone they love close to them.............apart from Daltons mum, she's down in Florida and after all the revelations about how his parents came.to adopt him Dalton isn't sure if his feeling towards her anymore. If you want to know more you'll have to read the Rockton series......................... Oh then there's the small mystery of a message in a bottle to explore.
The Rockton series was always told from Casey's point.of view (apart from a few excerpts) so it was nice to catch up with the core crew who are moving on from Rockton to the new town of Havens Rock. The group are staying in a holiday lodge while they work on the logistics for the new town. There's the landscape, architecture, community property, like the bar and bakery and most importantly the new site for the town. Which is Flat on and Casey's responsibility. But, there's also time for some relaxation, some people are taking the time to visit or reconnect with relatives and friends others like Dalton and Casey have everyone they love close to them.............apart from Daltons mum, she's down in Florida and after all the revelations about how his parents came.to adopt him Dalton isn't sure if his feeling towards her anymore. If you want to know more you'll have to read the Rockton series......................... Oh then there's the small mystery of a message in a bottle to explore.
July 9, 2023
I absolutely devoured Kelley Armstrong's addictively delicious Rockton series, along with the fun first book in her spin-off series (Murder at Haven's Rock), so I was thrilled that this novella (set in-between the two series) was finally made available for sale this week. It is so good, and so much fun. For the first time, we get Eric's PoV (which is beautifully done), and two mysteries (one old, one new) get solved in the course of the nicely-paced novella, while Eric finally gets some much-needed emotional closure on his own family history. I absolutely loved the ending, and I look forward to re-reading this in the future.
(I don't think this would work for anyone who hadn't read the Rockton series already - but if you have, it is SO satisfying!)
(I don't think this would work for anyone who hadn't read the Rockton series already - but if you have, it is SO satisfying!)
January 25, 2024
Set between Rockton and Haven's Rock, this has a mini mystery and a wedding, told from Dalton's POV. I kept forgetting it wasn't Casey narrating though, so that was a bit confusing. I liked the closure he got at the end though.
February 6, 2024
I'm new to Kelley Armstrong and this was a short novel of introduction to the new locale they're creating in the Yukon.
May 26, 2025
A great little novella from Eric's POV that fills in some details about his adoptive and birth parents.
August 22, 2023
Short novella set in the Rockton/Haven world. Definitely for fans as the series transitions from the first 7 books in the Rockton series to the new (Spinoff? Continuation?) Haven's Rock series featuring more of the same characters. Fun read for fans.
September 17, 2023
I do not know how I missed this novella in the series. However, I am thrilled I discovered it. It answers questions about Eric's background that were left over from the author's Rockton series. A superb series, by the way. In addition, it is a little introduction to the new spinoff series which begins with "Murder at Haven's Rock." This novella also includes a neat little mystery. The ending, including the first official "marshmallow roasting" was adorable. Just perfect!
February 21, 2024
Casey and Eric are busy planning for their new town. While on a walk, they find a bottle with an old message in it, from a young woman to her lover arranging a meeting for when her abusive husband is away.
Worried that the story didn’t have a happy outcome, Casey and Eric dig a little, and eventually make their way to the truth.
Eric also is wrestling with the truth about his upbringing, and this short ends with a wedding.
So, a lot going on but nothing felt rushed, with each story thread handled with care, and the occasional dash of humour. And Storm is a delight!
Worried that the story didn’t have a happy outcome, Casey and Eric dig a little, and eventually make their way to the truth.
Eric also is wrestling with the truth about his upbringing, and this short ends with a wedding.
So, a lot going on but nothing felt rushed, with each story thread handled with care, and the occasional dash of humour. And Storm is a delight!
August 2, 2025
I liked getting a novella from Eric’s POV.
November 5, 2023
So I had gotten Kelley Armstrong's Dead Letter Days as a preorder incentive when I preordered Murder at Haven's Rock, so since I'm always behind on my Kelley books I decided to start her new spinoff series to Rockton. It's a bit odd, as it's really a continuance of the series but it's getting a new series name due to spoilery reasons! So basically, if you haven't read the Rockton series, be advised that there will be a bit of spoilers to this one!
Casey and Eric, and the rest of their friends from Rockton have left the community and are looking to start a town of their own. One that will be better and not filled with murderers with no morals. Casey and Eric are off on a walk when they encounter an odd sight; a message in a bottle! In it contains a letter that weaves a very morose story, but one that Casey can't get out of her mind.
You may be surprised to hear that this novella is actually from Eric's point of view! Yes, this is sort of an Eric story! While he and Casey are trying to solve the mystery behind the message in the bottle, Eric is also dealing with some very hard truths. Ones that are rolled over from the original series that involve his childhood. It's pretty heavy material too, but it was enjoyable getting this side of Eric as well.
My memory isn't always the greatest. For the most part this series usually just dealt with a one and done mystery, but there were always personal issues and events and such that rolled over between books. It's those details that get a little fuzzy, but for the most part it's easy to roll with the punches!
This was a happier story than most of the murder mysteries Casey and Eric usually deal with. It ends on a lighter note too! Definitely worth a read if you're a fan of the series and like getting deeper insights to characters. A fun little read that wiled away part of the afternoon!
Overall Rating 5/5 stars
Casey and Eric, and the rest of their friends from Rockton have left the community and are looking to start a town of their own. One that will be better and not filled with murderers with no morals. Casey and Eric are off on a walk when they encounter an odd sight; a message in a bottle! In it contains a letter that weaves a very morose story, but one that Casey can't get out of her mind.
You may be surprised to hear that this novella is actually from Eric's point of view! Yes, this is sort of an Eric story! While he and Casey are trying to solve the mystery behind the message in the bottle, Eric is also dealing with some very hard truths. Ones that are rolled over from the original series that involve his childhood. It's pretty heavy material too, but it was enjoyable getting this side of Eric as well.
My memory isn't always the greatest. For the most part this series usually just dealt with a one and done mystery, but there were always personal issues and events and such that rolled over between books. It's those details that get a little fuzzy, but for the most part it's easy to roll with the punches!
This was a happier story than most of the murder mysteries Casey and Eric usually deal with. It ends on a lighter note too! Definitely worth a read if you're a fan of the series and like getting deeper insights to characters. A fun little read that wiled away part of the afternoon!
Overall Rating 5/5 stars
May 20, 2024
After finishing the Rockton series, I was very excited that there was going to be a continuation of the world and characters with the new spin-off series, Haven's Rock. I picked up this in between novella with full intentions of reading it between the two series as the connection. That didn't happen.
I got to it after reading a couple of the Haven's Rock books and it was just as golden to revisit that time when they were still in the hopeful time before the new town site was located and resting after shutting down Rockton.
Relaxing at a group rental lodge there in the Yukon, Eric, Casey and the core group from Rockton have some fun with someone pretending to plant obvious practical joke fake bodies for Casey to find. But, then a mysterious letter from thirty years before is found and this isn't a fake. Did the abused woman in the letter find her way to safety with this lover she was meeting or did she meet with foul play?
And, while helping Casey investigate this past cold case, Eric also get some letters from the past that bring his ambivalent feeling to the forefront about the Daltons who took him in and raised him after finding him in the woods. His birth brother told him that he was taken from his original family, but the Daltons claim they found him, neglected and unwanted by his parents. Who was telling the truth? Now he knows.
So, two interesting letter-related situations from the past to keep everyone busy and it was a fabulous visit to a favorite series and spinoff series.
I got to it after reading a couple of the Haven's Rock books and it was just as golden to revisit that time when they were still in the hopeful time before the new town site was located and resting after shutting down Rockton.
Relaxing at a group rental lodge there in the Yukon, Eric, Casey and the core group from Rockton have some fun with someone pretending to plant obvious practical joke fake bodies for Casey to find. But, then a mysterious letter from thirty years before is found and this isn't a fake. Did the abused woman in the letter find her way to safety with this lover she was meeting or did she meet with foul play?
And, while helping Casey investigate this past cold case, Eric also get some letters from the past that bring his ambivalent feeling to the forefront about the Daltons who took him in and raised him after finding him in the woods. His birth brother told him that he was taken from his original family, but the Daltons claim they found him, neglected and unwanted by his parents. Who was telling the truth? Now he knows.
So, two interesting letter-related situations from the past to keep everyone busy and it was a fabulous visit to a favorite series and spinoff series.
July 19, 2023
Eric's POV
Set in the Time in-between the Rockton era of this series and the new community, Haven's Rock, this novella wraps up the transition nicely. Told from Eric Dalton's point of view, (instead of Casey Duncan's). we get some insight into Eric's past and the power and impact that "found" letters can have.
There are two different letters found, and both have an impact on Eric and Casey.
The first is a letter written by an abused young woman who went missing many years before while staying at the resort that the remaining Rockton town members are renting while scouting out a site for the "new" Rockton, Haven's Rock.
The second letter(s) have a direct impact on Eric.
Casey and Eric wouldn't be themselves if a mystery didn't jump up and beg to be solved.
This is a great novella, a peek into young Eric's life, and a great read while fans are waiting for the next book in the Haven's Rock series.
Set in the Time in-between the Rockton era of this series and the new community, Haven's Rock, this novella wraps up the transition nicely. Told from Eric Dalton's point of view, (instead of Casey Duncan's). we get some insight into Eric's past and the power and impact that "found" letters can have.
There are two different letters found, and both have an impact on Eric and Casey.
The first is a letter written by an abused young woman who went missing many years before while staying at the resort that the remaining Rockton town members are renting while scouting out a site for the "new" Rockton, Haven's Rock.
The second letter(s) have a direct impact on Eric.
Casey and Eric wouldn't be themselves if a mystery didn't jump up and beg to be solved.
This is a great novella, a peek into young Eric's life, and a great read while fans are waiting for the next book in the Haven's Rock series.
April 29, 2024
I'm not sure how I missed this book between the 2 series, only realized it when it showed up on my library's website for request.
It was fun to see everyone planning Haven Rock, to see what they wanted to change from Rockton. The different letters found really brought about things to think about. I'm happy one had a good ending, the other I'm glad that the truth is out there now and that person can do what is needed and that is cut the evil from their lives.
It was fun to see everyone planning Haven Rock, to see what they wanted to change from Rockton. The different letters found really brought about things to think about. I'm happy one had a good ending, the other I'm glad that the truth is out there now and that person can do what is needed and that is cut the evil from their lives.
February 23, 2023
What a fantastic story with some amazing insight in to much loved characters!
September 12, 2025
This was super sweet and a nice little transition for Rockton to Haven's Rock which I will be starting imminently.
July 1, 2025
Short novella with more of an introduction of characters in series. Interesting mystery also.
July 22, 2023
I enjoyed this Rockton/Haven's Rock novella. It's good to get an Eric POV and a bit of clarification of his backstory.
July 12, 2023
A prequel, 0.5, in the Haven's Rock mystery thriller series, and 7.5 in the overall Rockton/Casey Duncan series, and still revolving around Casey and Eric.
My Take
“Dead Letter Days” is a quick synopsis of the core characters with their particular interests in what Rockton 2.0 will accomplish, as a place of refuge for people who need to escape — “the husband whose next beating will be fatal”, the potentially deadly stalker, a person who had been in the wrong place at the wrong time, one’s lousy life choices.
Casey and Eric are still hunting for the perfect site with Armstrong briefly addressing the illegality of their choice. “Dead Letter Days” introduces us to the planning stages — Casey is hoping to achieve seventy-five percent less murder!
I actually read this after reading Murder at Haven's Rock , 1, and while it doesn’t make much of a difference which you read first, I would still read this one first.
Armstrong uses first person protagonist point-of-view from Eric’s perspective, and it’s both enlightening and sad as Eric discovers the reality of living in the real world. That old council really shafted him! The primary focus is on Eric resolving his childhood, his having been kidnapped as well as his parents’ back history and the horror of what Gene Dalton did.
Armstrong reminds us of April and Casey’s past and how they’re achieving a mutual understanding. I love that as a society we’re getting more realistic about not being perfect. We do still have a long way to go, though.
Just for the fun of it, Armstrong gives April a sense of humor and Casey a cold case when they find a message in a bottle. There’s a double story behind this last. “Dead Letter Days” also sets Eric up as a real person which makes it possible for them to get legally married.
Ooh, Eric reveals why he fell in love with Casey.
It’s interesting that Eric knows that having the bakery/coffeehouse is not a luxury, but a necessity. That Phil is so unrealistic! I did enjoy the others chiming in about other necessities like pets, the library, taco Tuesday, and movie night!
It’s letters that set Eric AND Casey off. Letters found that reveal so much. You’ll swear and curse Gene Dalton! His excuses . . . well, it will be interesting to see how Eric gets his revenge.
It’s a sweet event, that wedding, and their vows were original and original in the exchange, sort of ending with the official marshmallow roasting, lol.
It really isn’t fair. Casey can’t help all those dead bodies she stumbles across.
The Story
Eric, Casey and the others are living in a lodge in northern British Columbia, where a message in a bottle leads to a cold case that will have Eric finally grappling with his past and preparing to move into his future with Casey.
The Characters
Casey Duncan, a former homicide detective, has partnered up with Eric Dalton, the sheriff of Rockton. Storm is their Newfoundland “tracking” dog. April is Casey’s autistic sister who also happens to be a brilliant neurosurgeon ( Watcher in the Woods , 4). The dyslexic Jacob is Eric’s brother who’s married to the pregnant Nicole, a former Rockton resident ( A Darkness Absolute , 2). Amy (had a master’s in social work) and Steve (a former police officer) Mulligan are Jacob and Eric’s birth parents.
Will is Eric’s deputy with alcohol issues. Kenny had been the carpenter and militia head and had gone home to see family, leg braces and all. He’s in a relationship with April. Devon and Brian ran the bakery in the old Rockton and are the chief chefs in “Dead Letter Days”. Maryanne had been a biologist taken by hostiles ( This Fallen Prey ). Petra, former special ops, is a comic book artist and Émilie’s granddaughter. Mathias, a former psychiatrist, had been the town butcher; Raoul is Mathias’ half-wolf dog. Sebastian is a young sociopath who had killed his parents ( Watcher in the Woods , 4). Isabel, a former psychologist, had run the former Rockton’s tavern and is in a relationship with Phil, a former spokesman for the council who got shafted, is a “number-crunching detail-obsessed town manager who insists he won’t be coming with them. Diana, Casey’s former best friend, is still around — April wants her to join them in Rockton 2.0, as she has an aptitude for “playing nurse”. Jen, a bully, has gone off with Ty Cypher, a former hitman and former Rockton sheriff, who stayed in the Yukon as a trapper.
Yolanda owns the construction company that will build Rockton 2.0. Eric can already tell Yolanda will be a pain to work with. She’s another of Émilie’s granddaughters, and Émilie, one of the original Rockton’s founders, is helping to bankroll the town and use her contacts to help Casey and Eric.
The Georges own the resort where the the team is staying. They have three children. A distant cousin, Robyn, runs women’s programs for them. Belinda is Robyn’s wife. Joni Mayfair had been a guest of the Georges some thirty years ago. Paul Mayfair had been her very abusive husband.
British Columbia uses the federal Royal Canadian Mounted Police for law enforcement.
Katherine and Gene Dalton, the previous sheriff of Rockton and former army intelligence, had been Eric’s second set of parents.
The Cover and Title
The cover has a background of blues with a cloud of orange, as the silhouettes of Eric and Casey stand atop a cliff edge looking out over the mountains. The author’s name is bold in white at the very top while the title, in yellow, stair steps down the middle. At the bottom is the series info in a pale gray.
The title is the inciting incidents with "Dead Letter Days” exposing a cold case and the truth behind Eric’s kidnapping.
My Take
“Dead Letter Days” is a quick synopsis of the core characters with their particular interests in what Rockton 2.0 will accomplish, as a place of refuge for people who need to escape — “the husband whose next beating will be fatal”, the potentially deadly stalker, a person who had been in the wrong place at the wrong time, one’s lousy life choices.
Casey and Eric are still hunting for the perfect site with Armstrong briefly addressing the illegality of their choice. “Dead Letter Days” introduces us to the planning stages — Casey is hoping to achieve seventy-five percent less murder!
I actually read this after reading Murder at Haven's Rock , 1, and while it doesn’t make much of a difference which you read first, I would still read this one first.
Armstrong uses first person protagonist point-of-view from Eric’s perspective, and it’s both enlightening and sad as Eric discovers the reality of living in the real world. That old council really shafted him! The primary focus is on Eric resolving his childhood, his having been kidnapped as well as his parents’ back history and the horror of what Gene Dalton did.
Armstrong reminds us of April and Casey’s past and how they’re achieving a mutual understanding. I love that as a society we’re getting more realistic about not being perfect. We do still have a long way to go, though.
Just for the fun of it, Armstrong gives April a sense of humor and Casey a cold case when they find a message in a bottle. There’s a double story behind this last. “Dead Letter Days” also sets Eric up as a real person which makes it possible for them to get legally married.
Ooh, Eric reveals why he fell in love with Casey.
It’s interesting that Eric knows that having the bakery/coffeehouse is not a luxury, but a necessity. That Phil is so unrealistic! I did enjoy the others chiming in about other necessities like pets, the library, taco Tuesday, and movie night!
It’s letters that set Eric AND Casey off. Letters found that reveal so much. You’ll swear and curse Gene Dalton! His excuses . . . well, it will be interesting to see how Eric gets his revenge.
It’s a sweet event, that wedding, and their vows were original and original in the exchange, sort of ending with the official marshmallow roasting, lol.
It really isn’t fair. Casey can’t help all those dead bodies she stumbles across.
The Story
Eric, Casey and the others are living in a lodge in northern British Columbia, where a message in a bottle leads to a cold case that will have Eric finally grappling with his past and preparing to move into his future with Casey.
The Characters
Casey Duncan, a former homicide detective, has partnered up with Eric Dalton, the sheriff of Rockton. Storm is their Newfoundland “tracking” dog. April is Casey’s autistic sister who also happens to be a brilliant neurosurgeon ( Watcher in the Woods , 4). The dyslexic Jacob is Eric’s brother who’s married to the pregnant Nicole, a former Rockton resident ( A Darkness Absolute , 2). Amy (had a master’s in social work) and Steve (a former police officer) Mulligan are Jacob and Eric’s birth parents.
Will is Eric’s deputy with alcohol issues. Kenny had been the carpenter and militia head and had gone home to see family, leg braces and all. He’s in a relationship with April. Devon and Brian ran the bakery in the old Rockton and are the chief chefs in “Dead Letter Days”. Maryanne had been a biologist taken by hostiles ( This Fallen Prey ). Petra, former special ops, is a comic book artist and Émilie’s granddaughter. Mathias, a former psychiatrist, had been the town butcher; Raoul is Mathias’ half-wolf dog. Sebastian is a young sociopath who had killed his parents ( Watcher in the Woods , 4). Isabel, a former psychologist, had run the former Rockton’s tavern and is in a relationship with Phil, a former spokesman for the council who got shafted, is a “number-crunching detail-obsessed town manager who insists he won’t be coming with them. Diana, Casey’s former best friend, is still around — April wants her to join them in Rockton 2.0, as she has an aptitude for “playing nurse”. Jen, a bully, has gone off with Ty Cypher, a former hitman and former Rockton sheriff, who stayed in the Yukon as a trapper.
Yolanda owns the construction company that will build Rockton 2.0. Eric can already tell Yolanda will be a pain to work with. She’s another of Émilie’s granddaughters, and Émilie, one of the original Rockton’s founders, is helping to bankroll the town and use her contacts to help Casey and Eric.
The Georges own the resort where the the team is staying. They have three children. A distant cousin, Robyn, runs women’s programs for them. Belinda is Robyn’s wife. Joni Mayfair had been a guest of the Georges some thirty years ago. Paul Mayfair had been her very abusive husband.
British Columbia uses the federal Royal Canadian Mounted Police for law enforcement.
Katherine and Gene Dalton, the previous sheriff of Rockton and former army intelligence, had been Eric’s second set of parents.
The Cover and Title
The cover has a background of blues with a cloud of orange, as the silhouettes of Eric and Casey stand atop a cliff edge looking out over the mountains. The author’s name is bold in white at the very top while the title, in yellow, stair steps down the middle. At the bottom is the series info in a pale gray.
The title is the inciting incidents with "Dead Letter Days” exposing a cold case and the truth behind Eric’s kidnapping.
October 6, 2024
4.5 stars
July 28, 2023
Series Info/Source: This is a prequel novella that bridges from Armstrong's Rockton series to her new Haven's Rock series.
Thoughts: I really enjoyed this a lot. The whole novella is told from Eric's POV which is something we didn't get to see in the Rockton series. Eric is such a stoic guy that it was wonderful to get a look into his mind and thoughts.
Eric and Casey are working on picking a site for their new (non-corrupt) hidden town in the Yukon. They hope to create a safe refuge for those who need it that doesn't have a hidden agenda. When Casey stumbles upon a strange love note in a bottle it is a mystery that Casey can't resist and it will also lead Eric to question things about his own past.
We get to learn a lot about Eric and his past upbringing in this book. As mentioned above, I loved hearing his perspective and thoughts on things. The mystery was intriguing and I loved how some things tied into Eric's past. I am eager to read the first book in the Haven's Rock series. I love these characters so much and always enjoy the intriguing and unique mysteries that present themselves in Armstrong's books. She is an excellent writer with an engaging and easy to read writing style.
My Summary (5/5): Overall I really loved this, it was a great intro to Haven's Rock and wonderful expansion on Eric's character for Rockton fans. I think this story will have the most impact if you've already read the Rockton series, but it would also be interesting as a stand alone. I would recommend to those interested in survival stories with a good mystery in them. I can't wait to start reading Haven's Rock!
Thoughts: I really enjoyed this a lot. The whole novella is told from Eric's POV which is something we didn't get to see in the Rockton series. Eric is such a stoic guy that it was wonderful to get a look into his mind and thoughts.
Eric and Casey are working on picking a site for their new (non-corrupt) hidden town in the Yukon. They hope to create a safe refuge for those who need it that doesn't have a hidden agenda. When Casey stumbles upon a strange love note in a bottle it is a mystery that Casey can't resist and it will also lead Eric to question things about his own past.
We get to learn a lot about Eric and his past upbringing in this book. As mentioned above, I loved hearing his perspective and thoughts on things. The mystery was intriguing and I loved how some things tied into Eric's past. I am eager to read the first book in the Haven's Rock series. I love these characters so much and always enjoy the intriguing and unique mysteries that present themselves in Armstrong's books. She is an excellent writer with an engaging and easy to read writing style.
My Summary (5/5): Overall I really loved this, it was a great intro to Haven's Rock and wonderful expansion on Eric's character for Rockton fans. I think this story will have the most impact if you've already read the Rockton series, but it would also be interesting as a stand alone. I would recommend to those interested in survival stories with a good mystery in them. I can't wait to start reading Haven's Rock!
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