The Boy Who Cried Bear

Haven's Rock #2

by Kelley Armstrong

In The Boy Who Cried Bear, New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong keeps readers on the edge of their seats while detective Casey Duncan tries to locate the threat before it’s too late. . .

Haven’s Rock is a well-hidden town surrounded by forest. And it’s supposed to be, being that it’s a refuge for those who need to disappear. Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton already feel at home in their new town, which reminds them of where they first met in Rockton. And while they know how to navigate the woods and its various dangers, other residents don’t. Which is why people aren't allowed to wander off alone.

When Max, the town’s youngest resident—taught to track animals by Eric—fears a bear is stalking a hiking party, alarms are raised. Even stranger, the ten-year-old swears the bear had human eyes. Casey and Eric know the dangers a bear can present, so they’re taking it seriously. But odd occurrences are happening all around them, and when a dead body turns up, they’re not sure what they’re up against.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Suspense, Contemporary

368 pages, Paperback

First published February 20, 2024

About the author

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.

Reviews

[PamG · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kelley Armstrong’s Haven’s Rock series keeps getting better and better. The Boy Who Cried Bear , the second book in the series, has a significant mystery along with plenty of suspense and atmosphere that keeps readers rapidly turning the pages. This is a spin-off continuation series after the Rockton series ended with book 7, The Deepest of Secrets. The unique setting adds another layer to the tone of the book. Haven’s Rock is a hidden town built somewhere in the Yukon wilderness of Canada. It’s a place for people to disappear and a sanctuary for those that need a refuge.

Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton met in the original town of Rockton and are feeling at home in their new town. While they know how to navigate the woods, their town’s residents don’t. People aren’t allowed to wander in the woods alone. When ten-year-old Max believes he saw a bear while on a group hike, there are concerns that it was stalking the hikers. But Max says it had human eyes. Casey and Eric take the sighting seriously despite not knowing exactly what it was. When a dead body is found, it adds to the mystery.

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. 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. Max is smart, intuitive, empathetic, and responsible. He is also suffering from a trauma that affected his family. It was great to see some of the secondary and tertiary characters again. Each book adds some depth to them.

Overall, this is well-written and entertaining with a solid mystery and complex characters set in an off-the-grid sanctuary town. An intriguing start quickly accelerates as the plot develops and Casey’s investigation takes off. Murder, trust, secrets, lies, concealment, and respect are all threads that are explored during the novel. It was also great to see more of Casey’s and Eric’s personal lives and how they work through the challenges. While the main mysteries are solved, there are some threads for the next book that should prove fascinating. I can’t wait to read it. While this novel 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 or start at the beginning of this series. Fans of Kelley Armstrong and the Rockton series will likely thoroughly enjoy this novel.

St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books and Kelley Armstrong for a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for February 20, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

----------------------------------------
My 4.61 rounded to 5 stars review is coming soon.

[LIsa Noell "Rocking the chutzpah!" · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to St. Martin's Press, Kelley Armstrong and Netgalley.
There's just something about this series that I love. There is a certain warmth of feeling and a love of place that somehow grounds me. Does that sound a bit silly and stupid? Fine. Call me silly and stupid. Sticks and stones.
I've always had an ideal place in my head. That place would be far, far out of reach from anyone, but also smack dab in wild life country! Not too hard to imagine, as I live in Montana. Nobody here wants to see grizzly bears, but they turn up in the most unlikely places! I saw a bobcat in my neighbor's yard not too long ago. Weird? Nope. Just Montana. Still, I've been here since 1995 and had never seen a bobcat before.
I was initially hesitant about this new series. How would the new dynamics change? Well, not much as it turns out, and that right there may be where Ms. Armstrong and I part.
I've read a few series of books by various author's and have found that they can't change their habits. I personally think that I'm ready for more of a change. Into what? Don't know. Man, I'm a reader not a writer!
I love this series and the characters. Even the back drop is a character. Yukon? Please. Since I was 4 and read Jack London the Yukon has always been alive.
I do love the newest arrivals and am curious about the next book.
I will say that sometimes these books come up lacking on the whodunit. This? Definitely one of her better mysteries.
I love and actually anticipate new books in this series.
With a warning...something must change, or else a new and deadly threat must emerge.I
Otherwise I will read elsewhere.
Please don't become Janet Evanovich! Talented but tiresome.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Boy Who Cried Bear is the second novel in the HAVEN'S ROCK series, a spin-off of the ROCKTON series. Having read just the first book of Rockton, I feel confident that you also can enjoy this as a standalone. Of course, I now have to check out the other books as I love these characters!

Haven’s Rock is a new small isolated community in the Yukon where residents stay and seek refuge. Only adults live in Haven's Rock except for newly arrived Dana and her two boys from the Witness Security Program.

When the 10-year-old Max said he spotted a bear in the woods while with a hiking party, a bear with human eyes no less, Detective Casey Duncan and her husband Sheriff Eric Dalto were alarmed and led the search.

The Boy Who Cried Bear has such a fantastic atmosphere for a police/detective mystery. I love the wilderness and mountainous setting coupled with the remoteness of the town, I just LOVED it! The characters are wonderful too, both the main characters Casey and Eric a couple of secondary casts have good backstories. If you enjoy a well-written, terrific pacing, and suspense, be sure to give this one a shot.

Thérèse Plummer narrates and it's top notch performance. Highly recommend the audiobook!
9/10 ~ 4.5⭐

Thank you Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the ALC.
10H 19M
Available February 20, 2024

[Kaceey · Rating 4 out of 5]

❄️❄️❄️❄️
Everyone is settling into Rockton 2.0. Better known as Haven’s Rock. A tight-knit, secluded community hidden in the Yukon. It’s especially attractive to those who desire to disappear 😉and remain off the grid. It does however come with its own dangers just beyond the perimeter, from both animals and humans.

One major difference in this budding community is they now allow families, yes that includes children. So far only one family is calling Haven’s Rock home.
A mom and her two young sons. The youngest Max is ten years old. He’s quick to absorb his new environment, learning how to live safely in this remote community.

During one chaperoned outing he spots a bear. A bear with strangely human eyes. An immediate search for this creature ensues….but nothing is found.

When max suddenly vanishes everyone is mystified with who or what could have taken Max. Could it possibly be the strange looking bear Max saw earlier?

What a great addition to the series. I love the ever growing relationship between Eric and Casey, who happen to be the town Sheriff and detective…as well as husband and wife.❣️

Their tracking dog Storm could have played a bigger part in this installment. But maybe that’s just me, the dog lover. I couldn’t get enough of the big Newfoundlander! (Don’t tell my pup please!🤫).

I listened to the audio, and once again Theresa Plummer gave an outstanding performance with all the voices, both male and female. She’s quickly becoming one of my favorite narrators.

Already looking forward to the next installment.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio 🎧

[Linzie (suspenseisthrillingme) · Rating 4 out of 5]

After things fell apart in Rockton, Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton, created a town called Haven’s Rock in one of the most remote reaches of the Yukon for people who want to disappear. Meant to protect those who need it by being a well-hidden sanctuary, Casey and Eric still draw a firm line at who can be admitted. Background checks are done and dangerous criminals aren’t permitted. Especially given what happened in Rockton.

Haven’s Rock, however, is a fairly new community and most of its residents aren’t necessarily aware of the dangers that the wilds of Canada can pose. For this reason there are strict rules. The most important one is to avoid going into the woods alone. With wild animals looking for their next meal and a mining operation nearby, it’s just not safe without someone who can recognize when to raise an alarm.

The new townspeople, however, are curious, so Casey has organized hikes for anyone who is interested. Ten year old Max is just such a person. Intrigued by his new environment, he’s soaking up all of the lessons that Sheriff Eric has given him—especially how to track animals. One day while he’s out on a trek through the woods with some of the staff, he notices all the hallmarks of an animal following the group—including snapping twigs and silenced wildlife. Before he realizes it, he glimpses a bear. One that he swears, however, had human eyes.

Immediately, Casey and Eric take action. Despite the fact that Max claimed the bear had human features, a bear stalking a group of humans is not something that can be ignored. The decision is made to hunt it down before it can harm someone—or worse. But before they know it, worrisome things start to happen around town. First someone goes missing. Not long later, a body is found. Is there a stranger hiding out in the woods with a score to settle against one of the new residents? Or is the culprit one of their own?

I just don’t know how Kelley Armstrong does it. For the second time in a row, I was blown away by one of her crime fiction novels. The Boy Who Cried Bear had everything you could want in just such a book. With the perfect locked room mystery type setting, intriguing characters, and finely layered plot, I was hooked from the very first word. Even better, however, was the dread lacing through the pages. Trust me when I say, I read just one more chapter more times than I could count.

Between the characters and the layout of the plot, the former just barely won out as the star feature. Starting off with the endearing couple at the center of the action, Casey and Eric came complete with a sweet relationship that I can’t wait to watch unfold further. Second, but not far behind, was the rest of the cast of characters who were both somewhat unreliable as well as wholly relatable. Running from unknown events, we don’t know whether to trust them or not, which plays perfectly into the premise.

As for the storyline, there were several different subplots going on at the same time. And while that could’ve been confusing, it was anything but. At the same time, however, I couldn’t, for the life of me, figure out how all of the threads came together. Part of me, though, still doesn’t quite… But I’ll come back to that in a bit. All in all, told primarily from Casey’s POV with the occasional chapter from Max, this crime fiction tale felt decidedly more action-packed than most, with plenty of enticing thrills and chills as well as dynamite twists.

Okay. So there was one aspect that didn’t fill me with glee. By the end of the book, not everything was wrapped up with a nice, tiny, little bow like I prefer. On the contrary, there was one whopper of a cliffhanger that tied in directly to the main plot of the book. Granted, there was a definite happily ever after as well, but I personally like all of my answers spelled out. If this doesn’t bother you, take my warning with a rather large grain of salt.

Given that, however, I was still a huge fan of the second book in the Haven’s Rock series. Supposedly suggested as a stand-alone, I highly recommend reading these in order. Otherwise, you’ll miss out not only on characters and their growth (of which there was plenty), but underlying drama within the complex group dynamics. That said, the events in this novel didn’t extend from book one, which will surely not be the case as the series continues.

Wrapping up my review, I must say I’m even more of an Armstrong fan than I was going in. Original and fresh, this plot deviated greatly from all crime fiction that I’ve read in the past, but only in the best possible way. I also loved how there was a depth to the characters as many were struggling with past trauma, including Casey herself. All said and done, two massive thumbs up. Now I sadly have a long, impatient wait for book three. Rating of 4.5 stars.

Thank you to Kelley Armstrong, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley got my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

PUB DAY: February 20, 2024

Trigger warning: kidnapping, racism, pregnancy, mention of: fatal stabbing, pedophilia

[Dorie - Cats&Books :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came into this book not knowing that it was the second in a new series from this author. This worked fine as a standalone but I would encourage you to read the first book. There were definitely some connections that I had questions about.

Deep in the Yukon territory there are at least two separate groups of characters. Haven’s Rock is a small town where the most endangered people from the witness protection program are resettled.

In this novel we find the newest residents to be Max, his older brother Carson and their mother. They survived an attack on their family in which their father was killed.

They are still getting acclimated when Max sees what he thinks is a bear while hiking with a group in the forest. He also knows that the eyes looked like human eyes! This sounds an alarm which the town’s staff takes seriously enough to launch a search. Whatever or whomever the predator is - it is a risk to the town.

There are also miners working on the other side of the mountain and they have recently been asking for more and more land from the Haven’s Rock group. There is a lot of animosity between the two.

Here are my PROS:

*A great setting in the beautiful forest that I think could have been utilized more to increase the tension.

*Some great characters, my personal favorite was Max – what a resilient and intelligent young man

*A unique premise that includes characters that wear multiple “hats”. Kendra is a social worker but also the town plumber. Mathias is a psychiatrist and also the town butcher. Isabel is a psychologist but also runs the town bar – you get the idea.

CONS:

*Too much back and forth dialogue that grew repetitious half way through the book.

This is a 3 ½ rounded up to 4 because I should have known the backstories of these characters and how the town was established.

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through Edelweiss. It was my pleasure to read and review this title.

[Debra - can't post any comments on site today grrr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another gripping and hard to put down book in the Haven's Rock series. I was highly anticipating this book after reading the first book in this series. I was ecstatic when it was just as riveting and gripping as the first book. Kelly Armstrong delivered once again. Let's face it, she always delivers! Readers of Armstrong's will know that the characters of Casey Duncan and Eric Dalton first appeared in her Rockton series. Can this book be read as a stand-alone? Yes, but as this is the second book in the series, I highly recommend reading Murder at Haven's Rock first.

Haven's Rock is a community/town in the Yukon where people who need to disappear/start over can go! Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton began the community for that purpose and their job is to make sure that everyone who resides there is safe. They know everyone has a reason for wanting to be there and they are doing their best to make sure their community runs smoothly.

Dana and her two sons were permitted to move to the town to start over and escape a painful event and loss in their recent past. While hiking with others from Haven’s Rock, 10-year-old Max saw a bear in the woods. But this bear was different, it has human eyes. After raising the alarm, Max goes missing! As those in town try to locate Max, Casey and Dalton go visit the miners who are mining nearby to see if they have heard or seen anything....

The Boy Who Cried Bear was a captivating read which had Casey and Dalton dealing with several issues. I enjoyed being back in the Yukon with them and the community members who I was introduced to in the first book in the series. They are an interesting, and for the most part, likeable bunch. Plus, those dastardly miners always seem to pop up.

The central mystery in this book is what happened to Max. Where could he be? Has someone taken him? Did he get lost in the woods? As the search goes into high gear, rumors swirl in the community of Haven's Rock. Fingers will be pointed, suspicions will be made, and some residents will show their true colors.

I also appreciated how Armstrong dealt with trauma in this book. Many characters deal with trauma, loss, PTSD, guilt, and relationship issues in this book. They are all handled with care.

I love Kelley Armstrong's books, and this was no exception. I always enjoy tension and a sense of dread in books. I could feel the character’s concern and fear for Max dripping off the pages. Plus, the setting deep in the Yukon woods provided a chilling atmosphere while setting the stage for a child missing in the woods. I found this book to be riveting, well written, well thought out, hard to put down and thrilling. Plus, the ending!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait to read the next book in the series (or anything else Armstrong writes)!

A well written, well thought out, atmospheric, gripping page turner!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com

[Tara — on semi-hiatus for health reasons; will check in when possible. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Boy Who Cried Bear is a well-written, meticulously plotted, entertaining mystery with multifaceted characters set in a quirky town with a community that feels like family. The book has it all: murder, secrets, corruption, mystery, and plenty of suspense and atmosphere that keeps readers turning the pages into the wee hours of the morning; I would highly recommend it.….…

I have enjoyed everything I have read from author Kelley Armstrong and The Boy Who Cried Bear; the second book in her Haven's Rock series is no exception.

Haven's Rock is a small hidden town in the wilds of Yukon, Canada, a haven for people who need a place to lay low. Built by a wealthy benefactor, Haven Rock is so remote that it is a perfect place to hide. When Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton, start bringing people in, no questions asked. They live in close quarters and, although consisting of vastly different personalities, they get along for the most part. For the first time, the town has let in children; a young Mother, Dana and her two young sons, Max and Carson, find refuge there after witness protection fails to protect them, leaving Dana widowed and severely injured to care for her children. Much to his brother's dismay, Max thrives as the only child in Haven's Rock. Max loves the wilderness and spends time getting trained by a group led by Eric and Casey on how to survive in the woods. On a group hike, ten-year-old Max believes he saw a bear stalking the hikers, but no ordinary bear; it walked on two legs and had human eyes. Although Casey and Eric take Max's sighting seriously, they both agree it is just a bear, but it is still concerning, as it is out of the bear's normal behaviour.

When Max fights with his older brother, he runs away to sit by the woods only to be blindfolded, kidnapped, and taken deep in the woods by a man dressed head to toe in bear skins. After days and nights spent in the woods searching for Max, Casey becomes ill, but there seems more to it. The town comes together, and strange notes appear as the investigation remains fruitless, implying that someone from Dana's past has returned to exact revenge. The more they dive into the case, the more the leads point in different directions, including to the town's neighbours, a corrupt mining company with a mysterious facility secured by armed guards.



Once again, Armstrong delivered a well-written, compelling mystery with multifaceted characters set in a quirky town that kept me glued to the pages. Alternating between Casey and Max's POVs, the reader has insight into what Max was going through while Casey and Eric searched for him. I couldn't swipe the pages on my iPad fast enough!

The book has it all: murder, secrets, corruption, mystery, and plenty of suspense and atmosphere that keeps readers turning the pages into the wee hours of the morning; I highly recommend it! I look forward to the next book in the Haven's Rock series. I was lucky enough to get an ADC and ALC I paired the ADC and ALC (IMO) Therese Plummer did an fantastic job narrating this story. She is one of my favourites and this performance was up to her usual high standards. I felt like I was there with Casey and Eric, trying to find this boy in the woods. The voices she used for the characters brought the story to life, and I thought she added just the right amount of emotion to her performance, which fully immersed me in the plot.


Plot 4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Audio 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


I would like to thank NetGalley and
St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for the ADC and ALC in exchange for an honest review.

[Luvtoread (Trying to catch up) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detective Casey Duncan and Sheriff Eric Dalton are back for another exciting and dangerous adventure within their new town of Haven's Rock!

Casey and Eric have been working hard to create their own town in the Yukon which offers refuge to people whose lives have been in extreme danger and they have a need to disappear. Haven's Rock is in it's very early stages and they only have about twenty-four people in the community so far and two of them happens to be children which is a completely different situation for them to handle since children or families were not allowed in Rockton previously and this could open the door to different sets of problems if not handled properly.

The youngest boy is only ten years old and one day on a learning hike he thinks he sees a bear following the group but the bear is walking on two legs and has human eyes. Casey and Eric are unsure what to make of this sighting although they know the child saw something upsetting and they will investigate the forest because there could be a rogue or sick bear near their town especially when the bears should be in hibernation but many of the adults laugh the sighting off leaving it to a boy's imagination or in need of attention.

Strange occurrences around town begin to cause distrust and chaos among the community while Casey and Eric search for answers and when a dead body unexpectedly turns up in the forest and a missing person in town doesn't leave any clues to their whereabouts, they wonder if Haven's Rock will still be able to have a future since their whole community may be in danger from unknown human predators as well as wild animals.


Kelley Armstrong has done it again and written another wonderful and exciting standalone book to her new series of Haven's Rock. I can't get enough of her Yukon series with it's many flawed characters and personalities that make me crave the adventures of their patrons, many who have criminal pasts. The excitement stems from the townspeople being thrust into more or less primitive environment when compared with the lives they have all left behind. The only way in or out of Haven's Rock is only by small planes or helicopters plus there isn't any electricity so obviously no cell towers for internet or phones which are not allowed so every resident is kept safe and the town will always keep their anonymity and be safeguarded from the public ever being aware of Haven't Rock existence.


This book involving some new and old characters and bringing in children to the storyline just added another dimension to the isolated wilderness and the dangers that abound around every corner. If anyone gets hurt badly the nearest hospital is hours away although they do have a doctor on site who just happens to be Casey's sister, April. There were several different storylines within this novel and it really had myself guessing and guessing but the way all the back-stories intertwine is just magic! I always feel a little sad when I finish these books since I get so immersed in these terrific characters'. lives and the atmospheric writing of the isolation of the forest and the town only having the bare necessities of survival. This is a testament to the outstanding writing and storytelling by this wonderful and clever author!

I highly recommend "THE BOY WHO CRIED BEAR" to all readers and I can't wait for the next book to come out in this superb series!


I want to thank the publisher "St. Martin's Press" for the opportunity to read this novel and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!


I have given a rating of 4 1/2 OUTSTANDING AND ISOLATION 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌠 STARS!!

[Madison Warner Fairbanks · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Boy Who Cried Bear by Kelley Armstrong
Haven’s Rock series #2. Spinoff of the Rockton/Casey Duncan series. Thriller police mystery.
Detective Casey Duncan and husband Sheriff Eric Dalton are the founders and enforcement of the remote and isolated small community of Haven’s Rock. Max is the youngest of the town residents and he, like everyone else, is taught to be mindful of the wilderness and not to go into the woods on their own. On a hike, Max feels their group is being followed. He catches a glimpse of something brown between the trees and voices a warning. He swears it had human eyes though no one is sure what that means. When a dead body is found and Max goes missing, it’s lockdown for the community while Casey and Eric search for clues and tracks in the woods.

Pulse pounding suspense as they figure out what’s going on even as Casey is sick. She’s still out tracking with Eric and their search dog doing their best to find Max before it’s too late.

🎧 I alternated between an ecopy and an audiobook copy. The narration is done by Therese Plummer who does a fantastic job of keeping the reader on the edge of the seat. Emotions are clear, with separate voices for Eric and Casey and several secondary characters. The same narrator does both this series and the Rockton series so the minute you start listening, you are already visualizing the woods, the remote and roughly built cabins, and the big loving dog. You can feel the cold because we’ve already been here and know what to expect.
The continuity is a great aid to throw you into the setting and the performance will keep you engaged.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and publisher Macmillan Audio.

[Marialyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

We are back in the frozen Yukon where we were introduced to the Rockton community, one that was quite unusual in the habits of people. Many of the old residents of Rockton made the move to the new community of Haven's Rock. Secluded within a forest, it seems like a place of peace and quiet. However, that was not to be so.

Casey Duncan and her husband Eric Dalton are the main characters that maintain law and order in the new town. All seems fine until a bear able to walk on two feet started terrorizing a hiking party, its youngest participant ten year old Max who has seen the bear claimed he had human eyes. Later Max goes missing and a dead body shows up so Casey and Eric are on the hunt for Max and a killer while battling town residents and miners located close by.

All in all it a perfect atmospheric story that kept one busily being worried for Max and wondering about the bear/man.

I love Kelley Armstrong's books and certainly am grateful for the ability to listen to this one. Macmillan Audio and NetGalley get a thank you as well!

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Boy Who Cried Bear is the second book in the Haven's Rock series, which in itself is a spinoff from Kelley Armstrong’s terrific Rockton series. I believe this could be read as a standalone, although as with any good series, you would have a richer reading experience if you’ve read the previous books. Armstrong does give some good backstory without weighing down the current story.

Most of the book is narrated by the female main character, Casey, although some chapters are narrated by a 10-year-old boy named Max. Casey and Eric are a power couple! Casey is a detective and Eric serves as the sheriff of their new town, set in the midst of the Yukon wilderness in Canada. The location is purposeful, as they are trying to be a sanctuary of sorts for people who really need sanctuary. (Rockton was founded on a similar notion but got into problems when the leaders of that town let in criminals; Casey and Eric are determined to make sure that doesn’t happen with Haven’s Rock.)

Armstrong knows how to write gripping stories with wonderful characters. It seems she can write well in pretty much any genre (and she does!). This series is a mystery / thriller and it keeps you on your toes, trying to figure out who is responsible for (NO SPOILERS!). It was great to revisit with old favorites like Casey and Eric, along with Casey’s on-the-spectrum doctor sister, April; Isabel; Will; Kendra, and others, and to meet some of the new residents of Haven’s Rock, which now include a mother and two young sons (one of whom is the Max mentioned above). There is a mining company working the land not too far away from Haven’s Rock, which isn’t ideal in terms of keeping their town safe and separate. Relations with the miners are a bit tense.

There was an excellent subplot that centers on Casey and Eric’s personal lives and I look forward to reading more about that in future installments of this terrific series.

I bounced between the audiobook and the ebook for this title, which was very convenient. The audiobook was beautifully narrated by Thérèse Plummer.

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book and to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

[Keila (speedreadstagram) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Haven’s Rock is a secluded town deep in the Yukon. It’s perfect for those wanting to disappear. For detective Casey and her husband Sheriff Eric, they feel right at home in their new town. They’ve been here since it was founded and know all the in’s and out’s, but not everyone does, so they aren’t supposed to wander off alone.

When Max, a child, says he sees a bear walking on two legs, alarm bells go off and he’s taken seriously. As other strange and odd things start happening, they’re not sure what they’re up against.

This was a solid follow-up book to Murder at Haven’s Rock in the Haven’s Rock series. This book had a lot of amazing things that I enjoyed. My favorite thing about this series is the setting. It is based in the Yukon; it’s a small town surrounded by forest. The author does such a great job writing a vivid landscape and I always feel like I am right there in town with the characters. I also really enjoyed getting to know the characters more and getting more of their back story. I thought it was a lot of fun that Haven’s Rock is now accepting families with children. Max was a lot of fun. Such a quick and witty ten-year-old and I enjoyed the chapters that were from his point of view. The part that I really didn’t enjoy about this one was the domestic turn that I really didn’t like, though it will be interesting to see how things work out in book three.

I usually am one to jump into series haphazardly without any thought to order, however, this is a series that I think you would benefit from reading in order.

Thank you so much to St Martins Press, Minotaur Books @minotaur_books and Netgalley @netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Kristy Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Haven’s Rock Mystery series. It’s a spinoff of the Rockton/Casey Duncan series that follows a police detective who moves to an isolated haven community off the grid in the Yukon. This story follows Casey and a ten-year-old boy who is a new resident of their new town of Haven’s Rock. While Casey and Eric would have preferred a year to settle into the new town and work out the details and kinks in their plans to provide a safe place to hide for others in need, their benefactor in Emilie has been too good at providing new residents for them to wait.

I enjoyed the family dynamics with Ben, his brother Carson and mother Dana as well as a few of the newcomers that were introduced in Murder at Haven’s Rock including Gunnar and Yolanda. I loved having all my old favorites around from Isobel to Matthias. I would love an appearance by Sebastian soon. Eric has been giving Ben wilderness lessons and when he sees a bear, he gets embarrassed when no one else finds proof of his sighting. Another appearance leaves him questioning his own instincts and after he disappears, the new residents in town are quickly questioning just how safe they really are and whether their hosts really have the experience to handle this situation.

A few of the new residents were as dumb as a box of rocks and quite often proved it to my hysterical laughter. There were some harrowing moments with the missing boy and quite a few confrontations in the woods. The mystery was well done and I eagerly look forward to the next installments answering a few of my lingering questions. I often give books in this series five stars since I enjoy them so much. My quibble with this one is a person preference to avoid baby/fertility storylines and it was a little too much on that subject for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for a copy provided for an honest review.

[Donne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second installment to Kelley Armstrong’s spinoff of her Rockton series. I don’t really want to spend a lot of time comparing Haven’s Rock to Rockton because they are really two different series. I don’t want to leave the impression that Haven’s Rock is the awkward younger sibling to the better, more exciting Rockton series. They are each different and good in their own right.

One of the things that I like about Haven’s Rock is the whole different resident pool, like families with kids. It brings a whole different environment and direction for the storylines and series. Rockton had a lot of criminals who were hiding out. The book summary is pretty vague so let me elaborate. Max, a 10yr old Haven’s Rock resident, thinks he saw a bear – maybe, but with human eyes. Throughout the story, he refers to what he saw as the bear man. He goes missing after he heads out to woods one night to prove he saw the bear man because nobody believes what he saw, especially his older brother Carson, who is a little $#^!head!

There is also another storyline around Max and his family, which also consists of his mother, Dana. There is a lot of speculation in Haven’s Rock about the real reason that Dana and her kids are in Haven’s Rock. Dana and her kids came to Haven’s Rock from the WITSEC program after Dana’s husband and the kid’s father was killed for testifying against a murderer after he and Dana witnessed the murder. There is also another storyline about Haven’s Rock’s distant neighbors, a mining company, who have basically hired Eric and Casey to find some wild mountain man who assaulted one of the mining company’s employees. Eric and Casey call the mine owner, Mr Rogers. They also suspect that Max’s bear man is Mr Rogers wild mountain man.

Most of the story revolves around searching for Max as well as figuring out who the kidnapper is. It’s well into the second half that the storylines combust into a humungous mess. This is, apparently, a set up for future storylines. Just like in Rockton, having suspicious and dangerous neighbors was a key element to the series. I don’t see any reason why that can’t continue in Haven’s Rock. It worked and it certainly gives Armstrong a lot of future storylines and directions to take the new series.

I liked this installment better than the first one. In this one, Haven’s Rock is finally starting to stand on its own and is moving away from Rockton’s shadow. I like the continuing character development between the MC’s Eric and Casey and look forward to seeing the growth in their characters in the next installment. Most of the story was a solid 4star read for me. I didn’t like the conclusion of the Max storyline. Wwwaaayyy too messy for my liking. However, I want to think that I understand why Armstrong went that way. If I could give it 3.5stars, I would, but I’m going to round up because I like the way the series is going so far. I want to thank NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #StMartin’sPress #TheBoyWhoCriedBear

[♥Rachel♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

The Boy Who Cried Bear is book two in the Rockton spinoff, where Casey and Eric have started their own refuge town, Haven's Rock, after Rockton was dissolved. The series is best read in order as there’s a lot of history even though each book has a separate mystery that’s solved by the end.

I have loved the Rockton series from the start! A town off-the-grid, hidden, a shelter for someone when conventional justice has failed, such as a victim of stalking, an abusive partner, wrongfully accused, etc., While Rockton supposedly vetted the people before granting sanctuary, only allowing the innocent, non-violent in, we found out that wasn’t always the case.

In this installment, there are several candidates that Emily has sent their way, and unlike Rockton, there are couples and even families in the mix. One family is Dana and her two sons, thirteen-year-old Carson, and ten-year-old, Max. Dana was shot, and their father was murdered. On one of their hikes, Max spots a “bear man” stalking their party. This is the second time Max has seen this and the first time there was little evidence to corroborate his account and so he’s hesitant to even say anything, but another in their group, Gunnar, also spots something. Is there a bear stalking the residents or is something more dangerous afoot?

There’s a personal issue that comes up for Casey and Eric, but they must put that on the backburner while they have such a serious, time-sensitive situation.

This was a disturbing case that had me on the edge of my seat! As usual Casey and Eric filter the nonsense out and get to the heart of the matter. I love that Casey and Eric work so well together, mostly a step ahead of nasty people. The revelations about their location set up a potentially dangerous situation as they try and make Haven’s Rock a refuge for the vulnerable! I absolutely love this series and I’m eager to find out what happens next!

I alternately listened to and read Murder at Haven’s Rock and recommend either version! Thérèse Plummer narrates the audio version, as with the previous books, and she performs all voices, male and female wonderfully! She’s one of my all-time favorite narrators and her performance here is perfection! I listened at my usual 1.5x normal speed.

A copy was kindly provided by Macmillan Audio and Minotaur Books in exchange for an honest review.

[Valleri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can you imagine spotting a bear with human eyes?? Scary enough for an adult but Max is only 10! When Max disappears, his mom experiences a terror unlike any other. I felt as though I were in the forest and tripping over roots with them during the search! There is so much mystery in The Boy Who Cried Bear. Also, some wonderful relationships and the BEST dog, named Storm. I didn't want to put the book down!

I can't wait to read #3!!

I just read something the author wrote. She's presently writing the 4th book in the series while editing the 3rd. And also trying to keep the timelines separate in her head!!!

[Rachel (TheShadesofOrange) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars
This was an enjoyable follow up novel in the haven series. I really enjoyed learning more about the dark history of this community.

However I was confused why the book constantly referenced events that happened before the series. I kept having to check if I missed previous novels in the series. It just felt like strange narrative choices.

This story has a good plot and mystery. There was a heavy relationship subplot that I didn't need, but worked within the confines of the story. I would definitely read more in this thriller series.

Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

[Lorelei · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced reader copy of this book.
When an author is writing a long series like this one (and like the previous one, the Rockton series) they have to balance a lot of things. They need to stick with what's worked for their readers, but they also need to add in new elements - they can't just write the same book over and over again. But how do you up the stakes each time, without getting to jump-the-shark territory? They also need to balance episodic plots and villains with the series Big Bad and overarching mythos. (Think X-Files, where you had the Monster of the Week episode, vs the alien invasion mytharc of the series.) So the reader needs to finish each book feeling like the book plot was resolved, and the series arc was advanced but still leaving questions unanswered - but in a satisfying way.

I think Kelley Armstrong is a master of this. She did a fantastic job with this in the Rockton series, and is continuing here in Haven's Rock. We have a smaller scale antagonist and mystery that is mostly wrapped up by the end, and yet also have introduced what might be our Big Bad for the series, and opened up a LOT of questions that will probably take many books to explore and resolve. New town, new stakes, new baddies, new townsfolk, and new interpersonal issues. All in all, a really great addition and absolutely worth picking up; I finished it in just two days because I could NOT put it down.

If you've never read the Rockton series, I highly recommend going back and picking that one up before starting on Haven's Rock. You'll be missing out on a lot of background if you don't, as well as just missing out on another fantastic series.

(Also, is that cover art gorgeous or what?! I couldn't find the name of the cover artist, but kudos to them.)

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars

The Boy Who Cried Bear is the second book in the Haven's Rock series. This is a spinoff to the Rockton series. Both series have the same narrator, female detective Casey Duncan.

Each book contains a standalone mystery. However the main characters are the same in both series.

This was another great installment of this series/spinoff series. Casey and Dalton are my favorite couple. And I really enjoy them solving mysteries.

Haven's Rock is now accepting families with kids. The youngest Haven's Rock resident is 10 year old Max. He actually narrates a few chapters in this book. I really enjoyed the mystery surrounding him.

There are a few newer characters that I found intriguing. Especially Yolanda, Gunnar, Dana and Louie. But I also enjoyed the regulars: Casey, Eric, Will, April, and Isabel.

I'm really interested in the miners who are also out there in the Yukon wilderness. And I can't wait to see how they fit into the next books. Also the ending of this book was amazing! And I can't wait to get more of Casey and Dalton in the next book! This book was wonderful!




Thanks to netgalley and Minotaur Books for allowing me to read this book.

[Maxine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haven’s Rock, the town founded to replace Rockton, is now up and running with Casey and her husband, Eric in charge. Many of the original inhabitants from Rockton are now settled in this new town as well as a few newcomers. Among the new families is a woman and her two children. The youngest, ten-year-old Max, has adapted very well to this new environment. Because of its isolation in the Yukon, hikes are conducted through the forest surrounding the town. On one of these hikes, Max spots what he thinks is a bear except he swears it has human eyes. Then a dead body is discovered and Max goes missing. The town is put on lockdown as Casey and Eric search for the lost boy with the aid of their dog, Storm.

The Boy Who Cried Bear is the second in the Haven’s Rock series and it is one hell of a page turner. It is well-plotted with the narration split between Casey and Max. There’s a great deal going on here with plenty of suspense, action, and twists and turns. It was fun to reunite with many of the old characters from Rockton as well as meeting new characters, both likeable and not, but all interesting and well fleshed out. There is a cliffhanger at the end but, honestly, I’m okay with that because it means there will soon be another addition to this series and I can’t wait to see where it takes us in the future.

Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review

[Mary Heron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love Casey and Eric.

But, how unlucky can a couple be.............after all the dramas that coloured their life in Rockton they decided.to start their own sanctuary of Havens Rock and fix everything that was wrong with Rocktons setup. To do this they (and others) spent a long time looking for the perfect spot to build their new town/sanctuary, the main criteria being it's isolation. How unlucky then to not even have finished building the town (see last book) only to.find there's a mining operation setting up within miles of their town. Not only that but the operators of the mind make it clear that they are equally as unhappy about Havens Rock. I can understand that for the series to continue, it is a crime/mystery series after all, that there must be protagonists and from the look of things there is a lot more.to come from the mining operation so much to look forward to. Added to which Havens Rock has children in residence, only two so far, but this.automatically changes the dynamic introducing something new. This is such an original premise for a book series it's one of my favourites, a town isolated in the Canadian wilderness, with no technology and very minimal modern comforts (think the towns.of the old west) set up to provide an escape and sanctuary for people (who for whatever reason) need to escape from society ....... that's Rockton and now Havens Rock. Brilliant and Eric Dalton is an amazing character...............

[Robin (Bridge Four) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I jumped into this series at the first Rock Have book. It is a spin off to the initial series and I think if you aren't looking to commit to 7 books in the prior series that is a great place to hop on board.

We are in the Yukon in a new town being set up for those that need a safe haven due to something in their life going really wrong. They need a place to disappear off the grid and out of the way where no one can find them. Casey and her husband Eric used to be a part of a community like this that seemed to have some other drama issues going on with how it was run. This is there go at an idealic community set in the middle of no where. Only problem, well they have some neighbors they weren't really expecting and that is causing some issues they weren't really prepared for.

This is the first time they have let kids in the community and that has given them some new things to have to consider when trying to keep the kids safe too. Max sees something that looks like a bear out in the forest, only it had human eyes. While most are sure that Max is telling the truth as he sees it he has been through some trauma and might not have understood what he really saw. Thing is now he is missing and not one seems to be find him. Casey and Eric will have to pull out all their tricks to be able to figure out who took Max and why.

I enjoyed this who dun it. At the end we are not all wrapped up with a neat little bow, there are still some questions to be answered and the people working the nearby mine seem to have something else going on there as well that I was just left with more questions about and not less. Still I enjoyed my time in this small town meant to save people and the small crew of people who run it.

Narration:

Therese Plummer has a huge catalog of around 500 titles to her name. Narration seemed effortless to her and you could tell she was a pro. I was used to her voice from the first book in the series and she picked up the roles and voices fantastically. I listened to this at my usual 1.5x speed.

[Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adore this series and the original. It's just so darn fun and always manages to keep me on my toes and more importantly, completely enthralled with the writing, with the town, with the quirky characters...in short, with everything. I have yet to read one from the series that hasn't kept me up at night eagerly turning the pages guessing what was going to happen next. This series continues to grow in all the right ways and I couldn't ask for anything more.

Armstrong is an amazing writer and each new book shows that talent growing more and more. I can't wait for the next installment!


*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

[Carole (Carole's Random Life) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/

This was fantastic! I am a huge fan of Kelley Armstrong’s writing and the characters featured in the Rockton/Haven’s Rock series hold a special place in my heart. I know this is listed as the second book in the Haven’s Rock series, but that series is just a continuation of the Rockton series, so I would recommend starting there and reading the books in order if possible. You could probably get away with jumping right into this book but the whole series is great so you don’t want to miss it.

I was quickly pulled into this newest mystery and couldn’t wait to see how Eric and Casey would get to the bottom of things. A boy disappears from the hidden town of Haven’s Rock after claiming to have seen a bear in the woods. I love that this series always seems to keep me guessing and this book was no exception. It turned out that bears were not the scariest things in the wilderness surrounding the small town that Eric and Casey. There are some developments in this story for Eric and Casey that should play an important role in future installments that I am pretty excited about.

I usually read this series with my eyes but this time I listened to the audiobook and thought Therese Plummer did an excellent job with this story. This narrator has been one of my favorites for a very long time and this performance was up to her usual high standards. I felt like I was right there with Casey and Eric trying to find this boy in the woods. The voices that she used for the characters really brought the story to life and I thought that she added just the right amount of emotion to her reading. I am certain that her performance added to my overall enjoyment of this story.

I would highly recommend this series to others. I have found this series to be very smartly written with characters that feel like friends. Kelley Armstrong has earned a spot on my favorites shelf and I cannot wait to read more of her work.

I received a review copy of this book from Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Kelley Armstrong, and Macmillan Audio for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Those who know Kelley Armstrong’s Rockton series are aware of her great Canadian police procedural series that connects to this newer and more revelatory collection. I devoured the previous stories in short order, all in a hope of getting to this, the second novel in the Haven’s Rock series. Detective Casey Butler (Duncan) and Sheriff Eric Dalton left Rockton, Yukon and have been coordinating the new community of Haven’s Rock. They are put on guard when a young boy goes missing, out long after saying that he saw a ‘bear-man’ around the community. With children finally welcome in the community, the change is an experiment of sorts. Haven’s Rock is supposed to be a safe place for those fleeing trouble, but this has been a disaster. Juggling news in their personal lives as well, Casey and Eric must work quickly to locate the boy and try to uncover the truth behind this bear-like creature or dispel the mystery in short order. Armstrong does a masterful job with this piece, adding to the new series and impressing readers who go as far back as Rockton’s creation.

Haven’s Rock is a town tucked away in the Yukon Territory, among Canada’s northern region. Surrounded by forest, it is not on any maps or the radar of most people who arrive, which is the purpose Casey Butler and Eric Dalton hope to provide for those who are trying to get away from trouble elsewhere. With Casey as the town’s detective and Eric its sheriff, they try to keep the peace while strengthening their own relationship which has been developing since they met in Rockton, a previous attempt at solitude that fell apart.

With the decision to allow children in Haven’s Rock, young Max is the youngest resident and has quite the story to tell. While out with a hiking party, he vows that he saw some sort of bear, one with human eyes. This raises alarms and sends the authorities in to check it out. Haven’s Rock has one primary rule, do not wander into the forest, which has been met with some push back, but this ‘bear man’ sighting might strengthen the argument. It is only when a dead body turns up that the gravity of the issue is solidified, leaving Casey and Eric to rush into action to find out what’s happened.

Max goes missing and many wonder if the ‘bear man’ is to blame. It’s one option, but Casey and Eric are not yet ready to admit failure. Rushing for the truth will force them to examine the locals and see if they can eke out information about each resident’s backstory, something that has been kept silent until now.

Was Max targeted because of his mother’s past? Could there be someone in Haven’s Rock who has a past that includes young children? Might Max simply have wandered off, leaving this a missing person case? All options are on the table, but time is of the essence and no one is ready to sit around to wait. Whatever happened, it’s chilling and there are many options none of them pretty. Armstrong keeps things intense and provides the reader with another winning novel in this new and exciting series.

Kelley Armstrong impressed me with the Rockton series, which had me eager to see how this spinoff might work. Her narrative style has been stunning and kept me wondering as I pushed forward to see what might occur, while also adding intense moments and great story building. Strong characters emerge, some from back in Rockton and others new to the scene. The struggles, both professional and personal, for Casey and Eric, pave to be a strong thread that emerges through the novel and the series in general. I cannot wait to see what’s to come and how Armstrong will add depth and flavouring to the series.

Armstrong has never struggled with plot development or delivery. Her twists are plentiful and keep the story from being too transparent at any point. Great ideas blossom and fork throughout the story, leaving the reader to wonder what’s to come and how it will add to the larger story. There are many moments one might think they can predict the outcome, only to be stymied by Armstrong’s new and exciting ideas. I am eager to see what’s going on and how things might turn out, especially with the two protagonists, who are deeply rooted with one another and their passion to stay off the grid. I cannot wait to see what’s next for Haven’s Rock and its small community.

Kudos, Madam Armstrong, for another great read!

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

[Coffee&Cliffhangers · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Rounded up because I should have read the first book.

This is the third book I've read by Kelley Armstrong since I've joined NegGalley this year alone, I can't wait to check out more of what she has to offer. I didn't realize this book was the second book in the Haven's Rock series, I enjoyed it without knowing the first book and didn't feel lost, but I look forward to reading it just to get the full background story.
Haven's Rock is a community that brings in families displaced by the witness protection agency, each member of the group has their own unique skills to bring to the table. When a Mother and her two sons are brought in after surviving an attack that left their mother injured and their father killed. Soon 10 year old Max spots a bear in the woods, but when he begins saying the bear has human eyes they are left wondering what to believe. Is it just a bear or a 10 year old confused and scared from a recent trauma. But when Max disappears and they are forced to join forces with another group living in the woods to save him.
I really enjoyed all the characters and the woodsy setting described in the book. Although I wasn't really sure what to make of Max's story, it quickly became apparent that things aren't what they seem. I love a good mystery and this checked all the box's.

[☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone is settling into the new town, including newcomers, and this time there are children. Because the area is still new and with discovery of the miners, the townsfolk have been limited to organized walks in the surrounding woods.

Max, the town’s youngest resident, has been learning to track thanks to Eric’s tutelage. When he reports of a strange bear walking on its hind-legs, it alarms Casey & Eric. When Max spots the bear again, he runs off into the woods to track it and goes missing. But the townsfolk don’t know that, and soon accusations are made. The tale that unfolds hooked me with the mystery, daily life and troubles they face.

Armstrong has created quite the spin-off, welcoming both newcomers and those like me who devoured the Rockton series. We are meeting new players, dangers and allies. The missing person’s case was intense, with plenty of twists and foul play.

While Casey & Eric are married, an unexpected complication has unrisen. I loved this thread and look forward to learning more.

Fans of isolated small-towns, danger in the wilderness and mystery thrillers will find a lot to love about the well-paced, action-packed story/series. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer

[HaileyAnne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley, for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Haven’s Rock isn’t just a town hidden in the Yukon– it’s also a sanctuary for victims to find solace for a while. Unfortunately, there are still dangers present in the forest. So when a ten-year-old boy claims a bear (with human eyes) is following a hiking group, Detective Casey Duncan and Sheriff Eric Dalton take the threat seriously. But then odd things begin to happen and a body is found, leaving the pair unsure what exactly it is they’re dealing with.

I want to start by saying I have long been a Kelley Armstrong fan. I read all of the Rockton series, and was interested to see the story continue in the Haven’s Rock series. And if there’s one thing Armstrong knows how to do, it’s write a thrilling mystery.

That being said, this was not my favorite of the series. While I still enjoyed the book overall, there were multiple plot points that I did not like (mentioned below). I honestly don’t know if I will keep reading the series. They’re decent books, but I’m just not sure about the direction it’s going.

Issue #1: I am not here for the pregnancy plot line. I understand that it is a natural progression for Casey and Eric’s relationship. I also can appreciate the discussion around fertility. However, it just feels so out of place in the book. I was wary when the topic came up in one of the Rockton books, and I am wary of it now.

Issue #2: I was not okay with the resolution of the story being that the perpetrator was a pedophile that was hired for the secretive mining operation. Or possibly a pedophile duo? And the mining operation is being extra shady about it all? Nope nope nope.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Boy Who Cried Bear was a mystery novel by Kelley Armstrong and it was cleverly told with mystery and intrigue. I always felt on guard because of where this location was. It’s a safe place or is it?
Alaska is beautiful and scary and the author used it to her advantage with this Bearman. Who’s doing this and why? It had several twists and turns and I only want more of this author’s work. I recommend this and can’t wait for the next book.
4.5⭐️
This was a Goodreads giveaway and I truly enjoyed it. All thoughts are my own.