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Haven's Rock #1
Murder at Haven's Rock
New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong’s Rockton Novels had one of the most unique towns in crime fiction. Murder at Haven's Rock is a spinoff, a fresh start... with a few new dangers that threaten everything before it even begins.
Haven’s Rock, Yukon. Population: 0
Deep in the Yukon wilderness, a town is being built. A place for people to disappear, a fresh start from a life on the run. Haven’s Rock isn’t the first town of this kind, something detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton, know first hand. They met in the original town of Rockton. But greed and deception led the couple to financing a new refuge for those in need. This time around, they get to decide which applicants are approved for residency.
There’s only one rule in Haven’s Rock: stay out of the forest. When two of the town's construction crew members break it and go missing, Casey and Eric are called in ahead of schedule to track them down. When a body is discovered, well hidden with evidence of foul play, Casey and Eric must find out what happened to the dead woman, and locate the still missing man. The woman stumbled upon something she wasn’t supposed to see, and the longer Casey and Eric don’t know what happened, the more danger everyone is in.
Haven’s Rock, Yukon. Population: 0
Deep in the Yukon wilderness, a town is being built. A place for people to disappear, a fresh start from a life on the run. Haven’s Rock isn’t the first town of this kind, something detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton, know first hand. They met in the original town of Rockton. But greed and deception led the couple to financing a new refuge for those in need. This time around, they get to decide which applicants are approved for residency.
There’s only one rule in Haven’s Rock: stay out of the forest. When two of the town's construction crew members break it and go missing, Casey and Eric are called in ahead of schedule to track them down. When a body is discovered, well hidden with evidence of foul play, Casey and Eric must find out what happened to the dead woman, and locate the still missing man. The woman stumbled upon something she wasn’t supposed to see, and the longer Casey and Eric don’t know what happened, the more danger everyone is in.
340 pages, Hardcover
First published February 21, 2023
636 people are currently reading
13143 people want to read
About the author
Kelley Armstrong
303 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 1,176 reviews
October 6, 2022
Kelley Armstrong brings plenty of suspense and atmosphere, as well as a unique setting, to the first book in the Haven’s Rock series,
Murder at Haven’s Rock
. This is a spin-off continuation series after the Rockton series ended with book 7, The Deepest of Secrets. Haven’s Rock is a hidden town being 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. However, greed and deception destroyed Rockton and Casey and Eric, with some help, finance a new refuge for those seeking safety. This time they get to approve applicants for residency. One rule for the construction crew is to stay out of the forest. However, when two of them break the rule and end up missing, Casey and Eric are called in ahead of schedule to find them. When they find a dead woman and it looks like murder, they need to investigate it while still searching for those still missing.
Casey and Eric are well-developed characters with plenty of depth and are relatable. Casey has a tendency to share credit, but accept blame when things go wrong. She’s a good listener, empathetic, and understanding. However, she stumbles when she doesn’t feel competent. Eric is a fantastic tracker, and asserts himself when needed. However, he recognizes Casey’s skills as a detective and her crime scene skills and supports her rather than taking over an investigation. He also gets short-tempered with annoying or bothersome people at times. Neither is the people-pleasing type. The secondary and tertiary characters run the gamut from helpful and likeable to obnoxious liars and worse.
Overall, this is well-written and entertaining with a solid mystery and complex characters set in an off-the-grid town that is under construction. An intriguing start quickly accelerates as the plot develops and Casey’s investigation takes off. 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. Isolation, murder, trust, secrets, greed, work-life balance, lies, concealment, and respect are all threads that are explored during the novel. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series. Fans of Kelley Armstrong and the Rockton series will likely thoroughly enjoy this novel.
Thanks to 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 21, 2023.
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My 4.52 rounded to 5 stares review is coming soon.
Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton met in the original town of Rockton. However, greed and deception destroyed Rockton and Casey and Eric, with some help, finance a new refuge for those seeking safety. This time they get to approve applicants for residency. One rule for the construction crew is to stay out of the forest. However, when two of them break the rule and end up missing, Casey and Eric are called in ahead of schedule to find them. When they find a dead woman and it looks like murder, they need to investigate it while still searching for those still missing.
Casey and Eric are well-developed characters with plenty of depth and are relatable. Casey has a tendency to share credit, but accept blame when things go wrong. She’s a good listener, empathetic, and understanding. However, she stumbles when she doesn’t feel competent. Eric is a fantastic tracker, and asserts himself when needed. However, he recognizes Casey’s skills as a detective and her crime scene skills and supports her rather than taking over an investigation. He also gets short-tempered with annoying or bothersome people at times. Neither is the people-pleasing type. The secondary and tertiary characters run the gamut from helpful and likeable to obnoxious liars and worse.
Overall, this is well-written and entertaining with a solid mystery and complex characters set in an off-the-grid town that is under construction. An intriguing start quickly accelerates as the plot develops and Casey’s investigation takes off. 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. Isolation, murder, trust, secrets, greed, work-life balance, lies, concealment, and respect are all threads that are explored during the novel. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series. Fans of Kelley Armstrong and the Rockton series will likely thoroughly enjoy this novel.
Thanks to 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 21, 2023.
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My 4.52 rounded to 5 stares review is coming soon.
December 26, 2023
I just realized that I frequently start my reviews explaining why I read a book. I suppose it is a habit ingrained in my from being a very early fantasy and science fiction reader, when people were confused or dismissive--if they cared at all--about my choice of literature. But maybe it is also an exploration of the path that brings me to a book, a framing of expectations, as it were, so we can all witness how it worked--or didn't.
Kelley Armstrong is an interesting one; I had long ago enjoyed the early books in her 'Women of the Otherworld' series but grew disenchanted (haha) as the series went on. Apparently Kelley did as well, because she switched it up with a new mystery series set in new-fashioned vanilla reality, Canadian Yukon style. There were seven books in her first series, known as the 'Rockton' series, but what caught my eye is my friends' glowing reviews of this one and their relief that the series was essentially being rebooted. Ah, I thought. A reboot--a perfect time to pick it up. I was curious to know if there was any supernatural angle (there is not) but thought if nothing else, I'd get a good mystery.
It is a great time to pick it up. Not too much backstory, and what there was was adequate enough. Armstrong's language felt a bit more simple than I recalled from Bitten, but that could be me. (Or it could be her high output). I thought at first it may be the character, and it did change slightly when we switched to Casey, the female lead, but the voice was very utilitarian. For people that are living in the woods, I actually felt very limited appreciation for the whole woods thing. Which left me trying to get a feel for what/why Armstrong is doing what she is with her set-up. Wish-fulfillment fantasy? I can't blame her, although the whole premise seems hugely flawed.
Plotting is very good. It feels organically confusing, with a number of red herrings despite a conservation of characters. Despite a relatively small workforce, Armstrong limits herself even farther and everyone named will likely be significant. There are a couple of solid twists which is a hard trick to pull off. A lot of times writers have to rely on the dreaded TSTL character, or an uncharacteristically bad decision, etc. so I appreciated the twists and turns here. There's a steady sense of tension through the story that kept me reading.
Re-readable? Not for me. Great mystery, not particularly interesting story outside of it (as opposed to those who might be more curious about the characters' new lives). Read the next in the series? Definitely.
Three and a half trees, rounding up
Kelley Armstrong is an interesting one; I had long ago enjoyed the early books in her 'Women of the Otherworld' series but grew disenchanted (haha) as the series went on. Apparently Kelley did as well, because she switched it up with a new mystery series set in new-fashioned vanilla reality, Canadian Yukon style. There were seven books in her first series, known as the 'Rockton' series, but what caught my eye is my friends' glowing reviews of this one and their relief that the series was essentially being rebooted. Ah, I thought. A reboot--a perfect time to pick it up. I was curious to know if there was any supernatural angle (there is not) but thought if nothing else, I'd get a good mystery.
It is a great time to pick it up. Not too much backstory, and what there was was adequate enough. Armstrong's language felt a bit more simple than I recalled from Bitten, but that could be me. (Or it could be her high output). I thought at first it may be the character, and it did change slightly when we switched to Casey, the female lead, but the voice was very utilitarian. For people that are living in the woods, I actually felt very limited appreciation for the whole woods thing. Which left me trying to get a feel for what/why Armstrong is doing what she is with her set-up. Wish-fulfillment fantasy? I can't blame her, although the whole premise seems hugely flawed.
Plotting is very good. It feels organically confusing, with a number of red herrings despite a conservation of characters. Despite a relatively small workforce, Armstrong limits herself even farther and everyone named will likely be significant. There are a couple of solid twists which is a hard trick to pull off. A lot of times writers have to rely on the dreaded TSTL character, or an uncharacteristically bad decision, etc. so I appreciated the twists and turns here. There's a steady sense of tension through the story that kept me reading.
Re-readable? Not for me. Great mystery, not particularly interesting story outside of it (as opposed to those who might be more curious about the characters' new lives). Read the next in the series? Definitely.
Three and a half trees, rounding up
February 9, 2023
Haven’s Rock, Yukon
Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton are financing a community/refuge for those in need. The new residents will need to be approved to make sure that they are the right fit. The Refuge is to be a quiet place for those looking for a fresh start. The only rule: Don't go into the forest.
Two constructions workers, part of the crew building the refuge, enter the forest and do not return, Casey and Eric are called in to help locate the missing workers. When they find the body of a dead woman, they know that are going to have their hands full. Who is the woman? Where are the missing members of the construction crew? What happened in the forest?
I was instantly drawn into the plot and did my own super sleuthing along with Casey and Eric to solve the mystery of the dead woman and the missing construction workers. As the suspect list grew and things became more dire, I was on the edge of my seat turning the pages until the very end.
This book is a spin-off of the Rockton series, and it worked very well as a stand-alone book for me. I enjoyed both main characters and the cast in this book. The descriptions of nature and the dangers in the forest (bears, miners, etc.) were richly drawn. The mystery in this book was captivating and brilliantly done. I look forward to reading more books in this series.
I had a copy of the book and the audiobook and enjoyed both. I thought the narrator did a fantastic job.
Gripping, well written, well thought out and engaging!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, Macmillan Audio 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
Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton are financing a community/refuge for those in need. The new residents will need to be approved to make sure that they are the right fit. The Refuge is to be a quiet place for those looking for a fresh start. The only rule: Don't go into the forest.
Two constructions workers, part of the crew building the refuge, enter the forest and do not return, Casey and Eric are called in to help locate the missing workers. When they find the body of a dead woman, they know that are going to have their hands full. Who is the woman? Where are the missing members of the construction crew? What happened in the forest?
I was instantly drawn into the plot and did my own super sleuthing along with Casey and Eric to solve the mystery of the dead woman and the missing construction workers. As the suspect list grew and things became more dire, I was on the edge of my seat turning the pages until the very end.
This book is a spin-off of the Rockton series, and it worked very well as a stand-alone book for me. I enjoyed both main characters and the cast in this book. The descriptions of nature and the dangers in the forest (bears, miners, etc.) were richly drawn. The mystery in this book was captivating and brilliantly done. I look forward to reading more books in this series.
I had a copy of the book and the audiobook and enjoyed both. I thought the narrator did a fantastic job.
Gripping, well written, well thought out and engaging!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, Macmillan Audio 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
February 9, 2024
❄️❄️❄️❄️
Ready for another chilly adventure in the wilds of the Yukon?🥶 Casey and Eric are back, ready to form their new community of Haven’s Rock.
This is a spin-off of the original Kelley Armstrong series, Rockton.
Like the original, this is a place where people can go to disappear. But now Casey and Eric don’t have to answer to anyone! It’s their town now, along with a few characters from the original series.
With both towns, the primary rule is never wander into the forest alone…especially at night. And of course, two construction workers there to build this hidden town break the cardinal rule and wander off.
Can Casey and Duncan find them before it’s too late? And what else will they discover along the way?
I wasn’t sure I wanted to start this spin-off after reaching the end of the Rockton series. Then I noticed the audio available had one of my favorite narrators, Therese Plummer.
So I thought I’d give it a try! And yes! It was fortunate decision.
I didn’t realize how much I missed these characters. Not to mention the thrills, spills and dangers of the Yukon wilderness!
I have book two The Boy Who Cried Bear on my audio shelf. And yes, Therese Plummer is once again our narrator! Can’t wait to get started!
Ready for another chilly adventure in the wilds of the Yukon?🥶 Casey and Eric are back, ready to form their new community of Haven’s Rock.
This is a spin-off of the original Kelley Armstrong series, Rockton.
Like the original, this is a place where people can go to disappear. But now Casey and Eric don’t have to answer to anyone! It’s their town now, along with a few characters from the original series.
With both towns, the primary rule is never wander into the forest alone…especially at night. And of course, two construction workers there to build this hidden town break the cardinal rule and wander off.
Can Casey and Duncan find them before it’s too late? And what else will they discover along the way?
I wasn’t sure I wanted to start this spin-off after reaching the end of the Rockton series. Then I noticed the audio available had one of my favorite narrators, Therese Plummer.
So I thought I’d give it a try! And yes! It was fortunate decision.
I didn’t realize how much I missed these characters. Not to mention the thrills, spills and dangers of the Yukon wilderness!
I have book two The Boy Who Cried Bear on my audio shelf. And yes, Therese Plummer is once again our narrator! Can’t wait to get started!
November 6, 2023
In the Yukon wilderness, Detective Casey Butler and husband Sheriff Eric Dalton have sunk their life savings and Casey’s inheritance into building a small, self-contained town called Haven’s Rock. It has the aspirational goal of providing a home for anyone who the law is unable to protect, providing a fresh start in a safe place. This isn’t the first attempt at this goal, however, as Casey and Eric met in the original town of Rockton which promised all the same things, but fell short to greed and corruption. Now that they are in charge, Casey believes that this time they’ll get it right.
There is one rule while the town is under construction, however. Stay out of the forest. But despite this, Casey and Eric are called out ahead of schedule to find two missing crew members. It appears they have wandered off and gotten lost in the deep darkness that the Yukon wilderness is known for. It will be a simple matter of search and rescue. At least that’s what Casey and Eric are hoping.
Soon after arriving, however, a body is discovered, well hidden with evidence of foul play. Unsure of what is going on, they continue their search for the remaining individual, but are left reeling when the body count doubles. Casey must hurry to figure out what is going on if they have any hope of starting fresh with Haven’s Rock. The longer they search, however, the more apparent it becomes that perhaps this bit of wilderness is far from the promised sanctuary that they had hoped for. Will they be able to discover what is going on? Or is their dream for Haven’s Rock over before it’s even begun?
I don’t exactly know what I was expecting from Murder at Haven’s Rock, maybe just your run of the mill police procedural that just so happens to take place in the Yukon wilderness, but it was so much more. From the original premise that managed to devise an ingenious sort of locked-room mystery to the equally intriguing main characters, I found myself wrapped up from page one. Even the setting was well-drawn with many evocative descriptions. So three cheers to Kelley Armstrong.
The best part of this novel, however, was how well thought out the entire storyline was. It took me on a meandering path that, just like a wild forest, provided obscured sight-lines filled with heaps of red herrings, gripping twists, and a very unexpected conclusion. And, while I would definitely classify this as crime fiction, it is truly unlike any of that genre that I’ve read in the past. But only in the best possible way.
The only piece that might have detracted from the plot subtly were the somewhat over-the-top confrontations that happened here and there. Ultimately, however, they didn’t bug me enough to keep me from loving the book and I found myself itching to read even when I had to take care of normal everyday things. And only the best books manage that.
Like I said before, though, don’t go into this expecting a dry, straightforward crime novel. It is anything but. For in these pages you’ll find a well-crafted plot that would make one heck of a good movie. Pet wolf and all. Just one minor warning, if you haven’t read Kelley Armstrong’s Rockton series, you might want to tackle it before reading this series spin-off. I wasn’t aware of that fact, which seems to have made me miss out on some wonderful character development according to some of the other reviews that I’ve read. Don’t get me wrong, it was fantastic as a stand-alone novel, but I wanted to give a heads up just the same. Regardless, I found this a quick, easy read that made me lose track of time. So definitely pick this one up as soon as you get a chance. Rating of 5 stars.
Trigger warning: NONE
There is one rule while the town is under construction, however. Stay out of the forest. But despite this, Casey and Eric are called out ahead of schedule to find two missing crew members. It appears they have wandered off and gotten lost in the deep darkness that the Yukon wilderness is known for. It will be a simple matter of search and rescue. At least that’s what Casey and Eric are hoping.
Soon after arriving, however, a body is discovered, well hidden with evidence of foul play. Unsure of what is going on, they continue their search for the remaining individual, but are left reeling when the body count doubles. Casey must hurry to figure out what is going on if they have any hope of starting fresh with Haven’s Rock. The longer they search, however, the more apparent it becomes that perhaps this bit of wilderness is far from the promised sanctuary that they had hoped for. Will they be able to discover what is going on? Or is their dream for Haven’s Rock over before it’s even begun?
I don’t exactly know what I was expecting from Murder at Haven’s Rock, maybe just your run of the mill police procedural that just so happens to take place in the Yukon wilderness, but it was so much more. From the original premise that managed to devise an ingenious sort of locked-room mystery to the equally intriguing main characters, I found myself wrapped up from page one. Even the setting was well-drawn with many evocative descriptions. So three cheers to Kelley Armstrong.
The best part of this novel, however, was how well thought out the entire storyline was. It took me on a meandering path that, just like a wild forest, provided obscured sight-lines filled with heaps of red herrings, gripping twists, and a very unexpected conclusion. And, while I would definitely classify this as crime fiction, it is truly unlike any of that genre that I’ve read in the past. But only in the best possible way.
The only piece that might have detracted from the plot subtly were the somewhat over-the-top confrontations that happened here and there. Ultimately, however, they didn’t bug me enough to keep me from loving the book and I found myself itching to read even when I had to take care of normal everyday things. And only the best books manage that.
Like I said before, though, don’t go into this expecting a dry, straightforward crime novel. It is anything but. For in these pages you’ll find a well-crafted plot that would make one heck of a good movie. Pet wolf and all. Just one minor warning, if you haven’t read Kelley Armstrong’s Rockton series, you might want to tackle it before reading this series spin-off. I wasn’t aware of that fact, which seems to have made me miss out on some wonderful character development according to some of the other reviews that I’ve read. Don’t get me wrong, it was fantastic as a stand-alone novel, but I wanted to give a heads up just the same. Regardless, I found this a quick, easy read that made me lose track of time. So definitely pick this one up as soon as you get a chance. Rating of 5 stars.
Trigger warning: NONE
March 5, 2023
Murder at Haven’s Rock by Kelley Armstrong
Thriller, cop procedural. Casey Duncan series book 8. New town. More murders.
With Rockton shut down, Casey, Eric and investors have built the new remote and isolated town of Haden’s Rock. The main rule stands: stay out of the forest. Before the town is fully completed, two of the construction crew disappear into the forest and Casey and Erik arrive early to investigate.
It feels like home. Rockton, that is. Similar format, bodies, manipulations, wild animals, and tracking someone through the forest. Casey works through the clues with the keen eyes of Erik and tracking skills of Storm. So much for the wish they had of low level peace keeping. The potential of a gold claim is sure to attract greed, lying and murder.
Riveting, and smart with the comfort of familiar investigations.
🎧 I read an audiobook version of this book, narrated by Therese Plummer. The performance is fantastic and the narrator holds the reader in suspense at the danger mounts. The full series is done by the same narrator and while it’s from Casey’s perspective, we also get Erik’s voice and a few others as the story progresses. The tension ramps up as the investigation and bodies appear and the suspense is clearly felt.
I listened to this at 1.4 for conversational speed comfort.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Macmillan audio.
Thriller, cop procedural. Casey Duncan series book 8. New town. More murders.
With Rockton shut down, Casey, Eric and investors have built the new remote and isolated town of Haden’s Rock. The main rule stands: stay out of the forest. Before the town is fully completed, two of the construction crew disappear into the forest and Casey and Erik arrive early to investigate.
It feels like home. Rockton, that is. Similar format, bodies, manipulations, wild animals, and tracking someone through the forest. Casey works through the clues with the keen eyes of Erik and tracking skills of Storm. So much for the wish they had of low level peace keeping. The potential of a gold claim is sure to attract greed, lying and murder.
Riveting, and smart with the comfort of familiar investigations.
🎧 I read an audiobook version of this book, narrated by Therese Plummer. The performance is fantastic and the narrator holds the reader in suspense at the danger mounts. The full series is done by the same narrator and while it’s from Casey’s perspective, we also get Erik’s voice and a few others as the story progresses. The tension ramps up as the investigation and bodies appear and the suspense is clearly felt.
I listened to this at 1.4 for conversational speed comfort.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Macmillan audio.
August 19, 2023
My thanks to St. Martin's Press, Kelley Armstrong and Netgalley.
Yay! I'm so darned happy to be back in the Yukon with these people! I was absolutely horrified when I heard that this series was ending. So, imagine my huge relief to discover that it was back...with changes.
Turns out that I'm o.k. with these changes!
Essentially things are much the same, but we now have a few more intriguing character's. I love it!
Also, yeah I suppose I also loved this book.
Yay! I'm so darned happy to be back in the Yukon with these people! I was absolutely horrified when I heard that this series was ending. So, imagine my huge relief to discover that it was back...with changes.
Turns out that I'm o.k. with these changes!
Essentially things are much the same, but we now have a few more intriguing character's. I love it!
Also, yeah I suppose I also loved this book.
May 29, 2023
Have to admit to being bummed when I thought the Rockton series was going to.end. Loved the location, Alaska and the Yukon territory, and the idea behind the settlement. A place where people can go to hide from their past misdeeds, to hide away from lives that had become dangerous.
Now though it appears that a new settlement is being built at Havens Rock. Eric and Casey and their rock star pup Storm will be in charge, and many of my favorite characters will be joining them.
Of course, new settlement or not, people will disobey rules and murders will occur. A possible new character is introduced, or at least I hope she is a recurring character. She is fascinating as is the place she lives. A whimsical cottage in the woods.New place, new people, new mysteries to solve. I'm definitely in.
Now though it appears that a new settlement is being built at Havens Rock. Eric and Casey and their rock star pup Storm will be in charge, and many of my favorite characters will be joining them.
Of course, new settlement or not, people will disobey rules and murders will occur. A possible new character is introduced, or at least I hope she is a recurring character. She is fascinating as is the place she lives. A whimsical cottage in the woods.New place, new people, new mysteries to solve. I'm definitely in.
November 25, 2024
So glad I finally started this exceptional series. It was easy to become attached to all the characters in Murder at Haven's Rock and the storyline is mesmerizing.
To say the least, Ms. Armstrong has a new fan. Recommended with my highest of accolades. Bravo.
To say the least, Ms. Armstrong has a new fan. Recommended with my highest of accolades. Bravo.
February 20, 2023
As much as I was looking forward to a fresh start for this spinoff series, while still featuring both characters and a similar setting to the original series, this felt a liiiiittle too samesies for my liking. I'm worried I have to maybe call time of death on this one even after only one book (even if, technically, the other series makes it more like book eight).
In this post-Rockton existence, Casey and Eric are trying to build a new home, with a similar purpose but less corrupt bureaucracy, but before they can even get their town finished, their residents installed, two workers have gone missing. Along the way there's an unexpected dead woman to deal with, a miner and associated claims to navigate, and a new set of locals who will undoubtably be trouble for Haven's Rock's future.
This didn't do anything wrong. There was no particularly heinous addition to the cast. We had a good red herring or two along the way to solving things. But.. neither did this feel like it added anything new. We just have different scenery and less hierarchy to contend with. Equally, the familiar faces felt fairly cardboard-y which certainly didn't help with my overall feelings about wanting more time with them.
I may push on but this was not the exciting fresh take I expected it to be. But, you know, your mileage may vary if all you wanted was to not say goodbye to the main characters of series one.
** I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
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This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
In this post-Rockton existence, Casey and Eric are trying to build a new home, with a similar purpose but less corrupt bureaucracy, but before they can even get their town finished, their residents installed, two workers have gone missing. Along the way there's an unexpected dead woman to deal with, a miner and associated claims to navigate, and a new set of locals who will undoubtably be trouble for Haven's Rock's future.
This didn't do anything wrong. There was no particularly heinous addition to the cast. We had a good red herring or two along the way to solving things. But.. neither did this feel like it added anything new. We just have different scenery and less hierarchy to contend with. Equally, the familiar faces felt fairly cardboard-y which certainly didn't help with my overall feelings about wanting more time with them.
I may push on but this was not the exciting fresh take I expected it to be. But, you know, your mileage may vary if all you wanted was to not say goodbye to the main characters of series one.
** I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
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This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
November 4, 2023
Welcome to Haven's Rock. It isn’t the first town of its kind. Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton, know that firsthand. They met in the original town of Rockton but greed and deception led the couple to finance a new refuge for those in need. This time, THEY get to decide which applicants are approved for residency.
I'm excited about this new series! I can't mention all of my favorite characters since not all of the good guys truly are good and not all of the bad guys truly are bad. However, it's safe to say that I loved Casey! Talk about no fear! I also loved Casey's sister, April. She is somewhere on the autism spectrum and the author depicted that in a way that truly nailed it. I adored Storm, the Newfoundland belonging to Casey and Eric. (Great. Now I want a Newfie!)
I'm excited about this new series! I can't mention all of my favorite characters since not all of the good guys truly are good and not all of the bad guys truly are bad. However, it's safe to say that I loved Casey! Talk about no fear! I also loved Casey's sister, April. She is somewhere on the autism spectrum and the author depicted that in a way that truly nailed it. I adored Storm, the Newfoundland belonging to Casey and Eric. (Great. Now I want a Newfie!)
February 14, 2023
Detective Casey Duncan and Sheriff Dalton are now married and accomplishing their life's dream which is to build a new secret town deep within the wilderness of the Yukon. The difference this time with their new town is that. they will be completely and solely in charge without a governing board to answer to who would use some questionable tactics to enforce their rules. The town still needs quite a bit of work before new residents can move in but they soon find out there are five people needing immediate, emergency help and must move in right away even if their living quarters are unfinished and emergencies always take priority measures. While trying to figure out how to make this new situation work the couple receives a call that their help is needed immediately as two construction crew members have gone missing in the forest. There is one steadfast rule "Do not go into the forest alone off the trail" and apparently that is what happened and only Casey and Dalton know and understand this great wilderness that they have so much love and respect for so they also know there is only a short window of time to find people who lose their way in the woods. Many, many predators reside in the forest and they're not all hairy and four-legged but some walk on two legs and are as deadly as animals since they don't always believe or act in civilized manners. The Yukon can be a beautiful world of nature but there is a very, very dark and dangerous side which can never be underestimated.
This is such a fantastic series that I just can't get enough of. The books can be read as stand-alones for anyone new to the series but I'm pretty sure readers will get hooked after reading any of the stories. I'm so glad the author Kelley Armstrong continued the "Rockton" series with a new beginning in "Haven's Rock" and keeping some beloved characters while bringing many new faces and personalities. I just can't wait to read the next book and it hasn't even been written yet. I really enjoyed this book especially when I was afraid the series was over after the way the last story ended. All the fans will be happy to read this new book and get familiar with the new town in the works and some very irritating yet enjoyable new characters while still having an amazing mystery as the backstory. Truly an atmospheric adventure into the Yukon which makes this book and the prior books a pleasure to read day or night.
I want to thank the publisher " St Martin's Press" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given this terrific story a rating of 4 WILD AND DANGER FILLED 🌟🌟🌟🌟 STARS!!
Publication Date: February 21, 2023
This is such a fantastic series that I just can't get enough of. The books can be read as stand-alones for anyone new to the series but I'm pretty sure readers will get hooked after reading any of the stories. I'm so glad the author Kelley Armstrong continued the "Rockton" series with a new beginning in "Haven's Rock" and keeping some beloved characters while bringing many new faces and personalities. I just can't wait to read the next book and it hasn't even been written yet. I really enjoyed this book especially when I was afraid the series was over after the way the last story ended. All the fans will be happy to read this new book and get familiar with the new town in the works and some very irritating yet enjoyable new characters while still having an amazing mystery as the backstory. Truly an atmospheric adventure into the Yukon which makes this book and the prior books a pleasure to read day or night.
I want to thank the publisher " St Martin's Press" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given this terrific story a rating of 4 WILD AND DANGER FILLED 🌟🌟🌟🌟 STARS!!
Publication Date: February 21, 2023
February 6, 2024
4.0 Stars
This was a really enjoyable mystery thriller. I loved the “wild west” Yukon setting. I went into this one with no expectations and had a good time with this adventure story.
This was a really enjoyable mystery thriller. I loved the “wild west” Yukon setting. I went into this one with no expectations and had a good time with this adventure story.
October 13, 2022
I adore the original series of Rockton and was so excited when I learned that this series was not going to be over but instead, revamped, just like Rockton itself.
This book was everything I loved about the original and then some. All my favorite characters (or at least hints of them) with some fun delightful new ones in a new place that is unsurprisingly turning out to be every bit as dangerous and exciting as Rockton.
I adore Casey and Eric and this new improved version of them as an even better stronger couple was everything I knew they could be. I adored the atmosphere, the mystery and what I know is to come. I am so very excited to see where this will go next and can't wait for more!!
Armstrong has once again outdone herself with this not so new series that is turning out to be every bit as good as I've come to expect from her.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
This book was everything I loved about the original and then some. All my favorite characters (or at least hints of them) with some fun delightful new ones in a new place that is unsurprisingly turning out to be every bit as dangerous and exciting as Rockton.
I adore Casey and Eric and this new improved version of them as an even better stronger couple was everything I knew they could be. I adored the atmosphere, the mystery and what I know is to come. I am so very excited to see where this will go next and can't wait for more!!
Armstrong has once again outdone herself with this not so new series that is turning out to be every bit as good as I've come to expect from her.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
December 23, 2022
Have you ever wished to disappear even for a few days?
Murder at Haven's Rock by Kelly Armstrong (book review).
While I have read Kelly Armstrong's writing and enjoyed it, this was my first time reading the Rockton series with Casey and Eric as the main characters. According to my understanding, this is the first spinoff from the original series. As a whole, I enjoyed Murder at Haven's Rock and it kept my attention until the very end. The plot is twisty and keeps you guessing. It will be interesting to learn more about Casey and Eric's adventures and the future of Haven's Rock.
Synopsis
Sheriff Eric Dalton and Detective Casey Duncan are awaiting the completion of their own home in Haven's Rock. When two workers at the construction site are missing, the couple arrives early to investigate. There is only one rule in town. Don't wander into the forest. What happened to the workers? Did they break the rules or did something more sinister happen to them?
Murder at Haven's Rock is available on February 21st.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press (Minotaur Books) for sharing this book with me. Your kindness is appreciated!
MurderatHaven'sRock #bookishcommunity #bookstagramcommunity #blogtour #readingcommunity #Books #bookfriends #booksbooksbooks #booksta #bookstagram #newtobookstagram #bookreview #bookreviews #instabookstagram #bookish #bookishielife #Audible #newtobookstagram #newtoinsta #newtoinstagra #Bookishcom #trending #bestsellingbooks #b
Murder at Haven's Rock by Kelly Armstrong (book review).
While I have read Kelly Armstrong's writing and enjoyed it, this was my first time reading the Rockton series with Casey and Eric as the main characters. According to my understanding, this is the first spinoff from the original series. As a whole, I enjoyed Murder at Haven's Rock and it kept my attention until the very end. The plot is twisty and keeps you guessing. It will be interesting to learn more about Casey and Eric's adventures and the future of Haven's Rock.
Synopsis
Sheriff Eric Dalton and Detective Casey Duncan are awaiting the completion of their own home in Haven's Rock. When two workers at the construction site are missing, the couple arrives early to investigate. There is only one rule in town. Don't wander into the forest. What happened to the workers? Did they break the rules or did something more sinister happen to them?
Murder at Haven's Rock is available on February 21st.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press (Minotaur Books) for sharing this book with me. Your kindness is appreciated!
MurderatHaven'sRock #bookishcommunity #bookstagramcommunity #blogtour #readingcommunity #Books #bookfriends #booksbooksbooks #booksta #bookstagram #newtobookstagram #bookreview #bookreviews #instabookstagram #bookish #bookishielife #Audible #newtobookstagram #newtoinsta #newtoinstagra #Bookishcom #trending #bestsellingbooks #b
February 20, 2024
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.
Casey and Eric have gone on to start their own town and they’re set on running things the right way. As much as they can anyhow, and we see that put to the test with the first installment in this Rockton spinoff.
Haven’s Rock is still under construction when two key workers, the architect, and the engineer, go missing. Eric and Casey are called in by Yolanda, the lead coordinator of the build, to find the workers.
As usual Casey and Eric, and their Newfoundland dog, Storm, are an impressive team working together to find out what happened. Did they get lost or is there a more nefarious reason they’re gone? The story was riveting as Casey and Eric face danger, working to uncover the truth!
Haven’s Rock is an exciting new chapter for Casey and Eric, and as usual not all is going to plan. The mystery wrapped up, but we’re left with an unsettling discovery in the end. I wonder how it will play out. Fortunately, they have their trusted friends/assets joining them at Haven’s Rock, so they’ll have a formidable group at their back. I eagerly await the next book! Murder at Haven’s Rock is technically a spinoff, but it’s best to read the Rockton series first in order.
I alternately listened to and read Murder at Haven’s Rock. I love this series! I highly recommend the audio version! Thérèse Plummer narrates, as with the previous books, and she performs all voices, male and female seamlessly! 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 Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio in exchange for an honest review.
Casey and Eric have gone on to start their own town and they’re set on running things the right way. As much as they can anyhow, and we see that put to the test with the first installment in this Rockton spinoff.
Haven’s Rock is still under construction when two key workers, the architect, and the engineer, go missing. Eric and Casey are called in by Yolanda, the lead coordinator of the build, to find the workers.
As usual Casey and Eric, and their Newfoundland dog, Storm, are an impressive team working together to find out what happened. Did they get lost or is there a more nefarious reason they’re gone? The story was riveting as Casey and Eric face danger, working to uncover the truth!
Haven’s Rock is an exciting new chapter for Casey and Eric, and as usual not all is going to plan. The mystery wrapped up, but we’re left with an unsettling discovery in the end. I wonder how it will play out. Fortunately, they have their trusted friends/assets joining them at Haven’s Rock, so they’ll have a formidable group at their back. I eagerly await the next book! Murder at Haven’s Rock is technically a spinoff, but it’s best to read the Rockton series first in order.
I alternately listened to and read Murder at Haven’s Rock. I love this series! I highly recommend the audio version! Thérèse Plummer narrates, as with the previous books, and she performs all voices, male and female seamlessly! 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 Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio in exchange for an honest review.
February 22, 2023
This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I loved this book! This is the first book of the Haven’s Rock series which is really just a continuation of the Rockton series but in a new location. It was great to be back with Casey, Dalton, Storm, and other familiar characters along with some new ones as they work to solve a new mystery. I have to admit that I was rather stumped by the mystery in this one. I knew that everything had to be connected but I couldn’t guess how it might be. There were plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing until the thrilling end.
With the closing of the Rockton community, Casey, Dalton, and some of the other members of the community came together to build a new community, Haven’s Rock. They haven’t moved in yet but the construction is nearing completion. Casey and Dalton, along with their dog Storm head to town early to see if they can figure out what happened to the man and woman that have gone missing from the group there to build the town. They soon find the body of a woman but it looks like there might be more going on than they originally thought.
I will definitely be recommending this one! I don’t think that it is necessary to have read the Rockton series prior to this book but I think that fans of that series will get a bit more out of this book than readers unfamiliar with these characters. I had a fantastic time catching up with this group of characters while trying to figure out what was happening in their new town. I look forward to seeing where the series goes from here!
I received a digital review copy of this book from Minotaur Books.
I loved this book! This is the first book of the Haven’s Rock series which is really just a continuation of the Rockton series but in a new location. It was great to be back with Casey, Dalton, Storm, and other familiar characters along with some new ones as they work to solve a new mystery. I have to admit that I was rather stumped by the mystery in this one. I knew that everything had to be connected but I couldn’t guess how it might be. There were plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing until the thrilling end.
With the closing of the Rockton community, Casey, Dalton, and some of the other members of the community came together to build a new community, Haven’s Rock. They haven’t moved in yet but the construction is nearing completion. Casey and Dalton, along with their dog Storm head to town early to see if they can figure out what happened to the man and woman that have gone missing from the group there to build the town. They soon find the body of a woman but it looks like there might be more going on than they originally thought.
I will definitely be recommending this one! I don’t think that it is necessary to have read the Rockton series prior to this book but I think that fans of that series will get a bit more out of this book than readers unfamiliar with these characters. I had a fantastic time catching up with this group of characters while trying to figure out what was happening in their new town. I look forward to seeing where the series goes from here!
I received a digital review copy of this book from Minotaur Books.
May 26, 2023
Review coming soon.
November 30, 2022
Me and this book got off on the wrong foot. It takes place in Alaska/Yukon area. I'm from Alaska. Frankly, it gets things fundamentally wrong about the area that bothered me from the beginning to the end.
During May, with patches of snow still here and there? That means that every moderately flat area is going to be flooded and muddy from all of the melting snow. Is there a mention of mud in this book? Nope, despite any Alaskan being able to tell you that it would be absolutely everywhere and a constant consideration when walking (and tracking?!) in the woods.
And don't even get me started on everything else (sunlight amounts, bugs, etc).
This book is a spin-off of the Rockton series. It's a murder mystery in the isolated wilderness.
I don't think that people not in love with the Rockton series will find much to enjoy in this book. We're given the situation, but not a reason to care about the situation or the characters in it.
A video review including this book will be on my youtube channel in the coming weeks, at https://www.youtube.com/chloefrizzle
Thanks to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for a copy of this book to review. All opinions are my own.
During May, with patches of snow still here and there? That means that every moderately flat area is going to be flooded and muddy from all of the melting snow. Is there a mention of mud in this book? Nope, despite any Alaskan being able to tell you that it would be absolutely everywhere and a constant consideration when walking (and tracking?!) in the woods.
And don't even get me started on everything else (sunlight amounts, bugs, etc).
This book is a spin-off of the Rockton series. It's a murder mystery in the isolated wilderness.
I don't think that people not in love with the Rockton series will find much to enjoy in this book. We're given the situation, but not a reason to care about the situation or the characters in it.
A video review including this book will be on my youtube channel in the coming weeks, at https://www.youtube.com/chloefrizzle
Thanks to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for a copy of this book to review. All opinions are my own.
July 23, 2023
I enjoy Kelly Armstrong’s writing style she is incredible at writing atmosphere which was on full display in the Rockton series as it is in Murder at Haven’’s Rock. She makes you fell like you are right in the Yukon Wilderness. This is a spin off from the Rockton series with Casey and Eric returning with other characters from that series They want to start over build a New Town after the corruption that befell on Rockton City. Casey and Eric are brought in even before the town is completed. Two of the crew members are missing in the Forest architect Penny and engineer Bruno. It is a fast paced crime novel that will have you on the edge of your seats. I devoured this in one sitting, it is full of mystery and intrigue that doesn’t disappoint. It is full of twists and turns wrought with intensity that holds your interest all the way to the satisfying ending that will have you filled with anticipation for the next book in this series. I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Publishing Group for the ARC of Murder at Haven’s Rock by Kelley ArmStrong for my honest review.
January 26, 2023
I'm almost embarrassed to admit this, but with just 10% or so left to go in this book, I quite literally stood at the stove stirring pasta sauce with one hand and the other holding my Kindle (never mind what that did to my eyes). Yeah, if that's not a good indication that I really didn't want to put this one down, I don't know what is.
I'm always excited about the prospect of getting in at the beginning of a new series, although to be fair, this is an offshoot of the author's "Rockton" series (seven books, I believe, but correct me if I'm wrong). Those books centered on a town in the wilds of Canada that was created as a harbor for people who, well, need to get off the grid for one reason or another and Casey Duncan, a homicide detective with a secret of her own. Apparently, something happened there that meant starting over - and Casey and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton, are helping to finance and oversee the building of a new town deep in the Alaskan forest called Haven's Rock that will serve the same function as Rockton.
In case you're wondering, I've not read any of the Rockton novels, and at no time did I feel disadvantaged as a result; this one stands very well on its own (with an ending, not surprisingly, that provides fodder for the next book, which I certainly plan to read). As the story begins here, Casey, Eric and their smart-as-a-whip dog are on their way to visit Haven's Rock at the invitation of Yolanda, the project general contractor. Somehow, Yolanda explains, the project architect and engineer, Penny and Bruno, respectively, have gone missing. Everyone working on the project has been warned many times over to not wander off into the surrounding wilds (if for no other reason, because the area is known to be populated with critters who aren't exactly people-friendly. Early on, their worst fears are confirmed as the body of a young woman turns up - and it's clear she's a murder victim.
As the investigation progresses, readers get to know (and, at least in my case) love Casey and Eric. Clearly, they're not your run-of-the-mill folks - after all, they're the ones who will be overseeing what most would consider to be a group of societal misfits, and they'd probably put themselves in that category as well. That's underscored by the fact that except for each other (plus Casey's sister April, a neurosurgeon who's on the autism spectrum, and their former deputy, Will Anders), they don't trust a single soul at the construction site. The action heats up as secrets are unearthed - along with another body or two - and it doesn't stop till the whole thing is resolved (coincidentally, that's about the same time I stopped holding my breath).
All told, it's a well-written, entertaining adventure and I'm looking forward to the next one. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. Wonderful!
I'm always excited about the prospect of getting in at the beginning of a new series, although to be fair, this is an offshoot of the author's "Rockton" series (seven books, I believe, but correct me if I'm wrong). Those books centered on a town in the wilds of Canada that was created as a harbor for people who, well, need to get off the grid for one reason or another and Casey Duncan, a homicide detective with a secret of her own. Apparently, something happened there that meant starting over - and Casey and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton, are helping to finance and oversee the building of a new town deep in the Alaskan forest called Haven's Rock that will serve the same function as Rockton.
In case you're wondering, I've not read any of the Rockton novels, and at no time did I feel disadvantaged as a result; this one stands very well on its own (with an ending, not surprisingly, that provides fodder for the next book, which I certainly plan to read). As the story begins here, Casey, Eric and their smart-as-a-whip dog are on their way to visit Haven's Rock at the invitation of Yolanda, the project general contractor. Somehow, Yolanda explains, the project architect and engineer, Penny and Bruno, respectively, have gone missing. Everyone working on the project has been warned many times over to not wander off into the surrounding wilds (if for no other reason, because the area is known to be populated with critters who aren't exactly people-friendly. Early on, their worst fears are confirmed as the body of a young woman turns up - and it's clear she's a murder victim.
As the investigation progresses, readers get to know (and, at least in my case) love Casey and Eric. Clearly, they're not your run-of-the-mill folks - after all, they're the ones who will be overseeing what most would consider to be a group of societal misfits, and they'd probably put themselves in that category as well. That's underscored by the fact that except for each other (plus Casey's sister April, a neurosurgeon who's on the autism spectrum, and their former deputy, Will Anders), they don't trust a single soul at the construction site. The action heats up as secrets are unearthed - along with another body or two - and it doesn't stop till the whole thing is resolved (coincidentally, that's about the same time I stopped holding my breath).
All told, it's a well-written, entertaining adventure and I'm looking forward to the next one. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. Wonderful!
December 30, 2023
Like all the fans of the Rockton series, I was gutted to see it end last year - Eric and Casey are a pair of my favourite protagonists, and their Yukon refuge has been a welcome book-vacation destination for me many times. But it turns out the story will continue, with a change big enough to call it a new series. Lucky us!
And it seems that the more things change, the more they remain the same - it's not long before there's reason for Eric and Casey (and Storm, of course) to head into the wilderness in pursuit of answers, as they unravel quite the knotty mystery. There's characters who return, as well as some new additions I've met with varied responses - but the heart of the series beats as it ever did, with the call to the wild that serves as a refuge for those who need one.
Murder at Haven's Rock takes place in the early set-up, so we're not yet dealing with the operation as it will be. It's enough to have me very ready to see more though - so as much as I enjoyed this, I can't wait to see everything up and running. And I'm super glad to get to continue a series I thought I'd had to say goodbye to!
Edit on reread after realising I remembered almost nothing of this:
I think I've realised my issue - this book feels like a prequel to the next step in the series. Dead Letter Days may have the prequel spot in the series list, but it's really an endcap to Rockton. The central mystery here deals with people we're unlikely to see again, and sets up the environment our team will be facing in their new establishment, but I don't think it's really made its own mark. Still, this series is the ultimate in "wish I could go live there but don't have to ever worry about getting the chance as the wilderness would probably kill me" and I'll definitely be back for the next.
And it seems that the more things change, the more they remain the same - it's not long before there's reason for Eric and Casey (and Storm, of course) to head into the wilderness in pursuit of answers, as they unravel quite the knotty mystery. There's characters who return, as well as some new additions I've met with varied responses - but the heart of the series beats as it ever did, with the call to the wild that serves as a refuge for those who need one.
Murder at Haven's Rock takes place in the early set-up, so we're not yet dealing with the operation as it will be. It's enough to have me very ready to see more though - so as much as I enjoyed this, I can't wait to see everything up and running. And I'm super glad to get to continue a series I thought I'd had to say goodbye to!
Edit on reread after realising I remembered almost nothing of this:
I think I've realised my issue - this book feels like a prequel to the next step in the series. Dead Letter Days may have the prequel spot in the series list, but it's really an endcap to Rockton. The central mystery here deals with people we're unlikely to see again, and sets up the environment our team will be facing in their new establishment, but I don't think it's really made its own mark. Still, this series is the ultimate in "wish I could go live there but don't have to ever worry about getting the chance as the wilderness would probably kill me" and I'll definitely be back for the next.
February 22, 2023
Was a bit unsure about this book for the first few chapters. If you are familiar with Me Armstrong's books you will know of the Rockton series this is the continuation of that series but has moved to a new location, Havens Rock. Dalton and Casey are still front and centre and most of the main characters from the Rockton books will also be turning up. This starts off with Havens Rock still in the process of being built, (it isn't necessary to have read the Rockton books as events don't overlap) Dalton and Casey are not supposed to be in town for another month or so but hAve been called in early after the disappearance of a female employee. Turns out two staff members are missing and while searching for them the pair discover the area is not as isolated as they had hoped. I won't say more on the plot as that would spoil it for anyone yet to read the book and it is well worth the read. I mentioned my initial ambivalence this was caused by my feeling of new town same old story but how wrong I was. First we meet some interesting new characters and the mystery Casey and Dalton have to solve is complex enough to keep you guessing till the end and it has a final chapter that spells serious trouble for the town going forward so all in all a brilliant read................ Can't wait for the next one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2023
After farewelling the Rockton series, the only reason I didn’t fall into the dismals was knowing there was to be a spinoff. A different wild and away locale, but same crazy characters and gruesome crimes going on off grid. Who knew this set up would strike my fancy, but it did. My intro to Kelley Armstrong’s writing came with the Rockton series and I quickly became addicted to her style, her character development, twisting plot, and the wonder of surviving off grid in the great white north.
Casey and Eric are nervous and excited about the crazy venture they sunk their resources and time into when Rockton closed. They will shelter more at-risk people in a new town and hope for good results now that the old investor group isn’t calling the shots.
But, right away, the supervisor of the job of building their new town out in the Yukon wilds has brought them in early because her architect and work foreman have gone missing into the forest.
The supervisor is truculent toward them and their project, but she’s capable and the best so Casey swallows back retorts and heads into the strange forest with Eric and her beautiful Newfoundland, Storm. A body is found, but that is only the start to a mystery that twists and turns more than the game trails they track through. The workers at the isolated town project aren’t the only suspects as they come across people in the wild and the motive isn’t certain either. And, as the hours move into days, the chance of finding live missing persons grows less.
The Murder at Haven’s Rock is like a reset on all the things I loved about the original series. For those wondering if they can start here, yes, it introduces a new series arc and gets new readers up to speed about the world of the book. That said, there are strong ties to the previous series, particularly Casey and Eric, themselves.
I loved returning to the far north and the pristine wilderness where the tenderfoot needs to be afraid and experienced wilderness people need to constantly be aware. I love that this time readers are getting in on the moments the town is being built and the people of the town are forming. Meeting new characters in this world is always highly anticipated and Ms Armstrong does not disappoint with the personalities. I did work out a great deal about the mystery ahead, but that did not detract from my enjoyment.
All in all, this was well worth the high anticipation and will be a great hit with existing fans and newcomers alike. Off-grid outstandingness!
I rec'd an eARC from NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at The Reading Frenzy Jan 30th.
Casey and Eric are nervous and excited about the crazy venture they sunk their resources and time into when Rockton closed. They will shelter more at-risk people in a new town and hope for good results now that the old investor group isn’t calling the shots.
But, right away, the supervisor of the job of building their new town out in the Yukon wilds has brought them in early because her architect and work foreman have gone missing into the forest.
The supervisor is truculent toward them and their project, but she’s capable and the best so Casey swallows back retorts and heads into the strange forest with Eric and her beautiful Newfoundland, Storm. A body is found, but that is only the start to a mystery that twists and turns more than the game trails they track through. The workers at the isolated town project aren’t the only suspects as they come across people in the wild and the motive isn’t certain either. And, as the hours move into days, the chance of finding live missing persons grows less.
The Murder at Haven’s Rock is like a reset on all the things I loved about the original series. For those wondering if they can start here, yes, it introduces a new series arc and gets new readers up to speed about the world of the book. That said, there are strong ties to the previous series, particularly Casey and Eric, themselves.
I loved returning to the far north and the pristine wilderness where the tenderfoot needs to be afraid and experienced wilderness people need to constantly be aware. I love that this time readers are getting in on the moments the town is being built and the people of the town are forming. Meeting new characters in this world is always highly anticipated and Ms Armstrong does not disappoint with the personalities. I did work out a great deal about the mystery ahead, but that did not detract from my enjoyment.
All in all, this was well worth the high anticipation and will be a great hit with existing fans and newcomers alike. Off-grid outstandingness!
I rec'd an eARC from NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at The Reading Frenzy Jan 30th.
February 25, 2024
Haven's Rock is a continuation of a the Rockton / Casey Duncon series. But in case you don't want to commit to the seven prior books this is a great entry point as it is a continuation of the characters from that series set up in a new location.
Casey and her husband are in the middle of building a new town. One that would have the best parts of Rockton without the worst parts of the politics of Rockton. One problem the remote crew that is building their perfect new town has a few team members missing and Casey and Eric need to go in early to help see if they can find the missing people.
This is a great who-dun-it. There are clues and some lead you to the correct assumptions and some do not. I enjoyed treking through the Yukon with Casey and Eric as they discover that they do have a few neighbors they will have to deal with and something just isn't adding up in their case. For one the first dead body they find isn't even one of the people they were looking for.
I liked the twists and turns of the case and how Kelley kinda fooled me into suspecting someone that turned out not to be the real suspect.
I like the idea of this new town that will be a Haven to those needing to disappear from the world, whether that is temporary for a year of two or forever. This is supposed to be a place to rescue people who have accidently landed on the wrong side of someone or something and need to be gone. Casey and Eric are great and I could see myself after this story going back to the original series to see how two people so different found their way to each other.
The story was engaging, loved the scenery and descriptions of the Yukon and a simple life there. I also enjoyed the plot and that little nugget at the end that lets the reader know that Haven's Rock has more neighbors than it would like and they might start to cause a little trouble down the road.
Great start to a new branch of a series.
Casey and her husband are in the middle of building a new town. One that would have the best parts of Rockton without the worst parts of the politics of Rockton. One problem the remote crew that is building their perfect new town has a few team members missing and Casey and Eric need to go in early to help see if they can find the missing people.
This is a great who-dun-it. There are clues and some lead you to the correct assumptions and some do not. I enjoyed treking through the Yukon with Casey and Eric as they discover that they do have a few neighbors they will have to deal with and something just isn't adding up in their case. For one the first dead body they find isn't even one of the people they were looking for.
I liked the twists and turns of the case and how Kelley kinda fooled me into suspecting someone that turned out not to be the real suspect.
I like the idea of this new town that will be a Haven to those needing to disappear from the world, whether that is temporary for a year of two or forever. This is supposed to be a place to rescue people who have accidently landed on the wrong side of someone or something and need to be gone. Casey and Eric are great and I could see myself after this story going back to the original series to see how two people so different found their way to each other.
The story was engaging, loved the scenery and descriptions of the Yukon and a simple life there. I also enjoyed the plot and that little nugget at the end that lets the reader know that Haven's Rock has more neighbors than it would like and they might start to cause a little trouble down the road.
Great start to a new branch of a series.
September 30, 2022
Fans of Rockton will be excited to grab this new book by Kelley Armstrong and play sleuth along with Casey & Dalton! Murder at Haven's Rock is a spinoff of the beloved Rockton series that is once again set in the Yukon wilderness. Rockton was a good series to follow and I know many were sad to see it come to a close. I'm not sure why Rockton ended since it has the feel of a continuation. Casey and Dalton are the main characters again along with a few new characters that seem interesting and would be great to include in future books ... Yolanda, Kendra and Gunnar. We do get to see many of the characters from the previous series as well.
While construction is underway at the new area of Haven’s Rock, a couple of members of the team go missing. Casey and Dalton are quickly called in to investigate the disappearances and locate the missing people. Definitely a whodunit that you get to follow. During their search, they find a unknown person dead in the forest, adding yet another twist to the story. Kelley Armstrong's characters are interesting and very well developed. I was definitely trying to figure out the answers to the murder victim and missing people.
It could be read as a standalone, however I don't recommend it. Is this the same-old same-old storyline? Yes, maybe, sorta, kinda. All is very consistent with the previous books in style, mystery and writing. If you enjoyed Rockton and wanted it to continue then you will certainly enjoy this new town of Haven's Rock.
Shout out to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for a chance to review!
While construction is underway at the new area of Haven’s Rock, a couple of members of the team go missing. Casey and Dalton are quickly called in to investigate the disappearances and locate the missing people. Definitely a whodunit that you get to follow. During their search, they find a unknown person dead in the forest, adding yet another twist to the story. Kelley Armstrong's characters are interesting and very well developed. I was definitely trying to figure out the answers to the murder victim and missing people.
It could be read as a standalone, however I don't recommend it. Is this the same-old same-old storyline? Yes, maybe, sorta, kinda. All is very consistent with the previous books in style, mystery and writing. If you enjoyed Rockton and wanted it to continue then you will certainly enjoy this new town of Haven's Rock.
Shout out to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for a chance to review!
July 18, 2023
This series, Haven's Rock, is a spin-off from the Rockton series. The characters are mostly the same and the storylines are also mostly the same...it just takes place in new start up community in the vast Yukon wilderness.
I liked the Rockton series and I think I'm going to like this new spin-of as well. These are easy reads and I have come to love the characters and their shenanigans. So 4 stars.
I liked the Rockton series and I think I'm going to like this new spin-of as well. These are easy reads and I have come to love the characters and their shenanigans. So 4 stars.
February 20, 2023
I was so sad when the Rockton series ended but excited for the spin-off Haven Rock series. Armstrong brings us to Haven Rock about a month before the town’s completion. Casey and Eric arrive to find that the designer and engineer are missing. It appears they ventured into the woods.
We get a feel for the town and dangers that will await them in this series as they begin a search of the woods and discover a dead body. Things get complicated when the body doesn’t belong to the crew’s missing.
Armstrong pulled me in from the relationship between Eric and Casey to the granddaughter of one of Rockton’s founders. She is the overseer of the project and has her own secrets. I am going to love Haven Rock despite the dangers this remote life will offer.
The mystery was clever with twists and new characters, including a recluse photographer and her wolf. I am excited to see that even though this is a spinoff that it felt fresh with new dangers, characters and storylines.
Fans of remote settings, suspenseful mysteries, and strong characters will want to pick this up. This will work as a standalone series. Armstrong gave this start a firm base of its own and plenty of background. I recommend new readers add the Rockton series to their reading pile if they haven’t already read them.
This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
We get a feel for the town and dangers that will await them in this series as they begin a search of the woods and discover a dead body. Things get complicated when the body doesn’t belong to the crew’s missing.
Armstrong pulled me in from the relationship between Eric and Casey to the granddaughter of one of Rockton’s founders. She is the overseer of the project and has her own secrets. I am going to love Haven Rock despite the dangers this remote life will offer.
The mystery was clever with twists and new characters, including a recluse photographer and her wolf. I am excited to see that even though this is a spinoff that it felt fresh with new dangers, characters and storylines.
Fans of remote settings, suspenseful mysteries, and strong characters will want to pick this up. This will work as a standalone series. Armstrong gave this start a firm base of its own and plenty of background. I recommend new readers add the Rockton series to their reading pile if they haven’t already read them.
This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
February 21, 2023
Ahoy there me mateys! I love Kelley Armstrong! This is the 20th book I read by her. This series deals with what happens to Casey Duncan and gang after the events of Rockton's ending. If ye have not read that series, I do not recommend that ye start here. The author tries to give the new reader enough information to jump in but there is so much history and interpersonal relationship drama that enrich and explain the set-up for this new series.
Casey and Eric were excited about moving into Haven's Rock, the new off-the-grid town in the Yukon. The town is supposed function like Rockton did but now with the two of them in charge, life should be much easier. Then the duo is called in early when two construction workers go missing in the forest. Finding them is anything but easy.
I loved this! It is still over-the-top but was so much fun. It was lovely to see many of the characters I loved from Rockton appear and I can't wait to get more of how they adapt to the new town. The mystery aspects were entertaining and I enjoyed watching Casey try to solve the case. I can't get into things because spoilers but I want the next one! Arrr!
***SPOILERY THOUGHTS BELOW****
Much like the Rockton books, I am amazed at how in the lonely and sparse Yukon wilderness there are insane amounts of random animal encounters and random people encounters. Animal-human run-ins in this novel included a moose, a bear den (with sleeping bears), and a wolf-dog hybrid. Random people encounters included a nature photographer and a miner. The miners are the set-up for future drama in books. I am both entertained and slightly annoyed. Seriously how are all these people's camps so near each other? Arrrr!
Casey and Eric were excited about moving into Haven's Rock, the new off-the-grid town in the Yukon. The town is supposed function like Rockton did but now with the two of them in charge, life should be much easier. Then the duo is called in early when two construction workers go missing in the forest. Finding them is anything but easy.
I loved this! It is still over-the-top but was so much fun. It was lovely to see many of the characters I loved from Rockton appear and I can't wait to get more of how they adapt to the new town. The mystery aspects were entertaining and I enjoyed watching Casey try to solve the case. I can't get into things because spoilers but I want the next one! Arrr!
***SPOILERY THOUGHTS BELOW****
Much like the Rockton books, I am amazed at how in the lonely and sparse Yukon wilderness there are insane amounts of random animal encounters and random people encounters. Animal-human run-ins in this novel included a moose, a bear den (with sleeping bears), and a wolf-dog hybrid. Random people encounters included a nature photographer and a miner. The miners are the set-up for future drama in books. I am both entertained and slightly annoyed. Seriously how are all these people's camps so near each other? Arrrr!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2023
Both book 1 and book 8 of the Rockton Verse
There's SO MUCH set up. I get that the setup is necessary for new to the series verse readers, but it needed to wrap up sooner.
I also don't get much of a sense of the new characters in the way I should, other than those outside the town.
So far, it seemed like they picked a shitty spot for a new town.
I'm ready for the next book now that the set up is over, and we have a good feel for the new town.
3.5 Stars Rounded up!
There's SO MUCH set up. I get that the setup is necessary for new to the series verse readers, but it needed to wrap up sooner.
I also don't get much of a sense of the new characters in the way I should, other than those outside the town.
So far, it seemed like they picked a shitty spot for a new town.
I'm ready for the next book now that the set up is over, and we have a good feel for the new town.
3.5 Stars Rounded up!
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