“I’d like to stanch the tears and dowse the anger and control the frustration but retain that ability to show people that I love and value them. And if it’s not possible to have all that, then maybe keeping the tears and the rage isn’t entirely a bad thing.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️.✨

I cannot think of a better way to start 2025 than with a review of a book by my favourite author, Kelley Armstrong. 

But before we jump in, please know that this was an advance readers copy sent to me in exchange for an honest review. 

Now let’s get into it!

For those that do not know, this is the third book in the Haven’s Rock series which is a spin off of Armstrong’s Rockton series. 

I really did not see the point of having this spin off series, initially. I thought the story had ran its course but Armstrong keeps proving me wrong and Cold as Hell drives it home that there is more story to tell. 

So what I liked:

1. I love Armstrong characters and character development. The strong portrayal of woman along with the fact that she keeps adding in more complex conversations around social constructs, mental illness, disabilities, and the systemic issues/bigotry that racial and minority groups face. 

2. Her writing style is very readable/digestible making her works hard to put down and Cold as Hell is no exception. 

3. The plot was very fast paced in this one and I was engaged the entire time. 

Now for what I didn’t like:

1. This one felt rushed and more of a filler book. The issues that were previously raised, that we would assume would carry over into the rest of the series, were hardly mentioned and played zero part in this book. 

2. The who-do-it aspect was incredibly predictable. I guessed it right away and I think most people would as well. 

But overall I enjoyed it. If you are a fan of thriller/mystery novels, with an off the grid setting, you need to check this series out. This one does deal with some very dark themes, however, and I do recommend checking out and CW before hand.