The Boy Who Cried Bear (Haven’s Rock, #2)

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.