Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
Murder at Haven's Rock is the first book in new spinoff mystery series by Kelley Armstrong. Released 21st Feb 2023 by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 352 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback due out from the same publisher in 4th quarter 2023. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats.
This is a follow-on series from the author's Rockton series with roughly the same premise: an isolated created haven for folks who need to disappear and stop living a life on the run. Nothing is really uncomplicated when people are involved, and evidence of a crime and violent death mean that Detective Casey Dalton and her husband Eric have crimes to investigate before the Haven's Rock project is really even off the ground.
The two main protagonists met in the other series and are well developed and believable. The writing is taut and the action driven plot is well engineered. There are plenty of twists and an interesting denouement and resolution.
There is a novelette length prequel available and the second book in the series is due out from the same publisher in first quarter 2024.
Four stars. Well written wilderness thriller and promising series starter.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Reviewed by annieb123 on
Reading updates
- 11 July, 2023: Started reading
- 11 July, 2023: Finished reading
- 11 July, 2023: Reviewed