Review - The Boy Who Cried Bear

Title:    The Boy Who Cried Bear

Author:  Kelley Armstrong

Series:  Haven's Rock #2

Genre:   Mystery/Thrillers

Publisher:   Minotaur Books

Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:  352

Date of Publication:  February 20, 2024

My Rating:  5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

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.

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS:

Haven's Rock doesn't quite live up to its name as there are hidden dangers. One of those dangers for residents that live in the hidden town is what could happen to them in the forest. When Max, only one of two children in a quite unusual community is being taught survival skills, and this includes tracking skills. Max says he saw a bear, and then says that he saw human eyes.

Detective Casey Duncan and her husband Sheriff Eric Dalton try to deal with the danger that a bear could present to their town. The pair met in Rockton, which was a community much like they have now, but they were only residents. Now, they are actually founders of Haven's Rock and they want everyone to be safe.

Even before the possible bear sighting is confirmed, Max goes missing. He is only a ten-year-old boy and would be ill-equipped to survive in the woods on his own. Did Max wander off and get lost, or could something more nefarious have happened to the boy?

The Rockton/Casey Duncan series, which comprises of seven books, would be an excellent start for one wanting to read The Boy Who Cried Bear. Then, the first book in this Haven's Rock series, Murder at Haven's Rock, all contain excellent background of all of the characters and their way of life. Yes, this book could be read as a standalone if need be, but for full appreciation of what Casey and Dalton experience and how they work hard to protect their town, reading both series in order would be highly recommended.

This book, and all of the books in these two series, were excellent reads that kept me tapping my Kindle consistently until I reached the satisfying conclusion. I cannot wait to see what lies in store for Casey, Dalton and the rest of Haven's Rock residents.

Many thanks to Minotaur Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

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. 

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