Thank you for allowing me to read this book. I enjoyed the characters and their arcs, and found the plot interesting. I look forward to reading more from this author.

4.5 ⭐️

This was my first Darcy Coates book and I think I need to read more of their work! I loved the snowy, winter setting of this book. It was mysterious and had a lot of twists that I wasn’t expecting!
Overall I really enjoyed this book more than I thought I would!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced digital copy of this book.

I’m not a person who DNF’s books. I promise I’m really not but I got 38% into this book and it just wasn’t cutting it. Was it weird? Yes. Was it creepy? Yes. But I can only take so much of the same thing happening again and again. Someone would die. They’d leave. They couldn’t find any help. They return. Someone dies. Someone is suspicious. Repeat. Maybe I’ll try again later but it’s just not cutting it for me at this time.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Adored this book, can see it being a great recommendation for getting out of a reading slump. 10/10.

A locked room mystery that keeps you guessing. You will be terrified right along with the characters. Best red in a cabi in the woods during winter. Darcy Coates doesn't disappoint. Her fans will love it, but it will still appeal to those who have never read her books.

This was only my second Coates novel and it was equally as terrifying as the first one I read. There is something so immersive about her writing and I love it so much but also it's terrifying when you're immersed in a thriller / horror book. Her writing is so approachable that it feels like your friend is just telling you a really good story, and it's so easy to just disappear into the action of the story. The pacing of this was so perfect!

Wow, what an exciting story. So much going on all the time. Very tense and I had no idea what was coming towards the end. Excellent. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

"Dead of Winter" by Darcy Coates is a chilling masterpiece that will leave you peeking over your shoulder long after you've turned the last page. Coates has crafted a spine-tingling tale that blends elements of horror, mystery, and suspense into a gripping narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

Set in the desolate and snow-covered landscape of an abandoned asylum, the atmosphere is thick with dread from the very beginning. As the story unfolds, Coates expertly weaves together a cast of characters haunted by their own demons, both literal and metaphorical. From the enigmatic caretaker with a dark past to the group of strangers forced to confront their deepest fears, each character is meticulously developed, adding layers of complexity to the narrative.

What truly sets "Dead of Winter" apart is Coates' ability to ratchet up the tension with every turn of the page. As the secrets of the asylum begin to unravel and the characters find themselves trapped in a nightmare of their own making, the sense of impending doom becomes palpable. The pacing is relentless, driving the story forward at breakneck speed and leaving readers breathless as they race to uncover the truth.

But it's not just the plot that makes "Dead of Winter" a standout read. Coates' prose is elegant yet haunting, painting vivid images of the desolate landscape and the horrors that lurk within. From the eerie creaking of floorboards to the bone-chilling whispers in the darkness, every detail is rendered with precision, immersing readers in a world that is as beautiful as it is terrifying.

In the end, "Dead of Winter" is more than just a ghost story—it's a meditation on the nature of fear and the lengths we'll go to in order to survive. With its unforgettable characters, atmospheric setting, and relentless suspense, this is a book that will haunt you long after you've finished reading. If you're a fan of horror or psychological thrillers, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of "Dead of Winter" today. You won't be disappointed.

In "Dead of Winter" by Darcy Coates, a group of strangers embarks on a two-week vacation to a remote lodge in the Rocky Mountains, only to find themselves stranded in an abandoned hunting cabin by a sudden blizzard. As tensions rise and the storm worsens, tour guide Christa must navigate the growing paranoia and suspicion among the survivors. When the tour guide is found dead, Christa is forced to confront the chilling reality that a killer is among them.

Coates skillfully crafts well-rounded characters, gradually revealing their personalities, quirks, and past traumas through Christa's observations and interactions. The atmospheric world-building immerses readers in the isolated cabin and the terrifying circumstances faced by the group.

The gripping storyline captivates from the first chapter, with Coates masterfully building tension and suspense throughout. While the resolution of the mystery satisfies, some unanswered questions and moments of slower pacing in the middle detract slightly from the overall experience.

Nevertheless, "Dead of Winter" excels in balancing shocking events with the mystery of uncovering the killer's identity. Intense fight scenes, chilling weather conditions, and complex characters add depth to the narrative, creating a dark and horrifying atmosphere.

Overall, Coates delivers a riveting and intense tale that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Fans of horror, thrillers, and locked room mysteries will find "Dead of Winter" to be a captivating read, leaving them eagerly anticipating Coates' next chilling adventure.

Eight strangers are on a tour bus on their way to a winter vacation in a lodge in the Rocky Mountains. When a winter storm hits and they get stranded in a remote cabin they quickly learn there is a murder among them. As each night approaches and their numbers dwindle who can you trust?

This book was full of suspense and kept me guessing who was behind the murders and why. As the story progressed my opinion of who the murderer was kept changing. I did suspect the murderer at one point, but I could not figure out why he/she would be committing the murders.
All thoughts and opinions are my own, I have not been influenced by anyone.

The friends in the cabin, the horrific snowstorm it's all been done so many times and this one was fine, good, but not good enough to stand out in this trope.

Dead of Winter was my first book by Darcy Coates. I knew it was billed as a horror, but for some reason, I had it in my head it was a ghost-y horror. It turned out to be a slasher horror instead. It was very fast-paced and the setting really was its own character. Icy temperatures and a limited number of characters gave the story a claustrophobic feeling, even though the setting was remote and the players were not locked in anywhere. Nature, itself, had them trapped. Dead of Winter was a fun story if you don't mind somewhat gory murder descriptions. The resolution was a bit predictable, and requires a bit of a stretch of the imagination. Overall, I enjoyed the story and pacing and would recommend to thriller lovers who would not be repulsed by a little more gore than the typical thriller. For a horror-lover, this one was pretty light.

This was fine. It’s a whodunnit-horror-slasher book, which is not always my favorite kind of horror. I had hoped there was going to be an element of winter survival, because to me that was a horrifying element all by itself, but it was a bit lacking here. (There’s never a mention of food, or people being hungry after the first day or two… kinda weird).

I liked that the characters were all kind of flawed and enjoyed a couple of the reveals even if I didn’t find them entirely surprising.

I thought the writing was fine and the pacing was quick. I do think it was maybe a little too long?

I would recommend this to fans of Darcy Coates other works, or if you are looking for a good mystery to solve. I don’t know if it’s really fair play but I think the clues and context are all there.

I listened on audio and thought the audio was well done. Would recommend if you enjoy audio books.

Finally, I did receive an advance egalley of this book for review (I’m sorry this review is late!) but I ultimately borrowed and listened to an audio version on Everand. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley.

This thriller of trusting no one will send a chill down your spine. Imagine being stuck in a cabin with strangers and they slowly started dying. But not just being killed but beheaded. Who can you trust? Everyone is suspicious at this point.

Some parts didn’t seem to fit in with the story and it seemed to drag but it was a solid read of trying to figure out what is going on at the same time as trying to find a way out from a cabin surrounded by snow. The twists and turns are worth the read. Just make sure you read this with your favorite throw, the chills will linger on until you finish the book.

If you took And Then There Were None and added a winter chill and a heaping scoop of gore, you'd get this book. With visceral descriptions of bodies found in the snow and fear that will give you goosebumps, this book is great for giving yourself a scare on a winter night. We follow a group that is on the way to a remote winter resort when the bus is stopped by a tree in the road and a big winter storm. They take shelter in a cabin to wait for rescue, but they start to get picked off one by one, their bodies cut up and mounted on display. I love the tension and suspense. I love a twist, even if it's one you can see coming. This book is dark in all the right ways.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review*

Amazing!!! Darcy Coats is one of the best!

I absolutely LOVE Darcy Coates' novels and this one fit the bill just nicely! I loved the mystery surrounding the book and trying to figure out what was going on. Loved this one!

I usually enjoy books by Darcy Coates but I unfortunately never connected to the story or the characters, so I did not finish reading this book.

Thank You NetGalley for this free eARC.

This is my first time reading this author and wow, I was impressed. I liked the characters and was trying to figure out in that tiny cabin who the killer was. Just when I thought I knew who the killer was, something happened and it wasn't who I thought it was. How did all these people end up in this cabin, during a blizzard, and who organized and orchestrated it. I couldn't put this book down. I will be reading more of her books.

Who doesn't love the cover. It seems so calm, serene, and just like a little together. One everyone will remember for a long time. A quick short read, full of twists and turns.

I really enjoyed this! The atmosphere was excellent and the tension was well done. I thought the ending was predictable so that part fell a little flat but overall still highly enjoyed this!!