Member Reviews

Stuck in a snowstorm with no way out and a killer on the loose, my favorite kind of winter read!
This was a good book and although I found it a little slow I still enjoyed reading it.

Many thanks to net galley for the chance to read and review this book!

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Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for early copy of this book.
What an action packed, scary, atmospheric,whodunnit story. Great read but I must admit I figured the killer out at about the early second half. I still thoroughly enjoyed the story and each character, would definitely recommend

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This was not my favourite Darcy Coates but I did enjoy it. Darcy is a damn good writer and I could almost feel the cold as I read this book. I enjoyed the grisly deaths and the dire atmosphere but it fell a bit flat for me when I figured out who the villain was. I like when I figure out the mystery but I was disappointed that I was right with this one because it was a bit predictable. All in all, would definitely recommend this book

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This is my second Darcy Coates book and I am a fan for life now.

This was an exceptionally fun thriller and had me enthralled from the first few chapters.

It is well written, fast paced, and I truly didn't know the ending until I got there.

I really enjoyed this and will definitely be giving away a copy on my booktok around release date to help promote it.

TYSM for the opportunity to be an ARC Reader for this book!

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This book hooked me from page one-- that's something I NEVER say. It always takes me a few pages/chapters to really get into a book but I was so hooked on this one. It was so atmospheric from the very beginning. I love the way this author made me suspicious of every single character throughout the entirety as well. Just as I was beginning to not trust someone, I was totally wrong and trusted them again. This is a great book and I recommend it to everyone! Thank you NetGalley and Darcy Coates for letting me read this early!

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4.5 overall!

This is my second Darcy Coates book and it certainly won’t be my last. To say this book was a WILD ride is an understatement. It had me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. All the twists and turns that happened throughout were crazy and had me gasping. I was guessing everyone as a suspect at some point, and just when you thought you had it figured out, another twist gets thrown in. I do think it could’ve been a little shorter but the short chapters helped keep me turning the page. Also I know I’m a person who just loves a good epilogue to wrap up some loose questions, and I do wish I had one in this book.

Overall, I absolutely loved this book and if you’re in the mood for a locked room, winter horror this is definitely for you. Darcy Coates does not disappoint.

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I love how this was terrifying and also a solid connected thriller. I’m kind of proud in that I guessed this evil head chopping villain from the get go but it also crushed my heart for our heroine all at the same time. A great read for when it is -11 wind chill in Chicago and also never accept mystery vacation tickets.

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Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC! Darcy is an auto buy author for me and I haven’t read a book by her yet that I haven’t enjoyed. Dead Of Winter is not an exception to that! If it wouldn’t have been for sleep or work, I would have read this in one sitting.

This was a twisty, gorey and heart racing horror book! Definitely wasn’t able to guess the killer and I was content with the ending.

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3.75/5 stars! This wintertime thriller had all the makings of a good book. Being trapped in the desolate wilderness with a killer during a snowstorm upped the anty. Christa was a likable character and I found myself shivering along with her fear. Overall, it was an enjoyable mystery. However, the pacing was kind of flat. It took a long time to get to the final twist, and it was one you could figure out by about halfway into the story. But a good read.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

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This was so so so good! The start was a bit slow, but I quickly became engaged in the story. The way it is written transported me right into the story, environment og feelings of the characters. It is not the scariest story, but one where I always switched between who I thought it was. Some of the clues I got, some I didn’t. It was the perfect amount of shock in the end, and also through the story it was so many twists and turns and new details, I can’t even count the number of HOLY SHIT moments I had. I enjoyed reading this story so so much, and the plot was just amazing. The author does an amazing job at showing how you can’t trust anyone when people get desperate enough. If you like thrillers, mystery or horror (or all three) read this book! It made me engaged, paranoid, scared, excited and gave me a nightmare (I am easily scared). 10/10 would recommend.

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A murder mystery from my favorite author? Count me in. I was not let down. One of the best "who done it"/slasher books I've read. I thought I knew who the butcher was...then I didn't...then I did and my jaw literally dropped when the identity was revealed. No Way!! I didn't understand Christa's background story then it all came together. This was very well written. Highly recommend!!

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Quote of the book ‘The butchers tree would gain one more head, most likely’ The quote says it all.

What a fantastic book to read. It’s exciting right from the beginning. It had me hooked. I literally couldn’t put it down. My heart was racing. It was chilling. Deep mystery. Leaves you guessing.

It was very well written. I was gob smacked at the twists and turns at the end. The author had me fooled.

Good mix of characters all thrown together in a cunning psychological thriller. Unlike any I’ve ever read before. I will definitely be looking out for this author again

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Take And Then There Were None, add a pinch of severe winter weather, and a rather large dash of horror, and you’ll have some idea of what reading Dead of Winter is like.

From the opening paragraphs that make the reader feel as if they’re making their way through the blizzard of the century, to the pulse pounding and white knuckled reading experience, Dead of Winter is one of the most unputdownable books I’ve read in ages. Literally, just when you think you have it all figured out, another bloody monkey wrench is thrown at you. What a wild ride. No wonder Darcy Coates remains one of my favorite authors.

My thanks to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing an ARC of this amazing novel.

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This book was phenomenal!! I’m a huge fan of survival stories and the “small group gets picked off one by one” trope. This story gloriously had both. From the first page, I was drawn into the story. It started strong, never hit a lull and finished spectacularly. Coates masterfully built tension throughout this book, to the point where I was holding my breath and listening to my heart race while I devoured the ending. There are so many twists and turns and every single time I thought I had it figured out, I was so wrong. It’s like the Coates was literally inside my head every time I made a guess and shut them all down so quickly. I could not love this book more and I will 100% be adding it to my bookshelf when it releases.

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Another excellent read from one of my go-to authors. Something about her writing style makes each and every book movie-like. At first I was disappointed that this wasn't horror, but that disappointment quickly faded within the first few pages. The action starts immediately and doesn't let up until the very last page. I did know who the killer was from the beginning but it didn't take away from the story and I did second guess that knowledge quite a few times throughout. However, I felt like this could of been shortened a little bit, some scenes would of been more suspenseful if there was a page or two removed here and there. Overall, I really enjoyed this and give it a solid Four Stars.

Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC.

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This book is a bit too violent for me to recommend to my students, but it is a decent thriller. I liked the wintery setting, that gave an added element of danger and fear to the story. I liked the premise of a killer among us. I guessed the killer from the beginning though and ended up being right, so it was a bit too predictable for me. But still was a fun winter mystery.

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I am in live with darcy coates writing. I found her last year and read most of her back list anytime she puts out a new book i domt even read the synopsis i just one click so fast. And when i got accepted to review this book i was fan girling. Darcy has a way to write books to keep you on your toes. And has the creep factor to the point you'll sleeping with a night lifht. And omg this book had me gapping in terror. And just had my mouth dropped to the grown. Each book gets better and better and im a sucker for it. I would give up my first burn for more darcy coates books this is a book you want to read.

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Intriguing, exciting and addicting. A mystery book worth the time you spend reading it and definitely a good thriller. I felt part of the story and definitely involved in the different phases of the unraveling of the truth.
A very good book!!

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Excuse me, why have I not read every single thing Darcy has written? This was fantastic, the first page is action and it doesn't stop from there. I was becoming SO. FRUSTRATED. at the thought of being trapped in a snow storm with a possible killer. The way I would simply just pass away from stress.

I *did* guess who the killer was, but that's because I read too much. Lol! And me guessing it early on did NOT take away from the book, in fact it actually kept me second guessing myself the whole time. Catch me with a red string crime wall trying to make sure all the pieces fit. 🤣

Darcy is a wonderful writer and now I must binge all of her work.

Thank you to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Grab this one as soon as it releases in July!

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"The wind redoubles . . . the gale rises, and as it whistles through the rock formations, it sounds very much like a man’s screams."

A couple, Christa and Keirnan, go on a tour vacation to a ski resort called Blackstone Alpine Lodge. Nine strangers go with them. Somehow, Christa and Kiernan find themselves caught in a blizzard while out hiking. Struggling to find sanctuary, they are separated. Christa stumbles upon a cabin. And lucky for her, the nine strangers are also there and nurse her back to consciousness. But Kiernan is still out there, and presumed dead by the group. She's determined to find him.

“'The door was unlocked,' Blake says. 'Almost like they knew some poor souls would need to shelter here.'”

And then the tour guide is found dead. His head, and only his head, sprayed to a tree. What is going on? Who is doing this? And why?

Holy shi--this story was intense! Full of suspense and mystery. Horror to the max. I loved it. Didn't want to ever put it down. Coates out did herself with this one. If I could give it more than five stars I would because this novel deserves it.

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