I will admit this one started slower than I like. It took until about 40% through to really grab me. There was so much ambiguity and questions and I felt like they weren’t being answered at a good pace. However, once I hit about 40% I struggled to put this one down! I devoured the last half! All in all, this was a fun and exciting book!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Wow!! What did I just read?! I couldn’t put this book down!! The whodunnit factor was well thought out and executed! The characters were well developed and I found myself staying up way past my bedtime to finish it. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this incredible book! I will definitely be sharing it with all of my fellow book lovers!

Theodora Scott is on her way to her fiancé Connor Dalton's wealthy family's retreat in the woods, Idlewood. It was a whirlwind romance, and the two were engaged within six months of dating.

The thing is, Theo has been getting threatening texts on her phone from an unknown number, warning her to stay away from Connor Dalton. But why? She chooses to ignore them. What she can't ignore? The snowy footprints she sees outside the cabin window, or the strange sense of familiarity she has that she's been to Idlewood before. The clincher? She finds a photo of herself as a child, taken right here, at Idlewood.

Theo has almost no memories of herself as a small child, but after seeing the photo, she begins to remember, and piece things together. Things she's sure she'd rather forget.

Marshall takes readers on a chilling, wild ride, as family secrets unfold in a way they'll never imagine possible.

Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the opportunity to read and review A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall.

Our main characters would be Theo and Conner. Conner is from a wealthy family. Theo has lots of baggage, trauma, and a secretive history. They meet, fall in love, and get engaged very quickly. Now it is time to meet the family in a secluded, isolated location. The family consists of the grandparents, mother, uncle, siblings and a few servants. Theo soon learns she may not be wanted at the lodge because she continues to receive messages that warn her not to come. She soon finds out the Conner's family has lots of secrets, almost if not more secrets than she does. Soon after arriving Theo discovers, she has been here before and starts remembering fragments of her past.

I have read novels by Kate Alice Marshall before and enjoyed them. A Killing Cold was good as well and didn't disappoint. Twists were let loose on the reader till the very end, keeping us guessing. I enjoyed the characters and the plot. It was a pretty fast read. The setting was great too. Lots of isolation, cold, and possible traps. Any thriller reader will enjoy this read. A Killing Cold will be available on February 4th from all major book retailers. Happy Reading!!

“A Killing Cold” is a riveting, engaging thriller that’s hard to put down. Kate Alice Marshall doesn’t mess around in her books—you know you’re in for a crazy ride from the very beginning and that’s part of the fun. The action starts from the first few pages and never really slows down so as a reader you’re kept on the edge of your seat through the whole read.
One of my favorite part about this book is just how much personality each of the characters have. Each character, main and supporting, have their own quirks that give them importance in the story and make it more difficult for the reader to know what’s coming. I changed my guesses for what was going to happen at the end multiple times and was still surprised at the end. Even the most minor character is given just enough to make them interesting and therefore a suspect.
While I was engaged in the story from the first page, I was really pulled into this book about a 1/3 of the way in, and I couldn’t put it down after about 60% (I mean this literally, I couldn’t stop reading until I finished the book from this point). After reading my second novel of hers, Kate Alice Marshall has become a revelation for me in the realm of thriller authors, a must read from now on. “A Killing Cold” does not disappoint and is a must read.

The ending of this book was not something I could have predicted. It left me with my jaw hanging open and thinking "WOW" that's an ending. This was a slow, psychological, drawn out (in a good way) plot that had me thinking I knew what was going to happen but I never did. The breadcrumbs were all there and the many twists were never out of left field and kept building upon each other. Fans of Kate Alice Marshall's other books, need to add A Killing Cold to their TBR, it's tied for my favorite book by her.
.
.
Thank you NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is an addicting read that draws you in with how sneaky Theo is. She pries into everyone’s lives like she’s owed. But the more the story unfolds, the more we realize that everyone around her is keeping secrets.

This book is dramatic and twisty with very few redeemable characters. Everyone is written perfectly horribly. Seriously, the drama is better than a soap opera and makes for a super fun read.

This was such a great book to start the year with! It was fast paced, full of secrets and lies that unraveled so well throughout the book. It was a wild story, but so fun! Another winner for Kate Alice Marshall!

A KILLING COLD is a chilling winter thriller, set in the backdrop of a wealthy family’s remote mountain retreat. The writing is suspenseful and gives off an uncomfortable feeling of tension. The main character has gaps in her memory where her past is concerned, and makes some uneasy discoveries while visiting her fiancé’s family.

I flew through this fast-paced thriller. I always love complicated family dynamics and this one delivered on that front. I was constantly trying to piece together which characters were hiding something.

The locked room trope can be hit or miss for me but this one was definitely a hit! I loved the atmosphere the author created and how the setting was almost its own character in the story.

What you can expect —
❄️ short chapters
❄️ complicated family dynamics
❄️ an isolated setting

I’d definitely recommend picking up this thriller! It made it even more enjoyable reading it during the winter here in Wisconsin 🥶

3.5 ⭐️s rounded up!

This was my ideal January read as I hibernated inside because of the snow we had lol

This had good winter thriller vibes! This is my third book from this author and she spits out some solid thrillers. This was very easy to read and pretty fast paced. I enjoyed the whole family dynasty dynamic.

Thank you Macmillan for my eARC!!

Never trust a family with a dark history. A couple falls in love quickly and he brings her home to his family. His wealthy family. Who don't approve. But why? Every single one of his relatives has a reason to hide something, and as the secrets unfold, it's clearly an exaggeration of reality but oh so enticing to discover the true nefarious ones from the purely just selfish ones. I always enjoy these types of settings and this one didn't let down. I knew the culprit was not the first one identified, but why was always the big question. Good writing. Must love intense plots with a few headshaking moments. Will keep reading the author's work.

My favorite by this author so far! A more formal review is to come and will be posted on my IG feed.

I enjoyed this book overall, but I did think the shock factor relied to heavily on coincidence. It’s a fun easy book to read, entertaining and fast paced! 3.5 stars

I really enjoyed A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall. The author masterfully builds tension, weaving together a tale of suspense, small-town secrets, and a deeply personal quest for justice. Some of the chapters were a little longer than I prefer but the story was full of unexpected twists and kept me engaged the whole time. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you #NetGalley for this #ARC!

Kate Alice Marshall continues to impress me with each book she releases. The characters have nuance and depth. The plot kept me guessing. I thought I’d have it all figured out and then I’d second-guess myself. At times, the story dragged and it felt repetitive with the actions but overall, I was engrossed from beginning to end.

Theo doesn’t know where she came from. At age 4, she was adopted, and she has no memories or information from before that. Now, as an adult, Theo accompanies her fiancé to his family’s remote mountain retreat for the Christmas holiday. She’s getting text messages warning her away, the family is asking her weird questions, and she stumbles upon an unused cabin that sparks some memories from her early childhood. Has she been here before?

This was a middle of the road thriller. There was nothing wrong with it, but there was nothing unique or exciting about it either. The isolated setting and ruthless rich people were predictable story elements. There were zero likeable characters. I guessed pretty early which of the family members were the most guilty (because, of course, everyone has something to hide). The premise of how Theo ended up here in the first place is also so farfetched.

If domestic suspense, isolation thrillers, and a winter setting are your jam, maybe you’ll really enjoy this one. If you read a lot of these, you may find it unsurprising. If you haven’t read anything by this author, I would recommend What Lies in the Woods instead.

A Killing Cold
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

2025 only just begun, but I wouldn’t be surprised if A Killing Cold stays in my top 5 all year long. The way it captivated me and kept me fully immersed is exactly what I’m looking for in a great book.

Theo is newly engaged to Connor and invited to his wealthy family’s very private estate for their 2 week winter stay on the mountain. A family tradition. As if meeting the family for the first time isn’t stressful enough, Theo finds herself having nightmares as the area is sparking memories from her childhood. Which makes no sense whatsoever. She doesn’t remember anything prior to her placement with an abusive adoptive family. But she starts finding clues around the estate that make her question everything.

I loved the puzzle of it all and the suspense! I really liked the writing style for Theo’s flashbacks as memories come back in bits and pieces. During the parts where the dreams/memories got more crystal clear it felt like reality was melting away. I found myself holding my breath in suspense. This was everything I was looking for in a wintry psychological suspense!

Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. This review will be shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.

Pub Date Feb 04 2025

I really liked this book. There were so many twists and turns.
The book kept me on the edge of my seat!

This one had me hooked from the beginning!! Theo it’s going to secluded Mountain to meet her new fiancé‘s family! The longer she’s there memory’s start coming back to her about her past. She keeps asking questions she might not should but lies and secrets start to unravel. This family does not want secrets about them out, will Theo make it off the mountain alive and will Connor stick by her side or choose his family?
Thank you NetGalley for the arc!!

What a perfect winter read! The setting was a house (and cabins) in the woods during winter. It added to the mystery of what was going on in the story. This one really flew by. It was engaging and fast paced. There were dual timelines and I was invested in both. There were lots of characters and any of them could have been good or bad with my mind switching back and forth. I like stories about family dramas and this one had plenty. The ending worked for me. A great book by an author who is definitely becoming a favorite of mine! Recommended read!