Kate Alice Marshall has done it again with A Killing Cold, a chilling, twist-filled thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. Once again, Marshall showcases her incredible writing talent, blending a captivating story with intricate world-building and suspense that grips you tightly.

The book follows Theodora Scott, who is swept into a whirlwind romance with the charming and wealthy Connor Dalton. Their relationship quickly escalates into an engagement, and the couple heads to a luxurious winter retreat with Connor’s powerful family. However, Theo receives a cryptic warning before the trip—someone urging her to stay away from Connor. What begins as a romantic getaway quickly spirals into a tense, mind-bending mystery. As Theo uncovers strange details about the cabins, the Daltons, and even her own memories, she starts to question everything, including her trust in Connor. Has she been to this retreat before? Is Connor part of some sinister game?

What really stood out to me in A Killing Cold was the way Marshall creates an atmosphere of unease and paranoia that never lets up. The twists and revelations throughout the story were jaw-dropping, and I found myself completely hooked, turning page after page to uncover the truth. Theo and Connor’s dynamic is complex and compelling, and I really enjoyed watching their relationship unfold, especially as secrets begin to unravel.

Marshall’s skillful storytelling kept me guessing at every turn, and the way she weaves together suspense and emotional depth made this a one-sitting read for me. I absolutely loved the way the plot twisted and turned, leading to shocking and satisfying reveals. A Killing Cold is a thrilling, high-stakes ride that will keep readers hooked until the very last page.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fast-paced thrillers with unpredictable twists and deep, complex characters. Kate Alice Marshall’s writing is one I’ll always look forward to, and I can’t wait to dive into whatever she writes next!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for providing me with a digital copy in exchange for an honest review!

A chilling, edge of you seat psychological thriller. The family drama and secrets revealed heightened the suspense to the twisty conclusion. Highly recommend to fans of taut psychological thrillers.

Thank you NetGalley and Flatiron for the DRC in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #AKillingCold

A Killing Cold is a chilling psychological thriller that follows Theo, a woman with a shadowy past, who visits her fiancé Connor’s family at their remote mountain estate. As Theo uncovers clues that tie her to the family, the reader is plunged into a web of secrets, lies, and unsettling revelations.

Set in a wintery, snowed-in atmosphere, the novel excels at creating tension and unease. The family dynamics, filled with unlikable and mysterious characters, provide plenty of intrigue. However, the story struggles with pacing, especially in the first half, which can feel slow and drawn out. The twists, while frequent, often feel predictable or convoluted. The reveals and the ending, in particular, felt rushed, with all the secrets coming to light too quickly and without the buildup needed to make them impactful.

While A Killing Cold has an engaging premise and atmospheric setting, the execution doesn’t fully live up to its potential, leaving it as an okay read overall.

So many twists and turns in this book! Kate Alice Marshall did a great job of setting you up for a wild story. I loved Connor and Theo's story and how their relationship could with stand everything they both have been through. Just when you think you most likely figured out what happened, another detail of the deeper story comes out.

If you're looking for a thriller that will suck you in right away and keep you guessing - this is it!

Thank you to NetGalley and FlatIron books for the ARC.

I love an intense thriller set in the winter and A Killing Cold did not disappoint. This is my first Marshall read and many who have read her work are saying this is her best, so I'm glad that this is my jumping off point. The writing will pull readers in right from the start and keep them on the edge of their seats the whole way through. So many juicy little secrets just waiting to be revealed from these characters who, though flawed, are easy to love. Overall, a winner from Marshall; I look forward to reading more of her work.

Thank you so much to @flatiron_books for my gifted copy! A Killing Cold is the third book I’ve read by Kate Alice Marshall and I think it’s my favorite. I could feel the tension and suspense as Theo discovered more and more about her past. Her desperation to remember wafted off the page. Marshall was able to make me feel connected to the characters but also suspect them at the same time. A fast paced, tautly written story, A Killing Cold had me reading too late into the night.

Omg this book sucked me in right away!!! There were so many reveals throughout it was hard to put down!!! I needed to know all of it! I really liked the main character and how she reacted to everything!!! A story about a family with so many secrets and horrible ones at that! What a twisty awesome thriller!!! I’ve read this author’s previous books as well but I think this is my favorite!!!!!

Absolutely fabulous book by a great author. I have devoured every book that I have read so far by Marshall and hope there's many more to come. The suspense and mystery aspect is always top notch in her books and I am so thrilled to have read her book early. Highly recommend to thriller readers!

5 stars
Publication date February 4, 2025


Thank you NetGalley and Flatiron Press for sending this eARC for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Theo has little memory of her life before being adopted. Her life after wasn't one she wants to remember. She meets Connor and becomes engaged within months, raising suspisions in his weatlhy family. When they go to his family's cabin for Christmas, her memories begin to return, and everyone has secrets that won't stay hidden any longer.

I absolutely loved this book! The twists and turns had me racing through each chapter, wanting to find out what happens next.

Kate Alice Marshall has done it again! A Killing Cold is the perfect family drama, hidden secrets book. I loved how Theo slowly got her memories back and how the flashbacks were intertwined within the present day. I would definitely recommend this to others. Thank you for the ARC.!

I love this authors previous work and was excited to get a copy of A Killing Cold. Ultimately I was disappointed by a thin plot and unexplored relationships. Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron for this Arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

I recently finished reading a book that truly captivated me. Even though the pace was slow and the plot twisty, I found the writing incredibly engaging. The way the author brought the past to life made the story feel rich and immersive.

Each twist felt thoughtfully crafted, allowing me to reflect on the characters and their journeys without feeling rushed. I loved how the narrative unfolded, keeping me invested in every detail.

This book is definitely one I would recommend for anyone who enjoys a well-written, character-driven story.

Kate Alice Marshall has done it again ! I love her books so much and this one was no exception. Perfect thriller for cuddling up with on a cold, snowy, winter night. This book was very well written and kept me interested the whole way through. There were so many twists and turns to keep me on my toes til the very end. I highly recommend giving this one a read !

Thank you Netgalley and Flatiron books for the digital arc in exchange for my honest review.

I love this author; I love this book. This book was perfect, and I loved everything about it. The writing was so good. In the beginning I wasn’t sure how things were going to work out, it seemed so clear cut, but then things took a delightful turn. I loved getting the story of Theo’s past through the memory recoveries. The little bits of memories that Theo got back were great. I loved how everything came together piece by twisty piece. There was so much suspense and intrigue. The twists kept coming right up until the end, and I was so invested in this book. I wanted to finish this book in one sitting, but I resisted because I wanted to stay with it longer and finished it over the course of two afternoons because I couldn’t resist any longer.

This book is full of family drama, so much drama, and twisty twists.

Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron for this Arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
What a whirlwind! Theo and Connor are newly engaged. Connor brings Theo to meet his family at Idlwild, his family’s estate. The secrets and lies that his family have been keeping are about to erupt.
The beginning of the book is a slow burn but the pace begins to escalate , and continues until the last page.
I loved the twists as the pacing picked up. Everyone has a secret even Theo. I loved the character development that evolved as the plot progressed. I know that a lot of people like winter themed novels. This is a great book to add to that list.

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced readers copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.
A Killing Cold was an interesting thriller that kept my interest. There was a lot of family drama that many would think elite families could have. Theo was a smart protagonist who you wanted her to get her answers.

If you’re looking for a thriller novel full of deep rooted family secrets, twists, a little romance, and a eerie winter scenery, A Killing Cold is one you don’t want to miss! I absolutely loved the winter setting of this book! There were a lot of characters to keep straight throughout the book, however, they’re all well connected to the story line once you get them straight. I loved the ruthlessness of Theo especially; she is definitely a character you can’t help but root for!

I have an utter weakness for thrillers set against a wintery backdrop. It lends such a pulse-pounding element to a suspense read - the feeling of being closed off, exposed, with nowhere to hide. Kate Alice Marshall completely delivered in A Killing Cold. I couldn't look away from the disturbing family dynamic, the secrets, the evil lurking in the shadows. Twist after twist kept me turning the pages at record speed. If you're putting together a list of perfect winter reads, you're definitely going to want to add this to your line-up!

4.5 stars

When Theo and Connor get engaged, Connor decides to bring his fiance to his the mountain estate to meet his entire family. Theo does not receive the warm welcoming she had hoped for, and it is clear that Connor's family is skeptical of her at best. Even worse, Theo has been receiving ominous and threatening texts to stay away from Connor. Theo, who has secrets of her own, starts to wonder what it is that she is being warned away from-- does it have to do with things from her own past? Then, in an old abandoned cabin, Theo finds the unimaginable-- a picture of herself as a child. Suddenly she begins to wonder if coming to the estate was intentional.

Kate Alice Marshall reliably writes twisty thrillers, and A Killing Cold was no exception. I love a rich family full of secrets, and an isolated (almost locked in) type setting-- it makes for an ideal spot for thrillers. The dysfunctional family aspects and nonlinear timelines also made this an enjoyable read, as we were left guessing until the very end.

3.5 rounded up

I love Kate Alice Marshall’s books. But this was a very slow burn. Only until around 60% did I feel like it picked up. The story was pretty new and unique but at times the writing lost me. When the chapters have a break, you don’t know who’s talking and it can get confusing.