I will read anything that Kate Alice Marshall writes. Theo feels out of her depth with the Dalton Family. They are rich and powerful and she is now spending time at their winter retreat. Theo has a tumultuous history with a fragmented memory - she hasn't even shared details she remembers with her fiance, Connor Dalton. While at the winter retreat, Idlewood, she starts to remember things while also receiving threatening messages. Is she ready to find out what really happened when she was a child? 4/5 stars.

Meeting your soon-to-be in-laws can be deadly. Good narration. Story keeps you moving through and trying to figure out who to trust.

The temps are beginning to climb and since we’re heading into May, I figured I should probably get this wintery thriller off my netgalley shelf! Ha! I really enjoyed Kate Alice Marshall’s last two books, so reading her latest, A KILLING COLD was a no-brainer for me.

I’m one of those crazy people who actually enjoys winter, so the setting was a major plus for me. A secluded family retreat in the middle of the winter? Yes, please! The author did a fantastic job describing the surroundings which gave off the best atmospheric vibes. Check out this chilling premise:

“𝘈 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘧𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦’𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵—𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘦’𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦, 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘓𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘴.”

READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:

- Rich people behaving badly
- Secrets and lies galore
- Family drama and dynamics
- Slow-burning mysteries
- Isolated retreat in the woods
- Wintery setting and vibes
- Unlikable characters
- Locked-room thrillers

I absolutely loved the slow build of the mysterious storyline mixed with flashbacks and memories from the female protagonist. It added the perfect amount of suspense and intrigue that kept me guessing all the way to the end. I didn’t trust a single member of that family and pointed a finger at everyone on the property!

Karissa Vacker is the narrator, so I HIGHLY recommend the audio version of this book. She’s quickly becoming one of my faves for thrillers—she has the perfect voice for it!

Once again, the conclusion kinda ruined things for me. What is it with thrillers lately? I feel like authors are trying to win a prize for the most shocking twists and turns. They pile them on one after another at the end, and quite frankly, I’m over it. I’d much prefer a simpler, more believable ending. You know, something that doesn’t give me whiplash!!! With all that said, I’m going with 3.5/5 stars for A KILLING COLD!

I was fortunate enough to receive both a digial and audio ARC of A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall. I alternated between the two & enjoyed both of them immensely. This one has danger, secrets, twists, and turns - excellent read/listen!! A solid 4 star title for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, & the publisher for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A Killing Cold was great on audio! I really enjoyed Karissa's narration, and this was a fast-paced thriller with twists and turns galore! I loved the contrast of the wealthy family and the bleak cabin setting, and the main character having amnesia meant she learned things as we did. This was a really compelling thriller, and I will definitely read more from Kate!

Thank you to Flatiron and Macmillan Audio for the gifted ALC. All thoughts are my own.

A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall was so fun. I love a locked room book and this one delivered - the shifting perspectives added to the unease. I felt like it was a bit slow at first, but the claustrophobia and suspense really pulled me in. Theo (who had some amnesia from her childhood) is newly engaged to Connor, and they go to Dalton family sprawl known as Idlewood. There are lots of secrets in addition to the fact that Theo has been there before! She had been receiving threatening messages to stay away from Connor. There was a whole cast of characters, but I wanted to know a few of them a little bit better (Alexis was intriguing). The ending actually really surprised me - I was lulled into thinking that I had figured it out, but I really loved it.

Karissa Vacker is an amazing narrator, especially with multiple voices. She was able to keep the voices clear for the reader and really pulled me in. Diction was clear and pacing was consistent. Overall, a great listen.

My first Alice Marshall book and I really enjoyed it. The twists and reveals were well thought out and written. Kept me guessing.

A Killing Cold is a chilling, atmospheric thriller that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go. Kate Alice Marshall masterfully weaves together suspense, mystery, and a chilling sense of isolation, creating a nail-biting experience from start to finish. With rich, evocative prose and characters whose secrets slowly unravel, the tension builds to a breaking point that will leave you breathless. This isn’t just a story about a murder—it's about the darkness within and how far people will go to protect their truths.

Gripping, haunting, and completely absorbing—A Killing Cold is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and mysteries that keep you guessing until the very last page.

In A Killing Cold, Kate Alice Marshall delivers a chilling thriller that masterfully blends romance, buried family secrets, and the haunting power of memory. This is the second novel I’ve read by Marshall, and once again, her talent for crafting atmospheric suspense and emotionally layered characters shines through.

The story follows Thea, a resilient young woman shaped by a traumatic past and the foster system, who finds love and stability with Connor Dalton. But a trip to his family’s remote mountain estate quickly unravels into a nightmare. When Thea discovers a childhood photo of herself in the Dalton home, long-suppressed memories resurface, forcing her to confront a terrifying truth buried in the snowbound landscape—and within Connor’s family.

Marshall expertly weaves a taut psychological thriller, where the line between memory and madness blurs and the emotional stakes are as intense as the mystery itself. Thea is a compelling protagonist whose determination to uncover the truth makes for a gripping, emotionally resonant read.

A Killing Cold is a beautifully written, twist-filled suspense novel—perfect for fans of atmospheric thrillers with strong female leads. Marshall continues to prove herself a standout voice in the genre.

A good atmospheric thriller ride!

Theodora Scott meets Connor Dalton, sparking a belief in love at first sight. The couple quickly becomes inseparable. After six months together, Connor invites her to his wealthy family’s retreat, Idlewood. Theo is nervous about meeting his family, and she’s right to feel uneasy. Upon arriving, she finds no one making an effort to include or welcome her. To make matters worse, she receives cryptic messages warning her to stay away from Connor. Strangely, she also feels an inexplicable sense of familiarity with the place and finds herself drawn to an empty cabin called Dragonfly. Her dragonfly tattoo only deepens the mystery—what’s the connection?

I listened to the audio version of A Killing Cold, which helped me keep track of the characters across present-day scenes and flashbacks. The novel delivered several twists—some I anticipated, others caught me off guard. I also appreciated the denouement; it felt satisfying without being overly perfect.

This is my second book by Kate Alice Marshall, having enjoyed What Lies in the Woods as well. I’m eager to read more of her work.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Macmillan Audio via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun suspenseful book and I enjoyed reading it! I liked the twists and turns and had fun guessing what was going to happen next. I received a free copy of this book from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

It was hard to like the characters in the book, but that was the point. Pointing fingers and everyone and wondering who to trust and who not to really made this story. Sometimes I struggle when I don’t feel like I can connect to characters but this one was worth the read.

I love Karissa Vacker. She’s one of my favorite narrators and I’m always drawn to the books she narrates. She definitely didn’t disappoint with this one.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for my copy of this book.

I felt like this started out strong for me and then it just kinda dragged too far and I lost interest near the end. Was hoping for more

The newest Kate Alice Marshall to keep me on my toes!

I enjoyed the twists and turns of this audiobook, trying to figure out who was sending the messages and how did they know the FMC's true identity? It reminded me a lot of the movie "ready or not", however I felt like that movie had a more satisfying ending. There was a lot of emphasis on how short their relationship was, to the point of overkill. Overall ok, I really liked the narration but the ending fell a bit flat.

Oh, my goodness! I did not see these twists and turns coming. I absolutely enjoyed reading through this. There were so many little clues along the way, and yet, you are almost shocked at the reveal.

Get ready for a tromp through the snow, and a cold-hearted villain.

This was another quick and twisty novel from Kate Alice Marshall. She has a way of setting up a story that will bring a reader in right away! I inhaled this novel from start to finish. The relationship between the main characters allowed for me to get sucked into the family drama.

The narration was great and clear to follow, a solid audiobook!

Good cozy mystery. Had great potential but fell a little flat. Overall did enjoy it and would recommend as a holiday mystery as it takes place around Christmas.

This was a solid 4 star read for me. A wealthy family with lots of secrets, and lots of twists and turns up until the end.

A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall

Theo and Connor are excited for their future and when Connor brings Theo to his family's winter retreat… She is a little apprehensive. It’s only been 6 months and the threatening messages haven't dissuaded her either but there is something eerily familiar about the place… A place she should never have seen but then why is there a photo of herself as a child hidden in a part of the retreat no one is called to go into anymore?

The whole story was a tad far fetched but I couldn’t help getting sucked right in. It was twisty and turning and it was totally gripping! The narration was really well done and I felt absolutely connected and invested in the story… Downside? The ending. If you can suspend your disbelief… You will likely enjoy the heck out of it but… I still just can’t with Connor. I feel like the jokes on me.

The writing was amazing and I wish the ending had gone a different way, a better way of tying it all together because all the elements were there. I also don’t care much for snow stuff so when I reread it… I will read in the summer haha.

4 stars

Theo, newly engaged after a typical whirlwind romance, joins her uber-wealthy fiance at his family’s mountain retreat to celebrate the holidays. The caveat, of course, is that this is not a family that welcomes outsiders - especially not the sort that might threaten to unearth some long buried family secrets. Theo has some secrets of her own, too. A familiar premise, including a snowstorm that leaves them isolated.

There is a chance that thrillers just aren’t for me, which is peculiar given my fondness for mysteries, but alas - here we are. Too many twists, too many coincidences, too much violence against women. Not for me but I suspect I am the anomaly here. Perfect for readers of thrillers.

That being said, the audiobook narrator was skilled and I found the pacing of the narration to be well done.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy. All opinions are entirely my own.