Theo has no memory of her life before she was adopted, only a haunting nightmare she’s never been able to understand. When she travels with her wealthy fiancé to his family's remote mountain estate, fragments of memory begin to surface, and Theo’s past may be far closer than she realized. As old secrets begin to come to light, she must confront the chilling question: is this all just coincidence, or is something more sinister going on?

This is a gripping psychological thriller that will keep readers constantly reevaluating what they believe to be true, right along side the protagonist. The audiobook enhances the suspense with a good performance from the narrator, whose measured pacing builds tension. She handles a wide range of characters with skill, seamlessly voicing men and women of all ages in a way that deepens characterization. A highly engaging listen for fans of atmospheric mysteries and thrillers with a sharp emotional edge.

I really liked this one! I'm so glad that I didn't read the synopsis beforehand because it totally gives away way too much. Since I didn't know what was about to happen, I definitely had an "oh sh!t!" moment. One particular part of the book grabbed me and made me want to binge the rest of the book so I do recommend going into this one blind if you can.

I also love messy rich families and "lockedish" room thrillers so this one checked all the boxes. The book was just tense enough with enough reveals throughout to keep me super engaged. I'm glad I had both the ARC and ALC so rotate between so I could always keep the story going until I finished. The narration by Karissa Vacker was great, as always!

Thank you Flatiron Books, NetGalley, and Macmillan Audio for my ARC/ALC.

I really wanted to love A Killing Cold. The setting is moody, the premise is strong, and Kate Alice Marshall definitely knows how to write atmosphere. But the pacing? That’s where it lost me a bit.

The book starts off with a great hook, and you expect things to ramp up quickly... but instead, it kind of meanders. There’s a lot of internal reflection and slow buildup, which can work in a character-driven mystery, but here it felt like the tension kept stalling just when it should’ve taken off. Some chapters dragged, and I found myself waiting for something big to actually happen.

By the time the plot picks up again, it’s almost too late and the momentum never fully recovers. It’s not a bad book by any means, but if you're someone who likes your thrillers with tight pacing and steady reveals, this one might feel a bit sluggish.

That said, I really enjoyed the audiobook, thanks to Karissa Vacker’s narration. She brings just the right emotional tone and nuance to the story, which helped me stay engaged even when the plot lagged. If you're on the fence about reading this one, the audio version definitely gives it an extra edge.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kate Alice Marshall and Macmillian Audio for this aArc. All thoughts and opinions are of my own in exchange for an honest and thoughtful review.

Another banger from Kate Alice Marshall, I just love her addicting thrillers. An auto buy author for me at this point, I just gobble her writing up. If you need a read-in=a-day, get hooked immediately with one of her titles.

This book is the definitive of do whatever you have to do in order to protect your family…. Even if they killed someone. I enjoyed the way the book went back and forth with the timeline and we got snippets of Theo life without spoiling the plot twist. I thought I have it all figured out but nope! The multiple plot twist at the end was a bit confusing so I have to reread it a bit to keep up. Overall a good twist thriller.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a ARC in return for my honest review

This was a decent winter thriller where things start happening pretty much right away. I'm not really the biggest fan of sudden recovered memories in thrillers but it wasn't relied upon too much... more like an additional component to the story. The only other additional thing I'm going to say about this book is that I'm really really glad I'm not a part of this family!

Thank you to Flatiron Books and Macmillan Audio for the copies to review.

I loved a snowy locked room setting, and this did not disappoint. Families behaving badly is at the core of this thriller, and Theo has walked right into a hot mess. She is in love with Connor, they are engaged, and she just needs to meet his wealthy family. Easier said than done. They think she's after his money, but she needs to prove she is not. But she's been receiving texts, and she realizes not only are they hiding a secret, but this isn't her first time in Idlewood, their family retreat.

This was a wild ride, the audio was fantastic, and I listened in one setting. It was captivating from the start, had me on the edge of my seat at times, and I could not wait to see how it would end, which was incredibly satisfying when it did. If you have not read this one, I highly recommend it, it is incredibly addictive and I enjoyed it so much!

⛧A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall - Who killed who? Well, I'm not even sure this family knows the truth about all that, and they're the ones who were involved.

This audiobook is narrated by Karissa Vacker.

•Thank you to @macmillan.audio

A Killing Cold was entertaining, though a little frustrating at times and I felt the end was a little over the top. All in all, not my favorite by the author.

I was initially really drawn into this one because of the atmospheric setting in the rich family that seemed full of secrets, but as the book progressed I found myself losing interest in the family and just waiting for the secrets to be revealed. I didn't think that the family was as developed as it should have been so when the twists finally hit they didn't hit as hard as I would have liked. overall, I think this was pretty good but could have been improved upon. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Kate Alice Marshall is one of my favorite mystery/thriller authors in recent years. Her stories are so original and the twists are shocking, but not forced and I couldn’t guess any of them! I look forward to every new book she writes.

This one had me listening late into the night! A Killing Cold is a chilling, twisty mystery with just the right amount of slow-burn tension and emotional depth. It’s a great mix of psychological thriller and moody family drama, and it kept me guessing the whole way through. I love a thriller with a "locked door" setting such as an isolated location or weather conditions that make it difficult to leave.

Right away, you can feel something’s off, and Marshall does a great job building that tension. Theo is a great character—strong but vulnerable, and clearly haunted by something she can’t quite put her finger on. I found myself rooting for Theo. And the Dalton family? Let’s just say they’ve got secrets, and not everyone’s thrilled to have her there. The character development was superb. I felt that I truly got to know the main players.

The snowy, isolated setting adds so much to the vibe. It’s the kind of book that makes you want to curl up with a blanket and brace yourself. My only complaint is that the pacing dragged just a bit in the middle, but the suspense, emotional twists, and satisfying second half made up for it.

If you’re into thrillers with a mysterious past, family secrets, and a heroine you can root for, this one definitely delivers.

As usual, Karissa Vacker did a great job bringing this story to life.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

A Killing Cold was an atmospheric and gripping read that kept me hooked. The snowy, desolate setting was so vivid it felt like another character in the story, and the sense of isolation added a chilling layer to the mystery. The twists were clever, and while I guessed a couple, others completely caught me off guard.

Some parts could have used a bit more depth, especially when it came to character development, but overall, it was a fast-paced, satisfying thriller. Perfect for curling up on a cold evening with a warm blanket!

From the same author as WHAT LIES IN THE WOODS & NO ONE CAN KNOW comes this book A KILLING COLD. I really enjoyed this thriller! It’s perfect for winter with short chapters and a snowy setting. A true family drama with the power that comes with being wealthy and being willing to do anything to protect your family. This one had lots of twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. I highly recommend!

I have enjoyed all of Kate Alice Marshall's adult books and this was no exception.

In this story we follow Theodora Scott who is engaged to Conner, who comes from a very well to do family. They are going to one of the family homes for a visit and this is the first time Theo will be around all of Conner's family. When they get there, vibes are off and someone is texting Theo telling her to stay away from Conner. Conner's family aren't the only ones hiding something. Theo has secrets of her own that she is keeping from her soon to be husband.

I enjoyed this story and the narrator really brought it to life. This is a good choice if you have never read Kate Alice Marshall before or if you are a fan like I am.

I really enjoyed the narrator, her inflections and realistic conversational nuances kept me wanting to keep listening despite not being fully engaged in the plot.

There were some parts of Theo’s backstory I didn’t follow at first but Marshall does repeat important little notions you need to know to help piece the story together which was equally as helpful as it was slightly annoying.

A family drama mixed with an isolation winter thriller.

3.5 stars

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — Twisty, Chilly, and Full of Secrets

A Killing Cold was a thrilling listen from start to finish! The audiobook kept me hooked with its fast-paced plot, layered characters, and all the juicy secrets hiding behind wealthy facades. There were plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing, and I loved how the story unfolded with just the right balance of suspense and drama.

The cold, atmospheric setting added an extra chill to the mystery, and the narrator did a great job bringing the story to life. It felt like every character had something to hide, which made it all the more fun to try and figure out what was really going on.

I’m giving it 4 stars only because a few of the twists felt a bit over the top, but honestly, that was part of the fun. If you enjoy twisty mysteries with glamorous settings and dark secrets, this one's a great pick!
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Kate Alice Marshall is hands down an auto buy for me, every book she publishes just solidifies that even more.

If you're looking for a twisty, bone chilling, locked room thriller fully of secrets, lies, and deceit that keeps you on your toes the whole ride, this one is for you! I thought I knew where it was going numerous times and I was wrong each time.

I am not always the biggest fan of locked room mystery because they have been rather over done and aren't always as gripping to me, but Marshall did it correctly and I loved every second of it. The snowed in mountain retreat was a character of its own and I loved that, definitely added to the thrill and it won't have been as gripping without it.

I thoroughly enjoyed the narrator, I thought she did a fantastic job of adding to the story. I greatly enjoyed listening to the audio of this.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really love this author so I was excited to read this book! Unfortunately I was just not connecting with the book and the characters completely lost me and I could not keep track of who was who. I did like the overall concept of the story. the end felt rushed and I was a bit confused. Still enjoy this author no matter what.

This book had everything I need in a good suspense thriller. It had family drama, it had likes and secrets, it had a secluded location. It was twisty and dark, and it had me on the edge of my seat. This is the second book I read by this author, and I am sure I will read all of hers to come. This was a perfect thriller to me. It had great narration too, which I am sure added to my experience,
I will recommend this book and this author to all my thriller reading friends.