Let’s paint the picture of this story: secluded winter retreat filled with wealthy people that will do anything to hide their secrets. Add in repetitive narrative, unlikeable toxic characters and overall, my opinion is an outlier.

While not a new premise, the snowy secluded backdrop did give some edge to this story. Where I struggled was the suspense felt forced and the story unrealistic. I did finish the book, but I almost wish I hadn’t. You know the thrillers where the twist actually ruins the story for you? This is that book. It just didn’t add up.

One of the saving graces is Karissa Vacker as the narrator. She does a superb job of embodying the character of Theo. I don’t think I could have enjoyed any of this book if it weren’t for her. She has a skill for embracing suspense and is one of the best female thriller narrators out there!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this digital ARC & ALC. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for a copy of this audiobook in advance for an honest review.

I had an incredibly hard time liking this book. I have read and enjoyed two of her others, so I was excited to see what she pulled out of her back pocket. I listened to most of it, so it was hard to follow the characters vs what timeline we were in. All the characters were unlikeable and quite frankly annoying. I finished listening to this a day ago and couldn't tell you what the big twist was. I think the plot just fell flat for me and I was unimpressed by the end. Because I liked her other books, I am interested in continuing to read her releases, I just think this book was not for me. I do think the narrator, Karissa Vacker, did a good job.

*A Killing Cold* had an intriguing premise, but it didn’t quite pull me in. At first, I expected the usual rushed relationship-turned-deadly plot, and while the book didn’t go exactly in that direction, it still felt like familiar thriller territory. The pacing dragged at times—by the 75% mark, I thought the story was wrapping up, only to realize there were still two more hours left in the audiobook.

Theo, the protagonist, wasn’t particularly unlikeable, but I struggled to connect with her. The twists were there, but by the time they happened, I wasn’t invested enough for them to have much impact. Overall, it wasn’t a bad read, but it didn’t leave a lasting impression.

I’ve really enjoyed every book by this author that I’ve picked up, and A Killing Cold was no different. This was perfect to read during January in Wisconsin and the winter atmosphere was done wonderfully.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall.

Theodora (Theo) is joining her fiancé for a visit with his family at a winter retreat. Between their suspicions of her and the web of family secrets, Theo is caught in the middle.

I enjoyed the twists and turns. The unraveling of one lie that’s attached to another. It’s a very intricate web. Sticky, messy and you can’t get away from it. I felt the author did a great job of balancing information, emotions and build up of suspense and mystery.

The narrator keeps you emotionally and mentally engaged throughout this whole story. She did a great job!

I feel there should be trigger warnings regarding certain circumstances. Above all, I highly recommend for a mystery/ thriller.

I listened to A Killing Cold on audiobook as a NetGalley ARC (which I requested because it was offered as a BOTM pick). Thrillers, and especially closed-circle thrillers, are not my favorite genre because I feel like they are just all the same. I've got the same complaints I usually do -- none of the characters are particularly likable to the point that I find it hard to even care who did what. However, I will say that I found it interesting to eventually discover WHY each character made the decisions that they made.

A Killing Cold is an atmospheric thriller with plenty of twists and turns and an amazing amount of rich people behaving badly. So much fun!

The narration is superb and adds to the anxiety inducing suspense. I really enjoyed this audiobook.

Thanks to @Macmillan.Audio , @goodreads and @flatiron_books for the #gifted copies of this book.

Summary: Theodora Scott met and became engaged to Connor Dalton all within 6 months. As they do every winter, Connor brings Theo to his family's isolated retreat for her to meet the family. Before arriving at the retreat, Theo had been getting threatening messages to stay away from Connor, and they have only increased since they arrived at the retreat. Theo brushes them to the side until she sees the footprints near their cabin window as well as the crazy sense of being at the retreat before. As time continues at the cabin, Theo begins to discover much more than she ever anticipated.

My Thoughts: Oooh, this one was fun!! I am not one to have my thrillers super tense and scary, but Kate Alice Marshall's books give me the perfect balance of mystery and jumpiness. This one had me guessing from page 1 and not trusting a soul the whole time. It was so hard to figure everything out since Theo was certainly hiding parts of her history, not to mention her forgotten memories of the past. I loved being right there with her, discovering parts of her past while memories began to surface through dreams. The puzzle pieces were fun to put together while the story continued, and honestly, I was guessing up until the very end of the book. I loved this one a lot!!
🎧Karissa Vacker did a fantastic job with the audio. Her pace makes this a very easy listening experience. At times, I felt like it was a movie playing before me or that I was right in the scene with Theo. I highly suggest checking out the audio on this one.

Read if you love:
❄️Thrillers
❄️Family Drama
❄️Twists you don't see coming
❄️Winter Setting

I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it. It reminded me of the movie Your Next and the book The Family Game by Catherine Steadman (which I highly recommend).

This book is about Theodora Scott who is in a relationship with Connor Dalton, who comes from a wealthy family. They both fall hard and fast and our engaged to be married. Six months into their relationship, Connor takes her to his families isolated winter retreat in Idlewood to try and win over his relatives that are not sure about her intentions. Leading up to this trip, Theodora "Theo" starts receiving text messages tell her to stay away from Connor Dalton. While she ignores these text messages, once she gets to Idlewood, weird things start happening and she starts to think that theh family is out to get her. While walking around Idlewood, Theo ends up in a disused cabin, and finds a photo of herself as a child with Connors late father. And the picture was taken at Idlewood. Theo has no recollection of this event, but as she begins putting the pieces together, her memories start to come back. Because the Dalton's are powerful and do not lose, Theo starts to think that she has become the prey to Connor's family.

This book was a lot of fun to listen to and kept me hooked from the beginning. There were a lot of secrets and plot twists that keeps you wanting to know what happens. This was a great book to read this time of year with the winter setting. All the characters are untrustworthy, and Marshall had me guessing whodunit the entire time. This is definitely a quick binge read and I would definitely recommend to thriller lovers.

Read if you like:
-Whodunit vibes
-Untrustworthy characters
-secluded winter setting
-locked door thriller
-plot twists

Thank you @macmillan.audio for the #gifted copy.

I was fortunate to be approved for the audiobook version of A Killing Cold by Kate Marshall. I thoroughly enjoyed the narrator, Karissa Vicker, in both the female and male voices. The story was a quick "listen" and kept me invested in the plot. The plot was intriguing as the main character goes to a remote and luxurious estate to meet her wealthy fiancé's family for the first time. Secrets, lies and betrayals are carefully discovered as the audiobook moves on. I have not read any other books by this author but I now plan to. I wish to thank the publisher, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC. I highly recommend the book.

❄A KILLING COLD by Kate Alice Marshall❄
Narrated by: Karissa Vacker
Published by: Macmillan Audio
❄❄❄
Cold-blooded murder meets a chilling winter thriller. If you are into unreliable narrators, secrets, and the rich behaving badly, this one's for you! Shout out to @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for this Advanced Listener Copy out for all to read with either your eyes or your ears.

Vacker steels the show again in this audiobook. Her range and emotions bring any story she reads to life.

After a whirlwind romance, Theodora is heading to Idlewood, a remote winter retreat, to meet Connor’s family. After their arrival, strange things start to happen. Theo starts receiving strange text messages, there are footprints outside her cabin, and then she finds a photo of herself as a child. How can this be? She doesn’t have any memory of this place but yet something is familiar.

Theo is a character which is a bit of an enigma. At one point in this tale, you think she is a bit of a villain. But, as the story moves along, you realize how damaged she really is and then the secrets start to unfold.

This is a story that immediately draws you in. The isolated setting, the weird vibes from the family and the secrets create an intense and creepy story that you just can’t stop reading.

I have read another book by this author, What Lies in the Wood. It is an amazing read as well!

The narrator Karissa Vacker is one of my favorites and she is excellent with this thriller!

Need a fast moving, intense thriller with a twisted ending…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

Not a thriller reader but lately I have hit gold with several titles. This is one of them. I listened to the audio which was wonderfully done and added some dimension to the characters. This is a locked room mystery but not the traditional sense where someone dies and then you figure it out. A family comes together on their private mountain to enjoy a Christmas holiday retreat and meet the new fiancé. The story is told form the fiancé point of view and she has a past that slowly reveals itself. The family is uber rich and also has a past. You are guessing for quite a while and then the author keeps twisting the story. You think you know, then you don't but then that person isn't fully eliminated either. It is an fast read but lots of moving parts to all the stories, I highly recommend if you want a palate cleanser or if you are one who really enjoys thrillers.

I'd like to thank the publisher and author, firstly, for my free ALC. Thank you!

3.5 stars

This book kept me invested from page one, but sadly, it lost me towards the end. I feel like the way things developed was not only anti-climatic, but also a bit unbelievable. I was expecting somewhat more chills, considering the title of the book.

Again, the author did a great job capturing my attention and keeping me hooked but the ending was underwhelming for me.

A Killing Cold is a gripping mystery novel that immerses readers in an atmospheric, chilling setting while weaving an intricate tale of suspense and intrigue. The novel follows the investigation of a series of murders in a small, snowbound town, where every resident seems to harbor a secret. The harsh winter conditions serve as both a backdrop and an obstacle, heightening the tension and adding to the sense of isolation.
What I Liked
One of the strongest aspects of A Killing Cold is its setting. The author does an excellent job of painting a vivid picture of the icy landscape, making the reader feel the bitter cold with every page. The descriptions of the blizzard and its impact on the characters effectively enhance the novel's suspense.
The protagonist is well-developed, with a compelling backstory that adds depth to their motivations and actions. Their interactions with the townspeople feel authentic, and the small-town dynamics create an additional layer of intrigue. The pacing is well-maintained, with enough twists and turns to keep the reader engaged throughout.
Additionally, the novel’s climax is particularly well-executed. The tension builds up steadily, culminating in a satisfying and unexpected resolution that ties up loose ends without feeling forced.
What I Didn’t Like
While the mystery itself is engaging, some of the supporting characters feel underdeveloped. A few key suspects blend together due to a lack of distinguishing characteristics, making it difficult to keep track of their roles in the story.
Another area that could be improved is the dialogue. At times, the conversations between characters feel a bit stiff or overly expository, particularly when revealing clues. More natural dialogue could enhance immersion and make the character interactions more engaging.
The novel also occasionally relies on predictable tropes, such as the detective with a troubled past and the isolated town full of secrets. While these elements are executed competently, a more unique twist on these familiar themes would help distinguish the book from similar mystery novels.
Conclusion
Overall, A Killing Cold is a solid mystery novel that successfully creates a chilling atmosphere and keeps readers invested in the investigation. While there are areas for improvement, particularly in character development and dialogue, the book remains an engaging and suspenseful read. Fans of winter-set mysteries and small-town intrigue will likely find it an enjoyable addition to the genre.

A Killing Cold is a fast paced popcorn thriller that grabbed my attention from the first chapter.

Theodora Scott has had a troubled life and can’t remember details of her childhood before she was adopted. One day fate intervenes, she meets Conner and they get engaged. Theo travels to her fiancées country home during winter vacation to meet his wealthy family. Soon secrets from the past are exposed and Theo can finally begin piecing together her memory.

I enjoyed listening to the narrator on this book, Karissa Vacker. Her pacing was good and she did well distinguishing between characters.

I really liked the plot of this book and that it had several twists that weren’t too predictable. I was surprised that this book contained a little bit of spice. I loved the setting of the story. My only critique for this book was how Theo and Conner met again as adults by coincidence, it was a bit far-fetched in my opinion. Kate Alice Marshall books are always a pleasant and fun read. This was a great winter thriller to cozy up with!

Trigger warnings: mentions and/or some description of murder, violence, domestic violence, suicide, and animal death.

Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, Flatiron books and Kate Alice Marshall for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion and authentic review.

I really enjoyed this book it kept me guessing up until the very end. I’m still trying to decide if Nick was Theo’s father? It was kind of slow at times but the author did well at keeping the reader interested and wanting to keep reading. I really enjoyed her other books as well. Thank you so much for the advanced copy of the audio book.

I’m always thankful to be apart of Macmillan Audio’s influencer program but this book was a miss for me. I didn’t like Kate Alice Marshall’s previous book What Lies in the Woods. Gave her another shot. The premise of it was interesting. However, the story was very hard to follow on audio. Even after just finishing it I can’t even tell you who was who character wise and what happens. Just bits and pieces. I hated the vivid descriptions of animal hunting and what happens to the dead animals. I guess I should have looked up trigger/content warnings in regard to this so that part is my fault. I just don’t think this author is for me. This is the same review I have done on Goodreads, which. Is also linked below.

A Killing Cold
by Kate Alice Marshall
Narrated by Karissa Vacker

I really enjoyed A Killing Cold. It was a unique, fast-paced story that kept me guessing until the very end. Theo and Connor travel to Connor's family property for the holidays. Recently engaged, this is Theo's first time meeting everyone. Once they arrive, things start to feel...familiar. Theo is adopted and hasn't had an easy life. She's never been to the property before, or at least she doesn't think that she has. As time goes on, she starts remebering things. Things that don't make sense. Connor's family isn't exactly the most welcoming, so she has to try and figure things out on her own. I dont' want to give any more of the stroy away, but this kept me listening and excited to find out what happend next. Karissa Vacker did a great job narrating and really brought life to the characters and the story. I can't wait to listen to Ms. Marshall's next story!

Thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and the author for the chance to review this ARC!

Both Theodora and Connor Dalton have secrets from each other. At the isolated family holiday retreat, Theo is welcomed with suspicion by the wealthy Dalton family. Secrets soon start spilling and it becomes obvious that someone from Connor’s family doesn’t want Theo there. I could never pass up on a book narrated by Karissa Vacker and this one was amazing from start to finish. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.