The Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall presents a chilling mystery set against the backdrop of a remote, icy landscape. The story follows Theo Scott, a woman haunted by a hidden past. When she travels with her fiancé to his family's remote winter retreat in an attempt to win them over, Theo is shocked to find evidence that this may not be the first time she has visited the Dalton's Idlewood estate. Marshall skillfully weaves together suspense and atmospheric detail, painting a vivid picture of the harsh environment and the secrets it holds. The plot unfolds at a steady pace, revealing clues and red herrings that keep the reader guessing until the very end.

While the mystery itself is compelling, The Killing Cold also explores deeper themes of the weight of the past. The isolated setting amplifies Theo's feelings of vulnerability and isolation ultimately bringing her face to face with a truth she had buried deep within and forgotten. Marshall raises thought-provoking questions about the nature of justice, the power of forgiveness, and what actually makes a family. However, at times the thematic elements feel slightly cliché and underwhelming by the end.

Overall, The Killing Cold is a gripping thriller that will appeal to fans of suspense and mystery. While it may not present a truly shocking story as some readers might prefer, the atmospheric setting, intriguing plot, and well-crafted characters make it a worthwhile read. If you enjoy stories that combine chills with thought-provoking undertones, this book is definitely worth checking out.

The audio production was well done and the narrator did a great job.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ALC!

This book was the perfect suspenseful, winter-y thriller!

I have read 2 other books by Kate Alice Marshall and really enjoyed them! So needless to say, I had high hopes going into this one.

What I liked about this one:
-This one kept me entertained throughout the entire story. I kept wanting to know what was next & what was going to happen.
-There was lots of unexpected twists!!
-It was fairly fast paced and hard to put down. It made it easy to get into and I think it would be a great reading-slump buster!

What I didn't like:
-There were too many characters. I felt like it was hard to keep them all sorted at times.

Overall, this book was perfect for a nice wintery snow day! I have been in need of another good thriller and this one did not miss. It is full of suspense and unlikeable characters and leaves you constantly wondering 'who done it'!

Great winter thriller that kept me entertained the whole time. I really enjoyed the internal struggle of the narrator as she tries to solve the lifelong mystery that is unfolding around her. I would definitely recommend this book.

This book had me from the very start! I remember really enjoying What Lies in the Woods so I was very excited to get an advance copy of this to listen and it did not disappoint.

Theo is off to the mountains to meet her new fiance's very rich and powerful family. They are less than thrilled to meet her especially since she comes from a sketchy at best background. Theo has very few memories of her childhood and knows nothing about her life before adoption. However once she gets to the mountains memories start coming back to her.

I was so invested in all of the characters in this but especially Theo's backstory. Just when I thought I figured out the twist, something twisted even more. I also loved the cold setting being as it's the middle of winter and it's been bitterly cold. It really made me feel like I was there.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance audio in exchange for an honest review. I would most definitely recommend this one, and the audio was fantastic - this was so thrilling to me that I feel like the physical read would have been just as good!

I really wanted to love this one because the premise sounded so good, but I unfortunately did not love this one. I listened to it in three days and I still couldn't tell you much of what happened. Maybe it's because I've read so many thrillers that I just don't enjoy them the same way I used to? I was never attached to the characters and didn't care what happened to them and I never got sucked into the story like I wanted to. I can see how others, especially readers who don't read a ton of thrillers, but this wasn't for me.

ARC provided by Macmillian in exchange for an honest review. Thank you very much!

A Killing Cold has to be the fastest I've consumed a book — this thriller was unputdownable. I absolutely adored the secrets, twists, turns, and reveals from this story, every single chapter left me gagged. I was entertained the entire time, definitely recommend over her previous books. Theo and Connor, in a way, had similar vibes to the couple in the 2019 horror movie Ready or Not (view spoiler)

There were some minor issues I had like the large cast of supporting characters at times was difficult to keep track of who's who as well as the ending felt a little too wrapped up for me personally but this was a much needed fun thriller from the last few books I've read.

Was excited to receive this audiobook for review. The narrator did a great job with all the characters. She really set the scene and made the story for me.

Theo is set to spend the holiday break at her fiancés secluded winter cabins. She keeps having recurring dreams and suddenly the cabins are starting to look familiar. Is this really her first time there? As she starts exploring, she uncovers secrets and the truth is finally revealed.

I enjoyed this listen and I do recommend the audiobook. I believe the narrator did a great job and just made the story really *pop*.

Thank you to Netgalley and Flatiron Books for this audiobook ARC in exchange for a honest review. A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall hits shelves on February 4, 2025.

This is my second book by Kate Alice Marshall
And both thrillers were so good. This book has just about everything that makes a good thriller. Twists, turns and many lies.
It was gripping from the start. So many different outcomes with a twist you won’t see coming!

I’m a big fan of Kate Alice Marshall but I have to be honest, this one just didn’t grip me… I enjoyed the setting, but the pace felt drawn out and the characters didn’t couldn’t hold my attention, and the mystery generally speaking wasn’t all that thrilling.

The narration here is terrific. The story just didn’t quite work for me. It seemed so much like others I’ve read and the twists weren’t overly surprising. It was just okay for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC.

I simply adore Karissa Vacker’s performance. She’s brilliant.

This story was addictive. Listened in a day (at a 2x speed). It was just twisty enough, cold enough, and fun.

🎧 Book Review 🎧 Imagine meeting your fiancé’s family but it comes with a dire warning to stay away from him. But when your life has been rife with trauma and mysteries, leaving you no choice but to immerse yourself in an identity that is one giant lie, it’s hard to know when to stay and when to leave. So many questions arise for the Dalton kin as Connor brings his fiance to meet the wealthy family at their compound.
Why the quick engagement between Theo and Connor?
Who is Theo and why does Idlewood bring back lost memories?
Why is there a photograph of young Theo in one of the cabins?

These are just a few of the strange coincidences that arise when Theo escapes to meet her future in-laws in a place that shouldn’t be so familiar…

Kate Alice Marshall has written a deliciously dark and twisted psychological thriller, filled with family secrets and characters that leave you questioning where the truth lies. Readers are in for an immersive and enthralling experience when her writing is paired with the pristine narration by Karissa Vacker in this new audiobook!

This book was very good. The audiobook was narrated well. I did have a hard time keeping up with characters, but that might have just been me listening to it instead of reading. All in all, I would definitely recommend. I now have a new author.

With the premise of a wealthy family keeping secrets and an isolated winter retreat, this book sounded like the perfect winter thriller! Karissa Vacker killed the narration per usual (she is my favorite!) and I enjoyed my listen largely due to her stellar narration and the fast paced plot. As far as thrillers go, this book was good but not great. The twists were not wildly shocking to me and unfortunately nothing about the story was particularly memorable. However, this may be a matter of personal preference and A Killing Cold may be just the book for readers looking for a quick winter read!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for early access to the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

This was a highly anticipated release that I was seeing lots of hype over, and I’m happy to say it lived up to the hype!!

I had an ALC and really enjoyed it! I liked the narrators. Felt like it added to the story!

I loved the remote setting of the book, loved the family business elements and the lengths they would go to protect themselves.

I feel like the story had me predicting very early on thinking I might know what or who was at play (I did not!) Every time I thought I figured out how the story was going to unfold there was a new surprise or twist I didn’t see coming, right up to the end. These are my favourite kind of books!!

Add to TBR now! It’s a great one during the winter/holidays if you can get a copy!!

Thank you for the copy @Macmillanaudio

I really liked Kates last book so I was excited to get my hands on this. Unfortunately this was a miss for me. I tried many times but couldn’t get into it.

Connor and Theo have only been dating six months but they sure it’s something serious. Connor takes Theo out to his family cabin in the woods. Coincidentally this cabin brings up a lot of memories and questions about Theos childhood.

I had a few problems with this book that really didn’t work for me.

First it seemed really unrealistic that she would meet and fall in love with someone from her childhood.

I also felt like there was a lot of back and forth of what she did and didn’t remember.


Overall this was a miss for me but I see a lot of people like it so it’s probably just me.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Kate Alice Marshall has solidified herself as a favorite author for me. I love the twists and turns and the suspense she is able to build in her writing, her newest book A Killing Cold is no exception!

A Killing Cold Review:
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Thank you @flatiron_books and @macmillan.audio #MacAudio2025 for my gifted copies. ⁣
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“Moving fast is the only way to stay alive.”⁣
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Holy pedal to the floor. We have my favorite, locked room mystery with a snowy and cold disposition. There’s a secret and history. The powerful and the wealthy will do anything to keep their secrets hidden. As the story unravels, so do our characters bit by bit. ⁣
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You wanted Theo to get out girl, but also wanted to know why everything fit into place and gave her answers. This is one that will always keep you guessing. Even with the big reveal, you still want to see what explosive revelations happens next. ⁣
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I binged the audio in 24 hours. One of my favorite readers, Karissa Vacker, brings this suffocating locked room to life. You physically feel the sadness and confusion and then anger as the story unfolds. Best audio hands down. I love doing chores and projects while listening, and this was such a fun craft to do while listening to this wild audio.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this alc.

I enjoyed all Kate Alice Marshall’s books and this one was no exception. We follow the story of a woman named Theodora who got engaged very fast to a very wealthy man from an influential family. She meets his fiancé’s family in this isolated estate where she is going to find out a lot of information about her own past.

Theodora starts questioning whether it was a set up for her or just a coincidence. I love family drama and secrets. The author gives hints and pieces for you to put together along the way. A great read before winter slips away. If you want a book to binge, A Killing Cold is a killer choice.

3.5 ⭐️’s
When Theo agrees to go to her fiancé’s isolated, wooded retreat for Christmas, she immediately has a sense of Deja vu. Why do things feel familiar? Why is Connor’s family so anxious to get rid of her? Is her life in danger? As the week progresses, Theo starts to put the pieces together, but the more she knows, the more frightened she becomes. Will she be able to make it off the isolated snowy mountain alive? This was a listen for me and while I love the voice of Karissa Vacker, I felt that there were just too many coincidences to make the story believable. Still enjoyable, just not believable. Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.