wow what a complex read honestly. literally so much happened and there were so many plot twists! i found that this story kept me on my toes and was quite easy to consume!

i liked the characters, and i felt like the longer i read the more i began to understand them. i wouldn't say i fully know what happened and why it happened, but in a way i think i like that. during the big finale ending i did find myself getting confused on who was who though lol. but like i said i quite enjoyed learning about each character. i think my favorites were theo, alexis, and connor. and the dog obviously.

this story was just enough equal parts spooky as it was thrilling and mysterious! like i mentioned, literally so much happens that it is hard to discuss this book. you need to go into it as blind as possible i think! also it makes for a perfect wintertime read!

i listened to this book on audio, and i thought the narrator did a great job! sometimes her voices for the men were a little silly, but they never took me out of the story or anything! I would definitely recommend checking out the audiobook!!

anywho i would absolutely recommend this book and i am so so so happy i got the chance to read and review this book for netgalley and Macmillan Audio! thank you so much for the opportunity!

prime story on how wealth can rupture sanity and morals. People will do anything to hide secrets and keep their reputation. I went into this without even reading the synopsis but so far Kate Marshall hasn’t disappointed. Her writing has improved every novel she comes out with!!

audiobook was so so good! it was easy to follow, the little kid voice really got me smiling at times. The book was mostly set in one location, with multiple characters however just one POV. So it was easy to follow along and gather background into each of the characters.

Theo is engaged to Connor, who is from an extrenly wealthy family. They are in their way to spend time at the family lodge, but when they get there, Theo knows that she’s been here before.

Through family secrets and murders, the past is revealed, and not everyone here is who they say they are.

I devoured this book and was continuously guessing who I thought did it and was never right!! So many potential suspects with this cast.

When Theo heads to her fiancés remote cabins for the holidays, she finds they are all hiding secrets. Including herself. Then memories start to return and she realizes she’s been here before.

This book did not take the turns I was expecting it to with how the beginning starts. I was pleased that I didn’t see several of the twist coming and it kept me guessing.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5/5)

“I am prey and prey is never safe.”

So I’ve now read 3 books by this author. I LOVED this one and 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗟𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗜𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘀, I wasn’t a fan of No One Can Know, I just couldn’t get into it, it wasn’t bad just wasn’t for me.

I think this author may have gone back to the style of WLITW in her latest because I was ALL IN with 𝗔 𝗞𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗱. I’m glad I decided to read another book by KAM, I was not disappointed.

I ordered this with my BOTM box and then also ended up snagging an audiobook as well, which was narrated by the amazing Karissa Vacker. She’s one of my fav audio narrators and was a perfect pick for this one.

I don’t wanna get into too much about the story itself because (1) I don’t wanna spoil anything and (2) I don’t know where to begin as this one has a lot of moving parts. Just know there are lots of secrets that come to light and everything isn’t what it seems. Oh and of course, as with most books in their genre you will not have any idea who to trust.

If you read and loved 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗟𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗜𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘀, but weren’t a fan of No One Can Know….don’t let that be your last impression of this author because this is one you won’t want to miss. Trust me. This one is absolutely worth the read.

The story follows a woman named Theo who goes home with her fiancé, Connor for the holidays. She quickly learns his family has a lot of secrets. I loved the isolated cabin setting and all the winter vibes. There’s rich people behaving badly, mystery, and so many twists. I was excited to see Karissa Vacker narrated this book and she did an amazing job at bringing the characters and story to life.

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with an advanced audiobook copy of A Killing Cold. As a fan of Kate Alice Marshall, I was thrilled to dive into another one of her books.

A Killing Cold did not disappoint. Theo is a compelling and likable protagonist who makes you root for her as she unravels the mysteries of her childhood. The story is packed with twists and turns, making it an engaging read that's perfect for curling up with on a cold winter day.

The narrator also did an excellent job, bringing the characters to life and keeping the listener fully entertained throughout.

Overall, I really enjoyed A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall. It’s a fast-paced, gripping novel that kept me guessing right up until the very end. Theo spends the holiday season at her fiancé Connor's family estate—an opulent winter getaway—but it quickly becomes clear that the family is hiding a lot of secrets. This was my first book by Kate Alice Marshall, and I’m already looking forward to reading more from her!

The narration by Karissa Vacker was excellent. She was an engaging storyteller who brought the characters to life and helped me vividly imagine the story’s world.

As always, a big thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to this book.
3.5 stars

I absolutely loved this one, and I think Karissa Vacker's narration was a huge part of that. Audio is definitely the way to go on this one. This one was fast paced throughout the book (maybe a bit more in the first half than in the second), and I kept trying to guess how it was going to all play out. I think the ending went just a bit too far in the whodunit department, but I could buy into it and loved the entire ride getting there. I thought that the characters could have been a bit more fleshed out, but the plot more than makes up for it.

This one is a true slow burn. I really thought that it was gonna pick up at the towards the end, but it did not for me. It really did not captivate me throughout the book. I was having to force myself to get through it.

Reading 2.5/5

Expected publication date : 2/4/5

Thank you so much for providing an arc copy to me to read to provide it honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audio arc copy.

This was a decent read. Listened to it over two days so it held my attention pretty well. Liked the winter, secluded cabin vibes. This probably should have come out a month or so ago to really be in time for the season instead of at the end portion.

Anyway, while I enjoyed this, it wasn't my favorite thriller of all time. It was okay, but nothing amazing or new. Unfortunately, it was a fairly predictable thriller overall. This doesn't happen to me often. I'm not usually good at figuring out endings but this one was very predictable - and kind of boring. (sorry :( I just expected something more exciting.)

This will probably be a fun read for some, It seems I'm kind of an outlier here. I still think it is worth a read, its a fun winter vibes read as I mentioned - but it's just okay.

There were a lot of characters and sometimes it was hard to keep track of who was who and how they were related. They also were all pretty unlikable and flat. It was even hard for me to relate and enjoy the FMC or her plight.

The audio was good though. Enjoyed the narration! It was also well produced.

Thanks again for the arc. My thoughts are my own.

I was a little disappointed with this book and contemplated DNFing it a bunch. This definitely wasn’t my favorite of her books.

I have really enjoyed the author’s previous work but this one was my least favorite. Still an entertaining read, and some of the twists were good but the outcome and plot was pretty predictable. Enjoyed the audio too, which I would recommend.

Theodora Scott meets a wealthy man named Connor but when she's about to meet his family, she gets cryptic text messages saying to stay away from Connor. After ignoring the messages, she goes with Connor to his family's cabin for Christmas and gets a suspicious feeling she's been there before.

Wow! This is the best book I've read in a while. The whole story is just one twist after another and it just keeps getting better throughout. Just when you think you may have pieced together what's going to happen, there's another twist. The authors writing style is truly unique in that she has a way of really pulling the reader in so it feels like you're right there in the story. The story is engaging and thrilling and just so good!

I have a copy of the audio version and the narrator did an amazing job, I love books narrated by Karissa Vacker. She takes the characters and gives them life. The pace is amazing, she uses the pace to create build up in the scenes and then slows it down to really help the reader understand the magnitude of the scene.

I highly recommend this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A solid thriller! I really enjoyed the twisty family drama and I feel the mystery and wrapping up of the book were well done. Highly recommend for all mystery thriller lovers out there.

This book was a WILD ride and I ate it up! I loved the FMC and MMC together. I felt like they balanced each other out tremendously. I loved how twisty this book was and how I never had any idea “who done it”. I love when a book keeps me on my toes the whole book. I cannot wait to read more of this authors books in the future!

I am thankful to Netgalley for providing me the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of A Killing Cold. I've been enjoying Kate Alice Marshall books for a few years now, so I was really excited to get access to this one.

This is my first experience listening to one of her books, rather than reading a digital or traditional copy and I was not disappointed. The narrator was consistent throughout the entirety of the book and provided an entertaining experience throughout.

As far as the story line went, it keeps you engaged from the very start. The timing of the unraveling mystery was impeccably done, giving just enough throughout to keep the reader going but stretched in just the perfect way to keep the mystery until the end.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and cannot wait to recommend it to my fellow readers!

This was my first book by Kate Alice Marshall, and it definitely won’t be my last. Theo and Connor, recently engaged, head to his family’s isolated winter estate, Idlewild, hoping to impress his difficult-to-please relatives and gain their approval. But Theo quickly feels unwelcome by some family members, and an eerie sense of déjà vu begins to take over. As strange phone messages and unsettling discoveries at an abandoned cabin pile up, Theo questions everything—especially whether Connor has an agenda and how a forgotten past might be tied to her future. I enjoyed learning more about Theo's backstory and how her past shaped her, though the other characters lacked much depth. Despite that, the 'whodunnit' kept me guessing, and I was intrigued until the end. It was a quick listen that captivated my attention, keeping me hooked from start to finish.

Karissa Vacker's narration was fantastic. Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillian Audio, and Kate Alice Marshall for an audio ARC. These thoughts are my own.

US pub date: 2/4/25
Genre: thriller
Quick summary: Theodora and Connor are crazy in love - or are they just plain crazy? After a difficult childhood, she's excited to try to win over his family - but then she begins to think that maybe she's already met them.

I will never turn down the chance to listen to a Kate Alice Marshall audiobook narrated by Karissa Vacker! Her books are always fun, twisty popcorn thrillers, and this wintry setting was perfect for a gloomy January read. I ended up listening to it in one day as I worked on a puzzle - I just had to keep listening! Some of the last half felt a little too pat and perfectly coincidental to be a five star read, but I can't fault Marshall for continuing to weave surprise after surprise into the story. If you enjoy thrillers on audio, definitely pick this one up!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Whirlwind Romance Meets Dark Family Secrets

Theo and Connor’s romance starts like a fairy tale—love at first sight. But don’t expect a heartwarming happily-ever-after. Connor, an influential family's wealthy and charismatic member, sweeps Theo off her feet in just six whirlwind months. Yet when he whisks her away to his family’s secluded winter estate for their approval, the dream quickly descends into something sinister.

Theo is met not with open arms but with warnings, threatening messages, and strange occurrences that scream danger. This is no ordinary family—they’re hiding something dark and twisted, buried deep in the icy retreat.

Suspense and Dizzying Twists

The more Theo digs, the more familiar—and dangerous—things feel. Memories of her past resurface, adding another layer of dread to the already suffocating atmosphere.

Yes, it’s twisty—maybe even a bit too twisty at times. Just when I thought I cracked the case, another twist hits, and the cycle keeps going, twist after twist. Normally, that kind of relentless plotting might wear on me, but I couldn’t stop turning the pages (or, in my case, pressing play). It’s the kind of story where you side-eye every character because everyone’s guilty or hiding something.

Atmosphere That Chills You to the Bone
The isolated family compound, surrounded by a harsh winter landscape, is the perfect setting for this thriller.

A Few Challenges but Still Hooked

I listened to the audiobook, and I’ll admit, the dizzying twists and multiple characters sometimes made it tough to follow. I had to hit pause more than once to regroup. But even with that, I couldn’t stop coming back for more.

Twists, secrets, and a Wintry Chill

A Killing Cold is a snowstorm of suspense, secrets, and danger. The tension builds like ice creeping over a window, and just when you think you’ve cracked it, another twist shatters your theories. The characters are like icebergs, with so much hidden beneath the surface, and the twists come fast enough to leave you spinning.

If you’re in the mood for a thriller with chilling secrets, buried memories, and a wintry setting that will make you shiver, this one’s for you. Just be ready to buckle up for the ride—you’re in for a dizzying one!

A Witches Words Buddy read with Mary Beth!