"A woman invited to her wealthy fiance’s family retreat realizes they are hiding a terrible secret—and that she’s been there before."

They have secrets, but does she. However, she (Theo) is having trouble clearing recalling these childhood memories with only bits and pieces coming back to her as her mother died when she was very young and she was then adopted. Now, engaged to the most wonderful man (she thinks) is meeting his family and receiving anonymous messages telling her to stay away, things aren't what she thinks.

This story kept me intrigued enough to listen to all of it in a day!

My thanks to Net Galley, FlatIron Books, and Macmillian Audio for an advanced copy of this audio book.

Theodora (Theo) Scott thinks she has met the man of her dreams when Connor Dalton comes into her life. Now, six months later the two are engaged and Connor is taking her to his family’s winter vacation compound Idlewood. Theo, an orphan, is nervous enough to meet the prestigious Dalton family, but when she starts receiving threatening text messages, she becomes deeply concerned for her own well being. When Theo becomes acquainted with the family, she sees that all is not as it seems and everyone is acting suspiciously. As the week progresses, Theo comes across clues that seem to indicate she may have been to Idlewood before, but has no memory of it. Will she find out the secrets that the Dalton’s are hiding? Or will she end up loosing everything, including her life trying?

Great audiobook narration. The narrator's regular tone is great, but when she is reading paragraphs from the younger version of her or going through flashbacks, she makes her voice a little more high pitched which I thought was great. It makes it easier to understanding what is happening and who is talking. I also thought her male voices were pretty good!

As for the plot and actual story, meh. It was a cookie cutter/popcorn thriller that I will forget quicker than it took me to read it. It felt too similar to other thriller/mystery novels. If you are not a fan of the rich people doing bad things trope, I would stay away from this one. It had some nastyyyy male characters in it. Great setting/atmosphere but just kinda blah.

4/5 stars for the audio narration
2/5 stars for the story/plot

Thank you NetGalley for the audiobook. This book was intense and I loved it. So many twists and turns and not at all who I expected! I loved this book.

I have enjoyed everything I’ve read by Marshall so far and this book was no exception. The audiobook was entertaining and the narrator was pleasing to listen to. I highly recommend this book to others!

I’m absolutely floored by how much I enjoyed A Killing Cold. With jaw-dropping twists, shocking curveballs, and a fast-paced, tension-fueled plot, this book was impossible to put down. The cold, isolated setting paired with layers of domestic suspense and family drama created the perfect storm for an unforgettable thriller.

The audiobook, narrated by Karissa Vacker, was phenomenal—her distinct character voices and skillful delivery elevated the story's intensity. While the Dalton family’s snobbish and soulless demeanor made them hard to like (likely by design), I found Theodora (Theo) and her fiancé, Connor, to be engaging and relatable. Overall, this was a brilliantly crafted, suspenseful read that kept me hooked from beginning to end.

I received a free advanced listeners' copy of this book from Macmillan Audio and NetGalley. I am voluntarily leaving my review; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

** Note, when the book is released, I will post my review on Amazon as well (unable to prior to release) **

So, so so good. Filled with mystery, and so extremely full of twists. Just when you think you know the truth, bam! Another twist. Sooooooo good!!!!

This was a great book! I loved discovering bits and pieces along the way and then figuring out the truth of what really happened. The ending was perfect, right down to the dog.

Kate Alice Marshall delivers another spine-tingling thriller with “A Killing Cold.” I love how Marshall weaves romance, mystery, and psychological suspense into a chilling winter tale!

While it begins with the intoxicating promise of a whirlwind romance, the novel quickly spirals into a tale of dread and psychological manipulation.

I personally like Theo is as the protagonist, and her journey from infatuated outsider to determined survivor is handled with finesse. The mystery of her forgotten past is unraveled in a way that feels both shocking and earned, keeping readers hooked with every new revelation. While some twists are predictable, the execution is so taut and atmospheric that the suspense never wanes.

I highly recommend this book for fans of layered mysteries and chilling, character-driven tales.

This book has so much to love! Cold snowy weather, a secluded location, fragments of memories, family drama and lots of secrets. The pace was perfect and this book kept me guessing until the end. I loved every minute of this twisty ride, and I’m so glad I had the opportunity to read this book. Thanks NetGalley!

This audiobook was the perfect way to spend a snow storm prep day! When Theo and her new fiancé Connor go up a snow strewn mountain to meet his family for the first time, Theo gets way more than she bargained for in this chilly thriller. She quickly finds out that the family retreat is somehow tied to the childhood she cannot remember and she must try to figure out what the fragments of memories she is retrieving really mean. The narrator does an excellent job with elocution and speech and capturing the mood of this icy story and I was able to listen at 2x speed without sacrificing any of the details. Definitely recommend this one to any thriller fans.

A Killing Cold follows our MC - Theo. She is engaged to Connor and they are returning to his families very private residence in the middle of nowhere. This sounds like an idyllic vacation, right? It was until Theo finds a picture of herself in the abandoned cabin.

This feels similar to Marshall's other adult mystery/thriller novels. It wasn't my favorite, but it was not my least favorite. I feel like we got so many twists and turns and it was always keeping you on your toes. However, it did not hit a full 5 stars for me, mostly because I am sick of hearing about how awful men can be towards women.

Overall, if you liked the author's prior books, I would recommend checking this one out too!

A gripping thriller that I literally could not put down!
❄️
Theodora Scott met Connor Dalton and the two instantly fell in love. Six months later Connor is bringing Theo, his fiancé, home to meet the family—his very wealthy and protective family. From the minute Theo arrives at their secluded estate, she feels both unwelcome, yet her surroundings feel familiar. As Theo is threatened away by anonymous texts, this makes her dig her heels in even more , desperate to find out more about her connection to this place and the Daltons, even as she puts her life at risk.
🦌
Okay. Wow. This is by far one of the best suspense thriller books I’ve read in a long while. I will be recommending this to everyone looking for a family mystery with twist after twist. Add this to your TBR or @bookofthemonth cart now! This title releases 2/4!

CW: murder, death of a parent, blood, drugging, alcohol, gaslighting, animal cruelty/death, infidelity, emotional abuse, physical abuse, suicide, terminal illness, self-harm, gore, body horror, miscarriage, religious bigotry, medical trauma, violence, toxic relationship, abandonment

Kate Alice Marshall delivers another gripping thriller with A Killing Cold, packed with twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. The suspense builds masterfully, and just when you think you’ve figured things out, another twist leaves you reeling.

One of the book’s strongest elements is its character development, particularly the main character, who undergoes significant growth throughout the story. The depth and complexity of Theo’s storyline were especially compelling—I was blindsided by some of the revelations about him and the intricate web of lies the Daltons wove to protect their family.

The story doesn’t shy away from exploring themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the lengths people go to for those they love. I also appreciated the resolution for Conner and Theo; it felt both satisfying and emotionally authentic, tying up their arcs in a way that stays true to the story’s tone.

If you’re a fan of tightly woven mysteries with well-drawn characters and shocking twists, this book is a must-read. Marshall has once again proven herself a master of suspense.

Brrr!! It is cold in KY! 💙❄️💙 A Killing Cold by @katealice1959 was the best audiobook to entertain me! This 5 star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ thriller/mystery was wonderful. Do you want action? Hidden identities? Revenge? Wealth? Secrets? Love? All of that and much more is in this read. Thank you @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for this arc. In this twisting and winding tale, Theo is newly engaged to Conner and goes to the Dalton family secluded holiday getaway retreat. But once there she finds an unused cabin and dreams from her haunted childhood come back as she finds a picture of herself there. Why? Who were her parents? What happened in the past? What secrets will the Dalton family work to hide? This was a book of non stop twists and turns in the plot with tons of cliffhanger chapters. Grab it soon, especially on these cold days! 💙📖 #peachypages #bookstagram #bookreview #lovetoread #readingtime📖 #netgalley #arc #killingcold #katealicemarshallauthor #reading #audiobook

This was such a good audiobook! I binged it in a day. The narrator was wonderful, with great voice quality and pacing—she's a new favorite now.

Theo and Connor have been dating for a brief time before they get engaged. They travel to his family home for an extended vacation and for Theo to meet Connor's family. However, Theo cannot get beyond feeling like she has been to Idlewood before. There are so many coincidences and weird vibes in this snowy setting. Great story pacing, with reveals coming at just the right moments. I enjoyed the characters, but honestly, the setting stole the show—isolated and snow-covered. What more could you want for a February release?

After a whirlwind romance, Theo travels with new fiancé Connor to his family's isolated winter retreat to meet them for the first time. But after only moments on the property, Theo feels like not everything is at it seems.

One of my top thrillers of all time!!! This one was so good! Here's what I loved:

The setting: This locked door thriller takes place on a very isolated and snowy piece of land. This lends itself to making this book even more heart pounding! Theo has nowhere to go, literally, which gives the reader the same trapped feeling.

Theo: She was a really great character. There is a lot of strength in her, even when she doesn't realize it herself. I love thrillers that have a bit of romance to them and I got that with her and Connor in this one. They have some ups and downs, but it's all part of the story.

The mystery: This was really well laid out. I was guessing and guessing the whole time. The twists in this one are so good! Each side character (And there are a lot) have something to hide.

The narration: Karissa Vacker is one of my top narrators. She does such a brilliant job with this one!

All in all, this was a really solidly told thriller that keeps you guessing.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy!

I really liked this one. I definitely didn’t see all the twists and turns at the end which I loved. It was easy to get into and I kept wanting to see what happened next and learn more of the MC backstory. Definitely recommend this thriller.

A Killing Cold was a chilling thriller! I loved uncovering the mystery with Theo. This book had get out vibes and I enjoyed every minute of it!

4.5⭐️! This was super twisted. I loved the setting, dark, cold, atmospheric. The writing was good, the pace wasn't too slow and when I thought I had it figured out- there was more... and then even more ...to the story 😂.

I read a ton of thrillers and this is definitely one of the better thrillers I've read. I do think the story was a bit convenient but the author did address that. The only other criticism I have is that I wish there was more depth to some of the other characters, especially Connor.

All in all, this was a great read! Twisty and suspenseful.

The audio was a fun way to ingest this story. The narrator was smooth and performed all the characters well.