I have read several from Kate Alice Marshall so, when I saw her latest thriller on NetGalley, I was quick to request it! This was right in her wheelhouse as a winter-set, creepy mystery that keeps you turning pages to uncover all the twists and turns.

Theodora is engaged to Connor, and he has brought her to his family‘s compound on the mountain to introduce her. This is a very intimidating proposition because she’s the first girl he’s ever brought home, and this ultra wealthy family isn’t thrilled at how fast the relationship progressed, suspecting she’s only interested in the family‘s money. But something very unexpected happens during their time at the mountain. Theo, an orphan who was adopted under sketchy circumstances by parents who ended up not being so ideal either, starts having flashbacks and thinks she has been here before. A creepy dream featuring a man with antlers keeps flaring up here. The family doesn’t like her, seems to resent her presence, aggressively tries to get her to leave, and may even be trying to kill her. What the heck is going on? Who is in on this, is anyone on her side and is there any way out?

I really enjoyed this book. The cast of characters could have been trimmed by a few superfluous ones to keep things a little less confusing, although I suspect that like a game of Clue, they all needed to be there to keep us guessing. I enjoyed the intrigue about the pictures Theo found, the clues as she kept working to uncover her past life, and how some of the characters were over-the-top evil to the point of being practically mustache twirling villains.

This rich family hunts on the property and eats what they kill, and the vivid descriptions of the game hanging to dry and being prepared was a hard pass for this lifelong vegetarian, lol. It all just added to the creepy factor, which was significant and made this a good winter read. I listened to the audiobook which had Karissa Vacker as narrator and as usual she’s one of the best. Thanks #MacmillanAudio #KateAliceMarshall and #NetGalley! This publishes on Feb. 4.

Ooooh this was very fast paced and hard to put down! All of the secrets, lies and twists were so good! A few I saw coming, but there were some that I didn’t see at all.

I really like the MCs Theo and Connor. They were both very likable and interesting. I really liked learning about Theo’s backstory. Some of the other characters are some craziness to them that was actually very intriguing.

I can’t wait to read more of her books!

Thanks NetGalley and publisher for the ARC!

A tension filled thriller that kept me on my toes!

In the midst of a whirlwind romance, Theo is invited by Connor to meet his very rich, very close family at a family retreat to one of their vacation properties. In the midst of tense dinners, odd family traditions, and stilted conversations, Theo is wondering if this was such a good idea.

Because Theo has had a troubled past. She doesn't remember her whole childhood, but what she does know is riddled with issues this secretive family will have problems with, if they decide to seek her background - things she hasn't told her love, Connor, yet.

This one starts as a slow burn as you're intro'd to the family, Connor, and get to know Theo. There are quite a few family members along with hired staff and nannies. Theo is thrown into as much as we are and it was easy to get a little lost at first. But the plot has so much tension, it's hard to put the story down! It's compelling, as each new twist reveals another secret! As dark descends and people start disappearing, it's a race to the shocking conclusion.

I did this as an audio and the narrator did a great job of really pulling me into the story and reflecting the shock, horror, and even rage that Theo felt at times. It was a great way to enjoy the story, I highly recommend!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Kate Alice Marshall has once again delivered an absolute gem with A Killing Cold. This atmospheric thriller grips you with its chilling setting and masterfully crafted suspense from the very first page. Marshall's ability to weave together complex characters, a twisting plot, and vivid, icy landscapes makes this book impossible to put down. She continues to impress me with her books and I thoroughly enjoy them.
The protagonist truly captivates us with a lovely mix of vulnerability and determination as they navigate a maze filled with secrets and threats. The unfolding mystery keeps us engaged at just the right pace, holding us in suspense until the surprising conclusion. The chilly wilderness feels almost like a character of its own, adding to the tension and danger in a gripping and real way.
Marshall's incredible knack for combining emotional depth with heart-pounding thrills really makes this book stand out! It’s just the right choice for fans of psychological thrillers and atmospheric mysteries. "A Killing Cold" is such a masterpiece that it will leave you absolutely breathless. I can’t wait to recommend it to all my friends. You definitely don’t want to miss this one!
I genuinely appreciate NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Kate Alice Marshall for the wonderful opportunity to read and share my thoughts on this fantastic book!

Let me start by saying that I can totally see why some people would like this book. I think if you are new to the genre of popcorn thrillers-meaning not completely burned out on the same excessive tropes (looking at you Frieda McFadden) then you may enjoy the twists that happen here.

The first few chapters of A Killing Cold sucked me in. The winter setting, a strong female protagonist that has a mysterious past, and the subtle hint of classism influence on a romantic relationship had me excited about what was to come. Things quickly went south for me past the first few chapters. For starters, at 300 pages, this book felt loooooooooong. The main character’s inner dialogue repeated again and again, and I quickly became annoyed by her. Secondly, the plot was beyond far-fetched. For anything to be plausible you have to rely on fate, which once you dig further into the novel, things simply don't add up. And finally, these characters were insufferable! I love when the rich elite are portrayed as POS, but this was one-dimensional character development, that again, became boring quite quickly. They made foolish mistakes equating to a breadcrumb trail - I just can’t believe that real people would act in this manner.

I listened on audio and loved the narration by Karissa Vacker! She did an excellent job, and I’ll be seeking out more books with her voice in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you, NetGalley. Unfortunately this book was not for me. It felt like I had read this exact same story before. Secluded cabin, a reason no one can leave, rich behaving badly, etc. Don't mind a repeat thriller trope, but only if it is done well. Throw in something we haven't already experienced. I didn't connect with any of the characters and felt pretty bored. I had to go back and reread because my mind kept wandering off.

*3.5 rounded up

This snow filled thriller set in the dead of winter was perfect to read right now! I loved Kate Alice Marshall's 1st adult thriller, What Lies in the Woods, when it came out in 2023 but was a little disappointed by her second book she released last year. While A Killing Cold wasn't a knew favorite, I really enjoyed my time listening to the audiobook and found myself enjoying the twists and turns the story was taking.

The story follows Theo (Theodora) as she is invited by her wealthy fiance, Connor to spend a winter retreat with his powerful family at an isolated estate in the mountains. After a whirlwind romance and getting engaged after only 6-months of dating, Theo wants to make a perfect first impression. But when she happens upon an unused cabin on the property and finds a photo of her as a little girl taken at the estate, she begins to remember her long forgotten childhood and unearth long hidden secrets.

While I could see some of the reveals coming and I am starting to learn about myself that I don't really enjoy the "a character can't remember anything from their past but starts to when its convenient for the plot" trope anymore, Kate Alice Marshall still managed to make the trope feel not stale. I'm excited to see what she publishes next!

Visiting your fiancé’s elite family in the snowy mountains sounds like a dream vacation… until you spot a childhood photo of yourself in their house. I loved following Theo as she unraveled the truth in this gripping psychological thriller. A perfect winter read for fans of murder mysteries and rich family drama!

This book was a perfect winter read! The narration was fantastic and the pace of the book was exactly as I hoped. I enjoyed the twists and turns that this thriller took me on.

Definitely recommend!

I absolutely loved the concept, so naturally I was drawn in immediately. Our protagonist Theo is finally meeting her fiance's rich family at their isolated winter retreat. But once there, she finds a picture of herself, at the retreat. She's been there before, but she can't remember a thing. With a premise like that...!!
I listened to the audiobook and the narration was excellent. I really enjoyed getting into Theo's head and finding out along with her how her past and everything connects. It's a very character driven novel in the sense that we really follow Theo and all her feelings, confusion, realizations, and we're along for the ride with her. The pacing is medium, yet compelling all along. I found it very intriguing and a very entertaining story! It's perfect for a cozy winter afternoon.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

I love an isolated thriller, and I love problematic characters, but for some weird reason, this one just didn't click for me. On paper it should have everything I like, but I honestly found it to be a bit dull. I had a hard time connecting with Theo's character, so it was hard to really care what happened. I also felt like there was just so much going on and too many red herrings (but not in a fun way) that I eventually was just trying to get to the end.

I will say, I didn't correctly guess the twists, so that's always a good thing, but that only brought my rating from the 2s to the 3s.

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

Review | I really enjoyed this one! The twists kept me hooked and I thought the story moved at a good pace. I never felt bored and I definitely wanted to know what would happen as well as what happened in the past. I love stories where you don't know who to trust and this was definitely that. I don't think it's the most memorable story as it's definitely been done before, but it was still an enjoyable and engaging read. This one was a very strong 4 stars for me!

Karissa Vacker is one of my favorite audiobook narrators, so it's no surprise that I loved the narration on this one. She was amazing as always and her voice was smooth and engaging.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for a copy of the ALC!

Do you believe in monsters? Maybe they only live in our dreams. But then again, what if you wake up and realize they have been there all long?

This is what Theodora Scott (Theo) asks herself during a 2 week Christmas trip to her new fiancé’s, Connor Dalton, family estate, Idlewood. We meet Theo and Connor on their way to this yearly family reunion, as a recently engaged couple that have only been dating for a few months. Theo, as you can imagine, is nervous to meet her soon to be over the top, wealthy in-laws, even though Connor continues to believe that they’ll love her, and what only matters is that he loves her. But what happens when you find a picture of yourself as a child with your fiancé’s deceased dad at the abandoned cabin in the woods everyone seems to avoid discussing? Theo is now faced with questions about a childhood she can barely remember, and whether or not Connor’s family are the monsters that can provide those answers.

Theo doesn’t know who to trust. She questions herself, her memories, and most recently Connor and what they share. Her past is broken in pieces that she is unable to put together due to the trauma she faced at a young age. Theo is a great, broken character that recognizes her trauma and something that has guided her decisions in life, but is constantly working on not letting it control her future. Theo is more than capable of slaying the monsters, she just has to figure out who the real ones are.

A Killing Cold is a thrilling ride from start to finish. I felt as though Ms. Marshall held my hand, like you would any small child, and warned me about peaking around corners and what would happen if I went looking for monsters. The chilling narration that Ms. Vacker provides as each character makes you feel the harsh cold of Idlewood and all its deeply buried secrets.
One of my favorite lines in this book is, “She is allowed to be angry. Angry people do unpredictable things.” This book is unpredictable, and yet the only thing that left me angry in the end was that the ride was finally over.
Thank you Macmillan Audio via NetGalley for this audiobook to review. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.
Easily 5 stars and what I believe will be one of the best thrillers of the year.

First 5 star of 2025! Big time bingeable. Visual winter thriller set in a remote area. If you enjoy dark, eerie domestic suspense with twists - this is for you!

Theodora and Connor travel to his family’s home for the holiday, marking the first time she meets them. She feels uneasy, worried they might not approve of their whirlwind engagement. Family dynamics are unfamiliar territory for her, as she was adopted and has few memories of her life before.

The visit unfolds as expected, but then, unexpectedly, Theodora comes across a childhood photo of herself... this novel, especially the audiobook, will have you fully immersed!

Amazing audio. I love this narration. The story was great and helps me guessing. Thank you for allowing me to listen!

Wow. That was just a fun ride. I think it was also a good introduction into anything by Kate Alice Marshall.

The novel follows Theo, who has just become engaged after a whirlwind romance to Connor Dalton, a man from a rich family. This is the first time she gets to meet his family, traveling up to their family home, Idlewood, in an isolated forest. While there, she ends up learning that maybe this isn't her first time in Idlewood...

I admit that I thought the big reveal that was going to be the big "twist" ended up being just a blip in the radar of the winding path that was the second half of this novel. Though I predicted some of it, the ending didn't feel as if it were <i>too</i> obvious. I'm not unsurprised; I'm satisfied. And I give Ms. Marshall kudos for actually following through with the ending that most of us might not have.

Speaking on the audiobook, I think the narrator was a great choice. The personality she had in her voice really called to mind a young 20something. I appreciated the different voices she gave the characters and the emotion Ms. Vackers poured into Theo at the end. It made the last hour or so of the book feel much more exciting.

A great audiobook adaptation of a great read. 4/5 stars.

Another great twisty book from Marshall! Theo thinks she's found the man of her dreams until she meets his family when he takes her to their isolated family vacation home. This one had it all family secrets, an isolated country home not knowing who to trust. I don't want to spoil anything but I highly recommend this one!

Karissa Vacker as always does a great job with the narration she really brought the emotions to this one!

4 stars

I received this audiobook from the publisher Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for a fair and honest review.

Theodora has been swept up in a whirlwind romance with Connor. They are visiting his family’s mountain lodge to try and prove their relationship to his wealthy family, after they become quickly engaged. However, Theo has been keeping secrets. She has lied to Connor about her own family, saying they are dead when they aren’t. She has also been receiving threatening notes about Connor. As tensions mount within the lodge, truths will be revealed whether she wants them to or not.

This is a perfect winter thriller mood read! The retreat was a great setting as it was totally claustrophobic and added to the suspense of the story as the family couldn’t really escape from each other. I loved reading all of the twists and turns Marshall had scattered throughout and not knowing who to trust. Plus, the Scott family was so dysfunctional and fascinating. The ending got a bit far fetched, but it was action packed!

Lies, twists, drama, romance, and mystery. This book has it all. A woman must figure out a mystery that involves herself before someone gets killed. This was great. Very enthralling. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I will be recommending this to all my fellow thriller/mystery lovers.

Theodora Scott falls for Connor Dalton and joins him at his family’s remote winter retreat, where strange warnings and memories from her forgotten past surface. As Theo uncovers the dark secrets of the Daltons and Idlewood, she realizes the truth could cost her everything.

A Killing Cold is the third book I’ve read from Kate Alice Marshall. The premise of the book was intriguing, but I found Theo’s anxious inner monologue to be monotonous and repetitive at times. The flashbacks sprinkled throughout offered interesting hints about what might have happened in the past. However, I didn’t feel as invested in the other characters as they lacked depth and weren’t fully fleshed out. Theo and Connor’s relationship also fell flat for me as it seemed to lack substance. The ending was decent in terms of the whodunnit reveal. The audiobook performance by Karissa Vacker was excellent. After reading my third Kate Alice Marshall book, I’m beginning to think her writing style may not be for me. Overall, I’d rate this 3 stars.