I’ve seen praise for Kate Alice Marshall’s thrillers, plus this is narrated by the brilliant Karissa Vacker so I was eager to listen.

Theodora Scott (Theo) has been invited to meet her fiancé’s family and stay at their grand mountainside retreat. Fiancé Connor comes from serious family while adopted Theo has a chequered past and mysteries in her history.

Theo was nervous enough, even before the threatening messages telling her to stay away.

The story unfolds nicely, the mysteries unfold and Theo’s unease grows.

There’s quite a lot of characters, I wish I had made a list.

I’m not usually a huge fan of thrillers with big chunks told through memories, and combined with Theo’s hidden secrets you have to pay close attention. It kept me entertained rather than thrilled. There’s plenty of plot, twists and reveals right to the end.

Karissa Vacker’s narration was excellent as always, I’m glad I listened and I enjoyed it overall.

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio

A Killing Cold - Kate Alice Marshall
Pub Date - 4/4/25
Rating - 3.5/5 rounded up to 4
Page Count - 304
Media - Audio

Summary- After six months of dating, Conner Dalton proposes to his girlfriend Theodora (Theo) Scott and brings her to Idlewood for the Dalton annual winter retreat, to win over his family. Theo is incredibly nervous to meet the family, but also because she's been receiving texts telling her to stay away from Conner, claiming to know who she really is. Once she gets to the isolated town, Theo starts getting flashbacks from her childhood and gets this eerie feeling that she's been here before. Slowly memories start to come back and Theo realizes she might be in grave danger.

Thoughts - Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. This book was such a whirlwind! First off, the narrator was incredible! She took me through the story and made me feel like I was watching this story unfold in front of me. The writer did a phenomenal job with all the descriptions and truly making the story heart pounding. With this author I have noticed a ton of what I call "pass the blame potato" in which the reader gets "she did it, no he did it, no she did it", which after the first few times can be very annoying.

Secrets, lies, twists, turns, and a shocking reveal that I did not see coming! Talk about a jaw dropping shocker! A Killing Cold was instantly gripping and had me fully invested wondering who I could trust, what would happen next, and what happened all those years ago!

Connor Dalton and Theodora (Theo)Scott fell head over heels when they met six months ago. Conner has brought Theo to Idlewood, his family's winter retreat, to introduce her to his family. They give her a cold questioning welcome while Theo can't help feeling that she has been to his family's retreat before. Plus, she is getting menacing messages telling her to stay away from Conner!

I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narration. I also loved the setting of this book. It hit all the bells and whistles for me. The isolated winter retreat provided that trapped feeling that I loved. The cottages made for a lovely setting but with skepticism and doubt hoovering around every corner, it was not as picture perfect or the winter wonderland as it first appeared.

I enjoyed the characters, even the unlikeable ones. Readers know that something terrible happened at the winter retreat years ago which added to the mystery, the tension, mounting sense of danger and kept my interest piqued throughout this gripping and fabulous book!

When Theo arrives at her fiancé's family's mountain escape,
things feel oddly familiar, even though there is no way she's ever
been there before. But the more she learns about her fiancé's
family and their exclusive retreat, the more puzzled she
becomes. They are clearly hiding secrets, and one of those,
she's coming to realize, has something to do with traumas from
her own childhood. A Killing Cold is dark, twisty, atmospheric,
and perfect for a wintertime read. l'm getting more persnicketty
about thrillers, and there were a few too many twists/reveals in
this one for my tastes, but 1 was still entertained throughout.
Audio was a great way to consume this book.

I really really enjoyed this one. It met my expectations as far as KAM books go and I’m thrilled to have another in her bibliography to recommend!

The story immediately hooked me with the claustrophobic atmosphere and isolated mountain top setting. The tension of bringing a new partner home to meet the family already makes for an interesting story but gets even more tense when the family clearly has secrets to keep and a bone to pick with anyone who might infiltrate their domain.

The plot is ever moving and the mysteries and revelations unfold at a breakneck speed - I think I considered everyone suspect at one point.

I do wish that there was a little less coincidence (or fate as the characters called it) that led to these particular events occurring but besides that the plot felt so well constructed and the characters kept me guessing the whole way through.

Karissa Vacker once again gives a wonderful performance.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an early copy for review.

The narration is fine! No complaints or specific praises.

This was just not the kind of thriller for me. The who are your parents trope just isn’t my favorite. The cabin didn’t really feel that threatening or isolated outside of there being no cell phone service. There’s too much telling and not enough showing. The MC comes to, too many convulsions inorganically. At 30 percent in they are addressing red herrings that just feel weird like it’s hard to explain. I felt like even for a thriller we were finding out too much too quickly. There wasn’t a lot left up to the reader to piece together. I found the premise really interesting, a girl seeing a photo of herself in this cabin of her fiancées family. The characters were just meh, not likable or unlikeble. The dialogue felt off and the character interactions felt very forced. I felt like the “shock value” was coming too quickly., like every interaction was framed as shocking.

This just wasn’t for me. I think if you like Alice Feeneys older books you would like this. The writing and storytelling feel similar.

I’m going to write this off as a me problem because I think the majority of people will enjoy it. It’s quick and shocking, just not in the ways I find satisfying for my own taste.

Short synopsis: Theo is invited to meet her fiancés family at their remote winter retreat. Things start to go downhill quickly, between the menacing texts she keeps getting and the feeling she’s been there before.

My thoughts: What a great winter thriller! Perfect setting, remote location, fiancés family, and lost childhood memories.

I love how this author writes completely believable, but unexpected twists. Nothing I can guess immediately and lots of red herrings to keep me on my toes. But when everything wraps up, it does so nicely.

I’m not going to lie, I was a little worried there for a minute we were going to have a certain trope (that completely Gives me the icks) but luckily that worry cleared up fairly quickly.

The audio is narrated by Karissa Vacker, one of my favorites, and like always the audio was so well done!

Read if you love:
- Atmospheric writing
- Remote location
- Winter setting
- Red herrings
- Meeting the family
- Childhood flashbacks

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing a copy of this audiobook for review.

I have been chasing the rush that I felt reading What Lies in the Woods with every other book by Kate Alice Marshall. It was the first book of hers that I ever read, and I have been hoping that other works by her are just as brilliant. One of the things I love most about her work is how she writes complicated and unapologetic women. Her heroines are damaged, with wounds inflicted upon them by other people. These issues aren’t explained away, or inexplicably disappear when Mr. Right walks in. These characters are also not coddled or “woobiefied;” instead, Kate Alice Marshall shows people with emotional scars who are adapting, while also finding love and acceptance in the people around them. There’s a realness and rawness in this portrayal. Theo is a perfect example of this type of character. I found her realistically flawed, but still strong and capable. The relationship between her and Connor was also so sweet in a way I was surprised by.

However, I also felt that the plot was convoluted. Towards the end, there were enough twists to take the story from intriguing to frustrating. There were also pauses in the action so Theo could remember her past; this was especially annoying, because the tension in the story was interrupted just for Theo’s revelation to be contradicted later.

There was a lot I still enjoyed with this book. It was perfect for me today, where I’m at home sick and needed something to listen to. However, I still feel this was a weaker book from this author.

Also, kudos to the narrator Karissa Vacker. I thought she did a great job with the narration, and she created unique voices for the different characters in a way that made dialogue more distinct and easier to follow in group dialogue moments.

4.5 stars - rounded up!

When a whirlwind romance brings Theo and Connor to Idlewood, Connor's ancestral home, for the holidays, Theo uncovers deep and dark secrets about her past - and his. In this secluded and cold thriller, Theo searches for answers about herself while untangling generations of lies.

What a crazy and fast paced ride! Kate Alice Marshall has once again totally reeled me in with her immersive and detailed story telling. I enjoyed her past book, No One Can Know but A Killing Cold blows that out of the water. This book was the perfect read for the start of winter with suspense sequences that chilled me to the bone. The characters and the plot were so well thought out, it all connected perfectly... and the twists literally had my jaw on the floor.

I would definitely recommend! Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan audio for this audiobook arc.

A Killing Cold is another great mystery by Kate Alice Marshall. I loved the main character and her mysterious past. I liked the cold, snowy setting. Five Stars!

I have never been let down by a Kate Alice Marshall book and I don't think I ever will be.

Our novel centers around Theodora Scott on her trip to visit Connor Dalton. The Daltons are a rich and powerful family. As such, the couple is headed off to the family's sprawling estate, fit with a lodge and several cabins. Despite the estate's size, during the winter months, only family, very soon to be family (i.e. Theo), and the staff are present.

Before she even steps on the grounds, Theo is on edge. She's been receiving text messages threatening her to stay away from Connor. The threats even go so far as to receive a letter at her cabin, and Theo's convinced it's someone in the family who wants her to stay away.

The pacing of this work is incredible. I genuinely could not get enough and listened to the audiobook in its entirety during a single work day. In typical Kate Alice Marshall fashion, the last third of the book was twisty and dark. I, personally, love reading books about the obscenely rich and the drastic things they'll do.

I've listened to the audiobook version of all three of Kate Alice Marshall's adult thrillers. A big part of that is the narrator, Karissa Vacker. She is hands down my favorite narrator, and I would listen to her read a Sherwin Williams catalog. (Not to be dramatic.)

I highly recommend this book!! I have to say, though, What Lies in the Woods remains my favorite of her works, thus far.

Thank you to Kate Alice Marshall & Macmillan Audio for providing me a copy of the book!

Kate Alice Marshall is an auto buy author for me! I LOVE the concept of this storyline. It is crazy how all of the pieces of this story fit together so nicely. Now, I can't say that this story was unpredictable. I definitely was able to predict the ending of this story. However, it did not make it any less enjoyable. Fate?? Not sure if I believe in that!

As for the audiobook version, I could listen to this narrator for every book I read. Her voice is like gold!

I had a bit of trouble getting into this one, but once I got about 30 minutes in, I was hooked. I enjoyed the mystery and the atmosphere of this story. The characters kept me guessing and I liked the flashbacks and how it reveals and slowly pieces things together. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audio ARC.

Loved it!
Theo (female) is early into a very serious relationship with her fiancé. They’ve only been dating a short time, but her beau is ready for her to meet the family. His family happens to be bajillionaires and have a compound in the mountains that they vacation at. There’s just something off about his family though. They seem to feel the same way about her as well.
There also seems to be something familiar about this compound, but she can’t seem to put her finger on it.

Anyway, no more info for you or I’ll spoil it!

Definitely check out this unputdownable psychological thriller.

Audiobook narrator- superb

A big thank you to the author, NetGalley, and MacMillan Audio for letting me preview this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall

Kate Alice Marshall delivers yet another gripping mystery in A Killing Cold, a novel that seamlessly weaves family secrets with a classic locked-room-style plot. Set against a chilling winter backdrop, the story feels like the perfect companion for a cozy evening read.

Marshall masterfully builds suspense by blending deeply buried family drama with the intricacies of an impossible crime. The locked-room element keeps readers guessing as they try to piece together the puzzle alongside the characters, and the atmosphere is rich with tension and intrigue.

What truly stands out is how the author balances the icy setting with the fiery emotions of betrayal, fear, and resilience. The characters are complex, their secrets peeling back like layers of frost on a window, revealing truths that cut deep. The pacing is brisk, making it a quick and thoroughly engaging read for anyone who loves mysteries packed with twists and emotional depth.

Highly recommended for fans of atmospheric mysteries with a wintry edge and a dash of family drama.

What a read! Could not put it down. This was my first book written by Kate Alice Marshall and definitely will not be my last. It’s the perfect winter read. So many twists and turns and layers to this amazing story. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I would listen to ANYTHING Karissa Vacker narrates, luckily she narrates some really great books. I have read all of Marshall's other books and enjoyed this one just as much. Hard to put down but quick to listen to! Loved it.

Part of why I asked for this book was because I adore the narrator. I’ve read two other books by this author before and thought they were good, but not earth shattering. The same thing applies here. It was engaging, and the twists just kept on coming. 3.5 stars.

Thank you Net Galley and Macmillan for an ARC of this audiobook.

An atmospheric setting, wealthy family full of secrets, multiple timelines, and protagonist with a mysterious (even to her) past; this fast paced thriller had me immediately immersed and at the edge of my seat the entire time. My first weekend job as a teenager was at a camp/retreat in Idlewood and Kate Alice Marshall’s writing brought the setting to life in a way that took me right back to those weekends. The characters, twists, and unraveling of the mystery were all well developed and intentional. Highly recommend!

I enjoyed both of Kate Alice Marshall's previous adult thrillers, so I was excited to dive into her latest. A Killing Cold introduces us to Theodora as she travels to a remote mountain lodge to meet her fiance's wealthy family for the first time over the winter holidays. It's clear that she has secrets, but they quickly appear to pale in comparison to what her new in-laws are hiding.

Overall, fans of Marshall will enjoy this book a lot and race through the pages as the twists and turns feel non-stop. Some of the types of reveals you would expect to come towards the end of the book come out so early on that I didn't know what else was to come (turns out it was quite a lot).

I've listened to many books narrated by Karissa Vacker and find her to be immensely talented, especially at switching back and forth between voicing female and male characters (seriously, how does she do this?). She did a great job with this one; I only wish there was some sort of notation or chapter change that signaled when the narrative had switched from the present day to memory, since I did get confused and frustrated a few times.

Highly recommend enjoying this book while cozy inside during a holiday.