Rating: 3.5

Ohhh this book started soooo well. I loved the winter, snow, eerie atmosphere but I guessed the twist right at the start. I feel the book could be 10o pages less as it went around and around over the same dynamics. I really enjoy Darcy Coates' books and for the first half of this one I really enjoyed it but it didn't hit the right spot.

4.5 stars!

This is my 3rd Darcy coats, and I think this has become a new favorite!

What I enjoyed:
-thrilling, atmospheric, creepy, tense: all the needs for a good thriller!
- fast paced
- “whodunit” and a “locked in” mystery
- serial killer elements

What could have been better?
-Honestly there’s not much that I didn’t like. Was it predictable? Yes. Did I guess the “whodunit”? Yes. But it didn’t take away from the story for me.

Save this for a cozy, winter storm night!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for sending me a copy in exchange for a review.

I am a fan of Darcy Coates - their books to me are what I call cosy horror because they make you want to curl up with a blanket, warm drink, maybe a candle burning, and they can lull you in with Coates' beautiful descriptions and then bam! Something horrific rises up.

This was no exception and definitely felt to me like it could become a fantastic movie with its constant plot twists and gory elements.

Absolutely brilliant!

In this book, eight strangers get stuck together in a cabin with a snowstorm outside - and then one of them dies.

Dead of Winter was a must read for me for a couple of reasons. One, I love a good thriller or mystery set during a blizzard or snowstorm. It's my favorite. Secondly, I also love a good play on the trope of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None where a group of strangers are together for whatever reason and start dying. The two combined? Perfection and definitely a very me type of read! I'm happy to say that overall I enjoyed this one a lot. It wasn't perfect, but it was fun and a really great read for this time of year especially as we inch closer to the winter months. I loved the snowy, winter vibes and the way the author built up the isolated, harsh environment that the group was stuck in. This book was a slow burn but I still flew through it in just about two days unable to set it down. And by the end I was definitely a bit creeped out. My one complaint was that I wasn't surprised by who was behind it all. In fact, I guessed it pretty early on and kept thinking I couldn't be right because it would be too obvious. Also, the why's behind it all didn't really feel like it held up when I thought about it but that's just me. It just felt a bit shaky. That being said, the cold atmospheric vibes were worth the read alone. And it was really was a fun, suspenseful read just seeing what was going to happen next.

Readers who enjoy suspenseful, dark reads that you can't put down should give this book a try. This is my 2nd book by this author (I also read and enjoyed The Haunting of Leigh Harker) and I plan on reading more by her. I just have to figure out which book of her backlist I want to try next. Four stars overall and a good one for the fall season!

I couldn't put this down! Full of suspense (and a bit of gore), I was on the edge of my seat the entire book. It's been awhile since I read something that was scary to the point of keeping me up at night - and this one creeps right under your skin and crawls into your brain and shivers down your spine. VERY creepy. The setting was perfect, the characters were well developed, and the writing was great. I've already made a list of additional Darcy Coates books I can't wait to read. Highly recommend for fans of thrillers / horror. 4.5 stars. The only reason it doesn't get 5 stars is because at one point it started moving almost too fast and there were a few parts that were so outlandish that it made it less believable. But still very good!

Not for me. Christa was annoying. You've been with Kiernan for 4 months. Maybe not act the way you're acting after knowing him one second

Dead of Winter by Darcy Coates will keep you reading. I find all of her books great, but I think this one tops them all. 5 starts all the way.

Special thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for an e-arc of this novel.

If you like horror and don't mind graphic violence, this book is great.

My thanks to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing an ARC of this amazing novel!

This was my first introduction to this author’s writing and it started off with a bang. This was totally not what I was expecting. I was intrigued by the title and the cover so I decided to give this one a go.
I was not disappointed. Loved it.

I’m surprised I read this book! It was very gruesome for me, but the storytelling was so intriguing I had to keep reading to find out how it ended. I kept trying to figure out the connection between the tourist on the bus and the killer. I also feared they would never be rescued from the isolated cabin. This is not a book for the faint of heart!

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I was surprised to actually choose a book in the horror genre. I don’t read much horror, because I like to be able to sleep at night. Even when I watch a horror movie (nothing too scary, think Scream or Paranormal Activity) I have to watch something light and airy (think Chuck, or Alias) before I actually go to sleep.

Luckily, Dead of Winter wasn’t so much scary as it was thrilling. The mystery, also, was fun to try to solve. I ran into a couple twists that enhanced my enjoyment of the story in ways I didn’t expect.

I also don’t read many character-driven stories, but even when a book is full of action, I prefer well done characters. In Dead of Winter, their interactions with each other and relationships with the others as the story progresses is what carries the story. Without their various personalities and perspectives on what’s going on, the book would be SO boring.

Christa is the main character, and it’s her eyes through which we watch what’s going on. She has plenty of baggage from her past, but she desperately wants to move on from mistakes she’s made. When people start dropping dead, Christa finds herself determined to find out what’s going on, despite the premonition she keeps getting, “We’re all going to die here.”

I didn’t like Simone. I just didn’t. I can’t even really tell you why. I liked Blake more than Simone, and she was probably the laziest of the entire group. When Brian died, Simone took it upon herself to take charge, but didn’t do so in a very grown up manner. She was just really grouchy about everything. I get her motivations, I just didn’t like her personality.

Along with characters, setting means a lot in a book like Dead of Winter. You can have the most villainous characters this side of Hannibal Lecter, but without a good setting, the book can fall apart. Dead of Winter has a great storm scene in the beginning, when Christa and Kiernan get separated. I could almost imagine I was right there with her, freezing myself. It’s the kind of scene that makes you want to turn your space heater on.

I’m pretty sure I can call Dead of Winter semi-predictable. No, I wasn’t able to predict the entire book, because dear Darcy did a good job of throwing some twists in along the way, but at the same time, when I got to the end, I sighed in relief because I had been right. It’s a good feeling, being right.

I had an idea of who the villain was at the beginning of the book, because it seemed too unpredictable not to be correct. My opinion changed about 4 times through the course of the book, because of so many twists and turns. Unfortunately for the author, the villain ended up being who I had thought at the beginning of the book.

Do you love “not quite scary” horror novels? Dead of Winter is for you. If you, like Cat, enjoy the more disturbing aspects of human nature, you might enjoy Dead of Winter as well, but it’ll be a little more hit or miss. I do hope you give it a chance, regardless of which side of the fence you fall on, because it is a very interesting read, and I think you’ll enjoy it.

"Dead of Winter" by Darcy Coates is a chilling and suspenseful horror novel. This book masterfully combines elements of supernatural horror, mystery, and psychological tension to create a narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

The story revolves around a small, isolated town called Shiloh, where the arrival of a new resident, Cora, coincides with a series of strange and unsettling occurrences. As the town becomes blanketed by a relentless winter storm, Cora and the other residents find themselves cut off from the outside world, with no way to escape the creeping fear and darkness that has descended upon Shiloh. The townsfolk must confront their deepest fears and the haunting secrets of the past as they struggle to survive the unrelenting winter and the malevolent forces that threaten their lives.

Darcy Coates excels at building an atmosphere of dread and uncertainty. Her vivid descriptions of the eerie town and its surroundings, as well as her skillful character development, make it easy for readers to immerse themselves in the story. The characters are multi-dimensional and relatable, which enhances the emotional impact of the unfolding events.

The pacing of the novel is well-crafted, with a gradual increase in tension as the mystery deepens. Coates is skilled at maintaining a sense of unease, and she keeps the reader engaged by revealing just enough information to maintain the mystery and suspense.

One of the novel's strengths is its ability to blend supernatural horror with psychological elements, making it a compelling read for fans of both subgenres. "Dead of Winter" also explores the themes of isolation, community, and the human capacity to confront and overcome fear.

While the book is highly engaging and atmospheric, some readers might find the plot to be a bit formulaic, as it follows certain conventions of the horror genre. However, Darcy Coates's writing and her ability to create a palpable sense of dread make "Dead of Winter" a worthy addition to the horror literature. If you're a fan of suspenseful and spine-tingling horror stories set in a chilling winter landscape, "Dead of Winter" is a gripping and terrifying read that will keep you up at night.

Christa and her boyfriend Kieran take a tour bus to an alpine lodge during the snow season. What was meant to be a vacation and maybe the next step in their relationship quickly tuns into a terrifying ordeal. Keiran goes missing during a storm then the tour group is stranded at a remote cabin. The situation escalates when the head of one of the group is found speared on a branch and that is just the beginning.
I had a few suspects in mind for the killer including the one behind it all (or most of it). The author skilfully crafted the storyline in a way which threw me off track leaving me uncertain till the end.
Some might find this book a little gory in parts but I love that sort of thing. The murders had me on the edge of my seat wondering who would be next. I also enjoyed discovering the personalities of each person and their reactions under extreme circumstances?
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free digital copy of the book in return for an honest review.

In the vein of And Then There Were None or One by One, Dead of Winter is a “locked room” mystery. I think it was supposed to be horror, but the only thing horrible was the descriptions of what had happened to the characters. This book was only ok for me. I didn’t really care for the main character and the rest of the cast was pretty unlikeable as well. I do read a lot of thrillers/mystery so the ending wasn’t too shocking for me.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

An amazing edge of your seat don’t want to put down thriller! Even with the large cast of characters I didn’t have trouble keeping track and figuring out twists. This story is gripping and a perfect winter read.

Christa and her boyfriend along with a group of travelers are heading deep in the snow-covered Rocky Mountains to a lodge for a getaway.
As the wind and snow continues to hammer the area, their bus must stop when there is a tree blocking the road.

Stranded in the bitter cold, the travelers must find shelter and fast.
They find an abandoned cabin and take shelter hoping to wait out the storm.

From the beginning, the twists literally do. not. stop. coming. And when I say I couldn't put this book down, I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN!!!

This is easily one of those books that has you on the edge of your seat and you can't help but read through one more chapter.

If you like mystery, thriller, horror, suspense or anything in between.... this is a must read! Like ASAP!

Darcey Coates is one of my favorite authors and I will always read what she writes. I absolutely loved this book! I can’t wait for the next one and the next one!!

Dead of winter is a modern homage to the classic locked room thriller. Eight people are trapped in a snow storm when their tour guide goes missing and turns up dead. What follows is a claustrophobic novel of suspense and whodunit. In classic closed circle mysteries, suspicion mounts on everyone and everyone can also become a victim at any time. What separates this from others in the genre is Coates background in horror. There is a touch of the tone of a horror novel here (readers will understand upon reading!)
Overall, a fun mystery and a great entry into the genre by an established horror author.

Thanks to publisher for the arc on NetGalley. in exchange for an honest review

Talk about an atmospheric book! The perfect book to start the colder season with! I devoured this book and wanted more!

Christa and her boyfriend are heading up to the Rocky Mountains on a tour bus with a small group of people. Forced to set up camp in an abandoned cabin due to a fierce snow storm.
All hell breaks loose when they realise one of them is a crazed killer who is picking them off one by one.
I love this author and her ability to have you on the edge of your seat.
The story flowed and the characters were well developed, what truly amazed me was how the author was able to link all the threads of the story together and bring a jaw dropping conclusion to the end of the story. Definitely one ending that I did not see coming.

Dead of Winter is another Coates book that left me speed reading and flipping pages throughout the night! Taut, eerie, keep-you-on-your-toes suspense paired with characters that made you feel as if you wanted to crawl into their brains to figure out where their heads were at.