This was my first Darcy Coates book and even though I consider this summer release more thriller than horror, it did NOT dissapoint! The atmospheric setting, harsh winter conditions, terrorfilled terrain, and a murderer on the loose will leave you feeling trapped alongside the guests as they fight to figure their way out of the Adirondacks!
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Christa and her boyfriend Keirnan are headed to Blackstone Alpine Lodge, a retreat in the isolated wilderness and the perfect setting for a killer to begin removing the guests 1 by 1. Christa will need to work through her past trauma to determine which of the 8 guests she's able to trust (if any) before she succumbs to the conditions or a violent end by the killers preferred method, DECAPITATION!

Read if you like:
- locked door mysteries
- fast paced plot
- suspense/whodunits
- cabins in the woods
- mild to moderate gore
- female protagonists

Huge thanks to #netgalley and #poisonedpenpress for providing me with a ebook copy of Dead of Winter for review.

I know readers will have fun with this one!!

This was my first experience with Darcy Coates but I don't think it will be my last. The thing I enjoy the most is the way Coates writes tension - it really worked for me. Even though this is not "spooky" horror, there were intense moments where the atmosphere shone through. And I LOVED that. It also REALLY fed my love of arctic/snowy/winter survival.

Darcy Coates' writing also has a very readable, unputdownable quality - I kind of just wanted to keep reading regardless of what was happening on the page.

Speaking of which, it's been a while since I last read such a plot-driven book. The pacing is rather fast and the various characters kept me engaged throughout. It only slowed down towards the end - that, and the fact that I guessed the twists VERY early on, are the reasons I'm not giving it a higher rating. I noticed, especially in the lase sequence, that Darcy Coates decided to construct it as if it was the grand finale to a horror movie. Unfortunately, what you take in with your eyes in 5 minutes tops in a movie takes you about half an hour as an average reader and that felt way too long.

However, I really did enjoy literally everything else and I can't wait to check out more from the author, actually.

Yet again, Darcy Coates proves why she's one of my favorite horror authors with this new claustrophobic "locked room" style thriller that sent shivers down my spine in the middle of summer. Seriously...I expected to see a blizzard outside when I could pull my nose out of my book!!
Christa never expected to feel so close to Kiernan after only months, but when he invites her on an exclusive trip to a lodge in the Rocky Mountains, she fully expects him to propose. But things start to go wrong before they even reach the lodge when a tree falls across the road and the snow is falling heavy. While their tour group is busy clearing the way, Kiernan leads her off exploring and they lose their way, becoming separated when Christa falls from a cliff. Injured and freezing, she stumbles through the storm until she finds the small abandoned hunting cabin where the rest of the group are also sheltering. When they wake the next morning, their tour guide is dead, his severed head impaled on a tree outside. With the storm raging outside and a group of complete strangers inside, one of them a killer, Christa can trust no one. There is no escape and the killer is far from done...
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A little too much detailed description of violent acts for my taste. But the story is captivating. I did feel like it was a bit long and it dragged at times. But overall it was a good read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the E-ARC

All thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.

Darcy Coates is easily one of my favorite thriller writers that I choose when I want a true thriller that won’t let me down and turn into a psychological thriller without the adrenaline and suspense. This did not disappoint. First I was reading about a winter storm when it is so hot and sticky here. Can’t beat that. It was kind of a locked location, meaning that due to the storm and the remote location, there are not a lot of suspects and you know them all. And one of the best reasons I loved this one is it gave me an Agatha Christie And Then There Were None vibe. I don’t read a lot of synopsis before I read the book, because with thrillers, they have a tendency to spoil things. So as soon as I was finished with this one, I ran to read other reviews and couldn’t believe there weren’t more mentions of this vibe. It was expertly done.

And kudos to the author because I picked up on a couple of somethings pretty quickly and with all her twists, suspects and then killing off who I targeted as the killer, I dropped my thoughts and was shocked at the end. Hence the other reason I ran to read reviews. I see it listed as horror in a couple of places and I am not sure if that is because the thriller genre is going softer or there were just a couple of gruesome descriptions, but really nothing that bad.

The setting really plays a huge part in this one and felt like an additional character. You know it wasn’t killing directly killing anyone but is big enough that it is mentioned over and over at the end discussion. That end discussion is the only thing taking away points in my mind. I am such a fan of showing me how things unwind nstead of telling me how it happened but I’ll give this one a pass since there is a lack of characters at the end and if I was shown this as the story unfolds, then there wouldn’t be the buildup.

Seriously I don’t get how we don’t see more readers talking about and recommending the author. I’ve read quite a few of her stories and I have never walked away disappointed. If you are in need of a pulse pounding thriller, you need to read this one.

I love finding new favorite authors! Darcy Coates (@darcybooks) became a new favorite horror writer when I read FROM BELOW last year. I’m excited to go through her backlist. In the meantime, I’m loving her latest books also! DEAD OF WINTER is coming out 7/11 and it had one of my favorite tropes - 8 strangers stranded in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of the storm, and they’re being killed (gruesomely might I add) off one by one.

It took me a little bit to get all the characters sorted in my head but after a few pages I had no trouble remembering who was who. The story had just the right atmosphere - you could feel how cold and dark and dangerous it was. There were times I felt spooked and needed to check behind me. It didn’t help I only read this at night 😅. The author writes so well and really knows how to get under your skin.

I did kind of guess who the killer was but the twist was pretty good! It was nuts how many ppl died due to miscommunication but I think in this case it made sense bc of the circumstances and going mad at the prospect of being stuck somewhere with a murderer. The chase scene felt a bit long also but I always feel that way about chase scenes.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and if you like the same trope, or want a good winter/snowy thriller, then definitely pick this up!

Thank you @poisonedpenpress and @netgalley for this e-arc!

Happy Pub Day to Dead of Winter! @darcybooks is an auto-read author for me and I was so excited to get an ARC of this wintery thriller. The story follows Christa, who is on a trip to a mountain lodge with her boyfriend Kiernan when disaster strikes. After the way to their lodge is blocked by a fallen tree, the passengers find a secluded cabin in the woods to wait for help. But instead of rescue, the group finds themselves faced with a series of brutal attacks. Is the killer among them, or has someone tracked them into the woods?

What I liked:
-Creepy setting perfect for a wintery escape from this summer heat!
-Solid “locked room” mystery vibes with some scary thriller elements (but not to many if that’s not your thing!)
-Didn’t figure out the ending twist ahead of time.

Other thoughts:
-Some of the middle chapters felt a bit repetitive, but the pacing was good so it didn’t drag.
-This was my first thriller by Coates. I LOVE her spooky stuff, so I wanted a secret supernatural twist, but it’s a solid thriller that doesn’t disappoint.

Thanks to @netgalley and @poisonedpenpress for the chance to review Dead of Winter, find it now at your favorite indie!

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley.

There's no denying Darcy Coates is an amazing author, is there? If horror is your jam, you'd likely read one of her books already.

We meet our FMC Christa as she's exploring the Rocky Mountains with a tour group when a massive snowstorm leaves them stranded in an abandoned cabin. This is naturally when things start going crazy.
Overnight, the tour guide goes missing... and reappears in the morning.. well his head does.
Someone in the tour group is killing for fun, and the group numbers dwindle down. Christa has to decide who to trust.

The twists and suspense in this book was top level. Seriously. Read it.

⭐⭐⭐⭐
3.5 Stars rounded up for this claustrophobic, pulse-pounding thriller!

I was honestly surprised by the strength of this book. I have mostly read Horror novels from Darcy and wasn't sure what to expect here. The premise is a group of people are all headed to a remote lodge in the heart of the Rocky Mountains for a week of relaxation. Where they can unplug, and reconnect with themselves and the world. However, the bus is stopped by a fallen tree in the road and soon a snow storm sets in leaving them stranded in the wilderness and fighting for survival. Then one of the group are discovered brutally murdered and everyone is a suspect.

I love Darcy's writing and it shines here. The short chapters that leave you practically foaming at the mouth, nails bitten to the quick, and have you turning pages as fast as possible. Her dialogue and writing style is simple and easy to digest and the pacing is fantastic. The isolated atmosphere keeps you on the edge of your seat and gasping for air.

The characters were fine, nothing spectacular, but standard fare. My one major complaint is with the ending of the book. This is part survival story that changes to a murder mystery that feels like the wick is burning and you are just waiting for the bomb to explode. That happens up until the literal last page and then....it just ends. No Epilogue. Nothing. I was quite disappointed in that, but it couldn't negate the positive moments that led up to it. It was still an enjoyable read.

Overall, the book was exciting, brutal, and a ton of fun to read. The ending aside, the plot twists and reveals are nothing revolutionary and pretty predictable, but I have always said the Coates writes right in the comfort zone of horror/thrillers. Her books never turn the formula on its head, but the execution is still great. I would definitely recommend this for fans of thrillers. This takes isolation to the max and amps up the atmosphere and horror. I can't wait to read From Below that has been on my shelf for some time. Keep 'em coming, Darcy.

WOW this one takes you for a crazy ride! This is a horror/thriller in which eight people are stuck in a remote cabin in the Rocky Mountains and begin to die one by one. I was FULLY captured by this book and trying to figure out who was doing the killing. There were so many twists and turns and when I thought I had it figured out, I was proven to be completely wrong! I had trouble putting it down. Fast paced, an excellent plot, great characters! The author left the book with a little cliff hanger, so I will be on the lookout for a second book! Highly recommended.
Great job by the author! Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately I could not get into this book. I didn't feel like there was anything leading up to them being stuck in the snow... it just happened. I missed the plot line and the lead in. Then I was just wondering how I was supposed to care about all these missing characters. Not for me.

Thank you #netgalley for sending me this novel. I like Darcy Coates writing however her books do not stand out from other books. It felt like another group of people stuck in a cabin in the winter. It was ok but felt standard.

Dead of Winter is a claustrophobic and atmospheric closed circle thriller that had me on the edge of my seat the whole way through. Christa and her boyfriend are joining a small group of strangers heading to an isolated lodge in the Rocky Mountains for a week long retreat with no access to the outside world during the dead of winter. On the road to the lodge the group is forced to find shelter due to the terrible winter storm. Slowly, the group is being picked off one by one and they are in a race to not only survive the elements but also the killer that is hiding amongst them.

This was such a fun yet grisly read. I throughly enjoyed the adventure and suspense of this story. I also loved the horror elements that Coates sprinkled in, like the victims heads being placed on a tree nearby the cabin the group is sheltering in. It can also be hard with a bigger group of characters to make them all unique enough to stand out and Coates nailed that. Each character has a distinct voice and all of them are suspicious.

My only negative for this story was that I guessed the ending pretty early on. Which isn’t uncommon for me since I read so many thrillers but I was hoping there would be a bit more to it. Even with knowing the ending I thought it was well done and I was even second guessing myself at various times. And the ending was so dynamic that I’ve actually thought about it a handful of times since finishing the book.

This was my first Darcey Coates book and it will definitely not be my last. I loved the mix of horror and thriller. Coates also perfectly nailed the atmosphere and I could easily picture Christa and the group during the horrific blizzard. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to escape into an easy story that will chill them in more than one way.

What a chilling tale!

If someone you loved paid for you to go on a vacation, wouldn’t you be excited? But how calm are you in a new place that you’ve never been? And how trusting are you in a group of people you’ve only just met?

When I saw that Darcy Coates was coming out with another book, I made sure to make a note of it; I’ve enjoyed every book of hers that I’ve read so I knew I had to read this.

This is very much a page-turning thriller with so much going on and great chapter ending sentences that make you say: just one more chapter!

This fast paced story was so visually descriptive as well. I could feel a chill (even in 80°+ weather) as I read through. Everything seemed so thoroughly thought out. It hit every sense: I could hear the wind of the storm and feel the sting of the snow on my skin.

The emotion of the main character rubs off on the reader and you too feel that panic riddled anxiety of being somewhere new and having no control over what’s going on. It created an internal need to get to the conclusion of the story.

I was so into the story that, come the end, I was shocked I’d finished it already. Now to read the rest of her books!

Thanks so much to the author, Darcy Coates, Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for gifting me an eARC of Dead of Winter in exchange for my honest review!

**3.5-stars rounded up**

Dead of Winter is the perfect Summer Chiller to make your blood run cold on a hot day. If your air conditioning isn't keeping pace with the heat, look no further, this novel will cool you down quickly!

In this story we meet Christa as she embarks on a two-week vacation in the Rocky Mountains with her boyfriend of around six-months, Kiernan. Christa is a woman haunted by her past and this vacation is a big deal for her.

Kiernan has been such a blessing in her life and she feels like she has a little more courage with him by her side. Kiernan is from the area near the mountains they are visiting and Christa is excited to see a place that is so special to him.

As they are making their way to the remote lodge on the tour bus, along with eight other guests and their guide, inclement weather makes the conditions less than an ideal. A fallen tree blocking the road ends up stalling them further. As the guide breaks the tree down to move it out of the way, Kiernan and Christa hike up a nearby ledge to get a private peek at the view.

In the worsening conditions, the couple get separated and the next thing Christa knows she is awakening in a cabin, groggy and injured, with Kiernan no where in sight. As the roads became impassable, the group was forced to take shelter in a tiny rustic cabin they found not far from where the bus is stranded.

They were lucky to find Christa, but the search for Kiernan will have to be put on hold until morning. Their new quarters are tight and claustrophobic, with very minimal supplies. This is not going to be easy.

The group settles in and try to come up with a plan for escape, but they might as well be the last people on Earth. They have no means of communicating with the outside world, and even if they could get a signal out, how could rescue even get to them?

In the middle of the night, their guide goes missing. The next morning the group is shocked to find his decapitated head hanging in a tree just next to the cabin. Fear and paranoia runs high, as each in the group realizes there may be a killer amongst them. As bodies start dropping, the suspect list grows smaller. Who will make it out of this vacation from hell alive?

Dead of Winter is a fun read. This is the second Darcy Coates book that I have read. The first was a DNF because I was bored, so this one is a huge improvement over that. I am an atmosphere girlie first and foremost and Coates absolutely delivered in that category here. I loved the secluded location, the claustrophobic-feeling cabin and the cold, uninviting wilderness surrounding them.

I also enjoyed the unlikable cast of characters being thrust together into tight quarters. These were people who probably otherwise wouldn't have been socializing with one another, but fate brought them together and they had no option than to try to work together.

Further, I was impressed with their interactions. As the tension rose and people's paranoia started to kick in, I found how they were relating to one another really believable. I think Coates did a great job with the psychology behind it all.

For me though, in spite of the fact that it was action-packed, I did feel like it went on a little too long. There were some sections that dragged, or felt repetitive, when I was just wishing to move forward a little more quickly.

Additionally, I felt that it was pretty clear who the killer was and why, so it made certain reveals a little less impactful than I think the author was intending. I was hoping for a bit more suspense to carry me through to the end.

With this being said, I don't necessarily need to be surprised to have fun with a story and I still enjoyed this one a lot. I thought the level of violence and body horror was perfect and as mentioned above, the secluded setting was fantastically done.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a chilling, intense, cold-weather Horror-Thriller story.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Poisoned Pen Press, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I am excited to read more from this author!

Scary psychological thriller!

What may seem as an accident at first, quickly devolves into a suspense novel where peoples lives are in danger. It is clear that people are being killed for sport, and individuals are left to their own devices.

The setting and situation of people trapped in a snowy, hostile environment, without hope of aid because of the winter storms, is not an unusual one for thrillers. However, I found this one very gruesome and hoped the novel would wrap up and be resolved soon.

I thought it was way too long and the book tried my patience waiting for the denouement and wrap up.

I think it would have been a better thriller one third less long.

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
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I hope the day never comes where I don’t enjoy a book that Darcy Coates has written. I absolutely LOVED Dead of Winter and I’m pretty sure that I finished it within a day because I didn’t want to put it down and I NEEDED to know how it was going to end. Her books always know how to get my heart racing fast and increase my anxiety in the best way possible. If you liked locked room thrillers, then this is one that you are going to love! She knows how to capture your attention from the very first page and includes the most gruesome details that you don’t want to turn your eyes away from! Love this book and will never not recommend one of her books!

This review will be posted to my Instagram blog (read_betweenthecovers) in the near future!

Thank you NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, & Darcy Coates for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

This was an action packed, heart pounding thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time! I absolutely loved this one and couldn't put it down. This was my first Darcy Coates novel but it 100% won't be my last! Five stars all the way!!

Dead of Winter plunges straight into the action, with Christa and Kiernan struggling through a bitter snowstorm. We're given no details of their backstory or relationship until later in the book. The two were on a tour bus, bound for a lodge higher up the mountain. With the bus stranded, its occupants have to take shelter in a run down cabin... Almost immediately, someone starts killing them.

The plot moves fast and the setting immerses the reader, but I had a hard time getting into it because I knew so little about the characters.