I am a sucker for remote settings, a group of strangers cut off from civilization, and a high body count as they are picked off one by one. Dead of Winter does not disappoint. Think Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None set in the Rocky Mountains in white-out blizzard conditions, and a remote resort only open to small, private tours. Predictable? God, yes. Entertaining? Absolutely. I loved it.

Dead of Winter is a fast paced story that will keep readers on the edge of their seat wondering who can you trust? This was an easy read. I thought I had figured out what was going on, but I was wrong and I loved being wrong! It is rare for a book to really surprise me. I would recommend this book to mystery/thriller fans.

Wow! Darcy Coates Dead of Winter is fabulous and so great to read no matter what the season! Take a busload of strangers and strand them in the Rocky Mountains during a blizzard in a tiny cabin and then slowly kill them one by one. It’s “And Then There Were None” set in the middle of the wilderness and no hope of rescue. Who is the killer? Who will die next? Why is the killer killing these people? You will never guess!! I almost threw my phone across the room when I found out! I was so surprised! I never even saw that one coming! Loved this book! Darcy Coates rocks the scary story in this one!

Title: Dead of Winter
Author: Darcy Coates
Pace: 4/5 ★
Characters: 5/5 ★
Genre: 5/5★
Plot: 5/5★
Readability: 5/5★
Content Warnings: graphic violence
Narrator: N/A

A group of travelers become the prey to a hunter whose motives are unclear but whose modus operandi is terror. Christa is a woman troubled by a past tragedy who joins her boyfriend and eight other tourists on a journey to stay at an out-of-season ski resort deep in the Rocky Mountains. When a blizzard halts their journey and their tour guide turns up dead, these strangers are faced with the challenge of surviving the weather and surviving the monster slowly decorating a tree with their heads.

The tension is palpable, and Darcy Coates’s use of imagery and tone create a book that reads like a horror film. As a horror lover, this book is admittedly gorier than I would seek in a movie. On the page, however, it’s brilliantly done and almost more terrifying than a screen adaptation could be. I’ve never read a book quite like this, and it’s such a change from the thrillers I typically consume. I thoroughly enjoyed this reading experience—and had to turn all the lights on after.

This is a tricky review to write because there’s nothing wrong with this book. The pace is the only category that didn’t get five stars, because it does start a bit slowly. At about the 25% mark things picked up, though, and by the 33% mark I couldn’t put it down. The rest of the categories are straight fives.

The characters are incredibly compelling, especially as you realize they are each carrying some weight with them that makes this hunt feel less random and more like a game. The book nestles into the horror genre beautifully, down to the twists and turns that keeps the reader on edge—especially in the final act. The plot fits into the genre well, and while it’s a slow burn, the final third of the story is electric and again is just so complimentary of the horror genre. Finally, the readability is superb— I actually read the last few chapters on my phone in a waiting room because I forgot my Kindle and I had to finish it.

Unrelated to the book review: I’ve never read a Darcy Coates book, even though she’s been on my radar as a suggested author a number of times. I’m about to pick through her catalogue for my next for-pleasure read, because I’ve got to know if this is a one-time thing or if Coates is about to join Ruth Ware and Lucy Foley on my “I must read everything by this person” roster.

This was one of the wildest rides I’ve ever encountered from any book. This was a new to me author and she can certainly spin some tales that stayed with me and had me wondering if I was having a nightmare or really reading this.
Christa and her boyfriend Kiernan join nine others on a two week trip to a lodge in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. On the bus ride there they speak to some of the guests and each one has different expectations for their stay. An unexpected heavy blizzard and a fallen tree in the road curtails their journey. The bus is stranded and in spite of the severe cold they all have to begin walking. They come across a tiny log cabin, so they seek shelter inside. That’s when all the “fun” begins. Tight quarters, very little food, and differing personalities cause tempers to flare and fights to ensue. And the most frightening thing is the bodies begin dropping like flys! Who can they trust? One of the most surprising endings I’ve ever read!
I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through Netgalley but I was not required to write a review.

Wonderful! Passionately written and just felt like someone laid their heart on the page. Wonderful! Passionately written and just felt like someone laid their heart on the page. Wonderful! Passionately written and just felt like someone laid their heart on the page.

Thank you to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Darcy Coates for providing me with copy in exchange for my honest review.

Stop everything, and go get this book! Yes, it was that good. The characters are well developed, and I kept turning pages to the very end. Oh what twists, this would be perfect to read on a cold snowy or rainy night. It is gory and graphic but still would recommend.
4.5 stars

Eight Strangers. One killer. Nowhere left to RUN.

This book has left me SPEECHLESS. By far the best book I have read this year! This is my first book by Darcy Coates. I have heard such good things about her books and I couldn’t wait to dive into this AVALANCHE of a book. This is the master of “Who dunnit” books. Every time I thought I had it figured out…nope! Darcy had me scared out of my mind! Watch your back….and your head.
Who will make it in the “Dead of Winter”? Bundle up and find out!

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC! Much appreciation!

Classic whodunnit thriller set in the middle of nowhere trapped in a snowstorm? I’m in. This one had me guessing until the end and when I thought I knew how it was going to end, NOPE!! What a twist! I really did not see that coming!

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC in return for my review!

This novel is an exciting, hard to put down thriller. The plot is propulsive and the pacing is exacting. Although the main “twist” is obvious about halfway through the book, that doesn’t detract from the story. A definite edge of your seat book!

Another amazing book from the amazing Darcy Coates!

Eight strangers are on their way through the Rocky Mountains when disaster strikes in the form of both a snowstorm and a tree in the road.
At least there's a small cabin nearby that they can stay at until help comes.
But it turns out that's only the beginning. One by one, someone is picking them off and it's only a matter of time until there's no one left.

Excellent and gripping, I couldn't put it down!

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press, Darcy Coates and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Christa went through something traumatic and became closed in, until she met her partner Kieran who started to give her some hope. He invites her on a trip to the Rocky Mountains with a tour group, but then everything starts to go south really quick.

This was an excellent read from Darcy Coates. I previously read Craven Manor and enjoyed it and I am glad she keeps surprising me with unique stories with fun twists and turns. This is the perfect book to read either during the summer when it's hot and you need to not think about the sun, or during fall and wintertime.

The setting is an abandoned and remote cabin and the cast for this story is a bunch of unique characters. The weather plays an important part in the story as well, making everyone's struggle much worse. As more people die off, the survivors become paranoid and distrustful and have to be quick to not become the next victim. Everything was so descriptive and I could easily picture what was happening in the story. It was eerie and captivating.

My only issue is like with a lot of thriller books, it did drag a bit in the middle and I wonder if maybe some editing down would have helped. It didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book and I had fun until the end trying to figure out who the butcher was. I would recommend this to others.

Ebook/Horror: I guessed the murderer! From the jump, I had three theories. After about 100 pages, I knocked two of them out. I kept my suspect until the end even when events started turning to someone else. Stuck with my theory and bam, I finally got one in the win column; which I rarely get right with who-done-its.
I picked this one off my Netgalley shelf because of the cover. It's nothing but a heat advisory every day so I sat under a fan and read this page turner in two sittings.
I definitely recommend it. There is a gorey body count. Eleven people travel to a remote cabin in the Rockies with a serial killer among them. Good stuff.

I am still shivering from the detailed descriptions of the glacial winds, the icy sharp snow stinging my face, the plummeting temperatures, and the endless piles of snow that make travel impossible. Darcy Coates is phenomenal at creating movie-like details, which transport you to the center of the action. The type of action I do not want to be a part of. I completely devoured this book, I could not put it down, and my family was ignored until I read the very last sentence. The intense twists and turns kept me on my toes, leaving me wondering who The Butcher is. Coates had me guessing until the very end. I jumped from suspect to suspect, never really knowing if they had finally uncovered the killer. Until it was too late.

Christa and Kiernan are on vacation for the next two weeks to the Blackstone Alpine Lodge in the Rocky Mountains. It is the dead of winter, and storms strike at any time. Burying everything in snow, the wind slamming against anything and everything, all you want to do is stay inside and look out at the vast of white. The lodge is incredibly remote and off the beaten path. A tree across the road stops the bus in its tracks. All the travelers either help to clear the tree or explore. Christa and Kiernan decide to find a view. Which leads them being horribly lost, frozen, frost bite a real fear. They become separated and Christa finally finds the rest of the travelers holed up in a small hunting cabin. Kiernan appears to have vanished into the wild. When the tour guide's body is discovered, and his head is pierced by a branch high up in a tree. The entire group is terrified, and everyone is a suspect. As more people are slowly picked off, leaving no one to trust, everyone is a suspect. It becomes a marathon against the clock to uncover The Butcher.

This book sent tremors down my spine, the hair on the back of my neck to rise, and I will be constantly looking over my shoulder for the next few days. I ripped through the pages thinking I finally knew who is behind all these ghastly murders. Until I was whipped around, and a new suspect is put in my sites. There are so many twists and turns, and the questions keep piling up. If you are looking for a snow filled, icy read to cool you down this summer. Give this one a go. Thank you to Darcy Coates and Poisoned Pen Press for this horrifyingly twisty tale.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and all opinions expressed are entirely my own,

This is a locked room mystery and believe me when I say I will be reading more locked room mysteries from now on. This book follows Christa who joins a tour group exploring the rocky mountains . The tour takes a turn when a storm forces them to take shelter in an abandoned building. While sheltering in place, the tour guide goes missing during the night and then re-appears dead. Things are turning horrendous. It's a fast paced, stay up and wildly enticing thriller .

3.75/5 ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley for providing me this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I do so love a good thriller and this was absolutely a good thriller!! Dead of Winter follows an eclectic group of holiday makers destined for a winter mountain retreat. But when events take a turn for the worse, they seek shelter and a cabin in the woods amidst a winter storm. Sounds pretty bad right? It would be such a shame if it got worse…

I had a great time with this book! I had a little trouble getting into it as you really start out with an immediate bang (plus I was trying to read it on my lunch break and that was not the right time). This immediate “oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck” start was really indicative of how this book would continue - there wasn’t more than a moments reprieve from the anxiety and tension of dimly trying to stay alive.

I loved the way Coates wrote such shitty people - the conflicts and personality clashes all felt so authentic and realistic, as did their motives and behaviours. I confess I did guess the ending more or less from chapter 1 BUT that is once again more about me and my love of the genre than it is reflective of any sort of had writing.

I have very few criticisms of this book. One would be that because the tension was kept so high throughout, it felt kind of less by the end. That may have been intentionally reflective of the way the characters would have felt but I think it did influence the reaction I had to the final twist. I also wish there was a greater use of isolation in this story. The focus was very much on the group bd the individual to the group but I think there was a whole unexplored area of potential for Chrissy to be on her own in the cold and dark (truly my nightmare situation).

I’m really excited to read more from this author - in fact I’ve had one of her books on my Wishlist for ages and didn’t even realise when I requested this ARC so I think I’m going to move that up the buying schedule. Also love that she’s from the Central Coast!! Highly recommend this to any who appreciate a nice tense little winter thriller!

Christa thought she was going on a romantic week in a secluded resort with the love of her life. What she got was a fight for survival as the tour group are taken out one by one in the middle of a storm that takes away all hopes of escape.

Dead of Winter is a fast-paced locked-room mystery slasher. It is a bloody, twisty, death-filled ride. How will the group fare against an ax murderer and the harsh winter conditions of the Rocky Mountains? This was a very effective mystery that keeps the reader guessing and the tension does not let up until the end. Darcy Coates is great at building atmosphere and a sense of dread. That is what makes Dead of Winter such a fast and enjoyable read.

I would highly recommend this novel for fans of locked-door mysteries and slasher novels. This one was full of twists and reveals that will keep you on your toes.

Awesome story! Been hearing about this book for awhile. I'm glad I gave it a read. Great characters, great story and plot. Thank you for the chance to read.

This is my first time reading this author and will likely be my last. There was some attempt at character development and to incorporate the snowy elements of the setting into the plot, but the story was just so predictable. I didn’t really find this to be a true “horror” novel either. Not scary in the least. Big yawn on this one.

I was so disappointed I didn't enjoy this book. I really love stories that take place in cold, remote places. I love the atmosphere and the setting of such books and just want to snuggle up with some hot tea and see what happens. Only this book was not great. It started off okay, that first chapter was so good in setting the scene and the storm and how awful it would be to be lost in the mountains like that. Unfortunately the book went downhill from there. The setting seemed to be disregarded a bit in terms of really making you feel like you were there. The characters kept wandering around outside and I kept asking myself if it was still storming, still snowing or not as it wasn't obvious. It felt like the setting took a backseat to the story after the start and that is a shame.

The other major issue was that the characters were not developed (I could not keep everyone straight as they all were so flat and blank they could have been the same person). Also right from the beginning I thought oh, it is x what is going on, but then I was like no....that can't be it right? That would just be really lame...but yeah. That was what was going on so...all around not a great read. No characters to connect with, no setting to really make you invested, nothing really.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book