DANG! I had never read from Darcy Coates before, so I didn't know what to expect from her horror/thrillers. This was gorey and unsettling, but never quite scared the shit out of me, I did NOT see the end coming (although I never do) and I would 100% pick up more from her.

I will say at the beginning I got names/characters mixed up because they're introduced quickly, but I'm also just dumb.

4.5 stars

This is one of the best thriller/who done it books I've ever read, exceptionally well written, and there is enough to the story that even if you guessed who the killer was, there is always that doubt in the back of your mind, asking yourself is there more to the story, (which there is)

There is a little bit of gore, but for the most part the horror comes from not knowing who to trust, as the numbers dwindle down.

I will be defiantly be checking out more Darcy Coates books.

*Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.*

I was given an advanced copy of this book from net galley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are truthful and my own.

I liked this book. Its not very long, because there is something happening all the time. The plot is stretched over a few days but moves quickly. The atmosphere feels isolated and smothering all at once. Admittedly the "twist" is predictable but fun to get to. A lot of characters but unique enough to tell apart. I'd read more by this author.

This is the stuff of nightmares already, sans any murderer stalking your group from the treeline: a pack of strangers, stuck in the snowy woods, far from civilization, seeking refuge in a cabin not stocked with supplies nor equipped with the facilities for a stay of any great length. Add broken radios and flaring tempers, and this is pretty scary on its own, right? But what if someone disappears during the night, reappearing as only a head stuck in a tree, Vlad the Impaler style?

And so begins <i>Dead of Winter</i>, Darcy Coates' latest foray into her unique style of horror. For southern hemisphere readers, this release timing might not be as great as for us up north; the wintry setting and chilling events were great for a hot summer reading experience. This book reads very smoothly, as Darcy's work often does for me.

Besides all this, there isn't much mystery to this story, and I found myself disappointed for maybe the first time reading something by this author. I predicted the killer and what was going on very, very early on. Add to this the fact that victims were dying relatively similarly, so there wasn't the exciting vibe that you get in some slashers of, regardless of knowing the killer's identity, questioning how the next victim will die horrifically at the hands of a garden tool or household essential, if that makes sense. This blah feeling of disappointment was enough to knock stars off, but I'll round up to four because Darcy Coates is a go-to favorite.

It was a weird experience to read this in 30 degree heat because the setting was so immersive. This book feels incredibly claustrophobic for being set in such an expansive natural setting. The atmosphere is really the star of the show in this novel. I predicted the ending twist but it was still interesting enough to keep me engaged!

Gosh, this was such a disappointment. This book started out so promising but then it kept going and going and going. This book was way too long and had way too many chapters. I never had that on the edge of my seat feeling with this book. I did enjoy the first 30% but then it got extremely repetitive and it became way too obvious who the actual killer was. I wish the author did a better job at keeping this a thrilling whodunit story. Keeping this review short because I don’t want to be too negative. I will say, I did love the setting of the story and the survival aspect but that was about it. Overall, I would not recommend this one because it’s too long and not worth the ending that I was given. There are much better books in this genre that I would recommend before this one.

Thank you so much for my gifted copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Stuck. In a small cabin. In the dead of winter. The scenario is a nightmare, but the reality quickly became hell. A group of tourists on a tour bus, from various backgrounds and countries, hoping for a relaxing vacation at a resort. The bus has to stop for a fallen tree, the main character and narrator Christa leaves the bus with her boyfriend Kiernan to hike to a scenic viewpoint, and then a blinding snowstorm leaves them disoriented, with only Christa catching back up with the group. The events following this incident are nothing short of horrific and kept me turning pages well into the night. Well written; Christa is a bit shallow, selfish and naive at times, dragging others into her frantic search for Kiernan, but overall this book is a winner. Highly recommended! But be prepared for some unexpected twists and blood.

My ARC was provided by the publisher and NetGalley; the opinions expressed herein are my own.

Krista and Kiernan joined a tour group, heading to the Blackstone Alpine Lodge so deep in the Rocky Mountains, only mother, nature has plans of her own a snowstorm that affects all of the tour group. After their tour bus. Is stuck behind a fallen tree. The snow begins to fall with no signs of it letting up anytime soon.

Now the group of strangers find shelter in a small cabin in the valley, exhausted cold, and hungry. Can the group survive the weather and each other.. one by one, the members of the group are being targeted, and a very dark and macabre way. Is there a serial killer among them? It would be a mistake to believe too much in anyone’s innocence.

WoW this is my first read by Darcy Coates, and she doesn’t disappoint. As the tension slowly builds, I was on the edge of my seat to see what would happen next. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. The intensity is so palpable at times my heart was beating so fast. The author did an excellent job at keeping the plot twist coming without giving anything away which keep me interested right up to the satisfying ending..

A special thanks to Poisoned, Pen Press, and Netgalley for a copy of the arc, and exchange for an honest review.

This was my first Darcy Coates book and it will not be my last! It was gripping from literally the first page. The story truly hit the ground running and any time I thought I had a handle of it, it took a turn. The main character was so good. Well developed and instantly likable, she was not the typical dumb main of a horror story. The visuals were really unsettling and you never knew what terrible thing was next. Not being able to trust anyone or predict what's next kept me on the edge of my seat. I really enjoyed this one. Horror done really well and I can't wait to dive into another book by this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC!

Imagine yourself stranded with a group of strangers in the dead of winter in a cabin in the woods, in the middle of a massive snowstorm. Imagine that someone among you is single handedly picking you each off in a gruesome and terrible manner. You have to figure out who and you have to do it quick before you are the next victim. The Dead of Winter keeps you guessing right up until the end. Definitely a little more gruesome of a mystery than I am used to reading, but a page turner for sure!
Thank you for an ARC of Dead of Winter in exchange for my honest review.

I really wanted to love this story the premise was great and I was looking forward to reading a scary thriller set in an isolated place. On the positive side, the setting was great, an abandoned cabin in the middle of nowhere in a snowstorm! Stuck in said cabin with a group of strangers and a possible killer! Unfortunately though this just wasn’t for me, it just didn’t hook me, I found the side characters to be poorly fleshed out and I didn’t really care about them. I found the main character very frustrating and quite contrary. This is certainly grisly and gory but I didn’t find myself scared or even apprehensive. However I think that this book would hit the right note for many readers so if it sounds like your cup of tea- go for it!
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advanced copy

Oh. My. God. This propulsive, claustrophobic thriller had me up until 1am because I could NOT stop reading.

The writing was extremely faced paced but descriptive and wonderful. I was overwhelmed by all the characters at once, but they quickly became real to me and differentiating them was no longer an issue. When I say this book was propulsive, I mean I actually feel like I had been shot out of a cannon and was free falling through the air, breathless and filled with dread. It was incredible. The scenes in the lodge at the end reminded me of The Shining on a visceral level, but in a paying-homage way, not copy cat at all.

I did predict who the butcher was maybe 75-80% of the way through? But it didn’t bother me at all, I actually loved how the twists went down. I wish there was slightly more of a conclusion as far as how things fared at the cabin at the end ( staying vague so no spoilers) but it was ok leaving it up in the air.

It must be mentioned that this is gruesome. There are some gory descriptions, some of which I had to gloss over a bit or I never would’ve fallen asleep haha.

5/5 massive stars. WILD ride. Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Overall I enjoyed this read. It is fast paced and I loved the setting. However, I did find some details hard to believe/a little too convenient to the plot. I would definitely read from this author again.

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for my free-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I recently read Dead of Winter, a gripping novel that takes place during a snowstorm. It has a horror element that makes it both disturbing and tragic. The two main characters are lost, and I felt just as disoriented as they did. However, once I became immersed in the story, I found it to be an intense and suspenseful read.

Christa, the protagonist, is not necessarily likable, but I appreciate her resilience in challenging situations. The other characters have their own stories, and the author does a great job revealing their backgrounds as the plot unfolds. This adds depth to the supporting characters.

The book's isolated setting, combined with the harsh winter weather and the presence of a killer on the loose, makes for a thrilling challenge for the characters. The descriptions of the deaths are graphic and hard to shake from your mind.

While I was able to predict who the killer was early on, the mystery of the motive kept me engaged. It was enjoyable to piece together the clues and solve the puzzle.

The story revolves around revenge, and the characters are not necessarily likable due to their past actions that led them to be hunted down.

The book's ending felt rushed, which was disappointing after a long cat-and-mouse chase. However, this did not take the enjoyment out of reading this book. Ultimately, Dead of Winter still rendered the chills and thrills on every page.

This is my first Darcy Coates book I've read, after many people have recommended her to me. The twists to this book did not disappoint! I did feel like the middle of the book became a bit slow, but I still enjoyed the book. It follows a woman named Christa, who is about to go on vacation with her boyfriend. They are supposed to go to a remote lodge in the middle of the Rocky Mountains, and of course a storm hits and they are unable to make it. I LOVE a good storm in the mountains story, and this did not let me down. I think I wanted some more character development in able to care a little about the characters more, but overall the book was enjoyable. I would recommend! Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I stayed up way past my bedtime because I needed to finish it and know what happened.

Brief Synopsis: Eight strangers. One killer. Nowhere left to run.

What you can expect:
🪓 Isolation
🪓 Short Chapters
🪓 Plot Twists
🪓 Whodunnit Murder Mystery
🪓 Heart Thumping Ending
🪓 Horror/Thriller

Dead of Winter is gripping, chilling and tense beyond measure. There are so many twists and turns. The ending will keep you on the edge of your seat. I could nearly feel my heart pounding out of my chest. Non-stop action.

The book takes place in a remote town in the Rocky Mountains during a snowstorm, and you can feel the cold through the pages.

If you like these books, I think you’ll like Dead of Winter:
And Then There Were None - By Agatha Christie
Daisy Darker - By Alice Feeney

Note: I will also share my review on Instagram @whatjordynnreads

Christa joins her boyfriend on a week long getaway in a remote lodge, when they get stranded by a snowstorm and have to take shelter in a tiny cabin with a few other strangers... Things go horribly wrong and Christa soon learns she might not be able to trust her fellow cabin mates.

This tale was chilling, eerie, and suspenseful. I think it is equal parts a thriller, a mystery, and a horror novel. It felt like a thriller to me in that I was reading it so fast so I could figure out what happened. The twists were really well done and it kept me guessing. However, I will say from the first few chapters I had totally guessed who but Darcy Coates manages to keep you on uneven ground. I was second-guessing everything I was reading because it felt like I was one of the people in the cabin. I kept thinking I knew who it would be and why but it wasn't until the last third of the novel that the pieces started falling into place.

Overall, Darcy Coates is the Queen of horror and I really enjoyed this one!!

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for the advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my review in any way.

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen for the chance to read this advanced reader's edition. Dary Coates has become an author that I have read when I learn a new book is out or about to be released. The book started out by giving me the creeps, which I have learned is why I love reading this author's books! There were so many trips and turns, I will not ruin things for anyone, but there were always a couple things at the back of my mind that explained themselves very well when the time came.

I did not want to put this book down at all, but sleep and life happen, so sometimes you need a holiday weekend to knock it out of the park.

Things go horribly wrong on the way to a Rocky Mountain retreat when a group of strangers seek shelter in an abandoned cabin. If I could speak to the characters in this story, I would say, "Trust no one. Sleep with one eye open."

Combine Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None and throw in a dash of Stephen King's The Shining, and BAM! You have a can't-put-it-down thriller mystery that'll keep you reading through the night.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a pleasant departure from the other books by this author I've read. Dead of Winter seems to be a move in a more complex direction, and I think the plot points are handled deftly. There were certain scenes and images that were unique and memorable despite how familiar I am with the genre. I also enjoyed the "whodunnit" aspect of the story and its conclusion.

However, the story's pacing took a major hit about half way through. Some of the journeys and threats are repeated to the point that they are no longer memorable. How many times did they go to the shed? How many nights were interrupted when the "watch" failed? They all kind of run together. Because this is a first-person account, it's understandable that the main character spends so much time pondering who is picking off the others. However, the continual processing and reprocessing of the evidence she has had me skimming and waiting for something new to happen.