This is my favorite Darcy Coates book! She writes spook, cozy horror, but this is more of a thriller and it has some violence in it. It was nonstop and kept you guessing through the whole book. It's a closed-door mystery where the characters are killed off one-by-one. These always make me anxious.

Christa and her boyfriend are on a bus to a weekend getaway in the mountains. The bus gets stopped by a tree in the road and the passengers have to take refuge in a remote cabin in the middle of a snow storm. One by one, they are brutally murdered. Christa has to figure out who the killer is in order to stay alive.

"Never mistake my silence for weakness. No one plans a murder out loud." (Linda Nee)

Slam the door and take a seat. This one will rattle chains inside your head all night.

Think about it. You've boarded a tour bus in the midst of a furious winter storm in the surround sound of the Rocky Mountains. There's still a chill in the air within these walls even with the heat blasting. You're a city girl who has packed city clothes. No one gave you the hardcore definition of COLD.

Christa sits next to her boyfriend, Kiernan. He's all about country life and the Rockies. It's his thing, but not necessarily hers. Oh, but love overrides all. She's wrapped up in those deep blue eyes and that crooked smile. This will be a weekend in a remarkable lodge with breathtaking views. Memories will definitely be made.

But as they travel into the mountains, a giant tree has fallen across the road. The eight other passengers climb outside the bus as Brian, the guide, provides a chain saw to clear a path. Brian tells them to stay close, but Kiernan is anxious to show Christa the views. Tragedy will find its way to visit upon the love-struck couple. They become separated in the raging storm.

The rest of the passengers climb to a higher elevation where they find a cabin closed up for the season. With no other recourse, they hunker down. No electricity. No food. No running water. But at least it gets them out of the storm. Hours later, Christa spots the cabin. She's had no contact with Kiernan since she fell into a ravine. Christa is determined to find Kiernan. Until she does.......

WoWzers! Don't even leave your footprints in this packed down snow if you're weak of heart. This is a brutal one. It's straight out of Agatha Christie on high volume steroids. Red will become a part of the decor and not as a fashion statement here. Keep a score card handy to hold count of these players. It's a hyperventilating time in the Rockies. Someone likes to play with sitting ducks.

Darcy Coates is known for her thriller mindset. Coates has outdone herself in this one. The fear factor is relentless. Toasted and terrifying. And we're clueless until the final pages. Packed like a macabre picnic lunch. Who'll get the first serving?

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and to Darcy Coates for the opportunity.

Christa hoped that a vacation on the snowy Rocky Mountains with her boyfriend may put the ghosts of her past to rest. When her boyfriend goes missing in a snowstorm, she is forced to take refuge in a remote cabin along with total strangers, waiting for the raging storm to subside and for an elusive rescue mission. But heads start popping and when she realise that one among her cabin mates is a serial murderer, she has to decide whom to trust before the worst happens.
Dead Of Winter is an upcoming thriller novel by best selling writer Darcey Coates, which I got an opportunity to read, thanks to an advance copy by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange of an honest review. I am reading Coates for the first time. The book is a locked door suspense mystery with cabin in the wood kind of horror elements heavily thrown in.
Story is narrated in the first person perspective of Christa. The narrative style of Coates puts the reader in the midst of the events. While reading through the eyes of Christa, we are aware of only that which she knows about. At the same time we are part of all the paranoia and anguish that she feels. This made me as a reader, more immersed and invested in her perilous journey.
Ever prevalent suspense is the biggest asset of the novel. The writer has ensured that there are no dull moments in the plot by keeping it thriving and eventful. Right from the opening chapter, the book pulls the reader into its maze. The terror and paranoia that inhabits every character and the atmosphere of uncertainty and confusion that prevails in every page are sufficient to hook the reader. As bonus there are enough gore and jump scares thrown in to spice up the story. Constant presence of a merciless nature- never ending snowstorm and ice clad mountains that hinders every effort of the characters, disallowing any respite also serves as an antagonist in the tale.
I have read many suspense thrillers that pull rabbits out of thin air. But the best ones always take care to stud sufficient clues (and of course some misdirections also) in the narrative for the more adventurous reader to pick on their way and attempt to decipher the final reveal. The credibility of a fine suspense writer, according to me, lies in making their reader feel 'why didn't I think of it' instead of 'I didn't see that coming'. Dead of Winter made me regret all the missed clues that I ignored, though to my credit, I was able to crack atleast a crucial one.
In any locked door thrillers, it is crucial to have interesting characters because most of the thrills happens by the suspicious interaction among these characters. My singular objection with the novel is the lack of riveting characters other than the protagonist. All other characters where mostly one-note kind, and serves only the purpose of carrying the plot forward. More meaningful and complex interactions among them would have added layers to the book and whetted the appetite of serious readers who are interested in something more than a racy ride.
Dead Of Winter is ideal for a reader who wants to read a relentless, atmospheric suspense thriller that features some gore. It is an easily readable book, with a complex protagonist who shoulders the plot effortlessly and a dense atmosphere saturated with paranoia.

This book is fantastic. Atmospheric, creepy and a really good page turner. You could almost feel the cold leeching from the pages. A brilliant who done book. Although I did work it out, still a great read. I love Darcy Coates's books. They never let me down

Darcy Coates never disappoints! This novel is quick-paced, gory, and full of anticipation from beginning to end. I was able to figure out who the killer was and why, but I never consider that to be a negative thing when I leave reviews because I love being right. Christa is an interesting protagonist, and she’s an adequate narrator for the setting. If you love gore, you’ll love this book, but if graphic descriptions bother you, then this might not be the book for you. Personally, I loved all of it! I continue to be a hardcore Darcy Coates lover, and I would highly recommend this book!

This is my new favorite Darcy Coates! I loved how brutal this got! Darcy does not hold back on the gore! I read this one very quickly because I was so invested in this isolated mystery! If you like a winter isolated setting with some gnarly kills, don't sleep on this one!

Thank you, netgalley

This is my first read by this author and the synopsis really pulled me in - a group of strangers become trapped by a winter storm and stranded in a cabin in the Rocky Mountains. With no resources and no way to call for help it's a desperate situation which quickly gets worse when members of the group start getting picked off one by one by a mysterious and deranged killer.

This is definitely a book of ups and downs. Things start off great from page 1 as I'm thrown into a life or death struggle as two main characters struggle through a violent winter storm having been separated from the group. There's some great storytelling here as I felt like I was right there with them in the blizzard. As the story progresses and all the characters are introduced things slow down dramatically and I have to admit I struggled here. When you're introducing almost a dozen characters at once it's really impossible to remember them or develop any meaningful relationships between them and the reader. I was constantly forgetting who was who and as such, the story really lost momentum. Things do pick up as the bodies start to drop and there's some exciting reading as the survivors try various plans to either escape or call for help - if you can get past the initial onslaught of characters there's some good stuff to come.

Then the ending arrives and I have to admit it's pretty disappointing. No spoilers here but I had accurately predicted the twist coming early on. Annoying but no big deal - I still enjoyed it. However if there was ever a book that needed an epilogue it's this one and I'm surprised the author didn't include it. You have this big climatic scene of Christa finally encountering the killer and then - the book just ends. The fates of several characters are never revealed and multiple questions go unanswered. It's frustrating to put time into a book like this and feel like I was cheated out of an ending.

Anyway overall I did enjoy Dead of Winter. It's got some good moments, the writing is well done and there's really no profanity which is a welcome change for novels in this genre. The negatives are too many characters that have very little meat on them (I found myself really only caring about Christa and Alexis) and the lack of follow up on the ending. Based on this, I'll check out some of the authors other books.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced review copy of this novel and I have given my honest opinion

Darcy Coates never disappoints! Good horror fun, without all the gore. Perfectly creepy and such a great story it kept me glued to the pages!

Starting this book in the middle of a blizzard really helped set the atmosphere!
The beginning started off pretty slow for me. At one point I had guessed the twist at the end but then talked myself out of it. The ending did leave me with a lot of unanswered questions…


Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for my advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book reminded me of “No Exit,” but was able to differentiate itself with some different plot twists and characters. Definitely an adrenaline fueled read.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63264519

Honestly this was a hard one for me. I would have made it 3 stars, because while predictable it kept me entertained, but the abrupt ending with threads left unravelled dropped off that last star.

I did see who the killer was the moment that Liam said his brother died and Christa admitted that she had killed a boy, so that ruined the "twist" for me. Regardless I kept turning pages, and enjoyed it for the most part, but I just wish it hadn't just ended with maybe Hutch and Alexis will survive, and done. Did they? Did they not?

I hate loose ends like that. Would it have been too hard to have an epilogue?

★★★★☆ Review!
DEAD OF WINTER ❄️
Pub date July 11, 2023
A chillingly perfect intro to horror.

TLDR: The grip that this book had on me! It perfectly blended the classic thriller whodunnit beats with horror-level scares. This book made me gasp aloud and even cry in public. This is a perfect read for someone who is curious about horror but doesn't know what to pick up first.

The pacing of this book is a masterclass. Each chapter is short and ends with a cliffhanger, so you can feel those pages TURN as you keep going. This book was so hard to put down simply because each time I'd think I hit a stopping point, I had to see what happened next. Scary horror moments never lasted too long to be too scary, and the set pieces flowed so well. The emotional elements of Christa's love for Kiernan gave her such an understandable reason to keep moving through the plot.

Christa was a great active protagonist. I understood her deeply and felt such strong empathy for her. Many thriller characters feel illogical in how they approach their situations, but Christa never lost her rationality. Whenever I had an idea, Christa would have the idea moments later. I felt like I was right there with her trying to figure out what was going on, and also like her, I could not guess who the heck the butcher was.

Each character in the rest of the ensemble was well-defined and I knew exactly who each person was. Some elements of characters were a little trope-y, but I was never put off.

While I was never bored, some moments felt slightly too long. Some of the thriller climax fight/chase felt overextended and could've been shortened, but again, I was not bored or mad at it.

This is an inventive horror I will be recommending to anyone curious but a little wary of the genre. It will keep you on the edge of your seat and tearing through the pages.

Make sure to pick up a copy when it comes out in July!

THANKS TO NETGALLEY FOR THIS REVIEW COPY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.

Isolated setting

Group of strangers

Murder Mystery

Synopsis had everything that I really enjoy in mysteries. Christa with her relatively new but perfect boyfriend, joined a tour group to spend some time in an isolated lodge in the rocky mountains. Little did she know that this adventure is going to kill people. I got into the story with expectations of having a really good time but quickly I realized that I am wrong. The story felt flat to me, it had potential but the writing style wasn't able to execute it properly. I struggled in connecting with any of the characters, everyone was so dull, one-dimensional, and developed lazily. One had only one character trait that was bad back, you have an idea now. Too many details didn't let me enjoy the better part of the story. I would have enjoyed the story if it was told from a different POV. I skimmed the major part of the book, ending surprised me. Overall it was a below-average read.

Really enjoyed this book by new to me author, Darcy Coates! It was dark, atmospheric, and suspenseful - and didn’t expect the plot twist at the end. A quick read and not my last by this author.

What do you do when you’re stranded at a remote cabin with a group of people you don’t know? How do you calm your panic when one by one people are being beheaded and showcased with pride?

These are the very answers that Christa has to ask herself after the bus breaks down miles away from shelter in the middle of a blizzard. She is surrounded by strangers who she knows she can’t trust, without any sort of weapon or means to contact the police. This book was set up to be a really fun time.

This was my first Darcy Coates novel so I didn’t know what to expect. You see this stranded in the snow trope often, but the way Coates wrote this novel put it into a league of its own. This medium-paced thriller grabs you in immediately and doesn’t let go. There’s so many twists and turns that you truly have no idea who the villain is. I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend checking it out. It was a breath of fresh air, by a truly gifted author.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC! Four WELL DESERVED stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This booked sucked me in right from the start. What a crazy ride. This was my first Darcy Coates book and it won’t be my last.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for my advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first Darcy Coates read and I was not disappointed. From the first chapter till the end, there was was character build up and plot twists. I sincerely thought the story was going a different direction and was beginning to feel a bit disappointed at the predictability, but she delivered on several occasions by changing the stories trajectory.

As the book description states, 9 or 10 people (depending on how you view the characters' roles), are on a trip to a remote location in the Rocky Mountains. However, before they make it to their final destination they have a few distractions (not to give any spoilers of course). The story looks at first like a remake of the movie "I know what you did last summer", but with a blizzard survival twist. However, Coates allows the reader to guess the plot trajectory and then slaps them with a twist, and not just on one occasion in the book.

Overall, the book was a great read. It was refreshing to read a horror story without one harsh word (curse words for us older gens) and without the traditional violence against women in horror scenes. There isn't the common day forced woke dialog, nor was there a political agenda. This is just a good story meant to keep the reader guessing and on their toes. Essentially, a horror murder mystery story that has the feel of a supernatural element involved.

Release Date: July 11, 2023

"When Christa joins a tour group heading deep into the snowy expanse of the Rocky Mountains, she's hopeful this will be her chance to put the ghosts of her past to rest. But when a bitterly cold snowstorm sweeps the region, the small group is forced to take shelter in an abandoned hunting cabin. Despite the uncomfortably claustrophobic quarters and rapidly dropping temperature, Christa believes they'll be safe as they wait out the storm.
She couldn't be more wrong."

I absolutely could not put Dead of Winter by Darcy Coates down and easily read it in one sitting. I was hooked from page one and even though I figured it out early on, I still loved seeing how everything unfolded.

The only Coates books I have read are the horror/haunting ones which I have thoroughly enjoyed. So I wasn't surprised that I ended up loving this thriller. I will be getting a physical copy to add to my collection when it releases.

If you love a good locked-in who-dunnit, then this book is for you.

Thanks to @netgalley and @poisonedpenpress for my digital ARC.

This book is EXCELLENT! You can read it in the winter to go with the snowy vibes or in the summer when you want to cool off! I love a snowed in thriller and this was PERFECT. It's unnerving, eerie, and just a good time for readers! Highly recommended.

This book made me feel like I had just watched a scary movie! I stayed up late to finish it then tried to go to sleep, might want to read it when you don’t have to get up early. I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a nerve wrecking thriller that is impossible to put down!