5.00 stars
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TW: Murder, Blood, Gore, Car accident, Alcohol, Suicide, Vomit, Stalking
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Holy! When I originally started this one I wasn't super interested in it, but once all the action starts it hooks you right in. And oh my, it is pretty twisty. Dead of Winter follows Christa, her boyfriend, and a tour group heading into the snowy Rocky Mountains. Plans change as the weather takes a turn for the worst and the group is forced to shelter inside a cabin, one moment Christa is heading off away from the group with her boyfriend and the next, she wakes up in the cabin frostbitten...her boyfriend nowhere to be seen. The next morning the group wakes to find their tour guide missing, that is, until they find his decipitated head impaled on a tree.

We watch as they slowly get picked off one by one by a killer who kills for sport. As much as you want to connect to these characters you can't in fear of who's going to get murdered next. What we learn is that all of our characters are connected by a tragedy where a man unfortunately lost his life. I loved trying to work out who the killer was, and when we were down to the last few I started to wonder where the book would take us.

The ending shocked me! I would have never seen it coming, and it's probably one of the best twists I've read in awhile. I'm glad that I gave this one another chance after putting it down a few times. The book is slow to start as we get to know the characters but it's worth the wait, if you're into dark stories about survival - this one is for you!
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I would like to thank NetGalley, Poisones Pen Press, and Darcy Coates for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This book was published on July 11th, 2023.

I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. This is my honest review.

This book was one that my son selected from Netgalley for me to request. I'm not sure what his thought process was for his selections, but this was definitely a book I wouldn't have requested myself as I tend to avoid thrillers for the most part, as I often find them predictable. This book was anything but predictable. I was left guessing again and again who the killer might be, and only really figured out it just before the reveal. Once I figured it out, I started thinking about the previous clues and misdirects, and honestly, the killer really thought things through for this one.

In true horror movie fashion, the group doesn't completely stay together like we all know they should, which is what allows the killer to pick them off as they do. But I could also easily see this book being turned into a movie, especially since it had a bit of a The Shining feeling to it towards the end. I really felt the terror and distrust throughout the story.

Overall I give this book 3.98 out of 5 stars and am thinking I should let my son pick books for me to read more often.

I really tried to like this book. I think the reason I didn't enjoy it was because non of the characters are likable (in my opinion) and the story was too long. The chapters are really short, which is nice, but I think for some reason this somehow took away from the story.
If you enjoy isolation books, this might be your thing.

Christa and her boyfriend join a tour group to an isolated resort in the mountains. A snow storm blows through before they get there and they are left stranded with 8 strangers. I love isolated settings, but this one was just a little boring to me. I had hoped I would be on the end of my seat, but sadly was not. I stilled enjoyed it and still like Darcy Coates books. I

Darcy Coates is one of my favorite authors. I’ve lost track, but I’ve probably read close to 10 of her books and this one felt so different for me. I won’t spoil it too much, but if you have read any of Darcy’s books she *normally* leans into the haunted house / paranormal realm. This locked room, in a remote area reminded me of The Carrow Haunt, but also From Below due to the claustrophobia of the storm and small cabin they are staying in. I could tell she drew inspiration from The Shining (another amazing book) so I appreciated the nod to it! Darcy’s books tend to be more cozy horror, but this one was heavy into horror and body horror - hello severed heads! My biggest issue was how many characters there were. At the beginning, it was hard to keep straight. I wished there had been a little more character development as well. The ending had my jaw to the floor, as it was so unexpected and made the book for me!

Darcy Coates delivers a gripping and tense narrative in "Dead of Winter," a chilling tale set in the unforgiving, snow-covered Rocky Mountains. The story revolves around a group of travelers stranded in a desolate cabin, facing the bitter cold and an unseen danger lurking among them.

As the travelers seek shelter from the relentless storm, tensions rise when the tour guide is gruesomely found impaled on a tree outside the cabin. The atmosphere becomes increasingly eerie as suspicions grow, and the chilling realization sets in that one of them is a killer. Coates skillfully weaves a web of mystery, keeping readers on the edge of their seats with each page turn.

The cold and desolate landscape becomes a character in itself, unrelenting and unforgiving, adding to the story's suspense. The characters, trapped in this frozen tomb, must navigate the external threats and the internal distrust that simmers among them.

The narrative is thrilling, with bodies piling up as the snow continues to fall. Coates masterfully keeps the reader guessing about the killer's identity, creating an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty. The finger-pointing among the characters adds to the intensity, making it a classic "whodunit" scenario in a bone-chilling setting.

"Dead of Winter" has all the elements of a gripping psychological thriller, and Darcy Coates executes it with finesse. The book's twists and shocks are well-crafted, leaving readers in suspense until the end. With its cinematic potential, this story has the makings of a suspenseful and thrilling movie that would captivate audiences with its twists and turns.

"Dead of Winter" is a must-read for suspenseful and atmospheric thrillers fans. Darcy Coates has crafted a compelling narrative that will keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat until the final revelation. This bone-chilling tale is a testament to Coates' skill in creating tension and delivering a memorable reading experience.

Off-the-Grid holiday destination sounds awesome until you're stuck with a demented killer!😲

Christa and her boyfriend are spending two weeks on an adventure in the Rockies. Before they reach the Blackstone Alpine Lodge, a fallen tree blocks their tour bus, and an ill-timed snowstorm guarantees they and other vacationers are stranded for the day.

Waaah! I had high hopes for this wintery thriller/horror with all the elements I LOVE.

A snowstorm, a remote locale - Colorado Rockies, strangers, and an abandoned hunting cabin. I'm clearly in the minority to feel a bit bored with the uneven pace. I shouldn't feel bored with all the body parts and gore so that was really odd that I did. The start and finish were strong and I didn't guess the killer correctly or the reason so I liked the AHA moment.

This is my first Darcy Coates novel and I may have expected so much from the hype going in, but I enjoy the premise and I'm sure to try another book by her.

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for the DRC.

Allow me to start off by saying that I love this author. She is a fantastic storyteller; as her stories draw you in and make you feel like you are experiencing the events enfolded between the covers. This one was not much different. You shiver as if you are buried in the snow with the main protagonist after she falls off the cliff. Then you can't help but feel repulsed and genuinely afraid when the first of the group goes missing....then is later found not too far from the cabin. It was definitely a fantastic story. One that was, actually very familiar.

This was a book that I would gladly recommend to those who loved "And Then There Were None," by Agatha Christie. Other than being very much modern setting, taking place in the mountains and not on an island, and not following a child's nursery rhyme, it is a lot like "And Then There Were None." In fact, I recommended this book to book to a friend, and they even said that it was almost the same book.

This was a really fantastic story. One that I would gladly read again and again. Thanks to NetGalley for a copy to read.

𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 by Darcy Coates ❄️🗻⁣
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨⁣
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Reasons to read this book: ⁣
• snowy, atmospheric thriller that makes you feel like you are there with the characters ⁣
• if you want a book that makes you guess every character as the suspect (although I did figure this out I didn't know how the dots connected) ⁣
• if you liked 𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘣𝘺 𝘖𝘯𝘦 by Ruth Ware I think you'd love this! ⁣
• if you like some gore, but also like a good plot with it ⁣
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Reasons to not read this book: ⁣
• you hate thrillers 😂⁣
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This book is my book clubs book for January and it definitely did not disappoint. I had so much fun reading this one and even though I predicted something I still loved it and it didn't take any enjoyment out of the book. This was my first Coates book and I can't wait to read more by her!

Another good read from Ms Coates, though I figured out the killer about 30% into story. Some red herrings had me second guessing, but ultimately I was correct.

lOVED the vibiness of this book. I wasnt expecting to fly through it as quickly as i did but i did. I am excited to loko more into Darcys books and definitely recommend this one. thank you as always net galley for the arc!

This was my first experience with Darcy Coates, but I knew when I read the synopsis that I had to read it. Dead of Winter keeps you on the edge of your seat wondering who could be killing everyone off one by one. I can't wait to get my hands on more of Darcy's books.

Slasher thriller horror. Locked roomesque. It's a big locked room because a lot of action takes place in the big outdoor land of the wild remote west. It was a good read, a lot of gore and it wasn't too hard to figure out the who done its, but it was entertaining especially if you read it when it's snowing outside. Ms. Coates continues to be a good thriller storyteller.

I decided to start this book late at night and what a decision that was. This book was gory and kept me guessing until the very end. I wanted to keep reading it all night and it kept me scared. Such a good horror book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy to honestly read.

A decent locked room mystery. Unfortunately this book was very predictable. I figured out the killer and the twist before the half way point and found myself bored throughout the rest. of the book.

Overall the book was well written and maybe someone who hasn't read a lot of horror/thriller books or locked room mysteries may enjoy this one.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

What a great, fun, ride! Coates is a master at plotting and pacing. Her descriptions are vivid and evocative. Nice twists at the end!

This story had so much potential. But i lost interest. I think there needed to be more character development to keep me invested and to care about the characters. I also felt it was a bit repetitive.

Christa, a woman haunted by both her present and a traumatic past, heads into the snowy heart of the Rocky Mountains with her boyfriend Kiernan, hoping that their vacation will take their relationship to another level and help her heal. Unexpectedly though, a bad storm sweeps into the region, forcing the couple and the other travelers on their broken-down tour bus to take shelter in an abandoned hunting cabin. But in the chaos of the blinding blizzard, Christa is separated from Kiernan. Heartbroken, she must wait until conditions are safer before they can launch a search party.

However, the discovery of their decapitated tour guide puts an end to any hope of rescue. His severed head, strategically displayed for the horrified group to see, serves as a grim warning: No one is getting out alive. In this frozen isolation, the winter landscape transforms into a grisly stage for a sadistic hunter to pick them off one by one. All communication with the outside world has been cut off, and Christa knows Kiernan is dead. Now she and her fellow survivors find themselves trapped in deadly game of terror against an elusive killer.

Darcy Coates showcases her flair for urgency and tension, offering thrills and chills in Dead of Winter, a novel that grips readers with its delectable premise. I love a good snowbound horror—and the more atmospheric the better. This being my first book by the author, and I was also impressed with the setting and how the isolated Rockies were brought to life, becoming a character in its own right. Coates turned the wide expanse of the wilderness into a claustrophobic blend of eeriness and suspense, brava.

Then we have the protagonist. The book’s main pulse is set by Christa’s journey, her worldview colored by a dark past and a guilt she cannot shake. With Kiernan, she thought she could start a new chapter in her life but losing him sends her off into a deeper spiral. Even though this novel features a large cast, we never lose sight of Christa’s main role in the story, which is to pull the whole mystery together, as the end eventually reveals. But everyone else—Simone, a stern practical woman; husband and wife team Steve and Miri; Denny and his son Grayson, traveling together in shared grief; Blake, who recently lost his job; Hutch, a young DJ; and Alexis, who become a close friend to Christa as they try to who the killer is and why they are doing this—all of them are puzzle pieces that fit into a whole. At first, I was impatient to know why all these strangers should matter, but as it turns out, every one of them holds a clue.

Yet, within this twisty narrative, Dead of Winter ultimately succumbs to the pitfalls of predictability and familiar horror tropes. From the way I looked at it as a “final girl” type slasher horror, it was rather easy to guess who the killer was, even though Coates tried to hide her tracks well, and it shouldn’t have been that easy to predict. Without revealing spoilers though, there was just enough left unsaid for me to suspect who did it, though admittedly, the whys and the hows still surprised me.

All told, Dead of Winter emerges as a promising offering for fans of horror—especially if you like your horror bloody. It successfully delivers a suspenseful and brutal escapade, the tensions heightened by the atmosphere. For me, though, the overall experience was a slightly diminished, simply because I happened to guess a big part of the ending, but even though the book may not shatter conventions or introduce anything groundbreaking, it’s a good old fun thrill ride if that’s the kind of entertainment you enjoy.

If there’s one thing you need to know about me, it’s that I am a Darcy Coates FAN. If she’s written it, I’ve read it. However, out of all of her titles, Dead of Winter has taken the number one spot in my heart. This book is captivating, thrilling, gut-wrenching, and downright scary. It’s the perfect seasonal read and isolation story that I will be recommending for many, many years to come!

It had the hairs on my head standing to attention! Very atmospheric and the plot is horror filled with murder that I found impossible to solve.