Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this eARC.

I enjoyed the ride of this story. It was fun and thrilling and my heart rate did elevate a bit at points. Some things were easily and quickly figured out. One piece was lurking in the back of my mind while I read and it played out, but with a twist I didn’t anticipate.

I dislike snow even more now than I already did. No mountain retreats for me. Hard pass.

This is my second Darcy Coates book and I am officially a fan. There is a simplicity in her writing that isn’t seen much in thrillers when building complex puzzles for the reader.

Dead of Winter grips you from page one with an intensity that may not allow you to catch your breath again before turning the final page. In this story, a group of strangers is traveling via a private tour to a remote resort in the snowy wilderness when they are stalled along their journey by a felled tree across the road. The book opens with our main character Christa and her fiance Kiernan attempting to find their way back to the bus after taking a short hike to stretch their legs after the long ride. Lost in the rough weather and whiteout conditions, they become separated, and next thing you know, Christa topples off a ledge and is buried under the snow. She awakes, injured, in a cabin, surrounded by the other passengers on the bus. As the story unfolds, we learn just enough about the other characters in the claustrophobic confines of the cabin to realize that no one is trustworthy and may, in fact, be rather treacherous--which they discover as, one by one, members of the group are each brutally murdered. Are these strangers really strangers to one another, or are they brought together by design? What is it that ties them all together, and will any of them remain alive to learn the truth? Caveat: while I did enjoy the story, I did piece together what was happening pretty early on. I don't know if it's because the twist was fairly obvious, or if I've read enough of these stories to look for the clues, but the clues--they are there. Even so--I was riveted from beginning to end!

Once I started reading this book I could not put it down! I loved how it was written and the thrills and suspense to this novel were incredible! However, I did guess correctly who the murderer was and their involvement (I think I’ve read too many thrillers) so the ending wasn’t as exciting for me as it could have been! But overall this book was fantastic!! There’s nothing I love more than a winter thriller that takes place in the remote woods in a secluded cabin! I definitely suggest everyone grab this once it comes out!!

I was pleasantly surprised with this book. This is not like her other books I have read, so I wasn’t sure I would like it. I would give 4 1/2 stars.
Ithought the first couple of paragraphs didn’t flow very well and there are a few parts at the end that dragged. I also noticed a mix up of names of the father/son duo and a part where the main character is struggling with finding a way to climb on the roof , and then she’s on it and crawling across. Not a big deal, but thought I would mention.
Overall, the book kept me captivated and was well written. I went to bed reading it and woke up the next morning and read it at breakfast time. It kept me hooked all the way through.

Wow! This is going up there in my list of favorite books by Darcy Coates. Creepy and suspenseful, kept me guessing all the way up until that last couple chapters. Only complaint is I wish we had the tiniest bit of more information on the outcome of a couple of characters, but I suppose I can do without that.

There’s thriller and then there’s horror. This story was like an R-rated snogging sesh between the two that ultimately led to a bone-chilling and spine-tingling reading experience.

Christa and her boyfriend, Kiernan, join a private tour group and set out on what they expect to be a romantic winter getaway together but when the tour bus is at an impasse after encountering a fallen tree in their path, the travelers take shelter in a vacant hunting cabin nearby to wait out the relentless snowstorm that quickly approaches. After that first night, people REALLY start to lose their heads. Tension builds and trust dissolves. What follows is a gripping tale of nine strangers fighting to survive while being hunted by a killer.

The story is told from Christa’s POV and the short, intense chapters end on cliffhangers that compel you to read just a little bit more until it becomes an addiction to devour the entire novel.

At about the halfway mark, I figured out the identity of ‘the butcher’ without an inch of doubt but, naturally, I needed my accusation validated so I burned through the rest of the book… and the midnight oil. The action and suspense were so well-executed that I couldn’t put it down. I was completely on the edge of my seat until the very end. I mean, who wouldn’t love to see how a deadly cat-and-mouse game plays out in the frigid, isolated terrain of the Rocky Mountains? I would also like to think that this book is an intact head nod to Agatha Christie’s classic whodunits to further add to its appeal.

Overall, this successful and suspenseful winter thriller really is a must-read. Add it to your TBR and be sure to check it out as soon as it releases in July!

As my first ARC, I just about fell out of my chair in excitement for the opportunity. My genuine and heartfelt thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for sharing this advance copy with me in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

4/5 Stars!!

This is hands down one of the best ARCs I have read so far! It was so well written and it grabbed my attention from the very beginning. I will 100% be reading more books from this author!! With that being said, I did guess the killer very early on. But, throughout the book I convinced myself that I was wrong because the author did lay other options out. Even though I did figure some of it out early on it still kept my attention because I didn’t know the “why”. I will add that it is a little gory, so if you’re not a big fan of gore keep that in mind. The ending did leave me wanting a little bit more but the author did a great job wrapping it all up.

You guys will definitely want to add this to your TBR!! It is out in July of this year!!

Horror is absolutely not a genre I like, but since it’s my bad—having skimmed the second part of the blurb on Netgalley—it was only fair that I finished the book. And I’m glad I did. This novel is very atmospheric and I was almost cold the whole time. I wasn't a fan of how the killings seemed so random. I figured they obviously weren’t, but that was what made the story a horror one rather than a thriller. But the moment it came together, even though I would've liked for it to occur sooner, is one of my favorite passages of the book. Other down points are the lack of traits of the characters (who are summed up to names and jobs), making them a bit indistinguishable (especially since there are so many from the very beginning), and the villain is pretty easy to guess.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Every time I thought I knew where the story was going, my expectations were subverted. I sat at the edge of my seat during the last 100 pages wanting to know what happened. Coates was able to tie the story up wonderfully and I liked that everything was connected.
I have yet to be disappointed by a Darcy Coates book! I highly recommend this novel to anyone who likes thrillers and murder mysteries.
Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with a copy of Dead of Winter in exchange for an honest review

Was this plot a little silly and did I have to suspend a lot of disbelief? Yes. Did it also keep me turning pages as fast as I could? Yes. This is one where you just have to go along for the ride. But it loses a star because it has my least favorite type of ending.

Okay... breathe. Count to 10. 1, 2, 3... No, nope, sorry, not helping. I still cannot steady my heartbeat, my breathing isn't even close to be back to normal, I'M NOT THE SAME! after finishing this absolutely fantastic, amazing, chilling, tense, eerie, phenomenal book!! MY GOD!!

Darcy Coates is now my #1 thriller and suspense writer, because I honestly never felt so many chills as I did when reading Dead of Winter.

The story follows Christa, who alongside her boyfriend Kiernan, join a tour group of 11 people in total for a 2-week-holiday in the Rocky Mountains. The bus ride to the lodge seem to be going pretty smooth, until they come across a falling tree blocking the road which forces the bus to stop.
As this wasn't enough trouble, the snow starts to fall quite heavily, so the travelers decide to look for some shelter where they can spend the night to wait out the storm. And fast.

Fortunately for them, they do come across an abandoned cabin which will serve its purpose perfectly. Unfortunately for them, they aren't as safe as they thought they'd be. At all.

In the morning our travelers notice that the tour guide goes missing, the shock, fear becoming more real when they find his head impaled on a tree outside the cabin. 🤯 and it's only just the beginning...

What the hell happened?! What's going on? Who did this?? Is there anyone else going on a killing spree?? Did anyone of the group did it??? Why did anyone do it in the first place?? Who can they trust? Can they even trust anyone???
Oof! Tell me about the tension throughout all 380 pages!!

This book was SO FREAKING GOOD!! I literally couldn't put it down, I devoured each page as if I were a starving person. I absolutely loved the tension! I loved watching the travelers building their suspicions towards each other, not wanting and not being able to to trust anyone, but to also rely in one another to be able to survive. GOSH!! IN CASE YOU COULDN'T TELL YET HOW EXCITED AND OVERWHELMED I AM WITH THIS BOOK!

I loved the author's writing SO MUCH! It was such an easy read, terrifying at times (hell, I'm admitting right here, right now, that at times I was scared and even nauseous when going through some parts of the book - THAT'S HOW GOOD IT IS!!), amazingly detailed, full of twists, suspense, shock. I absolutely could NOT tell who the killer is until it was actually revealed! And the pace in this book? PER-FEC-TION!

This book was so much more than I expected - and I did suspect I'd love it A LOT -, it was everything I would hope a good suspense/thriller book would deliver - and it delivered even more!

I just wish I had one more chapter, one more page, to get a "better" closure in the end. It's an open door to reader's imagination, and I'm holding onto mine with very high hopes. However it deserves all the freaking stars out there regardless!

Thank you so much NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and Darcy Coates for providing me an early copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Coming out July 11th, 2023

Dead of Winter reminds me of Agatha Christie's novel And then there were none, so for me the plot and the ending of the novel were familiar.

A small group of strangers goes on a short vacation to a cabin in the middle of the wilderness. When a fallen tree prevents them from taking the bus and the winter storms are raging outside and visibility is zero, they seek sanctuary in a small, abandoned cabin. It quickly becomes apparent that one of them is the murderer, but it is not at all clear who or why.

The novel is cinematic, full of action, suspense, and terrible deeds that only a human can do. The characters are well-described, and their stories are relatable.

Obviously, the atmosphere is perfect, this is a book that gets your heart racing, your adrenaline pumping, and your teeth clenched.

Good read!
3,5/5

A book that cannot b put down until the end. Full of suspense and fear, reminds me a little of Christie's "10 Little Indians" bur much more exciting.. The snow is ever present and mood is of mistrust and fear.
Not what I usually read but was very enjoyable. . Thanks you NetGalley and the publishers for the DRC .

Great story, but I guessed the twist and it went on about 100 pages too long. This book felt like an absolute drag to get through, which I think is in direct opposition to what I typically enjoy about Coates' books. The short size of them and the action-packed pages are a good combination. There was a lot of action here, too, but it just dragged. Part of the problem is that there is little to no connection to any of the characters; this whodunnit story has so many suspects with little to no defining characteristics that make it hard to follow or initially narrow them down.
Like I said, I managed to figure out the twist, too, which doesn't make it a particularly good story for me. I don't expect tons of profound-ness in a quick horror or thriller, but I do like to be surprised, and I just wasn't really.
The gore was also far above a level I would usually take, and it definitely gave me nightmares. So points for that!
Overall: definitely not my favorite, perfectly fine but not the best, and certainly not the best I've read by the author. Just too dang long!

A two week trip to a beautiful isolated lodge in the mountains. A snowstorm that leaves the tour bus stranded on the road. Then people start dying….is it one of them? Is it a random psychopath?

I’ve read several Darcy Coates books and I’ve loved them, but this one was definitely a great thriller! So intense. You had no idea what was going on. Kept me from putting it down to go to bed. I just had to know how it ended!

Thank you Net Galley & Poisoned Pen Press for allowing me this ARC to read and review!!

Wow! This was great - the perfect Sunday Winter Read.. Coates paints the picture of being stuck in the woods with total strangers, that begin to get pick off one by one. My favorite type of read.

This book will not disappoint...it will keep you guessing until the very end.

When Krista and Kirrin set off for the winter vacation Krysta has a feeling he will pop the question and although they haven’t been together a very long time she knows she will say yes. they’re going to a resort in the dead of winter and there won’t be a crowd there is only eight people in their party and Krista is happy about that. it’s in a place Kiirrin knows well and he can’t wait to show Krista. When the bus stops due to debris in the road they decide to take a walk soon after they start the walk in the woods a storm begins and it causes them to get lost. A blizzard is whipping up and soon they get separated. after a horrible ordeal she finally makes it back to her group but Kirrin is nowhere around. The leader tells Chris the while she was unconscious they looked for him it cannot spare any more time and must go to the resort but she refuses to leave. when the leader finally relents and they look for Kirrin Krista will know there is a murderer among them and to make matters worse the blizzard isn’t letting up and they have no cell service and cannot contact the outside world can crystal figure out who the murderer is before she two becomes a victim and who can she trust when everyone is a stranger and one of them is a murderer? This isn’t what I have come to expect from Darcy Coats The books I have read from her in the past have been paranormal books and I have loved all of them but I think it’s a thriller writer her talent still shine through I do think this book was on the long side but there’s always something happening in there no lull moments and throughout the book detention bills and you can really feel you’re wanting her to get out of it. To me a great mystery is when you cannot figure out who did it and the person who is responsible was a total shock to me and I mean I really couldn’t believe it I did not see that coming. I definitely recommend this book and I’m glad I got to read it. I received it from NetGalley in the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

Oh my gosh. This book was AMAZING. The twists and turns were left field crazy town express. I was so absorbed in this book that I felt like I was watching a movie. Truly, honestly, Darcy Coates is one of my all time favorite authors and I have read at least 6 of her books, but this one was just mind blowing.

The ending was so unexpected and I felt every emotion under the sun by the time I finished. This is by far one of the best thriller/mystery (kind of horror?) books I’ve read this year. I don’t want to take any trips to the snowy mountains anytime soon after finishing Dead of Winter.

I would give this 100 stars ✨ if I could.

But obviously 5/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟.

Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for letting me read the early access of Dead of Winter by Darcy Coates.

Sadly it was too slow for me. I truly enjoyed the chilling atmosphere and setting for the story and it were mainly why I felt intrigued to read this one.
But I felt it was too slow for me.

First off, thank you Netgalley, Poisoned Pen Press and Darcy for letting me receive this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I typically get detailed in my reviews but try to keep them as to the point, as I can. However, with this book it starts actioned packed and ends actioned packed, but the middle was too much self pitying and drawn out, for my liking.

The winter, setting makes the book perfect for reading on cold weather days.

I did think the story was interesting but very predictable.

I wouldn’t not read it, as it is a simple read. But too slow and has so many unlikeable characters.

Dead of Winter, releasing 07/2023!