Member Reviews
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! A cold, snowy setting, a main character with a piece of her childhood she can't recall, the fear of not knowing if there's unknown danger hiding close to her, and a wealthy family determined to keep their secrets hidden. This story held so many of my favorite thriller elements, and I flew thru it in a day.
I love a thriller that keeps me constantly changing my opinion about the who and why of the mystery and has me glued to the pages with a steady pace and well-timed reveals. A Killing Cold delivers all those things and is another entertaining rollercoaster of a thriller from Kate Alice Marshall.
**A Killing Cold** is filled with chilling twists and turns. Theo Scott travels to a remote mountain estate with her fiancé, Connor, to spend the holidays with his affluent family. Adopted at the age of four, Theo has no recollection of her life or parents prior to that time. However, she is plagued by nightmares that could hold the key to her mysterious past. It appears that Connor’s family harbors numerous secrets. The Dalton family embodies the type of family one loves to despise. So, grab a cozy blanket and settle in with **A Killing Cold**!
This is an amazing well-developed story with many twists and turns!! Theodora Scott has a whirlwind romance to Conner Dalton that leads to an engagement in just six months. Conner is from a wealthy family that has much clout in the community; and before they can get married, Theo must get approval from his entire family. Luckily the family gets together every year for Christmas at their mountain retreat. Theo frets over whether the family will like her. Before they set off for the mountains, Theo has a reoccurring dream that a man with antlers is chasing her. She has wondered what the dream means. When they arrive, Theo has an unsettling feeling about the place. Memories from her past start to haunt her and she wants answers. Once she starts searching about her past she can't stop. I recommend this book to anyone who loves Mystery/Thrillers.
Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron books for the early release. Truly an amazing read.
Kate Alice Marshall is a must read for me. Her character development and atmospheric settings are top notch. I found “A Killing Cold” to be a fun a super twisty thriller. I suspected every character at least once in the novel.
Thank you Flatiron Books for the gifted digital ARC!
This was a really twisty and fast-paced thriller, pretty much what we've all come to expect and love from Kate Alice Marshall.
There were sooo many twists and turns, I have to say I didn't accurately predict much of anything.
I won't say much else for fear of spoiling, but fans of Marshall's previous novels will likely enjoy this one as well.
A Killing Cold pub date is February 4, 2025.
Kate Alice Marshall has become one of my biggest disappointments as an author. Her first few YA thrillers felt exciting and fresh, but as she transitioned to adult thrillers, her books became much more meh. Unfortunately, A Killing Cold continues this trend. It was soooo slow and the plot felt very thin. The characters and their relationships also could have been developed more as well. This just felt like a run-of-mill, unexceptional thriller.
ARC provided by NetGalley
Kate Alice Marshall is an author who just doesn’t miss for me. I’ve loved everything she’s written, and this book is no exception. The plot and the characters were layered and complex, and the twists were unpredictable and beautifully done. The atmospheric setting was perfection, and I swear I actually doubled up on layers while reading this because I felt like I was right there in the snowy winter retreat. This novel kept me guessing the entire time with so much tension, suspense, and dark family secrets. I just couldn’t put it down!
Thank you to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Don't you just love when a book's title perfectly portrays the storyline? I found myself multiple times thinking "dang, there could not be a better title for this book!" I really enjoyed the plot of this novel. I flew through it and even found myself reading it on my walk into work- I guess I literally could not put it down! The first third was near perfection and then things got a bit cray cray in the middle. I felt like the overall storyline finished up nicely by the end and I was satisfied with the resolution. It was just a bit messy there for a stretch. For that I am giving it 4.5 stars rounded down. I look forward to the author's next novel!
Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for an ARC of this novel.
Immersive and entertaining. A recommended purchase for collections where crime and thrillers are popular.
A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall follows Theo and Connor, a newly engaged couple who go to the mountains to introduce Theo to Connor’s incredibly wealthy family. They haven’t known each other long so of course the family thinks they’re rushing, but Theo soon realizes that they are hiding just as many secrets as she is…but theirs are far deadlier. Overall it’s a good story and a decent pace, and the perfect winter read.
I received an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for a review and opinions are my own.
Oh my goodness! The author did a slamming job with this book! Theodora/ Theo Scott met Connor Dalton at a party. He had seen her picture at an art exhibition and he asked the photographer to introduce him to her, after which they fell head over heels in love and got engaged. He invited her to his family's compound in the woods to spend a couple of weeks. He was from a very affluent family.
Theo had had a troubled upbringing. She had been adopted at the age of four and she had no recollection of her life up until then. She had had dreams of her past but she couldn't put the pieces together. When she went to the compound there were several cabins there. She had been told that all the cabins were functional except the Dragonfly cabin. She wandered and was able to locate it. What she found there was a picture of herself and Connor's father, Liam. She had no idea how that picture had occurred, but then she realized she had been at that compound before. She asked questions of several persons and came to realize that she had been there with her mother, Mallory Cahill. Her name had been Rowan Cahill, but her mother called her Teddy. It was thought that Liam and Mallory were having an affair , but it turns out that Liam's brother, Nick, was the one who was involved with Mallory. Nick was a violent man and had beaten her, and Liam was trying to protect her.
Connor's sister, Alexis, found out about the alleged affair and drove out to the cabin to confront Mallory. She had a gun and she accidentally shot her. But Mallory didn't die. Her daughter showed up and Mallory told her to hide. Not long thereafter, Nick knew that Liam knew he had beaten Mallory. That didn't sit well with Nick so he took a rock and killed Liam. Connor's grandparents, Magnus and Louise, told Connor, his sister Alexis and his brother Trevor that Liam had committed suicide by jumping off the roof of the cabin.
Magnus, Louie's and Nick came to realize who Theo was and decided she needed to die. That was because Theo found out about her mother's death and the family didn't want Alexis to go to jail. They had a servant named Ilina who had a daughter named O.lina. She was out in the woods wearing a red coat like Theo's. Nick thought Olina was Theo and killed her with a rock. It was then that Theo knew she was in danger.
This story was really sordid with lots of ins and outs. But the author did an excellent job with it and it was easy to follow. There were surprises that I didn't expect, like the fact fact that it was Alexis who shot Mallory and not Nick or Mr. Vance, a Dalton employee, who was originally assumed to have done so. It was the type of story that really captured my interest and I was hard-pressed to put it down. I would love to read more by this author. I gave it five stars.
I think I have a new favorite Kate Alice Marshall book!!
A bit of a slow start for me, A Killing Cold introduces us to Theo and I can't decide if she's unreliable or not... but as the story unfolds and we get to know Theo and Connor and Connor's family, the twists and snow keep on coming! As little snippets of Theo's memories come to light, can she trust what she remembers? Who on this mountain can we trust at all?
As I got to the last third of the book, I could not put it down. Every time I thought I had something figured out, we turned a corner and I realized how little I know.
This might have been the most satisfying to read of the three I've read!
Pick up this perfect winter thriller as soon as it's published, you will not be disappointed!
Thank you to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
*The Killing Cold* by Kate Alice Marshall is a winter thriller sure to keep you hooked, with secrets and suspense on every page.
The story follows Theo, recently engaged to the wealthy Connor Dalton, as she visits his family for the first time at their private, secluded winter retreat in Idlewood. But something is off. Threatening text messages have been warning her to stay away from Connor. Is it a jealous ex—or could a family member be trying to scare her off?
As Theo explores the Dalton estate, she learns of an old, abandoned cabin that has remained vacant for decades. What secrets are the Daltons hiding? Drawn to the mysterious cabin, Theo investigates, only to discover a photograph of herself as a child—revealing that she’s been here before, though she has no memory of it.
Now, Theo must carefully navigate the Daltons’ hidden secrets and confront the shadows of her past before it’s too late.
This book had me riveted from the very beginning. Unraveling the mystery alongside Theo, I was captivated by each twist and turn, and genuinely surprised by the storyline’s unpredictability.
While the tension and build-up are fantastic, the ending felt a bit underwhelming. However, it's a quick, engaging read, perfect for those who love a chilling winter thriller.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
**Rating: 3.5/5 stars**
Loved it! Kate Alice Marshall is an automatic read for me. This thriller has lots of twists as you uncover the mystery of what happened in the past. Romance, childhood trauma, missing memories, creepy setting, lots of villain possibilities, danger--kind of has it all. The peeling of the layers is done thoughtfully as the mystery is pieced together--not just one giant scene where someone tells all and it is all wrapped up too neatly. Rounding up from 4.5 Put this on your TBR list for early March! Thank you to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for the ARC and the opportunity to share my review.
Kate Alice Marshall has done it again with A Killing Cold, a chilling, twist-filled thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. Once again, Marshall showcases her incredible writing talent, blending a captivating story with intricate world-building and suspense that grips you tightly.
The book follows Theodora Scott, who is swept into a whirlwind romance with the charming and wealthy Connor Dalton. Their relationship quickly escalates into an engagement, and the couple heads to a luxurious winter retreat with Connor’s powerful family. However, Theo receives a cryptic warning before the trip—someone urging her to stay away from Connor. What begins as a romantic getaway quickly spirals into a tense, mind-bending mystery. As Theo uncovers strange details about the cabins, the Daltons, and even her own memories, she starts to question everything, including her trust in Connor. Has she been to this retreat before? Is Connor part of some sinister game?
What really stood out to me in A Killing Cold was the way Marshall creates an atmosphere of unease and paranoia that never lets up. The twists and revelations throughout the story were jaw-dropping, and I found myself completely hooked, turning page after page to uncover the truth. Theo and Connor’s dynamic is complex and compelling, and I really enjoyed watching their relationship unfold, especially as secrets begin to unravel.
Marshall’s skillful storytelling kept me guessing at every turn, and the way she weaves together suspense and emotional depth made this a one-sitting read for me. I absolutely loved the way the plot twisted and turned, leading to shocking and satisfying reveals. A Killing Cold is a thrilling, high-stakes ride that will keep readers hooked until the very last page.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fast-paced thrillers with unpredictable twists and deep, complex characters. Kate Alice Marshall’s writing is one I’ll always look forward to, and I can’t wait to dive into whatever she writes next!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for providing me with a digital copy in exchange for an honest review!
A chilling, edge of you seat psychological thriller. The family drama and secrets revealed heightened the suspense to the twisty conclusion. Highly recommend to fans of taut psychological thrillers.
Thank you NetGalley and Flatiron for the DRC in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #AKillingCold
A Killing Cold is a chilling psychological thriller that follows Theo, a woman with a shadowy past, who visits her fiancé Connor’s family at their remote mountain estate. As Theo uncovers clues that tie her to the family, the reader is plunged into a web of secrets, lies, and unsettling revelations.
Set in a wintery, snowed-in atmosphere, the novel excels at creating tension and unease. The family dynamics, filled with unlikable and mysterious characters, provide plenty of intrigue. However, the story struggles with pacing, especially in the first half, which can feel slow and drawn out. The twists, while frequent, often feel predictable or convoluted. The reveals and the ending, in particular, felt rushed, with all the secrets coming to light too quickly and without the buildup needed to make them impactful.
While A Killing Cold has an engaging premise and atmospheric setting, the execution doesn’t fully live up to its potential, leaving it as an okay read overall.
So many twists and turns in this book! Kate Alice Marshall did a great job of setting you up for a wild story. I loved Connor and Theo's story and how their relationship could with stand everything they both have been through. Just when you think you most likely figured out what happened, another detail of the deeper story comes out.
If you're looking for a thriller that will suck you in right away and keep you guessing - this is it!
Thank you to NetGalley and FlatIron books for the ARC.
I love an intense thriller set in the winter and A Killing Cold did not disappoint. This is my first Marshall read and many who have read her work are saying this is her best, so I'm glad that this is my jumping off point. The writing will pull readers in right from the start and keep them on the edge of their seats the whole way through. So many juicy little secrets just waiting to be revealed from these characters who, though flawed, are easy to love. Overall, a winner from Marshall; I look forward to reading more of her work.
Thank you so much to @flatiron_books for my gifted copy! A Killing Cold is the third book I’ve read by Kate Alice Marshall and I think it’s my favorite. I could feel the tension and suspense as Theo discovered more and more about her past. Her desperation to remember wafted off the page. Marshall was able to make me feel connected to the characters but also suspect them at the same time. A fast paced, tautly written story, A Killing Cold had me reading too late into the night.