First winter thriller of the season? Check! ☑️ A Killing Cold was everything I wanted it to be! It grabbed my full attention from the first chapter and kept me guessing through the entire book. The isolated snowy setting was perfect and the drama with this rich family was messy and I loved every second. I can’t wait to get to more of Kate Alice Marshall’s backlist! 👏

Read if you like…
❄️ Snowy thrillers
🔪 Tons twists and turns
🩸 Isolated settings
🧸 Family drama
🧣 Secrets and more secrets

Thank you to Netgalley and Flatiron Books for the ALC and eARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rounded up

Definition of a page turner! I was hooked from the first page. Something else I commend is the author’s world building. Usually this is important in fantasy but the people and the crime scenes in this story feel so real.

Just like I have all of Kate Alice Marshall’s previous novels, I loved A Killing Cold. If I could give it more than five stars, I would, because, from the very first sentence to the very last, I was completely and thoroughly riveted.

Theo is my favorite kind of character. She’s strong, and she’s flawed. She’s tough and resilient, and she’s the kind of character that just worked her way in and kept me anxiously flipping pages until the bombshell conclusion.

The setting of a snowy mountain with a spectacular lodge and one lonely ramshackle cabin…perfect. There isn’t a single thing about A Killing Cold that I would change.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #FlatironBooks for the book #AKillingCold by #KateAliceMarshall. Theo is going to meet her fiancé, Connor’s family for the first time. While there she gets threatening messages telling her to leave and stay away. She finds a photo of her as child in an empty cabin and memories start coming back to her as if she has been there before. She has flashbacks of her mother, and is trying to put it all together. There are secrets this family doesn’t want revealed and they will do anything to keep them hidden. Is Theo in trouble? Should she just run away from them all?

YES. Okay, now THIS is a THRILLER. I absolutely loved this one. You might think you have things all figured out but I can almost guarantee that while you might predict some of the twists, there’s no way you’ll see everything that’s coming. A Killing Cold had me absolutely hooked from beginning to end. Not only is it filled with unpredictable twists and heart-pounding suspense, but it is also such a character-driven story! The FMC will have you rooting for her all the way while simultaneously questioning her motives. Add this one to your lists and get ready for a crazy ride!

Huge thank you to Kate Alice Marshall, Flatiron Books, Macmillan Audio, & NetGalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

Thank you Netgalley for this audio edition of A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall.

Talk about a great winter read! The atmosphere alone will chill your bones.

When Theodora goes to meet Connor's family at their winter property, she has no idea what is in store for her. Not only is his family dripping with wealth, they're also dripping with suspicion towards her. Dismayed, Theodora does what she can to win their favor, but something is niggling at her. She can't shake the feeling that she has somehow been at this place before, but that's impossible, especially given how random her meeting with Connor is. Are these memories fabricated, or is something more sinister going on...

This is a solid three star mystery in my book. It's easy to follow, great with the backdrop, compelling character development, and yet nothing especially out of the ordinary. It was a good winter mystery.

Thank you, #Partner @flatiron_books, @macmillianusa, and @netgalley for my #gifted (free) copies. Pub date 2/4/25.

If you're looking for a chilly snow setting thriller, this is definitely the book for you! This was a quick fast read, and I could feel the tension in the cold, chilly air when it came to the Dalton family. I love reading books with a snow setting while it's actually snowing, so I read this book at the perfect time. Get your pre-orders in!

Newly engaged, Theodore Scott and Conner Dalton have not been together long before their engagement. Conner is bringing Theo to meet his family for the first time up in the snowy mountains to the Dalton's beautiful family home at Idlewood. The Dalton's are wealthy and Theo had a challenging upbringing, and Theo needs to impress grandma so she will be accepted into the family. Theo keeps getting strange text messages, and she can't shake the feeling that she has been to Idlewood before, has she? You won't know who to trust in this chilling new thriller!

Theodora (Theo) Scott is nervous about meeting her fiancé Connor’s family at their fancy retreat in the woods. The Dalton family is fabulously wealthy, powerful, and intimidating, and Theo has already received several anonymous texts warning her to stay away. When she arrives at Idlewood, Theo is struck by the strange feeling that she’s been there before, a feeling that grows stronger they longer she stays. As she pieces together long-ago memories, someone in the family is determined to stop her from remembering, putting Theo in grave danger.

This is Kate Alice Marshall’s best book yet, and I could not put it down! The snowy, remote setting is so atmospheric and lends such an ominous feel to the whole story that I was hooked immediately. The characterization is great and there are so many motives and red herrings that it kept me guessing the entire time. I suspected just about every single character at one time or another and was still shocked by all of the delicious twists and turns this locked room thriller served up! If you are looking for a bone-chilling wintry thriller, you won’t want to miss this one!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for providing me an advance copy of this book.

A Killing Cold is the ultimate thriller with all the ingredients for a compelling read: love, family drama, and a foreboding, remote setting that keeps you on edge. Theo and Conner are newly engaged, and Theo is about to meet Conner’s wealthy, powerful family for the first time. But the Daltons don’t just have money—they have secrets and an instinct to protect their own, no matter the cost.

Kate delivers a masterclass in atmospheric writing, crafting a chilling tale of love, longing, and the fear of what lurks within—and outside—the family. With its locked-room mystery vibes, wintery setting, and expertly placed red herrings, this novel pulls you into its icy grip and doesn’t let go.

The twists and turns come fast and furious, keeping you guessing and second-guessing with every page. While the book starts with the feel of a classic thriller, it quickly evolves into something much more intricate and satisfying. Kate’s attention to detail and believable yet unpredictable twists make this a standout read.

Fans of suspenseful stories will appreciate the carefully layered secrets, the sense of isolation, and the haunting childhood flashbacks that add depth to the narrative. By the end, everything ties together in a way that’s both surprising and satisfying.

If you’re looking for a wintry, edge-of-your-seat read with lies, murder, and twists galore, A Killing Cold is the perfect pick. Read it for the atmospheric tension, the whodunit intrigue, and the thrill of meeting a family whose skeletons are anything but metaphorical.

New love? Foreboding setting? Family drama? Enter the perfect exposition for a thriller. Theo and Conner are newly engaged, and Theo is about to meet his family for the first time. Did I mention that they're SUPER rich? Of course meeting your partner's family for the first time is nerve racking for anyone, but the Daltons have power. They are protected, and they are willing to protect their own.

There were so many twists and turns, and by the end I was having a hard time keeping track of them all. The beginning of the novel may have started out like your typical formulaic thriller, but by the end I was happy with the result.

A tale of love, longing, and fitting-in, A Killing Cold makes you wonder if what you should fear is natural or familial.

P.S. I loved the title and how it was incorporated throughout the novel.

This is the perfect thriller to read for winter! It was gripping, lots of twists and turns and literally made my jaw drop. I am a huge fan of isolated places so this isolated winter retreat was perfect for me. The characters in this book were great, the writing was great and I couldn’t have asked for anything better!

Theo and Connor are caught up in a whirlwind romance even if she's been getting myserious messages to leave Connor alone. She goes with him to meet his family at their vacation home on an isolated mountain to celebrate Christmas. Things quickly take a turn as the family is less than welcoming and seems to have many secrets of their own. To top it all off, Theo thinks she's been here before and no longer feels safe and has no idea who to trust.

Thoughts 💭
The creepy atmosphere is set from the first few pages and had me hooked. This is a perfect blend of Theo's uncertain past, Connor's mysterious family who is reluctant to allow anyone new in, and the hellish icescape that is their family's vacation home on a remote mountain. The drama unfolded piece by excruciating piece, leading you to believe one thing and then something completely different. We slowly learn that Theo has been here before based on her limited memories from her childhood slowly coming back. She struggles to put everything together and with whom to trust. Even Connor comes into question. I was guessing until the very end how this would unfold, and I wasn't disappointed! This is a chilly thriller perfect for the harsh winter months.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

As usual Kate blew me away with her talent! This one was so good! So many twists and turns, lies, and secrets. I got whiplash from it all.

She nailed all the little details to make it a thrilling read: trapped setting, whodunit, and murder.

I can’t wait for what Kate comes up with next!

I’ve been in a terrible reading slump, but I just read this book within 2 days. Tons of twists that I didn’t see coming, I think I had whiplash by the end. If you like locked room mysteries and are looking for a wintry read, I’d recommend this one ❄️

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an early copy for review.

This was just not the kind of thriller for me. The who are your parents trope just isn’t my favorite. The cabin didn’t really feel that threatening or isolated outside of there being no cell phone service. There’s too much telling and not enough showing. The MC comes to, too many convulsions inorganically. At 30 percent in they are addressing red herrings that just feel weird like it’s hard to explain. I felt like even for a thriller we were finding out too much too quickly. There wasn’t a lot left up to the reader to piece together. I found the premise really interesting, a girl seeing a photo of herself in this cabin of her fiancées family. The characters were just meh, not likable or unlikeble. The dialogue felt off and the character interactions felt very forced. I felt like the “shock value” was coming too quickly., like every interaction was framed as shocking.

This just wasn’t for me. I think if you like Alice Feeneys older books you would like this. The writing and storytelling feel similar.

I’m going to write this off as a me problem because I think the majority of people will enjoy it. It’s quick and shocking, just not in the ways I find satisfying for my own taste.

Short synopsis: Theo is invited to meet her fiancés family at their remote winter retreat. Things start to go downhill quickly, between the menacing texts she keeps getting and the feeling she’s been there before.

My thoughts: What a great winter thriller! Perfect setting, remote location, fiancés family, and lost childhood memories.

I love how this author writes completely believable, but unexpected twists. Nothing I can guess immediately and lots of red herrings to keep me on my toes. But when everything wraps up, it does so nicely.

I’m not going to lie, I was a little worried there for a minute we were going to have a certain trope (that completely Gives me the icks) but luckily that worry cleared up fairly quickly.

Read if you love:
- Atmospheric writing
- Remote location
- Winter setting
- Red herrings
- Meeting the family
- Childhood flashbacks

I have read the last couple books from this author, so I was so excited when I was able to get this book. I loved the story the characters and the twists it keeps you guessing until the very end because once you think you know, then you don’t know and I always love that about a thriller. It has family secrets with some drama, and it has the perfect setting a winter setting who doesn’t love an isolated thriller such a good book. I recommend it and I cannot wait to see what her next book will be.

A Killing Cold follows Theo Scott, who after a whirlwind courtship, is engaged to Connor Dalton, one of the rich heirs to a massive fortune. Theo's first meeting with Connor's family takes place during the holidays at their mountain estate made up of multiple cabins. While there, Theo begins experiencing memories of a past that she has never been able to recall before and it becomes clear that she has a deeper connection to the Daltons than just through Connor.

Kate Alice Marshall is becoming one of my go to thriller authors between A Killing Cold and What Lies in the Woods. She writes with a sense of atmosphere that really grounds you in the terrifying locales that she places you in and the mysteries always are filled with twists and turns, as well as genuine human pain that her characters are experiencing.

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Excellent writing! This is the second book I've read by this author and I know I will be reading anything else she publishes from here on out! Great plot, character building, and lots of surprises that kept me on my toes!

I enjoyed both of Kate Alice Marshall's previous adult thrillers, so I was excited to dive into her latest. A Killing Cold introduces us to Theodora as she travels to a remote mountain lodge to meet her fiance's wealthy family for the first time over the winter holidays. It's clear that she has secrets, but they quickly appear to pale in comparison to what her new in-laws are hiding.

Overall, fans of Marshall will enjoy this book a lot and race through the pages as the twists and turns feel non-stop. Some of the types of reveals you would expect to come towards the end of the book come out so early on that I didn't know what else was to come (turns out it was quite a lot).

Highly recommend enjoying this book while cozy inside during a holiday, since it's hard to put this one down.