I recently finished reading a book that truly captivated me. Even though the pace was slow and the plot twisty, I found the writing incredibly engaging. The way the author brought the past to life made the story feel rich and immersive.

Each twist felt thoughtfully crafted, allowing me to reflect on the characters and their journeys without feeling rushed. I loved how the narrative unfolded, keeping me invested in every detail.

This book is definitely one I would recommend for anyone who enjoys a well-written, character-driven story.

Kate Alice Marshall has done it again ! I love her books so much and this one was no exception. Perfect thriller for cuddling up with on a cold, snowy, winter night. This book was very well written and kept me interested the whole way through. There were so many twists and turns to keep me on my toes til the very end. I highly recommend giving this one a read !

Thank you Netgalley and Flatiron books for the digital arc in exchange for my honest review.

I love this author; I love this book. This book was perfect, and I loved everything about it. The writing was so good. In the beginning I wasn’t sure how things were going to work out, it seemed so clear cut, but then things took a delightful turn. I loved getting the story of Theo’s past through the memory recoveries. The little bits of memories that Theo got back were great. I loved how everything came together piece by twisty piece. There was so much suspense and intrigue. The twists kept coming right up until the end, and I was so invested in this book. I wanted to finish this book in one sitting, but I resisted because I wanted to stay with it longer and finished it over the course of two afternoons because I couldn’t resist any longer.

This book is full of family drama, so much drama, and twisty twists.

Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron for this Arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
What a whirlwind! Theo and Connor are newly engaged. Connor brings Theo to meet his family at Idlwild, his family’s estate. The secrets and lies that his family have been keeping are about to erupt.
The beginning of the book is a slow burn but the pace begins to escalate , and continues until the last page.
I loved the twists as the pacing picked up. Everyone has a secret even Theo. I loved the character development that evolved as the plot progressed. I know that a lot of people like winter themed novels. This is a great book to add to that list.

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced readers copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.
A Killing Cold was an interesting thriller that kept my interest. There was a lot of family drama that many would think elite families could have. Theo was a smart protagonist who you wanted her to get her answers.

If you’re looking for a thriller novel full of deep rooted family secrets, twists, a little romance, and a eerie winter scenery, A Killing Cold is one you don’t want to miss! I absolutely loved the winter setting of this book! There were a lot of characters to keep straight throughout the book, however, they’re all well connected to the story line once you get them straight. I loved the ruthlessness of Theo especially; she is definitely a character you can’t help but root for!

I have an utter weakness for thrillers set against a wintery backdrop. It lends such a pulse-pounding element to a suspense read - the feeling of being closed off, exposed, with nowhere to hide. Kate Alice Marshall completely delivered in A Killing Cold. I couldn't look away from the disturbing family dynamic, the secrets, the evil lurking in the shadows. Twist after twist kept me turning the pages at record speed. If you're putting together a list of perfect winter reads, you're definitely going to want to add this to your line-up!

4.5 stars

When Theo and Connor get engaged, Connor decides to bring his fiance to his the mountain estate to meet his entire family. Theo does not receive the warm welcoming she had hoped for, and it is clear that Connor's family is skeptical of her at best. Even worse, Theo has been receiving ominous and threatening texts to stay away from Connor. Theo, who has secrets of her own, starts to wonder what it is that she is being warned away from-- does it have to do with things from her own past? Then, in an old abandoned cabin, Theo finds the unimaginable-- a picture of herself as a child. Suddenly she begins to wonder if coming to the estate was intentional.

Kate Alice Marshall reliably writes twisty thrillers, and A Killing Cold was no exception. I love a rich family full of secrets, and an isolated (almost locked in) type setting-- it makes for an ideal spot for thrillers. The dysfunctional family aspects and nonlinear timelines also made this an enjoyable read, as we were left guessing until the very end.

3.5 rounded up

I love Kate Alice Marshall’s books. But this was a very slow burn. Only until around 60% did I feel like it picked up. The story was pretty new and unique but at times the writing lost me. When the chapters have a break, you don’t know who’s talking and it can get confusing.

I thoroughly enjoyed A Killing Cold. KA Marshall kept my attention as to the true identity of Theo as it unfolded throughout the book. Additionally, the Dalton family’s secrets exemplified how people with riches and power can get away with murder and deceit within and outside the family. There were many twists and turns throughout the book with a surprising ending. I highly recommend this book for my fellow readers.

Atmospheric and tense; I couldn’t put it down!
I loved that some of the characters (I don’t want to name them and give anything away) actually turned out to be good people; not everyone was hiding something or in on the secrets.

I’ve been a fan of this author since reading What Lies in the Woods. This is set at a vacation cabin so isolated it might as well be a locked room mystery. The wealthy family includes the fiancé, siblings and their spouses of the groom to be, his parents, the crotchety grandfather, demanding grandmother, and the creepy caretaker. They’re gathered at Idlewood for the holidays in snowy upstate NY for their annual celebration. The past and present collide and threatens to tear apart secrets buried for a generation. The fiancé couldn’t foresee the danger she’s about to face. The scrutiny of joining this well-bred family has life altering ramifications. Can she win them over baking Christmas cookies and hunting with grandpa or will she become a new secret for the family to bury? I read at break neck speed to see what would happen. Another winner from an author I’ve put on auto read.
Flatiron Books (via NetGalley) provided an Advance Reader Copy of “A Killing Cold” by Kate Alice Marshall, publication expected 02/04/2025. These are all my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without expectation of compensation.

A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall is a chilling and addictive read that grabs you from page one. Theo Scott thinks she’s found the perfect man in Connor Dalton—rich, charming, and a member of an elite family—but when he brings her to his family’s secluded estate, Idlewood, things quickly turn dark. The mountain retreat is icy and isolated, adding to the tension, and soon Theo can’t shake the feeling that she’s been here before. Mysterious warnings, footprints outside her window, and an eerie childhood photo of herself taken at Idlewood only deepen the mystery. As Theo starts uncovering secrets about the powerful Dalton family, she realizes there’s more danger around her than she could have imagined.

With its haunting, isolated mountain setting and suspenseful pacing, A Killing Cold keeps readers guessing until the final page. Told in both past and present timelines, the story reveals glimpses of Theo’s life before she met Connor, her eerie experiences at Idlewood, and her childhood memories slowly coming into focus. As Theo digs deeper, suspicion falls on nearly every character, creating a constant sense of unease and intrigue. The past and present timelines work together perfectly, drawing readers deeper into Theo’s world and the secrets surrounding the Dalton family. Watching Theo piece things together keeps the suspense high, and by the end, you’ll be questioning everyone! The twist is incredibly well-executed, layered with subtle clues that make the final reveal all the more satisfying. I read this in one day and if you love thrillers with eerie settings and dark family secrets won’t want to miss this one when it releases on February 4, 2025!

Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for an arc of this in exchange for an honest review.

From her YA Horror to her Adult Thrillers @kmarshallarts is easily one of my favorite authors - but, dare I say, this is my favorite of hers yet?! This book hooked me from page one! I loved how Theo was slowly unraveling what happened in her past throughout the whole story — the ending of this book had me on edge and I absolutely LOVED it.

Make sure you put this book on your radar, it comes out in February and it’s the perfect winter atmospheric thriller!

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️/5

A huge thank you to @flatiron_books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

#AKillingCold #NetGalley
Brilliant.
In A Killing Cold, Kate Alice Marshall crafts a chilling psychological thriller that combines romance, mystery, and a deep sense of unease. The story follows Theodora (Theo) Scott, who seems to be living a dream after falling in love with Connor Dalton, a charming and wealthy man from a powerful family. But what begins as an idyllic romance quickly turns sinister when Theo is invited to Idlewood, Connor’s family’s isolated winter retreat. As threatening messages appear, followed by unsettling discoveries, Theo realizes that she has been to Idlewood before and her connection to the Dalton family may be more dangerous than she ever imagined.
Likes:-
1 Atmospheric Setting: The cold, desolate setting of Idlewood plays a major role in the book’s suspense. The isolated, snow-covered retreat adds layers of tension and claustrophobia that heighten the mystery. Marshall uses the weather and landscape to build a sense of foreboding that permeates the entire story.
2 Intricate Plot: The blend of Theo’s forgotten past with her present-day situation keeps readers on edge. The mystery surrounding her childhood memories and the threatening presence of the Daltons unfolds slowly but effectively, pulling the reader deeper into the dark history of Idlewood.
Overall :- A Killing Cold is a gripping, atmospheric thriller that will keep readers hooked with its intricate plot and dark, snow-bound setting. Kate Alice Marshall skillfully combines elements of romance and mystery to deliver a story of buried secrets, forgotten memories, and the lengths people will go to protect their past. Although the pacing falters at times, the tension remains high, and the twists are sure to keep readers turning the pages. Perfect for fans of psychological thrillers looking for a chilling winter read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for giving me an advance copy.

The twists and turns in this one? I thought I knew what was going on about 10 times, only to be proven wrong every single one.
This one gets ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for the twists and turns alone. Keeping me guessing to the very end? That’s worth at least ⭐️⭐️ more. The unique story line and character development? Yes, please.

If you like your thrillers to keep your mind reeling over where the author could possibly be taking you, sucking you in from the first chapter, grab this one.

Theo has had quite the troubled past. Adopted at a young age with no recollection of her past, the religious family that took her in mistook her trauma for evil. Several years after finally escaping their grasp, she falls in love with the perfect man. Fate had to bring them together.

When they visit his family’s mountain (you know, because billionaires can buy anything they want) for Christmas, she begins having confusing flashbacks to her childhood. Things she has never before remembered.
What about this mountain and these people could trigger these memories?
And why are they so dark and frightening?
Who are the faces in her flashbacks?
Who is Theo?

Trust me, as these questions and more are answered, your jaw will drop.

Coming February of 2025.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC and the opportunity to provide an honest review.

Kate Alice Marshall is SUCH an amazing writer. Her characters come alive and her stories always suck you right in.

This is another hit!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Kate Alice Marshall, and Flatiron Books for the opportunity to read this digital ARC. All opinions are my own.
3.5 ⭐️
A Killing Cold opens with our newly engaged FMC, Theo, arriving at a secluded estate with her fiance to visit for 2 weeks over the Christmas holiday and gain his family’s approval. Upon arrival, it’s clear the family is hiding secrets, but, as many readers will guess, so is Theo.
❄️
For me, this book was a slow-burn mystery. We got little glimpses of Theo’s past, which I felt was the main mystery. It wasn’t high octane, but it was extremely atmospheric. At times, I felt like the pacing slowed to a crawl, but the last 15% or so just kept twisting and turning every which way. There were several twists I didn’t see coming, but I will say that sometimes I struggled with my patience in waiting for the next reveal.
🌲
If you’ve read and enjoyed Kate Alice Marshall in the past, I think you’ll find this to be a solid addition. I think for some readers, it might be a little too slow to be worth the reveals at the end. Check it out when it releases if you want a wintery mystery to make you feel the creeping cold.
🥶

Kate Alice Marshall does it again.

I was so excited to get an ARC of this book, after being a huge fan of her previous work.

This book did not disappoint. I could not put it down. It had my heart racing, my red yarn flowing & so many twists giving me whiplash, in the best way possible. Every chapter left me wanting more, more answers, more secrets, more memories, MORE.

Marshall does such a great job at imagery, that it truly plays out like a movie in my head while reading. I could see myself watching this in theaters & on the big screen, being on pins & needles for the truth.

Secrets will always find a way out, don’t forget it!

Review can also be found on Goodreads.

3 stars… this was a compelling story that I truly enjoyed! Kate Alice Marshall has a way with words and something about her writing/stories is so different than other suspense writers out there! While the end was mostly predictable I did have a great time getting there! Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!