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.

Omg this book sucked me in right away!!! There were so many reveals throughout it was hard to put down!!! I needed to know all of it! I really liked the main character and how she reacted to everything!!! A story about a family with so many secrets and horrible ones at that! What a twisty awesome thriller!!! I’ve read this author’s previous books as well but I think this is my favorite!!!!!

Absolutely fabulous book by a great author. I have devoured every book that I have read so far by Marshall and hope there's many more to come. The suspense and mystery aspect is always top notch in her books and I am so thrilled to have read her book early. Highly recommend to thriller readers!

5 stars
Publication date February 4, 2025


Thank you NetGalley and Flatiron Press for sending this eARC for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Theo has little memory of her life before being adopted. Her life after wasn't one she wants to remember. She meets Connor and becomes engaged within months, raising suspisions in his weatlhy family. When they go to his family's cabin for Christmas, her memories begin to return, and everyone has secrets that won't stay hidden any longer.

I absolutely loved this book! The twists and turns had me racing through each chapter, wanting to find out what happens next.

Kate Alice Marshall has done it again! A Killing Cold is the perfect family drama, hidden secrets book. I loved how Theo slowly got her memories back and how the flashbacks were intertwined within the present day. I would definitely recommend this to others. Thank you for the ARC.!

I love this authors previous work and was excited to get a copy of A Killing Cold. Ultimately I was disappointed by a thin plot and unexplored relationships. Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron for this Arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

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.