Member Reviews
After a whirlwind romance, Theo and Connor are newly engaged and Connor is ready to take the relationship to a new level. He and Theo embark on a winter trip to meet his family up at their exclusive and remote cabin retreat. But Connor’s family is no ordinary family. They are wealthy and really good at keeping their secrets at all costs.
Thank you Kate Alice Marshall and Flatiron Books for the eARC copy in exchange for my honest review. This is a review that reflects my thoughts and opinions alone.
This was a very engaging thriller even though I wouldn’t count it as a favorite of mine. I flew through it and was never bored. I liked how it was difficult to trust anyone and the remote cabin vibes were very creepy and satisfying. I also liked how the ending was satisfying and not soul-crushing like some thrillers. My only major criticism is that it didn’t feel very original, which is okay for a thriller because we as readers are all expecting the same formula in a thriller, but I would have liked more unexpected twists.
This is a great cold weather thriller to read curled up in a cozy chair at home. I recommend this as a quick, engaging read that can help get you out of a reading slump.
I was thrilled to be given the opportunity to read this one early! I've really enjoyed all of Kate Alice Marshall's books. This one kept me guessing- a page turner and the author's writing is so easy to read.
First I LOVE a winter theme book. I grew up in New england so whenever I can read a novel with the winter setting Im in there like swimwear. The rich family/ poor girl troupe in mysteries always peak my attention. I always want the less fortunate folks to win whatever winning means in that sense. The twists were twisting and the thrills were amazing I loved this book omg
I loved this atmospheric thriller! Lots of twists and turns that made it hard to put down!
Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for a free e-arc.
Kate Alice Marshall is back with another adult thriller and dare I say it's her best one yet!
I was obsessed with What Lies in the Woods and enjoyed No One Can Know, but this one is it, y'all!
The story is told in the POV of main character Theo and takes place on a secluded mountain top. What could possibly go wrong 😩
With a dark backstory lurking it becomes difficult to determine who to trust. This is a quick read with all the twists and family drama you could hope for.
Went into this book pretty much not knowing anything other than “rich family thriller” and it did not disappoint. I felt like the writing painted this perfect atmosphere and no matter what timeline, I could always picture everything perfectly down to Theo walking through the snow at night in the dark around the cabins.
It did lean a little more towards a drama than a thriller to me though there are definitely some intense moments. I loved this book though and I’m so grateful to have received an ARC from NetGalley via Flatiron Books!
The queen of twisty thrillers returns, and this one does not disappoint! So many twists I never saw coming. Kate Alice Marshal has become an auto buy author for me. She keeps you guessing til the very end!
Read this if you like:
-snowy winter settings
-fast pace
-rich families
-meet the parents/family
-major secret keeping
-wild and tragic twists
-buttoned up ending
A 5 star read for me. Loved the fast pace and secrets. I did not guess the ending or anything in between. I feel like we kept getting breadcrumbs to put it all together. A great winter thriller.
Thank you to Net Galley, Flatiron Books, and Kate Alice Marshall for the ARC copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Theodora Scott uncovers chilling secrets at her fiancé’s family estate. As Theo tries to win over Connor Dalton’s powerful relatives, strange occurrences and unsettling memories begin to surface. A photo of herself as a child, found at Idlewood, leads Theo to question her past and her safety. Packed with suspense and tension, this novel delivers a captivating mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Kate Alice Marshall newest book, ‘A Killing Cold’ is a fun, twisting, fast-paced thriller. I enjoyed this book so much, I found myself reading it all throughout the day. Before the gym, after the gym, at work (don’t tell anyone), after work, and before bed. The main characters, Connor and Theo, were introduced and developed perfectly for this story. ‘A Killing Cold’ follows the newly engaged couple on their first meeting with the to-be-groom’s extended family in a remote and isolated area of a mountain. As the days unwind, more and more twists are discovered that connects Connor and Theo together from the past. And as the story progresses, more and more shocking secrets unfold further implicating more and more members of the family. I loved how the author developed and told the story of each family member individually, ensuring that each character had a purpose and place both in the present and the past.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and rate it a solid 3.75 stars, rounded up from 3. I would recommend this book to my friends and family and encourage anyone looking for an exciting thriller to give this book and author a try!
I received this ARC from NetGalley and Flatiron Books to read and review. The statements and thoughts above are my own independent thoughts resulting from my reading of the book.
This was by far my favorite book by Kate Alice Marshall! I loved the setting of the woods in the snow! I found myself completely intrigued throughout this whole book which kept me turning the pages relentlessly!
When Theo is invited to her fiancé’s family winter retreat, she starts experiencing a sense that she’s been there before. When she finds a photo of herself, the quest for answers begins! You will not know who to trust in this one!
A Killing Cold is the first book that I've read by Kate Alice Marshall but it won't be my last. This is a great wintery suspense thriller that was a quick read for me.
This story is took from the main characters point of view and it takes place on a secluded mountain top. Clear your schedule and get cozy because this is a page turner.
This is the best thriller I have read in awhile. Kate Alice Marshall is getting better and better with each book she releases. I could not but this down other than to sleep. The characters are so interesting, you have no idea who to trust, and despite there being so many secluded cabin in the wood during winter novels she puts a unique twist on this. I also appreciate that there is always a bit of LGBTQ+ representation in all of her novels. My only bit of feedback is that towards the end, there was so much happening I really had to think what information was coming from who; however, it was likely a personal struggle because I was reading SO FAST in anticipation of what would happen next. I will certainly be recommending this to everyone who will listen to me!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review an advanced copy of this novel. I highly enjoyed it and will be recommending it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for an ARC of A Killing Cold.
This is my third Kate Alice Marshall book and unfortunately I just don't think she is an author for me. All of the characters (antagonists and protagonists both) felt so one dimensional, I just couldn't make myself care about what happened to any of them. The story was "twisty" but there were so many false twists that I found it tiresome by the end. I did enjoy the snowed-in, multi cabin setting but not enough to redeem the other issues. Overall, not my favorite.
3 stars.
There is something about a winter setting for me. The way being surrounded by snow is equal parts cozy and eerie. Running is harder, hiding js nearly impossible, but then someone mentions hot cocoa and suddenly this thriller is making me very, very happy. Cozy and scared are two favorite things for this weirdo 🙋🏼♀️
This story felt long, and that’s not a complaint. I looked down at the percentage read the first time I felt like things were wrapping up and saw I was only at 47%. The next time I felt that way, it was at 71%. I kept thinking, “What else can there still be?”
A lot, friends. A lot. This mystery is intricate and nuanced and when you have a too-wealthy family that will do anything to protect each other from sad feelings, consequences, life….well, an outsider is never safe. I was engrossed from the beginning and it never wavered.
From the author of What Lies in the Woods, which I also loved, this was more or less a perfect thriller for me.
This is just like too many other suspense novels where the woman meets her rich fiancées family. Nothing is new, even the plot has been done before, woman in trouble from his family, etc
Wow, this was a wild ride of a book! My head is still spinning from all the twists and turns!
The book is a first person thriller/mystery following Theo as she meets her fiance, Connor's family for the first time. They're a very wealthy family and grandma's approval is hard to earn. For the first time you meet each member of the family, you dislike them. They're all horrible people in different ways. The sister is a little snotty, rich girl vibe. The brother acts young and expects everything to work out for him because of his family's money. Uncle is shady all around, but you can't quite put your finger on why. Even the groundskeeper guy is questionable, is he a friend or an enemy? The main plot is that Theo was adopted and doesn't even remember her real name, but as she arrives at this ski resort the family holidays at, she starts to remember things. And she remembers being there before. Secrets start to come to the surface very quickly and they just keep coming. Every time I thought I knew what had happened, there's another twist and I was wrong...or was I?
I love a good mystery or thriller, I love trying to figure it out as I go. But I couldn't keep up with all of the secrets in this one. I gave it 3 stars because it was almost like the author couldn't decide on the ending, so she just tried them all out a little. It was confusing, just frustrating. It didn't just blow my mind, but melted my brain a little too, and not in a good way. Will it stop be from reading more from Marshall? Nope, overall it was still a fun read and hard to put down.
Reviewed for NetGalley:
After a whirlwind romance, Theodora "Theo" Scott heads to the snowy mountain with her new fiancé, Connor Dalton, to finally meet his prestigious family.
Hoping to make a good impression on the new in-laws, she comes across family secrets, for both the Daltons and Theo, that were meant to be kept hidden.
Lots of fun twists and turns that propelled the story forward.
Really enjoyable read, as all of Marshall's other great stories.
Wow! I loved this. I love Theo and Connor 🫶🏼
I feel like this is going to be a popular thriller this winter! First, I loved the setting. Winter, blizzard, snow storm, cabin, stranded, eerie vibes.
Second, I also loved/hated the entire Dalton family. So much dirt and drama which lead to many twists and an ending I truly did not suspect.
Third, I loved how short and captivating most of the chapters were. It kept me reading and dying to know what was going to happen next.
Highly recommend! Dare I say I enjoyed it more than What Lies in The Woods?