A new Kate Alice Marshall thriller? Sign me up!

This one had so many possibilities of who it could have been and the twists and turns just kept coming so be sure to keep your head on a swivel. I loved our main character and really wanted her to get her retribution. I was definitely on the fence about her fiancé though, I wanted to trust him but it was hard at times, I had my eye on him. It’s the perfect read to cuddle up with on a cold winter night. If you enjoyed The Family Game, you’ll like this one too, I enjoyed A Killing Cold much more. Thanks to Flatiron for sending me an ARC. Look for this one to publish on 2/4.

I went back and forth on my enjoyment of this book, but for the most part I felt it was a pretty decent thriller that kept me entertained. It had all the snowy vibes I love reading in a thriller this time of year. It was a bit convenient though how often her fiance, Conner, left the room, ensuring that she was able to talk to his family without him.

Another great thriller from Kate Alice Marshall! This one is perfect for the winter months (as the title suggests) and kept me entertained from the first page.

Theo is in a whirlwind engagement with the wealthy Connor, and is spending her first winter holiday with his family on their mountain top resort style estate.
It becomes quickly apparent that everyone has their own kept secrets but Theo has no idea whose lies are more crushing- the families or her own.

I loved the fast pacing and short chapters. I read this title with a physical copy and audio copy and both formats are great- I loved the audiobook narrator.

4 stars because it didn’t blow my mind, but I would still highly recommend for a quick fun read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Flatiron Books for advance e and audio copies in exchange for an honest review.

Read Completed 1/2/25 | 3.5 stars | Book #1 of 2025
I listened to an advanced review copy of this audiobook. Thank you to Macmillan Audio via Netgalley for this opportunity.

Ah, the curse of the first book of the year. I can never love it, can I?

WHAT LIES IN THE WOODS, Kate Alice Marshall's adult debut, remains one of my favorite thrillers, but her subsequent adult thrillers just haven't done it for me lately. For some reason, I just really never got into this book and I had such a hard time connecting to any of the characters. Theo was just very mid-level, and hard to get to know with a mysterious past and missing memories. There was a lot of focus on her past, but we didn't get to KNOW her NOW. She didn't have much personality, nor did anyone else in the book. Everyone was just a character and no one felt like a real person.

There were also a few too many characters here for me. Usually it's not an issue but since the characters weren't super memorable, half of the men just kind of blended together which really didn't help things once accusations started flying around. I just didn't care about them enough and they didn't stand out enough for me to really set each one of them in their place.

I was also disappointed in Connor's involvement. He was a pretty boring character, and I supposed he didn't have be to someone so outstanding, but I wanted more personality from him too. He existed just to pull Theo into the story and really served no other purpose.

The plot was just fine for me. The story was engaging enough and there were a couple times that I was allllmost really into it. It's still well put-together, even if I didn't love the structure of it. I really didn't like the moments in the past going back to third person, switching from the book's first person POV. I get that it's to distance yourself from what's going on, but it felt awkward every time it popped in. I think I would have liked a bigger reveal closer to the end that having it peppered in the whole book.

I don't know! This one just didn't do it for me. I felt disconnected the whole time. Maybe I read it at the wrong time, taking a break during my fantasy reads to get a couple of "regular sized" books in before I dive back into to 1000+ page books, but I just didn't connect with this really at all. Maybe I hyped myself up too much, or maybe it just wasn't the story for me. I don't connect with every single book from a thriller author and it's rare that I do. I saw so much potential in this but this just didn't pull me in.

AUDIOBOOK THOUGHTS: I'm also really tiring of Karissa Vacker's narration. I really hated it here for some reason. She was my favorite narrator for a really long time and I still think she does a nice job, but I just didn't like her voice for this story. I wanted someone new, gritty, tough. She's too soft.

❄️Book Review❄️
*
Summary- It started out as a whirlwind romance. Theodora met Connor—wealthy, charming, and a member of the powerful Dalton family—and fell in love in an instant. Six months later, he takes her to Idlewood, his family’s isolated winter retreat, to win over his skeptical relatives. With no recollection of her early years, Theo begins to feel as if she’s been there before, and the threatening text messages, locked cabins, and footsteps outside her window make her even more suspicious. Someone here has a shocking secret that they will do anything to keep hidden, and Theo may just be in terrible danger. Because the Daltons do not lose, and discovering what happened at Idlewood may cost Theo everything.
*
Rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
*
My thoughts- thank you @netgalley and @flatironbooks for the advanced copy of this beauty that released in February. I received an ebook of this but I also selfishly wanted a physical copy to share. I enjoyed this crazy and problematic family. I think Theo was a very interesting main character and I loved solving the mystery along with her. I doubly enjoyed it because of the snowy weather while I read. It was quick, short, fast paced, and probably could have been read in one sitting !
*
QOTD- do you enjoy the cold ??

This is the third book I read by this author and I absolutely loved it just like the other two books. I love Kate Alice Marshall's way of telling a story which grabs the reader's attention from the beginning.
The story follows Theo who is recently engaged to Connor. Connor invites her to his family's cabin for a winter retreat. Theo has her concerns about going because Connor's family is very wealthy and he had warned her that it is important to seek their approval, especially his grandparents approval.
Upon her arrival strange this start to happen, texts warning her to stay away, family acting secretive and she experiences deja vu. She has a feeling that she has been on this property before and we start learning part of Theo's past.
There are many twists and turn once Theo starts remembering her past. She doesn't know who she can trust in this family or if she can even trust the man she loves.
I love books that take place in secluded areas and this one did not disappoint.

Thank you Netgalley, Flatiron Books. All opinions are my own.

As expected, I really enjoyed Marshall's writing and how the whole story came together without losing me. I have found that I really love a good mystery/thriller set in the outdoors, especially if there is an isolation element. I enjoyed trying to figure out what were clues and what were red herrings.

However, as another reviewer pointed out, this story does just boil down to a wealthy family with immense money, influence, and power doing whatever they feel is necessary to protect their family name and reputation. While this is not unique, I did find one of the twists unexpected though the who the actual killer ended up being was kind of a let down?

I don't know - definitely doesn't meet how much I loved her first adult mystery/thriller. Though I'll still read her next one.

I was really excited to get this ARC. I've enjoyed the others I have read by her. However, I didn't enjoy this one as much. The pacing was weird. Sometimes it felt really slowly and then just seemed to stagnate. The ending was so twisted and all over the place. I honestly had to reread a few parts thinking I was going crazy at the weird twists. While the plot is a good one, I just don't feel like this book really nailed it. Kind of disappointing.

What a ride! This is possibly my favorite novel from Kate Alice Marshall yet. After a whirlwind romance and engagement, Theodora (Theo) is invited to her wealthy fiancé’s family retreat. Upon their arrival, Theo is hit by the strange feeling that she’s been there before. Things keep getting weirder as Theo tries to navigate the dynamics of her fiancé’s cold, uber-wealthy family, all the while receiving foreboding messages telling her to stay away.

Twists, twists, twists! Y’all know I love a twisty thriller, and this book is full of them. The suspense had me actively forcing myself not to skip to the end of the page to find out what happens. The answers are given inch by inch, so throughout the entire book you never know what’s around the next corner.

I loved the characters, even the unlikable ones. Each one was so unique and becomes integral to the storyline. The setting was picturesque to the point it gives creepy vibes. Combine all that with me not being able to guess a single twist, and it’s an easy 5 stars from me. For all my thriller lovers, pick this one up next!

Big thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron books for the gifted eARC!

This was a wild ride. You really want to know the connections!!

Full of family drama, lies, cover-ups, and secrets. Everyone is suspicious. You only get a bit of information at a time, casting doubt on what’s real. I had no idea how each person was involved or how it would end.

It has great pacing and is relatively short, which I like. I flew through this and had to know what was happening. You do have to suspend belief a bit (even the ultra-wealthy can’t cover up everything, right?….RIGHT?!) but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

Thank you Flatiron Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'd like to thank Flatiron Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up.

It's a premise that has been done more than once. Secluded and snowed in with strangers and something mysterious going on. At the beginning of A Killing Cold I was worried that this one as going to be like all the others. While there were aspects to it that felt a little predictable, I think this one had enough twists and turns to feel unique. The twists didn't feel completely out of left field either (which is a giant pet peeve of mine) so I was happy about that. I also liked the ending and found it was wrapped up well without being unrealistic.

This book had a good balance of dialogue and description. I liked that it didn't harp too much on the atmosphere but was more focused on the action, which is always the best part of thrillers. I like that there weren't many cringy one liners that thrillers like to sprinkle throughout their books. Instead, there were some original thought-provoking lines that impressed me.

A Killing Cold had some tropes that I don't like in books generally, and that includes memory loss that slowly comes back. I find it to be a convenient plot point, and it feels a little gimmicky. It wasn't done terribly in this one though. I also get bored reading about rich people and rich families. I don't know if it's the books I am picking lately, but the rich family thing is getting to be overdone in my opinion.

Overall, I enjoyed this one. The writing was good, the plot was fine, the twists were there. I'd love to watch the movie adaptation of it.

SYNOPSIS
- Connor and Theodora have had a whirlwind romance and are now engaged to be married.
- Connor comes from an extremely wealthy family, while Theo, who was adopted, has no connection to her adoptive family or any information about her birth family.
- The couple travels to Connor’s family’s remote winter retreat—an isolated, snow-covered estate cut off from the outside world.
- Tensions rise as Theo meets Connor’s family, who are less than welcoming.
- As secrets start to unravel, Theo realizes she may not know Connor—or his family—as well as she thought.

MY THOUGHTS
- This is a classic locked-room mystery with an atmospheric setting that heightens the tension. No cell service, snow piling up outside, and a house full of secrets—what could possibly go wrong?
- The dysfunctional family vibes are strong in this one. Everyone has something to hide, and the class divide between Theo and Connor’s wealthy family is obvious.
- Be prepared for a cast of unlikeable characters. Outside of Theo, there aren’t many redeeming qualities among them, which might make it tough to root for anyone.
- There are plenty of flashback moments and nightmares, which help fill in Theo’s mysterious past and add to the eerie atmosphere.
- You’ll have to suspend a lot of belief to go along with some of the coincidences and twists, but if you can, it’s a fun ride.
- The writing itself is solid—Kate Marshall knows how to build suspense and atmosphere, even if the story doesn’t feel all that unique.
- The isolated setting works well for creating a claustrophobic, unsettling vibe, but some of the plot points feel a bit predictable.

TL;DR: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫3.5 Stars. A suspenseful, atmospheric locked-room mystery with an icy, isolated setting and plenty of family drama. While the writing is solid and the tension builds nicely, the plot doesn’t feel particularly original, and the story isn’t really unique.

Thanks to Flatiron Books and Netgalley for this digital ARC in exchanges for an honest review. This book will be published on February 4, 2025.

This was a clever & entertaining suspense / mystery. Not only was it a fast-paced read, it was well-plotted, with a number of unpredictable twists. I liked the family dynamic & how the story unfolds.

If you like books filled with family secrets, lies, deception & deceit, then this book is for you.

Favorite Line: “Some secrets stay that way because of the trouble they could cause. Others because the pain of silence is slightly more bearable.”

Thank you to NeGalley, Flatiron Books & the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Theodora Scott is on her way to meet her future in laws for the first time. She finds herself extremely nervous as she makes the journey to her fiancée Connor’s wealthy family winter retreat.Not only is she anxious with first meeting jitters but she keeps receiving text messages of a threatening nature.Ones of warning, telling her to stay away from Connor at all costs and to leave.When Theo spots footprints in the snow outside her cabin herself and decides to follow them,leading her to a disused and long forgotten cabin.Inside she find more questions than answers. Because in this very cabin which she has never seen before is a picture of her as a child.How could this possibly have gotten here when even Theo herself knows so little of her youthful days. With questions mounting and the threating texts continuing Theo decides to stay to find out what secrets are hidden beneath this snowy mountainside.

A Killing Cold was a perfect twisty wintery thriller read filled with layered secrets, lies, and suspense that kept me guessing until the very end.I will say admittedly tho I am a sucker for a good locked room thriller or in this case a snowed in mystery.The setting of this story being a secluded mountainside made for perfectly chilly scenes of anxiety that had me turning pages quickly to see what would happen next.The cast of characters that you are introduced to are beyond wealthy and exclusive,only allowing family and a small amount of staff to be present for their family holiday.It becomes apparent very quickly that everyone in this uber rich family all are hiding something and our FMC Theo is determined to get to the bottom of each and every single one.While at times I found myself screaming at the pages for her to just run away I ultimately really enjoyed seeing how it all played out and the tension the plot brought.Overall I really enjoyed this icy thriller and highly suggest it as a read to indulge during the wintery months for peak immersion.

A Killing Cold comes out Feb.4th, 2025. Thank you NetGalley and Flatiron Books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

(4.5⭐️) This is my third book by Kate Alice Marshall, and it has only solidified in my mind how great of a thriller writer she is!

First of all, the setting was great. A snowy winter estate with a secretive, shady, rich family? Yes please. Theo was such an interesting MC. For the most part she was likable, but there were times I was yelling at her in my head to make a different decision😂 All of the other characters added a lot to the plot, and there were such different personalities to each person to keep things interesting.

The mystery element of the story kept me engaged through the whole book. The flashback scenes that Theo had added some suspense, especially mixed in with the weird vibes she was getting in the present day setting. This is definitely a “I don’t know who to trust” type of book, which I enjoy. There were also several twists along the way, all of which I didn’t see coming. The ending had me turning pages as fast as I could just so I could see how it all turned out.

If you want a bingeable thriller perfect for winter reading, pick this one up!

A wintery mystery thriller full of rich family drama! So many twists, lies, secrets and a few red herrings. Theo is a compelling main character whose complex memories and moral dilemmas drove the plot forward and kept me interested.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I enjoyed this thriller overalls it had a few twists that were unexpected and I liked the character development throughout the story. Would rec for a beach read

Another great one from Kate Alice Marshall 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 a snowy isolated mountain, a family with many secrets, and a girl with no memory of her childhood before her adoptive parents got her. Sounds like an amazing winter vacation right?

I was hooked from the beginning until the end! The pacing was fast and gave just enough information away to keep you wanting to know the whole story. The twists were unexpected and done well. You have a full array of characters with interesting personalities and a secret to keep. You think you have the whole situation figured out but do you really?

This novel is full of suspense and has a shocking ending. Highly recommend putting this one on your TBR and reading it asap!

A Killing Cold by Kate, Alice Marshall, this book is about Theo Scott, who had a whirlwind love affair with Connor Dalton, because it’s Christmas time she’s going to meet his family at their isolated winter retreat on top of the mountain. although she’s never met the Dalton family before when this holiday is over, it will have turned into a nightmare and her history and the history of the Daltons will be linked and not in a good way. Despite Theo was warned instead of retreating, she double down and found out things the family tried to keep hidden. I read the Kindle version and listen to the audiobook narrated by Karissa Vacker, and if I had to pick one over the other, it would definitely be the audiobook because I thought the narrator set a great tone for this tense action, packed thriller. I did find the book a bit long and not the ordinary thriller. I am used to with this author, but I still enjoyed it and will definitely read her books in the future. She is so good and really knows how to keep you on the edge of your seat. #NetGalley,#FlatIronBooks, #McMillanAudio, #KateAliceMarshall, #AKillingCold,

Synopsis | A woman invited to her wealthy fiancé's family retreat realizes they are hiding a terrible secret—and that she’s been there before.

Review | I really enjoyed this one! The twists kept me hooked and I thought the story moved at a good pace. I never felt bored and I definitely wanted to know what would happen as well as what happened in the past. I love stories where you don't know who to trust and this was definitely that. I don't think it's the most memorable story as it's definitely been done before, but it was still an enjoyable and engaging read. This one was a very strong 4 stars for me!