A dark and mysterious story set perfect for winter. I thought the atmosphere was well done and the characters (if not particularly likeable) were detailed and felt real. I wasn't a huge fan of the structure of the story, but it was a solid read.

Holly and Brian are off to a quaint, secluded village for a fun winter holiday. It doesn’t quite work out. With couples going missing, something evil on the loose, and a plot twist that gave me whiplash, this is a well-written addition to the horror genre!

Thanks so much for granting my wish to read!

A couple navigating troubled waters in their relationships embark on a winter getaway, attempting to repair a widening divide. Their plans are derailed when they encounter a mysterious monster hunting in the snow. As disaster follows them, Holly and Brian must reconcile their differences to pull together and survive.

Mahoney achieves a dark, moody atmosphere smothered in snow and cold. However, the pacing of the novel was hindered by flashbacks to an incident in Holly and Brian's past that is primarily responsible for their relationship woes. The mystery of the snow monster was ultimately not much of a mystery, and the ending, while offering a satisfying resolution, was rather anticlimactic as a result. As protagonist, Holly and Brian were uninteresting, although Cookie and the Sheriff were delightful supporting characters that I would have liked to read more about.

The authors overall idea was decent; however, less characters and exposition would have let the story have more impact. One of the reveals at the end didnt add anything to the story and, honestly, came out of nowhere. The writing was simple and easy to binge, unfortunately, the story didn't meet expectations. 2.5 stars rounded up to 3

Craving an icy cold winter horror story to freeze your blood yet also activate your brain? “Our Winter Monster” caught me off-guard in the best way. It delivers a truly unique story. A number of refreshing, intelligent surprises which kept me thinking long after I finished it. And, dang it, I freakin love horror that steps out of those uniform trope boxes! So much more than a winter creature feature—but don’t worry, it hits every one of those notes too.

There’s dread, anxiety, suspense, cloying fear, fleshed-out characters, complications, sub-plots, twists, oh-no-you-didn’t moments, disasters and, well, horror of course. The author knows when to hit hard, and when to duck the punch and leave you with breathless anticipation for what’s coming next. Zippy pacing, I flew through this book. I had no difficulty with timeline because the flow is smooth and seamless.

The writing is incredibly vivid without being remotely pretentious. Frankly, the writing, is stellar—clean, impactful prose. The descriptions sink you into the bone-chilling freezing atmosphere, figuratively and literally. And, sometimes, leave you suffocating, encased in an ice-tomb. Then whip you back into the blizzard’s raging winds before you realize what’s happening.

A well-executed horror story with multiple themes, substance, and emotions.

5/5

(I received this book from the editor and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)
There is something very intriguing about the general idea of this book, the monstrousness and the cold, frozen landscape, but it never really got my whole attention. When I was reading about one character, I was irremediably thinking about the other one; when I was catching up to the Bad Date, I just wanted to read about it, not the days or weeks before. I understand what the book was trying to accomplish, I see the puzzle and I see each piece, but sadly, I did not enjoy the way it was told.

The winter is a monster for Brian and Holly, survivors of a bad thing that happened to them the winter before. They’ve reached bust or boom in their relationship but can’t afford winter sun so a short break in Pinebuck sees them again heading straight into the open maw of another bad thing.
Our Winter Monster offers something different to the horror genre, there’s plenty of gore, bloody scenes, and dark twists but this is a unique story that addresses trauma in an interesting and entertaining way. This is out on January 28 and I would like to thank NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this in advance.

I am very sad to say, this book didn’t work for me. The characters weren’t consistent with their actions or how their qualities were described. The writing was a tad choppy and could use a little more editing. The premise is a solid foundation and could be intriguing, but it didn't flourish properly, in my opinion.

I tried but unfortunately I just was not able to get the groove of this book. The characters were all pretty unlikeable and the jumping point if view just made the whole story hard to follow. Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read and review this book.

Take a troubled couple, a snowstorm with a vendetta, and a creature straight out of your worst nightmares, and you’ve got yourself a book that’s equal parts chaos and catharsis. Our Winter Monster doesn’t just test Holly and Brian’s relationship—it pulverizes it under the crushing weight of their secrets, guilt, and…well, something that’s neither human nor forgiving.

The setting: Pinebuck, New York, a picturesque ski town turned survival horror film. The characters: a sheriff haunted by her own losses and a couple who probably should’ve tried therapy before hitting the highway. The vibe: The Shining meets Marriage Story, with a dash of monster movie madness.

What elevates this tale is the way it gnaws at the idea of what we become when we’re desperate to survive—both individually and as a couple. Sure, the pacing can be a little erratic, but the moments of terror and heartbreak hit like a snowplow in a blizzard.

This isn’t your run-of-the-mill monster romp—it’s a frosty cocktail of small-town terror, relationship drama, and a creature that’ll haunt your snowstorm daydreams. This one’s worth the trek through the snow.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Soho Press for the opportunity to read and review Our Winter Monster prior to publication.

Review of Our Winter Monster by Dennie Mahoney

Dennis Mahoney’s Our Winter Monster delivers a chilling blend of psychological tension and visceral horror, weaving an unsettling tale of survival, guilt, and the thin line between human and beast. Holly and Brian’s strained relationship takes center stage as they confront not only a harrowing snowstorm but a terrifying creature that feels like a reflection of their own fractured bond. Sheriff Kendra Book adds depth and urgency to the narrative, her personal stakes amplifying the dread as the monster’s rampage grows ever closer. Mahoney masterfully balances relentless action with deeply introspective moments, crafting a claustrophobic atmosphere that feels as suffocating as a winter blizzard. With its vivid gore, raw emotional stakes, and a setting that mirrors the characters’ turmoil, Our Winter Monster is an unforgettable exploration of what it means to endure—both the storm outside and the storms within.

If you are looking for a chilling small town horror look no further. The setting of this book is absolutely amazing - everything is white and you are really are in the thick of the storm. I enjoyed the mystery of the monster and exploration of relationships and trauma. At times you aren’t sure where the story will take you and I loved this. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep you gripped. The characters we jump between are all interesting and real. Overall a vivid experience I enjoyed.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

I LOVE snowy, wintery reads! It's all snow in Our Winter Monster. The cold, the sense of being trapped yet lost makes the frozen landscape the right place for a tale of trauma and fear. The emotions the characters go through are portrayed so well. I could easily understand what they are thinking and feeling as they run from whatever is after them.

But what are they running from? What is barreling through town, leaving blood and destruction in its path? I figured it out (early?) and the answer is revealed soon enough. There's more to the story though and it's one unique tale. There's a dark twist, a shocking bloody scene that horror lovers will appreciate, and moments where you just want to scream at the characters. No, don't do that!

There is blood and satisfaction at the end. Are they in two different scenes? Maybe. I would love to say something but can't because of spoilers. Let's just say I anticipated an action and I was right!

Our Winter Monster arrives on the scene January 28th. It's well done and perfect for horror readers who want something different.

Thank you to Soho Press for the chance to read!

This story is of a couple who gets caught up with a snow monster with a strange and mysterious nature. Other people find themselves in the snow monster's way and ultimately meet their demise.

This book was uncomfortable in the best way possible—I think you want some discomfort when you're reading horror. The setting was so claustrophobic and I think the intimacy of a couple fighting was claustrophobic as well. It took me a while to read this one just because of the discomfort, but at the same time, I didn't want to put it down because I needed to know what happened. This was a solid horror novel and I will definitely be adding a physical version to my collection.

Our Winter Monster is an atmospheric tale that artfully blends dark fantasy and mystery with a wintry setting that feels both chilling and intimate. The story's strengths lie in its evocative descriptions of the icy, foreboding landscapes and the eerie, enigmatic creature at its heart, which lends an otherworldly tension to the narrative.

However, while the premise is intriguing, the pacing can be uneven, with certain sections dragging and others feeling rushed. The characters, though well-defined, sometimes struggle to break free from archetypes, making it harder to form strong emotional connections. The resolution, while satisfying in some respects, leaves a few too many loose ends for those who crave closure.

Overall, this book is an engaging read for fans of atmospheric storytelling, but it might leave others yearning for a more polished execution. A solid three-star read: not without its flaws, but worth exploring for its immersive setting and haunting premise.

"Our Winter Monster" immediately wraps you in, with an intriguing start and some quite likeable characters and cosy little winter town. The story surrounds the troubled couple Holly and Brian, who drift further apart from each other after a traumatic event. They struggle coping and communicating, so they took a trip to a lovely winter village for some change of scenery. They get caught in a heavy blizzard and lose control over their car, each other and themselves. Meanwhile, the local sheriff Kendra tries to make sense of past and current events surrounding lost couples in the snow.

I absolutely enjoyed the start and the build up of the story. The town felt appealing, and I enjoyed the characters of Kendra and Holly a lot. There are some time and location jumps between the scenes, getting back and forth, spiralling into the showdown, and we learn what happened to our couple in the past. Sadly, some of the revelations in the book do not hit the mark, and that includes the 'solution' to our 'monster'. It was sadly quite a letdown and impacted my overall impression of the story a lot.
It still is a good book and worth a read for sure though, and I do love the vibe and intense snowy setting.
3.25-3.5 stars

I really enjoyed this book! I’ve never read anything else by this author, but this story as me interested in checking out other titles. I liked the writing and the pacing. I enjoyed the bad date flashbacks. I loved the cold and isolated small town setting. One of my favorites quotes from the story was: “It’s a bubble of enchantment, magical and whole, like a snow globe right before it’s shattered with a brick.” Would recommend.

Dennis Mahoney’s Our Winter Monster is an intense, atmospheric horror story that delves deep into emotional trauma and strained relationships against the backdrop of an unforgiving winter landscape. A couple, burdened by a past tragedy that has driven a wedge between them, decides to take a vacation to a remote ski resort. When a devastating blizzard strikes, an accident separates them, and they both come face-to-face with an enigmatic snow-and-ice monster that spares them but savages others.
Mahoney does a fantastic job combining horror with human drama, portraying complex characters struggling with loss and guilt. The town’s sheriff, grieving her own personal loss and dealing with an unsolved missing person’s case, adds depth and tension to the narrative. The creature itself is a unique twist in horror, embodying more than mere menace but symbolizing how monsters—and the fears that create them—take shape.
With vivid, chilling imagery, unique kills, and an ever-twisting plot, this novel offers a fresh take on the nature of monsters and their purpose. An action-packed read that I highly recommend to horror enthusiasts looking for depth and originality.

Thank you, Soho Press, and NetGalley for the ARC and the opportunity to review this wonderful novel.

Is there such a thing as relationship horror? “Why do we do these things to each other and why can’t we stop” horror?

If there isn’t, there should be, and Our Winter Monster would be a classic example.

Holly and Brian are in a push/pull sort of difficulty in their relationship, needing to put work in and not sure if they can anymore. They decide to try a weekend away to a winter village. But they have brought all their difficulties with them and the car ride is already awkward with the abrasive bicker just under the surface. And then a blizzard hits.

But this storm is much more than it seems. It is a monster that seems to reflect Brian and Holly’s unprocessed traumas, their anxiety and their grudges, their fear and their desperation.

Even though this story has all the elements of your basic well-written horror story, excellent characters, wonderful back stories, a terrifying monster, Mahoney has written a very different sort of horror story. It is clever and sneaky, it is in-your-face yet also slyly slithering into your heart. I could see myself in every emotion, every reaction, every terror and heartbreak. Smart, tightly paced, with shocking violence, deep sorrow and ferocious love.

Well-done, Dennis Mahoney. This one is very good.