The world is a dark place these days so if you are looking for some distraction this audio book provides! This listen was my first foray into the world of Kate Alice Marshall but I’m sure it won’t be my last. Narrator Karissa Vacker did a great job of delivering the tale in a captivating way as she guides listeners through all the twists and turns Marshall writes. If you are looking for lies, nasty, wealthy people whose families are probably more evil than your own - this is the book for you. Listening to this well crafted suspenseful tale during the harsh winter was exactly the distraction I needed! Big thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing the opportunity to listen to this captivating book in exchange for an honest review.

A Killing Cold
A Novel
by Kate Alice Marshall
Narrated by Karissa Vacker
"A woman invited to her wealthy fiance’s family retreat realizes they are hiding a terrible secret—and that she’s been there before, by the bestselling author of What Lies in the Woods.
A whirlwind romance.
When Theodora Scott met Connor—wealthy, charming, and a member of the powerful Dalton family—she fell in love in an instant. Six months later, he’s brought her to Idlewood, his family’s isolated winter retreat, to win over his skeptical relatives.
Stay away from Connor Dalton.
Theo has tried to ignore the threatening messages on her phone, but she can’t ignore the footprints in the snow outside the cabin window or the strange sense of familiarity she has about this place. Then, in a disused cabin, Theo finds something impossible: a photo of herself as a child. A photo taken at Idlewood.
I’ve been here before."
As always, my reviews are of the audio version of this book. As a rule, I listen at 70% speed or less as this makes it easier to hear details without needing to rewind as often. If things get tedious, I generally speed up.
Present in all of my reviews will be notes marked by an asterisk. These are pretty much just random thoughts I have, ignore them if they are annoying. I tend to think out loud...or in writing.
First, let me state that if you have a revulsion for hunting and all it entails, put this book down.
I have a LOT of notes on this title, maybe mostly notes.
I have a particular dislike, as most readers do, of a protag who "goes into the dark basement alone to investigate the scary noise." That said, Theo LOVES herself a nice dank, dark, spider ridden basement.
I mean firstly, WHY would you get a creepy text and NOT tell your fiance? I have heard of people who marry for money, but I have never actually met one in real life. I get the impression early on that Theo is engaging in some serious gold digging.
I am beginning this early on to really dislike this girl. Maybe I just have no patience ATM as I just finished a 2* book and I really needed something to restore my faith in contemporary authors. It's just that I can't stomach reading about relationships that are based on lies, especially if we, as readers, are meant to sympathize with the protagonist. It's just the wrong kind of drama for me.
*Note: This is totally me being petty, must "Must Love Dogs" should pretty much be printed on the front of the book. It wouldn't irritate me if I weren't so annoyed by her every action thus far.
Dang, one more thing I deeply dislike this chick!
The entire premise of going to her fiance's family home in order to impress his Grandmother is ridiculous, Theo is being interviewed for the position of fiance and she is behaving like she has actually APPLIED to be one. I have had bf's that refused to defend me from rude friends or family and that was a relationship ender. Apparently, money makes it all okay for Theo. The money grabbing is just gross.
It's very clear that there are characters I like except Connor so far. Bless his heart, he is like the proverbial lamb. I think he might really think he's in love.
All this and I am only at 7% of the book! Ruh-roh.
*Note: Ragging on religion has become SO TRITE and so predictable, but I won't start on that rn.
Maybe I just expect characters to behave too bluntly. Maybe her behavior wouldn't bother me if I could find one small thing for which to like her. She is subjected to hostility from Connor's grandmother and cowers, whereas I, personally, would ask as politely as possible what the heck the woman's problem is.
It appears that no matter how evil the family acts, she is so fixated on Connor and his money making her feel safe, but gives no reason whatsoever for which she actually LOVES him.
These are mega shallow people and Theo just puts her little collar on and attaches a leash to herself.
I'm not entirely sure why she feels the need to lie about her past. She doesn't remember her parents and her foster parents gave her up. That's not shocking. It's SAD obvs, it's TRAGIC, but not this sordid secret. I guess she needed to be provided with something shameful, and that was all the author could think of at the time? Whatever the reason, drama is definitely being forced and mysteries are being manufactured.
I'm just a bit over 10 percent and I am already getting very fed up,but I'm going to give it a fair shot in order to produce a fair review.
There is quite a bit of gross for the sake of gross here. I have been around people who hunt, but I don't enjoy seeing dead things or hearing about the things inflicted upon them.
And NOW, the moment we have all been waiting for
As expected, she's all "Hmm, mysterious footprints outside in the freezing cold! I shall immediately grab my coat and go out into the darkness in order to see if someone will axe murder me!"
Sheesh.
I need to make a statement at this point because I am finally full up of the stupidity of this book:
I live in rural Tennessee and am very familiar with deer hunting in its various forms. However, I do not participate and never have. I dislike killing things and then doing horrific things to them right out where everyone can see. I feel like the continuous mention and details of hunting and...other things is getting to be just for the morbid factor. I am not ashamed to say, I ffwd through the whole disgusting part and missed absolutely nothing.
If it continues, I will either have to skip, ffwd, speed up, or give up.
Sadly, at 21 percent, I'm calling it a DNF. If I wanted disgusting, I would read horror not mystery/thriller.
If you can swallow the bile and get to the end, I would love to know how it goes! Feel free to clue me in!
As always, thank you to NetGalley for allowing me early access to this audiobook in exchange for a (brutally) honest review!

Kate Alice Marshall is particularly excellent at writing settings, which remains with this fast-paced, atmospheric thriller that kept me turning the pages. I love an isolated, snowy mountain setting, especially when it is vital to the story.

Despite my initial guess at who the "bad guy" was being correct, I second-guessed myself throughout the entire book. I was pleased by how easy it was to follow all the characters. Typically, when you have this many characters, especially several badly behaving rich people, it becomes hard for them to distinguish themselves.

Yet, while The Killing Cold was a fun way to spend an afternoon, I did have a few issues. I'm not a fan of characters' memories conveniently surfacing to move the plot/mystery along. There has to be a better way for a character to discover secrets from their past. Further, you have to suspend disbelief to buy how the story unfolds. I know this is common in thrillers, but even I was surprised by the setup and how much I had to buy into the storyline.

I believe thriller lovers will enjoy this a lot, as I often have issues with thrillers in general.

I did this via audio, and Karissa Vacker remains a queen of narration. I love her performances, especially with thrillers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

What a way to start February reading! A KILLING COLD by Kate Alice Marshall was unputdownable with twist after twist. I haven’t been so engrossed in a thriller like this in a long time. The snowy mountain cabin escape was the perfect setting for this time of year. If you’re a mood reader, add this to your TBR and read it now!

I picked this as my BOTM for January and then was also lucky to get an early listening copy from Macmillan Audio! And you know I love listening along while I read the physical copy especially when there’s a great narrator like Karissa Vacker! She’s always great at making you feel the tension and feelings of characters.

This one is out this week so be sure to grab it! Thank you Macmillan Audio for the early listening copy!

This was an arc, but I received it literally less than a day before the book came out so I'm a little late to the party. Regardless, thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio!

Theo's had a whirlwind romance with Connor Dalton, engaged after just six months. It's about time something in her life has gone like a fairytale; she grew up in an adoptive home, with no memories of her early life after clearly having experienced significant trauma in her first few years that only continued with her religious and unable-to-conceive adoptive family. But as she prepares to meet Connor's family, Theo receives warnings to stay away from Connor. And then she sees a photo that starts to bring back memories of those forgotten early years...

Secrets, lies, selfish rich people, a fabulous snowy backdrop - this story has it all. It was fast-paced to the point where I had a hard time stopping listening yesterday to go to bed, and finished quickly today. The constant movement, with every Dalton moving in their own way to shift the ground under Theo's feet, kept the pace moving rapidly. The only thing that bothers me about thrillers such as this is how convenient the memory loss is; the main character hasn't remembered a thing all their life, until suddenly they can pull every memory as soon as they sit down and start thinking very, very hard. If you can overlook that, you'll love this twisty thriller.

Rich & unlikeable characters, snowy setting, humble beginnings and twists that you won’t see coming.

I really loved the flashbacks and thought the build up to the ending was really good. This was a bit of a slow burn for me, so having the audio really helped.

🎧I really enjoyed the audio. The narrator, Karissa Vacker, did a great job with this book. It was easy to follow and kept me engaged. I would highly recommend doing the audio for this one!

4⭐️

A Killing Cold is a well-written, adventure packed thriller that kept me guessing until the very end. Some twists you can see coming, but a few others surprised me. The ending was satisfying. The short chapters made me want to keep reading. I listened on audio and the narrator was good.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I have fallen in love with Kate Alice Marshall’s books and will continue to buy and read everything she puts out. I loved the drama of this and loved the family and history. This would make for a great movie!!! Great narration too!

Unputdownable!
A Killing Cold by is a must-read for anyone who enjoys mystery thrillers set in remote wilderness locations. The author does a great job peeling back the layers of mis-information, cover-ups, and secrets as the main-character struggles to remember her past and reconcile with the present. The twists were fun - lots of red herrings - and the ending worked for me, not over-the-top, but satisfying. Mostly I liked hanging out with the MC as she interacted with her boyfriend’s family and tried to decide if one (or all) of them was gaslighting her, or if she was wrong about the only version of her past she could remember.

The audio was narrated by @karissavacker and wow, does she ever bring the characters and story to life! I even had the audiobook on while I was reading my physical copy as I thought she did a much better job of reading the story then the voice in my head 😂 I’m adding Karissa to my list of must-listen to audiobook narrators.

When Theo met Connor Dalton, it was love at first sight. There was something so familiar about him, she was sure they had met before. Six months later, they are newly engaged and, on their way, to meet the powerful Dalton family for their isolated winter retreat in Idlewood. Theo is anxious to meet the family, someone has been leaving her threatening messages to stay away from the Daltons and she cannot get over how familiar the mountain is. When she finds a photo of herself as a child in one of the cabins, fragments of her forgotten childhood start to come together. But Theo is not safe, the Dalton's like to keep their secrets buried and some will do anything to make sure it stays that way.

A Killing Cold is a fast-paced mystery/thriller. Theo is not only trying to piece together her memories of her childhood and what happened on the mountain all those years ago but trying to figure out who she can trust in the Dalton family. Can she trust the love of her life or was this all an elaborate plan to get her to the mountain? I was completely hooked and couldn't put this down as each chapter seemed to uncover another piece of the puzzle. The flashbacks of Theo's childhood were heartbreaking but also answered a lot of questions into Theo's actions on the mountain. If you are looking for a thrilling mystery for this winter, I would recommend this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the opportunity to review A Killing Cold. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Wow, this was a wild ride from start to finish! The story is packed with twists and turns that kept me guessing right up until the end. The story focuses on the mystery identity of the main character, Theo, when she can't recall her childhood before she was adopted. She starts having flashes of memory while staying at her wealthy fiancé’s family lodge. Since his family is already a bit unsure of her, the tension and hostility surrounding her only build the suspense as the plot builds. Cue the the Daltons shady, extra juicy secrets and despicable skeletons in their closet. Theo tries to piece her memories together as the dangerous truths about the Dalton family unravel.

I absolutely loved Karissa Vacker as the narrator for the audiobook! Her character voicing elevates the story to another level, making it a must-listen for anyone who enjoys a thrilling, high-stakes mystery!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the opportunity to listen to the advanced audio copy in exchange for my honest opinions!

4.25 ⭐️ Advanced Reader Review!

Theo and Connor just got engaged only after just a few months of dating. Together, they go to Connor’s family’s winter retreat, Idlewood, to meet everyone and spend the holidays together.

Before even arriving, Theo receives threatening notes telling her to leave Connor alone. Once at Idlewood, the notes don’t stop, and even stranger, Theo begins to remember things about her own childhood. Has she been here before? As secrets and lies are uncovered, is Theo safe at Idlewood?

My thoughts: I thought this book was a fun mystery/thriller with winter vibes. The setting was very atmospheric, and the cast of characters were very compelling. It was bit difficult to keep track exactly who everyone was at first, but once I figured it out, I realized all of the characters served a purpose.

My only critique would be the pacing. I feel as though some parts of the book raced by, while others dragged on. I thought the ending was a little rushed, but I like how everything turned out in the end.

Karissa Vacker is one of my favorite narrators, and she did an amazing job on this book! I love her ability to portray both men and women with it sounding goofy.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was fun to receive it in Book of the Month and to have the audiobook! 4.25 stars.

This thriller was exceptionally well done! Each plot development unveiled a new twist, secret, and lie. The ending was truly satisfying. I highly recommend it!

Thank you, #Netgalley and #MacmillanAudio for this ARC.

This was very similar to the family game. It was a cozy snowy mystery but I did guess most things from the beginning. I enjoyed the characters and family dynamic since it is similar to the family game. I would recommend though! The audiobook was very intriguing

Okay, this book was wild. From the start, A Killing Cold pulls you into a tense and amospheric thriller that feels like a psychological horror movie. Theo thinks she’s just meeting her fiances fancy and judgmental family at their winter retreat, but things get creepy fast. The isolated setting, the mysterious warnings, and the footprints in the snow all builds this unsettling tension. And then she finds a photo of herself as a child at this place she doesn’t even remember! Kate Alice Marshall is so good at writing these eerie and burning mysteries, and this one is no exception. Theo’s unraveling memories and the family’s secrets kept me hooked, and the way the story slowly pieces together her past was both chilling and addictive. Plus, Karissa Vacker’s narration is phenomenal! She makes every moment feel even more intense. If you love thrillers with a psychological twist, you need to pick this one up!

I thought this book was absolutely incredible, especially as an audiobook. Maybe it's because I listen at 1.5% speed, but I felt such a rush every time things started to pick up in the story telling. I wouldn't mind listening to it again just because I enjoyed it so much, which I don't usually do. 5 stars!

I’ve read my fair share of thrillers, and unfortunately, A Killing Cold didn’t quite stand out for me.

The Plot:

A woman joins her fiancé’s family at their secluded wilderness retreat, only to discover they’re hiding a chilling secret. A classic setup unfolds— a snowstorm traps them, danger lurks, and the tension rises. While the premise had potential, the storyline felt predictable, relying on familiar tropes.

The first half of the book was slow, making it difficult to stay engaged. Many of the plot points felt far-fetched, and I struggled to connect with most of the characters. There were also noticeable gaps in the story that left me wanting more depth and explanation. That said, the book does deliver plenty of twists—though they all seem to come at once near the end, making for a rushed payoff.

One highlight for me was the audiobook narration by Karissa Vacker. She does a phenomenal job bringing the story to life, using distinct voices for each character and infusing excitement into key moments. If not for her performance, I may have set this one aside unfinished.

While A Killing Cold wasn’t a favorite of mine, I know many readers have loved it. If you’re a fan of snowy, isolated thrillers with big reveals, it might be worth checking out for yourself!

Publication Date: 2.4.25
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

Theo and Connor just got engaged. They haven’t met each other’s families yet so Theo is nervous and excited to visit Connor’s whole family for Christmas at their mountainside estate, Idlewood. Connor has his secrets, and Theo does too. But this trip is life changing. Theo’s background is a mystery. The truth will come out - are Connor and Theo ready? Can their relationship survive? More importantly, can they survive?

The audiobook was great. The narrator gave personality to the characters, and ratcheted up the tension as needed. Sometimes, especially with an audiobook, it is hard to keep track of all of the characters, particularly if there are a large number of characters. But in this case, each character had their own way of speaking, which along with the storyline, informed the character’s personality.

It was fast paced with lots of action. The plot stretched back to the previous twenty years from multiple perspectives. Many times, a memory sparked the retelling of the past. Some questions were answered after being asked directly from one character to another, and some answers were provided when the storyline moved back in the past.

Many points of the plot could be predicted by someone familiar with the genre, but not all. Some reveals were truly surprising. I thought the ending was sweet but pretty far fetched. Throughout the story and at the end, things tied together a bit too easily. No loose ends. Sometimes a little bit of uncertainty goes a long way. Overall, though, it was worth the listen. I did listen to it instead of watching tv more than once, so that says something!

I’m so happy I got the ARC for this audiobook. I’ve recently been into audiobooks as I’ve been busier - it keeps me reading (in a way) while getting my stuff done.

I LOVED the storyline of this book. It wasn’t the most spooky or thrilling, but definitely interesting and easy to follow.

The main characters were very likeable, and the author did a great job of introducing new facts that solidify the hatred/love towards a character.

I’m so glad they kept dutchess in the end lol.

3.75/5

This is my third book by Kate Alice Marshall. Definitely enjoyed the snowy and remote atmosphere, but unfortunately, this book fell flat for me. The main character kind of annoyed me, and I guessed some of the plot twists. Overall it was a fun, okay read, but was lacking a bit.