I'd like to thank the publisher and author, firstly, for my free ALC. Thank you!

3.5 stars

This book kept me invested from page one, but sadly, it lost me towards the end. I feel like the way things developed was not only anti-climatic, but also a bit unbelievable. I was expecting somewhat more chills, considering the title of the book.

Again, the author did a great job capturing my attention and keeping me hooked but the ending was underwhelming for me.

A Killing Cold is a gripping mystery novel that immerses readers in an atmospheric, chilling setting while weaving an intricate tale of suspense and intrigue. The novel follows the investigation of a series of murders in a small, snowbound town, where every resident seems to harbor a secret. The harsh winter conditions serve as both a backdrop and an obstacle, heightening the tension and adding to the sense of isolation.
What I Liked
One of the strongest aspects of A Killing Cold is its setting. The author does an excellent job of painting a vivid picture of the icy landscape, making the reader feel the bitter cold with every page. The descriptions of the blizzard and its impact on the characters effectively enhance the novel's suspense.
The protagonist is well-developed, with a compelling backstory that adds depth to their motivations and actions. Their interactions with the townspeople feel authentic, and the small-town dynamics create an additional layer of intrigue. The pacing is well-maintained, with enough twists and turns to keep the reader engaged throughout.
Additionally, the novel’s climax is particularly well-executed. The tension builds up steadily, culminating in a satisfying and unexpected resolution that ties up loose ends without feeling forced.
What I Didn’t Like
While the mystery itself is engaging, some of the supporting characters feel underdeveloped. A few key suspects blend together due to a lack of distinguishing characteristics, making it difficult to keep track of their roles in the story.
Another area that could be improved is the dialogue. At times, the conversations between characters feel a bit stiff or overly expository, particularly when revealing clues. More natural dialogue could enhance immersion and make the character interactions more engaging.
The novel also occasionally relies on predictable tropes, such as the detective with a troubled past and the isolated town full of secrets. While these elements are executed competently, a more unique twist on these familiar themes would help distinguish the book from similar mystery novels.
Conclusion
Overall, A Killing Cold is a solid mystery novel that successfully creates a chilling atmosphere and keeps readers invested in the investigation. While there are areas for improvement, particularly in character development and dialogue, the book remains an engaging and suspenseful read. Fans of winter-set mysteries and small-town intrigue will likely find it an enjoyable addition to the genre.

A Killing Cold is a fast paced popcorn thriller that grabbed my attention from the first chapter.

Theodora Scott has had a troubled life and can’t remember details of her childhood before she was adopted. One day fate intervenes, she meets Conner and they get engaged. Theo travels to her fiancées country home during winter vacation to meet his wealthy family. Soon secrets from the past are exposed and Theo can finally begin piecing together her memory.

I enjoyed listening to the narrator on this book, Karissa Vacker. Her pacing was good and she did well distinguishing between characters.

I really liked the plot of this book and that it had several twists that weren’t too predictable. I was surprised that this book contained a little bit of spice. I loved the setting of the story. My only critique for this book was how Theo and Conner met again as adults by coincidence, it was a bit far-fetched in my opinion. Kate Alice Marshall books are always a pleasant and fun read. This was a great winter thriller to cozy up with!

Trigger warnings: mentions and/or some description of murder, violence, domestic violence, suicide, and animal death.

Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, Flatiron books and Kate Alice Marshall for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion and authentic review.

I really enjoyed this book it kept me guessing up until the very end. I’m still trying to decide if Nick was Theo’s father? It was kind of slow at times but the author did well at keeping the reader interested and wanting to keep reading. I really enjoyed her other books as well. Thank you so much for the advanced copy of the audio book.

I’m always thankful to be apart of Macmillan Audio’s influencer program but this book was a miss for me. I didn’t like Kate Alice Marshall’s previous book What Lies in the Woods. Gave her another shot. The premise of it was interesting. However, the story was very hard to follow on audio. Even after just finishing it I can’t even tell you who was who character wise and what happens. Just bits and pieces. I hated the vivid descriptions of animal hunting and what happens to the dead animals. I guess I should have looked up trigger/content warnings in regard to this so that part is my fault. I just don’t think this author is for me. This is the same review I have done on Goodreads, which. Is also linked below.

A Killing Cold
by Kate Alice Marshall
Narrated by Karissa Vacker

I really enjoyed A Killing Cold. It was a unique, fast-paced story that kept me guessing until the very end. Theo and Connor travel to Connor's family property for the holidays. Recently engaged, this is Theo's first time meeting everyone. Once they arrive, things start to feel...familiar. Theo is adopted and hasn't had an easy life. She's never been to the property before, or at least she doesn't think that she has. As time goes on, she starts remebering things. Things that don't make sense. Connor's family isn't exactly the most welcoming, so she has to try and figure things out on her own. I dont' want to give any more of the stroy away, but this kept me listening and excited to find out what happend next. Karissa Vacker did a great job narrating and really brought life to the characters and the story. I can't wait to listen to Ms. Marshall's next story!

Thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and the author for the chance to review this ARC!

Both Theodora and Connor Dalton have secrets from each other. At the isolated family holiday retreat, Theo is welcomed with suspicion by the wealthy Dalton family. Secrets soon start spilling and it becomes obvious that someone from Connor’s family doesn’t want Theo there. I could never pass up on a book narrated by Karissa Vacker and this one was amazing from start to finish. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Wow. I’m almost speechless. The was absolutely incredible. I’m blown away by how creepy and suspenseful that book was! I want to run around and tell everyone about it now. Holy crap. I’m at a loss for words.

Probably my least favorite Kate Alice Marshall adult mystery to date, but still entertaining and propulsive.

This reminded me a lot of The Family Game by Catherine Steadman only without the fun parts, which meant it felt a bit flatter than I would like. It’s also less intricate than Marshall’s previous adult mysteries, though the pacing is excellent and the story is intriguing if not exactly original.

I tend to like isolated location thrillers, especially those which force the characters to contend with the elements, and while I thought the sense of place was well rendered here, the cold, the mountain, etc. aren’t much of a factor in the story save for in the most literal sense. I think I needed more man vs nature in this and less of the main character being mistreated by her fiancé’s family while the reader endlessly tries to figure out who means her harm and who is just plain mean.

All that said, Marshall keeps you intrigued and keeps you guessing, and while this is a dip in quality from her last two adult books, it’s still a fun read a solidly plotted thriller.

This book follows Theodora Scott, an orphan who has had a whirlwind romance recently resulting in a proposal. She has now gone with her fiance Connor to meet his wealthy, skeptical relatives at their isolated winter home to gain their approval. But as Theodora deals with a highly judgemental family, she realizes that this place feels oddly familiar to her, and starts to gain some of her earliest memories back. Could this place be related to the tragic mystery of her missing mother?

I really appreciated the writing and the premise of the story, as well as the inclusion of a lesbian couple for representation! In particular, the audio narration from Karissa Vacker was really well done. The setting of the icy, cold, and isolated winter retreat was also really well developed. However, I thought there were just too many characters and that the mystery aspect was a little easy to predict. Even though this was an average thriller for me, I am excited to pick up whatever comes next from Kate Alice Marshall!

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

I have said before that Kate Alice Marshall can do no wrong and this title was no exception. Twists, turns, scandals, murders-what else could a girl want?! I thought I knew where it was going to end up, and the end still got me!! 4.5/5!

Kate Alice Marshall has become one of my favorite crime writers with this one. She’s created a compelling story of a young woman swept up in a rich family full of secrets, some of them her own. Her fish out of water heroine is layered and complex and the supporting characters are developed nicely. Fantastic setting and strong narration of a very twisty, satisfying suspense.

Lots of twists and a myriad of dark secrets. I didn’t find any of the characters particularly likable so found it hard to stay engaged. I think fans of locked room mysteries may like it as it is fairly reliable.

Kate Alice Marshall delivers another gripping, atmospheric thriller with A Killing Cold, a chilling (literally) locked-room mystery set in an isolated winter retreat.

Theo Scott falls fast for the charming, wealthy Connor Dalton, and when he invites her to his family’s estate, Idlewood, she’s eager to win over his skeptical relatives. But unsettling warnings, eerie footprints in the snow, and a forgotten childhood photo taken at Idlewood suggest a past she can’t remember—and a danger she can’t escape.

The audiobook, narrated by Karissa Vacker, is absolutely phenomenal. Her delivery amplifies the tension, making you feel the bitter cold and creeping dread in every scene. The setting itself is haunting, where snow hides evidence, isolates its victims, and turns the retreat into a prison.

What sets this apart from other family-drama thrillers is its deeply immersive mystery. As Theo unravels the Daltons’ secrets, the story grips you tighter, making every revelation feel chilling and urgent. If you’re choosing between formats, I highly recommend the audio!

Kate Alice Marshall remains a staple in my reading, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next!

A Killing Cold is tense and fast-paced. It's also the epitome of a Winter Thriller. I loved the setting and atmosphere most of all. It felt cold and claustrophobic the entire time.

Theo is trapped at her new fiance's family retreat and it's clear someone doesn't want her there. When she discovers a clue to her past at the property, she's flabbergasted. How can this be? Has she been here before?

I liked following along with Theo as she was thrust into the lion's den that is her fiance, Connor's, family. They've had a whirlwind romance, so Theo hasn't had much opportunity to meet them and she's nervous as heck. As she should be...

It's clear from the start Theo isn't being completely transparent with them about her past, and as the story progresses, you learn a lot more about that. Regardless of where she came from though, her upbringing was very different from Theo's and his siblings. Their family is extremely wealthy, and as with most wealthy families, they're used to getting away with a certain amount of things.

While I was reading this, the dynamics amongst Connor and his brother and sister, kept reminding me of the sibling relationships in HBO show, Succession. If you are a fan of that show, I definitely recommend you check this one out. I think you'll understand pretty quickly what I mean.

I also loved and appreciated how much the weather and landscape was made a part of this story. It felt dark and very cold. Also, due to inclement weather, they do get literally trapped at the estate. This gave it an air of desperation and suffocation it may not have had otherwise. Atmosphere is my number one want in any book, and it was definitely delivered here.

Marshall kept me on my toes with this one and successfully kept me guessing. While I thought the ending had some moments where it veered into convoluted territory, overall, I think it was a fun and intriguing story. I would highly recommend the audiobook, as well, should you have that format available to you. It's narrated by one of my all-time faves, Karissa Vacker, and I feel like she did a fantastic job bringing Theo's perspective to life!

Thank you to the publisher, Macmillan Audio, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I'm looking forward to whatever KAM writes next!!

This was my second book by this author and while I do believe it was better than the last that I read, I realize maybe her writing just isn’t for me. I enjoyed the setting of this mystery, a secluded cabin with a wealthy family that is full of secrets and a newcomer finance with a past that she cannot remember. It was fast moving and I appreciated the twists and the turns. The issue I have with Marshall’s books is that she seems to never be happy with her endings! The number of times that the “killer” is revealed to be then revealed again later as NOT the killer is infuriating. At a certain point, you realize that you don’t even care who the killer is any more. Maybe this is a me thing, but I always leave these thrillers wanting more. The narrator did a great job of bringing the suspense to the book, and I appreciate that aspect. It kept me entertained, I just left a bit disappointed.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for an advanced listening copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

Overall, I liked this audiobook. I do think the book was better and more exciting because of the narrator and audio. I felt she did a phenomenal job.

When you dig down to it, I kind of felt like it was just another rich family cover-up mystery. I would’ve loved a little more of a surprise or suspenseful moment. I overall didn’t really enjoy any of the characters, but that’s only because most of them were not great people.

Even though I didn’t feel like the book was a mind blowing mystery, I would recommend it to others because it wasn’t enjoyable

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.