Oh, I loved reading this book! I really enjoy Kate Alice Marshall's writing, and the mysteries that she crafts, man, are stunning, thrilling, gripping, and addicting! I can't get enough, I have to know how it ends, and this particular one on a remote mountain, not knowing who to trust? Yeah, I loved it!

We get the story of Theo, someone who has doesn't know her past as a young child, and the time between then and when she was a teen was pretty scarring, and I loved how we got snippets of that part. To have her fiance bring her to the family retreat, and finding a picture of herself from the time that she doesn't remember? The need for answers was strong.

Kate Alice Marshall just has a way with mysteries. The way things were set up, with the family, and their secrets, and presenting information so it looked one way, but once you had all the facts, it was almost a completely different picture. I didn't know what to expect, so I had to keep reading.

As the questions and answers mounted about what happened on that mountain all those years ago, to her mom, to his dad, the more apprehensive I became. Because someone didn't want her there, and this is a powerful family, and they're used to coming out on top at any cost-and she was in the way of that. It was so well done, and the way things wrapped up was almost fully satisfying, there was just that one bit that was unfortunate, but I think the right choice was made.

Loved reading this book and I can't wait to read more by Kate Alice Marshall!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review. Karissa Vacker is fantastic as the narrator of this story. I highly recommend the audiobook!

Theodora Scott is recently engaged to Connor Dalton, a son of a very wealthy and powerful family. The "family" has invited the couple to their family camp in the mountains that they own in order to evaluate whether Theo will be a welcomed daughter-in-law or cast off as a gold digger. Theo is an ordinary girl who works at a bookstore. She has no family as she was orphaned as a child and then adopted by a severely dysfunctional family she no longer engages with. Theo also has been receiving threatening texts warning her to stay away from Connor. The longer the 2 are at the camp, the more they realize that everyone in the family is guarding secrets, including Theo.

This is a fast paced, domestic drama that is both suspenseful and chaotic. I found the characters to be relatable. I loved how the secrets were released slowly and yet seemed to be all intertwined. While the ending of the story was a mix of far fetched and predictable, the tension building up to the climax and shocking revelations made the read very enjoyable. Highly recommend!

Thank you Netgalley and Flatiron books for an advanced copy of Marshalls newest thriller! Theodora Scott is newly engaged and so excited to meet her fiances family at Christmastime. She is even more excited when she gets invited to their isolated estate in the woods. She receives an icy welcome, but that is the least of her concerns when she starts having memories of this estate that she has never been to before. While I enjoyed this book, was not my favorite of hers.

I listened to the audiobook version of this book. The narrator did a great job. I felt drawn in to the story and felt I knew the characters. This was a big family secret that ended up being exposed. Lots of unexpected reveals and surprises. Definitely recommend!

I received this audiobook from NetGalley for my honest review.

Wow, this was a fabulous audiobook! I was drawn in by the description of a family both extremely wealthy and extremely private, as this usually means that they have plenty to hide. The premise: when Theo joins her new fiancé’s family for the holidays she does not anticipate quite how her life will change. She is apprehensive and wants to make a good impression, however, what she finds is almost unbelievable. Of course, that makes for a pretty exciting book, and I loved every minute of this very twisty tale. The secrets and lies of the Dalton family are incredible, but I also loved how the story reveals that both Theo and Conner come from truly dysfunctional families, albeit very different ones. The audiobook was beautifully narrated by Karissa Vacker, one of my favorites. This was only the second book by Kate Alice Marshall that I have read, but I’ve loved them both and look forward to reading more by her. Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to provide an honest review of this audiobook.

This was the perfect setting for a mysterious, who can you trust mystery. There was a good amount of characters to keep you guessing, but unfortunately, the characters did not stand out. A few times, I had to think about who someone was because the description of the characters was lacking. This was a quick read, but just not the suspenseful, edge of my seat thriller I thought it would be. The narrator did a good job telling the story,

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced audiobook copy of A Killing Cold.

This book was so very good. It was atmospheric and depicted cold so very well up on the mountain. I loved the twists, I loved the turns, I loved the relationships and the drama. Everything about this book kept me guessing.

Add to the actual book content that the narration was fantastic and I would listen to her read a phonebook, superb.

Reader Review:
Wow - A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall, read by Karissa Vacker was the chef's kiss! This is absolutely EVERYTHING I want in a thriller - dynamic characters, a thrilling plot, and surprising twists. This book confirms Kate Alice Marshall is a master of her craft! And it solidifies my assertion that Karissa Vacker is the BEST bringing books to life! This book is set to publish February 4th - you will not want to wait to order and secure your copy now!

Summary:
Theodora travels to her fiancée Connor’s home, in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Connor comes from a wealthy and influential family - they own the little town and mountain top they’re visiting. Feeling she doesn’t measure up anyway, Theo is nervous about the trip and more than anything, she’s afraid Connor’s family will find out who she really is.

Theo doesn’t know the name given to her at birth and doesn’t have memories of her birth family. She was raised by a strict, religious family who saw her as a devil child leading them to eventually cast her out when she was 15.

Events are told from Theo’s point of view in the past and present making the story engaging and addicting! I kept reading page after page to put the dots together and to figure out why Theo started getting messages before her trip telling her to stay away.; and to figure out why there would be a picture of her, from the time she can’t remember, with Connor’s dad at one of the cabin’s they’re staying in. In this game of cat and mouse, who is the predator and who is the prey?

I LOVED A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall - 5 stars! I finished the book in 24 hours because I just couldn’t put it down. It’s a book fast-paced book full of twists & turns. It has everything I want in a mystery/thriller - isolation, wealth, power, family & secrets. I was hooked from beginning until the very end.

Karissa Vacker did an excellent job with the narration.

Thank you to NetGalley & Bookouture Audio for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Theodora Scott is anxious about visiting Idlewood, her fiancée's family retreat tucked away on a mountain. Meeting Connor's family for the first time is high pressure enough, but when Theo arrives at the retreat, she begins to feel like she may have been there before. As Theo tries desperately to piece together what she can remember of her past and figure out her own ties to Idlewood, Connor's family is just as desperate to keep their own secrets buried.

I am not usually a fan of the super-rich family set up, but I loved the idea that this unsuspecting woman shows up worried only about meeting the family and ends up having to confront her own dark past. I felt like Theo was just the right amount of scrappy, middle-class to be believable, relatable, and endearing. I also loved that the author didn't harp too much on the money. Clearly it's an element because the family owns the setting but it wasn't a constant in your face thing were you're beating over the head with the money aspect. This was definitely much more about the family dynamics and personal secrets. There were enough characters involved to keep the story twisting and turning, but not so many that I felt like it was hard to keep everyone straight.

Overall I really enjoyed this one, though it was definitely more of a slow burn than a thriller. The narration was amazing (as always with Karissa Vacker!) so that definitely helped keep things moving in the handful of parts where it started to drag.

I love any book narrated by Karissa Vacker. Her breathy tones really help sell the soapiness of the story. I felt like perhaps the story relied too heavily on the amnesia trope but it still has delicious twists and turns. It’s also laughably coincidental that Conner and Theo would meet the way they did but that’s thrillers for you I guess. The ending was very realistic and I enjoyed the story a lot.

A Killing Cold is exactly what a psychological thriller should be—all kinds of dark and twisty.

Theodora Scott has been invited to her fiancé’s family’s winter retreat Idlewood. The reception inside matches the temperatures outside—downright chilly. Many are skeptical as Theo and Connor’s romance appears sudden to the monied and revered Dalton family. Before joining the family, she must pass all kinds of psychological and emotional tests, and being adopted and not knowing her history is yet another strike in the unsuitable category for Theo.

The ruthless Dalton’s quickly prove they don’t mess around, and someone in that lodge knows about Theo’s past and the secrets she hasn’t even told Connor. Threatening text messages, probing questions, and a few “accidents” quickly reveal that this dysfunctional family will do anything to protect its own. The question is, what is Theo capable of?

Filled with plenty of red herrings to keep the reader guessing, Kate Alice Marshall does a great job weaving a tale of deception. Karissa Vacker, as always, narrates superbly—her intensity and pacing will have you listening at a faster rate to find out what happens next. A Killing Cold will keep you on your toes to the very last page.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and of course the author Kate Alice Marshall for the advanced copy of the audiobook. A Killing Cold is out on February 4th! All opinions are my own.

Kate Alice Marshall is an AMAZING storyteller and Karissa Vacker is the perfect narrator for her books.

This one had it all- a beautifully described setting so you *feel* like you’re there, twist after twist, and some super intense events that will definitely get your adrenaline going.

Karissa Vacker played so many different parts with this one- there are tons of characters- and she did such a good job. I love when I find books that she’s narrated.

A Killing Cold is a gripping psychological thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. The story follows Theodora Scott, who joins her fiancé, Connor, at his family's secluded winter estate, only to uncover eerie connections to her own forgotten past. Marshall masterfully weaves suspense and unexpected twists, making it hard to put down. If you're into dark family secrets and chilling mysteries, this book is a must-read.

A whirlwind romance, now engaged. This is the story of Theo and Connor. Some secrets are intended to stay buried. When the couple joins his family for a two week Christmas retreat,  Theo is met with the cold shoulder of the grandmother. The family is very wealthy. At one point the grandmother attempts to pay Theo to leave the engagement. Theo finds things that possibly link her childhood to the family. The majority of the family is very welcoming. As she continues to dig, more things are revealed. The twist at the end is breathtaking.  The narrator, Karissa Vacker does a superb job with the narration. Top notch production quality!

5 Stars

Engaging and immersive. A recommended purchase for collections where crime and thrillers are popular.

I think that this was a great pick me up for the holidays and winter! Kate Alice Marshall really has outdone herself once again. I love the twists and turns of this book really caused me to devour it and try to figure out Theo and her past and Connor and his family. Connor Dalton and Theo, recently engaged take upon visiting his family of elite status and vacation on their families elusive estate in a winter wonderland. Theo's character really unpacks the elusive history of herself and understanding and seeking acceptance from his family. Right away Theo is sent several text messages about staying away from Connor and his family and do not attend the gathering and you're thrown into trying to make sense of the mystery behind everything.

Theo works to unpack her past and works to discover who she is and why memories continue to pop up from her past.. It's almost as if she'd been where Connor and his family are and recognizing details from her own past and his family. Throughout this journey Theo discovers the secrets to her past and her memory and realizing why others are after her.

Thank you so much to Mamillan Audio for the audiobook ALC. Karris Vacker as a narrator was engaging, lively, and lifted the characters personalities from the page. She gave a tone to each of the characters and helped build the tension more for the thrill of it. I do recommend this winter mystery to others.


Theo and Conor, after a whirlwind romance go to meet Conor’s family in an isolated winter retreat. There she starts to have memories which had been repressed of an earlier visit.

Theres a good intensity for the most part although there are areas where the pace drops, the narrator carried it over these dips. It has twists and secrets which are interspersed rather than keeping all to the end.

I think it’s well worth having the audiobook version, I’m looking forward to more by this author.

Thrilling, Chilling & Twisty! This hit all my favorites with isolated winter cabins, a lost childhood and rich people behaving badly. What's not to love?

A Killing Cold follows Theo Scott who is engaged to Conner Dalton, a wealthy guy with a seemingly perfect life. Theo has a murky past, she was adopted and doesn’t know where she came from or who her parents were. When she meets Conner she feels complete and is excited to start her life with him.

Conner takes Theo to his isolated family retreat in the mountains for some relaxation and to get to know his family. The trip is important to Theo because she wants to impress his family, but things quickly take a dangerous turn. Theo starts finding photographs of herself as a child and is starting to think this isn’t her first time at the retreat and that maybe the Dalton family aren’t strangers after all.

This was my third Kate Alice Marshall book I’ve read, she’s a typical four star author for me and this goes in line with the others. There are twists and turns throughout the story and I was kept engaged in the story. The narrator for this book did a great job and I enjoyed the audiobook experience. This was a perfect winter read to dive into. This book releases on February 4th, so preorder it today!

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of this audiobook.

Kate Alice Marshall is an auto buy author for me. I was so excited to get my hands on early digital and audiobook copies of this story. Five stars for this thriller/mystery with way too many secrets to count. It is the perfect winter read!

Theo Scott is in love with Connor Dalton. They have not been together long when they decide to get married. Connor's family has questions, and they want to meet Theo. Connor takes her home to Idlewood, his family's retreat in the mountains for the Holidays. Theo is nervous because she wants to make a good impression, but from the start, things are not what they seem deep in the mountains.

The twists come early and often in this tense, immersive story. You will feel cold throughout due to the incredible way this author puts you onto this mountain. There are secrets and dark corners everywhere. And just when you think you have something figured out, she throws something else at you.

The Dalton Family is a lot, to put it mildly. It is difficult for the reader to get a read on any one of them. And just when you do, you are thrown for another loop. This book is fast-paced, and you will have difficulty putting it down!

I really liked Theo a lot. She was honest, sometimes brutally so. She has so many secrets of her own, and she is truly just looking for a place to belong. Theo is one of the toughest characters I have read this year. I was rooting for her from the beginning.

If you enjoy audiobooks, this one is spectacular. Karissa Vacker does a phenomenal job voicing Theo as well as the other characters in the story. You feel all of the feelings that Theo describes. I highly recommend the audiobook for this one!

Thank you to NetGalley, Flatiron Books, and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to read and listen to this one! It is the absolute perfect winter read. This one releases on February 4th, so preorder it today!