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“It’s important to follow wilderness rules 🌲 when you are mapping your way through a person’s life. 🧭 Leave no trace…”

I thoroughly enjoyed A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall! 🔪❄️🧣 This book delivered the perfect “whodunnit” vibes, keeping me on edge and guessing until the very end. 🤯 I didn’t know who to trust, and every twist had me second-guessing myself.

The atmosphere was spot on — think winter cabins deep in the woods 🏕️, no signal 📵, and a tense family dynamic 👀. The “poor girl dating the rich guy while trying to win over his narcissistic family” trope added so much tension 😬, especially on this high-stakes family vacation. It gave me major Get Out vibes 🧠🖤, so if you loved that movie, you’ll be a fan of this book!

Overall, it’s a solid mystery thriller 🔍 that’s hard to discuss without giving away spoilers 🤐. Just know that it’s worth the read! I’ll definitely be checking out more books by this author 📚✨!

Favorite Quotes:

“I almost prefer the dark now. 🌑 The light only blinds you to what might lie beyond it. 🌟”

“We all have violence inside of us. 💣 It needs only the right fuel. 🔥”

“Don’t let the cup rattle, ☕ even if your hands are shaking. 🤲”

“Secrets, I think. 🤫 The private things we live our lives pretending no one knows. 🕵️‍♀️”

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the ALC 🎧 and Flatiron Books for the ARC! 📖

I really enjoyed the audiobook narrator. I think her voice definitely brought the main character, Theodora, to life. I could feel her reasoning for the secrets she kept and the reasons why. Some parts of the books felt slow with her inner monologue, but then as I got towards the end there was so much happening and it was easy to get through quickly. Some of the plot points are very similar to other mystery/thrillers. But if you read too many of these types of books, you will see similarities. Overall, another great book from Kate Alice Marshall.

First, I’m going to warn you that I’m in the minority regarding thoughts on this book/audiobook, so read this as one reviewer's thoughts. It may be the perfect book for you.

It takes a special book or audiobook, to move at a slow pace and still hold my attention. In the case of A KILLING COLD, it plodded along extremely slowly, but I kept listening in the hopes that the last of the book would pick up. Not-so-much.

The dual timeline tended to bog down an already slow story. It didn't always move the story ahead and at times became repetitive.

Certain clues didn’t feel necessary to be given multiple ways, especially, when specific facts were easy to put together.

And the ending, well, that was a game of spin the bottle. He did it! No. Okay, that guy did it! No? Well, spin the bottle again. Seriously, you’ll have to read the book to understand what I’m talking about. Some might call these exciting twists, but I didn't.

WHAT I LIKED
The location: a gothic, isolated, winter setting
The Locked Room type of mystery
The occasional suspenseful scenes

The narrator did a decent job of trying to breathe life into this story, but it just didn’t work. I think I’ve become a bit spoiled by so many excellent narrators who can give each character a unique voice.

I had hoped this would be an audiobook that I’d fall in love with, but I’m sorry to say it just didn’t work for me.

This was a fun and pretty quick thriller. The narrator did a great job. I enjoyed the isolated snowy landscape. I guessed a few of the twists, but I kept reading because I wanted to see if I was right. There were tons of red herrings at the end. But for all the twists and turns, the ending was a little flat.

A classic story of a girl (Theodora) meets a boy (Connor), they fall in love, & he brings her home to meet his family. . . at a secluded over the top mountain retreat the family gathers at during the holidays. There is no cell service, there are locked cabins no one enters and everyone seems to be hiding something, including Theodora (aka Theo).

I flew through this novel! Kate Alice Marshall did an incredible job setting the scene and creating an atmosphere of tension, I could envision the remote mountain retreat clearly, the characters and the winter storm. It was especially fun to read this one in February in MN!

The suspense and tension of this psychological thriller kept me engaged throughout the novel. I found the complicated family dynamics to be believable and grabbed my attention 👀🍿 I enjoyed the snipers of Theo's memory mixed into the storyline of present day, it built the tension more. I did guess the ending but I've also read a lot of thriller/suspense lately but that did not take away from how well written the novel is and the well developed characters and plot line.

Kate Alice Marshall had written another engrossing thriller. This was super suspenseful and moved quickly. I was very emersed while reading and felt like I was on the estate with the characters. I went between listening and reading and would recommend either format but the audio is narrated by the fabulous Karissa Vacker. While I did guess many of the ending surprises, I found this to be an enjoyable read.

Theodora Scott invited to her wealthy fiance’s family retreat, realizes they are hiding a terrible secret. She receives a note telling her to stay away from Connor, her fiance. But secrets come to the surface, and she realizes she has been here before.

Faced-paced, twisty, and interesting, A Killing Cold is Kate Alice Marshall at her best.

This book kept me wanting more!

Listening through the book there were so many ups and downs and moments of frustration. The suspense kept me wanting more and I rushed to finish it!

From the second Theo finds a childhood photo of herself and Liam, I knew it was going to be bad and I wanted nothing more than her to tell Connor. Of course that didn’t happen and the moment passed. As we carry on through the story line I was surprised at a few twists and turns. The biggest being Alexis was the one to shoot Mallory, but also that Magnus was the one who actually killed her! I was also pretty surprised that Connor really didn’t know who Theo was as he pursued her.

It enjoyed the storyline that they found each other naturally and that they had rekindled something that started back when they were both kids. The character building around Trevor also had me pegging her for the bad guy, but instead he’s just misunderstood.

The only thing I wish we would’ve gotten was a bit more clarity on what exactly was Theo’s decision in the end. We know she didn’t accept Magnus’ deal, but we don’t know exactly what she did decide to do. Also what happened to Vance? Questions I would’ve liked to have had more insight, but nevertheless a good ending! I’d definitely read more by this author.

A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall is a tense and atmospheric thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. The story follows Theodora Scott, who, after falling for the wealthy and charming Connor Dalton, is invited to his family’s isolated winter retreat, Idlewood. However, what should have been a chance to win over Connor’s skeptical relatives quickly turns into a chilling nightmare.

As Theo becomes increasingly unsettled by the strange messages and the haunting feeling that she has been at Idlewood before, her discovery of an old photo of herself as a child at the retreat shatters her sense of reality. With fragmented memories starting to resurface, Theo uncovers shocking secrets about her past—and the dangerous lengths the Dalton family will go to keep those secrets buried.

The author skillfully blends psychological suspense with a haunting setting, creating an atmosphere of isolation and dread. Theo’s journey of self-discovery and the growing sense of danger make this a captivating and fast-paced read. With its dark secrets, twisted family dynamics, and unexpected twists, A Killing Cold is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers.

A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall is a winter thriller to read or listen to somewhere cozy. I received an advanced reader copy of the audiobook narrated by Karissa Vacker through NetGalley. Theo Scott is accompanying her recent fiance Connor Dalton to his family’s winter retreat. Connor comes from a privileged background while Theo has grown up as an adopted daughter to a frugal, fundamentalist family. She has no clear memories before the age of four, but has a recurring nightmare that haunts her regularly. Soon after arriving to Idlewood, the Dalton family’s winter retreat, memories begin to surface and the puzzle pieces of her past start to come together. The narration and pacing of the story make this a quick read as you discover the Dalton family secrets along with Theo. I guessed some of the twists, but there was one at the end I was not expecting. I rate it a 3.5 as a solid thriller that kept me listening. Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for giving me the opportunity to listen and give my honest review.

Excellent audiobook! The story was never boring and it rarely slowed down. I had no idea where the next twist came from. That’s what I enjoy about a thriller, when it keeps me guessing…. A very rare feat, because I’m that reader who figure things out way before the ending. Not this time. A Killing Cold is a fantastic read for lovers of a well done thriller.

I have to start by saying I'm having very mixed thoughts on this audiobook. There is a scene in the first few pages that just gutted me and changed my entire listening experience.

I will be completely honest I almost stopped listening. When it comes to animals in pain, or that are needlessly hurt in books or audiobooks.

Now I realize this is totally my issue, but it did change my experience, and I couldn't get some of the phrases out of my head no matter how much I tried.

All of that being said, this audiobook is really, really good; the story is phenomenal, and the characters are engaging and make you root for them. Theo, not knowing who she really is or where she comes from, made for a truly fascinating character that I enjoyed reading.

The Narrator was really great to listen to, and she almost made me forget the parts of this story that took my breath away (in a not-so-great way) and somehow still made me want to listen to more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an advance copy of this Audio Book. I have voluntarily listened to it, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

What to expect:
❄️Locked room-ish mystery
❄️Family drama
❄️Lots of hidden family secrets
❄️Not sure who yo trust or who’s telling the truth

Audiobook: I really enjoyed this narrator. She has a great voice that was engaging and kept me invested in the story she told.

My thoughts: I enjoyed this book in that I was invested in figuring out what was going on and what had happened in the past. I didn’t know who to trust! The atmospheric setting of a remote mountain lodge in winter was the perfect backdrop for this story.

Six months ago, Connor Dalton and Theo Scott were inseparable. Connor invites Theo to his family’s winter retreat at Idlewood to introduce her to his family. Upon their arrival, Connor’s family is anything but warm and they all seem to be hiding something. Sadly, Theo doesn’t think this is going to be the relaxing vacation she thought it would be. During the stay, secrets and lies start to unravel, causing chaos.

<i>A Killing Cold</i> was my December Book of the Month pick, and I was super excited when I also had the chance to listen to the audiobook. The narrator, Karissa Vacker, voiced every character perfectly! I also enjoyed <i>What Lies in the Woods</i>, so I had no doubt <i>A Killing Cold</i> would be a great read too.

I was on the edge of my seat listening to this audiobook. Once Theo figured out who she was and how she fit into the Dalton family, my mind was blown at all the twists and turns she endured.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Kate Alice Marshall for the audiobook. All opinions are my own.

This winter thriller is out in the world today! Thank you @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for sharing early digital and audio copies with me!

Summary: When Theodora Scott met Connor, a wealthy, charming 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. Shortly after arriving, Theo realizes the Dalton’s are hiding a terrible secret… and that she’s been to Idlewood before.

It takes a lot for me to LOVE a thriller, and I LOVED this one. I was constantly trying to figure out the Dalton’s’ secrets and which of the characters could be trusted. Idlewood was the perfect setting with its isolated cabins, dark woods and of course, a snowstorm. This is a winter thriller I’ll definitely be recommending to others!

I enjoyed this thriller a lot! It kept me guessing throughout and I enjoyed all the twists and turns. I also think the narrator did a good job differentiating between the characters. I look forward to reading more by this author in the future!

Kate Marshall has the skills to pull readers into the story as she builds the tension into an explosion waiting to happen. As Theo builds her relationship with Connor, she must work through her interactions with his wealthy family. The family is together at Idlewood, but Theo feels like she's been here before. This is an excellent thriller brought to life by Karrisa Vacker's narration.
Don't try to multitask while listening to A KILLING COLD. I tried but kept having to stop and rewind to check the story. Loved it!!!!

3.5⭐️ I went back and forth on this rating and ultimately decided to round up since I listened to this book in one day and pretty much in one sitting. I was entertained and motivated to listen to this quickly. For starters, I must give high praise to the audiobook narrator, Karissa Vacker, she is truly talented and kept this story moving at a lightening pace. I was able to listen to this at 1.95x and never did it feel like it was too fast. Also, her man voice is actually one of the most tolerable out there.

The story is a pretty widely used trope, secluded wintery/mountain setting on sprawling mansion of the uber wealthy where the family gathers for the holidays and everyone has secrets and the outsider invited is in danger. That’s exactly where this story starts, Theo (Theodora) is invited to her new fiancées family mountain retreat but she gets sinister messages that she needs to get away and she of course falls deeper down the rabbit hole of secrets. Again, this was very fast paced and I didn’t have time to over think this one, I enjoyed all the twists and turns of the story. Never overly shocking but still fun. All of the timelines, stories and characters were easy to digest and follow. Some parts were predictable but I do read a lot of thrillers, overall I enjoyed this one from start to finish with a satisfying ending. It reminded me a bit of The Family Game, Ready or Not the movie and all those other little Knives Out type wealthy locked room stories, they are fun if you take them at face value entertainment. This story won’t stay with me forever but I had a fun day listening.

Thank you to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for my honest review. This book is out now (2/4/25). #macaudio2025

Theodora Scott had no idea what she was getting into when she fell in love with wealthy, charming Conner Dalton. His family is one of the most influential in the country and when he brings her to meet them at their isolated family retreat, Idlewood, it’s clear they’re not thrilled about the couple’s fast engagement. But Theo has other things to worry about. She had a traumatic childhood, and barely remembers anything from her early years, but things start coming back to her at Idlewood and she has a sneaking suspicion she may have been there before. As she begins to piece together her past, she realizes that someone in the Dalton family has a chilling secret and Theo must figure out who she can trust.
The thing about Marshall’s books that I appreciate the most is the way she builds in twist after twist in her novels. Sure, you may guess some of them but there are always more coming and I never figure out exactly where things are going to end up. This is the perfect book to read in the middle of winter snuggled up in a blanket. I found it impossible to put down.

I think the theme of a wealthy family being able to get away with anything resonated for me at a slightly higher frequency than it might have a couple of months ago. I loved Theo and her commitment to finding out the truth, and, as I ripped through the pages, I was dying to see if she could win against the powerful Dalton family. And I’m also always a sucker for questioning what brought two people together and this book explores that in a really fun way.

Karissa Vacker narrates, so the audiobook is fabulous. I love listening to her and I think she has a quality that suits thrillers particularly well. I would absolutely recommend this audiobook to anyone looking for a good, tangled family mystery.

Kate Alice Marshall always writes books I enjoy reading. This wasn’t my favorite of hers but still a fun read and I will continue to read whatever she puts out!

I loved the setting, in an isolated winter lodge, and the ‘trapped’ room feel of this books. I also loved our FMC and was rooting for her the entire time. The narrator did a great job of bringing her to life. The second part of the book dragged for me and there were a few too many coincidences/twists. Overall I was invested in how this would end and wanted to keep reading it.

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