A fast-paced psychological thriller that I could not put down. I love stories about dysfunctional families and this one is right up there with the best of them. Theo (Theodora) and Connor have a quick engagement and decide to meet up with his family at their family compound. Some of the events that happened towards the end of the book felt far-fetched. There were some unexpected twists that made the story fun. The why behind everyone’s actions is what makes a good book great. There were so many secrets that Connor’s entire family kept from the outside world and from each other. This was a fun read that kept me on my toes. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was fantastic, I really felt like I was in Theo’s head the entire time.

4.5 Stars
Theodora “Theo” Scott is meeting her fiancé’s family for the first time at their private getaway nestled in a picturesque mountain setting. She’s a ball of nerves hoping to win their approval and hoping they won’t look too closely at her past. However, Theo can’t shake the feeling that she’s been to Idlewood before. When she hears about the tragic death of Connor’s father, memories start to shake loose.

Being at Idlewood, a remote family retreat, hard to get to and without cell service made it a sort of “locked room” kind of mystery! Very atmospheric with a sinister undercurrent!

I kept wondering who could be trusted! One minute I’d think this character is safe and the next not-so-much. Even Theo had her secrets, which were gradually revealed. I liked her and was rooting for her! I was outraged over her past, but happily, Theo wasn’t one to just take it lying down!

Oooh, this got twisty in the end, a surprise around every corner! Was some of it over-the-top? Yes. Was it an utterly fun thrill ride even so? Definitely! I listened to this in one sitting, not being able to stop! I had to know how it all turned out!

Karissa Vacker is one of my favorite audio narrators and she nailed the performance of both male and female characters! A definite recommend!

AHHH! my first audiobook, lol. I liked the narration a lot. I have only read…with my eyes? never my ear and I was truly surprised how easy the narration was. I was listening while working from home and playing mobile games.

I really enjoyed it. on to my actual review.

I liked it. but I didn’t like it enough. I will always be a late Kate Alice Marshall stan and everything she puts out, I WILL be reading of course but this wasn’t a stand out of her work.

It was easy to fly through but I didn’t connect with the characters at all. I didn’t care about any of them, I was drawn in.

I loved the setting, a snowy mountain, isolated, no cell service, that’s my thing but I just couldn’t care less about these characters especially the main character and her love interest. I was like..you guys like each other frl? I didn’t feel their chemistry.

But I do love the author’s book and will always pick up one up when she releases. I don’t think the story was bad but maybe just not for me. Loved the audio version though!

From the moment Theo Scott steps into the secluded winter retreat of the Dalton family, the tension begins to mount, creating a palpable sense of unease that lingers throughout the novel.

The story unfolds with a gripping hook: Theo, newly engaged to the charming Connor Dalton, must navigate the judgment of his powerful family while reckoning with disturbing messages and a creeping sense that she's been to this place before. As Marshall expertly peels back the layers of Theo’s past, readers are taken on a wild ride filled with twists and chilling revelations.

Marshall’s strength lies in crafting vivid, wintry settings that heighten the suspense, making Idlewood as much a character as any member of the Dalton family. The isolation of the retreat adds to the claustrophobic atmosphere, amplifying every threat, from footprints in the snow to long-buried secrets.

The only reason this isn't a full five-star read is that some plot elements veer slightly into predictable territory, particularly toward the climax. A few characters, especially within the Dalton family, felt underdeveloped, leaving their motivations less compelling than Theo’s gripping narrative arc.

Overall, A Killing Cold is a chilling, page-turning thriller perfect for fans of The Guest List and The Last House on Needless Street. With its fast pace, rich atmosphere, and strong protagonist, it’s a must-read for anyone who loves a dark, wintry mystery with a shocking secret at its core.

This book has the unfortunate circumstance of being read after a month full of incredible stories.

If you’re looking for an eerie thriller, A Killing Cold will definitely scratch that itch. Secrets, twists, and suspense aplenty — many readers will enjoy Kate Alice Marshall’s latest release.

As for me, I liked it. The beginning sucked me into the story. Though, I feel I may have lost interest if I hadn’t listened to this in audio. Karissa Vacker is one of my favorite narrators, and she does an excellent job.

I recommend reading during the cold wintry months for peak vibes, and the audio is great!

My mood and heart just weren’t fully in it for this one.

My rating: 3.75⭐️

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. This story sucked me in from the very beginning. I couldn't put it down nor did I know where it was going to go next. Theo and Connor were engaged after a whirlwind romance, and they're now embarking on a two-week Christmas visit to his family's remote mountain retreat, where she'll meet Connor's family for the first time. This book has everything, rich people behaving badly, secrets, murder. A very big yes for me!

From the very first page, A Killing Cold had me hooked, and I couldn’t put it down - I finished it in a day! This twisty, atmospheric thriller is packed with tension, and jaw-dropping reveals that kept me on the edge of my seat.

Theo’s journey to uncover the dark truth about her fiancé’s family (and her own past) was absolutely gripping. The isolated winter setting added the perfect layer of suspense, making every shadow and every footprint in the snow feel ominous. And those plot twists? Perfection. Just when I thought I had things figured out, the story threw me for another loop!

I did a dual read (audio + physical), and I have to say - Karissa Vacker’s narration was phenomenal. Her voice truly brought the characters and eerie atmosphere to life, making the experience even more immersive.

This was my first book by Kate Alice Marshall, but it definitely won’t be my last! If you love thrillers with nonstop action, an unreliable past, and a chilling setting, A Killing Cold needs to be on your tbr!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an ALC of this title in exchange for my honest review!

📚 #BOOKREVIEW 📚
A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Pages: 294 / Genre: Mysteries & Thrillers
Audiobook Narrator: Karissa Vacker
Duration: 9 hours 41 minutes
Release Date: February 4, 2025
🥳#HappyPubDay!🎉

Newly engaged Theodora Scott is off to meet her fiancé’s wealthy family at their isolated winter retreat. She’s especially nervous about making a good impression on this influential family because she herself is estranged from her adopted parents and has no memory of her biological family or even her real name. But as she meets each family member and spends time at their isolated winter retreat, her memories start coming back to her, releasing long-hidden secrets.

This was a thrilling mystery with some nice twists. I felt like there were too many similar relatives though, making it hard to keep track. But Karissa Vacker did an excellent job narrating each character nonetheless.

Thank you, @Macmillan.Audio and @NetGalley for my gifted copy.

Set at Idlewood, a private estate on a secluded mountain, Theo gets to meet her new fiance's wealthy family for the first time for Christmas; but a cheery holiday welcome is certainly not what she gets.
We follow Theodora Scott, who was adopted at a young age after a traumatic event. Because of this, she does not remember her real name or any memories of the first part of her life. Theo's history is clouded in mystery from not just the reader, but from herself as well. But all of this changes when she finds a baby picture of herself at one of the cabins at Idlewood. We then delve into a mysterious web of relationships trying to uncover what happened to her and her mother and why she can't remember her past, and why Idlewood is starting to become strikingly familiar.
Each of the characters in this novel are individual and memorable, which is quite a feat considering the depth of intertwined relationships and dynamics. The mystery kept me hooked and the weaving of timelines was done very well. The highlight of the novel was definitely the mastery of the setting. Kate Alice Marshall was able to fully immerse me into the wintery setting in such a striking way - I truly felt like I was at risk of hypothermia when reading portions of the novel.
Overall, this was a super fun winter mystery thriller that I would recommend broadly.
4 stars

This is a perfect thriller for a winter read! We follow Theodora (Theo) Scott, a girl in her mid-twenties who is freshly engaged to Connor Dalton and currently spending 2 weeks at his family’s lodge, with the entire family. Theo and Connor have only been dating for a few months, and Theo is desperate to keep her personal history a secret from Connor and his family. But the Daltons are a powerful and wealthy family, and they’re not going to let just anyone join their ranks.
But Theo has other things to worry about. Like the foreboding texts warning her to stay away from the family. The footsteps outside their cabin’s window, where someone clearly watched her and Connor. An abandoned cabin that no one talks about. The mysterious whispered conversations the family has about Theo when she’s not in the room. And why it all seems familiar.
The pacing for this book had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. As we bounce between Theo’s current predicament, her childhood memories, and the secret she’s trying to keep, the tension gets higher and higher. As we learn more about each of the Daltons, there’s more questions than answers, and it seems like none of them should be trusted.
This has definitely become my favorite Kate Alice Marshall book, and I think it’s a perfect thriller! The cast is fascinating, with every character hiding their fair share of secrets. The main character, Theo, acknowledges that she’s a very unreliable narrator, leaving the reader with no one to wholly believe. The hostile environment of an isolated lodge that only the family can access is terrifying without any context, but becomes claustrophobic as the plot presses on.
I’d recommend this to anyone looking for a classic psychological thriller or to anyone looking to break out of a reading slump. And if you’re very specifically looking for a thriller in a winter setting, this is a perfect pick!
Thanks to Netgalley and Flatiron Books for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

If you're looking for a spooky locked room atmospheric thriller, look no further! I loved the isolated winter lodge vibes, complete with the moneyed soon to be in-laws who do not seem to overly approve of you. the narrator was fabulous, but I did find myself getting a little confused as we were moving through characters so quickly with not a ton of character development. I really enjoyed the main character, Theo Scott's peek into her past and how it is now affecting her present.

Overall a solid read!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC, all opinions are my own

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.

As soon as they arrive things don't seem right and there's a really strong sense of foreboding. Clearly everyone is hiding something and this powerful family doesn't want any of those secrets to come to light. Theo also had no memories of her early childhood, that is until she stumbles upon a deserted cabin on the property where she finds a picture and memories start to surface. This one was full of so many twists and turns and I really didn't see where it was going. It was a perfect Winter read, with the snowy lodge and cabin setting. Especially after a big snow storm traps everyone there, this really bumps up the tension, keeping me on the edge of my seat.

The audiobook narration was great as always with Karissa Vacker, she's one of my favorites. Thank you to @netgalley and @macmillanaudio for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. Out today, 02/04/2025.

HAPPY PUB DAYYYYY!!!!!

I freaking LOVE Kate Alice Marshall's stories, so I was so grateful when NetGalley and Macmillan Audio granted me early release copies of her newest read, out today!!!

Marshall has this way of really sucking you into her stories. The character development, the plot lines, the twists and the shocks are just phenomenal. She can write no wrong in my eyes!

The narrator did a great job bringing these words to life as well. I loved being able to really feel the emotion and be even more drawn into this story.

While this story did have a little slower pace at times and I did guess some of the twists, I still suggest you give it a read! Always a great story from Marshall!

As much as I enjoyed having Karissa Vacker read me this new release, I am finding it to be a hot mess of a plot. That is obviously a me problem as so many have loved this one.

Here are three things I liked:

🎧Narration by Karissa Vacker was top notch as I knew it would be.

🐕Duchess is a faithful companion (a black lab?) who recognizes the true victim.

👏The ending was quite well done, it was just so messy getting there!

I know I am an outlier on this one. The book is aptly named. You will feel the chill of the mountains around the Dalton family compound.

Happy Publication Day! Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was the perfect winter thriller to pick up in January! Theodora Scott is an outsider. She was adopted at a young age and doesn't remember much about her life before adoption. She was raised by a dysfunctional, abusive family. Theo is now an adult and quickly engaged to Connor Dalton, a member of a powerful and wealthy family. Connor has decided to take Theo to the family's mountain retreat for Christmas to meet everyone. Will they accept Theo into the family?

Through many twists and turns, you find out that things on the mountain are not as they seem. Everyone has a secret. Theo discovers that this isn't the first time she's been on the mountain and that somebody there knows all about her past and is warning her to run while she still can. Are they out to get her or trying to save her? Does Connor know who she really is?

This thriller was fast paced, full of tension, untrustworthy characters, and atmospheric pressure. The author did a fantastic job of making you suspect literally EVERYONE! Even at the very end, I wasn't sure that I had every little detail figured out until it was explicitly revealed. I did like that everything was wrapped up at the end neatly. The narration was fantastic as well! I definitely recommend checking this one out!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC!

TW/CW: Language, drinking, toxic family relationships, death of parent, anxiety, sex, abusive relationship, toxic relationships, sexual assault, blood, violence]

*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
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.Theo has almost no recollection of her earliest years, but now she begins to piece together the fragments of her memories. Someone here has a shocking secret that they will do anything to keep hidden, and Theo is in terrible danger. Because the Daltons do not lose, and discovering what happened at Idlewood may cost Theo everything.
Release Date: February 4th, 2025
Genre: Mystery
Pages: 304
Rating: ⭐

What I Liked:
1. Very atmospheric
2. Winter/snow setting

What I Didn't Like:
1. Boring
2. Paint by numbers thriller/mystery
3. Hate the characters - all feel basic

Overall Thoughts:
{{DISCLAIMER: I WRITE MY REVIEW AS I READ}}

I'm convinced that all rich people are written the same way. Very bland characters so far.

Come on like Connor didn't see her - she's in a bright orange vest!

Why is Theo saying they won't let her go when Rose was literally paying her to leave. She even finds out that the grandfather was sending her warnings to leave.

Nick that had her teddy is the one that murdered her mother and killed the Liam. oh it was Alexis.

Yep let's have sex with everything going on right now lol

Love that Connor is able to remember at 7 years old a conversation with a 5 year old that je mentioned that she should move to LA and then this 5 year old talking about school books.

Haha why does she keep coming back to these people to explain what they already know!? They have tried to kill her over and over. This is ridiculous.

I find it funny how far Connor would side with Theo over his own family for a woman he has known for a few months. Money sticks together.

Final Thoughts:
Unsufferable characters in a plot that feels like it's paint by numbers. I have read this plot so many times.

IG | Blog

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A Killing Cold starts out as a darkly atmospheric thriller as Theodora Scott travels with her fiancé Connor to an isolated winter retreat owned by his wealthy family. Even its name, Idlewood, sounds ominous. Then she receives some threatening messages and starts seeing things that look vaguely familiar. Theo also has some secrets in her past and we learn more about these at the same time as Theo does, through flashbacks.

There are so many twists to this story that I'm surprised it wasn't confusing, but it had a great flow and the characters were all really interesting, they just kept developing throughout the story which kept me guessing right up to the end

Karissa Vacker did a fantastic job of narrating the audiobook, portraying all the different characters in the story and keeping it suspenseful, she is one of my favourite narrators, especially for thrillers!

Family drama. Lies. Deception. A repressed and traumatic past… With all of the twists and turns, this book is nothing short of captivating. The nonlinear time line is a nice little surprise that kept me on my toes but made sense for the story - drawing together the past and present. Furthermore, the remote cabin in the dead of winter gave that suspenseful locked room feeling. Throughout the book, Kate Alice Marshall really built the characters personalities to the point where I loved to hate some of them. She made me question my own thoughts and if I could trust what I was being told. A Killing Cold had many twists and turns I almost got whiplash!

The audio production by Karissa Vacker was on point. She effortlessly gave each character their own voice and personality.

This is an audiobook that I would definitely listen to again (maybe during a snow storm to set the mood).

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book brought all the creepy vibes, rich and powerful people, and an isolated setting. The backstory was tragic and honestly made me feel very sad...not my usual emotions during a thriller. I kept thinking it was so clear what had happened, but I never quite got the twists right. I do wish it was a little more atmospheric and winter-y, but definitely a solid thriller!

The audio narration was good - nothing unusual or standout, just solid narration.

I really enjoyed A Killing Cold. The story was full of twists, turns, secrets, lies and shocking reveals! I was constantly trying to figure out who was behind all the lies and secrets! Thank you Macmillan audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. Audio narration was very clear and easy to follow and I throughly enjoyed the narrator’s voice.