Author Kate Alice Marshall is a pro at creating gripping, terrifying, and mysterious thrillers, her newest is no exception. Wealth, winter, and weddings combine for an intriguing plot as Theo enters the family's retreat for the first time. With no memories of her childhood, some warning texts, and odd memories resurfacing, Marshall quickly draws us in.

I requested this because it was heavily recommended but it just didn't do it for me. I didn't like the characters and I found it dull and one-dimensional. The big secret seemed far fetched too.

This was a good popcorn thriller. I wasn't sure about it early on but the pace really picked up about 1/3 way in and I read to the end in one sitting.

If a remote setting in winter and a wealthy family with issues are your thing you'll want to check out A Killing Cold. I really enjoyed it!

Narration: Karissa Vacker's performance is perfection. I love how she voices female and especially male characters.
Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for allowing me early access to the Audiobook in exchange for my opinion. 3.5 stars

This is the third book I read by this author and I absolutely loved it just like the other two books. I love Kate Alice Marshall's way of telling a story which grabs the reader's attention from the beginning.
The story follows Theo who is recently engaged to Connor. Connor invites her to his family's cabin for a winter retreat. Theo has her concerns about going because Connor's family is very wealthy and he had warned her that it is important to seek their approval, especially his grandparents approval.
Upon her arrival strange this start to happen, texts warning her to stay away, family acting secretive and she experiences deja vu. She has a feeling that she has been on this property before and we start learning part of Theo's past.
There are many twists and turn once Theo starts remembering her past. She doesn't know who she can trust in this family or if she can even trust the man she loves.
I love books that take place in secluded areas and this one did not disappoint.

Regarding the narrator, let me just say that anything narrated by Karissa Vacker is amazing!!! She is one of my favorite narrators so if you listen to audiobooks don't pass this one up!

Thank you Netgalley and MacMillon Audio. All opinions are my own.

Kate Alice Marshall’s A Killing Cold is an enthralling blend of psychological suspense and atmospheric mystery. Set in the icy isolation of Idlewood, the Dalton family’s luxurious winter retreat, this novel pulls readers into a tangled web of love, secrets, and danger.

Theodora Scott, our protagonist, is relatable and compelling—a woman swept into a whirlwind romance with Connor Dalton, only to discover that the powerful Dalton family harbors dark secrets. From the moment Theo arrives at Idlewood, Marshall builds a sense of foreboding with vivid descriptions of the snowbound retreat and its eerie isolation. As Theo grapples with menacing messages, mysterious footprints, and a shocking photograph that ties her past to Idlewood, the suspense tightens like a noose.

Marshall excels at pacing, keeping the twists coming while giving readers time to unpack Theo’s fragmented memories and piece together the Daltons’ sinister motivations. The novel’s strength lies in its ability to balance emotional stakes with the creeping dread of discovery, making readers feel both Theo’s vulnerability and her determination to uncover the truth.

While the central mystery is compelling, some plot points feel slightly familiar to fans of the genre, and the resolution, though satisfying, leans on well-worn tropes. However, Marshall’s atmospheric writing and Theo’s emotional journey elevate the story, delivering a tense and immersive experience.

For fans of psychological thrillers with a gothic edge, A Killing Cold is a must-read. It’s a chilling reminder that the past doesn’t stay buried—and that some secrets are worth killing for.

Another slam dunk from Kate Alice Marshall in this one! While we have definitely all read these types of stories before, (girl gets engaged/goes off to fiance's private family home/things are not as they seem), Marshall delivers with well painted characters that keep you guessing as to who the deviants truly are. I received the audiobook ARC of this one, and the narration and delivery were supurb. This novel kept me engaged and I thoroughly enjoyed the ending, as well.

A quick engagement has Connor’s wealthy family concerned about Theo’s intentions so when they all get together it makes sense that they would begin asking her about her family, right? What Theo did not expect was for everything to be so familiar. Has she been here before? Has she met these people before?
This gripping novel will have you guessing until the end and trust me it is worth it. The audio narration by Karissa Vacker was gripping and propulsive. Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

This book was amazing! Theo meets Connor and while on vacation meeting his family for the first time after getting engaged Theo discovers his family has a lot to hide. There are secrets coming from every member of Connor's family as well as the secret's Theo is keeping about her past and who she really is.
While being at this isolated family retreat, Theo uncovers so many locked memories. This audiobook and narrator were amazing. Thanks, Net Galley for providing me with the copy to listen to. I was fully emersed into the story. Listening to the plot play out was great and I finished it in one day.

This was so good! There were certainly parts that were unrealistic, but it was such a fun ride. It kept me engaged the whole time wondering who was involved in the mystery and what part they played. I really enjoyed the way the story progressed and played out.

I listened to the audiobook which was narrated by Karissa Vacker and she did a fabulous job. I was able to listen for hours and get completely lost in the story. She was totally believable as our MC.

I've read several of Marshall's books now and I always find them to be well-written and entertaining. I can't wait to see what she comes out with next. I think this is the third audio I've listened to that was written by Marshall and narrated by Vacker. They make a great team and I'm hoping to listen to more by the duo.

This might be my favorite Kate Alice Marshall yet. The story follows a woman who accepts an invitation to her wealthy fiancé's family retreat, only to discover that she's been there before—a fact that should be impossible given her history. As she arrives at the secluded winter lodge, she must confront not only her mysterious connection to this place but also her own fractured past as an adopted child with no memory of her biological family. Marshall's strength lies in her ability to build tension like layers of ice, each chapter adding another crystalline sheet of suspense. The pace starts strong and intensifies dramatically in the final quarter, creating a reading experience that's both exhausting and exhilarating, I listened to the whole thing in two days. The author masterfully employs foreshadowing and the gradual unlocking of blocked memories to keep readers perched on the edge of their seats. The winter setting isn't just backdrop—it's practically a character itself, with the isolation and bitter cold serving as perfect metaphors for the protagonist's psychological journey. The snow that piles up outside mirrors the mounting lies and secrets within the lodge, stacking higher and higher as the story progresses.The family drama aspect of the novel is particularly well-executed, think Catherine Steadman’s “The Family Game”. Rather than relying on cheap thrills or shock value, Marshall delves deep into the complexities of family relationships, both chosen and biological. The result is a richer, more nuanced thriller that satisfies on both an emotional and intellectual level. Each revelation is carefully timed, each twist earned through meticulous groundwork laid in earlier chapters. The final quarter of the book delivers a series of stunning revelations that will have readers reassessing everything they thought they knew. Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advance listener copy.

Rating: 3.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you Flatiron Publishing for sending me this physical ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I also received an audiobook from NetGalley, thank you!
Pub Date: 2/4/25

I’m a fan of Marshall’s writing style and thrillers.
This one had a good setting and plot.
Characters were easy to follow and keep up with.
The twists were good, but not jaw dropping.
The final twist was equally as decent but not profound.

Worth the read.
Would recommend for a snowy retreat and a warm fireplace with wine or hot chocolate.

I was sucked in from the start with this thriller, waiting to see what was really going on in the lives of Connor and Theo. How did they get together and how were things going to go finally meeting the family? There were hints it wasn't all it appeared to be on the surface, and that definitely proves to be true. As the book went on, however, these coincidences and happenstances just continued to seem too much. I was frantically searching for someone to like or root for in the midst of all the drama, and never really could. It is an enjoyable read that I had no trouble sticking with, but the farfetched storyline got away from me a little too much. I did think the narrator did a pretty good job with the voices, but a multicast might have made it even more engaging.
Thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for this ARC. All opinions are mine.

Oh, this was a tough read! Watch for content warnings, because whenever children are involved, I find it especially difficulty.
Overall, great suspense, SO much creep-factor, and a lot of twists I didn't see coming!

The plot that keeps on giving! This was fast paced and had several nice plot twists towards the end I didn’t see coming. Overall pretty entertaining!

While I do love Karissa Vacker as a narrator, I had a bit of hard time staying engaged during some parts and ended up starting a handful of chapters over.

Thank you Macmillan Audio & NetGalley for my ALC of this winter thriller!

"A woman invited to her wealthy fiance’s family retreat realizes they are hiding a terrible secret—and that she’s been there before."

They have secrets, but does she. However, she (Theo) is having trouble clearing recalling these childhood memories with only bits and pieces coming back to her as her mother died when she was very young and she was then adopted. Now, engaged to the most wonderful man (she thinks) is meeting his family and receiving anonymous messages telling her to stay away, things aren't what she thinks.

This story kept me intrigued enough to listen to all of it in a day!

My thanks to Net Galley, FlatIron Books, and Macmillian Audio for an advanced copy of this audio book.

Theodora (Theo) Scott thinks she has met the man of her dreams when Connor Dalton comes into her life. Now, six months later the two are engaged and Connor is taking her to his family’s winter vacation compound Idlewood. Theo, an orphan, is nervous enough to meet the prestigious Dalton family, but when she starts receiving threatening text messages, she becomes deeply concerned for her own well being. When Theo becomes acquainted with the family, she sees that all is not as it seems and everyone is acting suspiciously. As the week progresses, Theo comes across clues that seem to indicate she may have been to Idlewood before, but has no memory of it. Will she find out the secrets that the Dalton’s are hiding? Or will she end up loosing everything, including her life trying?

Great audiobook narration. The narrator's regular tone is great, but when she is reading paragraphs from the younger version of her or going through flashbacks, she makes her voice a little more high pitched which I thought was great. It makes it easier to understanding what is happening and who is talking. I also thought her male voices were pretty good!

As for the plot and actual story, meh. It was a cookie cutter/popcorn thriller that I will forget quicker than it took me to read it. It felt too similar to other thriller/mystery novels. If you are not a fan of the rich people doing bad things trope, I would stay away from this one. It had some nastyyyy male characters in it. Great setting/atmosphere but just kinda blah.

4/5 stars for the audio narration
2/5 stars for the story/plot

Thank you NetGalley for the audiobook. This book was intense and I loved it. So many twists and turns and not at all who I expected! I loved this book.

I have enjoyed everything I’ve read by Marshall so far and this book was no exception. The audiobook was entertaining and the narrator was pleasing to listen to. I highly recommend this book to others!

I’m absolutely floored by how much I enjoyed A Killing Cold. With jaw-dropping twists, shocking curveballs, and a fast-paced, tension-fueled plot, this book was impossible to put down. The cold, isolated setting paired with layers of domestic suspense and family drama created the perfect storm for an unforgettable thriller.

The audiobook, narrated by Karissa Vacker, was phenomenal—her distinct character voices and skillful delivery elevated the story's intensity. While the Dalton family’s snobbish and soulless demeanor made them hard to like (likely by design), I found Theodora (Theo) and her fiancé, Connor, to be engaging and relatable. Overall, this was a brilliantly crafted, suspenseful read that kept me hooked from beginning to end.

I received a free advanced listeners' copy of this book from Macmillan Audio and NetGalley. I am voluntarily leaving my review; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

** Note, when the book is released, I will post my review on Amazon as well (unable to prior to release) **