I was instantly sucked in by the suspense, and loved the snowy setting. No shocking twists, but it was still enjoyable.

I love a good thriller. I read a lot of them. But none have ever captured my attention the way A Killing Cold did. Did I pull an all nighter for this novel? Yes, and I'd do it again.

Newly engaged, Theo and Connor are headed to his family's lodge for a Christmas retreat. The Daltons are rich, like billionaire rich, and with that territory usually comes elegance, class, and decadence. But also secrets, lies, and corruption. Not the nicest bunch, Theo prepares herself to try and impress them all so that they might welcome her into the family with open arms. But acceptance won't be the only thing she finds at the lodge.

Firstly, I have to say that the narrator of the audiobook brought Theo to life for me. Told from her perspective, the reader shares in her confusion and anxiety. It brings a suffocating feeling of uncertainty and really makes you feel like you're right there with her throughout the story. Shoutout to Karissa Vacker.

At no point in time did I know which characters could be trusted, and almost every time I thought I knew something Theo didn't I was dead wrong. Forty, fifty, seventy percent in and you think you know where this is going? I can almost guarantee you don't. There are more twists and turns in this novel than there are on a rollercoaster, and they were done exceptionally well. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, and when the reveals came rolling in I was stunned over and over. It has always been astonishing to me the way authors like Kate Alice Marshall can create stories like this. Wrapped in mystery and suspense, everything plotted out perfectly to bring the novel to its climax while keeping the reader in the dark the entire time. Sometimes thrillers can overdo it with the foreshadowing, pointing out too much too soon and giving away its secrets. That did not happen here.

This book is full of characters that feel real, some that you'll root for, some you'll despise, and some you won't be sure about until the very end. While this is a suspenseful novel, there are also moments that made me truly empathize with what was happening to some of the characters. Hidden behind the unpredictable events that happen at the lodge is a story that made my heart ache.

I enjoyed What Lies in the Woods, but A Killing Cold is the book that put Kate Alice Marshall on my "if she writes it, I'm gonna buy it" list.

Publication date: February 4th, 2025.

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

When Theo joins her fiancé for his family's mountain retreat, secrets begin to unravel and blocked childhood memories begin to surface. How deep do the secrets run and who in the family is involved?

This was a twisty whodunit that had me suspicious of almost every character, with layered and surprising multitude of revelations. When I thought I had it figured out, more details came to light ripping apart my theory.

I really enjoyed this novel and am pleased I was able to listen to the audio format. Thanks to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to listen to the advanced copy.

A jaw dropping, twisted thriller with a sense of foreboding throughout. It's filled with secrets, lies, and a reveal I didn't expect.

This is my second book by Marshall, and so far, she hasn't disappointed me. Her writing is atmospheric. You can feel the bite of the cold and the crunch of the snow under your boots.

The secluded winter retreat gives you that isolated, locked door feel, and it worked well in this book.
There are guest cabins with cute names that make for a cozy setting, but nothing is as it appears.

We have an eccentric cast of characters, and among them are our ruthless, wealthy family. Think rich people behaving badly and a girl with an unknown past who may have a few secrets of her own.

I loved the moody Gothic vibe and the cat and mouse game through the story. It had me not knowing who to trust in that family.

I snagged the audiobook from Netgalley, and it was simply perfect for this type of novel. Narrated by the great @karrisavack, she brilliantly brought each character to life and added an additional layer of intrigue.

🌟🌟🌟🌟/5

The Killing Cold will be released February 4, 2025

Many thanks to Netgalley and Macmillian Audio for my gifted copy. My review was voluntary.

Great winter time thriller. While I do feel this book relied a little bit too much on coincidences, I was entertained the entire time. 3.5-3.75

Kate Alice Marshall does it again! Her adult thrillers have all been utterly compelling and gripping, and A Killing Cold continues that streak.

Theo doesn't remember anything about her childhood, but something about her fiancee Connor's family retreat in the woods feels strangely familiar to her. When she starts getting messages warning her away from Connor, Theo is unsure what to think or who to believe.

The atmospheric setting was absolute perfection here, with the isolated family retreat full of rustic cabins and plenty of surrounding wilderness. Just the perfect spot for a wintry mystery and some hidden secrets to come out...and come out they do! With twist upon twist, multiple truths are revealed out in the woods.

The story is full of dysfunctional family dynamics and characters you will love to hate, and I thought it was cleverly written and perfectly paced.

Narrator Karissa Vacker knocked it out of the park with her clear, concise narration. She tackles a ton of characters with ease and grace, leading to a wonderful audio experience.

Thank you to MacMillan Audio for the ALC. All opinions are my own.

I am a big fan of Kate Alice Marshall, and while A Killing Cold was compelling and thrilling, it wasn’t as shocking as What Lies in the Woods.

Theo has no memories from before she was adopted by a questionable family. Once she finally left, she never looked back… until she visits her wealthy fiancé’s family estate in the mountains. Of course it’s winter, and of course they get snowed in when escape is crucial (this is so overdone, but I was willing to overlook it because I knew Marshall would have some twists waiting for me!)

Memories start to return, and I can’t say more without soiling it. But it has a bit of everything. Generational wealth, secrets, lies, a twisted family dynamic, lesbians, and proof that dogs really are the best because they know what kind of people are good and who is rotten.

I listened to A Killing Cold on audio, and enjoyed the narrator and pace of the story. Definitely add this one to your winter reading list!

5/5 for the wintery and secluded setting but overall the book was just a like for me. It's possible I've just been reading too many thrillers with similar tropes (lost childhood memories, rich people behaving badly, mysterious in-law families, etc) because nothing really felt original about the plot. There are significant twists but unfortunately I think I wasn't engaged enough to feel shocked by them.

I know a lot of people loved the author's previous book, 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙇𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙨 and that one was just a like for me as well. So if you loved that one then you'll probably love this one too!
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Theo Scott has been brought to her rich fiancé's winter estate to meet the family. She has little to no memory of her childhood, and things get weird after she finds a photo of herself as a child in one of the cabins at the estate. She starts to think she may have been here before, and that her fiancé's family has long buried secrets...
•
🎧 No complaints about the narration! It was performed by Karissa Vacker and she's on my list of favorite narrators.

𝗣𝘂𝗯 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: 𝗙𝗲𝗯 𝟰, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱

Things I loved: the setting, the main couple, the dual timelines. Overall, this book was just good. It didn't quite catch me and took me a bit to finish.

Out of the three thrillers that I’ve read from this author, I have enjoyed this one the most. But this one will be my last because the books start off so good then fumble when it comes to the endings.

I was immediately intrigued with the mystery surrounding Theo and this family. The pacing was quick and had me wanting to pick it up and continue reading.

Then every thing became so convoluted and unnecessarily contrived. It was already far fetched that all this was happening to Theo but I didn’t care because I was entertained. Even the characters calls out the happenstance of the things happening in this plot.

But the twist on twist on twist was what really damped my enjoyment when everything gets revealed. It reminded me of the movie Clue when it goes through all the alternative endings. We do get a concrete resolution but it was so knotted, and twisted up that I didn’t care.

But yeah, still three stars. Because the book had me wanting to continue reading instead of DNF in spite of the ridiculousness.

Karissa did an amazing job narrating.

**Thanks to Macmillan Audio & NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review**

I knew I needed an advanced audiocopy when I heard Kate Alice Marshall had a new book! She is one of my favorite suspense writers with hits like What Lies in the Woods and No One Can Know! No One Can Know was one of my favorite books last year, and I think this book is even better! It was firing on all cylinders with interesting characters, an eerie setting, and a thrumming plot! This novel had me up until all hours of the night, kept me guessing who the killer was, and I finished it in one day! Plus, Karissa Vacker is one of my favorite narrators, so you definitely have to put this one on your TBR!

This was the PERFECT snowy day read! I devoured this book in under 24 hours. I had high expectations and was hooked from page one.

Connor and Theo are newly engaged. Connor is bringing Theo home to meet his wealthy family at their isolated winter estate, Idlewood. Once she arrives, Theo can’t seem to shake the feeling that this isn't the first time she has been to Idlewood. Theo begins to receive text messages telling her to leave and is oddly unwelcomed by Connor’s family.

Theo starts to piece together her childhood when she finds a photo of herself while at Idlewood.
Has she indeed been here before, who are these people and why does everyone have so many secrets?

This was a twisty ride! If you love family drama with a wintery and a snowed in setting- saddle up! It’s a wild ride!


5 Star read + 5 Star audio!

A big THANK YOU to NetGalley and MacMillion Audio!

Around eight years ago I tried an audiobook, and I decided it wasn’t my thing. Recently, I decided to give audio another chance because it is so popular, so surely I am missing something. Also, I just want SO BADLY to love it. This book, A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall is my second audiobook experience.

Theodora is newly engaged to Connor, and their lightning-fast courtship is a concern for Connor’s family because they are the elite and wealthy Daltons. Connor brings Theo to the family retreat, Idlewood, which is a large main lodge and a gaggle of cabins. Theo is already on edge before arriving after receiving an anonymous text telling her to stay away from Connor.

There is a whole cast of characters here within Clan Dalton that range from tolerable to staggeringly awful. This creates a good whodunit vibe when the real mystery kicks into overdrive. In a nutshell, there is one unused cabin, and the family is vague about the reason why, so Theo does some snooping and enters that cabin and finds evidence that she has been at Idlewood before as a young girl.

How is that possible? Who sent the warning text? Theo is adopted and doesn’t know who her birth parents are; could her presence at this lodge as a child tell her who she is? Is Theo in danger? Can Connor be trusted? Can anyone?

Idlewood would be at the bottom of my list of places I would want to hang out for a weekend. It is in the middle of nowhere in a place buried in snow. There is also a lot of ice, frozen cliffs, some very unfortunate deer, and cold that can freeze your face.

The setting here added to the ominous tone because if Theo is in danger, then the isolation and snow prevent a quick exit in a vehicle, and running in snow is a nonstarter for most people whose legs are not ten feet long or named Legolas of the Woodland Realm.

Theo didn’t pull me in right away, but boy, when she finally gets in her zone, she is a boss. There are quite a few twists and turns toward the end, really maybe a few too many, but it is fast-paced and engaging. I didn’t guess the culprit here, so my inner Miss Marple is frozen, but I love not being able to guess an ending.

Side Rant: I must have something wired in my brain that won’t let me enjoy a book on audio. I listen for ten minutes before realizing the last eight minutes were spent thinking about whether it will snow tonight, Whether I remembered to mail the gas bill payment, whether Food City has decent avocados, and so on. Then I have to go back and listen to the eight minutes of the book I just missed.

I will definitely check out more by this author and might even go back and read this again in its physical form to see if the audio factor changed my perceptions of the story in places where I couldn’t get past what I was hearing. For example:

I am not sure if the female narrator of Theo is also the one voicing Connor, but every time the voice of Connor was imitated, it sounded like a thirteen-year-old boy…. Or maybe a bit of a doofus. As Theo and Connor were having hot monkey sex, it was so distracting because I wanted to either cringe or laugh.

I do recommend this book to anyone looking for a twisty thriller. Thank you to NetGalley, Kate Alice Marshall, and Flatiron for this ARC. This book will be released in February of 2025.

Narration 5/5 ⭐️
Story 4.5/5 ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to review this advanced copy of A Killing Cold!

This narrator is one of my favorites. Her tones for each character is easy to follow and she does a good job of inflecting suspense at the right parts.

Kate Alice Marshall is quickly turning into an auto read author for me. Each one of her novels is better and better! I enjoyed this one- the story unfolded at a great pace and the characters were well developed. The twists and turns were also not completely obvious and I was kept guessing until the end!

This was quite the twisty thriller just when you think you've figured it out. Another twist happens and throws you down another way. This book kept me on the edge of my seat. I really enjoyed the writing and the narration was fantastic. This is my first book by the author and definitely not my last.

Kate Alice Marshall has written another gripping tale full of family drama and so so many twists and turns. I devoured the book as fast as I could because it just kept me wanting/needing to know more about Theo’s introduction to Connors quirky rich family. You become part of the story; I wanted to yell so many times, “don’t go in there” or “don’t trust him”. The characters are so real.
Kate Alice Marshall has such a fabulous writing style; she pulls you in on page one and won’t let you go until the last page.
This is a must read!!
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillian Audio for my advanced audio copy.

This book has a lot of coincidences, and it didn't have that "realistic" feel that some good books have. Despite this, I really enjoyed this book, and could put aside the coincidences that I didn't think could happen in real life to just enjoy the book.

I could definitely relate to the characters, being in over her head and not knowing where to turn in a "closed room" sort of mystery. Someone is killed a secluded retreat (in the winter!) and no one knows who the murderer is. There were some twists and turns at the end that I really enjoyed, and overall I would recommend this book, especially to a book group.

Thank you to the Author, Publisher and Net Galley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 rounded up! Started out very strong, loved the setting and premise of the story. Kept listening to see where story headed, but there were a few turns at the end that just felt like they were done for the sake of a twist.

Karissa Vacker does an excellent job with this thrilling audio. I finished it quickly because I was sucked into this twisty story of a young woman who visits her boyfriend’s estate when she realizes she may have been there before. This one will keep you guessing throughout the audio and the narrator is well paced with an engaging tone. She does all the characters well and with such talent.

Pick this up for a bingeable listen that will have you all ears u til the very end.

Theodora has fallen madly in love with Connor over the last 6 months and now they are engaged! Sure, it was a little quick, but it feels right. Now it's time to meet the Dalton family at their secluded winter compound. Right away, everyone is a little awkward and less than welcoming. As if meeting the family of your fiancé wasn't stressful enough, she keeps getting alarming text messages from a mystery person. Things continue to get weird as she learns of Connor's father's death and the meaning of the empty cabin that used to be Liam's. It's not until she finds a photo on herself as a child sitting with Liam Dalton that the alarms really start going off and the memories start flooding her brain.

Overall, this book was phenomenal. Fast paced, suspense, thrill, the tension building and the shock that came with the revelations was truly enjoyable. There were a few parts that were a little farfetched, but overall, the shock at the end made it all okay. I listed to the audio book of this and felt Karissa Vacker did a great job.

Thank you, Macmillan Audio, Kate Alice Marshall and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.