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!

First winter thriller of the season? Check! ☑️ A Killing Cold was everything I wanted it to be! It grabbed my full attention from the first chapter and kept me guessing through the entire book. The isolated snowy setting was perfect and the drama with this rich family was messy and I loved every second. I can’t wait to get to more of Kate Alice Marshall’s backlist! 👏

Read if you like…
❄️ Snowy thrillers
🔪 Tons twists and turns
🩸 Isolated settings
🧸 Family drama
🧣 Secrets and more secrets

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC and eARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rounded up

I listened to this book. The detailed description helped me visualize the story as I read it. At first, it seemed similar to another book I had read, but I soon realized it was much more complicated. I highly recommend this book.
I received this galley from NetGalley.

A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall is a jaw-dropping, wild ride from start to finish. The suspense and mystery surrounding Theo's story kept me hooked, and I devoured the book in just one day. I felt a full range emotions throughout this story and thought it was very well written and the audio was well done. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a fast-paced, emotionally intense read.

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced audiobook copy in exchange for an honest review

If you're looking for a fast-paced thriller you'll enjoy this book. I liked the family secrets and the mystery of discovering what happened to Theo's mother. I think the audiobook was well done and I highly recommend it.

Many thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for my gifted copy.

This review will be shared to my Instagram @coffee.break.book.reviews in the near future.

This was literally the PERFECT winter thriller! So many twists and turns to keep you on your toes. I’m not at all surprised, this author has yet to write a book I haven’t enjoyed so far!

This book has something for everyone. It’s a thriller, with romance, suspense, and a whole lot of plot twists. As if meeting the family of your soon to be husband isn’t already nerve wracking, add some deadly secrets and murder to the list. Talk about crazy!

I was excited to have received the audio arc of this book, the narrator did an amazing job. She has the perfect emotional to just make the suspense even more chilling while you listen. I couldn’t recommend her narrations enough!!

Although I absolutely loved this story, the plot and the characters, I was able to figure out a few of the twists. It didn’t really take away from my enjoyment, but there were parts that were a bit predictable, however, the chaos that is happening doesn’t let the disappointment linger.

I highly recommend this author to any thriller and mystery lovers out there. Her writing is so well done, the pacing is perfect and the characters are so well developed. I can’t wait to read more by her very soon!

4.5 stars!!!

A woman named Theodora (Theo) falls in love with a wealthy man named Connor and visits his family's winter retreat, Idlewood. Strange messages and mysterious events lead her to discover a shocking secret from her past and put her in danger. Theo must uncover the truth about what happened at Idlewood before it's too late.

This year has introduced me to a plethora of exceptional books, and this one is no exception. This book defies expectations and challenges perceptions in a way that is truly unique.

I was fortunate enough to have access to both the eBook and audiobook versions of this novel. I find that listening while reading along enhances my overall experience, allowing me to stay engaged even when I'm on the go.

This book is a fast-paced rollercoaster that immediately pulls you in. While some parts may seem overly detailed, they are crucial for keeping up with the intricate plot. With multiple points of view and timelines, the story is easy to follow and keeps you on your toes.

The characters in this book undergo significant development, with some being endearing and others downright aggravating. The family dynamics are chilling, mirroring the eerie setting of the story. As the plot unfolds, suspicion begins to creep in, making you question everyone's motives.

The unexpected and twisted ending is both satisfying and shocking, leaving a lasting impact. If you enjoy stories filled with family drama, secrets, and jaw-dropping revelations, this book is must-read. Just be prepared to clear your schedule, as you won't be able to put it down. I highly recommend adding this book to your TBR it truly is a gem.

Thank you, Macmillan Audio and Flatiron Books for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

MY GOODNESS! how many twist and turns does one book need! This book was a freaking roller coaster!!

SOOOO goood! Dora! Theo!! Does she even now her real name! She has nightmare about a night she can't even remember! But had a horrible childhood! She can't remember where she came from! She mights this great guy named Connor! And alll hell breaks Loose! This book was amazing!! From start to finish! And i loved it! Theo! Showed these people she wasn't one to play with!!

Theodora Scott works at a bookstore, she was a young child when she was orphaned and adopted by an abusive family. She tells everyone they are dead but are they or is she hiding a deep dark secret. She has vague memories of her early life, she remembers a woman in a red scarf, it could be her mother, but she isn’t sure. She remembers the woman told her to run.
Connor Dalton is a member of the rich Dalton family. The Dalton’s are powerful and menacing. Things always go their way. Theodora Scott and Connor fell in love at first sight. Six months after they met Connor proposed and invited her to Idlewood, his family’s secluded winter retreat. Theodora expected the Dalton’s to be cold and suspicious, but she wasn’t prepared for her own feelings.
There are several members of the Dalton family at Idlewood: Alexis, Connor’s sister. Alexis’s wife, Paloma, and their son Sebastian. Alexis tends to be a bit snobbish. The two women showed support for Theodora. Louise, Connor’s grandmother, showed her dislike for Theodora from the moment they met. Rose, Connor’s mother, a widow was suspicious of Theodora’s motives. Trevor, Connor’s youngest brother, considers himself intitled. He immediately labels Theodora a gold-digger. Connor’s Uncle Nick was on the edge of hostile; the reader knows he is up to something but isn’t quite sure what.
Something strange was going on at Idlewood. Theodora received several threatening messages on her cell phone, someone has been looking through the window of their cabin and she has a sense that she has been there before. There are several cabins at Idlewood, one isn’t used. Theodora is drawn to the cabin and finds a photo of herself as a child with Connor’s deceased father, Liam. The photo was taken in Idlewood. Bits and pieces of her past start coming together. She realizes her mother was the woman in the scarf. She remembers a man with antlers chasing them. Could Connor be playing a sick game? Theodora’s life is at stake.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillian Publishing for the ARC copy.

The only reason I'd stick through an illogical plot and annoying main character is IF the dramatics are worth it. Give me camp! Give me wacky! Give me theatrics!! The premise of this book?! Gagatrondra!! I was already salivating! But here's the thing, the premise shouldn't be the most enticing thing about the book. You really want to hook your reader in within the first 50 pages, but even at 50% of the way through, I was waiting for something truly juicy or shocking to happen.

It was so meandering, I couldn't care less about whichever snobbish family member had it out with our main female protagonist Theo, when it would've been a much juicier read if her fiancé was featured more. Instead, he's just...some guy. Completely devoid of any character. Is that why we spent so much time with everyone else?! Because of his lack of characterization, I couldn't get over why Theo would agree to spend the holidays with him and his family. And the characterization of Theo was one of limp toast. She wasn't interesting to follow, so I don't know why rich fiancé Connor would be into her either. Overall, too much of rich people being catty or melodramatic childhood flashbacks, not enough mystery.

Just like I have all of Kate Alice Marshall’s previous novels, I loved A Killing Cold. If I could give it more than five stars, I would, because, from the very first sentence to the very last, I was completely and thoroughly riveted.

Theo is my favorite kind of character. She’s strong, and she’s flawed. She’s tough and resilient, and she’s the kind of character that just worked her way in and kept me anxiously flipping pages until the bombshell conclusion.

The setting of a snowy mountain with a spectacular lodge and one lonely ramshackle cabin…perfect. There isn’t a single thing about A Killing Cold that I would change. Add in the fact that the audio version is narrated by the incredibly talented Karissa Vacker…the absolute perfect choice.

Kate Alice Marshall's newest book, "A Killing Cold" grabs you from page one and doesn't let go. The narrator is wonderful as well. Great read overall.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for the book #AKillingCold by #KateAliceMarshall. Theo is going to meet her fiancé, Connor’s family for the first time. While there she gets threatening messages telling her to leave and stay away. She finds a photo of her as child in an empty cabin and memories start coming back to her as if she has been there before. She has flashbacks of her mother, and is trying to put it all together. There are secrets this family doesn’t want revealed and they will do anything to keep them hidden. Is Theo in trouble? Should she just run away from them all?

Wow! First the narration is fantastic. The setting is also amazing!
How do I get one of those boyfriend's whose mom pays me to leave? I love the mystery. I love every character. I absolutely love the main character. This was perfection!