Member Reviews

A Killing Cold is another great mystery by Kate Alice Marshall. I loved the main character and her mysterious past. I liked the cold, snowy setting. Five Stars!

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I have never been let down by a Kate Alice Marshall book and I don't think I ever will be.

Our novel centers around Theodora Scott on her trip to visit Connor Dalton. The Daltons are a rich and powerful family. As such, the couple is headed off to the family's sprawling estate, fit with a lodge and several cabins. Despite the estate's size, during the winter months, only family, very soon to be family (i.e. Theo), and the staff are present.

Before she even steps on the grounds, Theo is on edge. She's been receiving text messages threatening her to stay away from Connor. The threats even go so far as to receive a letter at her cabin, and Theo's convinced it's someone in the family who wants her to stay away.

The pacing of this work is incredible. I genuinely could not get enough and listened to the audiobook in its entirety during a single work day. In typical Kate Alice Marshall fashion, the last third of the book was twisty and dark. I, personally, love reading books about the obscenely rich and the drastic things they'll do.

I've listened to the audiobook version of all three of Kate Alice Marshall's adult thrillers. A big part of that is the narrator, Karissa Vacker. She is hands down my favorite narrator, and I would listen to her read a Sherwin Williams catalog. (Not to be dramatic.)

I highly recommend this book!! I have to say, though, What Lies in the Woods remains my favorite of her works, thus far.

Thank you to Kate Alice Marshall & Macmillan Audio for providing me a copy of the book!

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Kate Alice Marshall is an auto buy author for me! I LOVE the concept of this storyline. It is crazy how all of the pieces of this story fit together so nicely. Now, I can't say that this story was unpredictable. I definitely was able to predict the ending of this story. However, it did not make it any less enjoyable. Fate?? Not sure if I believe in that!

As for the audiobook version, I could listen to this narrator for every book I read. Her voice is like gold!

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I had a bit of trouble getting into this one, but once I got about 30 minutes in, I was hooked. I enjoyed the mystery and the atmosphere of this story. The characters kept me guessing and I liked the flashbacks and how it reveals and slowly pieces things together. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audio ARC.

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Loved it!
Theo (female) is early into a very serious relationship with her fiancé. They’ve only been dating a short time, but her beau is ready for her to meet the family. His family happens to be bajillionaires and have a compound in the mountains that they vacation at. There’s just something off about his family though. They seem to feel the same way about her as well.
There also seems to be something familiar about this compound, but she can’t seem to put her finger on it.

Anyway, no more info for you or I’ll spoil it!

Definitely check out this unputdownable psychological thriller.

Audiobook narrator- superb

A big thank you to the author, NetGalley, and MacMillan Audio for letting me preview this book in exchange for an honest review.

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Book Review: A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall

Kate Alice Marshall delivers yet another gripping mystery in A Killing Cold, a novel that seamlessly weaves family secrets with a classic locked-room-style plot. Set against a chilling winter backdrop, the story feels like the perfect companion for a cozy evening read.

Marshall masterfully builds suspense by blending deeply buried family drama with the intricacies of an impossible crime. The locked-room element keeps readers guessing as they try to piece together the puzzle alongside the characters, and the atmosphere is rich with tension and intrigue.

What truly stands out is how the author balances the icy setting with the fiery emotions of betrayal, fear, and resilience. The characters are complex, their secrets peeling back like layers of frost on a window, revealing truths that cut deep. The pacing is brisk, making it a quick and thoroughly engaging read for anyone who loves mysteries packed with twists and emotional depth.

Highly recommended for fans of atmospheric mysteries with a wintry edge and a dash of family drama.

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What a read! Could not put it down. This was my first book written by Kate Alice Marshall and definitely will not be my last. It’s the perfect winter read. So many twists and turns and layers to this amazing story. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

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I would listen to ANYTHING Karissa Vacker narrates, luckily she narrates some really great books. I have read all of Marshall's other books and enjoyed this one just as much. Hard to put down but quick to listen to! Loved it.

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Part of why I asked for this book was because I adore the narrator. I’ve read two other books by this author before and thought they were good, but not earth shattering. The same thing applies here. It was engaging, and the twists just kept on coming. 3.5 stars.

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Thank you Net Galley and Macmillan for an ARC of this audiobook.

An atmospheric setting, wealthy family full of secrets, multiple timelines, and protagonist with a mysterious (even to her) past; this fast paced thriller had me immediately immersed and at the edge of my seat the entire time. My first weekend job as a teenager was at a camp/retreat in Idlewood and Kate Alice Marshall’s writing brought the setting to life in a way that took me right back to those weekends. The characters, twists, and unraveling of the mystery were all well developed and intentional. Highly recommend!

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I enjoyed both of Kate Alice Marshall's previous adult thrillers, so I was excited to dive into her latest. A Killing Cold introduces us to Theodora as she travels to a remote mountain lodge to meet her fiance's wealthy family for the first time over the winter holidays. It's clear that she has secrets, but they quickly appear to pale in comparison to what her new in-laws are hiding.

Overall, fans of Marshall will enjoy this book a lot and race through the pages as the twists and turns feel non-stop. Some of the types of reveals you would expect to come towards the end of the book come out so early on that I didn't know what else was to come (turns out it was quite a lot).

I've listened to many books narrated by Karissa Vacker and find her to be immensely talented, especially at switching back and forth between voicing female and male characters (seriously, how does she do this?). She did a great job with this one; I only wish there was some sort of notation or chapter change that signaled when the narrative had switched from the present day to memory, since I did get confused and frustrated a few times.

Highly recommend enjoying this book while cozy inside during a holiday.

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A great fast paced suspense with great twists! I was into this from the very start and did not want to stop! This thriller follows a rich, dysfunctional family, who have secrets upon secrets kept hidden. This is very well written with great pacing that always keeps you intrigued. I will definitely be picking up some of this authors other works after this one and will definitely recommend A Killing Cold!

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Easily my favorite of KAM's adult thrillers. I absolutely loved this one and could not put it down once I started. I have never rooted so hard for a couple in a thriller to make it as I did in this one. I loved the twists and reveals. I loved how every character was flawed and had secrets and I loved the setting.

Karissa Vacker is the queen of narrating for thrillers, so obviously the audio was phenomenal.

I highly recommend this one as well as ALL of her other books. I will be thinking about this one for awhile and will likely reread it.

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Audiobook/Book Review 📖🎧❄️

thank you partner @flatiron_books @macmillan.audio for the gifted ARC and audiobook! #macaudio2024

A Killing Cold
by Kate Alice Marshall
narrated by Karissa Vacker

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

❄️ My thoughts:

The easiest five stars!! I couldn’t put it down but when I had to, the audiobook came in clutch. I love Kate Alice Marshall’s books and one of my favorite narrators is Karissa Vacker, so naturally this was all sorts of right for me. The setting was perfect for the season, the story held my attention, and I simply couldn’t get enough. I personally didn’t find it predictable which made this even better for my experience! With Marshall’s writing and Vacker’s narration this a triumphant success. I high recommend reading the physical book and/or listening to the audiobook. Both are fantastic options and I will definitely be getting myself a finished copy when it hits shelves 2/4/25!!!

Happy reading 📖 🎧❄️

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Uhm, OK, so like, this book was everything. Picture this: winter wonderland vibes, an icy retreat, and secrets so deep they’ll give you literal chills. I was totally hooked from page one. Theo and Connor? Oh-em-gee, what a couple. Like, their romance is the dream… until it’s not. The whole Dalton family? Let’s just say, I wouldn’t want to be snowed in with them.

The twists? Next-level bananas. Every time I thought I had it figured out, BAM, another curveball. And the vibes—so eerie, so atmospheric—I felt like I was right there, wrapped in a blanket, but also like, low-key scared to look out the window. Theo’s journey to piece together her past was wild, emotional, and left me flipping pages at, like, 2 a.m.

If you’re into thrillers with a touch of psychological drama and characters you can’t stop thinking about, this is your must-read. This one gets a solid ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ from me!

Huge thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

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Thank you to the author and publisher for this arc!
This is the perfect wintry thriller. ❄️ Kate Alice Marshall does it again!
I found this book to be intriguing, fast-paced, and the writing was superb. I truly cannot find fault with this one…so it may just be my favorite of the winter season! 5 stars

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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Phenomenal book! Great narration. I loved this book. I finished it in one day. Things are not what they seem in this family and at this get together at all. So many surprises and omg moments. The ending was a complete surprise. Just wow.

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Loved this. Got a little long but Kate is the queen of a chilly mystery and I flew through it in a day. I was glad the siblings turned out to be mostly innocent and Theo ended up with the dog.

Thank you Macmillin Audio and NetGalley for the ARC

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I went into this book not knowing really what it was about. I was just excited to get an advanced copy of a Kate Alice Marshall book because I liked her others in the past. This book cheeses my expectations. I loved the narrator and for an audio that is so vital. The plot itself was very gripping and I did want to hear how all the characters were connected. Sometimes the coincidences in books bother me because they're unrealistic. The ending of this did get slightly outlandish but overall still kept me entertained. A solid mystery. An easy 4 star read.

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This thrilling novel keeps readers on the edge of their seats with its relentless twists and turns. Just when you think you have it all figured out, another surprise is thrown your way, making for a genuinely thrilling reading experience.

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