Review of A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall
When I saw that Kate Alice Marshall, the queen of winter-set thrillers, was releasing a new mystery, I couldn’t resist diving in. Her knack for weaving intricate plots filled with chilling suspense has never failed to captivate me. Yet, I had some reservations; the dysfunctional Dalton family loomed on the horizon, reminiscent of those notorious Daltons from the Lucky Luke series. Would I find them as irritating as I did the original gang? Spoiler alert: I did, but I also couldn’t put this book down!
The heart of A Killing Cold centers around Theodora Scott, a seemingly ordinary girl working in a bookstore. Orphaned and raised by an abusive adoptive family, she is a captivating character who draws you in with her mystery. The fact that she claims her adoptive family is dead, yet harbors vague memories of a woman in a red scarf—possibly her mother—adds layers of intrigue. These uncertainties kept me guessing: was she hiding something darker about her past?
Theodora’s whirlwind romance with Connor Dalton, a scion of the powerful and menacing Dalton family, escalates quickly. Their engagement leads her to an intimidating winter retreat where Theodora is greeted by a family riddled with secrets and layered suspicions. While Alexis, Connor’s older sister, feels like a potential ally, the rest of the family—the authoritarian grandmother Louise and the spoiled younger brother Trevor—feel more like a battleground than a welcoming home. Their dysfunction practically leapt off the page, drawing eerie comparisons to the Daltons I knew from childhood.
As Theodora navigates this treacherous family dynamic, she begins receiving threatening texts urging her to stay away from Connor. This marks the onset of a truly gripping thriller filled with twists and turns. The revelation surrounding Connor’s father, Liam, and the abandoned cabin named Dragonfly amps up the tension. My heart raced as Theodora unearthed her childhood photo with Liam—how could that be? The memories flooding back—her mother’s warning to run from a man wearing antlers—were both haunting and exhilarating.
Marshall’s writing style perfectly complemented the pacing of the narrative. The last third of the book was a rollercoaster of revelations that left my jaw on the floor, even if some explanations occasionally felt far-fetched. It’s that exhilarating blend of suspense and the unexpected that keeps readers like me glued to the pages.
For fans of twisty thrillers with complex family dynamics and lurking secrets, A Killing Cold is a must-read. Whether you’re an avid follower of Marshall’s work or new to her storytelling, this book grips you with an enticing sense of mystery.
Overall, reading A Killing Cold was not just an experience—it was an invitation to unravel darker truths about self-identity and familial ties, reminding me of the inherent dangers of love woven into dysfunction. It left me both thrilled and contemplative. I eagerly await what Kate Alice Marshall has in store for us next! If you enjoy engaging narratives laced with gripping suspense and well-developed characters, this one’s for you.
Thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for providing me with an unputdownable digital review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
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