A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall is an engaging thriller with a lot of potential, but it falls just short of being truly great. The story follows Theo, who travels to her wealthy fiancé’s secluded family retreat and starts uncovering unsettling secrets. The isolated setting of Idlewood creates a strong atmosphere, and Marshall does a solid job building suspense throughout.

The plot is intriguing, and the mystery surrounding the Dalton family kept me interested, though there were a few moments along the way that the story started to drag. The pacing slows down in the middle, and while the twists are interesting, they didn’t always pack the punch I was hoping for. Theo’s motivations sometimes felt a bit unclear.

Overall, it’s a good read, but not without its flaws. While the Dalton family is full of flawed, interesting characters, I found the setting to be more of a draw to keep going with the book than the people staying there. Still, it’s a solid story with plenty of twists (maybe too many) to keep you on edge.

Thank you to Kate Alice Marshall, Flatiron Books, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Author: Kate Alice Marshall

Genre: General Fiction, Mystery/Thriller

Publication Date: February 4, 2025

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)