NetGalley Buddy Readers discussion

We will be reading A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall likely in January. A start date has not been chosen yet. Everyone is welcome to join.



A woman invited to her wealthy fiance’s family retreat realizes they are hiding a terrible secret—and that she’s been there before, by the bestselling author of What Lies in the Woods.

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 Daltons do not lose, and discovering what happened at Idlewood may cost Theo everything.

So excited for this one!!

Me too!

I just noted in the request thread that we have two buddy reads on Jan 2nd already, so maybe we should choose a date after that. Thoughts? It publishes Feb 4th.

How about January 10?
That is after the 2nd but before the 20th when I have another buddy read??

That works for me.

perfect!

My request for Famous Last Words is still pending. Hopefully, I'll be doing that buddy read too. :)

I just got offered the audio of this one, so I accepted.
So I will try a little of both when the time comes.

still pending :(

Vicki Willis wrote: "I just got offered the audio of this one, so I accepted.
So I will try a little of both when the time comes."

I'm still pending and the audio hasn't been posted yet. Who is the publisher? I'm hoping I'll be able to grab that.

Kristie wrote: "Vicki Willis wrote: "I just got offered the audio of this one, so I accepted.
So I will try a little of both when the time comes."

I'm still pending and the audio hasn't been posted yet. Who is t..."

Flatiron Books
Macmillan Audio

Oh good. Macmillan usually approves me. I'll for that once it is posted.

I chose this for my January BOTM so I'll be joining in when it arrives. I've only read one KAM book but I really enjoyed it. I own a couple others but haven't read them yet (story of my life lol).

That is so funny you say that because I didn't think I have read any her books before, but I have.
On the last one I read I wrote in my review "this is the first KAM book I have read", but it is the second!
And in THAT review I also wrote "this is the first KAM book I have read"
SO apparently her name did not make a mark in my brain.

I have read
What Lies in the Woods
and
No One Can Know
and rated them both 4 stars.

I forgot to come back and say that I was approved for the audio so I'll be joining this one.

Too funny, Vicki! I've don't that before where I think I haven't read an author until I go their page and find out I did. I remembered this one though. I read the same two as you and gave them the same ratings.

I was finished with my audio book and thought I would just check this one out and listen to a few chapters. I didn't want to get caught up in a new book and then be late for the buddy read (the story of my 2024 reading year!)

Well... 20% later...

I don't think I can stop listening, so I am going to continue, but I will wait to comment when the buddy read actually starts.

audio just got approved today finally so I’ll be enjoying reading your notes as I go through that!

Mine was just approved today, too, along with 3 other books! AFTER I already just purchased 2 of them. lol Oh well, 3 of the books were audiobooks and Killing Cold was one of them.

I don’t know why I thought you had already read this one haha. I couldn’t wait and started it today.

I'm definitely not ready to start early. I'm behind with everything.

I'm not behind but I'm very close to getting behind! lol
I'm definitely starting on the 10th

sounds good! I’m behind - haven’t started Babylonia yet. But that’s an ebook not an audio.

20%

Really liking this one so far. The atmosphere is (view spoiler)[ eerie. This author is really good at creating a sense of isolation in the woods.

There’s more to the death than just falling off a roof right? Feels like we’re not getting the whole story.

The family feels so weird and culty.

I wonder what Theo is hiding - and why. there seems to be a lot to her past that we don’t know yet.

(hide spoiler)]

20%
(view spoiler)[
agreed! This one drew me in right away.
The setting with the weather and all the cabins surrounding the house is foreboding for sure!
I have a feeling that nothing is as it seems with this one.
The wealth of this family! and how they are.. very suspect. (hide spoiler)]

35%

Ok woah so (view spoiler)[ she really does have ties there. Spooky. She seems to remember more than I would've thought for a 4 year old.

Who is the woman in the photos? Nanny ? Maybe a previous gf or someone who works with the husband of the one who said she should've gotten a lawyer before signing?

(hide spoiler)]

Got my BOTM copy the other day so I'll be ready to start on the 10th! Can't start earlier. Getting a little ahead of my audiobooks queue so I want to keep that pace before I head into a physical book and put the audio on pause lol.

50%

I'm thinking (view spoiler)[ the branch cracking sound she heard was probably actually her mom being shot? Maybe blood on the scarf made her remember it as red / seeing blood and thinking about the scarf got jumbled in her head.

So did he kill her when she was trying to leave and then someone killed him? Or someone killed them both?

And wow, airing everyone's secrets like that was a super vindictive thing to do to his own family, and didn't seem necessary. How did he even get all those secrets? Plus, it will affect him too right? If the deal falls apart?

(hide spoiler)]

Elyse wrote: "Got my BOTM copy the other day so I'll be ready to start on the 10th! Can't start earlier. Getting a little ahead of my audiobooks queue so I want to keep that pace before I head into a physical bo..."

Woohoo!!

50%
(view spoiler)[curious about the dragonfly cabin. What secrets are in there.
EVERYONE has a secret. Which makes almost anything possible for this one.
How did Liam actually die? I don't think he killed himself (obviously).
I think she should trust her fiance and just talk to him. Get to the bottom of things.

I agree about the scarf. It isn't a scarf or it is a scarf tainted with blood.
(hide spoiler)]

75%

So did Conner know that (view spoiler)[ she was that little girl? How would he even recognize her? Not surprised about the money offer, was waiting for that typical nonsense.

I don't know if I trust the helper guy fully. He definitely knows more. I hadn't guessed that's who the photos were of, maybe because I assumed that she'd comment if they looked old but maybe i missed that. I guess it makes sense.

Maybe Conner's dad wasn't sleeping with her mom but protecting her from someone else... Nick?


(hide spoiler)]

75%

(view spoiler)[
I definitely think the helper guy is in the thick. You don't stay with a family a long time without knowing facts.

I am also weary of Nick. He seems too slick to me. He either is involved or knows exactly what is going on.

I hope Connor didn't know and turns out to be a good guy. I mean does every single person have to be bad?!
(hide spoiler)]

Vicki Willis wrote: "75%..."

Yes ! Really hoping (view spoiler)[ Conner didn't know. Nick, helper guy, and maybe grandma? Something seems a little off there too at a gut level.

(hide spoiler)]

Hoping to finish this one today!

and I’m done

I enjoyed this one! I figured out (view spoiler)[ a good chunk of stuff but definitely not everything. What a bunch of terrible people. How extra vindictive not to tell Theo where to find her mother’s remains ugh.

I’m so glad Conner at least wasn’t horrible - and that his sister finally did the right thing. Disappointed about the overall lack of comeuppance though.

I wish we’d gotten the story of what happened in the past fleshed out a bit more, but it didn’t detract much not to have it so I’m not terribly put out about that.

(hide spoiler)]

I finished too
I liked (view spoiler)[ such a fast paced read for me. Even on audible.
The setting really added to the story for me.
I was so relieved Connor was a good guy.
The story really had me rolling through the characters and who was behind it.
I think not having the remains of the mother made it better because it wasn't a tidy ending.

I also thought the narrator was good.
(hide spoiler)]

Y'all have hyped me up so much for this! Put all other current reads aside to start this lol. Hopefully Bastien gives me a little time to read!

Finishing my current audio and then I'll start

I finally finished a book this year, my first, and started this one. I'm only up to chapter 2 (2%), but it certainly grabs your attention right away. Hopefully, the pacing will help me get through this one faster.

The percentages are throwing me because I have the physical books so I can't read any spoilers after 20% lol. I'm on Ch. 15 though and shit just keeps getting weirder!! (view spoiler)[We're sidestepping incest territory here and I doubt KAM would do that so I'm thinking maybe Liam is Theo's dad with another woman and Connor may be Nick's dad with Rose? Doesn't matter if Connor is the spitting image of Liam, genetics are wild! (hide spoiler)] It's funny seeing Bastien's name as Bastian and a nickname for Sebastian because so many people say Oh Sebastian? when we tell them his name is Bastien. Nope, just Bastien. lol

I just read your spoiler 5 times and literally have no idea! But yes, I was wondering and plotting all that out too.

Elyse wrote: "...It's funny seeing Bastien's name as Bastian and a nickname for Sebastian because so many people say Oh Sebastian? when we tell them his name is Bastien. Nope, just Bastien. lol"

Aww. People ask me every so often if Kristie is short for something. I don't think it's that unusual of a name or so short as to be a nickname. lol

Usually I see Kristie or Krissy short for Kristin or Kristine.

That's what people think - that it's short for Kristine. But honestly, it isn't any shorter. I kind of understand if they thought maybe for Kristina, because there's an extra syllable, or if my name was Kris, thinking it was short for something. I've always just thought it was a little strange. Maybe it's also because I know several Kristies and I've never seen it as a nickname. I have seen Kris and Krissy as nicknames though. People usually just ask and accept my answer, but I have actually had people argue with me as if I just don't understand the question or know my own name. lol

Well, shorter is relative. It's more the nickname than it being actually less syllables. Like Jack is a nickname for John. Why? lol. More like informal vs formal names, I guess.

I suppose so. Jack for John is a weird one too.

Yeah, names can be a lot of fun.
People usually ask me if Vicki is short for Victoria and no, it is not. My mom didn't like the name Victoria.

I always ask my students where their name comes from. I love hearing and learning more about them and their family that way.

I'm like 60% through and I have zero guesses as to what's going on. lol

Elyse wrote: "I'm like 60% through and I have zero guesses as to what's going on. lol"

I'm only about 38% and was just thinking the same thing. lol

Through Ch. 9

(view spoiler)[Whoa! That photo! That would be so eerie. She has supposedly never been there, never met Liam before meeting Connor and yet there's a photo of her with him when she's just a child. Is she actually Connor's sister? God, I hope not! But maybe related somehow and someone in the family gave her up for adoption. That might explain why she's getting those texts and that box...someone knew the Scotts called her DORA and not THEO.

The dreams she keeps having are a bit scary to me. They're too close to what she's seen in the photo...the bear with a read scarf. And the ornament with a dragonfly (if I heard that correctly) plus a red fox, white pine...all too close.

It definitely seems like someone on the property is sending her the messages to get out, leave Connor, etc. especially since someone knows her by Dora. I wonder why the Scotts don't want her, according to her. And why is she the "devil childe"? What on earth is she withholding from Connor? Plus the dream and Liam's father's death. I am dying to know! (hide spoiler)]

Vicki wrote: "Through Ch. 9..."

(view spoiler)[ I've thought that same thing about Connor and Theo possibly being siblings. I really hope not because that would be too icky. lol (hide spoiler)]

I have theories that do not include that, but I'm curious to see where the story goes. I still have so many questions!

Vicki Willis wrote: "Yeah, names can be a lot of fun.
People usually ask me if Vicki is short for Victoria and no, it is not. My mom didn't like the name Victoria.

I always ask my students where their name comes fro..."

Hey, Vicki, I just had to jump in here. People always ask me the same thing, and I also am Vicki and not Victoria. My ex-husband's grandmother literally called me prior to our wedding and asked me if it was Victoria and when I told her no she literally said, "Do you mind if I call you Victoria? It's so much more elegant than Vicki." I said I did mind because it wasn't my name. Jeez! lol

How I got my name: My mom had Rh-negative factor which they didn't have the shots for back in the day and she'd had several miscarriages after having my sister Janice and before having me. She didn't believe I would live because she said I was (her pregnancy was) causing her body to develop a rash with bumps all over it. Plus I was the 3rd baby and Dad wanted a boy SO badly so they didn't have a name for me when lo and behold, I lived. They asked the nurse what her name was and it was Vicki which they really liked so they named me after my nurse. :)