Do you love a chilling setting in a thriller? Me too. So I was very excited to try this story about a group of travelers marooned in a snowstorm. When they start ending up dead, paranoia spreads faster than the bad weather. Check out my Review of Dead of Winter.
Jen’s Quick Take on Dead of Winter by Darcy Coates
- An And Then There Were None-inspired book about a killer with a hit list
- Great snowy setting
- A little on the gory side, if that’s an issue for you. (It wasn’t too bad).
- A really fun read overall!
What Else Has Darcy Coates Written?
She has written dozens of horror, gothic, and suspense novels between 2015 and the present, including The Haunting of Ashburn House (2016), Craven Manor (2017), Hunted (2018), Gallows Hill (2022).
Review of The Dead of Winter
Published on July 11, 2023 by Poisoned Pen Press. Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Dead of Winter is a perfect addition to my list of chilling winter mysteries. Author Darcy Coates lives in Australia, where it IS winter, but I also like to read a snowy book in the heat of summer.
Main character Christa is thrilled to be taking an outdoorsy trip with her boyfriend, Kiernan. But their shuttle bus to a remote lodge in the Rocky Mountains is immediately plagued with problems, from a downed tree blocking the road to a severe blizzard.
The travelers take shelter in an abandoned cabin, but someone is picking them off one by one. Christa needs to figure out who she can trust and who is behind this reign of terror, before she’s next.
I really enjoyed both the snowy atmosphere and the chilling suspense in this book.
I have to admit that I figured out one major reveal pretty quickly, and I think if you are a regular reader of thrillers, locked room-type mysteries, or And Then They Were None by Agatha Christie, you might as well. But there were still surprises in store, like the motive.
I definitely recommend Dead of Winter to those who like an outdoorsy thriller, or a murder mystery with limited suspects. This book was a lot of fun to read!
“I have to admit that I figured out one major reveal pretty quickly, and I think if you are a regular reader of thrillers or locked room-type mysteries, you might as well. But there were still surprises in store, like the motive.”
After reading many books in a genre, it’s hard to get surprised anymore, but at least it was only one twist! For you not to have guessed the motive, the story must be well-crafted…
I’m a fan of classic locked-room mysteries, so I’ll have to check your post about them (somehow I missed it…).
Definitely – and let me know if you have books to add!
I don’t mind figuring out the who as long as I’m entertained enough by the story itself. This sounds like a great read!
I really enjoyed it!