Dead of Winter

Written by Darcy Coates

Narrated by Emily Ellet

When Christa joins a tour group heading deep into the snowy expanse of the Rocky Mountains, she's hopeful this will be her chance to put the ghosts of her past to rest. But when a bitterly cold snowstorm sweeps the region, the small group is forced to take shelter in an abandoned hunting cabin. Despite the uncomfortably claustrophobic quarters and rapidly dropping temperature, Christa believes they'll be safe as they wait out the storm.

She couldn't be more wrong.

Deep in the night, their tour guide goes missing...only to be discovered the following morning, his severed head impaled on a tree outside the cabin. Terrified, and completely isolated by the storm, Christa finds herself trapped with eight total strangers. One of them kills for sport...and they're far from finished. As the storm grows more dangerous and the number of survivors dwindles one by one, Christa must decide who she can trust before this frozen mountain becomes her tomb.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Black Owl Books
• Release date: Jul 3, 2023
• ISBN: 9798368958873

Darcy Coates

Horror author. Friend to all cats. Learn more at: www.darcycoates.com

Reviews for Dead of Winter

[Mellissa Shea · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This audio book dragged on for me and when I wanted it to be over I still had 5 hours left. So I put it on 1.5 speed. Much better, the narrator read it way too slow for me. I think it would make a fun movie, but as a book, just too long and felt like treading water for hours.

[Rlynoyb · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Well this was a hard book to rate and review. I did change my mind several times about who I thought the butcher was. Early on in the book the particular character I thought it was, and I really cannot remember why now, was the butcher. I did change my mind about that several times though so kudos for keeping me guessing. I really hated the part where the butcher makes the heroine beg, that was just stupid. It would have also been better if there had been some psychological insight into why the butcher cut the victims heads off, there seemed to be no logical reason for it based on the killer's motivation. I did guess what the motivation was but again, how this ties to other characters was only revealed in the end. I was very invested in the end and rooting for the heroine to get to safety. The ending; however, left too many loose ends. I don't know why the author couldn't have written a few more chapters to at least let us know the answer to some question: did the heroine lose her hands or fingers?, did Alexis and Hutch make it? Did the butcher croak? I really wanted to know these things. I don't really like having things left to my imagination because frankly if I had enough imagination to conclude a story I would be writing books myself. I am wise enough to know I don't have the talent to write but I am the kind of reader who likes a nice neat ending, maybe I am just old fashioned. Overall the story did keep me invested. It is very similar to Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None" but with a few differences and in a modern world. It's relatively good and held my interest. The narrator was very good. I will be interested in checking out more works by this author.

[sangemac · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Loved the setting in the snow, created excellent suspense. Really enjoyed the pace and plot of this book.

[Rebecca Morgan · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I felt the end was abrupt, other than that I enjoyed it.

[Karen Duling · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

good twist at the end but the whole thing was rather gory

[Yas Rose · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Amazing voice acting, keeps you guessing til the very end.
The plot was great, the characters were great, and wow I thought I called the twist but I was so wrong! Could not stop listening to it, finished it in 2 days.

[Breanna Saint Pierre · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved it. Kept me guessing until the very end! Read it

[jill jorgensen · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

What an overwrought nightmare of a book. Obviously the writer had never actually been in a snow storm or real mountains. And the writer lifted her plot from Agatha Christy

[Anna · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this one. It was a quick, locked door/ isolation mystery. I guessed the twist pretty early but it was still a fun trip to get to the end of story. I’ll always ready this author, I am never disappointed

[Autumn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Very good book, alittle long and drawn out, but good

[Joann Sandgren · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Didn’t like the reader. Not enough expression in her voice. Sounded bored. Too wordy.

[SymphAdventures · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Reminiscent of And Then There Were None but with a very unique setting and tale. If you like isolated mysteries, this is one not to miss. I've only known (and loved) Darcy Coates ghost/haunted house mysteries, this novel showed her mastery of weaving an intriguing tale with twists and turns everywhere. Emily Ellet, the narrator, was engaging and made the atmosphere tangible. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend. I suggest reading this with a blanket and a warm drink because this story will make you feel chilly.

[Yolan Shiffrin · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It was obvious but really well written. The narrator was really good.

[Tiny Popsicle · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

My very first experience with Darcy Coats & her writing actually worked on me so beautifully. So can write wintery atmosphere in a good creepy way that it almost felt like I was there with this travel group all along.

This book was about some strangers who travel together to the wilderness to enjoy their vacation. And then one by one from their group people ended up dieing brutally by the hands of mysterious killer. So it it up to survivors to find out who amongst them is the killer & why.

Story is so gripping & kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time while I reading/ listening to this book. Strangers who behave suspicious around each other, unraveling their stories step-by-step, creepy winter storms, methodical killings were so dark but interesting to read. This was a very fast phase book & I was so captivated by the writing style of the author had described events of a few days into this book.

I gave it a 4.5 ?s. This is my 1st book finished in 2024 & I' m surprised that it is a thriller not a fantasy. If you are a wintery thriller reader you cannot go wrong with this. Highly recommended!

[76irene.m · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I knew it was a horror story nevertheless too gruesome, too many caracters

[Teena Charyton · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Great start, loved the setting. I thought it was too long tho. The story felt stretched thin after a certain point. The narration was good.

[Amy Kenneke · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What a journey of plot twists! I actually had the plot figured out fairly early but that did not take away from the enjoyment of the book. Worth it!

[Iö-Ana Flo · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Quite predictable and convenient but I did enjoy it. ?

[Han Lu · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was so good and so chilling and eerie and atmospheric.

[Connie Gueits · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Unexpected ending!! I enjoyed reading this. I liked the narrator(main character), felt her emotions throughout.

[KIMBERLY MOORE · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Decent …didn’t guess the ending. Enjoyed it til the last minute.

[Radwa Ali · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The crime is perfectly written and it makes sense and suspicious at the same time

[Yulien Williams · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

You never see it coming very unexpected I enjoyed it