Dead of Winter: A Locked-Room Snowstorm Thriller of Survival

I read this book because I saw it on Instagram. So I wasn't sure what I was going to get, but I was very surprised. I really enjoyed this book. I couldn't put it down and normally I am really good at figuring out the end. I mean I did kind of figure it out but I was still shocked at the end.

This Is an action packed, fast paced, Isolated, edge of your seat thriller. I love this Trope. I didn’t allow myself to read It at night, because I knew that I wouldn’t be able to put It down!

Christa and her boyfriend, along with a group of travelers are heading to the Rocky Mountains to stay at a lodge. When the storm moves in and continues to hammer the area, their bus has to stop and pull over. A tree has fallen over blocking the road. Stranded in the bitter cold, the travelers must find shelter and fast. When they set out, they find an abandoned cabin and take shelter trying to wait out the storm.

After Christa is injured and her boyfriend goes missing in the snow, Christa wakes up in the cabin with the other. Sometime that night, their tour guide went missing. Did he go for help? Has he found a way to get to the lodge? Or is there something more sinister going on?

Tension mounts as anger builds. The travelers begin looking at each other knowing they are the only ones there. Is one of them a killer? They must get out of there before It’s too late.
I gave this book a 4 star rating and would recommend to those of us who love Isolated thrillers.

My thanks to Poisoned Pen Press, The Author,Darcy Coates as well as NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of Dead of Winter.

Great book of short stories, each with a captivating plot keeping me coming back for more.

This is my first book by Darcy Coates. She is a horror writer and most of her books are titled “The haunting of _______” From what I understand she is primarily a YA author but this one is definitely a adult book. The synopsis is absolutely fantastic: You have eight strangers who are forced to take shelter in a brutally cold and snowy winter. But, unfortunately, them being there is no accident as someone starts killing them one by one. Horribly bad….. Like chopping off their heads bad and hanging them on a big ole tree right outside the cabin they are trapped in. Like a messed up Christmas Tree.

Sold!

There is much to love about this book. First of all you have to give credit where it’s due……. Darcy Coates is a gifted writer. This book is deeply atmospheric and creepy. When they are outside the cabin you feel just as lost as the characters do in the freezing snow. The chapters are short and the pace of the book is perfect. She is truly a great horror writer and this book is a entertaining read.

And the bad: While this is a fun book to read somewhere around the middle you realize you really don’t care who lives or dies in this one. There is really no character depth at all. Even with the main character you're kind of just going through the motions with this one. And holy predictable ending! I’m not going to even going to go there. Just be prepared to be let down. But at least I warned you……

So in short: Very entertaining read. Lacking in......."something"

I really appreciate Poisoned Pen Press for giving me the opportunity to review this book for free for a honest review and it has a publication date of July 11, 2023.

DNF - First book I ever read that I DNF. SUPER SLOW BURN. I will try it again when I have nothing else on my TBR list.