Steep and Deep

by Catherine O'Connell

Ski patroller Greta Westerlind discovers there’s a darker side to the glamorous skiers’ paradise of Aspen in this intriguing thriller.

Floyd dropped the mitten at my feet, his tail wagging.

I picked it up and let out a horrified shriek.

Inside was a human hand.

The last thing ski patroller Greta Westerlind expects to find during routine avalanche training is the severed hand of her best friend. Evie Kearney is the latest woman to mysteriously disappear in the Aspen Mountains. Yet while an investigation is launched to find the rest of the body, Greta is relegated to the sidelines. The sheriff believes she’s too close to this one, but that’s exactly why she can’t possibly stop.

Soon Greta is embroiled in a gruesome game of cat and mouse, as twisty and dangerous as Aspen’s black diamond runs. Something sinister is happening on her mountain. Someone is trying to scare her away from learning what’s become of Evie. But Greta’s determined to find out . . . even if it means sharing the same fate.

This dark and twisty thriller is the second book in the Aspen mystery series, perfect for fans of Ruth Ware.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Christmas, Mystery

304 pages, Hardcover

Published February 3, 2026

About the author

Chicago native Catherine O'Connell is the author of five novels: First Tracks, The Last Night Out, Well Read and Dead, Well Bred and Dead, and Skins.

A graduate of the University of Colorado School of Journalism, she has worked in a number of roles in various fields, including hotel maid, bar manager, floor runner at the Chicago Board of Trade, sommelier, and sales executive in the fine wine business. Her varied experiences give her insight into many walks of life that she incorporates into her writing.

A member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime, she sits on the board of the Aspen Words, the literary branch of the Aspen Institute. She has also served as a moderator of the Great Books and Sharing Shakespeare programs at the Aspen Institute.

Catherine has appeared on ABC, NBC, CBS, the Cox network, and numerous radio shows, including WGN Radio's Sunday Papers with Rick Kogan.

A consummate reader, wine expert, skier, back-country hiker, and biker, she divides her time between Aspen, Chicago, and Paris.

Reviews

[Thomas Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I purchased a copy of Steep and Deep because of my lifelong connection with Aspen. But the crisp writing, the easy-to-follow plot, and the plausible twists hooked me. The underlying message in this book rings true across multiple storylines. Catherine O'Connell is a master storyteller. Highly recommended!

[Dawnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

a bit of a slower start and trickling middle but once this story gets started it really gained momentum and went into darker places.

the writing overall was nice and the characters nice to read about but sometimes a bit too many POV switches and i didn’t really feel overly connected to any of them.

the thriller/mystery part was a bit slow going but once it got really moving it was done well and i did not guess most of the reveals - so i would say that was done well.


overall solid if you don’t mind a bit of a slower start and worth it for the end.

i can’t say anything about how this compares or works together with the first book in this series since i only read this one but it does work very well as a standalone and i didn’t feel like i was missing anything.
there might be a better connection to greta since she seems to be the connecting character between the two books.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚Steep and Deep
✍🏻Catherine O'Connell
Blurb:
Ski patroller Greta Westerlind discovers there’s a darker side to the glamorous skiers’ paradise of Aspen in this intriguing thriller.

Floyd dropped the mitten at my feet, his tail wagging.

I picked it up and let out a horrified shriek.

Inside was a human hand.

The last thing ski patroller Greta Westerlind expects to find during routine avalanche training is the severed hand of her best friend. Evie Kearney is the latest woman to mysteriously disappear in the Aspen Mountains. Yet while an investigation is launched to find the rest of the body, Greta is relegated to the sidelines. The sheriff believes she’s too close to this one, but that’s exactly why she can’t possibly stop.

Soon Greta is embroiled in a gruesome game of cat and mouse, as twisty and dangerous as Aspen’s black diamond runs. Something sinister is happening on her mountain. Someone is trying to scare her away from learning what’s become of Evie. But Greta’s determined to find out . . . even if it means sharing the same fate.

This dark and twisty thriller is the second book in the Aspen mystery series, perfect for fans of Ruth Ware.
My Thoughts:
The book opens with getting to know Greta. We get to see her backstory of how she got to Aspen and how she became a ski protal. We also get to learn that one of her friends has disappeared a few days before, but when Greta tarkes her dog Floyd to practice for test to be a search and rescue animal. Floyd then brings back a hand that belongs to that said friend. She knows that something is off with how her friend just disappeared, knowing that she was more than able to take care of herself while up in the mountians. Things do get more intense from there. . Greta's world takes a sinister turn when Floyd unearths a severed hand in a mitten on the mountain, raising the chilling question, could it belong to her missing friend, Evie? Greta is a compelling heroine—resilient, intuitive, and unwilling to be sidelined. As she digs into the disappearance, the slopes become a sinister playground, and every twist feels like a sharp turn
I would recommend this, it wasn't slow at all in fact I ended up reading it in under 24 hours because I just desperately needed to know what was going to happen next!
Thanks NetGalley, Severn House and Author Catherine O'Connell for the advanced copy of "Steep and Deep" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#SevernHouse
#SteepandDeep
#CatherineO'Connell
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Jan Fore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steep and Deep
Catherine O’Connell
February 03, 2026

Buzz and Evie were very happy together until he discovered another man’s boxers in their bed. He was angry, and told her to leave. She left for one night but he was still put out. After teaching pre-school the next day Evie was tired, ready for a long night skiing. After she arrived at the pull off another car pulled up. At first fearful, then she saw an old friend and was more at ease. That was the last anyone had seen her. Friends went out on the Aspen Mountains to search, but nothing was found. Many thought she had fallen and an animal took her, others thought she was too far and succumbed to an avalanche. Best friends Greta and Judy could not conceive of her vanishing. She was great on the slopes. Greta kept hoping she would find something, a closure. The night she and Floyd went out for avalanche training he ran up the mountain, disappeared no matter how loud she called. When he came charging back to her he had a mitten in his mouth.
Steep and Deep will be published on February 03, 2026 by Severn House. I was able to read and review O’Connell’s latest novel via NetGalley. It’s the first that I have read from her Aspen Mystery series. I was completely taken in by the first chapter. This is an exciting adventure series that is full of suspense. Suggest readers try this new one, absolutely difficult to put down.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Severn House Publishing and Netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC. This is apparently part of a series, but the first for me. It worked well as a stand alone read. The characters were well developed and the environment of Aspen very interesting with its contrast of small mining town vs. high society boomtown. It was nice seeing it mostly from the side of the long time residents, but also gave a glimpse of the super rich crowd who seemed to be taking over. It's called a thriller, and I admit that the story moved along nicely with a growing sense of danger. I was never bored, but on the other hand it was over halfway through before we knew for sure that a crime had been committed. The main character is Greta, who works the ski patrol along with a couple of other odd jobs. While out in the countryside training her dog it finds a human hand in a mitten. And the hand appears to be that of her missing friend. The presumption is that her friend had died in a snowstorm and wild animals had carried away her hand. But is that the case? As the search begins to find the girl's body the police warn Greta to stay out of it, but she is not one to sit idly by and do nothing, so she starts a search of her own, one that puts her in danger. It was a good story with a slow build, so I gave four stars. It was a nice read on these cold winter nights.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steep and Deep by Catherine O’Connell is a chilling descent into the shadows beneath Aspen’s glittering surface.

In this taut and evocative thriller, ski patroller Greta Westerlind finds herself navigating more than avalanche terrain—she’s plunged into a mystery as jagged and treacherous as the mountain itself. When her dog Floyd uncovers the severed hand of her best friend Evie, Greta’s world fractures. The glamorous façade of Aspen gives way to something darker, colder, and far more dangerous.

O’Connell crafts a suspenseful tale laced with dread and determination. Greta is a compelling heroine—resilient, intuitive, and unwilling to be sidelined. As she digs into the disappearance, the slopes become a sinister playground, and every twist feels like a sharp turn on black ice.

The prose is crisp, the pacing relentless, and the atmosphere thick with alpine menace. This second installment in the Aspen mystery series deepens the intrigue and sharpens the stakes, perfect for readers who crave thrillers with grit, grace, and a touch of frostbite.

With thanks to Catherine O'Connell, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy to review.

This book was relatively short, taking me a couple hours to read. It was a good mystery, with evocative descriptions of the crisp mountainside. However, a significant portion of the plot focused on gentrification of a skiing community, which I found less engaging. While some character perspectives felt primarily focused on that particular subplot, I enjoyed the background on Greta and Judy, as well as how the three main MFCs were brought together.

This book delivered a satisfying, well-structured mystery with a few strategically placed red herrings to throw things into question. It wasn't one of those gripping thrillers that kept you glued to the page, but the ending, with its "time is running out" element, definitely made an impression. If you're in the mood for a lighter, more atmospheric winter read, I would definitely recommend checking it out.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Paul Criscuolo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Greta seems to have trouble keeping acquaintances alive. Despite keeping people safe as they ski the slopes of Aspen, her friends are just beyond her sphere of safety. Both attractive and active, Greta’s life is full of mystery and adventure. A few days with her might be enough for many to give up winter sports. And that’s the reason”Steep and Deep” is a great read.
Catherine O’ Connell’s Greta grabs your attention, thrills your imagination and takes you along on a splendid vacation in Aspen. You’ll obtain a sense of both its beauty and its conflict as old meets new and the wealthy step over the “servants”.
“Steep and Deep” involves just how some of the “servants”became wealthy and all they will do to remain so. You are never sure until the end who are the “good guys” and who would ski right over you!
I’m convinced that just two “dates” with Greta aren’t enough. Let’s hope we get to spend more time with her.

[Diane Elizabeth Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the thrilling second book of this series, we return to the snowy slopes of Aspen with dedicated ski patroller Greta and her new loyal dog, Floyd.
The stunning descriptions of the ski community and mountainous landscape are illustrated vividly, making the setting instantly visual. Greta's world takes a sinister turn when Floyd unearths a severed hand in a mitten on the mountain, raising the chilling question, could it belong to her missing friend, Evie?
The stakes escalate quickly, creating a riveting, atmospheric read where no one can be trusted. I was rooting for the funny, resilient, and determined Greta all the way to an excellently executed, high-tension ending that was wrapped up as neatly as a box of chicken eggs wrapped in a bow.
A superb winter mystery!
I received an advance copy of this book and this is my own opinion.

[Sandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ski patroller Greta is out in the wilderness training her dog Floyd for his avalanches recovery certification when he returns with a mitten containing a human hand. When the hand turns out to belong to her best friend Evie who went missing months ago on a different part of the mountain Greta resumes the search for Evie despite severe weather and the risk of an avalanche.

This is a difficult book for me to review. The beginning and end of the book were action packed and I really enjoyed them. But the middle of the book dragged and turned into a diatribe about the gentrification of Aspen instead of just sticking to introducing the rest of the cast of characters. If it hadn’t been a review copy I would have stopped reading at that point. I would give this 2.5 stars if we could give half stars.

I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. The views are my own.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Steep and Deep is a captivating wintry multiple-perspective thriller set in Aspen where secrets, luxurious living, ski thrills, and neighbour angst thrive. Evie has been missing for a month when her best friend Greta, a ski patroller, takes her dog Floyd out for rescue training. But Greta is horrified when Floyd turns up with a mitten with a hand inside. Dan, a police officer and Greta's friend, gets involved and warns her off the investigation. Meanwhile, there are neighbourhood...er...activities and a lot of untrustworthiness.

The writing itself is brilliant and the atmosphere is rich. However, the characters are juvenile (possibly due to the resort demographic and mentality) and the ending felt hurried and unsatisfying. I liked the novel but sadly didn't love it as I had hoped.

[Readology Nook · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Steep and Deep” by Catherine O’Connell drops readers straight onto the icy slopes of Aspen, Colorado The book wastes no time letting us know this is not a glamorous ski getaway. From the chilling opening scene, where ski patroller Greta Westerlind discovers a severed hand during avalanche training, the story grabs hold and refuses to let go.

Greta is driven by grief and loyalty after realizing the victim is her best friend, Evie Kearney. When the sheriff sidelines her from the investigation, believing she’s too emotionally involved, Greta does what any strong thriller lead would do: she digs deeper on her own. What follows is a tense, fast-paced descent into secrets lurking beneath Aspen’s polished surface.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Greta is a member of the ski patrol in Aspen, she has a new dog that she is training for avalanche rescues. After hiding some of her clothes in the deep snow she goes back to her car to get Floyd and set him to find them, but Floyd has other ideas and sets off into the woods. Thankfully he returns but has a ski glove in his mouth. Greta is shocked to find a hand in it. She persuades the Sheriff to take a peak to confirm what she fears, that the hand belongs to her friend Evie. It has been a while since Evie went missing whilst cross country skiing.
The police won’t let Greta and Floyd help in the search, but she is determined to do so. An excellent and gripping read. My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc.

[Diana Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Severn House for the chance to read Steep and deep (An Aspen mystery) by Catherine O'Connell. I have been waiting for this book since finishing the first book in the series The ski resort! Ski patroller Greta is out training her K-9 Floyd when he brings her back a mitten with a hand inside. This starts off a twisty and dark thriller that is a fast read and is perfect for a super cold winter! Greta is my kind of female character; take charge, no bull, and stubborn as hell! But I have to say her K-9 partner Floyd almost stole the show! I look forward to reading more of Greta and Floyd in the next book!
While it is 2nd in the series, it can be read as a standalone.

[Farah G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dogwalkers are notorious for finding dead bodies (if they are there to be found), but the last thing Greta, a ski patroller in Aspen, expects her dog to bring back to her is the severed hand of her missing best friend.

And even after she has been warned off the case, Greta is determined to do whatever she can - whatever is necessary - to find Evie. Whatever the cost...

This is a dark and gripping story, not for the faint hearted. It easily earns 3.5 stars.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Steven Boehle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beacon of hope saved me or I would have been a real goner. Transplanted from the Midwest to Aspen had been lifesaving for me. My friends were the cherry on top. The whole scenario was an avalanche of good fortune like warm cookies and hot cocoa on a cold winter night or the friendship of Buzz Lightyear and Woody in Toy Story. My what an adventure that I’m happy to share with you. Jump on board. With a wink of my eye and a twitch of my nose we’re going steep and deep in this one.

[Jemma Roe · Rating 4 out of 5]

First read from this author, this book kept my attention throughout, was a fast read and I read it in one sitting.
A Ski patroller's dog uncovers the severed hand of her best friend
A satisfying read, with a few twists that keep you engaged in the story. This book was a easy read that's perfect for winter

[Alisong · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story grabbed me from the first page and I couldn't put it down. It's a riveting account of three friends in Aspen whose lives take interesting twists and turns which includes a compelling mystery. Thankfully the mystery is solved with the help of canine companion, Floyd, and the persistence of Greta, the ski patroller. I loved this book and can't wait for the next in this series.

[Hayley Eisner · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had to DNF this one unfortunately. The writing style just wasn’t for me and I couldn’t get into the story. There was something about it that just wasn’t clicking. I enjoyed the winter atmosphere but that’s about it.

Thank you NetGalley and Severn House for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Ashley Khoja · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was easy to follow, had short chapters, was twisty, and unpredictable--even when I thought I had it completely figured out.

[JXR · Rating 5 out of 5]

dark and intense thriller with some fantastic plotting and a great killer reveal, along with a jump into the mind of the killer. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

[Shannon Beers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I liked the characters a lot, very relatable and modern and it's made me want to take a ski trip to Aspen!

I loved how it changed through different characters perspectives (and admittedly gasped at a few twists and turns!!). I was rooting for Evie, I adored Greta, I loved to hate Judy and I really did enjoy this page turning thriller.

I would recommend this, it wasn't slow at all in fact I ended up reading it in under 24 hours because I just desperately needed to know what was going to happen next!!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed The Ski Resort and was super excited for Steep and Deep! The pace, setting, and action mixed with a lot of background information about Aspen’s history and current issues were all great and super interesting, and I think a lot of the things that had bothered me about Greta in the first book were fixed. She didn’t seem as racist or judgmental, although that could be because she missed a lot of patrol shifts in this book.

One character that confused me was Sheriff Dan. How old was he supposed to be, and how much older than Greta? Also, was all the fat shaming really necessary? I felt bad for him and don’t think we needed to constantly hear about how much weight he had gained since he first came to Aspen and how he was essentially doing it to himself with a poor diet and lack of exercise. It didn’t contribute to the story at all and felt like Greta’s judgmental tendencies got passed along to the author instead.