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: Fiction, Christmas, Thriller, Mystery

289 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication 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

[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
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[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.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

[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.

[Danielle · Rating 4 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.

[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

[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

[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!