“It’s not just the snow; it’s a hundredweight of unwelcome memories bearing down on me.”
As the winter chill sets in and the nights grow longer, there’s no better time to curl up with a heart-pounding thriller to send the shivers down your spine. Winter thriller books have a unique charm within the genre, blending icy landscapes with chilling suspense to create the perfect atmosphere for an edge-of-your-seat reading experience. Whether you’re a fan of psychological mind-benders, tense mysteries or pulsating crime novels, join us today at What We Reading as we present the best winter-themed thrillers that match the season’s cold intensity. From frostbitten mysteries set in remote cabins to snow-laden cities brimming with icy secrets, these reads all offer a frosty journey full of suspense and intrigue and are sure to become your next favourite winter obsession.
Only One Survives – Hannah Mary McKinnon
Hannah Mary McKinnon’s 2024 mystery novel, Only One Survives, is kicking off our list of the best winter thriller books. All drummer Vienna Taylor ever wanted was to make music. If it came with fame and fortune, that would be a nice bonus; provided it came with her best friend Madison sharing the spotlight with her. And with their all-female band finally gaining traction in the airwaves, it looks as though that dream may be finally coming true. That is until, on the way to an event, the band’s van careens off the edge of an icy road.
With one member of the group already dead and another severely injured, the remaining members seek shelter in a nearby abandoned cabin. But, Vienna’s dreams soon devolve into a hellish nightmare as, one by one, her fellow bandmates all meet a gruesome end. With Madison also disappearing, Vienna is soon forced to reckon with whether her best friend has decided to take centre stage for herself.
Check Out These Winter-Themed Reads To Cosy Up With
The Writing Retreat – Julia Bartz
Alex had just about been prepared to give up on her dreams of becoming a published author when she received an unexpected opportunity of a lifetime. The esteemed feminist horror novelist Roza Vallo is hosting an exclusive, month-long writing retreat at her own estate.
When the attendees arrive, Roza drops a bombshell – all of them must complete their works from scratch within the next month; the author of the best story will receive an eye-watering seven-figure publishing deal. Yet, when one of the writers goes missing during a snowstorm, Alex realises that there is something far darker and more sinister lurking behind this retreat. With the clock running out, she is forced to unearth the truth – before she finds herself facing the same fate.
Dead Of Winter – Darcy Coates
When Christa joins a tour group heading deep into the snow expanse of the Rocky Mountains, she believes it will be an opportunity to lay some of the ghosts of her past to rest. But, when a bitterly cold snowstorm grips the region, she and her group are forced to take shelter in an abandoned hunting cabin. Despite the claustrophobic environment, she assumes they will at least be safe in waiting out the weather.
But, deep in the night, their tour guide disappears. His decapitated head is discovered impaled on a tree the following morning. Suddenly Christa finds herself terrified and trapped with eight total strangers, one of whom kills for sport. As the storm outside grows fiercer, and the survivors are picked off one at a time, Christa is forced to choose who to trust before the frozen mountains become her tomb.
The Overnight Guest – Heather Gudenkauf
True crime writer Wylie Lark isn’t fazed about being snowed in at the isolated farmhouse she has retreated to. A cosy fire and total silence would normally be the perfect combination for writing her new book. The only issue is the farmhouse’s sordid past – decades earlier, two people had been murdered inside and a young girl disappeared without a trace.
As the storm outside takes a turn for the worse, Wylie finds herself trapped inside, haunted by the secrets contained within its confines and the secrets she keeps to herself. Then she discovers a small child outside. After bringing the child inside for warmth, she soon discovers that this farmhouse isn’t as isolated as she first thought. Someone is outside and prepared to do anything to find them.
Check Out The Best Books Like The Overnight Guest
Village In The Dark (Cara Kennedy #2) – Iris Yamashita
Another one of the best winter thriller books from 2024, Iris Yamashita’s Village in the Dark opens on a frigid February day Detective Cara Kennedy standing over the graves of her husband and son. Aaron and Dylan vanished on a hike a year ago, and their bones were eventually found and buried. However, new shocking clues have since emerged that point to foul play being involved. Clues that suggest they may have been connected to a string of other deaths and disappearances.
Also tied up in the mystery is Mia Upash, who grew up in a sheltered village named Unity, a community of women and children who hide from abusive men. Although she remains haunted by the tragedy of what happened to the man and boy in the woods, she has her reasons for keeping quiet. Cara’s investigation soon leads herself and the residents of Point Mettier on a dangerous path that puts all of their lives in grave mortal danger.
No Exit – Taylor Adams
On her way to Utah to visit her dying mother, college student Darby Thorne is caught in a deadly blizzard in the Colorado mountains. With the roads impossible to navigate, she is forced to wait out the storm at a remote highway rest stop. Inside are an assortment of vending machines, a coffee maker and four complete strangers.
Hoping to catch enough signal to ring home, Darby steps outside and catches sight of something harrowing. In the back of the van parked next to her is a little girl locked in an animal crate. One of her fellow travellers is an abductor. But, which one? Caught in an increasingly dangerous situation, Taylor Adams’ gripping winter thriller No Exit follows Darby as she attempts to work out who she can trust and get herself and the little girl safely away.
One By One – Ruth Ware
Getting snowed in at a picturesque mountain chalet hardly sounds like the worst fate in the world, especially when there’s a roaring fireplace and good company to keep you warm. But what happens when that company consists of eight of your coworkers, and you aren’t able to trust any of them? One of the best locked-room winter thriller books comes from Ruth Ware in One by One.
When an off-site company trip intended to promote mindfulness and collaboration goes unexpectedly wrong after an avalanche hits, the corporate hierarchy is thrown out the window and survival replaces togetherness. How many team members will be able to report back in first thing on Monday morning?
Bellweather Rhapsody – Kate Racculia
Fifteen years ago, a murder-suicide in room 712 gripped the grand old Bellweather Hotel as well as the young bridesmaid Minnie Graves, who witnessed the crime firsthand. Now hundreds of high school musicians have amassed in front of the building for the yearly Statewide festival. Among them is Minnie, who is determined to face her demons from the past.
When a young prodigy disappears from the infamous room 712, the search for her pulls in an eccentric bunch of conductors, caretakers, teenagers on the verge and adults haunted by memories. Kate Racculia’s bestselling Bellweather Rhapsody is a charming mystery brimming with pop culture references and nods to classic winter thriller books from across history.
An Unwanted Guest – Shari Lapena
It’s winter in the Catskills and Mitchell’s Inn, located deep in the woods, is the perfect setting for a quaint and cosy weekend getaway. It boasts spacious old rooms with wood-burning fireplaces, a well-stocked wine cellar and ample opportunities for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing or just curling up with a good murder mystery.
So when a blizzard rips through the area, cuts off the electricity and forces all the guests to bunker down, none of them are too put out. But, as all the guests attempt to make the best out of a bad situation, their peaceful time is shattered when a body is discovered. When a second turns up, they all start to panic. Within this pristine snow-covered paradise, someone is picking off the guests one by one. All the survivors can do is stay put and hope they can survive the storm – and one another.
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The Drift – C.J. Tudor
Hannah awakens to the sight of her coach having careened over a hillside road during one of the heaviest snowstorms of the year. Former detective Meg wakes to a gentle rock, trapped in a cable car suspended far above the same snowstorm and surrounded by strangers with no memory of how they got there. Carter and his colleagues are attempting to keep their precarious survival going when the generator keeping their abandoned ski chalet safe from the threats outside begins to wave.
One of the most pulsating winter thriller novels, C.J. Tudor’s The Drift follows Hannah, Meg and Carter as they attempt to survive against all odds at the end of the world. With each individual forming part of the puzzle, an imminent threat lurks at the heart of the snowy wilderness around them.
Check Out Our The Drift Book Review
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
