“If snow melts down to water, does it still remember being snow?”
Winter nights have a way of bringing out the best in thriller and horror novels. As the snow falls from the sky and the nights stretch longer, there’s something irresistibly haunting about losing yourself in a story filled with suspense or spine-tingling chills. These books make the most of the season’s atmosphere – isolated settings, eerie silences and cold that seeps into every corner. Here at What We Reading, we love all things dark and spooky and have decided to pull together some of the best thrillers and horror books to read on cold nights, carefully curated for their gripping plots, chilling twists and strange settings. From psychological thrillers that toy with your mind to supernatural tales that make you question reality, there’s something for every reader looking to embrace the darker side of winter.
The Silent Patient – Alex Michaelides
Alex Michaelides’ gripping debut novel, The Silent Patient, is kicking off our list of the best winter thriller books. The novel follows Alicia Berenson, a celebrated painter who appears to have it all – until she’s discovered standing over her husband’s lifeless body, his face shattered by gunfire. Alicia’s response makes the case even more shocking: she goes completely mute, refusing to utter a single word to defend or explain her actions.
Years on, Theo Faber, a criminal psychotherapist, becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth behind Alicia’s silence. As he delves into her past, Theo finds himself pulled into a chilling web of secrets, lies and betrayals that soon begin to peel away the lines between patient and therapist.
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The Chestnut Man (Naia Thulin #1) – Søren Sveistrup
The Chestnut Man by Søren Sveistrup is a dark and chilling thriller novel, perfect for winter nights when the eerie silence outside mirrors the tension within its pages. In a quiet Copenhagen neighbourhood, a woman is found brutally murdered in a playground, her hand severed, and a small figurine made of chestnuts left near her body.
Detectives Naia Thulin and Mark Hess are assigned to the case, but their investigation soon grows more complex when the fingerprints of a missing girl, presumed to be dead, are found on the chestnut figure. As they discover disturbing connections between the victims, they realise they are dealing with a meticulous and ruthless serial killer with terrifying motivations. The freezing desolate setting adds to the mounting sense of dread as Thulin and Hess race to unravel the mystery before more lives are claimed.
White Is For Witching – Helen Oyeyemi
The Silver’s family estate in Dover, England, harbour an array of dark secrets. Miranda Silver, a fragile and enigmatic young woman, has a rare eating disorder called pica, compelling her to consume inedible objects. After the sudden death of her mother, Miranda’s condition worsens as the house itself appears to wield a sinister influence over her.
Told through shifting perspectives – including that of the malevolent house itself – Helen Oyeyemi’s White is for Witching is a winter thriller that explores themes of grief, identity and the haunting legacy of family trauma. With its chilling atmosphere, gothic undertones and hauntingly lyrical prose White is for Witching is the perfect go-to for readers looking for a horror story that’s as thought-provoking as it is terrifying.
The Sanatorium (Detective Elin Warner #1) – Sarah Pearse
The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse is a gripping thriller with an eerie, snowbound setting that makes it one of the best reads for cold winter nights. Set in a remote luxury hotel high in the Swiss Alps, the story follows Elin Warner, a detective on leave, who reluctantly agrees to attend her estranged brother’s engagement party. The hotel, once a sanatorium with a dark and sordid history, is isolated from the world when a fierce snowstorm traps everyone inside.
When a guest disappears under mysterious circumstances, Elin is pulled into the resulting investigation. As tensions rise and more people start to vanish, Elin uncovers sinister secrets hidden within the hotel’s walls. The atmosphere grows increasingly suffocating, and the shut-off atmosphere amplifies the suspense, creating a relentless sense of foreboding. With its chilling location, layered characters and shocking twists, The Sanatorium combines psychological intrigue with atmospheric horror for a page-turner that guarantees to keep you on edge during the long wintry nights.
The Winter People – Jennifer McMahon
Set in the remote town of West Hall, Vermont, The Winter People weaves between past and present, orbiting around the mysterious disappearances that have plagued the town for decades. When Sara Harrison Shea’s daughter is found dead, Sara spirals into grief and desperate measures, eventually succumbing to a pact with dark forces to bring her back.
Years later, Ruthie, a young woman living in Sara’s abandoned house, happens upon secrets tied to Sara’s tragic past, uncovering unsettling connections between the past and present. As Ruthie uncovers more, she begins to question whether the forces at play are truly supernatural – or something more terrifying and human.
Small Spaces (Small Spaces #1) – Katherine Arden
Small Spaces by Katherine Arden is a creepy, atmospheric middle-grade horror novel that’s perfect for winter nights when you want a story that’s both eerie and engaging. The book follows Ollie, a young girl who stumbles upon a mysterious old journal that leads her to a forgotten part of the forest. There, she discovers a sinister, abandoned farm and the chilling history tied to it.
When Ollie and her friends find themselves trapped in a nightmarish adventure, they realise that the farm is no ordinary place – it’s haunted by vengeful spirits that have been biding their time ahead of their return. As the mist closes in and the cold air tightens, Ollie must unravel the mystery before it proves too late. With its haunting atmosphere and dark magic, Small Spaces is one of the best books for those cosy winter nights when you’re craving a thrilling adventure wrapped in spooky chills.
Before I Go To Sleep – S.J. Watson
Another one of the best winter thriller books, S.J. Watson’s Before I Go to Sleep follows Christine Lucas, who suffers from amnesia, causing her to wake every single day with no memory of her past or even her own identity. Each morning, she’s shocked to find herself in a stranger’s bed; her husband, Ben, patiently helps her piece together the fragments of her life.
But, as Christine begins to keep a secret journal, she uncovers increasingly disturbing inconsistencies in the stories she’s been told, leading her to question everything she believes about her past – and the people around her. With a mounting sense of dread, Christine realises that she can no longer trust anyone, even those closest to her.
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Home Before Dark – Riley Sager
Maggie Holt returns to her old family home that she and her parents fled from decades ago after a terrifying experience. Her father’s bestselling book, chronicling their horrific time living there, left the house infamous, but Maggie has no memory of the events that led to them being forced to leave.
As she moves back into the house to renovate it, strange occurrences begin to unsettle her. Is the house truly haunted, or is Maggie’s mind playing tricks on her? As secrets from the past unravel, Maggie must confront her family’s darkest mysteries – and face the chilling truth of what really happened all those years ago. With its eerie atmosphere, shocking twists and relentless tension, Home Before Dark is the perfect psychological thriller for readers looking to be captivated and chilled on a cold, winter’s night.
The House On Abigail Lane – Kealan Patrick Burke
The House on Abigail Lane by Kealan Patrick Burke is a haunting, atmospheric horror novella perfect for those chilling winter nights. In the small town of Abigail Lane, the seemingly perfect life of the Lane family is shattered when Abigail mysteriously disappears from her home. The house, an eerie and foreboding presence in the neighbourhood, holds many secrets – secrets that may have led to her disappearance.
The story unfolds through the eyes of several residents of Abigail Lane, each of whom has a different connection to the house and its troubled past. As the mystery deepens, disturbing truths are revealed about the sinister forces that may be lurking within the walls, making it clear that the house is more than just a setting – it’s a malevolent force in itself.
The Hunting Party – Lucy Foley
The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley is a gripping psychological thriller set in the rugged Scottish Highlands, making it perfect for dark winter nights when suspense is at its best. A group of university friends gather to celebrate the New Year at a secluded luxury estate surrounded by snow-covered mountains. What begins as a luxurious getaway soon turns deadly however when one of them is found murdered.
As the investigation unfolds, secrets and lights are brought into the light, revealing the hidden tensions among the group. With no means of escaping the isolated location, each person becomes a suspect, and trust soon crumbles. Through shifting perspectives, the novel builds tension and paranoia, keeping you guessing until the final twist.
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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).
