The scariest time of the year is undoubtedly Halloween, yet novels surrounding autumn and Halloween, many may be surprised to find that various amazing horror books are all about snow, the holidays, and winter's freezing temperatures.
The following ten books are outstanding reads that are set during winter or have a wintry ambiance. For the most part, these stories take advantage of the barren coldness of winter, and by doing so, make their novels even scarier. More than that, these tales vary in of plot. From monsters to disasters to survival stories, all these winter horror books provide a unique look at the scariest aspects of winter. These novels even differ based on the success of their authors. All in all, any horror reader will likely find something that piques their interest.
10 The Sanatorium: Sarah Pearse
A Thriller In A Former Mental Hospital
An easy place to start in the winter horror genre is The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse. In this novel, Elin Warner is a detective who is taking a break from work by visiting a five-star hotel in the Swiss Alps with her brother and sister-in-law. Yet, when Elin's sister-in-law goes missing, she must jump back into action as an investigator. More importantly, she must face the strange feeling she gets about this hotel, which acted as a sanatorium in the days before it became a hotel.
While The Sanatorium is more of a thriller book than a true horror novel, it definitely provides some frights for readers. Stories about old asylums always manage to send chills up audiences' spines, and this book is no different. Not only will readers be desperate to hear more about the hotel's history, but they will also feel the dread of unanswered questions and the winter storm brewing just outside. All in all, readers who are new to horror and want some winter scares should definitely give this book a try.
9 Snow: Ronald Malfi
A Man Travels Into A Creepy Winter Town
Another winter horror novel with a somewhat familiar premise is Ronald Malfi's Snow. This 2010 book follows Todd, a man who is traveling to see his son for the holidays but gets stuck in the snow. Therefore, Todd and some other travelers rent a Jeep and decide to make the trip themselves. Unfortunately, their plan becomes derailed when they pick up a strange hitchhiker and find themselves in an abandoned town that might not be as deserted as they originally thought.
Just like Todd, audiences are forced to trek into the blinding snow, unsure of what evils they will meet there.
Snow is a tense and uncomfortable read that will make readers feel as trapped as the protagonist does. Based on the premise, it isn't entirely clear what Todd will be up against, which almost makes this novel even better. Just like Todd, audiences are forced to trek into the blinding snow, unsure of what evils they will meet there. Snow is not the most popular novel, but it deserves all the praise it has gotten due to its dread-inducing tale.
8 Near The Bone: Christina Harry
A Woman Discovers A Monster In Her Mountain Home
Those who enjoy complex horror stories with multiple throughlines should definitely check out Near the Bone. Published in 2021, this horror novel centers on Mattie, a woman who has lived alone on a mountain with William for as long as she can . However, she starts to become fearful when she finds a mutilated fox and hears strange cries in the woods. Once three strangers arrive to find the beast, Mattie knows that her life is going to be upended, but it may have more to do with William than the monster.
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Near the Bone has all the makings of a classic winter horror story. From an isolated mountain to a mysterious monster, this book sets up a number of premises that are sure to explode into something truly disturbing. The most interesting of these is William, who has a strong presence yet remains a mystery. All in all, it seems as though Mattie (and the audience) are at the center of a ticking time bomb, and it likely won't take much for the entire thing to come crashing down in horrifying ways.
7 Echo: Thomas Olde Heuvelt
A Mountaineer Recalls His Horrifying Climbing Experience
Another winter mountain story that looks perfect for horror fans is Echo by Thomas Olde Heuvelt. Nick is a travel journalist and mountaineer who wakes up from a coma and realizes that he has been gravely injured, and his climbing partner is presumed dead. Although Nick feigns amnesia, he actually re exactly what happened to himself and his partner, and it is a story that doesn't quite make sense. Even worse, Nick feels that something has changed inside him, and it could wreak even more havoc.
Clearly, there is something strange and spooky about snow-covered mountains, but Echo does more than just create a creepy ambiance. In this novel, readers are put into the mind of a narrator who has all the answers, yet may have something sinister within him that could change the entire story. Thus, audiences are eager for answers, yet know that something else lurks under the surface that could be absolutely disastrous, even if the mountain is a thing of the past.
6 Snowblind: Christopher Golden
A Small Town Braces For A Devastating Storm
Snowstorms are a part of everyday life, yet the next winter horror novel converts them into something truly awful. Snowblind is set in the town of Coventry, where blizzards have caused tragedies, including deaths and mysterious disappearances. As another snowstorm inches closer and closer to town, Coventry's residents reflect on their previous losses and prepare themselves for another terrifying time under countless inches of snow.
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Snowblind is a particularly interesting entry on this list because it includes an ensemble cast and a fairly straightforward story. Readers are promised a big-scale plot and a monster that is familiar to them: snow. However, author Christopher Golden succeeds at twisting a natural disaster into something even more disturbing than it usually is. Filled with mysteries and unexpected twists, Snowblind is a quietly scary novel that will make readers second guess the next snowfall.
5 NOS4A2: Joe Hill
A Frightening Man Returns To A Victim Who Got Away
A winter horror novel with an unusual yet compelling premise is Joe Hill's NOS4A2. In this novel, Victoria is a woman who can find just about anything, yet is running from her dark past wherein a vicious man took her and countless other kids to another plane of existence, a place called "Christmasland." Victoria got away from this monster, but his reign of terror isn't over yet. In fact, Victoria is pulled back into his sphere when her own son is taken by the car with the NOS4A2 plate.
It is no secret that Joe Hill is a lauded horror writer, but this isn't the only reason to pick up this novel. NOS4A2 has a truly special premise that will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very end. Of course, the book is also reminiscent of stories by horror great, Stephen King, so fans of King will certainly enjoy this. Finally, with an alarming world called "Christmasland," audiences will get plenty of tainted winter holiday vibes.
4 Ghost Story: Peter Straub
Four Men Are Terrorized By Their Pasts
Another pillar of the horror genre is Peter Straub, and he too has the perfect book to read for a horrifying winter. The plot of Ghost Story is quite straightforward. Four men in a small New York town committed a terrible crime in their youth. Now, in their adulthood, their secret is coming back to haunt them in a form that is much more chilling than just regular law enforcement.
Despite being one of the oldest books on this list, Ghost Story does not lose much of its power, even all these decades later.
Despite being one of the oldest books on this list, Ghost Story does not lose much of its power, even all these decades later. This is a book that is consistently terrifying and doesn't necessarily need a bunch of gore and guts to prove it. Straub crafts incredible scenes that are so detailed that they will stick with readers for a long time afterward. Ultimately, Ghost Story's simple title is exactly right: this is a tale that will keep readers up for days.
3 The Winter People: Jennifer McMahon
A Young Woman Uncovers An Ages-Old Mystery
For the readers who enjoy a bit of history in their horror, The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon is a great choice. Ruthie is a young woman who lives off the grid with her mother in the farmhouse of a woman who went missing in the 1900s. When Ruthie's own mother goes missing, she must dig into the past to figure out what is going on and how it is all connected. In the dead of winter, Ruthie makes some disturbing discoveries.
The Winter People is a masterclass in tension. McMahon creates a truly sinister atmosphere that only gets scarier the longer it is read. Although the premise seems fairly tame, The Winter People shocks readers with its horrifying realities. Plus, it is ideal for the wintertime due to its setting. Just as Ruthie becomes hypnotized by her mysterious small town covered in snow, readers too will become intoxicated by this story.
2 The Terror: Dan Simmons
A Horror Retelling Of A Failed Expedition
One winter horror book that is surprisingly real is The Terror. This novel tells the true story of the Franklin Expedition, which saw a crew of sailors on the HMS Terror get stranded at sea in a tundra. Though not much is known about what really happened to the men on the Franklin Expedition, author Dan Simmons imagines the tragedy in great detail. Ultimately, it is a gory and haunting tale about survival and the dangers of the natural world.
The Terror is a perfect book for those who want to feel a scary winter ambiance. There is nothing creepier than being aboard a ship that you know is going to reach a horrible end, and readers of The Terror will feel this dread from start to finish. Worse than that though, The Terror will get audiences deeply invested in its characters before picking them off one by one in truly violent ways.
1 The Shining: Stephen King
A Man Becomes Possessed In A Hotel
Of course, the classic horror novel to read during the winter is The Shining. Stephen King's third ever novel tells the story of Jack Torrance, who becomes the offseason manager of the Overlook Hotel. With his wife and son, Torrance moves into the hotel, but soon begins to be affected by the ghosts that linger in the building. Pulling on his weaknesses, the hotel takes control of Torrance and sends him on a frightening rampage.
The Shining is a lauded novel, and there's a reason why. This book is a dread-inducing affair that is a slow burn, but is full of images that have remained in popular culture for decades. Although some may not consider the wintry setting of The Shining, this is actually one of the novel's best features. To be stuck in the snow with Jack Torrance is an experience that every horror fan should have at least once this winter.