9 Chilling Mysteries and Thrillers Set in Cold Climates

Edited by Ezvid Wiki Editorial on 19 May 2019

Being on the run from a killer or trying to unravel a mystery is dangerous under the best circumstances. When the temperature drops and a snowstorm moves in, the stakes get even higher as characters must fight against not only their adversaries, but their environment as well. The nine suspenseful novels listed here feature everything from freezing blizzards to the depths of the Antarctic and are sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.

Thrilling Novels That Take Place in the Cold: Our 9 Picks

Title Author
1. White Heat M.J. McGrath
2. Out of the Ice Ann Turner
3. Through the Evil Days Julia Spencer-Fleming
4. The Current Tim Johnston
5. Zodiac Station Tom Harper
6. Zero-Degree Murder M.L. Rowland
7. The Last Woman in the Forest Diane Les Becquets
8. Missing You Katherine Bacher
9. Icy Silence Sandra Nikolai

8 Great Films With Harsh Snowy Settings

  1. Snowpiercer (2013)
  2. Whiteout (2009)
  3. Fargo (1996)
  4. The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
  5. Winter's Bone (2010)
  6. The Shining (1980)
  7. Wind Chill (2007)
  8. The Hateful Eight (2015)

The Coldest Town on Earth

In Depth

There's nothing quite as thrilling as a book about a killer on the loose, and it gets even more suspenseful when the protagonists find themselves trapped in a harsh environment with a stone cold murderer in their midst. If you're a fan of these kinds of stories, then here are nine chilling mysteries and thrillers set in cold climates, listed in no particular order.

First up, at #1, we have "White Heat" by M.J. McGrath. Edie Kiglatuk is an Inuit hunter and guide who accompanies two American tourists on Craig Island. When one of the Americans is shot dead, the town's Council of Elders dismisses it as an unfortunate accident. Edie knows that they're lying, and when she conducts her own investigation, more people turn up dead, including someone close to her. Aided by police officer Derek Palliser, she must uncover the truth behind these deaths before more innocent people are killed.

Next, at #2, is "Out of the Ice" by Ann Turner. Environmental scientist Laura Alvarado is tasked with assessing an abandoned whaling station on a remote Antarctic island to determine if it's fit to be reopened as a tourist attraction. While there, she notices strange things happening around her, such as the nearby wildlife being oddly aggressive. Laura and her assistant Kate realize that something is wrong with the station, prompting them to investigate further, discovering a horrifying criminal operation in the process.

Environmental scientist Laura Alvarado is tasked with assessing an abandoned whaling station on a remote Antarctic island to determine if it's fit to be reopened as a tourist attraction.

At #3 is "Through the Evil Days" by Julia Spencer-Fleming. Police Chief Russ Van Alstyne and his wife, Reverend Clare Fergusson, are called to look into an act of arson, which they quickly realize is merely a cover-up for a double homicide and the kidnapping of a child. As they struggle to solve the case amidst a devastating ice storm, they also have to deal with their own personal issues, which test their relationship to the limit.

Next up, at #4, we have Tim Johnston's "The Current." Audrey needs to visit her dying father back home, so she asks her college roommate Caroline for bus money. Caroline offers to drive her there instead, but along the way, they crash into an icy river, leaving only Audrey alive. When she learns that a very similar case happened in the exact same river several years ago, she decides to look into it, inadvertently attracting the attention of a dangerous killer.

Next, at #5, is "Zodiac Station" by Tom Harper. As the U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker ship "Terra Nova" sails through the frozen Arctic sea, a man skiing towards it calls for the crew's attention. He claims that he's Thomas Anderson, the sole survivor of a horrifying explosion at the Zodiac Station research outpost. Upon arriving at the titular outpost, the crew discovers other survivors, and with the help of their conflicting viewpoints, they'll have to figure out who's really responsible for the tragedy that occurred there.

He claims that he's Thomas Anderson, the sole survivor of a horrifying explosion at the Zodiac Station research outpost.

At #6 is "Zero-Degree Murder" by M.L. Rowland. Timber Creek Search and Rescue volunteer Gracie Kinkaid is called to find four hikers who went missing. Amidst a deadly blizzard, she and her partner set out into the wilderness and find only one of the missing hikers, a famous actor named Rob Christian. He says someone tried to kill him on the trail, so Gracie's partner leaves to get backup. Will she be able to keep Rob alive until help arrives, or will the murderer get to them first?

Next up, at #7, we have "The Last Woman in the Forest" by Diane Les Becquets. Marian Engstrom works as a rescue dog handler for a wildlife conservation group. She falls in love with her mentor, Tate, but when he's killed by a bear on one of his assignments, Marian discovers several inconsistencies about his life. As she digs deeper into his past, she's horrified to learn that she may have been in love with a ruthless serial killer.

At #8 is Katherine Bacher's "Missing You." Still reeling from a gut-wrenching rejection, Seattle magazine blogger and photographer Roxy Summers's life is further complicated when her ex-boyfriend Aiden disappears under suspicious circumstances. As she tries to figure out what happened to him, she finds herself trapped in a blizzard-ridden Alaskan town, forced to confront her hurtful past.

As she tries to figure out what happened to him, she finds herself trapped in a blizzard-ridden Alaskan town, forced to confront her hurtful past.

Finally, at #9, we have "Icy Silence" by Sandra Nikolai. Ghostwriter Megan Scott and investigative reporter Michael Elliott are invited to speak at an exclusive boarding school. Shortly after their arrival, they're surprised to find out that there's an ongoing investigation regarding the deaths of two students. To make matters worse, an ice storm leaves the pair stuck in the school with a murderer, and they'll have to rely on each other to survive and figure out who the killer is.