Recs if you like The Hunting Party...

on an island, snowed in, on a boat, aboard a moving train... this list is crime fiction -mostly murder mysteries- in which the characters are stuck in an isolated location and cut off from the outside.

disclaimer: i haven't read all of these so lmk if a book doesn't fit, and feel free to leave suggestions in the comments!

This includes book that have either mystery or thrillers as a primary or secondary genre. If you have recommendations to add please comment and I'll happily add them 💕

Featuring morally gray men, unreliable narrators, emotional damage, dragons, serial killers, fake dating, enemies-to-lovers, and at least 47 books someone claimed “changed their life.” Proceed with caution.

... You're trapped here with me! The format: A group of people (could be strangers, or long-lost friends) are gathered or trapped in an isolated place together. Maybe it's a remote island. Maybe a cozy cabin during a blizzard. Someone is killed. The killer is obviously among them, but who?! Submissions welcome because this is my favourite mystery sub-genre at the moment, and I can't wait to discover more!

Horrors and thrillers set in winter (21st December to 20th March, but I will count earlier December as winter too to make things easier) or in a really cold place that reminds of wintertime.

The list will contain both more known books that you've probably already been recommended and some that I've seen have had less attention, at least over here. I have not read them all, but I want to complete this list myself too during the next Christmasses.

Inspired by Wake Up Dead Man (the newest Knives Out installment), I decided to make a list of Locked Room Mysteries.

Compiled based on personal interests and various blogs.

Closed circle/room mysteries! Limited number of suspects all with motives to kill!

Funny or darkly comic murder books featuring bungled plans, accidental deaths, bizarre families, amateur sleuths, incompetent criminals or people who are just having the worst day imaginable.

Books set in/around Scotland. Highlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, outer islands, etc.

Fans of Gideon the Ninth, this is for you 🧡

Books featuring snowy weather as the backdrop for stories, mix of genre: thriller, mysteries, historical fiction, etc.

For fans of Sherlock Holmes & Agatha Christie. For series, only the first book is included.

red herring: 1. a dried smoked herring, which is turned red by the smoke. 2. a clue or piece of information that is, or is intended to be, misleading or distracting. these will make you go on a fishing expedition, if you will. this list will feature books highlighting the second definition.

Mystery novels (and maybe a few thrillers) that have a theme of Christmas or other winter holidays, or an overall wintery theme. Please give suggestions!

Wintery Weather Thrillers! Suspense for a Snowy Day!

Books set in Scotland

Are you a woman who is looking for a book that embodies the feminine rage? One of these books might be for you... <3

There’s something unsettling about being cut off and not knowing who to trust. These thrillers lean into that tension, where secrets build, danger lingers, and nothing is quite what it seems.

the types of books that even though they’re not perfect, the mystery and twists keep you up all night because you have to know what happens next/in the end.

I can’t promise you a “good” book… but I can sure as hell vouch you’ll want to devour it in one sitting.

The following books take place during the winter and would be perfect to read by the fireplace this holiday season!