Winter evenings call for a cup of hot chocolate, a cosy seat by the window, and a good crime thriller or suspense book. There’s nothing like a good suspense novel to give you more chills than the weather. Murders, kidnapping, secret societies, plot twists, and some kick-ass characters are all you need. Here’s the perfect selection of crime and suspense thrillers to entertain you.

1. Her Little Flowers by Shannon Morgan

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If you are up for a little paranormal twist, Shannon Morgan’s Her Little Flowers is a great pick. For 55 years, Francine Thwaite has lived in her family’s ancestral home in England’s Lake District with only ghosts to keep her company. But when her estranged sister, Madeleine, comes knocking, she brings with her a tale of cruelty, terror, and heartbreak. As Francine learns about her family’s past, everything she knows to be the truth is threatened.

2. The Woman in the Castello by Kelsey James

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For historical fiction lovers, The Woman in the Castello is perfect. Set in 1960s Rome, the novel follows Silvia Whitford, an American actress and single mother. She comes to Italy after getting her big break only to find out her movie has been cancelled. In a bid to earn money, Silvia seeks out her Italian aunt whom she has never met. Silvia’s aunty Gabriella Conti lives in a castello on the edge of a volcano and Silvia is fascinated by her. Soon, her aunt’s castle becomes the location for a new horror movie and Silvia gets a starring role. As she immerses herself in the role of an innocent woman tormented by the ghost of her ancestor, the movie’s make-believe terrors become a reality. With no one to share her suspicions, it is up to Silvia to find the truth.

3. Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll

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Inspired by the sorority women murdered by Ted Bundy, Bright Young Women is set in January 1978. Florida State University’s sorority president Pamela Schumacher wakes up to a strange sound late at night. As she investigates, she walks into a visual that will change her life forever – she sees two of her sorority sisters dead, while two others are left maimed.

On the other side of the country, Tina Cannon finds an unlikely friendship with 25-year-old Ruth Wachowsky. But when Ruth goes missing in broad daylight, Tina makes it her mission to find out what happened to her friend. As Tina heads to Florida looking for her friend, she comes face-to-face with Pamela. The two women become as close as sisters in a chase for the truth.

4. Happiness Falls by Angie Kim

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Chronicling the tales of a Korean-American family, Happiness Falls makes for the perfect winter read. Mia is a hyper-analytical 20-year-old who has an explanation for everything. Eugene is her mute brother who has a rare genetic condition, Angelman Syndrome. When Mia’s father and brother Eugene don’t come back from their walk, Mia makes up all the reasons they could be delayed. But when Eugene walks home soaked in blood, without their father, the siblings start an investigation into the disappearance of their father. As they look for him, family secrets come to the fore that could be the reason for his disappearance.

5. The Bitter Past by Bruce Borgos

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The first book in the Porter Beck series, The Bitter Past is set in Las Vegas. Porter Beck, the sheriff of Nevada, is back home after a stint in Intelligence in the Army. Now, at home, he is following his father’s footsteps and minding the law and order of his town. In his relatively quiet town, things go for a toss when an FBI agent is brutally tortured and killed. When clues point to a mystery that dates back to the nuclear age, Porter is joined by another FBI agent to help with the investigation. In a case that unfolds in the 1950s and the present, someone is on the lookout for a long-forgotten person who holds the key to the deadly events of now as well as the secrets to the past.

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