Maybe it’s the countdown energy, maybe it’s the eerie stillness of winter nights, or maybe it’s the unsettling truth that the new year doesn’t magically reset anything at all. It’s where secrets don’t dissolve, grudges don’t thaw, and human nature doesn’t suddenly improve at midnight.
If you want a darker, moodier start to January, these thrillers deliver tension, atmosphere, and the kind of slow-burn dread that pairs perfectly with long winter nights. Some of them are set on New Year’s Eve. Some unfold during winter retreats or holiday reunions. All of them feel exactly right for starting the year with a shiver.
1. The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley
New Year’s Eve • Locked-Room Thriller • Remote Scotland
If there’s a single book that defines New Year’s thriller, it’s The Hunting Party.
A group of old college friends reunite at a remote lodge in the Scottish Highlands to celebrate New Year’s Eve, but the reunion quickly turns toxic. Old rivalries resurface, someone goes missing, and a body is found before the weekend is over.
Foley leans heavily into atmosphere: snowed-in isolation, passive-aggressive friendships, and the slow realization that one of them may be a killer. It’s perfect if you want tension that builds like a storm.
2. One by One by Ruth Ware
Winter Getaway • Tech Startup Secrets • Survival Thriller
Not technically a New Year’s Eve story, but every inch of this book feels like early January: cold, claustrophobic, and quietly brutal. A corporate retreat in the Alps goes sideways when an avalanche traps the group inside their chalet—just as accusations, power struggles, and a suspicious death tear through the team.
Ware blends psychological tension with classic locked-room stakes, making this an ideal pick for readers who want a stylish winter thriller with that “fresh start but something is very wrong” energy.
3. Dream Town by David Baldacci
New Year’s Eve 1952 • Hollywood Noir • Crime Thriller
This one opens on New Year’s Eve in 1952, when private investigator Aloysius Archer finds himself pulled into a glamorous party that quickly spins into murder, danger, and a missing-person case in the underbelly of old Hollywood.
It’s stylish, gritty, and full of noir energy — ideal for readers who want a thriller that feels cinematic. If you like your New Year’s fiction with smoke, shadows, and secrets, Dream Town belongs on your list.
4. Midnight in Death by J.D. Robb
Christmas-to-New-Year • Futuristic Crime Thriller
Set in the days between Christmas and New Year’s Day, this novella drops Lieutenant Eve Dallas into a cat-and-mouse chase with a vengeful killer. The holiday backdrop adds an eerie contrast to the high-tech, fast-paced investigation.
It’s not cozy — it’s sharp, adrenaline-driven, and perfect if you want a quick but intense New Year’s read from one of the world’s most popular crime writers.
5. The Resort by Sara Ochs
New Year’s Eve Party • Tropical Suspense • Dual Timelines
If you want a thriller that feels like a sunburned counterpart to The Hunting Party, The Resort delivers heat and tension in equal measure. A glamorous New Year’s Eve celebration at a luxury island resort ends in a mysterious death — and the fallout reverberates years later.
It’s twisty, stylish, and ideal for readers who want a thriller that screams vacation gone wrong.
New Year, New Thrillers
New year, new stack of books, and maybe one that keeps you up way later than planned. If you’re in the mood for tension, secrets, and that delicious one more chapter feeling, this list is a strong place to start.
But if you’re starting January with something softer like a blanket, a warm drink, and a story that feels like comfort instead of chaos. If that’s the vibe you’re chasing, I’ve got you covered too. Check out my list of Cozy New Year Reads for a slower burn, sweeter tone, and stories that leave you smiling instead of side-eyeing your neighbors.
Thalia Mercer is a writer covering mystery and thriller fiction, with a focus on book-to-screen adaptations and contemporary reading culture. She writes about why certain stories resonate—and how they translate beyond the page.
