This week’s topic for Top Ten Tuesday (hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl) is “Books Set in Snowy Places”.
I love books with snowy settings! Here are ten I’ve read and reviewed on my blog:
1. The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey -The first book to come to mind is definitely Eowyn Ivey’s beautiful retelling of The Snow Maiden set in 1920s Alaska.
2. The Sittaford Mystery by Agatha Christie – This very enjoyable standalone mystery is set in a small village cut off from the outside world by snow.
3. Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton – I loved all the winter imagery in Wharton’s classic novella – it reflects the bleakness of the plot as the title character falls in love with his wife’s cousin.
4. Winter Siege by Ariana Franklin and Samantha Norman – Set in 1141 during the period of English history known as the Anarchy, heavy snowfall and a long winter siege both play a big part in the story.
5. Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden – I loved all three books in this historical fantasy trilogy set in a wintry medieval Russia (The Bear and the Nightingale, The Girl in the Tower and Winter of the Witch).
6. The Ringed Castle by Dorothy Dunnett – This book, the fifth in Dunnett’s Lymond Chronicles, is set mainly in 16th century Russia where the cold, bleak landscape matches Lymond’s own state of mind as he deals with the traumas of the previous four novels.
7. The Fake Wife by Sharon Bolton – A large part of this novel is set outside on a snowy night as the police search for a woman who has gone missing after leaving her hotel.
8. White Corridor by Christopher Fowler – I reviewed this book, part of the Bryant and May mystery series, just last week. Our two elderly detectives become stranded in a line of cars during a snowstorm with a killer on the loose!
9. Death in Kashmir by M.M. Kaye – My favourite of Kaye’s Death In… romantic suspense novels is set at a ski resort in Kashmir, which makes for a very atmospheric and eerie setting.
10. Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife by Martin Edwards – A recent read set in the tiny, remote village of Midwinter where a group of people are taking part in a murder mystery game during a period of heavy snow.
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Have you read any of these? Which other books set in snowy places have you enjoyed?
She Reads Novels 
Great selection! I really enjoyed The Snow Child.
Here’s mine for this week:https://portobellobookblog.com/2025/12/09/top-ten-tuesday-9th-december-2025-books-set-in-snowy-places-toptentuesday-amreading-bookrecommendations-tuesdaybookblog-booksky-%f0%9f%92%99%f0%9f%93%9a/
Thanks! It’s a lovely book, isn’t it?
Great list, Margaret. I love books with snowy settings.
It’s Helen, but I’m glad you like it – and yes, snowy settings are beautiful!
Opps, so sorry Helen! Now I’m wondering if I referred to Margaret as Helen as I replied to you both in succession! I knew who you were really; I’ll blame the lead up to Christmas! 😂
Interesting list! I’m a bit scared of Ethan Frome because of the bleakness!!
It’s a depressing story, but also a very powerful and memorable one, so I do recommend it!
I’m just reading The Sittaford Mystery and it’s certainly snowy! You’ve reminded me that I meant to read the Martin Edwards, it’s such a fun title and The Snow Child is perfect for this list!
I read The Sittaford Mystery in December a few years ago and thought it was a perfect choice for the time of year! I hope you have the opportunity to read the Martin Edwards book as well.
The Snow Child is making a lot of appearances today. It was the first book I thought of despite reading it years ago. Has stayed with me
Yes, I also read The Snow Child a long time ago, when it was first published, and I still remember all those vivid descriptions of the snowy landscape!
I’ve read 2, 3, 4, 6, and 9. Here are some for you: Snowdrops by A. D. Miller, Snow Country by Yasunari Kawabata, Murder After Christmas by Rupert Latimer, Stories for Winter and NIghts by the Fire from British Library Women Writers, The White Priory Murders by Carter Dickson, and The Killing Stones by Ann Cleeves.
I haven’t read any of those. I would like to read the Women Writers book.
Great list! I loved The Snow Child and the Winternight trilogy. I’m hoping to finish the Lymond series in 2026!
Here’s my list: https://franlaniado.wordpress.com/2025/12/09/top-ten-tuesday-cold-and-snowy-stories/
I loved all of the Lymond books – good luck finishing the series!
Thanks, I’m up to book three now, but I may have to give the second one a reread before I get to it. It’s been a while since I finished it.
Hello Helen, I haven’t read any off your list, however I would really like to read The Snow Child and the Winternight Trilogy. 😊❄Blessings, Jessica 💌
The Snow Child is a lovely book and perfect for this time of year! I think you would enjoy the Winternight trilogy as well – I loved all three books.
I’ve read The Sitterford Mystery and Ethan Frome. I didn’t know Martin Edwards had published another book, so thanks for the information – I’ll have a look at it.
I enjoyed the Martin Edwards book. It has an unusual plot and a remote, snowy setting that I found very atmospheric.
I assume I’ve read The Sitterford Mystery and Death in Kashmir, but I don’t remember either. I’ve certainly read The Ringed Castle and Ethan Frome.
I forgot that Ariana Franklin’s daughter finished her last book (I must have been suspicious of the results). I really like her books, especially the trilogy that begins with A Catch of Consequence. That begins just a few blocks from my office!
I think you mentioned a new Sharon Bolton recently, and when I checked my library I was surprised to see The Fake Wife listed so it is on its way to me. I have a week off at Christmas – hooray for reading instead of going to work!
Apart from Winter Siege, I’ve only read the first two books in Ariana Franklin’s Adelia Aguilar series. I haven’t read any of her books under the Diana Norman name, although they’ve been recommended to me several times and I’m sure I would enjoy them.
The new Sharon Bolton is The Token, but The Fake Wife is another recent one – I hope you enjoy it! I remember finding the plot a bit implausible, but it has one of my favourite male characters in all of Bolton’s novels, which made it worth reading.