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I can’t speak for others, but in my opinion, one thing that makes a thriller book absolutely terrifying is when it takes place in a setting you would ordinarily believe to be safe.
Not many hotels are considered safe, as the general presumption is that you’re either there to relax or commute.
But generally, you don’t expect something terrible to happen. So, what if something terrible does happen?
Perhaps a character dies, or the protagonist sees something they shouldn’t have seen and is haunted for the duration of their stay and isn’t allowed to leave.
All of this makes thriller books set in hotels so scary.
In this post, I’ve listed some of my favorite ones.
So, if you’re in the mood for a thriller book set in a hotel, apartment, or cabin, then you definitely want to check this out.
I love a good old claustrophobic mystery book, and these ones absolutely deliver from start to finish.
An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena
This one had me holding my breath.
A bunch of strangers go to a remote, snowy inn hoping for a peaceful weekend.
But then a storm traps them in and one of them ends up dead.
Now there’s no way out, and one of them is a killer.
I loved how it felt like an old-school murder mystery with modern tension.
It really had me guessing!
The Shadow Land by Elizabeth Kostova
This story felt deep and haunting in a quiet way.
A young woman in Bulgaria accidentally ends up with an urn of ashes and it leads her into a mystery that spans decades.
It’s slower-paced but really beautiful and atmospheric.
If you like stories with history, heartache, and a little danger, this one’s special.
Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson
I was hooked from the first line—it’s clever, funny, and dark all at once.
The main character, Ern, has a very honest voice as he tells us about his very suspicious family.
They’re stuck at a snowy resort for a reunion, and of course, someone ends up dead.
This one’s playful but sharp, and I loved how self-aware it was.
The Ice Hotel by Hania Allen
A hotel made completely out of ice? Yes, please.
But of course, things go very wrong.
When a guest is found dead, it’s clear it wasn’t an accident.
The cold, the mystery, and the race against time before everything melts kept me glued.
It gave me cozy mystery vibes but with real danger.
Girls’ Night Out by Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke
This one hit hard emotionally.
Three old friends go on a tropical trip to reconnect, but secrets and tension bubble up and one of them disappears.
It made me think about how friendships can be messy, especially when trust is broken.
It’s part mystery, part emotional rollercoaster, and full suspense mode.
Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz
I adore books about books, and this one gives you a mystery inside another mystery.
Susan is running a hotel in Greece when she gets pulled into solving a murder that might be connected to an old book.
It’s smart, twisty, and very British-feeling.
I had fun trying to piece it all together.
The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay
This one shook me.
A peaceful vacation turns into a nightmare when strangers show up saying the family must make an impossible choice to save the world.
It’s intense, unsettling, and raises some big questions.
Definitely not a relaxing read, but it stayed with me for days.
Please See Us by Caitlin Mullen
There’s something so sad and eerie about this book.
Two young women—one a psychic, the other reeling from a personal loss—team up to uncover what’s behind a string of missing girls.
Set around a fading motel and empty casinos, it’s a quiet but chilling story about danger, loneliness, and finding strength in strange places.
The Guest List by Lucy Foley
Imagine a fancy wedding on a private island—gorgeous, right? But then someone ends up dead.
I loved how everyone had a secret, and the story moves between different guests’ points of view.
It’s moody, sharp, and full of twists.
It reminded me of Agatha Christie but with a fresh edge.
The Shining by Stephen King
This one’s a classic, and for good reason.
Jack takes a job at a remote hotel to get a fresh start, but the hotel has other plans.
Things get creepy fast, and his young son Danny starts seeing things no one else can.
The slow buildup of dread here is masterful.
Even if you know the story, reading it still feels terrifying.
Do you think you’ll check out any of these lovely books? Let me know in the comment section below!
If you’re interested in reading more thriller books, check out these posts:
