I’m not entirely sure why, but as I sit at my desk peering out the window, which overlooks a snow-covered hill, my mind turned to books. My wind always turns to books, that’s not the part I don’t understand.
No, what’s odd is that while I look at the snow, I find myself wanting to read a story with scenes that fit the current conditions outdoors. Not sunny beach scenes, but cold winter scenes. So, in honor of Snowmaggedon 2016, here’s three of my favorite books that feature spectacular winter settings!
1.) The Lions of Lucerne
– Brad Thor
The Lions of Luceren features some of the most brilliant action scenes set in a snowy backdrop, ever. The book opens with Scot Harvath, who back then was working on the president’s Secret Service detail, skiing at a resort in Utah. The president is attacked, leaving Harvath as the only surviving agent of the group. Before Scot can regroup and go looking for the Commander-in-chief, he must first battle the harsh winter elements in an effort to stay alive.
The ending of the book also features a pretty awesome winter setting, but that’s all I can say without giving anything away. This isn’t just one of the best books to read if you’re trying to embrace the winter storm conditions, it’s one of the best thrillers ever written.
2.) The Survivor 
– Kyle Mills
CIA super-agent Mitch Rapp typically operates in the Middle East. However, in The Survivor Rapp and his team chase a lead that takes them to Russia, where they have to make their way through a harsh winter storm to a remote location that’s deep off the grid. It marks the first time in the series that we see Mitch on skis, and like the world-class athlete he is, he’s a total natural. The same cannot be said however for his computer hacker-extraordinaire, Marcus Dumond, who isn’t fond of the freezing cold conditions.
The Survivor was my favorite book of 2015, and is a must-read for all fans of the spy/political thriller genre.
3.) White Death
– Ted Bell
Of all the books on this list, this is the shortest. In fact, it’s actually a novella, but Ted Bell packs a heck of punch into White Death’s 200 pages. The story is about Lord Alex Hawke tracking a powerful villain high in the Swill Alps, where two dead bodies have sparked a conspiracy theory inside MI6.
The mountain climbing scenes in this novel are the best I’ve ever read. So good in fact, I nearly decided to give it a try myself, until I remembered that I’m afraid of heights and don’t fancy the snow. Bottom Line: You won’t be able to put this novella down!