As winter settles across Australia, readers are increasingly turning to dark mysteries, psychological thrillers and suspense-filled crime novels to keep them company through long nights indoors.

New Kobo data reveals a growing appetite for psychological thrillers, mysteries and crime fiction during the colder months.

This data, from Rakuten Kobo’s Winter Reading Trends Report 2025, shows a dramatic shift towards suspense-driven storytelling, with psychological thriller readership recording the biggest seasonal surge of any genre.

According to Kobo’s June-August reading data:

  • Psychological thriller readership skyrocketed by 1,495%, jumping from just 21 reads in June to 335 reads in July.
  • Fiction remained Australia’s favourite winter reading category, recording more than 1,300 monthly reads throughout the season.
  • Mystery titles maintained strong momentum, generating 211 reads in June and remaining among the platform’s top-performing genres throughout winter.
  • Crime fiction, police procedurals and suspense novels consistently ranked among the strongest-performing subgenres.
  • Non-fiction also saw renewed interest later in the season, increasing from 752 reads in June to 860 reads in August.
  • Fiction reading continues to grow year-on-year, with July 2025 recording 58,021 reads, up from 54,363 in July 2024 and 52,561 in July 2023.

The findings suggest Australians are embracing gripping page-turners as their preferred winter escape, while still balancing entertainment with self-improvement through non-fiction titles.

Kobo’s Top Winter Thriller & Mystery Recommendations

Looking for your next binge-worthy read? Kobo has highlighted several standout titles that readers are adding to their winter reading lists:

Out in Nowhere – Fleur McDonald | eBook and Audiobook

Following the death of her husband on a remote cattle station, Hallie Donaldson uncovers secrets that cast doubt over whether his death was truly an accident.

Nemesis – Patricia Wolf | eBook and Audiobook

Detective Lucas Walker heads to Berlin to bring down a notorious biker gang leader, only to become entangled in a brutal murder investigation.

Last One Out – Jane Harper | eBook and Audiobook

A mother’s return to her dying hometown reignites questions surrounding her son’s disappearance in this atmospheric rural mystery.

Melaleuca – Angie Faye Martin | eBook and Audiobook

An Aboriginal police officer returns to her remote hometown and uncovers corruption, buried secrets and unresolved disappearances.

Kill Your Husbands – Jack Heath | eBook

A reunion among friends takes a deadly turn when a guest vanishes and a killer emerges from within the group.

My Husband’s Wife – Alice Feeney | eBook and Audiobook

An artist returns home to discover a stranger living her life in a chilling tale of identity, deception and hidden truths.

Legacy – Chris Hammer | eBook and Audiobook

A small-town murder investigation reveals connections to a decades-old family tragedy in this gripping Australian crime novel.

Mad Mabel – Sally Hepworth | eBook and Audiobook

An elderly woman known for her controversial past becomes the focus of a fresh murder investigation and finally shares her version of events.

Nightshade – Michael Connelly | eBook and Audiobook

A detective assigned to a remote island uncovers corruption and long-held secrets beneath the surface of a suspicious death.

For readers looking to embrace the darker side of winter, Kobo’s latest data suggests there has never been a better time to dive into a mystery, thriller or crime novel.