10 Spooky Reads to Get You in the Halloween Spirit
It’s finally October and autumn is here, my favorite time of the year. I am celebrating crunchy leaves, snuggly sweaters, spiced apples, and of course, spine-tingling books. I am a voracious reader and something of a mystery/thriller + gothic horror aficionado. I have personally curated this list which consists of some of my favorite 5 star novels. So light your favorite fall candle, savor a pumpkin spice latte and grab a seat by the roaring fire, you’re in for a treat!
Here are 10 spooky reads to get you in the Halloween spirit. Warning: They may keep you up at night!
1. Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier – If you haven’t read Rebecca yet, I urge you to stop what you’re doing and get your hands on a copy right now. Haunting, suspenseful and atmospheric, it effortlessly ranks in my top five books of all time. The 1940’s film by Alfred Hitchcock which was based on Du Maurier’s novel is equally mesmerizing.
2. The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell– Out of all of the books on this list, The Silent Companions captures the essence of Halloween most saliently. A Victorian gothic horror novel through and through, it takes the typical haunted house plot and reinvents it in an unsettling and astonishing way. This one had me questioning every little bump I heard in the night. Highly recommend!
3. Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton– I am not the type of person who generally enjoys reading series, but this one by Laurell K. Hamilton is one of the few exceptions to the rule. Guilty Pleasures is a rollicking supernatural romp that features vampires, lycanthropes and stuffed penguins, oh my! Anita Blake is one of my favorite literary characters and quite possibly my spirit animal. She kicks ass, takes names and asks questions later. If you are a fan of True Blood, but prefer your heroines with a bit more bite, this will be right up your alley.
4. If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio– An intriguing psychological thriller that takes place at an exclusive boarding school on the East Coast and centers around a group of Shakespearean drama students. Moody and suspenseful with well-drawn characters and an unforgettable ending, If We Were Villains is one that you won’t want to miss. It pays homage to (the also excellent) The Secret History by Donna Tartt as well as the Bard’s hypnotic body of work. I would liken this book to a sleeper film that no one knows about, but everyone should read.
5. Night Film by Marisha Pessl– Ah, Night Film- how do I love thee? Let me count the ways. Marisha Pessl is quite possibly one of the most brilliant authors I have ever encountered and her work is a direct reflection of that. The plot is based on the death of an enigmatic, cult-horror film director’s daughter. I will leave it at that to avoid any spoilers. Is the novel perfect? No. It does suffer from some pacing problems, and some of the side characters are a little irritating, but despite this, l do not hesitate to call Night Film a masterpiece. I read it when it first came out a little over 5 years ago and it still has its claws in me. I love Pessl’s use of photographs, newsprint and other engaging snippets of media to draw the reader further in. Whoever decides to adapt this into a movie or tv series will be making the big bucks. Pessl seems to be a very polarizing author, either you love her novels or you think they’re pretentious garbage. If like me, you are in the first camp, makes sure to check out Special Topics in Calamity Physics, another mind-boggling hidden gem.
6. Hallowe’en Party by Agatha Christie– Full disclosure: I read this in high school so I can’t attest to how well it has held up over time, or whether adult me would still enjoy it. However, I am an avid Christie fan and Hallowe’en Party is one of the three I remember most fondly, in addition to And Then There Were None and The Murder of Rodger Ackroyd. The novel takes place during Halloween in a small English village where one child is found dead bobbing for apples after claiming to have witnessed a murder. It isn’t long before Hercule Poirot and his little grey cells are soon on the case. Hallowe’en Party is a fitting addition to your list of spooky October books with a surprising plot and a stormy autumn ambience.
7. The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn– If you are a fan of the movie Rear Window by Alfred Hitchcock then I can say with confidence that you will enjoy The Woman in The Window. Anna Fox is an agoraphobic, confined to her NYC abode due to a paralyzing fear of leaving the house. What does Anna do to pass the time? She spies on her neighbors and drinks, of course! One day our unpredictable narrator sees a horrifying crime take place from her window, but no one seems to believe her… A harrowing, nail-biting read, The Woman in the Window is dramatic, twisty and satisfying.
8. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater– Ladies and gentlemen, I recommend The Raven Boys with some reservations. It is the first of a quartet and as divulged previously, I avoid reading series for a reason. While the first three books in Stiefvater’s The Raven Cycle are exceptionally clever and well-written, the finale was a huge letdown for me personally (although let it be known that not all my friends felt that way). Like her home-run hitting counterpart, Sarah J. Maas, Stiefvater has a gift for writing. The Raven Boys is alluring, mystical and just plain exciting. It involves mystery, adventure, magic and a dash of romance. It is the YA genre at its best. The characters are well-developed and likeable and the plot is like nothing I’ve ever read before. The intriguing esoteric elements and cloak-and-dagger atmosphere also make it a perfect candidate for Halloween reading. P.S. I’m team Ronan
9. Salem’s Lot by Stephen King– Stephen King is one of the most popular horror writers of all time. Salem’s Lot however, is one of his lesser-known and underrated works. It is also my favorite, next to Misery. Do not try to research the plot or read reviews ahead of time. This book is most enthralling when you go in completely blind! Salem’s Lot is the perfect scary story, equal parts intellectual and frightening. King deftly weaves his tale, preying on the psychological mechanism that sometimes what you don’t show the audience has an even more powerful impact. Our own imagination is often home to the scariest monsters of all.
10. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides– The Silent Patient was actually featured on my summer reading list, but I enjoyed it so much that I had to double down and mention it here as well. It is easily the most suspenseful and surprising novel I have read all year. The plot surrounds famous painter, Alicia Berenson, who shoots her husband in the face five times and never speaks another word again. Committed to an asylum of sorts, Alicia is treated by therapist Theo Faber, who is determined to get her side of the story. The question on everyone’s mind is- what really happened on that fateful day? And why did Alicia do it? There are not a ton of books left in this genre that have the capacity to pull the wool over my eyes, but this one certainly did! If you enjoy dark, psychological thrillers, this one is for you.
Have you read any of the books on this list? What did you think?
Meanwhile, I’ll be curled up on the couch with my favorite legwarmers and a mug of apple cinnamon tea. Until next time, my dear.
