By Maggie Giles
As the air gets cooler and the nights longer, there’s no better time to curl up with a spooky season read. Whether you’re in the mood for spine-tingling horror, pulse-pounding thrillers, or cozy romances with a supernatural twist, spooky season offers something for every type of reader. From haunted houses and dark mysteries to paranormal love stories and eerie YA adventures, this list will guide you to the perfect read to match your autumn vibe. Light some candles, grab a warm drink, and dive into spooky season!
For the Horror Fan:
Don’t Eat the Pie by Monique Asher
Newlywed Sam moves her family to Camillia Island to care for her ailing mother-in-law, where the island’s older women welcome them warmly with hospitality and superstition. Everything seems perfect, but strange occurrences arise, especially in the creepy house where Ben’s first wife died. Sam’s daughter, Emma, is troubled by ghostly visions and warnings, but Sam is reluctant to disturb her new life. As Emma uncovers increasingly grim messages, the mystery grows: what dark secrets are hidden on Camillia Island, and why are the residents so intent on keeping them quiet?
Bunny by Mona Awad
Samantha, a scholarship student in a prestigious MFA program, feels out of place among her wealthy classmates who call each other “Bunny.” When they inexplicably invite her into their secretive clique, she finds herself drawn into their surreal world, where their strange rituals blur the line between reality and fantasy. As Samantha becomes entangled in their disturbing, darkly magical experiments, she faces a transformation that challenges her sense of self and sanity.
For the Thriller Lover:
My Darlings by Marie Still
Behind the pristine façades of affluent DC, stay-at-home mom Eloise Williams leads a double life as both a respected philanthropist and a serial killer. As the secrets of her elite inner circle begin to unravel, more bodies pile up, and Eloise finds herself losing control. Eloise’s carefully curated life teeters on the brink. As her role shifts from predator to prey, the dark realities lurking beneath the surface come dangerously close to exposure.
Games for Dead Girls by Jen Williams
Told in alternating timelines, Charlie, as a child, created a monster in a deadly game that left her haunted. Years later, Charlie and her niece Katie head to the seaside town of Hithechurch, where Charlie researches local folklore. However, her investigation reveals unsettling connections to her own past, as young women are disappearing again. Charlie delves deeper and faces a sinister force that may be tied to the monster she created as a child, forcing her to confront the true horrors lurking in the shadows.
For a Fantasy Adventurer
Starling House by Alix E. Harrow
The small town of Eden, Kentucky, is overshadowed by the eerie legend of E. Starling, a reclusive author who disappeared after writing the haunting tale The Underland. The mysterious Starling House, linked to her legacy, stands at the town’s crossroads, abandoned and shunned by locals. When Opal receives an unexpected job offer that could help her brother escape their grim hometown, she is drawn to the house and its last heir, Arthur Starling. As she becomes entangled in the house’s dark history, Opal must confront her own fears and the sinister forces threatening to consume Eden, ultimately facing a choice between uncovering buried secrets and protecting the fragile sense of home she has found.
A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher
Sam Montgomery arrives at her mother’s home in North Carolina for a rare visit, eager to reconnect and enjoy their favorite pastime of solving murder mysteries together. However, upon her arrival, she is struck by the unsettling changes in her mother’s behavior and the once-cozy home, which now feels cold and unwelcoming. As Sam tries to make sense of her mother’s anxiety and the eerie atmosphere, she discovers a hidden jar of teeth buried in the garden, alongside ominous vultures circling overhead. Determined to uncover the source of her mother’s fear, Sam delves into dark secrets that suggest some truths are best left buried, leading her on a chilling journey of revelation and danger.
For the Women’s Fiction Enthusiast
The Witches of Moonshyne Manor by Bianca Maras
Five octogenarian witches face the threat of demolition as an angry mob converges on their home due to unpaid mortgage payments. Queenie, the leader, hopes the return of their long-lost sister Ruby will provide a solution, but her homecoming reveals new obstacles. A vengeful man seeks to reclaim a stolen family legacy and with their powers fading, the witches are joined by Persephone, a bold TikToker eager to challenge patriarchy. Secrets surface and tensions rise, they must unite to confront both their enemies and the challenges of aging through the strength of female bonds and resilience.
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
A female apothecary in 1791 London, Nella, secretly dispenses poisons to help women escape abusive men, adhering to strict rules about their use. In present-day London, historian Caroline discovers an old apothecary vial while coping with her husband’s infidelity, prompting her to investigate the unsolved “apothecary murders” linked to Nella’s past. As Caroline delves deeper, her life intertwines with Nella and Eliza’s in a dramatic convergence, with deadly consequences for all involved.
For the Swoony Romance Devotee
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
Mika Moon, a solitary witch in Britain, hides her magic and keeps her distance from other witches to avoid drawing attention. Orphaned and raised by strangers, she feels accustomed to loneliness, but she breaks her own rules by posting videos online pretending to be a witch. When she receives a request to teach three young witches at the remote Nowhere House, she agrees, leading her into the lives of the children, a mysterious archaeologist, a retired actor, and the protective but prickly librarian, Jamie. As Mika finds a sense of belonging and a potential new family, she must confront external dangers and decide if she’s willing to risk everything for those she has come to care for.
The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston
Florence Day is a ghostwriter for a top romance author, but after a painful breakup, she no longer believes in love. When her demanding new editor, a handsome man, denies her a deadline extension, her career hangs in the balance. Compounding her troubles, she receives devastating news about her father’s passing and must return to her hometown for the first time in a decade. Although she’s reluctant to face the town that never accepted her, she finds comfort in her loving, eccentric family and their funeral parlor. However, everything changes when she encounters a ghost—her strikingly handsome editor—who has unresolved issues of his own. As Florence navigates her complicated feelings about love and loss, she begins to confront her past and reconsider her beliefs about romance.
For the Classics Reader
Dracula by Bram Stoker
When Jonathan Harker visits Transylvania to help Count Dracula with the purchase of a London house, he makes a series of horrific discoveries about his client. Soon afterwards, various bizarre incidents unfold in England: an apparently unmanned ship is wrecked off the coast of Whitby; a young woman discovers strange puncture marks on her neck; and the inmate of a lunatic asylum raves about the ‘Master’ and his imminent arrival.
Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice
Louis de Pointe du Lac narrates his tumultuous journey through both mortal and immortal life after being turned into a vampire by the charismatic yet sinister Lestat. Struggling with his new identity, Louis grapples with his conscience and the morality of vampirism, which is further complicated when he adopts the young girl Claudia, making her a vampire as well. Their bond grows strong, but Claudia is trapped in the body of a child, leading to her own struggles for identity and autonomy, as well as a shared hatred for Lestat. Together, they flee to Europe in search of belonging and understanding, ultimately discovering the Theatre des Vampires in Paris, where they encounter Armand and a complex vampire society. However, their quest for answers and acceptance exposes them to new dangers and challenges, complicating their already tumultuous existence.
For the Young Adult Bookworm
Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco:
Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth is the privileged daughter of a lord, but she defies societal expectations by secretly studying forensic medicine in her uncle’s laboratory. Drawn into the investigation of a gruesome serial killer terrorizing London, Audrey uses her knowledge to examine the brutal murders of young women, risking her reputation and safety. As she delves deeper into the investigation, she confronts the dark realities of her sheltered life and uncovers unsettling truths that challenge her understanding of the world around her.
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
High school senior Pip Fitz-Amobi is haunted by the unsolved murder case of Andie Bell, who was allegedly killed by her boyfriend, Sal Singh, who then took his own life. While the tragedy still casts a shadow over her small town five years later, Pip, who once knew Sal as a kind boy, feels compelled to investigate the closed case for her final school project. As she delves deeper, she uncovers dark secrets that suggest Sal may be innocent, challenging the town’s narrative. However, her quest for the truth puts her in danger as someone in Fairview is determined to keep the past buried, leading to a thrilling race against time to reveal what really happened.
What spooky read are you checking out this Halloween Season?