Here’s a novel idea: as the seasons change (and you continue to run out of new television seasons to binge), grab your coziest blanket, pour yourself a toasty, tasty drink, and brace yourself for some of the spookiest reads the Halloween season has to offer. Whether you’re a traditional gothic romance aficionado or a thriller-obsessed bookworm, these scary reads will have you turning the page and sleeping with the lights on.
The Whisper Man by Alex North
Easily the spookiest read on this list, The Whisper Man is a creepy, suspenseful tale full of twists, turns, and shudder-worthy characters that will have you hearing the faintest of whispers outside your bedroom window.
Highly rated amongst avid readers, this 2019 release is, without a doubt, a page-turner that will keep you awake at night, and not only to make sure you finish it in a single sitting.
Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
Following the footsteps of its gothic predecessors, Rebecca is a haunting romance turned psychological thriller that many consider a classic. Released in 1938, the tale is dated in the most literal sense, but in terms of entertainment value, the content itself is timeless. In fact, Netflix is releasing a film based on the book at the end of this month (it will be available for streaming October 21st). So if you’re a fan of complex characters, a little mystery, and a lot of chills, look no further!
My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
Perhaps you like your horror with a side of comedy? Or rather, your comedy with a side of murder? Well then this darkly humorous 2018 release is exactly what the doctor ordered. My Sister the Serial Killer is set in Lagos, Nigeria and follows two sisters as they navigate the dating world. Of course, for one, the dating world seems to be a bit more gruesome. Short, suspenseful chapters make for a can’t-put-it-down quick read you’ll find yourself recommending to everyone you meet.
No Exit by Taylor Adams
If you’re looking for a more suspenseful thriller, the 2017 release No Exit will keep you on the very edge of your seat from page one. Situational suspense—from a race home to a sick relative to being stranded in the middle of nowhere to a snowstorm and shut-down roads—keeps the twists, turns, and complete shocks coming from beginning to end..
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
The classic against which all gothic novels will forever be compared, Wuthering Heights is the most haunting romance novel ever written, and it’s one that readers will return to, again and again.
Published in 1847, this classic novel follows complex, cruel, and dark characters devoid of extraneous descriptors. The raw, hauntingly beautiful characters mirror the raw, hauntingly beautiful nature surrounding them, leaving fans of the macabre completely satisfied.
Fierce Kingdom by Gin Phillips
Another thrilling, suspenseful work, Fierce Kingdom forces the reader to consider the question, “What would you do?”
Released in 2017, the novel follows a mother and child trapped in a zoo with an active shooter. On every page, the suspense builds, as does the anxiety for this like-able duo simply trying to survive the night.
The air is becoming crisper, the nights a bit darker, and these spooky novels are the perfect pairing for such seasonal changes. So snuggle in, turn on that reading light, and enjoy these thrilling, haunting, and outright scary books. Happy reading!