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10 Spooky Books to Read this Halloween

10 Spooky Books to Read this Halloween

Whilst I appreciate a good jump-scare horror film, nothing can quite beat the many nights spent reading Goosebumps by the light of a friend’s shaking torch that permeate my childhood memories. Stories have been used to scare us since the beginning of time and it’s chilling in itself to realize that just a few words on paper can stimulate a consuming sense of dread.

Halloween is the perfect time to curl up with one of these spooky books—just make sure to leave the lights on.

House of Leaves, Mark Z. Danielewski

This dark tale is about a family who discover that their new home is bigger on the inside than it is on the outside—and so much more. Deserving of its cult following, the experimental novel immerses you to fumble blindly over color, footnotes, upside-down text and your own nightmares. The only spoiler that I can give is that the dedication page reads: “This is not for you.”

The Haunting of Hill House, Shirley Jackson

You may think you have exhausted your tolerance of haunted houses—that is until Shirley Jackson takes you to Hill House. This slow-burning psychological horror was the inspiration for the new 10-part Netflix series and tells the unnerving story of four strangers and their journey into the depths of Hill House. 

Bird Box, Josh Malerman

Interweaving the past and the present, this horror novel follows Malorie and her two young children as they flee to safety. The main problem is that something is outside, and glimpsing it has driven everyone to deathly violence. Blindfolded, Malorie is unable to see what’s following them.

Sharp Objects, Gillian Flynn From the author of Gone Girl, comes an even-more-disturbing thriller. Reporter, Camille Preaker returns to her hometown to cover the murders of two young girls and is confronted by her own, twisted demons. If you’re triggered by cutting you should stay away from this one, though.

Pet Sematary, Stephen King 

It would have been rude not to include Stephen King on this list and Pet Sematary is frequently referenced as his scariest book. Set in rural Maine, the suspenseful, slow burning horror features the Creed family and their recent move to an idyllic home. When the family cat dies, they ignorantly bury it near an old pet cemetery. The ending of this one might just leave you too terrified to turn the page.

Silent Child, Sarah A. Denzil

In the summer of 2006, six-year-old Aiden fell into a river during a flood and drowned. His body was never recovered. Fast forward 10 years and when Aiden staggers out of the woods, injured and mute, his mother must attempt to reconnect with her son and figure out who took him.

Shutter Island, Dennis Lehane

Set in 1954, Shutter Island follows US Marshal Teddy Daniels as he arrives to investigate the disappearance of a patient at Ashecliffe Hospital for the Criminally Insane. The strange case exposes human experimentation, war tactics, a killer hurricane and a protagonist who is left as messed up, disoriented and desperate to figure out the mystery as you are.

The Grave Tender, Eliza Maxwell

This southern gothic suspense novel is beautifully written and haunting. When Hadley returns to her hometown—where she’d witnessed her mother set herself on fire—she discovers that her family is surrounded by dark secrets. This book deals with several forms of abuse and trigger warnings include: rape, incest, domestic abuse and child molestation.

The Last Time I Lied, Riley Sager

If you like to be kept guessing, this spooky mystery is for you. Emma remembers her days at Camp Nightingale, playing two truths and a lie with her friends—until they all went missing. When she is asked to return to the camp as a painting instructor, Emma discovers that all is not as it seems. Her past and present collide as she seeks to discover the truth.

Hocus Pocus and the All-New Sequel, A W Jantha

Did you know that Hocus Pocus the book and a brand new sequel were released in July this year? You’re welcome.

Further reading: The Most Haunted Universities in the World

Best Books to Read This Fall

Six of the Best Books to Read This Fall

Nothing screams fall quite like curling up in your cosiest pyjamas on the sofa before getting stuck into a good book. Here, we highlight the best books to read this fall.

Bitter Orange, Claire Fuller

Set in the luridly hot summer of 1969, Bitter Orange follows one woman’s claustrophobic obsession with a couple she meets in a run-down country house in England. Best-seller Claire Fuller’s third novel is the psych thriller you never knew you needed to read this fall. This intoxicating story breathlessly meshes themes of betrayal, right versus wrong and secrecy together; a chilling read for a chilly season.

This Will Only Hurt a Little, Busy Philipps

Actress—and Instagram’s favorite mama—Busy Philipps (well known for her roles in 2004’s White Chicks) has written a memoir and it’s every bit as refreshing, funny and honest as you’d hope. Philipps delightfully touches on life growing up in Arizona and those painful, formative teenage years to the Hollywood experience in this all-encapsulating autobiography. No wonder it’s high up on our list of best books to read this fall.

Becoming, Michelle Obama

Former First Lady Michelle Obama’s highly anticipated memoir is due to be published this November—and we can’t wait. The autobiography is a candid illustration of her life’s path from growing up in Chicago and motherhood to balancing the challenging responsibilities that come with being one of America’s most important women. Obama is a sharp writer, a purveyor of unwavering wit and totally unabashed in sharing her failings.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Heather Morris

After being sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau, Lale Sokolov is tasked with the job of tattooing fellow victims with numbers—a symbol now so synonymous with the violence of the Holocaust. When he meets a woman waiting in line to be marked, he falls in love. Lale makes it his mission to protect himself and his love in this gripping, courageous and unforgettable tale of life during the Holocaust.

A Spark of Light, Jodi Picoult

Of course Jodi Picoult is included in our list of favorite books to read this fall. The number one bestselling author returns with a heart-stopping story about a gunman who takes victims hostage in a reproductive clinic. The lives of those who happened to be at the clinic on that fateful day begin to intertwine, as Picoult explores themes of abortion, women’s rights and empathy. 

See What I Have Done, Sarah Schmidt

If you’re a fan of Netflix’s Making a Murderer (2017), then this is for you. Author Sarah Schmidt reimagines the unsolved true crime case of the Lizzie Borden murders. Be transported back to 1892 and enter the Borden household to discover tales of jealousy, sibling rivalry and dark, insidious secrets in this glittering novel. Paula Hawkins (The Girl on the Train) calls it “eerie and compelling”.

Further reading: 10 Best Books of 2016