10 Best Books to Read for Halloween
Halloween is a time of the year when many of us crave a good scare, and there is nothing quite like curling up with a chilling book on a cold autumn evening. But with so many horror stories out there, it can be hard to find the perfect one to get you into the Halloween spirit. Here are ten horror novels to give you the scares you are looking for. These are the best books to read for Halloween:
My Soul to Keep by Tananarive Due
This horror novel follows Jessica, who believes she has the perfect life with her husband David. But when people close to her start to die, David makes a confession that will change their lives forever. With his family now in danger from his past, David vows to protect Jessica and his daughter from the members of an Ethiopian sect of immortals.
With supernatural elements, My Soul To Keep creates a haunting atmosphere that will send shivers down your spine.
The September House by Carissa Orlando
Looking for a haunted house tale? Join Carissa Orlando as she offers an immersive and twisted take on the classic haunted house story. The book follows a woman who is determined to stay in her dream house, even after it becomes a haunted nightmare. Orlando’s writing style has been described as playful, irreverent and spine-chilling.
This novel keeps readers engaged with its twists and turns, creating a suspenseful and active atmosphere that will captivate fans of haunting tales, making it perfect for Halloween.
Anoka by Shane Hawk
Anoka is a collection of horror stories centred around Anoka, a small city in Minnesota, dubbed the Halloween Capital of the World. This book’s stories explore chilling tales involving bone collectors, pagan witches, werewolves, skeletal bison and cloned children.
Hawk offers a unique blend of Indigenous storytelling and horror, so if you’re looking for a short story collection with haunting, brutal stories then this one is for you.
Episode Thirteen by Craig DeLouie
Episode Thirteen is a heart-pounding novel of horror and psychological suspense. A ghost-hunting reality TV crew gains unprecedented access to an abandoned and supposedly haunted mansion, with the promise of a groundbreaking thirteenth-episode. As they delve into the secret history of the house, they begin to question the line between reality and fiction, realizing that ‘reality’ TV might be all too real.
This is considered one of the best books to read for Halloween if you are looking for something that combines horror, suspense, and paranormal elements, creating a thrilling and chilling reading experience. With its macabre storyline and psychological twists, Episode Thirteen will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Right Behind You by Neil D’Silva
This is another short story collection of 13 horror stories. If you are looking for a collection of stories that is all about making you feel uneasy, and feel that sense of creeping dread, then pick this one up for Halloween. Right Behind You taps into the darkest corners of fear and creeping terror that we all love. The book draws inspiration from various sources, including real-life experiences and legends.
And Then She Fell by Alicia Elliott
Alicia Elliot’s And Then She Fell follows Alice, a young Indigenous woman, who thinks she has an ideal life. She has the perfect husband and just gave birth to her daughter, Dawn. Things seem to be amazing in her life until she begins to hear voices, something that hasn’t happened since she was a little girl. Then she begins to lose time.
And Then She Fell offers a compelling exploration of motherhood, mental health and the consequences of pursuing an idealized life. How is this scary? Well, you’ll have to check it out and see.
The Last Days of Jack Sparks by Jason Arnopp
The Last Days of Jack Sparks is a horror novel that follows the story of Jack Sparks, a pop-culture journalist, who dies while writing a book. Jack is known for his controversial research on the occult and his provocative behaviour, including mocking an exorcism he witnessed, which sparked a furious Twitter storm. However, when a forty-second video appears on his YouTube channel and Jack denies the video is his, it opens questions about the mystery behind his death.
Exorcism, online drama, an egotistical online celebrity in a horror novel? Why not?
Dead Corpse by Nuzo Onoh
Dead Corpse by Nuzo Onoh, known as The Queen of African Horror, is a horror novel that tells the story of Aku, a character who experiences death but remains unaware of her own demise. She initially believes she is caught in a nightmare or being attacked by malevolent supernatural forces. However, this isn’t the case, and reality is far scarier than she believes.
This novel encapsulates the eerie and macabre elements that are often associated with the Halloween season. It delves into the realm of horror, offering readers a thrilling and spine-chilling narrative filled with supernatural encounters and dark themes of death and the afterlife.
Scanlines by Todd Keisling
Scanlines begins in 1987, when Congressman Benjamin Hardly III kills himself live on TV amidst accusations of political corruption. Years later, the tape has become an urban legend, and rumours of the recording begin to gain popularity. Dubbed the Duncan Tape, the urban legend states that anyone who watches the tape is driven to copy Hardly’s demise. After a boring Friday night leads them to the internet, Robby and his friends stumble on a clip that introduces them to the urban legend.
Nana by Brandon Massey
Nana is a supernatural thriller novel written by Brandon Massey. The story follows Monica Stephens, who never knew her birth mother and was raised by a loving adoptive parent. As an adult with a successful career and family, Monica becomes curious about her origins. Her curiosity is satisfied when a woman named Grace, claiming to be her birth mother, appears in her life. The revelation of her true parentage leads Monica into a world of family drama, and shocking secrets, and maybe just maybe Grace wants more from Monica than a reunion with her long-lost daughter.
There we have it. These are the 10 best books to read for Halloween. So, if you are looking for a good scare, hopefully, this list will help. Have you read any of these novels? Do you have your own recommendations that you think will give a great added scare to someone’s spooky season? Comment below and let us know!