By Ashley Rands, Marketing
The air is turning crisp and leaves are falling. There is no better time to dive into a spine-tingling book that will send shivers down your spine. The world of horror and scary literature is ever expanding. We have some spooky reading recommendations for October that are sure to satisfy your craving for eerie tales, supernatural encounters, and heart-pounding suspense.
Spooky Reading Recommendations
The Hollow Ones
by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan
Known for his mesmerizing films like Pan’s Labyrinth and The Shape of Water, Guillermo del Toro has teamed up with author Chuck Hogan to create The Hollow Ones. This dark and atmospheric novel delves into the supernatural world, combining elements of horror, thriller, and detective fiction. The story follows FBI agent Odessa Hardwicke as she becomes entangled in a series of bizarre and otherworldly murders. With a blend of folklore and Lovecraftian horror, this book is a gripping page-turner that will keep you up all night.
The Last House on Needless Street
by Catriona Ward
Catriona Ward’s psychological thriller takes readers on a mind-bending journey as they unravel the mystery surrounding a reclusive man living in the woods, haunted by a gruesome past. This novel challenges your perception of reality and delivers a truly unsettling experience.
The Final Girl Support Group
by Grady Hendrix
This spooky reading recommendation takes a unique twist on the slasher genre by focusing on the survivors, or “final girls,” of various horror movie massacres. The final girl is the one who’s left standing when the credits roll. In horror movies, the final girl is the one who’s left standing when the credits roll. The one who fought back, defeated the killer, and avenged her friends. The one who emerges bloodied but victorious. But after the sirens fade and the audience moves on, what happens to her?
Lynette, the protagonist, attends a support group for final girls, but when one of their members is murdered, they must confront their traumatic pasts. This book is a tribute to classic horror films and offers a fresh perspective on the genre.
The Whispering Dead
by Darcy Coates
Homeless, hunted, and desperate to escape a bitter storm, Keira takes refuge in an abandoned groundskeeper’s cottage. Her new home is tucked away at the edge of a cemetery, surrounded on all sides by gravestones: some recent, some hundreds of years old, all suffering from neglect.
And in the darkness, she can hear the unquiet dead whispering.
The cemetery is alive with faint, spectral shapes, led by a woman who died before her time…and Keira, the only person who can see her, has become her new target. Determined to help put the ghost to rest, Keira digs into the spirit’s past life with the help of unlikely new friends, and discovers a history of deception, ill-fated love, and murder.
But the past is not as simple as it seems, and Keira’s time is running out. Tangled in a dangerous web, she has to find a way to free the spirit…even if it means offering her own life in return.
The Book of Accidents
by Chuck Wendig
This novel combines family drama with supernatural horror as it follows Nate, his wife Maddie, and their son Oliver, who move to a rural Pennsylvania town. As they settle into their new home, they uncover a series of disturbing events tied to dark forces that have haunted the town for generations. With Wendig’s talent for storytelling, The Book of Accidents promises to be a gripping and unsettling read.
The Spite House
by Johnny Compton
This spooky reading recommendation is Johnny Compton’s debut novel. The Spite House has The Shining vibes but it contains plenty of surprises and new terrors. Eric Ross, our protagonist, is on the run from his past with his two daughters in tow. He is desperate for money and a place to stay. He finally thinks they have caught a lucky break when he sees a strange ad for the Masson House. No matter that the property is notorious for being the most haunted place in Texas because it needs a caretaker of sorts. Eric is ready to tackle the challenge of staying in this haunted house because there is a huge payout. A terrifying Gothic thriller about grief and death and the depths of a father’s love, Johnny Compton’s The Spite House is a stunning debut by a horror master in the making.
Whether you’re a fan of psychological thrillers, supernatural mysteries, or classic horror tales, these spooky reading recommendations have something for every reader seeking a dose of fear and suspense. From renowned authors like Guillermo del Toro to emerging talents like Darcy Coates, these books are guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat as you embrace the eerie and unknown. So, light a candle, curl up with your favorite blanket, and prepare to be haunted by some of the best spooky books of the season.
