A HALLOWEEN READING LIST
Here in the US, there’s a crisp bite to the air, apple cider and pumpkins are everywhere, and Halloween decorations are popping up like dandelions on front lawns in anticipation of eager Trick-or-Treaters.
As part of the season, we book-lovers often seek out darker reading material, settling into our comfiest reading spots to devour the horror, suspense, mystery, dark fantasy, and gothic fiction we’ve been craving like candy corn.
(Well. I personally crave candy corn, although I hear it’s among the most disputed of candies!)
Because I write in a darker genre, spooky books are a year-round read for me, but during the autumnal months, they have an increased appeal. There are several soon-to-be released and newly released books on my radar this fall that I can’t wait to indulge in. I curated my list to reflect these books as well as some recent reads that will have you staying up much too late with all the lights on.
Without further ado, here’s my list:
BAD WITCH BURNING by Jessica Lewis — one of my favorite new releases of 2021—is a witchy story full of Black girl magic and ghosts. Katrell has always been able to talk to the dead for money, and while it’s enough to support her unemployed mother and Mom’s deadbeat boyfriend, finances are tight and Katrell’s under more pressure than any teenager deserves. But when one of her summonings accidentally raises the dead, Katrell sees an opportunity for a better life. Even though the ghosts warn her how dangerous raising Revenants can be, Katrell’s lucrative new talent soon makes life a little easier. But as the Revenants go rogue and her resurrections draw unsavory attention, Katrell must choose: resign herself to poverty, or face the darkness before it’s too late. This story had me biting my nails up until the very end. It’s wonderful.
THE MISSING SISTER by Elle Marr — If thrillers and suspense are more your cup of tea, this twisty tale set in Paris’s underbelly will have you on the edge of your seat. Shayna Darby’s twin sister has vanished, leaving behind three chilling words: Trust No One. Putting the rest of her life on hold, Shayna heads to Paris to find out what happened to her sister. As she gets closer to the truth—and to the killer—Shayna’s own life may now hang in the balance. This novel delivered plenty of unexpected twists and turns, and its climactic ending in the labyrinthine Paris catacombs set my heart racing!
THE WITCH OF WILLOW HALL by Hester Fox— Fox’s debut novel, which introduced me to her stellar writing back in 2018, is an entrancing and compelling story about Lydia Montrose and her family, who come to Willow Hall in 1821 in the wake of a scandal. The estate seems sleepy and idyllic…at first. But as Lydia and her two sisters soon discover, there’s a menacing secret at Willow Hall—a remnant of a darker history that calls to Lydia and her youngest sister, Emeline. To protect those she loves, Lydia must draw on a power she never knew she possessed. Full of atmosphere and quiet horror, this is a must for fans of historical gothic fiction. All of Hester’s catalog is phenomenal.
NANNY NEEDED by Georgina Cross— One of my most anticipated new releases for October, this domestic thriller promises to be a page-turning read. When a young woman takes a job as a nanny to an impossibly wealthy family, she thinks she’s found entree into a better life—only to discover she’s walked into a world of deception and dark secrets. There are so many Bly Manor/Turn of the Screw vibes with this one! I cannot wait to read!
THE LOST HISTORY OF DREAMS by Kris Waldherr— At the top of my TBR list, this gorgeous, highly-acclaimed work of gothic fiction sounds like a pre-Raphaelite dream. After famed Byronesque poet Hugh de Bonne is found dead, his will instructs that he be buried in a stained glass chapel set on the Shropshire moors, built to house the remains of his beloved wife and muse, Ada. Ada’s grief-stricken niece holds the only key to the chapel, but she refuses to open it unless Hugh’s estranged cousin and executor, Robert, agrees to her conditions: before he can lay Hugh to rest, Robert must record the real story behind her aunt’s ill-fated marriage over the course of five nights. This premise reminds me so much of the story of Dante Gabriel Rossetti and his muse, Elizabeth Siddal, as well as one of my all-time favorite gothic romances, Possession by A.S. Byatt. I cannot wait to savor it.
SMALL FAVORS by Erin Craig—This novel features one of my favorite gothic premises: an isolated small town plagued by curses, dark secrets, and sinister powers. Ellerie Downing lives in the quiet town of Amity Falls in the Blackspire Mountain range. But as fall turns to winter, increasingly strange activities begin to plague the town. The sinister events point to a tribe of devilish creatures who promise to fulfill the residents’ darkest desires…for a small favor. Soon Ellerie finds herself in a race against time to keep Amity Falls, her family, and the boy she loves from going up in flames.
BEGUILED BY NIGHT by Nicole Eigener—One of the most lyrically beautiful novels I have ever read, Eigener’s debut is a unique and compelling take on the classic vampire tale. Louis de Vauquelin is an ancient French vampire created in 1668 and now living in present-day L.A. His life in self-imposed exile has become peaceful and relatively carefree until time suddenly begins to unravel, forcing him to re-navigate the already chartered waters of his past. The ensuing tale is a cleverly plotted journey through the past and “futurepast” as Vauquelin tries to reckon with the missteps he has made in his immortal life so that he might have a chance at reclaiming the only true happiness he’s ever known.
THE SPELLBOOK OF KATRINA VAN TASSEL by Alyssa Palombo— If you prefer a classic Halloween story, filled with autumnal atmosphere and swoon-worthy romance, this retelling of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is just the ticket. Told from Katrina’s perspective, this gorgeous novel will become your favorite fall comfort read that you’ll likely return to again and again, just as I have. When itinerant schoolmaster Ichabod Crane arrives in the spooky village of Sleepy Hollow, Katrina Van Tassel finds herself instantly drawn to him. They embark on a secret love affair, sneaking away into the woods after dark—all the while praying they catch no sight of the infamous Headless Horseman. All is well until Ichabod disappears on All Hallows’ Eve, sending Katrina on a quest to discover the truth about what really happened to her lover. Was it the Horseman, as the locals claim, or are there darker forces at play?
WITHIN THESE WICKED WALLS by Lauren Blackwood— I love a good Jane Eyre retelling, and Blackwood’s unique, dark fantasy spin on the classic novel promises to be one of this year’s most compelling new releases. Andromeda is a debtera—an exorcist hired to cleanse households of the Evil Eye. When a handsome young heir named Magnus Rochester reaches out to hire her, Andromeda quickly realizes this is a job like no other, and that Magnus is hiding far more than she’s been trained for. Death is the most likely outcome if Andromeda stays, but leaving Magnus alone to live out his curse isn’t an option, for despite Andromeda’s fear, desire is growing alongside the evil roaming within the castle’s wicked walls.
PRIORY by Becky Wright—This beautifully atmospheric novel, the first in a planned series, is my current read and I am completely swept up in Wright’s gorgeous storytelling! When Oliver returns to his childhood home, Hardacre Priory, old memories and forgotten traumas leap to the surface and scream their long-hidden truths. As Oliver navigates the troubled, haunted passages of his past, sinister forces at the priory threaten to consume him. Filled with quiet, menacing horror and gorgeous prose, this is a must for fans of classic haunted house stories. Phenomenal.
AND THE TREES CREPT IN by Dawn Kurtagich—Also on my TBR for this spooky season is Kurtagich’s haunting sophomore novel about two sisters, Silla and Nori, who arrive at their aunt’s isolated home in the woods, where all sorts of strange events transpire. Aside from the endless creaking of the house as it settles and the eerie stillness of the forest, it soon occurs to Silla that there’s more at work than her imagination—there are darker things brewing and malevolent powers hidden on her aunt’s estate. Given the stellar reviews, this is a book that promises to raise the hair on your arms and have you peeking around darkened corners. With talk of a tall man with no eyes, and trees that seem to creep closer of their own accord, I’m certainly buckled in and ready to go on this terror-filled ride!
IT WILL JUST BE US by Jo Kaplan—If you’re looking for a truly unique haunted house story that hearkens to Shirley Jackson, Kaplan’s stunning debut fits the bill. Filled with haunting, immersive imagery, and set in a decrepit mansion at the edge of an encroaching swamp, this novel explores themes of family, grief, and the nature of good and evil. Wakefield Manor isn’t a place for children. Its labyrinthine halls are haunted by old memories and ghosts, knitted together as one. But when Sam Wakefield’s estranged sister shows up, pregnant and desperate after a fight with her husband, Sam and her mother begrudgingly welcome Elizabeth home. Increasingly disturbing and unsettling manifestations ensue—including that of a faceless boy who commits heinous acts. As Elizabeth’s due date approaches, Sam must unravel the mysteries locked behind Wakefield’s hidden room before her sister brings new life into a house marked by death. This novel had an absolute gut-punch of an ending and I cannot recommend it more heartily. It’s a masterpiece.
TIDEPOOL by Nicole Willson—I had the opportunity to read this book as an ARC, and I was absolutely spellbound by the dark, menacing world Willson created. A classic, Lovecraftian premise with plenty of modern vibes, this debut is impossible to put down! In 1913, Henry Hamilton disappears while on a business trip. Defying her father’s orders to remain at home, Henry’s younger sister, Sorrow, travels to TIDEPOOL—Henry’s last known location. But the residents are wary and secretive, particularly the enigmatic widow Ada Oliver—who seems especially keen to keep Sorrow from the truth. When corpses begin washing up on the shore, Sorrow discovers the root of Tidepool’s deadly, dark secret, and vows to warn the wider world. But the town’s sinister denizens, both human and otherwise, are hell-bent on making sure she never leaves. I finished this book in one sitting.
THE CURSE OF MORTON ABBEY by Clarissa Harwood—You might have noticed from my list that I’m a big fan of haunted houses. Of all sorts. And this novel is one of my most anticipated reads of the season! Described as Jane Eyre meets The Secret Garden, the story follows solicitor Vaughan Springthorpe, who comes to Morton Abbey after an offer of employment by its owner, Sir Peter Spencer. Few people will entrust their legal affairs to a woman in late-Victorian England, and Vaughan is desperate to prove herself. Once at Morton, Vaughan discovers that someone or something at the crumbling manor is determined to drive her away, and strange happenings transpire. But Vaughan means to see her work through and get to the heart of what is really happening at Morton—even if it threatens not only her livelihood—but her life. Stay tuned for more about THE CURSE OF MORTON ABBEY in early November, because Clarissa and I have something very special planned for our respective book launches, including a giveaway!
Finally, my very own spooky season novel, PARTING THE VEIL, about a Gilded Age heiress who marries a mysterious British viscount, only to discover all sorts of perilous secrets hidden inside his haunted manor, is available now through Amazon First Reads in the UK and Australia, and debuts in full everywhere else on NOVEMBER 1st—All Souls’ Day. If you’d like to learn more about my book, click here.
Thanks so much for reading, and Happy Haunting!