5 Favorite Halloween Books for a Spooky Night Reading
Halloween is famous for many reasons, from the elaborate costumes, spooky decor, and sweet treats. But don't skip out on the true spirit of Halloween, the scary stories. I've rounded up some of my favorite thrillers, witch trials, and downright frightening books to help get you in the spirit for Halloween.
1. The Bill Hodges Trilogy
If you've had the urge to read Stephen King but haven't because you aren't into horror or science fiction, The Bill Hodges Trilogy is a great compromise. It's a dark mystery crime book, the kind of series that's great for Halloween.
Bill Hodges is a retired police detective and the main protagonist of The Bill Hodges Trilogy, a trilogy comprised of three novels: Mr. Mercedes, Finders Keepers, and End of Watch. Bill and his crew work together, overcoming extreme obstacles to stop the diabolical Mercedes Killer.
You'll be on the edge of your seat with each book until the final chapter.
2. Rebecca
A blushing bride finds herself stepping directly into the life of her husband's first wife, a dead woman named Rebecca. But what happened to Rebecca in this sprawling estate? And is it possible for history to repeat itself here?
Rebecca is the perfect book to read on the couch on a dark and stormy night. Gothic horror at its best, written in 1938, Rebecca has stood the test of time.
In keeping with the oldie but goodie theme, I'm going back to 1979 for this bestseller. Who doesn't remember reading this one as a teen locked in your bedroom, under the covers with the flashlight on?
The gothic horror classic about four siblings who spend three years locked in the attic of their grandparents' mansion while their mother tries to win back her inheritance contains about every taboo: murder, religious fanaticism, child abuse, rape, incest. Trigger warnings would be all over this book if published today.
I didn't know it was made into a movie until writing this post but skip the movie and go straight to the book. Flowers in the Attic has elements of a dark fairy tale, creepy shadowy, and gloomy. A perfect read for Halloween.
A centuries-old vampire and spellbound witch, need I say more?
A Discovery of Witches introduces an Oxford scholar and the bevy of witches and vampires she unwittingly unleashes after discovering a long-lost manuscript in the library. This book makes a spellbinding Halloween read with equal parts sensual romance, historical fiction, and addictive fantasy.
Trust me; you won't be able to put this one down.
Not a traditional Halloween novel, but this new Barbara Kingsolver book is at the top of my must-reads. This modern telling of Charles Dickens's David Copperfield was released on October 18, 2002, and promises to be a best seller. My copy should be arriving this week, and I can't wait!
Synopsis from Amazon: Demon Copperhead is set in the mountains of southern Appalachia. It's the story of a boy born to a teenage single mother in a single-wide trailer, with no assets beyond his dead father's good looks and copper-colored hair, a caustic wit, and a fierce talent for survival. In a plot that never pauses for breath, relayed in his own unsparing voice, he braves the modern perils of foster care, child labor, derelict schools, athletic success, addiction, disastrous loves, and crushing losses. Through all of it, he reckons with his own invisibility in a popular culture where even the superheroes have abandoned rural people in favor of cities.
With Halloween right around the corner, these books will satisfy your need for all things spooky and scary. Grab a cup of tea and turn up the lights and get reading.
Check out some of my other favorites in my Amazon Shop or My Libray.
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