With September slowly but surely creeping along, I think it’s safe to say that we’re officially getting into the best time of the year.
I might be a *winter girly* to my very core but, I also absolutely love autumn. I love watching the leaves turn and then hearing my boots crunch across them after they fall. I love the way the air smells crisp in the morning. I love bonfires, and apple picking (big apple gal over here). And, I absolutely love that as autumn creeps in and things get cooler, it’s almost like you can feel the world slowing down.
Reading is an amazing way to spend your time during any season. But, there’s something about curling up with a horror, thriller, or suspense novel while you’re sipping a warm apple cider, after a day at the pumpkin patch that just hits different.
With that in mind, I want to give you my top 10 books that will not only knock your socks off but, will be the perfect read to get you in the mood for the spooky season.
A Stephen King recommendation for Spooky Season- how original, right? Well, I promise you there is a very good reason for it. Coming in at under 300 pages, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon is one of King’s shorter works; but, I assure you that none of the plot or creep factor is sacrificed to achieve its lower page count.
The protagonist is a nine-year-old girl named Trisha McFarland who is on a day hike with her mother and older brother. During the hike, she loses sight of her family and attempts to catch up with them by going off trail and taking what she believes to be a shortcut. Unfortunately, her “shortcut” just ends up being a straight shot into the wilderness and she quickly becomes lost.
Trisha does the best she can to not panic, she rations the food she had in her backpack and, is also pleased to discover that she has her trusty Walkman radio with her. Using the radio as her link to civilization, she tunes into the Boston Red Sox games to hear how her favorite team (and her favorite player, Tom Gordon) is doing as she continues her trek toward home. But, there’s only so much a nine-year-old girl can do to keep her mind preoccupied in the forest and, as starvation and dehydration begin to set in Trisha starts to notice strange things occurring in the woods around her. And maybe, just maybe, she isn’t alone out there after all.
If you’re anything like me, you spent a lot of time in the woods as a child. And, it wouldn’t take much for my imagination to run wild. That sense of unease at what exactly is in the trees with you is something that King captures beautifully. And, by the end of the story, you’ll be left with goosebumps wondering if everything that occurred was real or, just the overactive imagination of a lost and frightened child.
This was the first book by Riley Sager that I read and it quickly launched him to the top of my “auto-buy” author list. I’ve read all but one of his books and I have adored each of them.
In this story, we follow Jules Larsen, a girl down on her luck, who takes a job as an apartment sitter for some much-needed cash. When she agrees to the role she’s given 3 seemingly simple-to-follow rules; no guests, no disturbing the other residents, and no spending nights away from the apartment.
When Jules first arrives at the Bartholomew, the luxury building where the apartment is located, she meets another apartment sitter in the building named Ingrid, to whom she quickly becomes attached. Ingrid fills her in on all of the gossip surrounding the residents of the exclusive building, the Bartholomew’s torrid history, and Ingrid’s own suspicions surrounding previous apartment sitters that have disappeared without a trace. At first, Jules just writes it off as Ingrid having a wild imagination and placing too much stock in rumors and superstition. But, when Ingrid goes missing the next day, she starts to believe that there might be more to the story.
The circumstances surrounding Ingrid’s disappearance make Jules suspicious of everyone in the building, and she takes it upon herself to investigate what happened to Ingrid. As she continues her search, the secrets of the glamorous Bartholomew begin to be uncovered. And, you know what they say? All that glitters is not gold.
What follows is a fast-paced story of intrigue and betrayal, and of secrets that had been buried deeper than a casket finally being brought to light. If you decide to pick this one up, make sure you clear your schedule because you’re sure to devour it in one hair-raising sitting that is perfect for Spooky Season.
Who doesn’t love a good fairytale? I know I do! And, I love it even more when the fairytales are dark and twisty. If that’s also your vibe then you’re bound to love The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly.
I think my favorite thing about this book is that when you first start reading it, it appears to have a much younger target audience than it actually does. What begins as a seemingly innocuous story about a young boy using books to deal with grief and a world that’s been thrown into chaos quickly becomes an adult fantasy/horror story that takes all of the fairy tales we know and love and spins them into something dark and terrifying.
It begins in London during World War II with our protagonist, twelve-year-old David reeling from the death of his mother. His father remarries and, his new step-mother, Rose, quickly gives birth to David’s new baby brother, George. David is doing everything he can to process his quickly changing life but, his world is once more turned on its axis when his father announces they’ll be moving to the English countryside to escape the dangers of the city.
In the new house, David is put into the attic room that was once occupied by Rose’s uncle, who went missing as a child. It seems that they had a shared love of books, as the previous occupant’s tomes still line the bookshelves and, David throws himself into them with wreckless abandon - that is until the books begin to whisper to him.
Strange things continue to happen and, one night, after a twisted turn of events David finds himself transported into a world of fiction and horror. After a chance run-in with the Woodsman, he begins his journey through this strange land to find the King and his Book of Lost Things, assured that it will give him the information he needs to make his way home.
His journey brings him face to face with fairy tales and nightmares alike; with features from Snow White, Rumplestiltskin, Sleeping Beauty and countless more, what unfolds is an amazing tale of fear and adventure blended into one.
This book is unlike anything I’ve ever read. The way that Connolly blends magic and reality is truly something special. And, the unsettling backdrop and small details makes this the perfect addition to your spooky season ‘to-read’ pile.
I’m not really sure how to begin talking about this book. If you’re on BookTok or Bookstagram, it’s bound to have popped up on your feed at some point and I promise you it’s for a good reason. I picked this book up at 9 PM and was completely hooked within the first few pages. I ended up staying awake that night until a little after 3 AM just so I could finish it.
This beautiful work of art tells the story of Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling writer who is given an amazing opportunity that could change her life. She is offered to finish a best-selling series written by Verity Crawford. The offer is extended by Verity’s husband, Jeremy, who fills her in on a secret the rest of the world is blind to. You see, a few months prior Verity was in a car accident and, while the world thought that Verity was overall fine and just recovering, the truth is she’s been in a coma and non-responsive since that day. In order to preserve Verity’s privacy and legacy, Jeremy decided to hire someone to finish her current series for her as a co-author.
In order to comb through Verity’s work on the series thus far, Lowen moves into the spare bedroom on the Crawford estate to begin her work. Once she gains access to Verity’s office, Lowen begins going through the resource documents Verity had already compiled. She soon finds herself searching further through some of the drawers and, uncovers something unexpected - the manuscript of an autobiography.
Lowen figures what better way to co-write the series and get into Verity’s mind than to read her own words about her life. But, from the very first page, she realizes the manuscript is much more sinister than she had previously anticipated; because not only is it an autobiography, it’s a confession. As Lowen consumes page after page, the admissions pour in including one from the day that Verity and Jeremy’s daughter died and this admission leaves Lowen shocked to her core.
She knows that she should leave, but budding feelings for Jeremy keep her from doing so. Therefore, she stays and continues to work. And, while she works, she also continues to read. With each page, she grows more suspicious of everything surrounding Verity Crawford - including her current condition.
From start to finish, this story is a fantastic and wild ride. There were multiple moments that had me absolutely clutching my pearls and gasping out loud. The shady characters and unsettling backdrop make this a perfect read to curl up with for Spooky Season.
I read this book a few years ago, and it was one that re-kindled my love for thriller and suspense novels. I hadn’t read a thriller in years at this point and, this book sent me into a tailspin of wanting to devour any book within that genre that I could get my hands on.
It tells the story of Lo Blalock, a travel journalist who has been given an envious assignment - to try out a new luxury cruiseliner with a limited number of rooms and, to document her experience. Of course, she jumps at the opportunity, who wouldn’t?
At first, Lo’s stay is everything she expected it to be; extravagant, relaxing, and opulent. The staff is phenomenal, the other guests are intriguing, and Lo can’t help but enjoy herself. But, as her week on the ship continues, things take a turn.
One night, Lo is shocked to witness a woman getting thrown overboard. She reports it to the staff but is quickly assured that all guests aboard the ship are accounted for. So, who was it that she saw getting tossed into the waters below?
Not satisfied with the explanations provided, Lo launches her own investigation into the guests and crew of the ship. As the story unfolds, secrets begin to be spilled and lies begin to unravel, leaving you constantly wondering what on earth is going to be revealed next?
Maybe it’s my deeply engrained fear of cruise liners (I listen to way too much true crime), but I find the setting of a cruise ship so fascinating. There is something so eerie but compelling about the setting of this book and I cannot sing its praises enough.
I genuinely do not know how to correctly articulate my thoughts on this book. This was the first book by Lisa Gardner that I ever read, and to say it launched an unhealthy (?) obsession would be an understatement.
When D.D. Warren receives the call to come out to a crime scene she’s shocked at what she finds. Surprisingly it isn’t the body of the dead man that shakes her the most but, the naked woman who killed him. D.D. immediately recognizes her as Flora Dane. Flora was the victim of one of the cases that D.D. worked years prior, and it was a case that had stuck with her after all this time.
Flora had been kidnapped and held captive for 472 days before finally being rescued. As Flora is questioned in regards to the body they found her with, D.D. starts to realize that Flora hasn’t spent the last 7 years laying low. No, she’s spent it turning herself into a vigilante, trying to find justice for women like her.
Then, when Flora goes missing once more, D.D. is forced to ask herself some uncomfortable questions. Just how deep into vigilante justice has Flora gone since D.D. last saw her? Did they get the right guy when they rescued her? Did he have an accomplice? And, where is Flora now?
Told from both Flora’s and Detective Warren’s points of view, this story is incredibly fast-paced and stress-inducing. Gardener’s ability to wrap you into a story is absolutely unmatched. I’m only a tiny bit sorry for the absolute addiction to Gardner’s novels that this will spark.
Idlewild Hall was a school for troubled girls, the kind of girls that no one wanted. Girls that were too loud, too proud, and just a little too much trouble for their families to want to deal with them. In 1950, four students at Idlewild form a bond but, when one of them goes missing, the girl's life is thrown into chaos.
It’s now 2014 and, Fiona Sheridan is a journalist who has been sent back to her hometown to write a story about the re-opening and restoration of Idlewild Hall. She would rather be doing literally anything else, as her memories of this place and all the thing that comes with it haunt her dreams. Her sister’s body was found just outside of the ruins of Idlewild almost twenty years prior and, although the case is now considered solved since her sister’s boyfriend was tried and convicted of the murder, something about it has just never felt right.
Now that she’s been assigned to telling Idlewild’s story, she dives into her research headfirst. But, while she’s looking for answers Fiona ends up discovering nothing but more questions. And, not just questions about Idlewild and its haunting history but questions about her own sister’s murder that have been dormant for twenty years and are just now being brought to light.
Simone St. James has a stunning ability to blend the past and the present in this dual timeline novel. She crosses time just as seamlessly as she blends the paranormal with reality. There were so many times in this book where I got actual chills from the creep factor and, my heart was RACING while I stressed out about what would happen next.
Fun fact, this was the very first book I ever ordered through Book of the Month, which is now one of my absolute favorite book subscription services. I remember reading the blurb about it and being excited, but I had no idea what I was setting myself up for.
The story features everything I love in a thriller - multiple points of view, an unreliable narrator, and a massive plot twist. The book opens following Nellie and Vanessa. Nellie is excitedly planning her wedding to the love of her life, Richard. However, Richard’s ex, Vanessa, has other plans and, things quickly go awry as the book progresses.
I had to keep the synopsis of this one brief because it’s incredibly hard to describe and not spoil. But, please know that this book will have you enraptured from the very first page. If you decide to read this book (which you definitely should) make sure you clear the rest of your schedule because you will read it in one sitting. This book is riddled with suspense and intrigue, so grab it, your favorite blanket, and a spiced apple cider and tuck yourself in for the evening.
If there is one thing that I love, it’s retelling. Now up the ante a little by making it a retelling of Red Riding Hood, where all of the characters are glorious shades of grey, and spooky post-apocalyptic vibes and I am all set! And boy, let me tell you - this book has all of that and so much more.
The story takes place in our world but, it’s being ravaged by a disease known as “The Cough”. When Red’s parents are overtaken by the illness, she’s forced to go on the run to avoid being taken to a quarantine camp, which rumor has just served as a breeding ground for disease, death, and dismay. She knows if she can just make it to her grandma’s house, she’ll be OK. Red knows the fact that she’s an amputee who uses a prosthetic will create its own set of issues as she begins the trek across the countryside to where her grandma lives. And, she also knows that she doesn’t have a choice if she wants any hope of avoiding the camps she’s heard so many nightmarish stories about.
As Red advances in her journey, you’re met with a colorful and gnarly cast of characters as she’s forced to do truly horrific things to survive. She learns probably life’s most important lesson along the way - monsters are often people, too. And those people can bite just easily and gladly as a wolf.
In my opinion, you can’t go wrong with choosing any book written by Christina Henry. But, this one is one of the greats. It is gritty and unsettling. Red is the ultimate protagonist and, her young age just makes it all the more impressive.
I originally read this book in the summer of 2020, during the height of the quarantine lockdown. And, let’s just say reading about a world ravaged by a disease called the cough was more than a little unsettling. Even looking back on it it’s truly astounding that this book was written well before we’d even heard the name Covid19 with how much it hits close to home.
This eerie setting and the plucky protagonist will be the perfect fit to get you in the mood for fall.
This is our second book by Simone St. James on the list and, it’s for good reason. In The Sundown Motel St. James does what she does best, which is beautifully blend the paranormal with reality in a way that is deeply unsettling and utterly intoxicating.
In 1982, at the Sundown Motel in upstate New York, Vic is a night clerk who can’t help but notice the weird and wayward souls that come through the motel. After a string of disappearances of women around Vic’s age, things take a turn for the worst when Vic herself goes missing.
In 2017, Vic’s niece, Carly, is dealing with the grief of losing her mother to cancer. Looking for a way to heal and, filled with curiosity (and more than a little anger) over her mother’s lifelong pain of her sister’s death 35 years prior, Carly takes off to Fell, NY. Her hope is that if she can figure out what happened to her aunt all those years ago, she can finally bring some healing to her mother, even if it’s from beyond the grave.
Told in St. James’ signature style of dual points of view and dual timelines, we follow both Vic and Carly’s journeys across time and space to find out what happened to all of those women in 1982 and, what is so damn special about the Sundown Motel that turns it into a mecca for supernatural activity.
What more could you want than some ghostly apparitions to get you into the spirit of the spooky season?
Whether it’s real monsters or just humans who act like them, these books can help you get into the mood for the spooky season. Now that I’ve had to relive all of this by summarizing these books, I have a feeling that quite a few re-reads will be happening in my very near future.
Happy reading!