13 Spooky and Suspenseful Books For Halloween
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If you’re searching for books for Halloween that deliver chills without veering into full-on gore, this list has you covered. From gothic estates and haunted hotels to twist-packed thrillers, these 13 reads bring moody atmospheres, eerie settings, and just-right scares for October.
Key Takeaways: Books For Halloween
Books For Halloween
From creaking mansions to snowed-in lodges, these books for Halloween bring moody vibes and edge-of-your-seat suspense. Browse the list, pick your scare level, and add a couple to your October TBR. Want more? Head to the Seasonal & Gift Guides hub.
- The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse
- Craven Manor by Darcy Coates
- The Orphanage By the Lake by Daniel G. Miller
- The Family Plot by Megan Collins
- Home Before Dark by Riley Sager
- The Broken Girls by Simone St. James
- A Head Full Of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay
- The Woman In Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
- The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell
- The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley
- The House At Riverton by Kate Morton
- The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins
- The Invited by Jennifer McMahon
The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse
A luxury hotel in the Swiss Alps becomes a chilling scene of murder, where a detective must unravel the deadly secrets hidden within its icy walls.
Craven Manor by Darcy Coates
When Daniel accepts a job as a caretaker at a crumbling mansion, he uncovers eerie happenings and a sinister force lurking behind the estate’s walls.
The Orphanage By the Lake by Daniel G. Miller
Hazel wants a new life. She’s thirty years old, single, and her private investigation business is months away from folding. Her luck takes a turn when Madeline Hemsley, a mysterious socialite, pays Hazel a visit with an offer too enticing to resist. An orphan girl has disappeared from a children’s home—The Orphanage By The Lake, as the locals call it—and Madeline wants Hazel to find her.
The Family Plot by Megan Collins
A woman returns to her childhood home, which has been transformed into a true-crime museum, only to find unsettling family secrets buried with the dead.
Home Before Dark by Riley Sager
A woman returns to the haunted house made famous by her father’s bestseller, only to discover the chilling truth may be far more terrifying than fiction.
The Broken Girls by Simone St. James
A journalist investigates a boarding school with a sinister past, where the lines between the present and a 1950s unsolved mystery begin to blur.
A Head Full Of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay
A family’s reality unravels as their daughter is believed to be possessed, prompting a chilling exorcism that raises questions about mental illness, belief, and truth.
The Woman In Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
A journalist aboard a luxury cruise witnesses a woman being thrown overboard, but when no passengers are reported missing, she’s left questioning her own sanity. Don’t miss my full review of The Woman In Cabin 10.
The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell
In a crumbling estate, a young widow finds eerie wooden figures that seem to move on their own, bringing the house’s dark history to life.
The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley
A group of old friends gathers at a remote lodge in the Scottish Highlands for New Year’s Eve, but the reunion takes a deadly turn when one of them is found murdered. For more from this great suspense author, you can check my Lucy Foley bibliography.
The House At Riverton by Kate Morton
A filmmaker investigates a tragic suicide at a grand estate, delving into the lives of its former inhabitants and uncovering long-buried secrets.
The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins
A modern Southern Gothic twist on Jane Eyre, this novel follows a woman who uncovers dark secrets about her wealthy fiancé’s first wife and their eerie mansion.
The Invited by Jennifer McMahon
A couple builds their dream home on a haunted plot of land, where long-buried secrets begin to emerge, and supernatural forces take hold.
Frequently Asked Questions About Books For Halloween
How scary are these?
Most lean atmospheric/gothic over graphic. For lighter picks, try The Hunting Party, The House at Riverton, or The Woman in Cabin 10. For darker vibes, A Head Full of Ghosts.
Which are best for book clubs?
High discussion value: Home Before Dark, The Broken Girls, The Family Plot, The Silent Companions (themes: memory, truth, family secrets).
Any cozy-ish options?
Well, not really. While some are a bit lighter in suspense and without gore, I wouldn’t necessarily consider them cozy mysteries either.
Scary Books For Halloween: Conclusion
As you gear up for the spooky season, these mystery and thriller books are sure to send a chill down your spine! Pick one gothic haunt and one twisty thriller, and you’ve got the perfect October pairing – blanket, candle, and a flickering lamp optional.
Whether you’re looking for atmospheric suspense, eerie settings, or psychological twists, this curated list of the best spooky reads for October will give you plenty of haunting options that are perfect for Halloween. And if you want something a little lighter for Halloween, try some Halloween cozies.
Boo!
