Written by Yentl Viera-Rivera
The spooky season is definitely looking a lot more different this time around. It’s possible that a medical mask wasn’t part of your costume, and going outside in the middle of a pandemic is way scarier than encountering any creature of the night. But fear not, O’ eerie one, you can still have some fun at home, especially if you’re a reader! Here we share 10 books that will surely bring a chill down your spine and give you a few scares over the spooky season or even any time of the year!
House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig
The Thaumas girls are cursed, or so everyone believes after four of the sisters die terrible, gruesome deaths. Annaleigh, plagued by tragedy and the loss of her sisters, begins to have visions of ghosts haunting Highmoor. At first, it feels like her grief is altering her view of reality. But what if the ghosts are real and the deaths weren’t accidental at all?
A retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses like you’ve never seen before filled with intrigue, horror, and more than enough spook to last you a lifetime.
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-García
This book has been on everyone’s radar and within good reason. Noemí Taboada’s recently married cousin has sent some worrying letters, which means Noemí is tasked with visiting High Place and finding out exactly what is going on. The Doyles surely are an odd mix- mysterious, strict and highly secretive. Her cousin’s husband, even with all his good looks and charm, seems like the worst of them all. But Noemí doesn’t give up easily.
An unlikely heroine pushed forward by sheer stubbornness, will Noemí survive everything thrown her way? Grab a handful of mini candy bars, a cosy blanket, and pick this up to find out.
The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James
Motels tend to be excellent settings for creepy stories, just ask Norman Bates. The Sun Down Motel proves exactly how chilling this type of setting can be. In 1982, Viv Delaney disappears from Fell, New York without leaving a single trace. No one knows what happened to her, and those who might have a clue aren’t very willing to talk. Decades later, Carly, Viv’s niece, arrives in Fell and takes a job at The Sun Down Motel in hopes of finding both closure and clues about what happened to her aunt.
Both entertaining and completely chilling, this is the type of book that made me weary of closing my eyes at night out of fear that a ghost would try to pull my legs from under the covers.
Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas
A school hidden deep in the woods, completely isolated from the outside world. What could go wrong? Well, everything of course! Those students lucky enough to be admitted to Catherine House will get an education like no other. They promise power and prestige while completely taking care of tuition and boarding. Their students will want for nothing. The catch? Complete and utter isolation from the outside world for the next three years – no contacting family or friends, no television and no music. Ines finds herself becoming accustomed to these rules, yet she soon finds out that Catherine House is hiding some ominous secrets.
This book is perfect for fans of dark academia and contemporary gothic!
My Cousin Rachel by Daphne Du Maurier
Most know about Daphne Du Maurier thanks to her incredible novel, Rebecca, but what about the equally suspenseful My Cousin Rachel? Phillip Ashley, an orphan, lives an idyllic life in his cousin Ambrose’s estate. These men share a close bond, and Phillip is even named heir of his cousin’s fortune. But when Ambrose leaves on a trip to Florence, everything changes. He falls in love, he marries and, ultimately, he dies. Phillip is heartbroken, already starting to hate his cousin’s widow with every fibre of his being, and yet ends up being drawn to the mysterious Rachel.
With its eerie atmosphere, unreliable characters, and questionable morals, this book will surely entrance any lover of gothic fiction.
Coraline by Neil Gaiman
After moving to a new house, Coraline decides to go exploring. There’s a certain door in the house, however, with only a brick wall behind it. It’s not long before that door shows an alternate version of Coraline’s life. The Other Mother is caring and attentive, the food is fantastic and there are enough toys to fill a store. But the Other Mother wants Coraline to stay forever, to sew buttons into her eyes to seal deal. Soon, Coraline discovers that this alternate reality isn’t as perfect as she initially thought, and the lost spirits of other children beg her to rescue them.
A modern classic that will both spook and capture the hearts of children and adults.
When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole
Sydney Green, a Brooklyn native, realises her neighbourhood is changing fast. Her neighbours are disappearing, their homes are going up for sale at an alarming rate and realtors constantly harass her to give up her home. In hopes of keeping the spirit of her community alive, Sydney embarks on creating a walking tour exposing the real history of each building and the streets surrounding them. The more she researches, however, the more she realises how deeply troubled things are becoming in Brooklyn.
A thriller centred around gentrification and the history of Black people, Alyssa Cole has crafted an absolute masterpiece that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Crimson Peak: The Official Novelisation by Nancy Holder
There’s a chance you’ve watched this movie already and dreamt about waltzing with Tom Hiddleston, or maybe exploring the rooms of Allerdale Hall with Edith Cushing. The book takes a deeper look into the lives of Edith, Alan, Thomas, and Lucille. Edith, an American heiress, becomes romantically interested in Thomas, although her father highly disapproves. After Edith’s father dies of unexpected circumstances, she decided to marry Thomas and move to his estate in England, locally known as Crimson Peak due to the fact that it’s currently sinking into red clay. Once there, Edith realises that married life isn’t as idyllic as she would have hoped. Both Thomas and Lucille are hiding terrible secrets, and there seems to be ghosts roaming around Allerdale Hall warning her of terrible dangers.
This novelisation is an excellent companion to the movie, and it’s also a perfect treat for those who haven’t watched Crimson Peak.
Category Five by Ann Dávila Cardinal
After the events of Hurricane María, Puerto Rico goes through a drastic change. The island of Vieques is trying to recover from the disaster while developers are taking advantage of the opportunity to buy their land for less than its worth. Just when it couldn’t get worse, a string of murders start to occur while the threats of supernatural attacks are hanging over everyone’s heads. Luper, Javier and Marisol, characters featured in Dávila’s previous novel Five Midnights, take matters into their own hands when it comes to investigating these strange happenings.
Not a lot of books take into the consideration the consequences of Hurricane María, so Category Five is both an educational read and an incredible take on the paranormal.
Dread Nation by Justina Ireland
It’s not spooky season without zombies, and Justina Ireland definitely delivers. Dread Nation follows the story of Jane McKeene. She’s sent to study in Miss Preston’s School of Combat, due to the fact that Black and Native people are tasked with bringing down the dead and protecting the wealthy. This isn’t the type of life Jane wants, but when people start to disappear in Baltimore she’s caught in a conspiracy like no other.
Set after the events of the Civil War, this book not only an action-packed zombie adventure, but also reveals the harsh truths about racism and white supremacists.
Coraline is so good!!! I have heard really good things about Mexican Gothic. I might have to pick it up. 🙂