The Shining by Stephen King. I avoided reading this one for years because I was too scared. This book, while being absolutely, impressively, amazing, it not as scary as I thought it would be. It is definitely worth reading if you haven’t picked it up before.
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. Creepy true crime told by a master of historical narrative? Yes, please. This book is as fascinating as it is horrifying.
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. ‘What the heck just happened?’ is what you will ask yourself halfway through this book. With one of the best twists I’ve ever read, and can’t look away-page turning suspense, you will stay up way past your bedtime reading this book. Please, please read it before you watch the movie! If you want to read something even more creepy try Flynn’s Sharp Objects and if you want to give yourself nightmares, try her book Dark Places.
Rebecca by Daphne duMaurier. Atmosphere, atmosphere, atmosphere. duMaurier has a knack for turning setting into a character. I absolutely love this book and I have to tell you that neither the Hitchcock movie or the Netflix version did it any justice. Jamaica Inn would also be a great read for October but read Rebecca first.
The Prestige by Christopher Priest. Forget about the talent of Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman. Throw it all out the window. The book is totally different than the movie and it is just as good.
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. One of my favorite books of all time. The queen of mystery doesn’t always deliver a super creepy atmosphere but in this book she does. It is excellent. You should really read it before you read any other mysteries in print. It wins.
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. This book isn’t super creepy but it is mysterious and magical and full of sensory detail perfect for Halloween. I loved reading this book.
What I’m reading this October:
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote. The archtype of true crime. Truman Capote is an evocative writer and Harper Lee helped him with this work extensively. Looking forward to it.
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson. I’ve never read Jackson before so I also have We Have Always Lived in the Castle on my list. Which one is better?
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. I can’t believe I’ve never read this one before.
Mexican Gothic by Sylvia Moreno-Garcia. I’ve heard so many good things about this book.
Skip
Dracula by Bram Stoker. I was banging my head against a wall reading this book, it was so repetitive and the girl in it is so 1897. (yes, yes that’s when it was written but it is still annoying.) Just watch the movie.
