Here’s a fact about me: I hate horror movies.
And, okay, “hate “may be a strong word, but after watching one episode of Supernatural, I couldn’t be left alone in the dark for very long. So, no thank you, it’s just not my genre. Because of this, I’m certainly not the best person to recommend scary movies. Books, on the other hand, are totally a different story. I do know books, and if you’re looking for some eerie, scary, dark-themed books, have I got some recommendations for you.
Brace yourselves, because winter horror is coming.
1. The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson
A girl from Louisiana arrives in London to start her year at a boarding school. Not spooky enough? Just wait. Around the same time she arrives, so does an old horror — one that nobody wanted to hear from ever again. That horror is none other than Jack the Ripper, and he’s back to kill.
This book will give you a famous serial killer, blood, mayhem, murder, ghosts, and a little bit of romance, just in case you need it.
2. The Savages by Matt Whyman
Let me introduce you to the Savage family: Titus, Angelica, and their children. They are aristocrats, they have manners, and they are following a specific diet.
They eat meat. Human meat. A lot.
Okay, so this one is definitely about cannibals, but not in a gross way. You will know right from the first page that something isn’t quite right with this perfect, well-mannered family, and you’ll be absolutely correct. You also wouldn’t be alone in your suspicions because there’s a detective on the case who is keeping a close watch on the Savages.
This book is good. Weird and spooky, but good.
3. Pet Sematary by Stephen King
Honestly, for Halloween, any Stephen King book will do. This one, though, is especially creeptastic because (oh my!) there is a cemetery that can bring dead people back to life. Will it turn out good? No. There will be some surprises and some “there’s someone behind you, please don’t turn around!” moments.
You will be scared. Genuinely scared.
4. The Diviners by Libba Bray
I was saving this book to read specifically on Halloween because Naughty John is one of the most terrifying villains I’ve ever met. When I hear a whistle, I want to die from horror. He is the horror.
This book has everything you could want, including ghosts, murders, and the occult with a 1920s flair. Oh, and it’s ridiculously scary. Just yesterday, I thought to myself, “I’m cool. I won’t be scared,” and then there I was, lying in my bed, too afraid to close my eyes.
A perfect Halloween read.
5. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
I didn’t necessarily want to write about spooky classics, but I had to include this one. In this book, you won’t find anything supernatural. No ghosts, no vampires, no cannibals. Just a lonely island and ten people being murdered one by one. Will the last one be the murderer? Too easy. Then who? You won’t figure it out, believe me. This book is an all time favorite.