Features | More Reads For Halloween!

Features | More Reads For Halloween!

• Monday, 26 September 2016

I'm sure some of you may be thinking that I should save the Halloween talk for October (and you may be right!), but as it's my favourite holiday I've decided to make the most of it and share a few book recommendations early this year!

This post is a sort-of extension of a post Anastasia shared here last year as well as a list I shared back in 2014. Although the books on the list aren't necessarily 'horror' titles they each have a darkness to them that's perfect for this time of year.

And Then There Were None, Agatha Christie (1939)
This classic novel tells the story of ten strangers invited to a remote island by a mysterious host. Things start to go downhill quickly when the host never shows and one of the guests is found dead, leading the group to realise that there may be a killer among them. If you like a good mystery, this is the one for you! Oh, and if you're looking for something to watch on Halloween night the BBC adaptation is pretty great too.

Horrorstör, Grady Hendrix (2014)
Not only is Horrorstor a clever twist on your classic haunted house story, it's also a unique reading experience due to the design which is just like a catalogue for the fictional store in which the creepy tale is set. The book follows employees of Orsk, and Ikea-like furniture store, who are working a night shift when things take a bit of a supernatural turn.

Misery, Stephen King (1987)
When author Paul Sheldon is involved in a car crash he is rescued by number one fan of his novels and ex-nurse Annie Wilkes... or so it seems. Of course things take a dark turn as Annie turns out to be quite the terrifying character. This one is intense and gory, making it a perfect read for Halloween. And, if you haven't seen it yet the adaptation is definitely one to catch too!

Dangerous Girls, Abigail Haas (2013)
I'm honestly like a broken record with this one but it's a favourite of mine so I had to include it. Dangerous Girls is a YA thriller that tells the tale of a senior year holiday gone wrong for best friends Anna and Elise. When Elise is found brutally murdered, Anna is accused of the crime and this intense novel follows both her arrest/trial and the girls lives before the incident - definitely a page-turner!


Other suggestions: The Accident Season, Moira Fowley-Doyle (2015) | We Have Always Lived In The Castle, Shirley Jackson (1962) | Resurrection Bay, Neal Shusterman (2013) | Black Cairn Point, Claire McFall (2015)

We're also taking a closer look at some spooky reads for October's group post where the topic will be 'Nightmare Moments'. We want to hear all about which book scenes have scared you the most so if you'd like to get involved please tweet us @blog_bookshelf or email bloggersbookshelf@gmail.com by October 20th - we don't bite, promise!