It’s that time of year again when the leaves are falling, the nights are getting longer, and there’s a certain chill in the air that can only mean one thing – spooky season is upon us! If you’re anything like me, you’re eagerly anticipating this time of year to curl up with a cozy blanket, a steaming cup of tea, and some spine-tingling reads. So, in the spirit of all things eerie and atmospheric, I’ve put together a list of five spine-tingling, bone-chilling, and downright spooky book recommendations to get you in the mood for some hair-raising reading.
Spooky book recommendations are a must during this season, whether you’re a horror aficionado or just looking to dip your toes into the world of the supernatural. There’s something about the crisp autumn air and the rustling of leaves that makes the eerie tales within these pages all the more captivating. So, if you’re ready to embrace the shadows and explore the unknown, join me as we journey into the darkness.
1. Dracula's Brides... But Make It Spicy
A Dowry of Blood - S.T. Gibson
“Saved from the brink of death by a mysterious stranger, Constanta is transformed from a medieval peasant into a bride fit for an undying king. But when Dracula draws a cunning aristocrat and a starving artist into his web of passion and deceit, Constanta realizes that her beloved is capable of terrible things.
Finding comfort in the arms of her rival consorts, she begins to unravel their husband’s dark secrets. With the lives of everyone she loves on the line, Constanta will have to choose between her own freedom and her love for her husband. But bonds forged by blood can only be broken by death.”
A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson is a beautifully seductive Dracula’s Bride retelling. If you want a spooky book recommendation that includes spice, polyamory and is LGBTQ+ friendly, look no further than this book.
2. Victorian Gothic Psychological Horror
The Silent Companions - Laura Purcell
“When newly widowed Elsie is sent to see out her pregnancy at her late husband’s crumbling country estate, The Bridge, what greets her is far from the life of wealth and privilege she was expecting . . .
When Elsie married handsome young heir Rupert Bainbridge, she believed she was destined for a life of luxury. But with her husband dead just weeks after their marriage, her new servants resentful, and the local villagers actively hostile, Elsie has only her husband’s awkward cousin for company. Or so she thinks. Inside her new home lies a locked door, beyond which is a painted wooden figure —a silent companion —-that bears a striking resemblance to Elsie herself. The residents of The Bridge are terrified of the figure, but Elsie tries to shrug this off as simple superstition–that is, until she notices the figure’s eyes following her.”
This book genuinely kept me up at night. I never thought that little cardboard kids could be so chilling! By the end of the book I actually felt like I was losing my mind with the author. If you’re looking for a gothic-style horror with a psychological twist, look no further than this spooky book recommendation.
3. Scooby Doo Cosy Horror for Adults
The Whispering Dead - Darcy Coates
“Homeless, hunted, and desperate to escape a bitter storm, Keira takes refuge in an abandoned groundskeeper’s cottage. Her new home is tucked away at the edge of a cemetery, surrounded on all sides by gravestones: some recent, some hundreds of years old, all suffering from neglect.
And in the darkness, she can hear the unquiet dead whispering.
The cemetery is alive with faint, spectral shapes, led by a woman who died before her time… and Keira, the only person who can see her, has become her new target. Determined to help put the ghost to rest, Keira digs into the spirit’s past life with the help of unlikely new friends, and discovers a history of deception, ill-fated love, and murder.
But the past is not as simple as it seems, and Keira’s time is running out. Tangled in a dangerous web, she has to find a way to free the spirit… even if it means offering her own life in return.”
The Whispering Dead is book 1 in The Gravekeeper series by horror expert, Darcy Coates. This is slightly different than her usual terrifying books in that it is SO DAMN COSY! From the setting, to the characters to the overall “low-stakes” feel, it’s an amazing read for a crisp autumn day.
4. 1950's Scare-fest
Mexican Gothic - Silvia Moreno-Garcia
“After receiving a frantic letter from her newly-wed cousin begging for someone to save her from a mysterious doom, Noemí Taboada heads to High Place, a distant house in the Mexican countryside. She’s not sure what she will find—her cousin’s husband, a handsome Englishman, is a stranger, and Noemí knows little about the region.
Noemí is also an unlikely rescuer: She’s a glamorous debutante, and her chic gowns and perfect red lipstick are more suited for cocktail parties than amateur sleuthing. But she’s also tough and smart, with an indomitable will, and she is not afraid: Not of her cousin’s new husband, who is both menacing and alluring; not of his father, the ancient patriarch who seems to be fascinated by Noemí; and not even of the house itself, which begins to invade Noemí’s dreams with visions of blood and doom.
Her only ally in this inhospitable abode is the family’s youngest son. Shy and gentle, he seems to want to help Noemí, but might also be hiding dark knowledge of his family’s past. For there are many secrets behind the walls of High Place. The family’s once colossal wealth and faded mining empire kept them from prying eyes, but as Noemí digs deeper she unearths stories of violence and madness.
And Noemí, mesmerized by the terrifying yet seductive world of High Place, may soon find it impossible to ever leave this enigmatic house behind.”
Mexican Gothic has one of my favourite FMCs that I’ve ever read in a horror novel. Noemí is such a strong character and is such a joy to read. This spooky book recommendation is sure to keep you up at night and have you reaching to turn on the light in the dark.
5. 80's WTF Horror
The Revelation - Bentley Little
“For the town of Randall, Arizona, the terror starts quietly, oddly—a senile woman in her eighties becomes pregnant.
Then the town’s beloved minister mysteriously disappears, leaving his church and home hideously defiled by blasphemous obscenities scrawled in blood.
Farmers going out to their fields in the morning find their herds of goats slaughtered. Then, as the terror intensifies, the farmers themselves are massacred.
The town begins to smell of death, and the trust which has bound neighbors to one another turns to ashes.
But the relentless tide of death is only an augury of a far more unspeakable cataclysm.
A stranger arrives, an itinerant preacher with mad eyes and an elemental presence named Brother Elias. He seeks out three the sheriff, tough, no nonsense Jim Weldon; the new minister, a gentle God-fearing soul named Father Andrews; and Gordon Lewis, a young newlywed whose pregnant wife Marina is the unknowing center of the coming fury.
Together, these people must face an implacable force of evil as old as the world and as relentless as the desert sun…”
This spooky book recommendation came from my best friend Maria, where she finds these books I have no idea. I read this and I had zero idea what was going on. Imagine reading early Stephen King, but on about 50 cans of red bull and you’ll get a fraction of what this book feels like! I feel as though this book deserves more attention purely for the crazy and ridiculous plot. Satanic rituals and zombie babies? Can’t say I’ve ever read about that before.
Just a word of note, this book was originally published in 1990 and uses some derogatory language that does not hold up to the test of time. So be aware of that before going in.
These spooky book recommendations are your passport to a world where the shadows dance, the unknown beckons, and the eerie whispers of the supernatural await your discovery. From the darkly poetic “A Dowry of Blood” by S.T. Gibson to the chillingly atmospheric “The Silent Companions” by Laura Purcell, and the bone-chilling suspense of “The Whispering Dead” by Darcy Coates, these reads will transport you to realms where the ordinary blurs with the extraordinary.
Don’t forget to lose yourself in the intoxicatingly Gothic “Mexican Gothic” by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, and immerse yourself in the surreal horrors of “The Revelation” by Bentley Little. These novels are more than just stories; they’re invitations to explore the depths of your fears and the boundaries of your imagination.
If you’ve enjoyed these spooky book recommendations, why stop here? Dive into my horror reviews for even more hair-raising adventures and unsettling narratives that will keep you up at night. And remember, the spookiest season of all is just around the corner, so stock up on these chilling reads to make the most of it.
So, grab your favorite cozy spot, dim the lights, and let these tales of terror and suspense envelop you. Happy reading, and may your spooky season be filled with unforgettable thrills and spine-tingling chills!
Ready for more? Browse my horror reviews for your next bone-chilling adventure. Happy reading, and may your spooky season be filled with unforgettable thrills and spine-tingling chills!
*Disclosure: I only recommend products I would or have used myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links that, at no additional cost to you, allow me to earn a small commission on qualifying purchases.
