I know it’s early, as fall hasn’t *technically* started yet, but preparing for Halloween is always exciting. Every year, around this time, my household starts to get into the fall spirit. Decorating the house, queuing horror movies, and getting the fall scents to spread throughout the home is always fun. Next month begins “spooky season,” which is extremely exciting for me as I love horror/suspense/thriller novels. During this time, picking out books to match the season is equally exciting. Whether you like soft and fun cozy mysteries or books that will make you afraid of things that go bump in the night, the library has you covered! I’ve compiled a list of my favorite books to get you started for this spooky season.
I couldn’t begin my list without Stephen King. The horror writing master always delivers a great, spooky scare. I’ve named my top pick of Salem’s Lot because this book carried me away, and I finished it in two days. I couldn’t put it down. Can it get better than a vampire plaguing a small, Northeastern town? Not to mention the “love story” gone awry, which King delivers with great style. If you love a good vampire book, this is one that you have to read this Halloween season.
Next on my list is Riley Sager. The library has many of his books, and all of them are phenomenal, but if I had to choose one to suggest, it would be Lock Every Door. Sager has a knack for twists and turns at every corner, but Lock Every Door was a nail-biter. The story centers on a down-on-her-luck woman who gets the chance of a lifetime to live in a historic New York City apartment and get paid for it. The building’s past creeps up on her, and of course, nothing is what it seems in this page-turning thriller.
The Cabin at the End of the World: Paul Tremblay
I have to include Paul Tremblay, the writer of Bird Box, but I want to focus on The Cabin at the End of the World. A family vacation at a beautiful New Hampshire cabin only leads to a series of strangers visiting with frightening intentions. I believe that The Cabin at the End of the World far exceeds the suspense of Bird Box, and I have to recommend this book to anyone looking for a terrifyingly good read.
The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires: Grady Hendrix
Lastly, I have to fit my new favorite author into the lineup. Grady Hendrix crafts horror novels in a style that’s refreshing. Some contain gore and things that you see in nightmares, but they also include humor and relatability. Hendrix’s notable works include Horrorstor, My Best Friend’s Exorcism, and We Sold Our Souls. I love all of them, but they are not my favorite of his works. This Halloween season, gift yourself with checking out The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires. I don’t know how to describe this book other than saying it’s a mix of Salem’s Lot meets Steel Magnolias, and you definitely won’t be disappointed. I feel as if I consumed this novel in the same way that the main antagonist wants to devour the residents of the coastal town of Charleston. Enjoy this heart-racing, anxiety-inducing tale of friendship and horror that only Hendrix can pull off.
