13 Spooky Season Reads (For People Who Don't Normally Read Horror)
As the days get shorter and the Halloween season approaches, there’s nothing better than curling up with a hot mug of tea and a good scary story. But for people who aren’t big horror readers during the rest of the year, it can be hard to find the right book for the spooky season. Maybe the last ghost story you can remember reading was from Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, or maybe you want to get in the Halloween spirit without thoughts of Pennywise the Clown keeping you up all night. No matter! Our team at PangoBooks has your back.
We went through our catalog to compile a list of thrilling, creepy, silly, and outright scary books perfect for the Halloween season. Check out these thirteen spook-tacular titles to find the one that’s right for you!
Are you looking for…
...a modern horror classic that’ll get under your skin and stay there?
Ghost Story’s title says it all. The eerie premise (a man on the run with a mysterious young girl who may not be who she seems…) will hook you in, but it’s the novel’s many twists and turns that’ll keep your nose glued to the page. Though the story is packed with thrills and chills, Peter Straub’s lovely, unpretentious prose helps it go down easy. Straub, a close friend and collaborator of Stephen King, passed away last month, so what better way to honor his legacy than reading one of his best-loved masterpieces?
...a dark, witchy thriller that takes its teen characters seriously?
The wildly under-sung Megan Abbot writes what could best be described as “teen-girl noir.” In The Fever, she dips her toes into the horror genre with her tale of a group of teenage girls plagued by mysterious seizures. Is it hysteria or something much more sinister? Pick up The Fever to find out.
...something to satisfy that true crime itch?
Devil House takes readers on a lyrical journey back in time to the days of the Satanic Panic as its true-crime author protagonist pieces together a mystery from the past. Though this book is perfect for fans of the true crime genre (and for fans of the Mountain Goats, author John Darnielle’s band), this cleverly crafted plot might take you somewhere you never expected to go.
...a modern take on a classic gothic romance?
This 2020 bestseller follows a young Mexico City socialite as she travels out to a creepy old manor to save her cousin, who may be in grave danger. Mexican Gothic has all the trappings of a classic gothic romance, but with a bold new voice and some genuinely horrifying imagery near the climax of the story.
...a middle-grade book with real (age-appropriate) scares?
The Thief of Always was written by Clive Barker. Yes, that Clive Barker, the guy responsible for the extreme-horror franchise, Hellraiser. But did you know that he’s also a celebrated author of children’s fiction? Like many of the best-loved writers of spooky stories for children, Barker’s fiction is genuinely creepy and thrilling while never crossing the line into too-adult territory. The Thief of Always, a story about a young boy who becomes trapped in a strange and threatening place called the Holiday House, is one of his best works.
...a literary novel that uses speculative elements to tackle serious social issues?
This story about a man trying to protect his family while living on what he fears might be borrowed time touches on heavy topics like grief, racism, mortality, and the nature of reality. Due, who teaches a course on Black horror at UCLA, is one of the greatest living horror authors. This is one that shouldn’t be missed.
..a hard-boiled detective story with a horror twist?
Classic noir is one of the most frequently imitated styles, but few pull it off with as much panache as Pessl. Night Film follows a disgraced journalist as he desperately tries to uncover the dark family secrets of a reclusive underground film director. The novel is so absorbing that, despite its length, you might find yourself unable to put it down for days.
...something that reminds you of your favorite podcast?
Try: Welcome to Night Vale by Joseph Fink and Jeffery Cranor
Whether you’re a regular listener of the popular podcast of the same name or have never before travelled to Night Vale, this strange, immersive universe is one to visit for spooky season! Inhabiting a world that might best be described as a lighthearted mashup of Twin Peaks, The Twilight Zone, and Wayside School, the characters of Welcome to Night Vale are the perfect fireside companions.
...a creepy possession tale?
A Head Full of Ghosts is one of the best possession stories in years. Its narrative interweaves blog posts, interviews, and flashbacks to tell the story of a typical suburban family whose lives are turned upside-down when they allow a television crew to film a reality show based around their daughter’s alleged demonic possession. This one is sure to have you checking under your bed!
...a fantastical folk-horror fable?
T. Kingfisher is the pen name used by popular children’s book author, Ursula Vernon, for her Hugo and Nebula Award-winning works of genre fiction. This novel draws on folklore and classic horror stories like The Willows and The Great God Pan to tell a gripping tale about the things that lie in wait in the woods at night. While The Twisted Ones is certainly meant for adult audiences, its scares are softened slightly by Kingfisher’s accessible style and deep humor.
...a thoughtful and meditation on queer horror and the AIDS epidemic?
Red X is both a novel and something more. While its fictional story concerns the mystery behind men going missing in Toronto’s gay district, this tale is interspersed with journal-like entries about Demchuk’s own experiences as a writer of queer horror and as a gay man during the AIDS epidemic. Red X will frighten and challenge readers in ways beyond what typical horror is capable of.
...something short, sweet, and unsettling that’ll keep you up at night?
Probably the scariest of the books on this list, the less you know about this novella-sized tale in advance, the better. If you want something that feels like the thing hiding under your bed has crawled onto your pillow to whisper a story in your ear, this one’s for you.
...a delightful nostalgic throwback?
PangoBooks has an extensive catalog of Goosebumps titles and, let’s face it, isn’t that what we all really want to be reading right now? Pick up one of these titles and dive right back into your favorite childhood thrills!
While these are some of our very favorites, PangoBooks is bursting with too many great horror titles to count! Check out our catalog and find your favorite today!