The Best Books to Read During Spooky Season

By: Valeria Ramos

Spooky season is officially here and if you love all things Halloween, there’s nothing better than a creepy story to get you in the spine-chilling spirit. From horrific twists on classic children’s tales to suspenseful murder mysteries, these books are guaranteed to help you get in the Halloween spirit this year!

The Bloody Chamber & Other Stories by Angela Carter

Known for her feminist literature, Angela Carter spins classic fairy tales like Beauty and the Beast and Little Red Riding Hood into dark, sensual stories filled with blood and horror. We’re talking about a Red Riding Hood who willingly gets in bed with the wolf.

Carter’s short stories are equal parts intriguing and disturbing as she explores themes of sexual liberation, power, and death. My favorite thing about this book is that the female characters (either alone or with the help of other women) are able to free themselves from harrowing situations.

Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury

On a chilly October day, a traveling carnival visits a small mid-west town and with it, brings sinister mysteries witnessed by two teenage boys. A few of the carnival’s terrifying spectacles include a time-turning carousel and the Dust Witch, who, with eyes sewn shut, can feel emotions with her hands.

If you’re looking for a book that is both creepy and nostalgic, this is for you, but as Bradbury warns, “Beware of the autumn people…”

All The Bad Apples by Moira Fowley-Doyle

Set in Ireland, this book explores the disappearance of a girl named Mandy. Her sister, Deena, does not believe she is dead and suspects something else is at play. In her quest to find answers, she discovers dark secrets and a family curse. In this gothic story, Fowley-Doyle hides deeper meanings amid mystery.

Not only is this book filled with witches, magic, and all things spooky, but it is also feminist as it highlights the strength and perseverance of women.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

It doesn’t get more Halloween than this classic Gothic thriller. Shelley (who began writing this story at only 18) tells the story of science student Victor Frankenstein and his attempted creation of a human being from stolen body parts. This creature, rejected by his creator and isolated in loneliness acts out in bloody revenge against Frankenstein.

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

From the Scottish author who brought us Treasure Island, this novella tells a twisted story of the evil that exists in humans and what can happen when it is uncontrolled. Now frequently adapted in pop-culture, Dr. Henry Jekyll and his alter ego Edward Hyde battle for control over their shared body. What started as an exploration of Jekyll’s psyche turns into a violent and destructive journey as told by Stevenson.