Spooky Reads for October

Autumn lasts three months, providing plenty of time to dive into books that fulfill your romance, countryside, and mystery cravings. However, with October's 31 days dedicated to all things spooky, it's the perfect time to immerse yourself in ghost stories, thrillers, and tales of the supernatural. Whether you enjoy witches, ghosts, or chilling murders, there’s something for everyone. Plus, if you dislike scary movies, reading can help you avoid vivid nightmares. While I can't explain the science behind it, reading a frightening book often feels less intense than watching a scary movie. The words tend to fade from memory, while gory scenes linger long after the film ends.

Our spooky book list features a mix of mystery, thriller, and horror genres. You can leap from haunted houses to unraveling local murders or exploring the historical persecutions of witches. If you can’t get through our entire list this year, save some titles for next October or continue reading them throughout the fall season.

The Haunting of Ashburn House

The Haunting of Ashburn House by Darcy Coates

If houses could talk, Ashburn House would never stop screaming. This abandoned mansion has a dark reputation—its former owner went mad, and the dead buried nearby never found peace. Everyone knows to avoid the haunted mansion, but when Adrienne inherits it after struggling to find another place to live, she quickly learns she should have kept looking. She feels a sinister presence within the home, where messages appear on the walls, furniture moves on its own, and the nearby grave holds secrets no one could have imagined. After one too many horrifying incidents, Adrienne fears that the house and its restless spirits are after her. She doesn’t know how to escape, but she realizes that if she doesn’t find a way out, the dead will take her with them.

If you love ghosts, horror, and paranormal activity, The Haunting of Ashburn House will make a great addition to your bookshelf.

The Last Witch of Scotland by Philip Paris

After the death of her father in a fire, Aila and her mother, Janet, move to northern Scotland. As they try to heal, their new community doesn’t welcome them. Aila's burn marks make her stand out, and her mother struggles to mourn her husband. When a minister arrives to investigate the women rather than guide them through their grief, things become complicated. Just as tensions rise, a theater group from Edinburgh arrives, and lead actor Jack forms a friendship with Aila and Janet. While they navigate their new reality, the town’s gossip continues, and they face serious challenges.

The Last Witch of Scotland weaves together history and fantasy, inspired by the last person executed for witchcraft in Britain. It’s a compelling mix of real events and storytelling for those who enjoy haunting true stories.

Room for Rent: A Thriller by Noelle W. Ihli

In her last semester of college, Nya can only afford a small room in a rundown house. It’s not the most prestigious place to live, but it provides a roof over her head. However, she soon starts hearing her door rattle at night, food goes missing, and her belongings are disturbed. What she once thought was a random intruder reveals a more sinister reality: her strange roommate, Sydney, has a darker side. As Nya tries to avoid Sydney, she finds herself caught in her roommate’s terrifying games. With tensions escalating, Nya realizes she may not survive another night.

Room for Rent is a mystery thriller that will keep you turning pages late into the night.

A Flicker in the Dark

A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham

When 12-year-old Chloe Davis’s father is sent to prison for murdering six teenage girls, Chloe and her family struggle to cope with the fallout. Over the next 20 years, Chloe becomes a psychologist in Baton Rouge, helping troubled teens while grappling with her own past. Just as she starts to find happiness, a local girl goes missing, followed by another. Chloe’s childhood memories resurface, leaving her to wonder if she’s seeing patterns from the original string of disappearances. Will she let the police handle the investigation, or will she take matters into her own hands?

A Flicker in the Dark is filled with suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat. If you enjoy true crime podcasts, you’ll likely enjoy this gripping thriller.

The Haunting by Natasha Preston

What would you do if you discovered your boyfriend’s father murdered four teenagers? This nightmare becomes a reality for Penny in The Haunting. Despite her parents forbidding her from seeing ex-boyfriend Nash and his family, thoughts of them linger as Halloween approaches. While shopping for a costume with friends, Penny stumbles upon a girl stabbed in a dressing room. As she grapples with the horror, Penny suspects that another killer is in town, despite everyone insisting otherwise. She must find a way to prove them wrong.

This spooky read is perfect for a chilling Halloween night. If you don’t have plans to go out, it’s an ideal companion between trick-or-treaters.

Someone Is Always Watching by Kelly Armstrong

Blythe, Gabrielle, Tucker, and Tanya have been best friends for years. But when Gabrielle is found covered in blood next to their dead principal, their friendship becomes strained. They start fighting more and suffer from vivid nightmares. Blythe and Tucker can’t even be in the same room together. When Gabrielle is caught, she can’t remember what happened. As the friends gradually recover their memories, they are confronted with buried secrets that test their trust in one another. Will they overcome this challenge, or will their friendship unravel?

If you enjoy mysteries, Someone Is Always Watching will have you piecing together what happened the day Gabrielle was found in such a shocking state. You might even solve the mystery before reaching the end!

Let us know what books you’re reading this October!