9 Spooky Novels That Won't Scare You Too Much

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Some of us love our spooky season, but maybe don't have the tolerance for scariest of the scary stories. We can't blame you for that, you shouldn't choose to read a gory, terrifying novel if you aren't getting anything out of that. If you want to feel just a little uneasy this Halloween season without being completely scared out of your skin, there are plenty of great novels new and old that ride that line expertly. For the proudly faint of heart in your life, here are 9 spooky novels that aren't too scary.

"The Thirteenth Tale," by Diane Setterfield

Eerie and captivating, this is one book you won't want to put down until you reach the end. It tells the story of the aging, reclusive author Vida Winter, who decides to reveal the truth about her violent and tragic past. She tells her life story to a young biographer with her own devastating past, and it includes creepy twins, ghosts, a governess, a fire, and more. The two authors confront the horrors as they share their stories with one another.

"Something Wicked This Way Comes," by Ray Bradbury

A spooky classic, this Bradbury novel is one of his most popular, so chances are good that you've heard of it. When a creepy carnival rolls into town, it brings Halloween a week early, along with terror and destruction. Two boys become enchanted by the carnival's creepiness and secrets, leading to a suspenseful story for readers to enjoy. This is the perfect Halloween book for those who want some spooky October vibes without feeling too scared to turn off the lights at night.

"A Curious Beginning (A Veronica Speedwell Mystery)," by Deanna Raybourn

Taking place in Victorian England, this story follows Veronica Speedwell, an orphan who travels the world for the sake of science. She ends up fighting off an abductor and being introduced to a historian who is meant to help her. The story turns into a murder mystery that is captivating and just creepy enough to keep you turning the pages.

"Night In The Lonesome October," by Roger Zelazny

Just dark enough to be a bit spooky but also entertaining and fun, Night In The Lonesome October is a great read. The book has 32 chapters, each one representing a different night in October. It follows the story of the knife-wielding Jack, who walks the streets of London with his dog Snuff, looking for the ingredients needed for a black magic rite. If it sounds odd, it is—but it's also impossible to put down.

"And Then There Were None," by Agatha Christie

A hugely popular novel and what is said to be Agatha Christie's hardest book to write, And Then There Were None is definitely a classic, and a great place to start read any of the author's books. It's a murder mystery about a group of 10 strangers who have been summoned to a weekend away in a private island with an eccentric millionaire host who is nowhere to be found. The guests all have one thing in common: a secret past that they don't want to talk about. One by one, they are murdered, with the reader left scrambling to figure out the killer.

"The Historian," by Elizabeth Kostova

If you're less into murder mystery and more into fantasy horror, this is a great book. It's a blend of history and folklore, telling the tale of Vlad Tepes, AKA Count Dracula, and a young woman whose family is connected to him. She searches for truth and becomes embroiled in adventure as she travels over Eastern Europe. The story is thrilling, suspenseful, and beautifully written.

"Through the Woods," stories by Emily Carroll

A collection of five graphic stories, these combine just the right amount of mystery and spookiness along with beautiful writing. Think of these as fairy tales gone wrong, each story depicting very different people in a range of time periods and social statuses. Even better? The illustrations that go along with them, making these even more creepy and realistic.

"Practical Magic," by Alice Hoffman

Just one in a series of books, Practical Magic is an enchanting novel that has been described as one of Alice Hoffman's best—and this is the entry that the movie was based on. It's about the Owens women, who have been blamed for everything that goes wrong in their Massachusetts town as they've been deemed witches. Although two of the sisters want to escape the magic, one has no intention of doing so, and they eventually get pulled back together, to find out they actually are witches.

"The Distant Hours," by Kate Morton

Looking for some romance with your spooky novel? This romantic thriller has it. A tale of gothic fiction, this starts with a long lost letter that leads a woman to Milderhurst Castle, where she find the eccentric Blythe spinsters. As the woman starts searching for details about her mother's past there, she uncovers long-hidden secrets. It's spooky but also so fun to read.

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