25 Scary Halloween Books to Add to Your Fall Reading List

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There's just something about a bone-chilling, horrifying story that piques our interest around Halloween. Yeah, a scary movie or classic Halloween film could definitely hit the spot. But for our wordsmiths out there, something a little more daunting is needed. Something like a book filled with the most mystical, sometimes terrifying words—giving us a tale that we could've never imagined ourselves. Well, since we're on the topic, we thought we'd curate a list of the best Halloween books that fit this criteria!

Just about any Stephen King novel will fit the bill, as well as classics like Frankenstein. For those who love any and everything to do with supernatural happenings, there are haunted house stories to read like The Haunting of Hill House. Or, take a look at modern witch tales like Payback's a Witch that will keep you spellbound (pun intended!). There are even some murder mystery books in here, for those who really want to be left biting their nails. While most of these books might keep you up at night, there are a few that the horror-averse might prefer, too. Try Aiden Thomas's Cemetery Boys for a Halloween story that won't give you nightmares! And when you're done with this list, check out our book character Halloween costumes, since it's right up your alley!

Practical Magic

Gillian and Sally Owens are tired of their family lineage being the talk of the town. Despite popular belief, they are not in fact evil and they don't practice witch craft. When the two sisters grow up, they decide to take matters into their own hands, both in different ways, ultimately drifting them apart. But when they're brought back together time after time (unwillingly), they start to wonder if magic is indeed to blame.

There's Someone Inside Your House

Listen, moving schools as a teenager is already scary enough. So when Makani reluctantly transfers to one with a serial killer on the loose, she realizes she's living in her own nightmare. Students go missing one right after each other, keeping her on edge at all times. Not knowing what else to do, Makani devises a plan to catch the murderer dead in his tracks.

Hallowe'en Party

Kids have a habit of telling the darnedest lies, but when Joyce tells her family that she witnessed a murder—she's being serious. They finally believe her, just when it's too late. Now, it's up to Joyce's family and Hercule Poirot to figure out what kind of "spirit" they have looming around their home.

Payback's a Witch (The Witches of Thistle Grove)

Romantically cheating on one witch is bad enough. Cheating on three is just plain ol' stupid. Because when a trio of broken-hearted witches band together to get revenge, you can expect it to turn real messy—in the most magical way possible.

Clown in a Cornfield

Every town has their disputes. Hey, not everyone shares the same opinion! Though, when Quinn Maybrook moves to a small city in Missouri, she soon finds out that this small town has some real big personalities. It all seems manageable at first, but when a killer clown suddenly emerges, wiping out the disruptive kids, Quinn becomes frightened and suspicious of a few obvious neighbors.

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark

Well, the title pretty much sums this one up! The first part of this nail-biting trilogy includes stories of the risen dead, near-death experiences, and madmen in the form of corpses.

The Hunger

You'll never want to be hungry again after reading this one. If you know anything about the Donner Party, then you know just how gruesome this story is. Stephen King gives his take on one of the horrifying moments in American history.

The House on Foster Hill

Kaine Prescott knows her husband's death wasn't an accident—despite what police tell her. She moves into a worn-out house in a small, desolate town in Wisconsin. Ivy Thorpe lived in the same home a century prior in 1906, sharing a similar story to Kaine. The novel follows both stories, connecting them together as they manage their grief and trauma.

Tiny Nightmares: Very Short Stories of Horror

42 chilling, bite-sized stories make up this horror compilation. Leading with some of the most renowned names in fiction, Tiny Nightmares reimagines what it means to be scared. Read one right before bed, or a couple— whatever your mind can take!

The Witches of New York: A Novel

These three witches in New York aren't the Sanderson Sisters, but their story is unnerving in its own respect. The year is 1880, and 17-year-old Beatrice is bored with her life when she sees an advertisement for an open position at a tea shop. Certain that this is her fate, she leaves her countryside home for the big apple, where she meets the shop owners, Eleanor and Adelaide. Powers held inside these women are quickly discovered during Beatrice's stay.

Frankenstein

Mary Shelley's tale about Dr. Frankenstein and his creation gone awry is considered the birth of the science fiction genre. She wrote the book as part of a competition with her husband and friends (which included the poet Lord Byron!).

The Shining

Need we say more? There's no creepier way to get ready for Halloween than with Stephen King's famous psychological horror novel, The Shining. As if its 600+ pages weren't enough, there's also a sequel you can pick up called Doctor Sleep.

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

Read the story that inspired the massive Broadway musical of the same name. It's all about the Wicked Witch of the West—who isn't really that wicked at all.

The Haunting of Hill House

If you devoured the series on Netflix, then you should absolutely pick up the book that inspired it. The Haunting of Hill House is touted as one of the best haunted house stories of all time. It follows four occult seekers who are investigating the notoriously haunted Hill House.

Interview with the Vampire

You've probably seen the Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt film, but what about the book behind it all? Anne Rice's mesmerizing narrative is told from the perspective of Louis de Pointe du Lac, a 200-year-old vampire, as he recounts his story to a young reporter.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

While you probably read this classic book in your high school English class, it's worth a Halloween reread. It's about the duality of human nature, told through a tale about a man who transforms into his evil alter ego at night.

Carrie

No one would judge you if you chose to read Stephen King books all October. Carrie would be a great place to start—it's actually his first published novel!

Fledgling

Any vampire fan has to read Octavia E. Butler's Fledgling. It completely reinvents the vampire story, tackling issues about race and family as the main character uncovers details of her past life while protecting herself and those she cares for.

And Then There Were None

Interested in cozying up with a mystery this Halloween? Any of Agatha Christie's novels will do, but And Then There Were None is a great choice. When ten people are invited to a mansion on an island by a mysterious host, each guest starts to share their deepest secrets—all while getting picked off one by one.

Coraline

Here's another Neil Gaiman novel! Coraline finds a door to a new universe in her family's house, where she meets exact copies of her mother and father—except in here, they're the ideal versions of themselves. However, as Coraline gets more attached to her other parents, she learns that there's something much more sinister going on.

Mexican Gothic

Set in 1950s Mexico, this gothic horror tale follows Noemí Taboada who goes to a small mining mountain town after her cousin tells her that her husband is trying to kill her. But when she gets there, she finds that the house her cousin inhabits—as well as the family she's married into—holds secrets of violence and madness.

The Good House: A Novel

When Angela Toussaint's son dies unexpectedly in her family's beloved home, the Good House, she must return years later to discover what actually happened to him. The Tananarive Due tale explores secrets, lies, and more in this chilling story about family and otherworldly forces.

White is for Witching

When her mother dies, Miranda is plagued with strange ailments and starts hearing voices. The eerie old house she lives in with her twin brother and father in Dover, England feels suddenly full of the spirits of her ancestors. Spooky!

Frankenstein in Baghdad: A Novel

This modern Frankenstein retelling was a Man Booker International Prize finalist. It takes place in US-occupied Baghdad where Hadi, a curious man, accidentally creates a monster who wreaks havoc on everyone in his path.

Cemetery Boys

Taking place in the days leading up to Día de Muertos, Cemetery Boys is a young adult coming of age story with a paranormal twist. Yadriel, a trans boy who wishes to be accepted by his Latinx family with the ability to see ghosts, summons a spirit to prove himself—except he summons the wrong one. But as Yadriel investigates his death and the death of his cousin, he uncovers dark forces at play, threatening his family.

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