There's only one week left until Halloween! For me, this means trying to squeeze in as many spooky reads as possible. Reading scary books are even more terrifying to me than horror movies, because it's much more personal. All the spooky things are going on in your head. You can't just cover your eyes and avoid them. If you're looking for some heebey jeebes this Halloween, here are twelve chilling reads to check out.
1. "Interview with the Vampire" by Anne Rice
Starting with my all-time favorite, "Interview with the Vampire." You may have seen the film adaptation with Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise, which was a fantastic adaptation. But the novel is even better. It follows the story of vampire called Louis Pointe Du Lac as he tells an interviewer the story of how he became a vampire, and his life since. Anne Rice is so gifted with creating intriguing, fully fleshed-out characters, and settings that feel tangible. If vampires are your thing, this is the perfect book for you.
2. "The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde
"The Picture of Dorian Gray" isn't scary in a traditional way. What makes it a creepy read is its look into the darker side of humanity and what we're capable of. It tells the story of a young man called Dorian Gray who gets his portrait painted by a friend. Quickly he begins to realize that the portrait not only ages for him, but whenever he commits a sin the portrait begins to get uglier, the uglier his soul gets. It's a great piece of gothic literature, and one that raises many questions.
3. "The Haunting of Hill House" by Shirley Jackson
This book gets more onto the level of horror. Four strangers are invited to spend some time at an old mansion. Of course, as is the case with most old haunted mansion's, strange things slowly start to happen. The longer than stay there the more the paranormal phenomenon escalates. This makes for a truly thrilling and creepy read.
4. "Horrorstor" by Grady Hendrix
One great thing about this book is the presentation. The book is designed to look like an Ikea catalogue, and it really does. This is because the story is about a fictional furniture store, based on Ikea. A few employees are roped into staying overnight to figure out why things keep turning up broken every morning when they open the store. They get more than they bargained for when disturbing things start happening while they investigate the showroom. It's a great, quick read that you won't want to put down until the very end.
5. "They All Fall Down" by Roxanne St. Claire
Like "Final Destination"? Then you're sure to love this thriller. Vienna High has a notorious list. Every year, ten of the hottest girls in school are put ranked, and instantly because high school royalty. However, this year, on the 30th anniversary of the list, girls start dying. Everyone on the list begin to have freak near death experiences, and in numbered order they begin to die. This is a thriller that will keep you guessing, while also being scared to go to bed at night.
6. "Slasher Girls and Monster Boys" Anthology
This is an anthology of young adult scary, short stories. Fourteen of the greatest writers in the young adult genre each wrote a horrifying tale based on horror movies/books. They are each very different, but the one thing they have in common is that they are sure to give you the creeps.
7. "The Merciless" by Danielle Vega
"The Merciless" is a really creepy, gritty exorcism story. It doesn't hold back on any level and some of the imagery is incredibly disturbing. Which makes this a perfect Halloween read. Sofia Flores is new to school and makes the mistake of befriending Riley, Grace, and Alexis, three of the schools most popular girls. Shortly after they become friends the girls come to Sofia and tell her they believe that her other friend Brooklyn is possessed. They decide that they need to perform an exorcism on Brooklyn. But what they have in mind is less about exorcism, and more about torture.
8. "Project Cain" by Geoffrey Girard
This book is perfect for all my fellow people who are obsessed with serial killers. This book tells the story of 16 year old Jeff who discovers that he was made in a lab out of the DNA of Jeffrey Dahmer only eight years ago. And he wasn't the only boy made out of the DNA of dead serial killers in a government cloning experiment called Project Cain. An experiment designed to test the debate on nature vs. nurture. But then the worst of the boys are set free, and before he knows it Jeff is on the run. This is such an interesting book if you're interested in serial killers, psychology, or both. If you would rather an adult, uncensored version of this same book, check out "Cain's Blood" which is the same story from a different point of view.
9. "Pictures of You" by T.J. Alexian
"Pictures of You" is an incredible mystery/thriller story that's perfect to read around Halloween time. Our main character Ashes makes YouTube videos. One night Ashes is going through her Youtube channel and discovers a video that she never posted. More videos get uploaded, and they become stranger, and more familiar. They start to bring up memories of her brothers untimely death, and she soon realizes that maybe his death wasn't an accident. This book is a rollercoaster ride that is sure to have you on the edge of your seat.
10. "A Monster Calls" by Patrick Ness
If you're looking for a spooky read geared for more younger readers, check out "A Monster Calls." It's a middle grade book that all ages can enjoy. It's the story of a young boy called Conor who is dealing with his struggling with dealing with the fact that his mother has terminal cancer. One night he is sleeping and wakes up to see a monstrous tree-like creature outside of his window. The monster tells Conor three different stories, and through them Conor begins to come to terms with what is going on in his life. This is one that you're going to need tissues for.
11. "The Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaiman
"The Graveyard Book" is another spooky middle grade fiction read, written by one of the greatest horror novels, Neil Gaiman. This book follows Nobody Owens who lives in a graveyard and has been raised by ghosts. he can't leave the graveyard for fear of running into the man who killed his family. This is a spooky read with lovable characters and an atmosphere you're sure to fall in love with. Not to mention the fantastic illustrations.
12. "Anna Dressed in Blood" by Kendare Blake
This is a young adult book that is perfect for fans of the television show "Supernatural." Cas Lowood is following in his father footsteps, and that means moving around and hunting ghosts. He moves to a new town in hopes of hunting a local legend called Anna Dressed in Blood. However, there is more to this case than he originally expected and he soon realizes it won't be as easy as he would have hoped. This book has one of the scariest opening scenes I've ever read. Blake's descriptions are just so fantastic that it's easy to picture the eerie things that are going on in the story.
