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31 Haunting Halloween Books That Will Keep You Up at Night
Updated on Oct. 04, 2024
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The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
For fans of:Â We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson and Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
The chills in the 1959 Gothic horror classic The Haunting of Hill House will creep up on you slowly. Rather than relying on the sort of slasher gore you’d find in your average scary movie, author Shirley Jackson plays on the fear of the unknown, spurring readers’ imaginations to run wild. The story begins when researcher Dr. John Montague sets up a social experiment at a labyrinthine manor called Hill House. The haunted mansion sets the stage for visitors to experience unexplainable noises, smells and cold sensations. But is Dr. Montague really in control? Participants are about to find out.
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Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman
For fans of: The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna and Weyward by Emilia Hart
If you prefer October merrymaking over murder, you’ll probably think Alice Hoffman’s 1995 bewitching family drama Practical Magic is the top Halloween book of all time. The heartwarming story of Gillian and Sally—two sisters who want to flee their family’s legacy of witchery—isn’t scary or horrific. Instead, it’s a touching story of sisterhood that’s brimming with magic, romance, the right dash of family conflict and promises of fall cheer. If you’re looking for a feel-good book that still puts you in the Halloween spirit, you’ve found it.
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The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow
For fans of:Â The Witches of New York by Ami McKay and The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson
A much-adored 2020 smash on Goodreads, The Once and Future Witches will enchant anyone who loves books about witches. The tale details the lives of the Eastwood sisters, three 1893 New Salem suffragists fighting for the rights of modern women—real live witches included! This delightful tour of history, fantasy and female empowerment would make a juicy pick for October book club reading. After all, what screams Halloween more than a trio of wild witches?
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Dark Harvest by Norman Partridge
For fans of: All Hallows by Christopher Golden and Boys in the Valley by Philip Fracassi
The 2007 Bram Stoker Award–winning novel Dark Harvest is part coming-of-age tale, part edge-of-your-seat thrill ride about the October Boy—a teen with a butcher knife that rises from the cornfield in a small Midwestern town every Halloween.
“Some would say Dark Harvest by Norman Partridge is the quintessential Halloween horror novel,” says Nick Cutter, author of The Troop, The Deep and The Queen. “In truth, this book is reminiscent of Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery and other tales where superstition and social conformity take on terrible and ritualistic overtones. Packed full of great imagery and practically seething with an overbearing sense of dread, you just know something’s off. But Partridge cleverly disguises his narrative hand until the very best (or worst) moment to turn his cards over. Recommended for fans of folk horror and those who want a thematically apt read for the spooky season.”
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Pet Sematary by Stephen King
For fans of: Cujo by Stephen King and The Hiding Place by C.J. Tudor
The Washington Post called the 1983 bestseller Pet Sematary “wild, powerful [and] disturbing.” And is it any wonder? Stephen King himself has knighted it as his scariest book. Prepare to feel skittish for days after reading this blood-chilling story of dead children, a cemetery hiding dark secrets, and seething evil, with clammy fingers that reach out to hook you from beyond the grave. The best Halloween book of all time? If grotesque horror is your thing, then a thousand times yes.
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Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
For fans of: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson and The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
No collection of Halloween books would be complete without mentioning this groundbreaking work of science fiction. First published anonymously in 1818 and again with the author’s name in 1831, Frankenstein has chilled readers in classrooms and libraries ever since. The horrific story of a manufactured monster rejected by society is no bland classic—it’s a chilling reminder of humanity’s sway over life, death and nature.
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All Hallows by Christopher Golden
For fans of:Â Road of Bones by Christopher Golden and The Spite House by Johnny Compton
Best known for his supernatural thriller books, Christopher Golden brings 1980s nostalgia to his 2023 novel All Hallows, about a group of trick-or-treaters trying to hide from a creepy creature called The Cunning Man. And its universal appeal is what will completely creep you out—and make you keep turning those pages. “All Hallows is a book for Halloween lovers everywhere, drenched in all the things we love about the holiday: crunchy fall leaves, spine-tingling haunts, kids in costume … or are they kids?” says author Lisa Morton, a Bram Stoker Award–winning writer and Halloween expert. “Golden expertly mixes in dread (both supernatural and more mundane, like dissolving families) with all the warm, autumnal Halloween happenings in this compelling read.”
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
For fans of: Coraline by Neil Gaiman and The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury
“Fear is contagious. You can catch it. Sometimes all it takes is for someone to say that they’re scared for the fear to become real,” writes Neil Gaiman in this 2008 award-winning children’s book that we swear will delight readers of all ages—especially around Halloween. The Graveyard Book centers on Nobody Owens, a human boy raised by ghosts. There’s fun to be had with the phantoms, sure, but will Nobody ever face his fears and venture beyond the graveyard to face the man who killed his family?
“The first Neil Gaiman novel I ever read, The Graveyard Book is a wonderfully quirky tale for middle-grade readers and adults who appreciate clever, captivating storytelling,” says Tracey Neithercott, Reader’s Digest‘s Books Editor. “It’s the best sort of Halloween book: a little bit dark, laced with humor and full of heart.”
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Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
For fans of: The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas and She Is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran
In the dark, atmospheric 2020 book Mexican Gothic, a woman suspects her husband is trying to murder her in 1950s Mexico. Our editors love its lush mansion setting, psychological thrills and supernatural mysteries enough to call it one of the best horror novels ever written, as well as one of the best books by Latinx authors. Prepare to look over your shoulder for a few days after reading.
“Mexican Gothic taps into the part of me that wants to walk through a haunted Victorian mansion in a billowing nightgown,” says Sonja Ska, a BookTokker and a Bookstagrammer. “Seriously, this is probably the closest I’ve come to feeling the whisper of a ghost against my ear. While this is a bit of a slow burn that takes its time setting up what can be lurking in the shadows, the payoff is an eerie story that’s dripping with atmosphere.”
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The Watchers by A.M. Shine
For fans of: The Hollows by Daniel Church and Rosemary’s Baby by Ira Levin
Set in a dark, dark wood in the Irish countryside, the 2022 bestseller The Watchers tells the story of a woman left stranded by the side of the road, only to be drawn into a bunker to avoid the creatures that come out at nightfall—to observe their captive humans through a glass wall. This creepy Gothic tale will keep you guessing and turning pages long into the night. A recently released flick based on the book was produced by M. Night Shyamalan (and written and directed by his daughter, Ishana Night Shyamalan).
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The Monster of Elendhaven by Jennifer Giesbrecht
For fans of: Helpmeet by Naben Ruthnum and The Woods All Black by Lee Mandelo
“Monster was the best, his favorite word. The first syllable formed a kiss, the second was a hiss,” writes Jennifer Giesbrecht in her 2019 debut The Monster of Elendhaven, a twisted, nightmarish novella of the titular creature on a murderous rampage. Terse enough to read in one sitting, this grim short book will hook your attention and leave you thirsty for more. It’s a horror book in every way: an evil monster, a creepy setting and bucketfuls of bloodthirst. There’s a compelling LGBTQ story line, but don’t go in expecting a sweet romance; this is a monster story, after all.
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The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving
For fans of: The Fisherman by John Langan and The Year of Witching by Alexis Henderson
Even if you’ve never read the 1820 classic tale The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, you know the story of the Headless Horseman. A decapitated ghost, haunted townspeople, a fateful ride over a bridge and plenty of American Gothic atmosphere? Sounds like a deliciously spooky short story for All Hallows’ Eve.
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Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
For fans of: Funland by Richard Layman and Joyland by Stephen King
It’s October 24, the week of Halloween, and the traveling carnival has finally stopped by little Green Town, Illinois. Is it any wonder that 13-year-old pals Jim and William race to experience the fun? But there’s something off-kilter about the shadowy carnival workers this year. And the people of Green Town are about to get more than they bargained for. Ray Bradbury’s 1962 American horror classic Something Wicked This Way Comes is mysterious and spooky—the perfect book for Halloween.
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A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
For fans of: The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner and The Daughters of Temperance Hobbs by Katherine Howe
Readers who have wholeheartedly embraced the dark academia trend in fiction will appreciate that this Halloween book recommendation combines their favorite genre with the holiday’s most famous supernatural creatures. The first of a trilogy published in 2011, A Discovery of Witches introduces an Oxford scholar and the bevy of witches and vampires she unwittingly unleashes after discovering a long-lost manuscript in the library. Equal parts sensual romance, historical fiction and addictive fantasy, this book makes a spellbinding Halloween read.
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Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
For fans of: The Unspoken Name by A.K. Larkwood and A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
Tamsyn Muir’s 2019 LGBTQ book offers a delicious blend of Halloween themes (think: skeletons, wizards and dark magic) alongside tongue-in-cheek humor. Meet Gideon, a lesbian warrior plotting her escape from a life of enslavement in a place called Ninth House. But, of course, all does not go according to plan. Get ready to throw yourself into a broiling plot full of nervy necromancers, genre-jumping turns and bizarre twists. If you’re a fan of science fiction or fantasy, get your hands on a copy of Gideon the Ninth—and the sequels you’ll be dying to devour when you’re done.
“I just read Gideon the Ninth earlier this year, and it instantly became one of my new all-time favorite books,” says Brandon Baker, a BookTokker and Bookstagrammer. “It’s a perfect mix of sci-fi, mystery and horror, and features some of the most memorable characters you’ll probably ever read. The strong characterizations, cryptic world-building and expert writing drew me in, and the snarky protagonist, interpersonal relationships and insane actions sequences had me hooked. There are four books in this series, and I cannot recommend them enough if you want a genre-defying, mind-bending, over-the-top fun reading experience.”
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Dracula by Bram Stoker
For fans of: Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice and Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu
The daddy of all vampire books, Dracula remains a must on any Halloween reading list—the count is one of the original Halloween monsters, after all. This 1897 novel follows Jonathan Harker, a young Brit on his way to meet Count Dracula at his castle in Transylvania. Despite multiple warnings about the danger lurking ahead, Jonathan trudges onward toward his ill-fated appointment. The dark tale of sharp wits, survival and star-crossed love remains a grisly page-turner for modern readers.
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Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
For fans of: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë and Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier
First published in 1938, Daphne du Maurier’s tale of romance, mystery and domestic intrigue makes for perfect reading in a lamp-lit armchair on a blustery October day. Grab a steaming mug of cider—or perhaps a spiced pumpkin latte?—and settle in. Rebecca is one impeccable work of restrained Gothic horror. A blushing bride finds herself stepping directly into the life of her husband’s first wife, the deceased title character. But what really happened to Rebecca in this sprawling estate? And is it possible for history to repeat itself?
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The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix
For fans of: How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix and Ripe by Sarah Rose Etter
Master of quirky horror Grady Hendrix doesn’t disappoint in The Final Girl Support Group, his 2021 tribute to the last survivors of the popular slasher movies we know and love. But the final girls in this novel have actually survived horrific bloodbaths and meet up for group therapy—until one of them goes missing. If your idea of a perfect Halloween party involves screening Scream, Halloween or Friday the 13th, this one’s for you.
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For fans of: The Vegetarian by Han Kang and The Grip of It by Jac Jemc
One of the New York Times‘s best horror books of the year in 2023, Our Share of Night tells the tale of a father and son who, after the devastating loss of their wife and mother, travel to her hometown. When they get there, they learn her family is not quite what they appear. Compelling and atmospheric, this book is a masterpiece and sure to be an instant classic.
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Harvest Home by Thomas Tryon
For fans of: Children of the Corn by Stephen King and Cunning Folk by Adam Nevill
It’s a classic tale of psychological horror, one with unsettling sights and sounds in the fields, and small-town strangers who warn against getting too curious. Thomas Tryon’s 1973 slow burn Harvest Home follows a family of city slickers as they move to a quintessential country setting. Settling in Cornwall Coombe is supposed to make life simpler. Easier. But, of course, there’s something sinister lurking in those perfectly planted rows of corn.
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For fans of: The Changeling by Victor LaValle and Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah
Lone Women, a mash-up of horror, Westerns and historical fiction, tells the creepy tale of a woman who goes west in 1915 with nothing but an old locked steamer trunk—locked because when she opens it, people start to disappear. Brilliantly written, it’s a fascinating look at the actual women who moved to Montana to homestead in the early 1900s, so it’s no wonder the New York Times, NPR, Time and the Washington Post all named it a best book of the year in 2023. Just read with caution: The fear sneaks up on you until you find you’re completely immersed in it.
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Collected Works by Edgar Allan Poe
For fans of: At the Mountains of Madness by H.P. Lovecraft and The Speckled Band by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
If you’re short on time this Halloween, pick up The Collected Works of Edgar Allan Poe, a group of spine-tingling stories by the original horror master, first published between the 1820s and 1840s. Reading this classic author of atmospheric thrillers and ghost stories will remind you of adolescent camping trips with spooky tales told around the fire. Included works are timeless classics like “The Fall of the House of Usher,” “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” and more.
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House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
For fans of: The Raw Shark Texts by Steven Hall and Foucault’s Pendulum by Umberto Eco
This bestseller from 2000 will challenge your belief of what a book can be. In House of Leaves, Mark Z. Danielewski scatters a trail of clues for savvy readers. Expect vertical footnotes, upside-down text and blacked-out words, all intended to suck you into the story of the yawning abyss inside a closet in a quaint home on Ash Tree Lane. Within the strange house, frighteningly bigger inside than it is outside, nightmares can come to life—and perhaps they will. If you’re looking for hair-raising horror, you’ll find it here, in one of the most innovative Halloween books you’ll ever read.
White Is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi
For fans of: What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher and Rouge by Mona Awad
Beautiful and terrifying, 2009’s White Is for Witching follows the Silver household after a death in the family. There’s always been something strange about the family’s isolated house on the hill. There are secret passages, family whispers and telepathic powers possessed only by the women. But when daughter Miranda starts hearing voices and slowly starving herself, it’s clear that a deeper, darker force is at work. Oyeyemi’s unsettling tale feels like a Halloween ghost story come to life.
Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman
For fans of: Come Closer by Sara Gran and The Wakening by JG Faherty
Incidents Around the House gives a whole new meaning to “Mommy, there’s a monster in my closet.” For 8-year-old Bela, there really is—an entity she calls Other Mommy, and well, it’s as terrifying as it sounds.
“I’ve been a long-time fan of Josh Malerman, and his latest, Incidents Around the House, proves he’s a master of horror,” says international bestselling author Karma Brown, whose own horror novel The Mother comes out in 2026. “Told from the perspective of a young girl, this monster-in-the-closet novel is as chilling and terrifying as it gets, and I loved every minute of it.”
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The Shadow Knows by Diane Johnson
For fans of: The Need by Helen Phillips and The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
Halloween horrors are all in our heads, but that doesn’t make them feel any less real. Such is also the case for N, a struggling young mother who comes home one day to a blood-smeared door. Or is it really blood? As N obsesses over what might have happened, daily life becomes increasingly riddled with mysteries. The tightrope walk between paranoia and reality makes the 1974 psychological thriller The Shadow Knows worthy of any Halloween reading list.
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Fledgling
For fans of: Semiosis by Sue Burke and Lilith’s Brood by Octavia E. Butler
Here’s a Halloween hook for you: A young girl wakes up with no knowledge of her identity. She soon realizes she is a middle-aged vampire whose memories have been stolen. Readers gave the 2005 paranormal thriller Fledgling kudos for featuring a Black vampire, but noted that her steamy sex scenes while in a prepubescent body (with a grown-up mind) could be disturbing. Still, the book remains a modern classic, and it’s just one of the books by Black authors you should add to your reading list today.
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Other Terrors edited by Vince A. Liaguno and Rena Mason
For fans of: Never Whistle at Night by Shane Hawk and The Dark Descent by Clive Barker, Ray Bradbury and John Collier
Sometimes real-life problems can be just as chilling as those in blood-curdling Halloween books. The 2022 horror collection Other Terrors relies on both, with a focus on the human inclination to fear those we perceive as “other.” The anthology features horror stories written by underrepresented voices, with haunting tales that include squirm-inducing characters, plot twists and themes of isolation and otherness.
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The Devourers by Indra Das
For fans of: The Secret Books of Paradys by Tanith Lee and Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James
Shapeshifting. Gender fluidity. Lust (and bloodlust). And a cast of nonhuman characters who eat people. Indra Das’s 2017 debut The Devourers turns Indian folklore on its head in this visceral, disturbing story of a history professor named Alok who becomes entranced by a stranger professing to be part werewolf. Intrigued, Alok follows the stranger down a dark, twisted path that marries stories from the present and deep past. This is not your ordinary Halloween book, but it’s landed here for mature readers seeking a thought-provoking story that’s alternately brutal and breathtaking.
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The Fervor by Alma Katsu
For fans of: The Terror by Dan Simmons and The Deep by Alma Katsu
It’s World War II meets horror meets Japanese folklore. After being sent to a Japanese internment camp in 1944, Meiko and Airko Briggs face their biggest challenge yet: a supernatural enemy disguised as a virus that whips infected neighbors into violent frenzies. Breathtakingly scary, The Fervor blends fresh terror with classic Halloween scares like demons and spiders, making this 2022 thriller a chilling choice for fans of historical fiction looking for a fright.
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Unnatural Creatures by Kris Waldherr
For fans of: Hollow by Karina Halle and The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
“Some tales aren’t what you think. Nor do they begin when you expect, such as at the stroke of midnight,” writes Kris Waldherr in her 2022 retelling of Frankenstein, Unnatural Creatures. Highlighting the lives of three women who loved Victor Frankenstein, this dark fantasy book is the one to read once you’ve finished Mary Shelley’s classic novel.
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At Reader’s Digest, we’ve been sharing our favorite books for over 100 years. We’ve worked with bestselling authors including Susan Orlean, Janet Evanovich and Alex Haley, whose Pulitzer Prize–winning Roots grew out of a project funded by and originally published in the magazine. Through Fiction Favorites (formerly Select Editions and Condensed Books), Reader’s Digest has been publishing anthologies of abridged novels for decades. We’ve worked with some of the biggest names in fiction, including James Patterson, Ruth Ware, Kristin Hannah and more. The Reader’s Digest Book Club, helmed by Books Editor Tracey Neithercott, introduces readers to even more of today’s best fiction by upcoming, bestselling and award-winning authors. For this piece on the best Halloween books, Leandra Beabout tapped her experience as a longtime journalist who has written dozens of articles about books for Reader’s Digest to ensure that all information is accurate and offers the best possible advice to readers. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- Lisa Morton, Bram Stoker Award–winning author, host of the Ghost Report podcast and Halloween expert
- Brandon Baker, horror BookTokker (@baker.reads) and Bookstagrammer (@baker_reads)
- Sonja Ska, horror BookTokker (@ghostlyreads) and Bookstagrammer (@spookycurious)
- Nick Cutter, author of The Troop, The Deep and The Queen
