Halloween is the perfect time for picking up a spooky book.
Dark nights arrive with the clocks going back, and if you find yourself at a loose end with no parties to attend or no kids to take out trick or treating, why not give one of these classic halloween reads a go?
If you’re looking for a good ol’ spooky ghost story, then The Woman in Black is for you. I first read this when I was studying it for my A Levels, and I remember reading late at night when everyone else had gone to bed, and I had to stop as it creeped me out so much. A real atmospheric gothic tale that will give you goosebumps.
If zombies are more your thing, try Warm Bodies, my favourite zombie story. While it’s not a typical scare-a-minute zombie fest (you won’t feel the need to start collecting canned food ready for the impending zombie apocalypse), it is one of the most eloquently written books I’ve ever read, and it left me in awe after reading it. You can read my review here.
I Am Legend is a sci-fi vampire/zombie tale published in the 1950s where exposure to a bacteria has created vampire-like creatures, and the book focuses on one man’s search for a cure. This book was unsettling as it really makes you wonder if one day something like that could actually happen. Also, the zombie-vampire creatures are scary AF.
If you like vampire movies and you’re over the age of 25, you’ve probably seen the 90s movie version of Interview With The Vampire, starring Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt. Louis is the original Edward Cullen – the ‘misunderstood’ vampire, different to the purely evil vampires that were traditional of the genre, and this is his tale.
OK, I’m going to just say this: clowns scare the shit out of me. Whoever thought having them at little kids’ birthday parties has never read IT by horror extraordinaire Stephen King. Confession: neither have I, as I haven’t been brave enough to do it… I don’t want nightmares, you know? But there is a reason this book has been made into a movie twice, and I will take folks’ word for it when they say it’s terrifying.
If you want something with halloween vibes, full of magic and intrigue rather than a full on fright-fest, then of course the Harry Potter complete collection is where it’s at. Seven books of pure wizardry and witchcraft, entwined with a lot of dark magic but also plenty of humour and hope. If you haven’t read them, I beg of you, please do.
* All links correct at time of writing.