Though I write supernatural thrillers, my reading interests are varied and I read anything from horror novels, to autobiographies, and cute stories about pets. But around Halloween, the only thing I want is to curl up with a book that has any hint of spooky Halloween goodness.
With that in mind, I decided to share with you the five books I'm planning to read this fall.
~Vampires, Bones, and Treacle Scones by Kaitlyn Dunnett
I'm about halfway through this cozy mystery and it's an instant mood-setter for Halloween. In Vampires, Bones, and Treacle Scones the town of Moosetookalook is planning a Halloween party in an abandoned mansion. But nothing goes as planned. Objects disappear. Hidden rooms are discovered. And then, someone is murdered. What follows is an investigation to try and find the killer.
~Say Her Name by James Dawson
This YA horror novel is supposed to be one of the creepiest books you'll read this Halloween. Set in a boarding school, Say Her Name focuses on a group of students who dare each other to summon the legendary ghost of Bloody Mary: say her name five times in front of a candlelit mirror, and she shall appear... At first, nothing happens. But in the next five days, it'll become clear that Bloody Mary was indeed called from the afterlife and that she will come for them, as she has come for countless others before.
~The Shuddering by Ania Ahlborn
I absolutely loved Ania Ahlborn's horror novel Seed. She didn't really re-invent the wheel, but she took all my favorite elements from obscure horror movies from the seventies and eighties and threw everything into her own mix. With The Shuddering, she seems to be doing the same thing. This time, she focuses on a group of friends vacationing in a mountain cabin in Colorado. Something lurks in the forest, watching the cabin, growing ever bolder as the snow falls. After a blizzard leaves the group stranded, the true test of their love and loyalty begins as the hideous creatures outside close in, one bloody attack at a time.
~October Dreams: A Celebration Of Halloween edited by Richard Chizmar and Robert Morrish
October Dreams is a delightful mix of Halloween goodies: never-before-published short stories, classic novellas, essays on the history of Halloween, personal reflections on Halloweens past, and guides to Halloween fiction. Among the authors are Dean R. Koontz, Poppy Z. Brite, Peter Straub, Jack Ketchum, Tim Lebbon, Ed Gorman, Tom Piccirilli, Douglas Clegg, Ray Bradbury, Richard Laymon, Kim Newman, Christopher Golden, and many more. Many call this a must-read for Halloween.
~Vacationing With Ghosts by Sharon Day
Being an avid reader of Sharon Day's blog Ghost Hunting Theories, I've already had a preview of the many weird things that happened to her. Vacationing With Ghosts is partly a nostalgic flashback of the childhood family holidays in their beautiful summer home, and partly an account of the supernatural occurrences she encountered there. Having never experienced the supernatural, I'm usually the first to be sceptic. But Sharon Day's experiences always make me doubt my own belief.
What's on your reading list this Halloween? I'd love to hear. Anything to recommend?
And, of course, if you're looking for spooky reads, you can always check out my books Drowned Sorrow and The Strangers Outside. They're meant to really put you on the edge of your seat, so be prepared what you're getting yourself into.
Megan Blackwood has just lost her son in an accident. Now she has come to Moonlight Creek with her teenage daughter, Jenna, hoping that a change of scenery might help to put their lives back together. But something odd is happening in Moonlight Creek. When rain falls over the village, its inhabitants commit grisly murders, leaving the village deserted again with the first rays of sunshine. Beneath the lake's surface, something watches... and waits... Waits to reveal a tragic past drowned in mystery and fear. One that doesn't bode well for visitors. By the time Megan realizes that her daughter's life is in danger, it might already be too late.
“Pretty damn spooky” -- Book Cover Justice
“A disturbing gem of the horror genre.” -- The Current Reader
“A roller coaster ride of mystery, horror, and overall creepiness.” -- Reading Urban Fantasy
“The scariest story of the year.” -- Sword and Magic
Two sisters return to their remote holiday cabin after a day at the seaside. But little do they know they're being surrounded. Shortly after their arrival, the girls will come face to face with THE STRANGERS OUTSIDE. When the assailants make their intentions known, things take a shockingly terrible turn and an intense battle for survival will begin.
The Strangers Outside has been turned into a movie starring Pierre Lekeux and Iulia Nastase.
"This was a really fun, creepy horror story PERFECT for Halloween." -- Little Squeed Book Reviews
"This had me on the edge of my seat, wanting more, more, MORE! Basically, this is an amazing horror story you should go buy NOW!" -- The Beaucoup Review
"This one had me thinking about the ending for a couple of days after." -- The Diary Of A Bookworm
"Vanessa Morgan's writing is not to be missed, for it comes from the depths of fear to give readers a chance to be entertained as well as enlightened." -- Pitching Pencils
Vanessa Morgan is known as the 'female version of Stephen King'. Two of her works, The Strangers Outside and A Good Man, have been turned into movies. If she's not working on a new book, you can find her reading, watching horror movies, visiting film festivals, blogging, digging through flea markets, or indulging in her unhealthy obsession to her cat. You can find out more about Vanessa Morgan and her books through her blog http://vanessa-morgan.blogspot.com. She's also the founder of Traveling Cats, the world's biggest collection of travel photos with cats, at http://travelling-cats.blogspot.com.
Twitter: http://twitter.com/eeriestories
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2 comments:
I've never really had a paranormal experience either, so I think I would enjoy Vacationing with Ghosts! I always like hearing/reading about supernatural run ins other people have had. Thanks for sharing this list Vanessa and Pam!
I love this post. The Halloween party mystery sounds fun! I've been in an Agatha Christie kick lately. It sounds like it would fit in. :) I loved Seed, too. I've yet to read The Shuddering.
Bloody Mary - the scariest thing EVER. I might not be able to read that one.
October Dreams is one of the best anthologies. It really is a must read for Halloween.
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