October is such a good month to snuggle in with a spooky book. I don't like horror or too much gore in my reading material, but a gothic or slightly spooky tale is right up my alley. Here are some books that I have read this month and some that I think would be great to try.
I am currently re-reading The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield, originally published in 2006.. It is very gothic in nature and concerns an eccentric best selling author who wants to tell the truth about her life to a young journalist. The book is only $2.99 on Kindle right now, so if you haven't read it, you might want to get it now while the price is so good. Spooky crazy twins, a mysterious fire that destroys a centuries old house, a ghost, the list goes on and on. And there is a twist at the end.
The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton, just recently released, was not thrilling me at first. It did pick up steam towards the end though and overall I liked it. Three stars. I deducted points for the plot being a bit disjointed and skipping around in a confusing manner. Also too many characters. The story has a likeable ghost however which redeems many of its flaws. A haunted house, a mysterious disappearance, a missing jewel, a drowning, a murder at a house party–there were lots of great elements in this story.
The Silent Companions by Sarah Purcell was super creepy. A pregnant young widow moves into the isolated country mansion her husband had been preparing for her. There are spooky servants, weird artwork that appears again after being put away in the attic, an insane asylum…All the elements for a wonderfully creepy and spooky read. Don't miss out on this one. It will make your skin crawl, but in the most delightful way.
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins is a wonderful Victorian novel that features a young artist who has been engaged to tutor two young ladies in drawing. As he is approaching the estate where he has been hired, he encounters a mysterious woman in white who he later learns is an escapee from a mental asylum. He finds that this mysterious woman has a remarkable resemblance to one of the young women he is to tutor. Unrequited love, murder, shady dealings and great writing will keep you engaged. On Amazon, you can get the Kindle version for free, so what's stopping you?
A new widow, Alice, is forced to seek refuge with her bachelor brother Matthew. Set in 1644 in the English town of Manningtree, Alice notes "Nine months ago, my brother Matthew set himself to killing women". We learn that Alice is writing her observations while being incarcerated in an attic room, while her brother Matthew, believing that witchcraft is afoot, takes it upon himself to persecute over 100 women. The Witchfinder's Sister by Beth Underdown is based on historical facts, which makes it even more chilling.
The Girl Before by JP Delaney is a contemporary novel, but will set your nerves on edge and make you want to read it with all the lights on. If you enjoy a psychological thriller (Girl on the Train, Gone Girl, The Silent Wife), this will be a hit with you. Over a period of time, two different women apply to rent a very exclusive and unusual apartment, one after the other. The applicants have to answer some very personal questions on the rental application, and when accepted, have to agree to some rather peculiar rules. In exchange, they get an amazing house for a ridiculously low rent. Only there is a catch. You find out right away that the first girl dies in the house under mysterious circumstances. Some weird things are happening in the house, which makes the second renter suspicious that something sinister is up. And she's right…
A couple of other classics that you might enjoy this month are The Birds, by Daphne DuMaurier and The Hounds of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. And let's not forget The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson. You can often get titles like this for super cheap or even free on Amazon, for your Kindle. They are short books and make for fun quick reads to get you in the mood for Halloween!
If you have some favorite spooky reads, be sure to share in the comments!
24 responses to “Great Books to Read in October”
Interesting title – thanks! Not generally my cup of tea but I’m waiting my turn for The Clockmaker’s Daughte from the library.
New blog???
Hugs!
Interesting title – thanks! Not generally my cup of tea but I’m waiting my turn for The Clockmaker’s Daughte from the library.
New blog???
Hugs!
Interesting title – thanks! Not generally my cup of tea but I’m waiting my turn for The Clockmaker’s Daughte from the library.
New blog???
Hugs!
Please put a ‘s’ on the end of ‘title’ and a ‘r’ on the end of Daughter’ in the above post. Thanks! No coffee yet. 🙂
Please put a ‘s’ on the end of ‘title’ and a ‘r’ on the end of Daughter’ in the above post. Thanks! No coffee yet. 🙂
Please put a ‘s’ on the end of ‘title’ and a ‘r’ on the end of Daughter’ in the above post. Thanks! No coffee yet. 🙂
Already had a few of these books in my hands but the only one I’ve read yet is ‘The girl before’. I found it okay but wouldn’t read it a second time (if I really love a book or series I reread them again and again).
Already had a few of these books in my hands but the only one I’ve read yet is ‘The girl before’. I found it okay but wouldn’t read it a second time (if I really love a book or series I reread them again and again).
Already had a few of these books in my hands but the only one I’ve read yet is ‘The girl before’. I found it okay but wouldn’t read it a second time (if I really love a book or series I reread them again and again).
I read The Girl Before last year and I thought it was very well done. It was hard to put down. I enjoy your lists of books you’ve read with a brief synopsis. I appreciate a recommendation.
I read The Girl Before last year and I thought it was very well done. It was hard to put down. I enjoy your lists of books you’ve read with a brief synopsis. I appreciate a recommendation.
I read The Girl Before last year and I thought it was very well done. It was hard to put down. I enjoy your lists of books you’ve read with a brief synopsis. I appreciate a recommendation.
My favorite is Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. The first reading left such a huge impression on me.
My favorite is Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. The first reading left such a huge impression on me.
My favorite is Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. The first reading left such a huge impression on me.
You, my friend, are a prolific reader! I’m always amazed at how much you get accomplished! Have a nice weekend!
You, my friend, are a prolific reader! I’m always amazed at how much you get accomplished! Have a nice weekend!
You, my friend, are a prolific reader! I’m always amazed at how much you get accomplished! Have a nice weekend!
Have you read Night Film? Kind of horror-lite, about a reclusive filmmaker, his dark, twisted movies, mysterious happenings, a journalist on a quest for the truth. Extremely entertaining! Also creepy and worth reading (creepy or supernatural being one of my favourite genres to read): The Little Stranger, Wylding Hall, The Historian, The String Diaries, House of Many Shadows (written in the 70s, an oldie but a favourite), Let the Right One In, and The White Road by Sarah Lotz. And The Silent Companions was excellent!
Have you read Night Film? Kind of horror-lite, about a reclusive filmmaker, his dark, twisted movies, mysterious happenings, a journalist on a quest for the truth. Extremely entertaining! Also creepy and worth reading (creepy or supernatural being one of my favourite genres to read): The Little Stranger, Wylding Hall, The Historian, The String Diaries, House of Many Shadows (written in the 70s, an oldie but a favourite), Let the Right One In, and The White Road by Sarah Lotz. And The Silent Companions was excellent!
Have you read Night Film? Kind of horror-lite, about a reclusive filmmaker, his dark, twisted movies, mysterious happenings, a journalist on a quest for the truth. Extremely entertaining! Also creepy and worth reading (creepy or supernatural being one of my favourite genres to read): The Little Stranger, Wylding Hall, The Historian, The String Diaries, House of Many Shadows (written in the 70s, an oldie but a favourite), Let the Right One In, and The White Road by Sarah Lotz. And The Silent Companions was excellent!
Thanks for the gray review and tips on good reads on the cheap! I wish I could find more audible books for cheap as they seem pricey but are so easy to listen to.
Thanks for the gray review and tips on good reads on the cheap! I wish I could find more audible books for cheap as they seem pricey but are so easy to listen to.
Thanks for the gray review and tips on good reads on the cheap! I wish I could find more audible books for cheap as they seem pricey but are so easy to listen to.