1. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson – I haven’t actually read this book yet but I do have a copy of it just waiting for me to start it. I know the basic story thanks to all the film and television remakes, most recently the Netflix series. The story is centered on four people who arrive at the infamous Hill House looking for evidence of a “haunting.” Hill House has more in store for them than they could have ever anticipated. I’ve read several of Shirley Jackson’s pieces and she is a wonderful horror writer. Her stories are suspenseful and creepy which are perfect if you are looking for a spooky October read.

2. If you know me very well, then you know I have a crazy obsession with Mary Shelley. I think she is one of the most interesting authors and I’ve spent countless hours researching her life, reading books about her, and watching movies and documentaries about her life. If you ever have a chance to delve into the fascinating story of her life with Percy Shelley, you definitely should. I’m also a sucker for classics so, of course, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley makes my list of creepy recommendations to read in October. Frankenstein is one of my favorite books. It is a quick read and very easy to read, unlike some literature from the same time period.

3. My next creepy book recommendation is for all the vampire lovers out there who need something with a bit more substance than Twilight (not that there is anything wrong with Twilight! I thoroughly enjoyed the Twilight series). Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire is a cult classic popularized by the movie starring Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise but, of course, the book goes so much deeper and Anne Rice’s detail is exquisite. Interview with the Vampire tells the story of a vampire named Louis through his own words. He recounts his mortal life and his immortal life after he is turned into a vampire at the hands of the sinister, explosive, and magnificently beautiful Lestat. Louis’ story becomes even more complicated after he creates a vampire, Claudia, from a child. Anne Rice has a gift for language and creates the perfect gothic piece of literature entwined with the romanticism of the Antebellum South and Gothic Europe. If you are looking for a book with rich detail, check out Interview with the Vampire. Be warned though! Anne Rice will suck you in and you might just find a new favorite author!

4. In the reading circles I frequent, Neil Gaiman is often hailed as a god. He is a brilliant writer. The first book that I experienced Gaiman’s gorgeous writing was The Graveyard Book. This book tells the story of Nobody Owens who witnesses the brutal murder of his family as toddler and then wanders into a graveyard. The deceased inhabitants of the graveyard agree to raise the boy. Nobody is raised by ghosts and experiences all sorts of adventures and dangers within the graveyard. However, the murderer of his family is waiting just around the corner for Nobody to leave the graveyard. What I love about Gaiman’s writing style is that he is witty and humorous without detracting from the creepiness of his novels. While I loved The Graveyard Book in print, I would highly encourage you to check out the audiobook that is narrated by Neil Gaiman himself! It is fantastic!

5. Gillian Flynn is probably most well known for her novel Gone Girl. While I loved the suspense of Gone Girl, I would argue that if you are looking for a far more suspenseful and creepier book you should pick up Flynn’s Dark Places. At seven years old, Libby witnesses the brutal murders of her mother and two sisters. Libby testifies that it was her older brother who committed the murders. Twenty-five years later, a group that believes Ben is innocent contacts Libby and drills her for more information forcing her to relive the crime. Libby goes down a dark path and begins to question whether her brother really did commit the murder and what really happened that night. If you thought Gone Girl was a twisted roller coaster, get ready! Dark Places is indeed dark and left me reeling. It is one of those books that I read years ago and still think about often.

6. Another quick but classic read for October is The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving. Sleepy Hollow is a story that has stood the test of time and captured the attention of readers since it was first published in 1820. I think most people are familiar with the plot of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow due to all the different film and animated versions available but I’m still a sucker for the written word so if you need a quick and spooky read, try this classic out.

7.While I was compiling this list I ran across several new releases in the horror genre that sound so interesting. This particular one I have not read yet but I’ll hopefully be reading it this month. His Hideous Heart edited by Dahlia Adler is a collection of retellings from prominent young adult authors. In this book, each author tackles retelling and building upon one of Edgar Allan Poe’s famous stories. Poe, of course, has claimed his spot as one of the top horror authors and is still widely read even more than one hundred years after his death. The book contains the original Poe story followed by a retelling. I think this is such a great book to expose young readers to classic tales while still giving them a modern twist. As a huge fan of Poe, I can’t wait to read these more modern versions. If you are a Poe lover, grab a copy of His Hideous Heart to jump into this weekend.

8. If you are looking for a creepy book that you could read with your children, I highly recommend A Curious Tale of the In-Between by Lauren DeStefano. Pram Bellany is an odd little girl with very few friends among the living. That’s because she can talk to ghosts. Her best friend, a ghost named Felix, and her books are all Pram really thinks she needs in life. One day Pram meets a spiritualist named Lady Savant who wants to help Pram find the dead parents of one of her schoolmates, Clarence. Lady Savant has ulterior motives and her plans turn out to be more terrifying than any ghost Pram has ever talked to. I read this book a few years ago with my oldest daughter. It is a middle grade book and is spooky enough to be fun but not enough to leave kids with nightmares. 

9. The recent Netflix movie Bird Box captured a lot of people’s attention and for good reason. Being the bibliophile that I am, I refused to join the hype and watch the movie before I read the book. My husband was desperate to watch it so I downloaded the Kindle version of Bird Box by Josh Malerman. This book did not disappoint! I could not put it down and I finished the book in one sitting in an afternoon. The book is much different from the Netflix movie but the basic premise is the same. The story is set in an apocalyptic world with few survivors. Mallorie and her two children are living alone in an abandoned house. She has heard tales of a place offering refuge down the river. Now that her children are four years old, it is time to flee to the refuge. The only problem is that something is out there and if you see it, you die. The entire trek downriver must be completed blindfolded to preserve Malorie and her children’s lives. Malerman’s Bird  Box is a thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seats. It is the perfect book if you are looking for something creepy without being too bloody or gory. 

10. I’m not sure any list of horror books would be complete without a book by the king of horror, Stephen King! King’s newest book, The Institute, was just released last month. This is another one that I haven’t had a chance to jump into yet but I’ve heard great things about it. The Institute tells the story of Luke who finds himself locked in The Institute after the brutal murder of his parents. He soon discovers that the other kids in The Institute are equipped with special powers such as telekinesis and ended up in this place the same way that he did. As Luke becomes desperate to escape he soon discovers that no one ever makes it out of The Institute. Stephen King is a master of language and always writes books that are tense and draws the readers in. I’m sure this one is no different. Grab a copy of The Institute (or really any book by Stephen King) to get you in the mood for a spooky October.