The Halloween weekend is on the way, and while a lot of us might be dressing up for a party, some may prefer a night in with a good book. If this is you, we've got you covered. Here are some of our favourites reads for the spooky season.
The Dangers of Smoking in Bed - Mariana Enríquez (2021)
The Dangers of Smoking in Bed by Mariana Enríquez was published this year as an adaptation of a 2009 short story.
This 187-page collection of short horror stories is perfect for the Halloween season.
With ghost babies, ouija boards and witchcraft, Mariana Enríquez reinvents the scary story with a twist, by placing them against a backdrop of contemporary Argentina.
What makes this collection so brilliant is the way Enríquez blends the supernatural with the conventional.
Once the danger and desperation of the characters have wholly gripped you, the climax is revealed – but not in the way you would expect.
In a final twist, the ultimate horror does not necessarily lie in the monsters or ghosts but in the nature of mankind.
Tender Is the Flesh - Agustina Bazterrica (2017)
Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica is a gripping 219-page dystopian novel published in 2017.
In this page-turner, a virus has contaminated animal flesh, and cannibalism is legalised.
Marcus, a troubled overseer of the supply and distribution of such meat, is gifted a live specimen – a human bred specifically to become food.
Bazterrica has a beautifully poetic way of writing that makes Marcus’ inner monologues feel like they’re radiating in pure anguish.
His personal torments are a misery reminiscent of our society. Yet, the horror of this dystopia is constant. The dystopian extreme feels like society in the far future, and as we read through Marcus’ turmoil, it also feels crushingly close.
The Haunting of Hill House - Shirley Jackson (1956)
Despite being published 65 years ago, The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson still finds a way to appeal to contemporary audiences.
The gothic horror novel is an easy-to-read classic.
Three strangers receive an invitation by Dr Montague to stay at the mysterious Hill House over the summer to find scientific evidence of paranormal activity.
While not an overtly terrifying book, Jackson creates a brooding atmosphere, coiled tight with suspense from the very first pages.
Often referred to as the perfect haunted house story, the layers to this psychological thriller are worth diving into.
These Violent Delights - Chloe Gong (2020)
Last year, Chloe Gong released These Violent Delights, a historical, young adult, fantasy novel.
The novel follows a Romeo and Juliet style storyline, set in 1920s Shanghai, with rival gangs and a monster lurking in the Huangpu River.
A love letter to Shanghai and Shakespeare, this wonderous debut by Gong has it all: enemies to lovers, heists, and a monster hunt.
Despite these fantastical themes, this book also tackles important issues such as identity crisis, colonialism, and sexism.
It is a breathtakingly impactful read from the youngest New York Times bestselling author.
How to Kill Your Family - Bella Mackie (2021)
In this contemporary thriller, Grace Bernard has murdered six members of her own family, but she is currently in Limehouse Prison for a crime she swears she did not commit.
Fast-paced and witty with a villanelle type anti-heroine, How to Kill Your Family is a wild and dark ride about betrayal, revenge, and belief superiority.
Bella Mackie treats us to original and darkly comedic murders, as Grace recounts her life up until the most recent point where she is writing in her journal in prison.
This book is clever, subtly hilarious and certainly packs a punch with its final twist.
Edited by Jemma Snowdon