HALLOWEEN IS A special time of year. Falling leaves, a chill in the air, pumpkins abound. 

As the temperature starts to drop and the evenings get darker, we’re all a lot more likely to be spending our time inside and rediscovering our more cosy hobbies. 

Naturally, reading is one of the best things you can do when you’re on the couch and watching the rain fall outside, and with it being spooky season, we’re here to recommend five of the best horror books for you to sink your teeth (or… eyes?) into this spooky season. 

Carrie by Stephen King

There is perhaps no modern author more synonymous with literary horror than the great Stephen King. King has released so many classics, including several books and stories which have been made into some of the most popular horror movies of all time, including The Shining, It and Misery.

However, King has so many books that it can be hard to know where to start. We suggest: at the beginning. Carrie is King’s first ever novel and tells the story of a bullied teenage girl who seeks horrifying revenge on her classmates. It’s a relatively short read compared to some of King’s doorstoppers, and its combination of narrative with letters and newspaper extracts makes it a highly engaging, fast-paced Halloween read.

The Call of Cthulhu by HP Lovecraft

HP Lovecraft was a short story writer from the early 20th century whose themes mostly focused on eldritch abominations, ancient monsters, and cults that are trying to resurrect these creatures.

One such collection of stories is The Call of Cthulhu, which saw Lovecraft introduce the iconic monster Cthulhu, who has inspired many spin-off novels, artwork, board games and, undoubtedly, nightmares. If you’re in the mood for a real, existential horror, then check out Lovecraft.

Where I End by Sophie White

Now for something a little closer to home. Sophie White is one of the most acclaimed Irish novelists of the last ten years. Her novel, published by Irish publisher Tramp Press, won the Shirley Jackson Novel of 2022 award for its visceral depiction of body horror tied in with grief, familial relations and isolation.

This is a spectacularly well-written and thought-provoking novel that is bound to give you plenty to think about amongst its more chilling elements.

The Sundial by Shirley Jackson

Speaking of Shirley Jackson… Jackson is the author whose work inspired Netflix’s The Haunting of Hill House, but we’re here to recommend The Sundial — a creepy tale of family drama set in a big, creepy house where loads of creepy things happen. The book, which is a quick read, possesses wit and charm and an old-school texture that makes it very appealing to any horror fan. The plot itself is a masterpiece, so this one is really worth reading.

Dracula by Bram Stoker

If you’ve never read this book and you think you know what it’s all about, please reconsider. The story of Jonathan Harker’s trip to the Carpathian mountains and the unleashing of evil that follows is a story full of humour, rich descriptions and moments of utter strangeness. 

With this novel, Stoker reshaped the entire mythology around vampires and created one of the most iconic horror stories of the 19th Century. This is the archetypal Halloween book and shouldn’t be missed simply because you think you already know the story.

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