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Spooky books for Halloween - what would you read?

34 replies

StillTryingHard · 28/09/2016 19:19

So December will be all about Christmas books. But as it's October what would you recommend for some seasonal spooky fiction?

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EsmesBees · 28/09/2016 19:25

Try Dark Matter by Michelle Parven. Very atmospheric and tense. As well as actually scary.

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StillTryingHard · 30/09/2016 23:46

Thanks esme - I will check it out

OP posts:
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AmberGreyson · 01/10/2016 15:42

i am not a fan of spooky books

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RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 01/10/2016 16:37

Got to be The Woman in White.

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SquatBetty · 02/10/2016 13:41

The Woman in Black by Susan Hill is my all time favourite ghost story. She's got a new collection of short ghost stories out at the moment so I'm going to buy that soon.

Dark Matter is also very good as mentioned by Esmesbees

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pinkmoomin · 02/10/2016 22:40

Slade House by David Mitchell

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BonusNewt · 02/10/2016 22:42

The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters

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Chocfish72 · 03/10/2016 06:31

Dark matter and the woman in black were both fantastic.

Salems Lot is properly scary!

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RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 03/10/2016 18:14

Dark Matter is cheapo on Kindle right now. Must admit that I didn't love it (I loved the earlier bit, before the silly scary stuff starts!) but know that lots of MNers really enjoyed it.

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RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 03/10/2016 18:14

And if we're talking King, I'd suggest 'It'.

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MaddyHatter · 03/10/2016 18:17

Faerie Tale by Raymond E Feist.. very creepy.

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nobodysbabynow · 03/10/2016 21:28

Any Adam Nevill, but especially House of Small Shadows.

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SashaCattyGarfield · 04/10/2016 15:35

the SO loves Graham Masterton. im not keen but you may like them.

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TolpuddleFarterOATB · 04/10/2016 15:41

Woman in White - Wilkie Collins

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jessicaisonfire123 · 04/10/2016 15:48

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LooseSeal · 04/10/2016 15:51

For classic spooky it's got to be M.R James, if you want something more contemporary I'd go for Phil Rickman and his Merrily Watson series.

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LooseSeal · 04/10/2016 15:54

Adam Nevil isn't spooky, his stuff is bloody terrifying! End of Days had me genuinely sleeping with the lights on, and I consider myself a seasoned horror fan.

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NotAMammy · 04/10/2016 19:05

Salem's Lot was the first book I read that absolutely terrified me. I think I was about 12 when I read it too, as I'd nicked it off my sister.

It also taught me the word 'sphincter'

Can I recommend Dracula too?

I've just started Birdsong, but I might see if I can get Dark Matter downloaded and try that afterwards.

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RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 04/10/2016 19:59

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo to Merrily Stupid Whatshername. I loathed that book.

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redannie118 · 04/10/2016 20:03

Try Haunted by James Herbert-proper old fashion haunted house tale with romance and a brilliant twist at the end
Or for short stories try 20th century ghosts by Joe Hill Stephen kings son and IMHO a much better writer

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LumpySpacedPrincess · 04/10/2016 20:28

Merrily Watkins is ace and v. spooky, so there! Grin

The girl in the swing by Richard Adams is chilling, I had trouble sleeping afterwards.

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glenthebattleostrich · 04/10/2016 20:34

I was going to recommend Haunted or The Secrets of Crickley Hall, also by James Herbert. I always read them around Halloween.

I'm currently reading the woman in black, so far it's very atmospheric.

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Willow2016 · 04/10/2016 20:49

'The Magic Cottage' James Herbert is pretty good.
'77 Shadow St' Dean Koontz is creepy too.
'Moonlight Bay' Dean Koontz is chilling but not because its old fashioned gothic horror, its new science 'could be in the future' horror!

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alrightarekid · 04/10/2016 20:52

Dr Sleep by Stephen King. It's the sequel to The Shining but very different. So, spooky and so readable.

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DidoTwiteInnit · 04/10/2016 20:53

I second M R James. I always dip into his stories this time of year.

Novel-wise The Loney is a spooky read.

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