10 Books to Give You a Fright this Halloween

It’s that time of year when spider webs adorn houses and costumed kids roam the streets… Halloween! And what better way is there to get into the spirit of the spooky season than with some terrifying reads? From horror classics to psychological thrillers and true crime, these ten books are sure to give you a fright.

Reprieve by James Han Mattson

Nothing is as expected in Reprieve, with twists and turns in each cell of the haunted-house escape room. Be warned, there’s more than a few frights in this gripping psychological thriller, which combines the tropes of classic horror with a biting critique of race relations in the US.

Buy a copy of Reprieve here.

The Devil’s Work by Garry Linnell

In The Devil’s Work, journalist and true crime writer Gary Linnell conducts a compelling investigation into the life of Frederick Deeming, the man many believed to be Jack the Ripper. Part murder mystery, ghost story, and historical deep dive, this is an enthralling true crime read.

Buy a copy of The Devil’s Work here.

The Shadow House by Anna Downes

Set on an ecovillage in rural NSW, bestselling author Anna Downes’ highly anticipated second novel, The Shadow House, is a gripping and atmospheric thriller that will lure you in and keep you on edge with every twist and turn.

Buy a copy of The Shadow House here.

The Shining by Stephen King

Stephen King’s 1977 classic, The Shining, cemented his place as the master of horror. The deserted Overlook Hotel is an utterly chilling setting for a possessed child to wreak havoc.

Buy a copy of The Shining here.

The Last Guests by J.P. Pomare

The Last Guests is an unsettling and unputdownable literary thriller. What should be a way to relieve some of Lina and Cain’s financial issues – by letting out rooms of their lake house on WeStay – leads to horrifying consequences. After reading this, you’ll never approach an Airbnb stay in the same way again.

Buy a copy of The Last Guests here.

A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins

From the internationally bestselling author of The Girl on the Train comes this sizzling new thriller. A Slow Fire Burning simmers with page-turning tension. Told from alternating points of view, everything you think you know will, at some point, be challenged in the twisty, unpredictable read.

Buy a copy of A Slow Fire Burning here.

The Stand by Stephen King

Another classic from the King of Horror, The Stand is a post-apocalyptic novel about a pandemic unleashed upon a population and the violent struggle that follows. After the year we’ve just had, this feels more relevant than ever.

Buy a copy of The Stand here.

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

The Handmaid’s Tale is a haunting piece of speculative fiction set in The Republic of Gilead (formerly the US) where the religious totalitarian state has reduced women’s roles to the reproduction of children. While not a traditional work of horror, this is a scary look at a possible reality that feels closer than ever.

Buy a copy of The Handmaid’s Tale here.

The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn

Hellishly suspenseful, original, and with a mystery that even the sharpest readers will be hard pushed to untangle, The Woman in the Window passes all the thriller tests with flying colours. Stephen King himself raved about this book.

Buy a copy of The Woman in the Window here.

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

The Silent Patient is a heart-stopping debut thriller about a woman’s random act of violence against her husband – and the man obsessed with discovering why. It was the bestselling debut novel of 2019.

Buy a copy of The Silent Patient here.