What better way to enjoy the final stretch of the spooky season than to enjoy these chilling short Halloween reads for 2024? Below I share some of my top picks for books to read on Halloween. These are perfect for enjoying a Halloween-themed twenty-four-hour readathon or to enjoy in your own company.
Spooky Short Halloween Reads for 2024
The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe
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You can’t go wrong with enjoying this classic short story by Poe. He is beloved for his contributions to the early horror genre. Admittedly, I’ve added this to my Halloween reading list and will definitely be enjoying this spooky story.
Goodreads Synopsis:
The Fall .. ” recounts the terrible events that befall the last remaining members of the once-illustrious Usher clan before it is — quite literally — rent asunder. With amazing economy, Poe plunges the reader into a state of deliciously agonizing suspense. It’s a must-read for fans of the golden era of horror writing. “The Fall ..” is one of Poe’s best known short stories – if not the best.
Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King
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This amazing collection of short stories by the master of horror will leave you with all the chills and thrills. These short stories showcase King’s ability to explore the darker elements of human nature designed to horrify and shock you. My personal favorites were Big Driver and A Good Marriage. In Big Driver, we meet Tess who’s traveling home after a book club engagement and decides to take a shortcut home. It’s then she has a deadly encounter with a stranger that will change everything. In A Good Marriage we meet a wife who stumbles upon her husband’s shocking secret while he is away. If you’re looking for a spooky time definitely check out this one.
Goodreads Synopsis:
“I believe there is another man inside every man, a stranger…” writes Wilfred Leland James in the early pages of the riveting confession that makes up “1922,” the first in this pitch-black quartet of mesmerizing tales from Stephen King. For James, that stranger is awakened when his wife, Arlette, proposes selling off the family homestead and moving to Omaha, setting in motion a gruesome train of murder and madness.
In “Big Driver,” a cozy-mystery writer named Tess encounters the stranger along a back road in Massachusetts when she takes a shortcut home after a book-club engagement. Violated and left for dead, Tess plots a revenge that will bring her face-to-face with another stranger: the one inside herself.
“Fair Extension,” the shortest of these tales, is perhaps the nastiest and certainly the funniest. Making a deal with the devil not only saves Dave Streeter from a fatal cancer but provides rich recompense for a lifetime of resentment.
When her husband of more than twenty years is away on one of his business trips, Darcy Anderson looks for batteries in the garage. Her toe knocks up against a box under a worktable and she discovers the stranger inside her husband. It’s a horrifying discovery, rendered with bristling intensity, and it definitely ends a good marriage.
Demon In The Wood by Leigh Bardugo
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The perfect villain origin story exploring the sinister beginnings of the Darkling. In this graphic novel, we witness the events preceding the Darkling’s rise to power with stunning artwork created by Dani Pendargast this is a must-have for those who are die-hard Grishaverse fans and have a sick obsession with the Darkling. I’m definitely going to be reading it this Halloween!
Goodreads Synopsis:
Before he led Ravka’s Second Army, before he created the Fold, and long before he became the Darkling, he was just a lonely boy burdened by an extraordinary power.
Eryk and his mother, Lena, have spent their lives on the run. But they will never find a safe haven. They are not only Grisha—they are the deadliest and rarest of their kind. Feared by those who wish to destroy them and hunted by those who would exploit their gifts, they must hide their true abilities wherever they go. But sometimes deadly secrets have a way of revealing themselves…
Discover the start of a grand and sinister destiny in this must-have graphic novel prequel to the bestselling series and international Netflix sensation Shadow and Bone from spectacular new talent Dani Pendergast and #1 New York Times bestseller Leigh Bardugo.
Goosebumps: Welcome to The Dead House by R.L. Stine
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The nostalgia that these books bring! I remember reading these books and watching the show when I was younger. I was such an R.L. Stine fan! It’s a sure bet that selecting any of the books from this collection will be a guaranteed silly, goofy, spooky time. Plus the show is also available to watch on Netflix the last time I checked so you can really have fun with this.
Goodreads Synopsis:
Amanda and Josh think the old house they have just moved into is weird. Spooky. Possibly haunted. And the town of Dark Falls is pretty strange, too. — But their parents don’t believe them. You’ll get used to it, they say. Go out and make some new friends. — So Amanda and Josh do. But these creepy new friends are not exactly what their parents had in mind.
Because they want to be friends…
…Forever.
Fear Street: The Wrong Number by R.L. Stine
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I can’t mention the Goosebumps series and not throw in the Fear Street series. These were the gateway drugs to Stephen King and Dean Koontz and sparked my interest in the thriller and horror genres. Again reading any books from this well-loved series is a fun spooky walk down nostalgia lane and a great way to celebrate Halloween with a quick read.
Goodreads Synopsis:
It begins as an innocent prank, when Deena Martinson and her best friend Jade Smith make sexy phone calls to the boys from school. But Deena’s half-brother Chuck catches them in the act and threatens to tell their parents, unless the girls let him in on the fun. Chuck begins making random calls, threatening anyone who answers. It’s dangerous and exciting. They’re even enjoying the publicity, and the uproar they’ve caused. Until Chuck calls a number on Fear Street.
Remember Me by Christopher Pike
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I know, I know I’m add a lot of throwback hits but they’re the best short easy reads that you can finish in no time. Plus, they are really good. And this one is no exception. I can’t tell you how many times I read and treasured this book. It’s a classic and definitely worth having a scary, goofy time with on Halloween.
Goodreads Synopsis:
Shari Cooper hadn’t planned on dying, but four floors is a long way to fall. Her friends say she fell but Shari knew she had been murdered. Making a vow to herself to find her killer, Shari spies on her friends, and even enters their dreams. She also comes face-to-face with a nightmare from beyond the grave. The Shadow – a thing more horrible than death itself – is the key to Shari’s death, and the only thing that can stop her murderer from murdering again
The Thirst Collection: The Last Vampire Series by Christopher Pike
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Before Anne Rice and Stephanie Meyer, I was obsessed with The Last Vampire series. This is where my love for vampires and vampire lore began. And while this series has been marketed and sold as the Thirst series it’s still worth giving a read.
Goodreads Synopsis:
As to blood –
ah, blood, the whole subject fascinates me. I do like that as well, warm and dripping, when I am thirsty….
Alisa has been in control of her urges for the five thousand years she has been a vampire. She feeds but does not kill, and she lives her life on the fringe to maintain her secret. But when her creator returns to hunt her, she must break her own rules in order to survive.
Her quest leads her to Ray. He is the only person who can help her; he also has every reason to fear her. Alisa must get closer to him to ensure her immortality. But as she begins to fall in love with Ray, suddenly there is more at stake than her own life….
So, as we can see I’m planning a perfectly spooky and nostalgic Halloween this year and will be cuddling up with all my favorite reads. If you need ideas on creating the perfect vibes for your Halloween reading session check out my blog How To Create A Creepy Atmosphere for A Spooky Reading Session
Til next time wishing you a delightfully spooky Halloween! Happy reading!
