October is here, and it’s the perfect time to indulge in eerie, atmospheric books that send shivers down your spine. As someone who loves diving into the darker side of literature when in the mood, I’ve put together a list of seven spooky books that I’m excited to explore this Halloween season. From classic Gothic horror to chilling psychological thrillers, these books promise sleepless nights and edge-of-your-seat suspense. Here are the haunting tales I intend to read this October:
1. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Kicking off the list with a classic! The Picture of Dorian Gray tells the tale of a young man who remains physically unblemished by time or vice, while his portrait bears the marks of his moral corruption. Wilde’s only novel is a deep dive into vanity, hedonism, and the dark side of immortality. Its eerie atmosphere and exploration of inner demons make it perfect for spooky season. I’m particularly excited about how this Gothic tale blends beauty with horror.
2. Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Set in 1950s Mexico, Mexican Gothic follows Noemí Taboada, a glamorous debutante who travels to a distant mansion after receiving a troubling letter from her cousin. What she discovers there is a house full of sinister secrets, madness, and eerie happenings. This modern Gothic novel is on my list for its slow-building horror and rich cultural backdrop.
3. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
You can’t go wrong with a haunted house in October! The Haunting of Hill House is considered one of the best ghost stories ever written. The novel focuses on four strangers who come together in an allegedly haunted mansion. Jackson masterfully creates a chilling, claustrophobic atmosphere where the line between the supernatural and the psychological blurs.
4. The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones
This contemporary horror novel follows four American Indian men who are haunted by a past event that comes back to terrorize them. Combining elements of folklore, horror, and a gripping narrative about identity, the story promises unsettling moments and a strong sense of dread. I’m eager to see how Jones merges supernatural horror with themes of cultural heritage.
5. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Another Gothic masterpiece on the list! Rebecca tells the story of an unnamed protagonist who marries a wealthy widower, only to find herself overshadowed by his late wife, Rebecca. The novel’s eerie, suspenseful mood builds as secrets of the past unravel. I’m intrigued by how the ghostly presence of Rebecca pervades every aspect of the story, despite never physically appearing.
6. Home Before Dark by Riley Sager
While I have a… difficult relationship with Sager and his books, I’ve heard good things about this one. A modern twist on haunted house stories, Home Before Dark alternates between two timelines: one following Maggie Holt as she returns to the mansion her family fled when she was a child, and the other detailing her father’s supposed true account of the horrors they experienced. Hopefully Sager has filled this psychological thriller with interesting twists.
7. Babel by R.F. Kuang
While Babel is more of a dark academia novel than a traditional horror story, it’s a deeply atmospheric and unsettling exploration of power, language, and colonialism. Set in a fantastical version of 1830s Oxford, the story follows Robin Swift, a Chinese orphan brought to England to study at Babel, the prestigious institution of translation and magical silver-working. The book’s gothic, eerie vibes combined with its exploration of historical oppression make it a thought-provoking and perfect read for October. The tension and slow unravelling of secrets in the halls of academia are bound to give chills.
These seven books promise a mix of classic and modern horror, filled with haunted mansions, ghostly presences, and psychological suspense and I’m so excited to get into them! What are you reading this spooky season?
Chante JVR 
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