I might be jumping the gun here but the department stores have Halloween decorations out and the weather has started to turn. Therefore, I officially declare it to be pre-spooktober and open season on all things ghoulish, frightening, and horrific. To help get you into the Halloween spirit I’ve conjured a selection of terrifying tales that’ll make your heart race and skin crawl. So prepare to sleep with the light on, for your reading displeasure here are my spooky Adult Fiction picks.
S.A. Barnes
Goodreads begins its description of Dead Silence as “Titanic meets The Shining”, which hits the nail right on the head. Claire Kovalik is about to lose the closest thing she can call a family. Her mega-corp employer has made her ship and crew obsolete but things take a disturbing turn when on a routine maintenance run they receive an odd distress signal. With no desire to return to Earth, Claire convinces her crew to investigate the mysterious call only to discover the Aurora, a famous luxury space-liner that vanished on its maiden tour of the solar system more than twenty years ago. Intrigued by the mystery and tempted by the prospect of a hefty salvage claim, Claire and her crew embark on a suspenseful and terror filled exploration of the imposing ghost ship. With a great set of characters, a strong lead reminiscent of Alien's Ripley, and an immersive atmosphere of fear, Dead Silence is a frightfully good time.
Stephen King
One of King’s lesser known works and the basis for the 1985 film Silver Bullet starring Gary Busey, Cycle of the Werewolf is an underrated King classic. A werewolf is viciously killing the residents in the small town of Trakers’ Mills. Every full moon brings renewed carnage, but 10 year old Marty Coslaw has a plan to end the terror and he’ll need his uncle’s help. King, as always, is a master of character and setting. The scenes building up to the bloodshed are so immersive it’ll feel like you’re there with the unfortunate souls. At just over a hundred pages this is a quick read that you’ll have no trouble gobbling up in an evening.
Lauren A. Forry
This is the book equivalent of a B-movie and I mean that in the best possible way. Seventeen-year-old Eliza and her troubled little sister have lost both parents to separate tragic events. Forced to leave London to work for the mysterious Mr. Brownwell amid the death and chaos of WWII Britain, Eliza struggles to control her sister's bizarre behavior while trying to balance her duties in the crumbling old manor, Abigale Hall. What on the surface appears to be a somewhat standard English Gothic/Horror novel, Abigail Hall has more than a few surprises in store and a climax that is sure to shock and astound.
What are some of your favorite Horror novels? If you’ve read any of the ones reviewed here, what did you find most interesting? I look forward to hearing about your favorite horrific reads this fall. Stay tuned, in my next post I’ll once again highlight some of my favorite Horror films that I guarantee will torment you with nightmares.