It’s that time of the year again, tumbling leaves, pumpkin lattes and a Halloween to scare you witless. That’s why today we’re taking a look back over the year just gone to bring you ten scary reads that have been released this year, that we think you should be reading to get you in the mood for Halloween!
We know there are a stack of classic horrors and psychological thrillers and have featured many on these pages but today we’re concentrating on books that have been released in 2019 for this list to offer you some new reading material you may not have heard of.
Growing Things, and other stories – Paul Tremblay
This collection of short stories full of psychological suspense and literary horror was described by Stephen King as “one of the best collections of the 21st century.” Released in July, it’s received mixed reviews but if you’re a fan of short stories, this might be the perfect Halloween read!
The Institute – Stephen King
This is the book that has been creating all the hype over the last month or so, it’s Stephen King doing what he does best as a bunch of kids are forced to face, and overcome evil!
The Silent Patient – Alex Michaelides
Released in February of this year The Silent Patient is a shocking psychological thriller of a woman’s act of violence against her husband – and of the therapist obsessed with uncovering her motive.
Five Midnights – Ann Davila Cardinal
Released in June of this year, Ann Dávila Cardinal’s Five Midnights is a “wickedly thrilling” (William Alexander) and “flat-out unputdownable” (Paul Tremblay) novel based on the el Cuco myth set against the backdrop of modern day Puerto Rico.
The Twisted Ones – T. Kingfisher
This newly released horror follows a young woman who clears out her deceased grandmother’s home in rural North Carolina, and finds long-hidden secrets about a strange colony of beings in the woods in this chilling novel that reads like The Blair Witch Project meets The Andy Griffith Show.
The Tenth Girl – Sara Faring
Released back in September, the Tenth Girl is simmering in Patagonian myth. The Tenth Girl is a gothic psychological thriller with a haunting twist.
Wilder Girls – Rory Power
A feminist Lord of the Flies about three best friends living in quarantine at their island boarding school, and the lengths they go to uncover the truth of their confinement when one disappears. This fresh, new debut is a mind-bending novel unlike anything you’ve read before.
Monster of Elendhaven – Jennifer Giesbrecht
Released just two weeks ago! The city of Elendhaven sulks on the edge of the ocean. Wracked by plague, abandoned by the South, stripped of industry and left to die. But not everything dies so easily. A thing without a name stalks the city, a thing shaped like a man, with a dark heart and long pale fingers yearning to wrap around throats. A monster who cannot die.
Baby Teeth – Zoje Stage
It may have been a summer release, but Baby Teeth is dark as winter. Described as Gone Girl meets We Need to Talk About Kevin, this dark thriller will get your heart racing.
The Hunger – Alma Katsu
A tense and gripping reimagining of one of America’s most fascinating historical moments: the Donner Party with a supernatural twist. Recommended by Stephen King.
We hope you find some good suggestions there and we’ll be back with more recommendations lists soon. If you want to ensure you never miss any of these, subscribe now.
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