Celluloid Diaries: Halloween reading list

Friday, October 17, 2014

Halloween reading list

Halloween reading list

What's on your Halloween reading list this year?

This week, I published a guest article over at Midnyte Reader about the five books I'm planning to read this Halloween. My reading interests are usually varied, but around Halloween the only thing I want is to curl up with a book that has any hint of spooky goodness. Here's the list in case you missed it.


Vampires Bones and Treacle Scones

Vampires, Bones, and Treacle Scones by Kaitlyn Dunnett

I'm about halfway through this cozy mystery and it's an instant mood-setter for Halloween. In Vampires, Bones, and Treacle Scones the town of Moosetookalook is planning a Halloween party in an abandoned mansion. But nothing goes as planned. Objects disappear. Hidden rooms are discovered. And then, someone is murdered. What follows is an investigation to try and find the killer.  

Say Her Name James Dawson

Say Her Name by James Dawson 

This YA horror novel is supposed to be one of the creepiest books you'll read this Halloween. Set in a boarding school, Say Her Name focuses on a group of students who dare each other to summon the legendary ghost of Bloody Mary: say her name five times in front of a candlelit mirror, and she shall appear... At first, nothing happens. But in the next five days, it'll become clear that Bloody Mary was indeed called from the afterlife and that she will come for them, as she has come for countless others before.  

The Shuddering Ania Ahlborn

The Shuddering by Ania Ahlborn 

I absolutely loved Ania Ahlborn's horror novel Seed. She didn't really re-invent the wheel, but she took all my favorite elements from obscure horror movies from the seventies and eighties and threw everything into her own mix. With The Shuddering, she seems to be doing the same thing. This time, she focuses on a group of friends vacationing in a mountain cabin in Colorado. Something lurks in the forest, watching the cabin, growing ever bolder as the snow falls. After a blizzard leaves the group stranded, the true test of their love and loyalty begins as the hideous creatures outside close in, one bloody attack at a time. 

October Dreams

October Dreams: A Celebration Of Halloween edited by Richard Chizmar and Robert Morrish 

October Dreams is a delightful mix of Halloween goodies: never-before-published short stories, classic novellas, essays on the history of Halloween, personal reflections on Halloweens past, and guides to Halloween fiction. Among the authors are Dean R. Koontz, Poppy Z. Brite, Peter Straub, Jack Ketchum, Tim Lebbon, Ed Gorman, Tom Piccirilli, Douglas Clegg, Ray Bradbury, Richard Laymon, Kim Newman, Christopher Golden, and many more. Many call this a must-read for Halloween.  

Vacationing With Ghosts

Vacationing With Ghosts by Sharon Day 

Being an avid reader of Sharon Day's blog Ghost Hunting Theories, I've already had a preview of the many weird things that happened to her. Vacationing With Ghosts is partly a nostalgic flashback of the childhood family holidays in their beautiful summer home, and partly an account of the supernatural occurrences she encountered there. Having never experienced the supernatural, I'm usually the first to be sceptic. But Sharon Day's experiences always make me doubt my own belief. 

What's on your reading list this Halloween? I'd love to hear. Anything to recommend? 

And, of course, if you're looking for spooky reads, you can always check out my books Drowned Sorrow and The Strangers Outside. They're meant to really put you on the edge of your seat, so be prepared what you're getting yourself into. 

Halloween reading list

Megan Blackwood has just lost her son in an accident. Now she has come to Moonlight Creek with her teenage daughter, Jenna, hoping that a change of scenery might help to put their lives back together. 

But something odd is happening in Moonlight Creek. 

When rain falls over the village, its inhabitants commit grisly murders, leaving the village deserted again with the first rays of sunshine. Beneath the lake's surface, something watches... and waits... Waits to reveal a tragic past drowned in mystery and fear. One that doesn't bode well for visitors. 

By the time Megan realizes that her daughter's life is in danger, it might already be too late. 

“Pretty damn spooky” -- Book Cover Justice 

“A disturbing gem of the horror genre.” -- The Current Reader 

“A roller coaster ride of mystery, horror, and overall creepiness.” -- Reading Urban Fantasy 

“The scariest story of the year.” -- Sword and Magic 

Halloween reading list

Two sisters return to their remote holiday cabin after a day at the seaside. But little do they know they're being surrounded. Shortly after their arrival, the girls will come face to face with THE STRANGERS OUTSIDE. When the assailants make their intentions known, things take a shockingly terrible turn and an intense battle for survival will begin. 

The Strangers Outside has been turned into a movie starring Pierre Lekeux and Iulia Nastase. 

"This was a really fun, creepy horror story PERFECT for Halloween." -- Little Squeed Book Reviews 

"This had me on the edge of my seat, wanting more, more, MORE! Basically, this is an amazing horror story you should go buy NOW!" -- The Beaucoup Review 

"The Strangers Outside had me thinking about the ending for a couple of days after." -- The Diary Of A Bookworm 

"Vanessa Morgan's writing is not to be missed, for it comes from the depths of fear to give readers a chance to be entertained as well as enlightened." -- Pitching Pencils 

Halloween badge

25 comments:

  1. I so want to read The Strangers Outside!

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  2. Out of all those, I'd rather read yours!
    You can always tell a cozy mystery by the cover. Look for the cat.

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  3. Treacle has always fascinated me. I've never heard of it and scones together. Love the covers on some of these books. They're very inviting and spooky.

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  4. Those all look like great books! I'll have to check yours out.

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  5. Hi,
    New blogger here and following you on Twitter and GFC from Parajunkie's FF

    Please return the follow at http://kizmetromancebooktours.blogspot.ca

    Thank you!

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  6. I love the title of that first one. And that last one, hmmm, looks good and scary. :)

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  7. Great creepy books. I love reading and watching about ghost hunting too. I'm currently reading Death Knocks by Jay Noel and Miranda Hardy. A good Halloween read!

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  8. These all look like great reads! I have to start making more time to sit down and read! If I finish one book a year, I am lucky! Big Hugs ;o)

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  9. Woah, Drowned Sorrow has an AMAZING cover! Definitely has my interest. xD I would love to read Say Her Name! It looks like an episode of Supernatural to me. x) Which is my favourite show!
    Thanks for stopping by @ Notebook Sisters!

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  10. Great covers, Vanessa -- perfect for this time of year. I'm reading the Haunting of Hill House, a classic.

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  11. Thank you so much, Vanessa. Vacationing With Ghosts was a must-write after Growing Up With Ghosts. You see, psychics will weed out the ghosts wherever they are. I can thank my encounters for giving me practice on how to recognize their presence. I love this reading list!!

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  12. That Say Her Name book sounds AWESOME!!!

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  13. I love scary books. I will have to check some of these out.

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  14. I will check one or two of these out. I LOVE scary things this time of year :)

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  15. I am intrigued by the mysterious rain "Drowned Sorrow"!

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  16. I picked up a collection of flash fiction stories for Halloween to get into the spirit, and I almost couldn't sleep at night just from reading those, so some of these books made me shudder just looking at them.

    Although the treacle one looks very sweet!

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  17. Wow...what a delicious pick for the coming halloween. have not started to pick out my halloween reads yet. Maybe will do it this weekend .

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  18. I haven't read any scary books yet, but have watched some movies. I love your book covers. Such a wonderful creep factor.

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  19. Ooo. Chilling list. Especially yours!

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  20. I just read "Dolly" but otherwise my reading doesn't start until after Halloween.

    I just wanted to say we watched "Housebound" the other night, and we loved it - so thanks for the tip!

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  21. Just the covers of some of these give me the creeps, I bet they are compelling to read though #HalloweenHorrors

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  22. These all sound great, I love scary stories! I like the sound of The Shuddering - I also think your book, The Strangers Outside sounds great
    Thanks for linking up to #HalloweenHorrors :)
    Debbie

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  23. Great list, will have to check these out, I love a good horror story! #halloweenhorrors

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