Here’s my over the top October TBR. Those that have followed my Instagram for years already know, but for those new here, I always try for shorter reads for Spooky Season, but then I choose 900 anyway… with the job I have I will probably end up doing way more audiobooks too.
I figured I’d put this together, including the synopsis for each read. I can’t recommend them yet, but this is the list of spooky reads I’m planning, as they have all caught my eye. It is a mix of traditional and indie publishing as always.
Audio:
Synopsis
Welcome to Rivers Solomon’s dark and wondrous Model Home, a new kind of haunted-house novel.
The three Maxwell siblings keep their distance from the lily-white gated enclave outside Dallas where they grew up. When their family moved there, they were the only Black family in the neighborhood. The neighbors acted nice enough, but right away bad things, scary things―the strange and the unexplainable―began to happen in their house. Maybe it was some cosmic trial, a demonic rite of passage into the upper-middle class. Whatever it was, the Maxwells, steered by their formidable mother, stayed put, unwilling to abandon their home, terrors and trauma be damned.
As adults, the siblings could finally get away from the horrors of home, leaving their parents all alone in the house. But when news of their parents’ death arrives, Ezri is forced to return to Texas with their sisters, Eve and Emanuelle, to reckon with their family’s past and present, and to find out what happened while they were away. It was not a “natural” death for their parents . . . but was it supernatural?
Rivers Solomon turns the haunted-house story on its head, unearthing the dark legacies of segregation and racism in the suburban American South. Unbridled, raw, and daring, Model Home is the story of secret histories uncovered, and of a queer family battling for their right to live, grieve, and heal amid the terrors of contemporary American life.
Read, but did not share to FanFi…
Synopsis
“Why run from a haunted house when you can stay and ignore the ghosts? Just when you thought you’d seen everything a haunted house novel could do, The September House comes along and delivers an eerie, darkly funny, and emotionally grounded book about the ghosts that haunt houses and marriages.”– Grady Hendrix, New York Times bestselling author of How to Sell a Haunted House
A woman is determined to stay in her dream home even after it becomes a haunted nightmare in this compulsively readable, twisty, and layered debut novel.
When Margaret and her husband Hal bought the large Victorian house on Hawthorn Street—for sale at a surprisingly reasonable price—they couldn’t believe they finally had a home of their own. Then they discovered the hauntings. Every September, the walls drip blood. The ghosts of former inhabitants appear, and all of them are terrified of something that lurks in the basement. Most people would flee.
Margaret is not most people.
Margaret is staying. It’s her house. But after four years Hal can’t take it anymore, and he leaves abruptly. Now, he’s not returning calls, and their daughter Katherine—who knows nothing about the hauntings—arrives, intent on looking for her missing father. To make things worse, September has just begun, and with every attempt Margaret and Katherine make at finding Hal, the hauntings grow more harrowing, because there are some secrets the house needs to keep.
Synopsis
“Blood-soaked, heart-wrenching, grim and glorious.”―Rachel Harrison, national bestselling author of Black Sheep
From CJ Leede, the author of Maeve Fly, comes a scorching new apocalyptic novel. American Gods meets The Last of Us in this epic and sweeping story about the end of the world as we know it.
A virus is spreading across America, transforming the infected and making them feral with lust.
Sophie, a good Catholic girl, must traverse the hellscape of the midwest to try to find her family while the world around her burns. Along the way she discovers there are far worse fates than dying a virgin…
The end times are coming.
Synopsis
Evil in Me is bestselling author Brom’s newest novel of possession, damnation, and rock ‘n’ roll, where one woman must get the world singing in order to save her soul.
This devilish tale includes nearly two dozen of Brom’s immersive paintings and brilliant endpapers
Aspiring musician Ruby Tucker has had enough of her small rural town and dysfunctional family. But a falling out with her best friend and bandmate has killed her dreams of escaping and making it big in the Atlanta punk scene.
While helping her eccentric neighbor organize his religious artifacts, an ancient ring clamps down on her finger―possessing her with the spirit of a blood-thirsty demon. There’s no exorcizing it unless hundreds of people chant a spell to set Ruby free. And what’s worse, the ring is a beacon for evil, drawing an unimaginably wicked mob straight to Ruby, hungry for her flesh.
If Ruby can get her band back together, she has a shot at salvation. It’s time for her to face the music and put her whole soul into a song―one powerful enough to raise some Hell.
Physical:
Synopsis
“The Tricker-Treater is gonna stop by your house tonight. You gotta meet with him and do what he says, or else.”
A woman agrees to take part in a creature’s sick game to save the child she loves. A girl and her mother move into a nightmare house. Two brothers embark on a high-seas treasure hunt.
In this haunting collection, Briana Morgan shares stories of love, loss, and horrors both real and imagined.
Synopsis
What do you see when you look at a painting? The image, the brush strokes, the stippled canvas beneath? What if you looked beyond it? And what do you know about the person who created that picture that’s hanging on your wall? They say art requires a certain acceptable degree of madness. What secrets then lie beyond the pigment in the darkness between depiction and delusion?
Herein you’ll find stories about self-destructive lovers on a quest to find themselves while getting lost in each other (“Sometimes They See Me”), meet a man who wakes to find himself bound to a chair in a gallery of nightmarish paintings (“The Binding”), discover how one horrific act converts a child’s grief into artistic talent in “The Portrait”, witness the unveiling of an art collector’s most precious and macabre find in “The Acquisition”, visit a comic book store with a pair of thieves intent on robbing a man they don’t know is expecting them (“The Barbed Lady Wants for Nothing”), and read a roadie’s account of a band’s final days after they discover “The Amp.”
Inspired by Rod Serling’s NIGHT GALLERY, GRIM PORTRAITS features six stories of art, madness, and horror by Bram Stoker Award-winning author Kealan Patrick Burke.
Browse at your peril.
Synopsis
Prepare for heart pounding, sinister stories that will keep you riveted to your seat and make you wonder what’s lurking under your bed.
Discover J.T. Withelder’s first collection of five unforgettable novellas that explore the darkest depths of his brilliant yet twisted imagination.
Featured in this anthology:
- Stevie, a violent reimagining of the childhood trauma of the monster under your bed.
- Magic Eight blends the believable with the unbelievable when a father discovers a clairvoyant toy amongst his children’s belongings.
- Man’s Best Friend brings you heroism trapped in a nightmare where the forces of good and evil do battle in the most unexpected of places.
- Guardian entangles you with the unspeakable horrors that emerge from the closet.
- Finally, in Perfect, a bond forged by years of matrimony is irrevocably shattered when a husband makes a chance discovery leading to the horrifying implications that his life may not be what it seems.
These stories will question your resolve to sleep without a night light!
If you enjoy heart pounding stories that will keep you awake at night, then Why I’m Afraid of the Dark is for you.
Order a copy now and get your blood pumping.
Synopsis
Every winter dozens of people go missing in Maple Falls. Many people believe that an ancient creature known as Blackfoot is responsible for these unexplained disappearances.
But, the truth is far worse than any urban legend.
NOT SUITABLE FOR READERS UNDER 15 YEARS OF AGE.
Crystal Lake Publishing / Amazon
Synopsis
An alcoholic teacher and father’s world spirals out of control when a former student is killed and he is left with her dog and the dark presence that follows it.
Matt Matheny teaches during the day, drinks at night, and barely hides his functioning alcoholism from his veterinarian ex-wife, Lucy, and his six-year-old son, Mikey. His world spirals out of control when a former student is killed, and he’s left with her dog, Conehead. But something isn’t right with Conehead. A dark presence follows him, and very soon, people around him die. Matt realizes the only way to protect his son is to sober up and work with Lucy to expose the dog’s mysterious past and face a secret so shocking—an evil so relentless—that it threatens to unleash hell on an entire town.
“Taut, disturbing, and undeniably heartwrenching, Mean Spirited is a breakneck horror-thriller that pits compassion against survival. The plot is as thought-provoking as it is terrifying, and exposes the depth of soul Roberts pours into his work.”—Felix Blackwell, author of Stolen Tongues
This horror novel pays homage to Stephen King’s Cujo, and films like It Follows and The Strangers. It is a haunting and suspenseful exploration of the unseen and the supernatural, set against the seemingly tranquil backdrop of rural West Virginia. Nick Roberts masterfully builds tension and atmosphere, creating a sense of impending doom with meticulous detailing and vivid imagery. The psychological exploration elevates the narrative, making Mean Spirited a compelling read for those who seek a blend of horror, mystery, and emotional depth.
Whether you are a seasoned fan of the genre or a curious newcomer, Mean Spirited promises a gripping and thought-provoking journey into the realms of the supernatural.
Synopsis
A gripping new psychological thriller by author Neal Cassidy, SCHROEDER, weaves together elements of the literary thriller/horror genre, stream-of-consciousness narration, and critical social commentary.
When an ordinary young man wakes up in his quiet neighborhood on a day seemingly like all the others, the city he’s lived in all his life has no idea what’s about to befall it once he sets out on a day-long bike ride carrying a purposefully packed backpack and a definitive plan.
Who is Schroeder, and what motivates his brutal killing spree? As he cycles from one victim’s home to the next, keeping pace with the rhythm of a city that burgeons to life under an increasingly dazzling sun exposing both its beauty and vivacity and its dark, dirty, underbelly, Schroeder lays bare his dreams, disappointments, delights, and dismays, establishing himself as a compelling contemporary antihero. The day rolls ominously towards its climax through hectic city streets, lush suburban gardens, stately mansions, and decrepit housing projects, punctuated by Schroeder’s reflections on a society in shambles and a deeply damaged, if not broken, humanity—but not without revealing life’s boundless wonder and infinite possibilities for joy and redemption through moments that are within—and yet tragically beyond—Schroeder’s grasp. A tell-all denouement brings Schroeder out of the shadows of his actions, the pathos of his questions about the kind of world we live in lingering long after.
Synopsis
When recent events threaten to tear his world apart, a broken soul is drawn to a whisper manifesting within the darkness.
A whisper that offers him the faith to face the shadows of his past, and the ability to deal with those who have wronged him.WARNING: This book contains scenes of psychological and physical horror.
Synopsis
The Exorcist meets Lord of the Flies in Boys in the Valley, a brilliant coming-of-age tale from award-winning author Philip Fracassi.
St. Vincent’s Orphanage for Boys.
Early twentieth century, in a remote valley in Pennsylvania.
Here, under the watchful eyes of several priests, thirty boys work, learn, and worship. Peter Barlow, orphaned as a child by a gruesome murder, has made a new life here. As he approaches adulthood, he has friends, a future…a family.
Then, late one stormy night, a group of men arrive at their door, one of whom is badly wounded, occult symbols carved into his flesh. His death releases an ancient evil that spreads like sickness, infecting St. Vincent’s and the children within. Soon, boys begin acting differently, forming groups. Taking sides.
Others turn up dead.
Now Peter and those dear to him must choose sides of their own, each of them knowing their lives — and perhaps their eternal souls — are at risk.
Evan Grey is just trying to get his store, REWIND VIDEO, up and running. Fate, unfortunately, often has other plans. Then he finds something that would be the perfect touch, an old vacuum tube TV. One that keeps turning to static. And it too has other plans.
It follows you.
Drives you.
It’s already inside you.
Lose yourself in…GREY NOISE.
“A really fun, fast-paced and engaging novella, ‘Grey Noise’ ripped along and I couldn’t put it down.”
-Steve Stred, Splatterpunk-nominated author of Mastodon
Synopsis
“A master storyteller.” —The Los Angeles Times • “Guaranteed to chill you.” —The New York Times • “Gory and horrifying. . . . You can’t put it down.” —Chicago Tribune
Unpopular at school and subjected to her mother’s religious fanaticism at home, Carrie White does not have it easy. But while she may be picked on by her classmates, she has a gift she’s kept secret since she was a little girl: she can move things with her mind. Doors lock. Candles fall. Her ability has been both a power and a problem. And when she finds herself the recipient of a sudden act of kindness, Carrie feels like she’s finally been given a chance to be normal. She hopes that the nightmare of her classmates’ vicious taunts is over . . . but an unexpected and cruel prank turns her gift into a weapon of horror so destructive that the town may never recover.
Synopsis
Mario is spending winter break with his neighbors, Todd and Jewel, on their family vacation to Vermont. He is excited to see snow for the first time and meet his friend’s beloved grandparents. But Todd and Jewel’s grandparents turn out to be a little odd. They love telling tall tales of goblins, elves, and trolls. When Mario spots a blur of green fur in the garden, he wonders if the stories could be real. He’s determined to find out more, but the truth might be more dangerous than fiction.
Synopsis
In the murky depths of familial ties, Craven’s world shatters as his parents welcome Leo, an enigmatic 8-year-old wrapped in shadows that whisper of ancient terrors. Leo’s unsettling obsession with death and the chilling accidents that shadow his steps plunge Craven into a nightmare of dread, his every instinct screaming of impending doom.
As secrets coil like serpents around his family, Craven faces a chilling truth: can humanity withstand the dark legacy that pulses through Leo’s very being?
Prepare for a bone-chilling descent into the abyss of terror, where every heartbeat echoes with the whispers of malevolence.
Synopsis
Enter “Nightmares from a Desk.”
A chilling collection of horror stories bound to take you on a rollercoaster of terror and suspense. Each tale is meticulously crafted to take you through twists and turns, designed to lure you into a world of spine-tingling encounters, unearthly creatures, and unspeakable nightmares.
And of course, an absolute top TBR read for this year for me…I am still waiting on a physical ARC (I am blessed), but when this shows it may bump everything else out!
Shortwave Media / Amazon
Synopsis
She’s making a list… and chopping it twice!
After surviving the horrors of Christmas Eve at the Thornton house, Austin, Mateo and Fiona head to the Church of Nodland to get some confessions from Pastor Wendell and his congregation. Little do they know that Candy Cain is coming to town to wish one and all a very merry axe-mas!
If you’ve made it this far, thanks so much! I hope you’ll read along or save a few titles for yourself. Let me know if you do!
A final request, as an indie author myself…I implore YOU to add my little story to your spooky TBR! It’s short and rife with tension
Synopsis
The world’s best ghost hunters, the town’s most haunted mansion, what could go wrong?
A debut sample from the forthcoming Tales From Cemetery!
The Old Mayor’s Mansion sits just a few miles outside the town of Cemetery.
When best friends Sean and Devon want to increase views on their ghost investigation channel, they know the mansion is the perfect spot to film.
Armed with a slew of new equipment, the buddies set out to capture the paranormal hotspot that will make them famous—just maybe not in the way they were hoping.
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