My Spooky Season TBR
AKA Too Many Spooky Books, Too Little Time
We’re a few weeks into Spooky Season now, which probably isn’t the optimal time to be posting a Spooky Season TBR, but given that some heathens out there (my sister amongst them) believe that the season doesn’t begin until October 1st, I suppose I’m still just about on time.
Every year when we reach this point in the calendar, I find myself more than a little overwhelmed. I’m a lover of all things spooky, and so I want to pack as many books, movies, TV shows, podcasts and games into these few weeks as possible. Given that this point in the year also houses mine and my son’s birthdays, my wedding anniversary, and inevitable spooky activities and trips, I never feel like I have enough time. However, that hasn’t stopped me from crafting an enormous TBR that I know I’ll never have time to get to and that’s what I’m sharing with you now in no particular order.
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Ghostland: In Search of a Haunted Country by Edward Parnell
I’m blessed to live in England, a country with a long enough history that there’s scarcely a square mile without some kind of haunted building, mythological being, or ancient folk tale associated with it. Even the very modern new build estate/village I live on was built atop the ruins of an old RAF base and has the odd tale of a ghostly airman coming back to haunt where his feet last touched solid ground.
I picked up Ghostland from a small, independent bookshop in York - a city that prides itself on its haunted reputation. It’s a nonfiction exploration of this haunted island and how those tales have influenced our books, films, and other culture, and because of that it’s one of my highest priorities over the next few weeks.
Ghost Stories by M. R. James
Back in July, I attended a few events at the Newark Book Festival. One of those was a stage show production of two ghost stories by M. R. James: Count Magnus and Number 13. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the show and James’ old-fashioned style of ghost story - both the tales I saw on stage were published in 1904 - and so I picked up a collection of his stories during the intermission. While I don’t expect these ghost stories to be the most terrifying I have ever read, I do hope they will fill me with classic spooky vibes.
The Night Train by Lorelei Savaryn
I’m a sucker for a middle grade horror story, so I just had to take up the offer of reading a review copy of this one, especially given that it also features another of my loves: steam trains. The Night Train follows two twin sisters who receive the gift of seeing ghosts when their Nana passes away, and who must decide if they want to help close some old wounds related to a decades-old train crash in their small town. I’m curious to see what direction this one takes. Many thanks to Viking Books for the review copy.
Witchfinders by Malcolm Gaskill
I spotted a copy of Witchfinders in a local yard sale and immediately snatched it up. Another non-fiction selection for this TBR, Witchfinders tells the story of “the most savage witch-hunt in English history” led by Matthew Hopkins and John Stearne in the mid 1600s during which at least 250 people - predominantly women - were captured, interrogated, and often tortured, with over 100 hanged. I don’t expect this to be an easy read, but I imagine it will be interesting nonetheless.
All Hallows by Christopher Golden
I heard about All Hallows last year and mentally added it to my list, so when I spotted a copy in a charity shop back in the spring it was an immediate buy. Honestly, I’m still not entirely sure what to expect from this one - even the blurb doesn’t make it all that clear, however - the combination of a mid-80s, Halloween night setting and talk of children “who do not belong” has me hooked.
Dracul by Dacre Stoker
Another book that I don’t know what to expect when I read it. Dracul is billed as a prequel to Dracula (which I read for the first time last year and enjoyed), and is penned in part by Bram Stoker’s great-grandnephew. It stars Bram Stoker himself and his sister Matilda as the protagonists, so I’m curious to see what comes from it given it has surprisingly high ratings everywhere I look.
The Only One Left by Riley Sager
By far the most well-known/popular book on this list, I have high hopes for this one, given how much I loved the previous Riley Sager book I read (Home Before Dark). The premise of The Only One Left - the sole survivor of a mass murder they may have been responsible for finally telling their story - has me very excited, and I hope the book can live up to my expectations.
Fangs and Frenemies by Sierra Cross
I picked this cosy paranormal mystery up from Amazon’s First Reads program last year and have no idea if I’ll like it or not! Cosy mysteries have been very hit or miss for me in the past with many of them coming across as far too twee, but I’d like to have something more light-hearted on my TBR to break up all the darker books listed here, and I’m hopeful that Fangs and Frenemies might fit the bill. It’s available on KU for anyone interested.
This Wretched Valley by Jenny Kiefer
Another ARC, the cover of This Wretched Valley was more than enough to draw me in! It’s the story of three climbers who go hiking into the wilderness, only for the bodies of three of them to be discovered seven months later. There are so many different directions this story could take, and I’m excited to finally get into it. Many thanks to Quirk books for the review copy.
Pumpkin Pies and Potions by Polly Holmes
As with Fangs and Frenemies, Pumpkin Pies and Potions is another cosy, paranormal mystery that I’m hoping to get to and use to break up the darker books in my TBR. This book is one I snagged during a Stuff Your Kindle day about a year ago, and it has sat on my kindle ever since, waiting to be read, so I’m hoping that this Spooky Season I’ll get it cleared. This one is also available on KU.
What’s on your Spooky Season TBR this year?