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Looking for Halloween books to read?

Halloween triggers a specific kind of urge to match your next novel to the season—and your mood. If you’re anything like me, your reading tastes tend toward books with some kind of fantastical element while at the same time fluctuating wildly along the tone spectrum from dark to light. Sometimes you crave deep, psychological chills that linger long after you turn the last page. Other times you want a thrilling supernatural mystery that will take you somewhere you’ve never been before. Later you might want to curl up under a blanket with a hot cocoa and a light-hearted novel that feels like hanging out with old friends.

Whatever you’re in the mood for, I’ve got you covered!

Here are three novels that hit that Halloween sweet spot from different points on the tone spectrum: dark, light, and gray.

1. The Dark End: Girl, Incorrupted (A Horror Story about Love)

If you want to dive straight into the deep end of the shadows this Halloween, Girl, Incorrupted sets the ultimate dark tone.

• The Vibe: Ominous, Vaudeville, Obsession, Longing.
• The Story: When Daphne James’s boyfriend jokes that he’d rather marry a local vaudeville starlet than propose to her, Daphne tracks down the performer. But the L’Aornum Theatre’s headliner isn’t just a talented performer—she’s a woman with a dark secret who takes a dangerous, personal interest in Daphne.
• More: This is a horror story about love, a horromance that leans into the horror. It’s the go-to pick for readers who want secrets, gaslighting, psychological horror, a monster type they’ve never seen before, and who don’t need a happily ever after.
• Bonus: Join my newsletter and get the Girl, Incorrupted prequel free. You can also read the first scene of Girl, Incorrupted at the bottom of the book page.

2. The Gray Middle: The Metanaut (Sci vs. Psy Supernatural Thriller)

If you want your ghosts more thought-provoking than spooky, then move into the foggy, ambiguous gray middle and choose The Metanaut.

• The Vibe: Moody, intellectual, eerie, and grounded in high-stakes mystery.
• The Story: Scientist Anja Copenhagen believes the supernatural is absolute nonsense. But when a strange paranormal anomaly shows up in the California Redwoods, she is forced to investigate the impossible and question every law of nature she’s ever known.
• More: This captures that classic Halloween vibe with a typical type of Halloween character but without gore or too much spookiness. It’s eerie and atmospheric without being a full-blown horror story, making it the perfect middle ground for your Halloween reading pleasure.
• Bonus: Join my newsletter and get The Metanaut’s deleted prologue. You can also read the first scene of The Metanaut at the bottom of the book page.

3. The Light End: Corbin Kohl Adrift in Hell (Cozy Low-Fantasy Fun)

If you love the irony of managing to be optimistic while finding yourself in Hell (or someplace like it), then slide all the way over to the bright side or the tone spectrum with Corbin Kohl Adrift in Hell.

• The Vibe: Lighthearted, fun, funny, optimistic, and surprisingly comforting considering the setting.
• The Story: Corbin Kohl is in Hell—or somewhere like it. Between the scorching heat and his unpaid gig working for “Management,” he just wants to figure out how to get home. But his first assignment—tracking down Management’s most wanted—introduces him to some likeable people and turns out to be weirdly fun.
• More: Think “the light-hearted side of The Dresden Files meets Stephanie Plum adventures,” but set in a hot place with a fiery pit at the center.  It provides all the seasonal hell-and-brimstone imagery you could want for Halloween, but wrapped in a cozy, low-fantasy adventure that leaves you smiling instead of checking the locks on your doors. It’s a book that feels like a warm hug. And if you like it, you’re in luck, because it’s the first in a series.
• Bonus: Read the first scene of Corbin Kohl Adrift In Hell at the bottom of the book page.

4. Bonus Halloween Book to Read on the Light End: The Skilled Clown’s Fear

Looking for something quick and light? Try The Skilled Clown’s Fear.

• The Vibe: Lighthearted, clowning around, circus fun.
• The Story: All clowns have some fears—silent audiences, broken props—but only poor Clarence seems haunted by this fear…
• More: The Skilled Clown’s Fear is a light-hearted horror short story, and it’s free to read right now in my substack.

Happy Halloween Reading!