The countdown to Halloween has officially begun, which means it is time for all things spooky. While there are several classic Halloween movies that are a must-watch every year (i.e. Halloween Town, Hocus Pocus, Scream), staring at a screen after a day of Zoom classes isn’t exactly ideal. This is where books make for a great alternative.
These five thrillers will leave you turning pages into the late hours of the night. You’ll still get your adrenaline fix, but it’ll give your eyes a break and it’ll last longer than a movie. Though I must warn you, read these books at your own risk— some of these stories may leave you up at night.
- The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
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Alex Michaelides has mastered the art of plot twists in his novel, The Silent Patient. It revolves around the mystery behind famous painter Alicia Bereson, who shot her husband five times after returning home late from a fashion shoot. The murder comes as a shock to the London community as there had never been any signs of hardship or lack of happiness in their marriage. No one can figure out what happened because Bereson refuses to talk.
Ever since the murder, Bereson hasn’t spoken to anyone about the details of what happened that night. That is, until a criminal psychotherapist comes along and makes it his mission to find out why. I promise, you won’t be able to figure out the ending before you finish it and once you do you’ll be shocked.
- My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing
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This twisted psychological thriller is about a husband and wife duo who murder women for fun. Yes, you read that right: a couple who murders for fun. They each have their part in the murders: the husband scouts for the women and befriends them as a deaf man named Tobias, and the wife later abducts them, torturing and eventually killing them in an undisclosed location. This all goes smoothly until a body is discovered.
Everything begins unraveling, but in ways unexpected. Trust me, this book will throw you in loops. You will be drawn to the edge of your seat and won’t be able to stop reading until you get the end.
- Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
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As one of the most critically acclaimed suspense novels, I had to include Gone Girl on this list. On her fifth wedding anniversary, Amy Dunn vanishes. Her husband Nick is a prime suspect in the investigation, as the troubled history behind Amy and Nick’s relationship is revealed gradually through the pages of Amy’s diary, it’s revealed that Nick had some involvement in her disappearance.
This wickedly twisted novel is a classic and a must-read.
- Lock Every Door by Riley Sager
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Following a heart-wrenching break up, Jules Larson takes on a new job as an apartment sitter at one of Manhattan’s most prestigious buildings, The Bartholomew. She is paid $12,000 to watch over the apartment for three months, but there are three rules she must follow: she is not allowed to have any visitors, she cannot spend a single night away and she must not disturb the other residents of The Bartholomew.
All is well in The Bartholomew until parts of the mysterious building’s dark history is brought to Larson’s attention by a fellow apartment sitter Ingrid, who suddenly disappears the next day. Larson quickly learns that Ingrid wasn’t the first apartment sitter to go missing, sending her on a mission to expose The Batholomew’s past, find the culprit and escape before they catch her.
This book is intense, full of suspense and truly creepy. Be careful reading this one at night; its contents may linger past its pages.
- The Whisper Man by Alex North
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To escape the memories of his recently deceased wife, Tom Kennedy packs up everything and moves to Featherbank with his son Jake. The town seems idyllic and the perfect place to begin again. But just as they begin settling into their new life, a boy in Jake’s class goes missing under the same circumstances of the five people who were murdered by Frank Carter, also known as the Whisper Man.
He was given the nickname after his murder tactic: luring victims from their homes by whispering at their windows. But Carter’s imprisoned for his crimes, which leads to the suspicion that he had an accomplice. Detectives Amanda Beck and Pete Willis must work overtime to learn everything they can about the original murders and Carter in order to find the missing boy before another goes missing.
It puts the town in a panic. Tom is concerned because Jake is having nightmares. And soon enough, Jake begins to hear a whispering at his window.
You’ll want to make sure your windows are shut tight and double check the locks on your doors, because this paranoia-inducing story will haunt you long after you’ve closed the cover.