Hello again! Well. If you’re keeping track (and really, I don’t think anyone is?), then you know I have not posted since March. I thought the first quarter of 2021 was hard. But then the rest of the year said, “Hold my beer,” and kicked me into the mud and stood on my back. So here I am. Still standing, but carrying 2021 around my neck like a millstone. And it’s not over yet. For crying out loud. At this point, I am going to need a very long vacation. Whenever the world allows it, or whenever I can make it happen. Because really, who wants to wait for the universe to give them permission?

I can’t complain too much. This has been a good reading year for me, and I have definitely fed my mystery obsession. But I have also tried to specifically seek out spooky reads, and while I haven’t read them all, these are some that I have enjoyed the most. I have a few more on my list from last year that I just didn’t get to.

This is my 11th year of doing my Halloween Reads round-up, and while this hasn’t been a great year for blogging, I could not skip this post. Gotta keep the streak alive! The good news (?) is that I’ve been working steadily on my novel again, so who knows? That might be done some day. In the meantime, hope you find something here that intrigues you! If you are so inclined, please feel free to check out my previous years’ posts, which are all linked from here. There’s a lot in those links, and if you get a chance to peruse those, I hope you enjoy them. I’d love to hear your recommendations for your favorite spooky reads in the comments below!

Now, without further ado, here is my list of this year’s spooky reads!

Classics

Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier

Ten thumbs up for pure atmosphere! If you are a fan of Wuthering Heights or Rebecca, this one should be on your stack. The whole story felt so grey and cold, and was perfect for this time of year. In addition to the atmospheric setting, it includes the ominous roadside inn with no guests, the orphan, and the multiple options for bad guys. It will leave you guessing until the very end! I mean, it did me. This is only my second du Maurier, and I liked it even better than Rebecca. I can see why people become such fans of her work. I thought this was a daring story for its time, and the ending was surprising to me. I think that is a du Maurier thing. Do not @ me if you don’t like Wuthering Heights (one of my all-time favorites).

Edgar Allan Poe’s detective stories

Imagine my surprise when I discovered that Poe is credited with being the first writer to write a series with a detective, that this detective used deductive reasoning, and that he pioneered the use of locked-room and apparently simple cases being complex. This year I took part in a Poe readalong, and took the opportunity to read several short stories, including “Murders in the Rue Morgue,” which features Augustin Dupin, an outcast type of rake with a possible drug problem who helps out the authorities on occasion (sound familiar?). Then I read “The Mystery of Marie Roget” and the finale, “The Purloined Letter.” These are not in themselves really mind-boggling, to our modern way of thinking, but to think that they influenced Conan Doyle and probably many others, and that there was really nothing like them when they were written, is amazing.

Mystery

The Last Séance by Agatha Christie

This is a collection of short stories, and as with any short story volume, I liked some better than others. I had read a couple of them before, in other collections, but there were quite a few new ones too, so that was nice. The familiar helped temper the creep factor, because I am a complete chicken. And some of these were very creepy! I liked that at the end, there was the original publication information for each story, so you can see what year it was first published and where it appeared. This helps a little because Agatha’s writing certainly changed over the years. I was very glad to see this themed collection. I highly recommend sitting up late by yourself in a secluded cabin and reading this! Ha!

The Deep, Deep Snow by Brian Freeman

This was a fantastic story with twists and turns 20 years apart. It blew me away. From the plotline to the characters (I really loved Shelby!) to the ending. Wow. Not a single hiccup, high stakes all the way, and a slam-bang finale. The kind of book that makes you want to go back and start again once you’ve finished, because you know those clues are there somewhere. Just a tiny hint of romance and a larger hint of domestic drama make this a very well-rounded mystery choice. Freeman is a hugely prolific writer who has done the latest Jason Bourne novel, as well as continuing his own series and several standalones. He’s the real deal.

Adult Fantasy

Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman

I read this once years and years ago and I remembered nothing, so wanting to continue with the series, I got my hand on a copy (signed!) and decided to get my witchy on for a reread. This is a lovely story, and has its share of spooky moments, plus there are some great twists that make it more than a typical family drama. I loved the depiction of siblings (haven’t seen each other for how long? Doesn’t matter), and the whole family history involved. I loved the little pieces of magic throughout – potions and premonitions and objects coming to light and love at first sight and other things that you may not think of as magic but that really are. If you are looking for a good contemporary type drama that has more than a hint of a magical vibe, this is your ticket. I haven’t seen the movie yet but now I am curious.

Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff

Okay, look. I haven’t finished this yet. But I’m almost half done, and I’m going out on a limb, and saying if you love anything vampire, get your hands on this epic fantasy. The world (not our world but a facsimile of Europe) has become dark as there was some cataclysmic event that blotted out the sun, and thus vampires (who apparently always existed) have run amok. 27 years later, one of the best (and since fallen) vampire hunters sits in a castle, telling his story to a vampire scribe. It is absolutely brilliant in so many ways: the conceit and structure, the world building, the characters, and the aesthetics of it! I am a huge fan of Jay Kristoff anyway, but this just might be his masterpiece. It is a commitment (700 pages, first in a trilogy), but that’s okay, because I know he is both going to crush my heart and make me beg for more. Note that there is absolutely nothing clean or delicate about this book.
Of course, you should go read the original Dracula by Bram Stoker if you haven’t already, and I have reviewed that briefly in the past. I didn’t do it justice, and I just have to remind you to read it in the mindset of someone who has not been steeped in all the acumen of vampire pop culture. This is where it all started.

MG and YA

Bridge of Souls (Cassidy Blake #3) by Victoria Schwab

This latest installment of this excellent spooky middle grade series ratchets up the creep factor just a bit. Each book takes place in a different city, as Cassidy’s parents are hosts of a ghosthunter show. The rub is that Cassie can actually see ghosts. She feels them everywhere, and each of these haunted cities is rife with them. This one introduces new elements of the world of the dead, which are simply brilliant and terrifying. The action is edge-of-your-seat, and the setting of New Orleans is amazing. I loved everything about this! I’m not sure if there are more in this series, but I sincerely hope so. If you want to get started, look for City of Ghosts, which I reviewed here. (I wouldn’t normally review the third book in a series, but here it is, which should give you an idea of how great this series is from the beginning, and how it keeps getting better.)

The Taking of Jake Livingston by Ryan Douglass

I’m including this even though it was not a 5 star read for me, for pure originality and ultimate execution. The first half of the book was a little spacey and psychedelic, and the characters did not have the reactions of terror that I would have expected. But the second half was a wild ride, and once Jake started to feel that terror, it really took off. The ending was amazing, and really had me fearing for Jake. I loved the little romance bits, and I loved the backstory we see about Sawyer. I feel like the mentor should have played a bigger role, and that some parts of the backstory could have been explained more. The different perspectives were key, and the world building was intriguing. So while it was a wild ride, I feel like some aspects of the ride were in the dark, and the ride was too short. Great BIPOC and LGBTQIA rep.

 

Here’s hoping the world is treating you kindly. As I write this (Thursday), I have just finished a day of talking to healthcare professionals. And tomorrow I will be helping to move my aunt into a new care center. And then I get to go see the grandbabies! And then I come home and collapse for the weekend. Normally, I’d be all about carving pumpkins and handing out candy but I honestly am not sure if I have it in me this year. It has been a lot. I daresay worse than 2020? A death, an injury, weeks of PT, a new grandbaby, a heatwave/drought, a garden decimated, a wedding, a family member injury, and here we are today. It’s not all bad stuff, but even good stress is stress. Still, I find myself longing for those hot (very hot!) summer days when I was racing around looking for a dress for my son’s wedding. The good news is my aunt is getting better all the time, and it has not been a bad thing to spend more time with her. I could just do without all the other people in the mix. So I’m hoping to spend the weekend maybe finalizing yard clean-up and reading EOTV (see above).

While I may not be back next week, I will surely be back soon. Meanwhile, come look for me on Instagram, which takes less brain power than a blog post! LOL You can find me @lindabookmania – see you there!

And if the world is not treating you kindly, just remember, someone else may have it worse than you do. Remember the Golden Rule.