A collection of library staff recommendations. See what we're reading, and maybe find a new favorite book!
Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a superb writer of historical horror, and "Silver Nitrate," her latest, is immersed in Mexican cinema, Nazi occultism, and the haunting legacies of colonialism. A creepy and compelling read.
- Nicole K.
I loved the atmosphere, a house on a cliff by the ocean where a big storm is happening, there is no power, and everyone is trapped until the tide goes out. And it's Halloween!
- Cindy F.
I love the author's ability to keep readers guessing the plot until the very end!
- Isabella B.
It's a classic for a reason! Reading Frankenstein for the first time (or 10th time) is a breath of fresh air if you ever find yourself in the stale and unshakeable state of reader's (or artist's!) block. Not only a beautiful text grossly misrepresented in popular culture as a horror story, but a complex multi-layered narrative presenting a tongue-in-cheek philosophical reflection on the hubris of men who think a little too highly of themselves. It's funny, frightening, and heartbreaking - all in around 70 pages.
- Georgia M.
Victor Frankenstein is a university student who, in a fit of sleep-deprived delirium, concocts a way to resurrect the dead. Who hasn't been there at some point? In an age of rapidly advancing technology, Frankenstein urges us to consider not whether we can, but whether we should.
- Eleanor F.
Gritty, Irish, vaguely creepy. A perfect mystery to get hooked on the series and make you not want to leave your chair until you've finished it.
- Leea S.
Armstrong is a master of creepy imagery - I could see everything so clearly in my mind as I read!
- Kellyn J.
A classic Gothic novella, Carmilla is both a compelling story and a fascinating look into Victorian preoccupations with gender and sexuality.
- Clark G.
Mean Girls, but add werewolves and make it sapphic. What else could you possibly want for a spooky fall read?
- Hilary C.
A brilliant and creepy take on a haunted house. Margaret Hartman has found her dream house and she refuses to leave - even when the walls are bleeding. And, it seems, the house doesn't want her to leave either. (At least Fredericka the ghost always makes her tea just right!)
- Kellyn J.
We Have Always Lived in the Castle is one of those books that has stayed with me since I first read it, one that pops into my head every once in a while with a "Oh, yeah, that was really good!" In the words of Goodreads, this book is, "a labyrinth of dark neurosis" and "a deliciously unsettling novel" - a classic gothic to enjoy this Spooky Season!
- Kellyn J.
Witches, Vampires, and magic! Set at Oxford in the 2000s, this starts a trilogy that is satisfying and steamy.
- Sophie L.
Monsters that can hear your thoughts and are drawn to your fear. How much scarier can you get than that?
- Cat C.
The prisoner of a serial killer - 5 years in captivity - uses her remaining will in an effort to outsmart her captor to escape. Will she?
- Abby W.
A young priest is ordered to preside over the wake of witch in a small old wooden church of a remote village. This means spending three nights alone with the corpse with only his faith to protect him...
- Katya V.
