It’s Halloween week — you might be looking for some new creepy recommendations.
Here are five spooky books you should read this week:
“Long Bright River” by Liz Moore
This is a heart-wrenching tale of family in the throes of addition, corruption in law enforcement and perseverance in the face of classism, a book that I know will stay in my mind for a long time.
The Good Morning America Book Club pick for September, I read this for a recent book club at my alma mater, Penn State. I gave “Long Bright River” five stars on Goodreads because of how impactful this story was.
If you’re looking for a murder mystery that is even more impactful than a typical novel, this book is for you. It’s marketed as a murder mystery, and yes, it is a murder mystery — but it’s so much more than that. I would classify this as literary suspense, which many reviewers have agreed with on Goodreads.
“The Ex Hex” by Erin Sterling
I was honestly obsessed with this book. It’s rare that I read a romance book these days that I actually like and isn’t super cheesy.
Yes, this was cheesy, but it’s the perfect witchy tale if you’re looking for a fun and easy read. The story follows Vivienne Jones, who accidentally cursed her former boyfriend, Rhys Penhallow, and their journey to save the local town of Graves Glen.
I gave it five stars on Goodreads because it gives great Halloween vibes.
“My Sister, the Serial Killer” by Oyinkan Braithwaite
Family loyalty was central in this book — to a fault, as it’s about exactly what the title implies. The banter was top-tier, and I loved learning more about Nigerian culture. I highly recommend this, as it’s a short read but also chilling.
“She needs me more than I need untainted hands,” was my favorite quote.
I gave it four stars on Goodreads because I found myself wanting more at the end. While I believe the short chapters made the book more engaging, I felt that I was left with a few unanswered questions.
“The Midnight Feast” by Lucy Foley
Though I only gave this one three stars on Goodreads, I would still recommend it for those who really enjoy creepy books.
“The Midnight Feast” is reminiscent of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by William Shakespeare, but with terrifying plot twists in lieu of comedy.
My main issue was that I wanted more exploration of everyone’s motives at the end of the story.
“The Boyfriend” by Freida McFadden
And finally, I wanted to include a book I just started reading in case anyone wants to read alongside me this week. I’ve heard many good things about Freida McFadden, so I’m excited to get into it. I haven’t read any of McFadden’s books before.
This one is a psychological thriller, so it’s perfect to read heading into Halloween. The first few chapters have been intriguing so far.
Megan Swift is a TribLive reporter covering trending news in Western Pennsylvania. A Murrysville native, she joined the Trib full time in 2023 after serving as editor-in-chief of The Daily Collegian at Penn State. She previously worked as a Jim Borden Scholarship intern at the Trib for three summers. She can be reached at [email protected].
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