Spooky novels

Nefret · Post by **Nefret** » Mon October 21st, 2013, 8:22 pm

So, my favourite time of year (Halloween) is coming up. I've decided I should read something to get me in the spirit.

Besides the classic horror novels. Preferably in a fantasy or historical setting. (Supernatural or paranormal mystery would be good too.)

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Mon October 21st, 2013, 11:54 pm

The first two books in Deborah Harkness' trilogy (third book is yet to be published): A Discovery of Witches and Shadow of Night. The second book definitely combines the supernatural and historical fiction.
http://deborahharkness.com/discovery-of-witches/

I've got The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker on hold at eLibrary NJ. Several people here have liked it.
http://www.helenewecker.com/the-golem-a ... the-jinni/

Nefret · Post by **Nefret** » Tue October 22nd, 2013, 5:14 am

Oh, thanks. My library actually has those books. Will start with the Deborah Harkness one. Anymore ideas?

EC2 · Post by **EC2** » Tue October 22nd, 2013, 11:35 am

I've just read From a Buick 8 by Stephen King - modernish as in 20thC, but I really enjoyed it.
Susan Hill's ghost novellas are always enjoyable. The Woman in Black is obviously her most favourite, but try The Mist in the Mirror.
I must be the only person who was bored out of their skull by A Discovery of Witches. A novel about Middle Class wish fulfillment I thought. As in what would a middle class person really love to do. Intellectual conversation, yoga classes, weekends away in luxury hotels with crisp sheets etc etc. Ugggh! Well not that I'd mind those, but I could see straight through to the manipulation and phhtt, I was done!

emr · Post by **emr** » Tue October 22nd, 2013, 11:45 am

[quote=""EC2""]I must be the only person who was bored out of their skull by A Discovery of Witches.[/quote]

No you aren't

In a similar line I did like The Fairwick Chronicles by Juliet Dark.

Vanessa · Post by **Vanessa** » Tue October 22nd, 2013, 12:38 pm

I read This House is Haunted by John Boyne earlier this month. It's a Victorian gothic ghost story. I enjoyed it - it's beautifully written.

Madeleine · Post by **Madeleine** » Tue October 22nd, 2013, 12:49 pm

[quote=""emr""]No you aren't

In a similar line I did like The Fairwick Chronicles by Juliet Dark.[/quote]

Just read the second Fairwick book (she's published under the name Carol Goodman in the UK) and thought it was meh; won't bother with the third.

I did enjoy Discovery of Witches though, haven't read the second one yet.

From a Buick 8 is pretty creepy.

Ludmilla · Post by **Ludmilla** » Tue October 22nd, 2013, 1:19 pm

I love to read Sarah Monette's The Bone Key this time of year. The stories are interconnected episodes in the life of a very introverted museum archivist in what feels like a late Victorian setting. Some of the stories involve ghosts or other supernatural elements, while others are more of a mystery with creepy ambience.

Elizabeth · Post by **Elizabeth** » Tue October 22nd, 2013, 1:23 pm

One of my favorite horror stories is The Crime of Laura Sarelle, by "Joseph Fielding"--I put the author's name is quotes because it's one of many pseudonyms for this writer. It's an old book and I was going to say it would probably be hard to find, but imagine my surprise to find it on Gutenberg in Australia!

The Crime of Laura Sarelle

It might be a little slow for many readers today, but it's deliciously creepy and atmospheric. I love all the "Joseph Shearing" books.

Ludmilla · Post by **Ludmilla** » Tue October 22nd, 2013, 1:40 pm

Thanks for that, Elizabeth! I was just checking the other day on Gutenberg-US to see if any of the Shearing books had been digitized. I didn't think about checking the Australian site. Cool!