For Readers: Blog

Fiendishly good reads

Do you love curling up with a creepy book or prefer your stories a little tamer? These titles featuring fiendish figures in the title or in the pages have something for every reader, from romance to full-on horror!

The Devil She Knows by Alexandria Bellefleur is a banter-filled romcom about a devilishly charming demon. Sam will do anything to win back her ex-girlfriend, so when demon Daphne offers her wishes in exchange for Sam’s soul, the deal is too good to pass up. Daphne ensures supernatural shenanigans force Sam to use all of her wishes, while Sam starts to realize that love sometimes comes in unexpected packages. [e-book | print | audiobook]

Described as horror for fans of Succession, Fiend by Alma Katsu is a disturbing and fast-paced book about a wealthy Manhattan family with devastatingly good luck. The Berisha family has always relied on a shadowy protector to build their enormous import-export empire and take out their rivals. When this ancient force starts to turn on the family, the three siblings set to inherit the company must decide what they’re willing to sacrifice for success. [e-book | print | audiobook]

The Devil Is a Southpaw by Brandon Hobson is an ambitious novel-within-a-novel for readers who love challenging and powerful literary fiction. Matthew and Milton spent time together at a juvenile detention center in Oklahoma, until Matthew finally made his escape. Years later, Milton shares a manuscript that recreates his memories of their time together, with questionable reliability. Milton’s manuscript paints a picture of jealousy, obsession, art, and friendship. [e-book | print]

The Missing Pages by Alyson Richman is historical fiction, a love story, and a ghost story all rolled into one. Mourning her boyfriend’s death, Violet takes a job at a historic library that houses the books of Harry Widener, a collector that was on the Titanic. Violet throws herself into discovering more about the library’s history, Harry’s life, and his ghostly presence. Mystery, history, and romance blend seamlessly in this story about the power of books. [e-book | print | audiobook]

Nick Medina’s The Whistler is a menacing horror story about guilt and loss. Henry has made a name for himself with ghost-hunting videos, but a horrible accident sends him back to the Louisiana reservation where he grew up, learning to live in a wheelchair. Already struggling mentally, no one believes Henry when he insists a ghostly creature is stalking him. To save himself, Henry must go back before the accident and examine the secrets he tried to bury. [e-book | print]

David Baron’s The Martians explores the Martian mania that captivated the world at the end of the 19th century. As astronomers tried to get a glimpse of Mars, wild theories abounded about the lifeforms that could be flourishing there. Popular culture exploded with references to the red planet and its mysterious inhabitants, even drawing influential figures of the time like Nikola Tesla into the craze. Fans of quirky history and classic science fiction will enjoy this well-researched read. [e-book | print]

⏤Laura