For Readers: Blog

Halfway to Horror: Eerie Gothic Tales

As Halloween nears, many of us reach for our favorite scary stories or horror flicks to get in the spirit. But no one wants to be awake all night, flinching at every sound after reading a particularly frightening book.

Why not try one of these modern Gothic reads? You can immerse yourself in a dark and moody atmosphere — an undercurrent of unease, without the jump scares. These titles have elements of mystery and historical fiction without being overwhelmingly frightening, making any one of them a great way to dip a toe in the waters of horror fiction. Try something new this month: go Gothic!

Something Supernatural
The Poison Thread by Laura Purcell
Melmoth by Sarah Perry
The Witch of Willow Hall by Hester Fox

Suspicious Spouses
The Widow of Rose House by Diana Biller
The Widow of Pale Harbor by Hester Fox 
The Glass Woman by Caroline Lea

Menacing Mansions
The Woman in the Dark by Vanessa Savage
The Widow's House by Carol Goodman
While You Sleep by Stephanie Merritt

--Laura