Reading Ideas for Halloween!

For previous holidays, I've often shared well-known brands and their brand stories. However, this year for Halloween, I'm doing something I haven't done before. Since I'm an avid reader (and hope to reach or surpass my reading goal of 75 books this year!), I'm going to share some scary book recommendations. These six works of fiction were full of twists and turns and kept me on the edge of my seat while reading. They're all memorable as you can tell by the years noted below - and I hope YOU enjoy them, too.

SHARE THIS: Description begins in the writer's imagination, but should finish in the reader's. ~Stephen King #ReadingList #Halloween #DebbieLaskeysBlog

WARD D by Frieda McFadden (I read this book in 2023.)

Here's a brief synopsis: "Medical student Amy Brenner is spending the night on Ward D, a locked psychiatric ward. There are very specific reasons why she never wanted to do this required overnight rotation - reasons nobody can ever find out. And as the hours tick by, Amy grows increasingly convinced something terrible is happening within these tightly secured walls. When patients and staff start to vanish without a trace, it becomes clear that everyone on the unit is in grave danger."

SOMETHING IN THE WATER by Catherine Steadman (I read this book in 2018.)

Here's a brief synopsis: "Erin is a documentary filmmaker, and Mark is a handsome investment banker. Passionately in love, they embark on a dream honeymoon to the tropical island of Bora Bora, While scuba diving in the crystal blue sea, they find something in the water. Suddenly, the newlyweds must make a dangerous choice: to speak out or to protect their secret. After all, if no one else knows, who would be hurt?"

EVERY LAST FEAR by Alex Finlay (I read this book in 2024.)

Here's a brief synopsis: "After a late night of partying, NYU student Matt Pine returns to his dorm room to devastating news: nearly his entire family—his mom, his dad, his little brother, and sister—have been found dead from an apparent gas leak while vacationing in Mexico. The local police claim it was an accident, but the FBI and State Department seem far less certain, and they won't tell Matt why. The tragedy makes headlines everywhere because this isn't the first time the Pine family has been thrust into the media spotlight. Matt's older brother, Danny—currently serving a life sentence for the murder of his teenage girlfriend Charlotte—was the subject of a viral true crime documentary suggesting that Danny was wrongfully convicted. When Matt returns to his small hometown to bury his parents and siblings, he's faced with a hostile community that was villainized by the documentary, a frenzied media, and memories he'd hoped to leave behind forever. Now, as the deaths in Mexico appear increasingly suspicious and connected to Danny's case, Matt must unearth the truth behind the crime that sent his brother to prison, forcing him to confront his every last fear."

THEN SHE WAS GONE by Lisa Jewell (I read this book in 2023.)

Here's a brief synopsis: "Ellie Mack was the perfect daughter. She was fifteen, beloved by her parents, friends, and teachers. And then she was gone. Now, her mother, Laurel Mack, is trying to put her life back together. It's been ten years since her youngest child disappeared, seven years since her marriage ended, and only months since the last clue in Ellie's case was unearthed. So when she meets an unexpectedly charming man in a café, no one is more surprised than Laurel at how quickly their flirtation develops into something deeper. Before she knows it, she's meeting Floyd’s daughters—and his youngest, Poppy, takes Laurel's breath away. Because looking at Poppy is like looking at Ellie. Laurel is haunted by her long unanswered questions. What happened to Ellie? Did she run away from home, as the police have long suspected? Who is Floyd, really? And why does his daughter remind Laurel so viscerally of her own missing girl?"

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS by B.A. Paris (I read this book in 2021.)

Here's a brief synopsis: "Everyone knows a couple like Jack and Grace. He has looks and wealth; she has charm and elegance. He's a dedicated attorney who has never lost a case; she's a flawless homemaker, a masterful gardener and cook, and dotes on her disabled younger sister. Though they are still newlyweds, they seem to have it all. You'd like to get to know Grace better. But it's difficult, because you realize Jack and Grace are inseparable. Some might call this true love. Others might wonder why Grace never answers the phone. Or why she can never meet for coffee, even though she doesn't work. How she can cook such elaborate meals but remain so slim. Or why she never seems to take anything with her when she leaves the house, not even a pen. Or why there are such high-security metal shutters on all the downstairs windows. Some might wonder what's really going on once the dinner party is over, and the front door has closed."

Good news for B.A. Paris fans: in February 2026, she announced that her next book would be a sequel to BEHIND CLOSED DOORS to celebrate the book's 10th anniversary - hard to believe it was published back in 2016!

FOLLOW YOU HOME by Mark Edwards (I read this book in 2023.)

Here's a brief synopsis: "It was supposed to be the trip of a lifetime. But an experience on a night train through Eastern Europe forces Daniel and Laura to cut their dream trip short and flee home. Back in London, Daniel and Laura vow never to talk about what happened. But as they try to fit into their old lives again, they realize they are in terrible danger."

Have you read a scary book lately? Chime in and share.

SHARE THIS: A great book should leave you with many experiences, and slightly exhausted at the end. You live several lives while reading. ~Stephen King #ReadingList #Halloween #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Image Credits: Debbie Laskey's Library thanks to Amazon.

Check out some previous Halloween-themed posts here on #DebbieLaskeysBlog:

Does Your Brand Celebrate Halloween? (October 2026)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2026/10/does-your-brand-celebrate-halloween.html

Five Memorable Halloween Brands (October 2025):

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2025/10/five-memorable-halloween-brands.html

What Brand Stands Out for Halloween? (October 2022):

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2022/10/what-brand-stands-out-for-halloween.html

Three Instagram Brand-Building Tips from Halloween (November 2020):

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2020/11/three-instagram-brand-building-tips.html