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Read moreThe USD Vista staff’s picks: spooky books
Scary stories for the Halloween season
SALENA CHACON
ASST. NEWS EDITOR
With Halloween right around the corner, now is the perfect time to get into the holiday spirit by reading a scary book. Mysteries, horrors and paranormal stories are ideal for embracing the spooky season.
The USD Vista staff put together their picks for must-read scary books for the Halloween season. (Just don’t read them at night.)
“Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley — Jessica Mills / Arts & Culture Editor
In the novel, Dr. Frankenstein successfully creates a monster from human corpses. Today, Frankenstein is a Halloween icon and popular costume.
“I read this book many years ago and the quote, ‘Beware; for I am fearless and therefore powerful’ has always stuck with me,” Mills said.
“The Silent Patient” by Alex Michaelides — Olivia Synek / Associate Editor
Published in 2019, this book follows a therapist searching for the reason why a woman suddenly and brutally murdered her husband.
“[As a mystery and thriller] this one had me on the edge of my seat,” Synek expressed.
“Verity” by Colleen Hoover — Karisa Kampbell /Editor-in-Chief
Although not explicitly a scary book, “Verity” still harbors an eerie vibe, as it tells the story of a Verity, a famous author unable to finish her thriller book series, who hires a struggling writer to complete the work for her. The main character discovers shocking secrets, leading to many plot twists.
“It’s not super scary, just a little spooky and also a really easy read,” Kampbell said. “It’s a super unique concept. Verity makes a really great weekend read.”
“The Amityville Horror” by Jay Anson — Maria Simpson / Opinion Editor
The scariest thing about “The Amityville Horror” is that it is supposedly based on a true story.
The book chronicles a family who moves into a house recently owned by a murderer. The family moves out after a horrifying 28 days, positive that the house is haunted.
“It’s really interesting and it has made me forever terrified that I will accidentally buy a haunted house one day,” Simpson confessed.
“The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires” by Grady Hendrix – Abigail Cavizo / News Editor
Another thriller, but with a supernatural twist. This book has the quintessential component of the perfect Halloween read: vampires. The story follows a women’s book club who suspects an attractive newcomer of being a vampire, all set in a 90s Southern town. Although written by a male, Cavizo was impressed by how well he wrote a female perspective.
“It has some mystery, some horror aspects, and all around was a great paced read!” Cavizo said.
“Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” by Alvin Schwartz — Haley Jacob / Feature Editor
This haunting collection of short stories was collected from folklore, and it contains both creepy and comical stories. It doubles as a picture book as well, with illustrations by Stephen Gammell.
“Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” is a short but spooky read sure to get you in the Halloween spirit.
“This book scared me so much as a kid. The stories are super short but so creepy,” Jacob said. “It’s a very nostalgic book, and it was my first real experience with horror.”
“The Collected Works of Edgar Allan Poe,” by Edgar Allan Poe — Colin Mullaney / Copy Editor
Known for his tormented and dramatic narratives, Edgar Allan Poe wrote many famous stories in the gothic genre such as “The Cask of Amontillado” and “The Tell-Tale Heart.” Both detail the circumstances of cold-blooded murders but are unique in their execution.
As a Maryland native, Mullaney has an affinity for the poet and writer, who died by mysterious circumstances in Baltimore.
“In high school, we read a lot of Poe, because he was so prolific in our area. My favorite was probably ‘The Raven’ which is about a man who’s tormented by his lost love.”
The “Nancy Drew” Series, by Carolyn Keene — Mei Flory / Managing Editor
The beloved teenage detective began solving mysteries in the 1930s, when the first “Nancy Drew” book, “The Secret of the Old Clock” was published. Drew conducts interviews and solves various mysteries.Known for her many movie and television adaptations, Nancy Drew is the perfect character for those who love a good mystery.
“I read the first book when I was probably ten, and coming back to the series almost a decade later still satisfies my craving for a not-so-scary read. I’m not a huge fan of horror, but I love spooky mysteries like ‘Nancy Drew,’” Flory said.
Scary books can feature elements of mystery, monsters and psychological thrill.
No matter what spooky title you decide to read, the USD Vista staff hopes you enjoy their recommendations, and that they don’t scare you too much this spooky season.
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