Something Spooky for Every Reader

Some readers want ghosts. Some want murder. Some would prefer the scare toned down and served with a side of romance and pumpkin spice.

Whatever your definition of a Halloween read, we’ve pulled together 10 books for getting into the spirit of the season, from not-too-spooky stories for little readers to twisty mysteries, paranormal romance, and cozy fall escapes. Pick your preferred level of fright and start reading.

For little ghosts & goblins

1. Happy Spooky Halloween! by LeBron James, illustrated by Ariel Landy
Halloween at Hickory Elementary is getting a little too scary for Zara and her kindergarten friends. This sweet, funny picture book turns the fright level down and the Halloween fun up, making it a good pick for younger trick-or-treaters.

2. Bump in the Night: Count Down to Halloween by Diane Wright Landolf, illustrated by Denis Zilber
Why settle for one spooky story when you can have 13? Each tale in this cute Halloween countdown is sealed for readers to open, one by one, with the thrill level designed to keep young readers engaged without keeping everyone awake all night.

3. The Ghost Who Saved Halloween by Jen Anyong, illustrated by Kaly Quarles
A ghost trying to save Halloween? We're listening. This playful picture book combines  kid-friendly haunts with silly spooks to keep your little boo laughing.

For readers who love a good mystery

4. The Color of Death by Trey Gowdy and Christopher Greyson
A murdered woman. A missing page from her appointment book. A crime scene that goes up in flames. This dark small-town mystery follows assistant DA Colm Truesdale as an investigation leads toward a powerful local family.

5. Murder Takes a Vacation by Laura Lippman
Muriel Blossom planned on a European vacation, but she ends up with an international mystery instead. Laura Lippman sends the former private investigator and widow on a Parisian River cruise where relaxation quickly gives way to murder.

6. Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson
ISBN: 9780063279032

The title is not exaggerating. Ernest Cunningham arrives at a family reunion knowing that everyone in attendance has killed someone. Then things get even more complicated. A clever, darkly funny whodunit for readers who like their mysteries self-aware and full of suspects.

For a little Romance with your Pumpkin Spice this season

7. A Season for Falling by Kate O’Shaughnessy
Set against crisp October days, this second-chance YA romance is made for readers who want their fall reading cozy, heartfelt, and just a little swoony.

8. Practically Magic by Jen Calonita
A love spell gone wrong, sister witches, and a little romantic chaos make this one practically required Halloween reading. When Kat Hadley discovers her older sister cursed her love life, her anger sends the magic of Mystic Hollow into disarray. With Halloween approaching and old spells suddenly reversing, the sisters have to set things right before their town pays the price.

9. The Cinnamon Falls Series by R. L. Killmore

Welcome to Cinnamon Falls, where the autumn vibes are cozy, the romance is simmering, and murder has a habit of interrupting the festivities. This cozy mystery series pairs small-town charm and seasonal atmosphere with amateur sleuthing, unexpected suspects, and a touch of romance. Come for the pumpkin-spiced setting; stay to find out whodunit.

10. Candy Apple Kisses by Amy Clipston

This cozy fall romance brings a struggling artist back home to help her childhood best friend save his family orchard, with candy apples, crisp air, and long-buried feelings along the way.

Whether you came for ghosts, thrills, romance, or a cozy fall read, there’s something for every reader. Explore more Halloween reads and spooky books for kids, mystery lovers, romance readers, and everyone in between.