October is upon us, and the veil grows thin, which means it’s time to put aside our beach reads and turn towards some darker books. As a child, I loved being read to by my mom, and our go-to for a long time was Hauntings: Tales of the Supernatural, a collection of 19th and early-20th century horror stories illustrated by Edward Gorey. It was perfect for us, being entertaining enough for adults but also deliciously frightening for kids without being gory. Age 7 might be a little early for Poe, Shelley and Highsmith, but I turned out OK. 

I asked some colleagues about books that were memorable to them for being eerie or downright scary. Here are some of their recommendations. 

Cycle of the Werewolf by Stephen King tells the story of a small town terrorized by vicious killings that occur every full moon. The main character is a 10-year-old boy who is clever and brave, and much of the story revolves around his day-to-day life in a place that is full of fear. This is King’s shortest work, and as such is often an entry point for younger readers looking to try out some scary fiction. An added bonus are the excellent illustrations by comics artist Bernie Wrightson, co-creator of Swamp Thing. 

The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones won numerous awards in 2020, including both the Graham Stoker and Shirley Jackson. It revolves around Lewis, a member of the Blackfeet tribe who carries deep shame over a hunting incident from years prior, which has seemingly come to haunt him in very real ways. Themes of guilt, lost tradition, addiction and atonement run deep here, along with fleshed-out characters and plot. 

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski was my first encounter with the unease that accompanies the realization that all may not be as you expect, i.e., the house is bigger on the inside than it is on the outside, and you start to get lost in the maze of hallways that shouldn’t exist, and your dog is running in there somewhere and you can’t find him, and will you get out? Oh, there’s also something evil lurking in there, maybe. The experimental nature of the text can be perplexing at times, but it’s a solid option for some chills.

If you’re feeling gothic, pick up The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters. Originally conceived as a novel about class structure in England after World War II, it morphed into a ghost story about a once-wealthy family living in a deteriorating estate, harboring some secrets as well as a malevolent unseen force. 

Last but never least, sink into We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson, and Carmilla as edited by Carmen Maria Machado. Leave a light on.  

Candice Smith has been at ICPL for many years, has many cats, and reads many mystery, history, and true crime books. This article was originally published in Little Village’s October 2025 issue.