6 Modern Thrillers To Read This Halloween + a Bonus!
6 Modern Thrillers To Read This Halloween
More than ghosts. More than ghouls. More than bumps in the night. This Halloween, we’re sharing six modern thrillers and horrors that surpass the typical scary story. From killer siblings, to vengeful entities, to classic murder mysteries, these books will keep you up reading:
1. My Sister, The Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite (226 Pages)
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Why Read It
This darkly funny novel follows two Nigerian sisters, Korede and Femi. Femi is the kind of beautiful that stops men in their tracks—and, much to Korede’s disapproval, she keeps killing the ones that stick around. We struggle along with Korede as she helps Femi cover up her latest murder, while also trying to keep her newest love interest from becoming her next victim. This novel’s enticing story is enhanced by its shorter chapters, making it a fun, easy-to-read pick for the season.
2. Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (301 Pages)
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Why Read It
In Mexican Gothic, Silvia Moreno-Garcia—author of Gods of Jade and Shadow—brings us to a mysterious countryside mansion in 1950s Mexico. The glamorous debutant Noemí has come to save her cousin, who claims that her new husband is trying to murder her. Noemí instead uncovers a darkness in the home, and in her cousin’s new family. Described as “Lovecraft meets the Brontës,” Mexican Gothic is currently being developed as a Hulu original limited series.
3. The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones (320 Pages)
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Why Read It
When an author is described as “the Jordan Peele of literature,” like Stephan Graham Jones is, my interest is immediately piqued. If you’re a fan of Peele’s recent work in horror, such as Get Out, Us, or the latest HBO series Lovecraft Country, Stephen Graham Jones’ latest novel is for you. The Only Good Indians follows four American Indian men as they’re tracked by an entity focused on one thing: revenge.
4. If It Bleeds by Stephen King (447 Pages)
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Why Read It
Known for his iconic novels and short stories, Stephen King’s latest collection If It Bleeds includes four tales: “Mr. Harrigan’s Phone,” “The Life of Chuck,” “Rat,” and “If It Bleeds.” Short stories are a fantastic format for horror, as they give you just enough to get spooked while also giving you a chance to rest before you dip back in for another dose of terror.
5. The Guest List by Lucy Foley (330 Pages)
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Why Read It
An extravagant wedding. A secluded location off the coast of Ireland. A dead body. No wedding is perfect, right? In The Guest List by Lucy Foley, the perfectly-planned nuptials of a rising TV star and magazine publisher comes to a halt when someone winds up dead. This slow-burning thriller gives you multiple points of view to investigate the murder and find out who the killer is.
6. Long Bright River by Liz Moore (482 Pages)</b
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Why Read It
This thrilling police procedural follows two very different sisters who went down two very different life paths: Kacey, who lives on the streets and struggles with addiction, and Mickey, a police officer investigating a string of murders. When Kacey goes missing, Mickey is determined to find her and solve the recent murders, hoping the two aren’t connected. Long Bright River is an emotional, gripping thriller that blends the horror of opioid addiction with the terror of a killer.
Bonus Thriller: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier (480 Pages)
Why Read It
Although it’s not a recent release, this 1938 classic is masterful. Rebecca is a Gothic novel by English author Dame Daphne du Maurier and concerns an unnamed young woman who impetuously marries a wealthy widower, only to discover that he and his household are haunted by the memory of his late first wife, the title character. Rebecca is the perfect Halloween read. Read it, watch the Netflix adaptation out on October 21st, and join us for a chat about it here!
Want to get your hands on these 6 modern thrillers to read this Halloween ? Check out our Brookstore! We feature our favourite books of the month for you to browse and buy, whether you’re reading alone or in a book club.
Shannon Hodgen is a lifelong writer, DIY enthusiast, and homebody. She satisfies her need to put pen to paper–or, more accurately, fingertips to keyboard–as an agency copywriter, blog contributor, and freelance editor in Toronto.
Favourite Book: The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
Favourite Brunch Spot: Dirty Food Eatery in The Junction
