Post by Joanna on Oct 2, 2014 18:26:22 GMT -5
Ghost stories to haunt you this October
There’s nothing like a well-written ghost story to set the mood for a haunting October. The following novels have all the chills and thrills, plus a little romance and mystery to make them the perfect reads to curl up with under a blanket with a slice of pumpkin pie close at hand.
Ghost on Black Mountain by Ann Hite. Nellie Clay married Hobbs Pritchard. This one act sets off a chain of haunting, unforgettable events told through the experiences of five women. Beautifully written, with all the charm and magic of a good Southern tale, this book is hard to put down: romantic, spell-binding and the perfect fall read.
The Haunting of Maddy Clare by Simone St. James. In 1920s England, young Sarah Piper lives a lonely, threadbare life. But that all changes when charming ghost hunter Alistair Gellis shows up looking for an assistant for a new, unusual case. The ghost of Maddy Clare, vicious and vindictive, is unlike anything Alistair – or Sarah – has seen before. The ghost in this book is so well done: She’s creepy, scary and complicated. Author Simone St. James expertly evokes the time period and the landscape: compelling, romantic, and enjoyable.
Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick. Though not a traditional ghost story, this novel is a brilliant tale of living beyond the grave. Booklist calls it, “part love story, part mystery, part horror,” and 100 percent amazing. At first readers will be confused and then they will be amazed and not be able to stop reading. It's a stunning must-read.
The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier. For a lighter read and a great choice for younger readers, pick up this new eerie book. Two abandoned Irish siblings travel to find work as servants in a strange, derelict English manor house. Soon they meet a mysterious stranger. This book is a "spine-chilling fable" and a mesmerizing read.
The Woman in Black by Susan Hill. For more than 30 years, this book has been hailed as one of the best ghost stories ever written. Arthur Kipps travels to a small, strange English town to deal with the death of one of his law firms’ clients. Soon he encounters a ghostly woman dressed all in black and a horrifying mystery. Exceptionally eerie, with loads of unnerving images, The Woman in Black does not disappoint.
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson. Another timeless classic, Shirley Jackson is praised as a master of "the cryptic, haunted tale." The standard in haunted house fiction, this book takes the reader to Hill House, an old and crumbling mansion. Dr. Montague is determined to find proof of psychic phenomena, but he and his companions get far more than they ever expected when they awaken the power of Hill House.
The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters. For a thoughtful ghostly read, try this highly-praised book by London author Sarah Waters. Building suspense slowly in this haunted house tale, Waters takes the reader to rural Warwickshire after World War II. Hundreds Hall has seen better days and the family may not be able to save it from the changing world or the sinister presence tormenting them all.
Source: Teri Harman, The Daily American, October 2, 2014.