(Actual) Halloween Horror Books
Horror Books that are ACTUALLY set during Halloween!
So it’s finally happened. A horror movie almost knocked me off my treadmill.
Unless I’m going to the theater, I mainly watch horror movies while working out. I’ve written previously about how I found Hell House LLC Origins: The Carmichael Manor so scary that I was afraid one of the jump scares would cause me to fall while running on my treadmill.
Well yesterday it actually happened. I was watching V/H/S Beyond (specifically the Live and Let Dive segment) and I stumbled. There was a lot of running in this short, so whenever *something* would jump out on screen, I reacted like it was jumping out at me. I guess I need to be more careful?
Luckily I caught myself before any real damage was done, so I’m still here to write up today’s post: a list of Halloween Horror Books.
(Actual) Halloween Horror Books
For most of the population, horror is synonymous with the Halloween season. If you do a Google search for “Halloween Horror Books,” the majority of what pops up are just regular old horror.
Well not here! You and I read horror year-round, so we require our Halloween Horror to, ya know, include some Halloween.
Which is harder to find than one might expect, especially if you want a book geared for adults. There are countless Goosebumps books about killer jack-o-lanterns and never-ending Halloween nights, but little is available for the over-eighteen crowd. The one exception is short story collections, which abound.
Why is that? This is a question I turn over in my head quite a bit. What is it about Halloween, a macabre and horror-centric holiday, that makes it unfriendly as a setting for an adult horror book? Only two of the titles below are written in an adult POV, and I found both underwhelming.
Is it that, like candy, Halloween is only good in small doses? Are the trappings of the season–the hook-nosed witches, the sheet ghosts, the vampires and werewolves–too campy to be truly terrifying?
Or is it that what makes Halloween feel so special, that Halloweenness, can only be felt by children and young adults?
The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury
Blurb: A group of boys embarks on a fantastical journey through time and space to learn the history of Halloween while trying to save their friend. Bradbury weaves a dark, atmospheric tale that celebrates the eerie magic of the holiday.
This book is the quintessential Halloween book for me. It’s not super scary, but I think it captures that magical Halloween feeling where anything might be possible that I remember so fondly from my own youth. I also really love the cartoon of the same name based on it. A yearly rewatch for me!
Dark Harvest by Norman Partridge
Blurb: Every Halloween in Midwestern town the local boys are sent to hunt down a terrifying scarecrow-like figure called the October Boy. A dark, poignant coming-of-age tale.
This is my favorite book on this list. It manages to have a compelling concept and story while including Halloween and autumnal imagery, like candy, jack-o-lanterns, and scare crows.
There was also a movie adaptation made of this book!
Halloween Fiend by C. V. Hunt
Blurb: A small town lives in fear of a creature known only as Halloween, who demands a yearly sacrifice.
A nice short story, but despite the name of the creature literally being “Halloween” and the awesome cover art, the story has little to do with the holiday at all. It could have been set on any other day without losing anything plot-wise. An okay read, but needs more Halloween!
All Hallows by Christopher Golden
Blurb: On Halloween night in 1984, strange children in old-fashioned costumes seek help, and the neighborhood is plunged into a night of escalating terror. Golden blends nostalgia and supernatural horror to create a deeply unsettling and suspenseful story.
I wanted to love this book so much. That cover. The premise. The setting. While the premise has a lot to do with Halloween, the plot lingers too much on boring interpersonal drama and takes too long to get to the point. A big disappointment for me.
A Season with the Witch by J. W. Ocker
Blurb: Ocker spends a month in Salem, Massachusetts, exploring the town's haunted history and modern-day witchcraft culture. This nonfiction book offers an immersive and fascinating look at how Salem became synonymous with Halloween and all things witchy.
Okay, this one’s not really a horror book, but it’s got the Halloween vibes! Ocker gives in-depth detail on the strange dichotomy between the tragic witch trials and the tourism that they inspired. I went to Salem in October of 2022 and this book was a big inspiration for that.
Real quick: the below books are all ones that I haven’t read (yet!), but that sound very promising! If you have read any of them, comment below and let me know what you thought!
Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
Blurb: Two boys face the sinister forces of a mysterious carnival that rolls into town, promising dreams but delivering nightmares. Bradbury’s masterful prose captures the wonder and terror of childhood as it collides with supernatural evil.
Bradbury seems to have been a Halloween fan. I’ve tried to start this book a couple times but never managed to get very far. That was years ago, and I might be in a better place to read it now. Or it could just be that I’m not that into carnivals as a horror setting?
Benny Rose The Cannibal King by Hailey Piper
Blurb: On Halloween night, a group of teens unwittingly resurrects the town’s legendary boogeyman, Benny Rose. A fast-paced and brutal slasher about urban legends and small-town horror.
I’ve heard about this one a lot. The word “cannibal” turns me off, and I’m not big on slashers. But maybe it delivers on the Halloween vibes?
The October Boys by Adam Millard
Blurb: Decades after an encounter with a terrifying man driving an ice cream truck on Halloween that culminated in several children going missing, the survivors must confront the nightmare that haunts them.
This one looks interesting! A creepy ice cream truck on Halloween night? Sign me up. I do have questions about trick or treating in London. Isn’t trick or treating mainly an American thing, especially in the 90s/early aughts when this supposedly takes place? If you’re a Londoner, feel free to set me straight!
The Night Country by Stewart O’Nan
Blurb: One year after a deadly car accident, the ghosts of the victims return to their small town on Halloween, seeking closure—or revenge. A poignant and haunting exploration of grief, memory, and the supernatural.
Ooh, ghosts returning on Halloween to seek revenge? Sign me up. Kind of reminds me of that one Creepshow segment. This may be my next read!
So what are you reading right now? What are your favorite Halloween books, horror or not? Comment now because I want to know!
What I'm Reading
Small Town Horror by Ronald Malfi
Yep, still working on this one! I started Small Town Horror while on vacation to Door County, WI, and it was cool to read a story where a lighthouse is featured so prominently while surrounded by lighthouses.
My favorite television series ever is Mike Flanagan’s Midnight Mass, and as I read this book I can't help but see similarities between the two. Both take place in coastal towns, both have similar aesthetics to their hauntings.
Coincidentally I saw a post on Reddit commenting on how similar Flanagan and Malfi are, so I'll definitely need to check out more of Malfi’s work!
Horror News
Speaking of Mike Flanagan, AKA my favorite horror creator, it was just announced that he’s adapting Stephen King’s Carrie into a television series! I’m so excited! Hopefully we’ll have a new Flanagan property to consume next Spooky Season!
-H.
H. H. Duke is a writer, author, and podcaster. Most importantly she loves horror! For more book recommendations, horror movie reviews, and other spooky things, subscribe to H. is for Horror now!