It’s almost time for Halloween, which means there should probably be a post about horror books. But there’s a problem – I don’t really read horror books! (The last one I can remember reading is Dean Koontz’s Odd Thomas, which I did enjoy… but it’s just not my genre.)

So instead, I decided to ask my coworker Aleah because she reads a lot of horror books! Below are five picks from her – books that she’s read and enjoyed, books that she thinks you should check out for a spooky, scary Halloween read.

The Bazaar of Bad Dreams by Stephen King

“From a master of the short story, a collection that includes stories never before in print, never published in America, never collected and brand new- with the magnificent bones of interstitial autobiographical comments on when, why and how Stephen King came to write each story” – from the publisher

Why you should read it: Each story was different and had its own creepy twist to it. And it’s Stephen King! His short story books are always the best.

The Deep by Nick Cutter

“A strange plague called the ‘Gets is decimating humanity on a global scale. It causes people to forget–small things at first, like where they left their keys…then the not-so-small things like how to drive, or the letters of the alphabet. Then their bodies forget how to function involuntarily…and there is no cure. But now, far below the surface of the Pacific Ocean, deep in the Marianas Trench, an heretofore unknown substance hailed as “ambrosia” has been discovered–a universal healer, from initial reports. It may just be the key to a universal cure. In order to study this phenomenon, a special research lab, the Trieste, has been built eight miles under the sea’s surface. But now the station is incommunicado, and it’s up to a brave few to descend through the lightless fathoms in hopes of unraveling the mysteries lurking at those crushing depths…” – from the publisher

Why you should read it: This one is very psychologically thrilling. It’s freaky… I don’t want to spoil things. The whole setting is creepy. I hadn’t read anything like it before. It gave me chills… it made my skin crawl.

Hex by Thomas Olde Heuvelt

“Welcome to Black Spring, the seemingly picturesque Hudson Valley town haunted by the Black Rock Witch, a seventeenth-century woman whose eyes and mouth are sewn shut. Muzzled, she walks the streets and enters homes at will. She stands next to children’s beds for nights on end. Everybody knows that her eyes may never be opened or the consequences will be too terrible to bear. The elders of Black Spring have virtually quarantined the town by using high-tech surveillance to prevent their curse from spreading. Frustrated by being kept in lockdown, the town’s teenagers, decide to break their strict regulations and go viral with the haunting. But, in so doing, they send the town spiraling into dark, medieval practices of the distant past” -from the jacket

Why you should read it: It’s really different. It has a creepy, witchy concept, and the way that it’s laid out is interesting – having a town that people can’t go outside of. I liked how you might think the witch would be the creepy part, but the townspeople are actually what’s really creepy.

Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant

“Seven years ago Atagaris set off on a voyage to the Mariana Trench to film a ‘mockumentary’ bringing to life ancient sea creatures of legend. It was lost at sea with all hands. Some have called it a hoax; others have called it a maritime tragedy. Now, a new crew has been assembled. But this time they’re not out to entertain. Some seek to validate their life’s work. Some seek the greatest hunt of all. Some seek the truth. But for the ambitious young scientist Victoria Stewart this is a voyage to uncover the fate of the sister she lost. Whatever the truth may be, it will only be found below the waves” – from the publisher

Why you should read it: Creepy mermaids are awesome! There aren’t a lot of creepy mermaid books out there, and this is a good new take on them. It also has a good twist at the end.

World War Z by Max Brooks

“An account of the decade-long conflict between humankind and hordes of the predatory undead is told from the perspective of dozens of survivors who describe in their own words the epic human battle for survival” – from our catalog

Why you should read it: Zombies! I really liked the way it was written, in the style of reports. The creepiness is fed to you in little bits… it’s very detailed and realistic and describes how things might really work during a zombie apocalypse.