Happy October everyone!!! I have always been a fan of anything scary. I grew up in the middle of the Kettle Moraine in a small house surrounded by woods. I spent a lot of time in those woods wondering what spirits or monsters lurked within. I saw something once when I was very young, something that I still cannot explain come out of those woods. That is a story I only relate to those I am close to, though it caused my 6 year old self to scoop up every book on Cryptozoology I could get my little hands on. My interest naturally led to anything I could read about ghosts and spirits. Being the season for frightful tales, it seems like a good time to share some of my favorite spine tingling reads!

The Wisconsin Road Guide to Haunted Locations by Chad Lewis and Terry Fisk

I felt that this one would be a good title to open this blog with. Personally I am an armchair horror fan. I LOVE to read about other people’s ghostly experiences…but only went actual ghost hunting with a team once. (That was enough for me). For those braver readers out there I present The Wisconsin Road Guide to Haunted Locations! Pack your flashlight, EMF meter, salt, and holy water and prepare to hit the road! This road guide takes ghost hunters to paranormal hotspots throughout the state of Wisconsin. Each entry includes directions on how to get there, details of the haunting or story, and sometimes even a dare meant to stir up the ghostly activity! Good luck, keep safe, and happy hauntings! (Even if not intending to set out it is still an enjoyable read for the less brave like me.)

Click the following link to request this title! The Wisconsin Road Guide to Haunted Locations

Haunted Wisconsin by Michael Norman and Beth Scott

Keeping it in the state, Haunted Wisconsin is one of my October go to reads. These tales of spirits, poltergeists, and other paranormal phenomena are sure to give you chills! This book is also great if you want a short spooky story instead of a novel as Haunted Wisconsin contains many short tales from all over the state. You may find yourself looking over your shoulder as you walk the dark lonely trails of Wisconsin after this read!

Request this title by clicking the following link! Haunted Wisconsin

American Monsters by Linda S. Godfrey

Cryptozoology is the study of paranormal monsters. Wisconsin itself is home to monsters such as Bigfoot, Dogmen, The Beast of Bray Road, the Wendigo of the north woods and many more. (I have even been told a dragon lurks under the waters at the Sheboygan Quarry Park!) There have been sightings throughout our nation of strange creatures that defy explanation. From Chupacabras in the south, Skinwalkers in the west, The Jersey Devil in the east and those in our own backyard prepare to take a road trip across America and discover the creatures that lurk off of the backroads and at the edges of our awareness!

Request American Monsters by clicking the following link! American Monsters

The World of Lore Series by Aaron Mahnke

If you are looking for something that is sure to creep you out I would highly recommend Aaron Mahnke’s World of Lore series. These books are from the Lore podcast from the same author. Each book is focused on a particular topic of horror. The first is titled Monstrous Creatures. In this book you will find all sorts of stories and histories dealing with ghosts, cryptids, and everything in between. I find this book particularly haunts me (no pun intended). The doppelgänger chapter really freaked me out. I find the whole concept of an entity stealing your identity to be specially terrifying. The whole concept of them supposedly being death omens somehow makes it scarier.

The second book in the trilogy is Wicked Mortals. This book takes the reader on a ride through history introducing you to some of the more macabre individuals who have walked this planet. From Countess Bathory, H.H Holmes, and many not as famous blood spillers you will find that sometimes the real history is more terrifying than fiction.

The final book in The World of Lore series is Dreadful Places. In this book Aaron Mahnke takes the reader to locations full of darkness and sordid histories. Meet the denizens that haunt these lonely places and learn the history behind the haunts. For anyone who loves a good haunted house tale this is for you!

To request specific titles in this series click the following links!

The World of Lore: Monstrous Creatures
The World of Lore: Wicked Mortals
The World of Lore: Dreadful Places

The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon

Though I usually like to read horror classified as nonfiction, lately I have been trying to seek out fiction horror novels. I have recently gotten into the books of Jennifer McMahon. Many of her books are of the mystery/thriller genre with a side of ghost. This one was written to be horror with a small side of mystery all the way! (Warning: reading this may cause uneasiness with closets.) The book is set in a small town in Vermont by a creepy geological feature called The Devil’s Hand. Part takes place in the early 1900s and the other part of the story takes place in the present day. Both parts of the story take place in the same old farmhouse at the base of The Devil’s Hand.

People tell stories about The Devil’s Hand and the woods around it. Children are warned not to play in those woods as it is where the “Sleepers” lurk. When Ruthie and Fawn’s mother goes missing they start looking for clues. Inside a hidden area of the farmhouse they find the diary of Sara Harrison Shea, a woman with a tragic past who used to live there. Is their mother’s disappearance linked to Sara, the Sleepers, and The Devil’s Hand? (I finished this book in about two days. I could not put it down.)

Request this title by clicking the following link! The Winter People