Seven Books for Spooky Season

October 3, 2022

Seven Books for Spooky Season

Autumn is upon us, which means I am devouring mystery novels. Here are a few of my favorite spooky season reads:

Gaudy Night by Dorothy Sayers: Oxford, clever wordplay, romance, and a chilling mystery—what’s not to love? Plus, Harriet Vane and Peter Wimsey are two of the most quirky, endearing characters ever created.
The Secret History by Donna Tart: I’ve read this twice and, both times, could not put it down. It can only be described as a creepy combination of Harry Potter, The Bacchae, and an Agatha Christie mystery. Dark academia at its finest.
Misery by Stephen King: I’m not much for horror, but this thriller about an author held hostage kept me reading despite the misery of a transatlantic flight. By far the best King novel I’ve read.
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson: I just read this one and am still trying to decide what I thought. The fact that I keep thinking about it is a good sign, though. Less about the supernatural, this book is most terrifying in its bold look at the human psyche.
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie: No spooky reading list would be complete without the queen of mystery. This book rescued me from a severe reading slump and, although I love anything by Christie, this is among my favorites.
Crooked House by Agatha Christie: Another phenomenal mystery by Christie, with a good bit of family drama thrown in.
The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury: Although he has several books specifically about Halloween, I still believe this is his masterpiece. Each story leaves the reader feeling slightly on edge, either because of a plot twist or a brutally honest portrayal of human nature.

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Ryanne_JM

Hello and welcome! I don’t love that I my name is also my website because I always thought that being a writer was about muttering to myself in the artistic anonymity of a dark corner, but here we are in this year of our Lord 2023. So who am I? Instagram wanted me to select “what” I am and gave me a set of limited options: artist, writer, blogger, or musician. The reality, though, is that I am a human person, not an internet personality. I am not a “what” but a “who,” with an eclectic and evolving set of passions. Just when you think you know what to expect from me, I’ll probably surprise you. (Getting used to articles on worship music? SURPRISE: spooky short story! Expecting another theological sonnet? SURPRISE: a random musing on my fascination with Bigfoot.) I’m going to organize my website so that it is easy to navigate and simple to find the content that you find the most interesting. However, because I am a collaborative pianist, worship director, pastor’s wife, speaker, and writer of all genres, there’s a good chance you’ll stumble upon writing that falls beyond your usual reading material…and that’s okay. I’m so glad you’re here, and I look forward to sharing my work with you!