If you’re like me, Halloween preparations begin well before the actual day. And while I would love to go for a dark and mysterious walk in the woods to set the mood, sometimes the weather has other, sunnier plans. Alas, I am determined to have a terrifying time when I so desire. (Scary season is a mindset, y’all.)
What better way to indulge my haunted fall fantasy than with bloody vampire tales, or ghost stories on audio?
From classic horror to creepy camp, we’ve put together a list of the best halloween audiobooks to give you all the chills.
Veal
Delores “Lawrence” Franklin is a failed capitalist and a runaway headcase. Following a corporate meltdown, she decides to start fresh in Mistaken Point, a small town known for two things—Mistaken Point University, where she and her best friend, Anastasia Lanes, are now enrolled, and the grisly murders of countless young women.
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The Possession of Alba Díaz
“This was a stunning novel of possession, religious persecution, guilt, and romance. Cañas weaves a beautifully haunting gothic which feels both refreshing and perfectly antiquated. The Possession of Alba Diaz is not one you want to miss.”
— George • Arkana Books
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The Honjin Murders
In the winter of 1937, the village of Okamura is abuzz with excitement over the forthcoming wedding of a son of the grand Ichiyanagi family. But on the night of the wedding, the family is woken by a terrible scream and the sound of eerie music—death has come to Okamura, leaving no trace but a bloody samurai sword, thrust into the pristine snow outside the house.
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Witch of the Wolves
“Clever witches, sultry werewolves, and layers of family deception come together beautifully in this dark and steamy romantasy. With a touch or gore and a bit of adventure, it’s a perfect read to get you in the mood for Halloween, especially if you prefer a quicker read. As a reader who struggles when FMCs make one bad decision after another, I genuinely appreciated Cordelia’s thoughtful inner monologue.”
— Moonstone & Mist Bookshop • Moonstone & Mist Bookshop
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Wake Up and Open Your Eyes
“FAX news is brainwashing our nation. Noah Fairchild no longer recognizes his parents… “The Great Reawakening” has invaded far-right news and social media in the most terrifying way possible as family turns on family, neighbor on neighbor. Part apocalyptic but mostly slap you in the face metaphorical, this book is 1000% my jam! If I am looking for grotesque, shocking, controversial, skin crawling imagery, then I have to look no further than the modern horror master, Clay McLeod Chapman.”
— Suzanne • The Underground Bookshop
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Spare Room
Lisa, a troubled young woman with a past, can’t believe her luck when she finds a beautiful room to rent in a large house. The live-in owners are a kind and welcoming couple. Everything is fine until she finds a suicide note hidden in her room. But when the couple insist this man didn’t exist and that Lisa is their first tenant, Lisa begins to doubt herself.
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The Better to Eat You With
For twelve-year-old Evan, summertime has always meant carefree days with her family and unlimited time with her best friend, Billie. This year, with her parents on the brink of divorce, she’s staying at Billie’s summer cabin. As Evan tries to cling to the good things in her life, a sinister presence in the woods begins to stir. Kids are scared, and adults think everyone should go home. Determined to stay, Evan starts hunting for the creature and begins to wonder—is it just her imagination, or is the monster inside her?
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The Boy in the Suitcase
“Starting with a phone call that leads to a child, drugged but alive in a suitcase, this Danish mystery is a perfect blend of Tanya French and Stieg Larsson—as psychologically driven as it is plot driven-a page turner so riveting that you may want to gear up if you plan to sit within arm’s length to this book’s reader.”
— SMC • Bookshop Santa Cruz
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The Bewitching
“The Bewitching is an ensnaring multi-timeline gothic novel full of little haunts and dread. A little bit of an academia vibe + creepy things happening = an intriguing story. If you like dark gothic novels, horror, or witchy things, give this a listen! “
— Claire • Mostly Books
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The Sacrifice
An island oasis turns deadly when a terrifying legend threatens to kill off visitors one by one in this haunting novel from the highly acclaimed author of The Girl from the Well and the Bone Witch trilogy.
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White Smoke
“White Smoke was spooky and a very enjoyable audiobook experience. It had all the classic elements of a scary movie with mysteriously disappearing items, a girl who claims to talk to a ghost, abandoned houses, and a creepy town history. Jackson builds the intrigue up nicely and narrator Marcella Cox does a great job of keeping up suspense. Perfect for scary movie fans (even scary movie fans lite) and especially those that like rich historical backstory.”
— Kimi • Buttonwood Books and Toys
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What Stalks the Deep
Alex Easton does not want to visit America. They particularly do not want to visit an abandoned coal mine in West Virginia with a reputation for being haunted. But when their old friend Dr. Denton summons them to help find his lost cousin—who went missing in that very mine—well, sometimes a sworn soldier has to do what a sworn soldier has to do…
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A Little Too Haunted
“I didn’t read scary stories as a kid, but as an adult who’s finally into horror books, I really, really loved this book. Totally age-appropriate for middle-grade readers, wonderful queer representation, some skin-crawling creepy moments, and such a fun twist to the ‘move into a haunted house’ trope. And there are cats! “
— Ashley • The Little Gay Shop
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Zomromcom
“I normally avoid zombie related books at all costs, but I am so happy to have picked this one up! I cannot recommend this enough to those looking for a TRUE romantic comedy that still manages to tug on your heart strings, and keep you on the edge of your seat wondering when the zombies may attack.”
— Cameron • Quail Ridge Books
View the audiobookGhosts and spirits, monsters and mysteries, pick your poison! These audiobooks have it all.