While scary movies are the best way to get in the mood to get into the Halloween spirit, books are often not mentioned. Thriller and mystery books are my favorite way to get into the spooky spirit of Halloween, especially books with thrilling plot twists and plots that keep you up at night. There are many great thriller novels out there but these are some of my favorites!

The first book that I recommend anybody to read to get into the Halloween spirit is Survive the Night by Riley Sager. Sager is famously known for their thriller novels with epic plot twists and this one definitely didn’t disappoint their reputation. This book takes place in the late nineties with our main protagonist Charlie who catches a ride with a strange man she is convinced is a serial killer. The reader goes through a roller coaster of twists and turns and multiple jaw-dropping plot twists. I loved the spooky nineties atmosphere and the eerie way Sager writes their books. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a book that has a thrilling storyline that keeps you on the edge of your seat while reading. 

A Good Girls Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson is in my opinion a very widely loved thriller/mystery novel and for good reasons. The storyline follows Pip who is determined who actually murdered Andie Bell. Everyone thinks Sal Singh is the convicted murderer of Andie but Pip doesn’t believe it. As you read your head is swirling with multiple questions, Did Sal Singh actually murder Andie? Is Andie actually dead? Like Survive the Night the book is filled with plot twists and will keep you engaged from start to finish. This book is perfect for the Halloween season and even though it may be more of a mystery than a thriller, it still fits the mood perfectly. 

Another one of my favorite books for the Halloween season is definitely One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus. Similar to A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, this is a classic “who done it”. The book follows five kids who get sent to detention but only four make it out. The group of four tries to find out who killed their fellow classmate Simon while the rest of the school thinks one of them is holding back a secret. One of the things I personally loved about this book is how there are multiple secrets that the reader uncovers as they read. The writing is very easy to understand and keeps the reader engaged. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a thrilling book to read during the autumn season. 

The Inheritance Games is another great book to get into the spirit of fall. Written by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, this book takes plot twists to a whole new level. My jaw genuinely hit the floor when I finished reading. When Avery Grambs gets a random amount of money from a strange man and is a part of his will, she has to know the truth about how she was chosen to  inherit all of this money. This book kept my eyes glued to the pages the entire time. Barnes creates a perfect spooky and fall atmosphere with incredible characters as well. Like I said earlier this book truly holds up to the expectation of a plot twist and I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good old fashioned mystery. 

The final book that I think everyone should read this fall is definitely The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides. This book follows psychotherapist Theo Faber who tries to solve the case of the murder of Alicia Berenson’s husband, but the only thing is the murderer is Alicia and she hasn’t spoken since the night of the murder. Michaelides creates such an eerie and creepy atmosphere to his book and makes the reader chilled to the bone after each chapter. I was truly shocked by the ending and I just hope that you will feel the same. This book combines thriller and mystery into a great fun book for everyone to enjoy. 

One of the reasons I love fall so much is the incredible eerie books to read and recommending new ones to people who love books just as much as I do. While some of these may be more mysterious than scary, I still think these are the perfect books to read during the autumn season. Happy reading!