[Editorial] Ghouls Recommend 7 Horror Books To Read This Autumn

This month we’ve been switching off our screens and closing our laptops to cosy on up with a good book as we celebrate horror literature! If you are in search of a recommend this Autumn, why not take a look at the list from our team of Ghouls below and remember…it’s always cool to be a book worm! 

Beyond the Pale Motel by Francesca Lia Block

Recommended by: Liz DeGregorio (Contributor) 

A book that is terrifying, erotic and beautifully written? Sign me up! Francesca Lia Block's Beyond the Pale Motel is one I return to over and over. Against the backdrop of Los Angeles, with all its seediness and glamour, Catt must contend with a devastating breakup, tension with her best friend and the ever-present dread of a serial killer stalking the woman of her city. As her life spins out of control, Catt tries to cope with the darkness within herself and the darkness in her community. The writing is in turns dreamy and nightmarish, and it pulls the reader deep inside the troubling world Catt finds herself in.

You can read Liz’s review of Beyond the Pale Motel to find out more of her thoughts!

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier 

Recommended by: Rebecca McCallum (Assistant Editor)

Last night I dreamt I went to Manderlay again… my recommend is a book with gothic notes and one of literature’s most deliciously terrifying housekeeper’s. Of course, I am talking about none other than Daphne du Maurier’s 1938 novel, Rebecca. I’m a huge fan of du Maurier and I find she always writes in such a concise and accessible way whilst also creating creeping undertones of tension and dread. 

Rebecca tells the story of an unnamed heroine who marries a wealthy widower named Maxim de Winter. When she arrives at her new palatial home, she finds that although she is no longer there, his first wife Rebecca seems to be present everywhere she looks. The new bride is also less than warmly received by Mrs Danvers, the housekeeper and former maid to Rebecca. Mystery, lies and the labyrinth-like corridors of Manderlay conspire against the heroine but does it end well? I will leave that to you to find out. This is such a page turner with punchy plot twists that are wrapped up in shadows of ambiguity.  

 In 1940, Rebecca was adapted into a film by director Alfred Hitchcock. I have written two articles Obsession, Desire and Omnipresence-The Female Love Triangle at the Heart of Rebecca for Grim Journal and Fighting the Waves of the Past-Mrs de Winter in Rebecca (1940) as part of an ongoing series I have on the women of Hitchcock’s films with Moving Pictures Film Club. 

Pet Sematary by Stephen King 

Recommended by: Kim Morrison (Social Media Manager and Senior Contributor) 

Considering my house is overrun with books, picking a favourite horror book seemed quite challenging but it has to be Pet Sematary by Stephen King. A shorter book by King's standards, it's one I've read a couple of times, and it never fails to terrify me, especially that final section as Rachel races home to save her family. The first chunk of the novel sets up this beautiful and happy family so well, only for King to rip it apart in the worst way possible, and the last couple of lines of this book as possible my favourite sentences ever written.

American Murder Houses: A Coast-to-Coast Tour of the Most Notorious Houses of Homicide by Steve Lehto

Recommended by: Iona Smith (Contributor) 

I think my favourite factual horror read, especially in the recent years, has been American Murder Houses: A Coast-to-Coast Tour of the Most Notorious Houses of Homicide by Steve Lehto. I came across it when I was doing a research project for my day job (I'm known in my team as the go-to-girl for all things murder after all) and found it to be a huge fountain of information. Spanning over more than 25 different homes, this book tells you the gruesome details of each crime and the location of the property (if it's still around). It's not just recent crimes either, this book takes you on a journey through history with some of America's most notorious murders. A must-read for any dark tourists planning a road trip on the States. 

The End of Alice, A. M. Homes

Recommended by: Zoë Rose Smith (Founder /Editor in Chief)

One of my favourite books is The End of Alice. My tastes in fiction have always been a little perverse, and when it comes to books, I absolutely love the ones that are bleak, depressing and leave a dirty stain on your mind for a long time. When it comes to extreme horror literature, there's a lack of female writers but this one is written by female author A.M. Homes. Pushing past all boundaries, Homes details two tales of paedophilia - one from a male's perspective and one from a young female's perspective. The majority of extreme stories are focused on depraved male fantasies, but Homes explores the possibility of a female character with disturbing and disgusting sexual urges. Another recommendation along the same lines, written from a female perspective on paedophilia is Tampa by Alissa Nutting. These aren't easy to read tales, but we need more disturbing literature written by women, with despicable and atrocious characters that are also women.

Lets Go Play at the Adams’ by Mendal Johnson

Recommended by: Alix Turner (Contributor)

Let's Go Play at the Adams' (Mendal Johnson, 1974) is about a couple of young children and their neighbours who take advantage of the grown-ups being away by taking the babysitter captive for the purpose of torture and experimentation. When I read it in my late teens, I was still somewhat sheltered and quite shocked to find that I could relate to just about every character (each one was beautifully written), even at the novel's horrific ending. I devoured it quickly and then tossed it in the bin in shame; but my eyes were forever opened, and the book has stayed in my memory.

C is for Cthulhu: The Lovecraft Alphabet Book by Hason Ciaramella

Recommended by: Alix Turner (Contributor)

C is for Cthulhu: The Lovecraft Alphabet Book (Jason Ciaramella), is not so much for reading as for gazing at lovingly. It's a board book for introducing the elder gods to younger horror fans in the making, which I first discovered via a Kickstarter campaign on Twitter. As a result, there are now two Cthulhu pillows (containing blankets) in the family, as well as a plush Cthulhu toy and another on the way.

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