As fall is in full swing, it's the perfect time to visit some great books! Curl up with a pumpkin latte and flip through the items on this list to help get you in the spirit. Some of these reads are supernatural, some are psychological thrillers, all of them will keep you entertained!
1. The Secret History
The Secret History by Donna Tartt is a wonderfully beguiling mystery about a group of students at a New England college pushing the boundaries of morality, told by a sometimes deceitful main character who begins the story by describing the murder of his best friend. Set in the 1980s, this international bestseller by a Pulitzer-Prize winning author will keep you turning pages. Even better, this book explores dark academic aesthetics, perfect for fall.
2. The Once and Future Witches
The Once and Future Witches by Alex E. Harrow is not only set in 1893, but is a quintessential fall read, considering it's all about witches! This book also explores themes of feminism in a smart and gorgeous way.
A New York Times bestseller, the story is set in motion by the three Eastwood sisters, who join New Salem suffragists and begin to pursue ancient magic of witches. This story tells a tale of women's fight for equality, while twisting fairy tales into history. A must-read!
3. The Guest List
This suspenseful thriller, written by Lucy Foley, is set on an island off the coast of Ireland, where guests gather to celebrate a wedding between two charismatic and well-liked people, until everything goes wrong. When someone turns up dead, a dream wedding quickly turns into a nightmare.
Evoking Agatha Christie vibes, this book is the perfect psychological murder mystery to keep you hooked on a chilly fall night.
4. The Night Circus
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, is set in an ahistorical late 19th century in a wandering circus that is only open between sunset and sunrise. In this novel, two powerful magicians prepare their young proteges to hone their talents against each other in a magical contest. The Night Circus, written by Erin Morgenstern, explores the rivalry between old and new kinds of magic, alongside a competition and love affair. The enchanting mystery is the perfect way to spend an autumn afternoon, and you'll undoubtedly get lost in the whimsical world of intrigue.
5. Small Favors
Another fairy-talesque novel for optimal fall reading, Small Favors by Erin A. Craig, is a New York Times bestseller set in Amity Falls, a town with monsters lurking in the shadows and secrets hidden in the dark. Readers follow Ellerie Downing, a young woman living in Amity Falls, currently plagued by strange activities, while she's swept up in a forbidden romance. This horror novel includes all the markings of a good autumn book: a creepy atmosphere, slow-building tension, and a small town with more than meets the eye.
6. The Lost Village
A gripping debut by author Camilla Sten, The Lost Village has been described as "The Blair Witch Project meets Midsommar" by Goodreads. Readers follow Alice, a filmmaker currently producing a documentary that dives into the 1950s disappearance of the Swedish mining village Silvertjärn. As she explores this mysterious tragedy and seeks to answer the lingering questions, a brilliantly disturbing thriller unfolds.
7. The Diviners
The Diviners by Libba Bray is another historical supernatural book, which is actually the first in a series! Set in 1920s New York City, Evie O'Neill has been sent to live with her uncle, but she's hiding a dark secret. When a murder occurs, Evie realizes she may be of help - but there's a variety of other mysteries unfolding all around each other that will be sure to keep readers hooked until the end.
8. The Thirteenth Tale
The Thirteenth Tale, a New York Times bestselling debut novel by Diane Setterfield, follows Vida Winter, a famous and secretive novelist in her decision to reveal the story of her extraordinary life. She employs Margaret Lea, a young biographer, to tell the tale of her existence. In this novel, the author weaves together a ghost story: both literally and figuratively. It's the perfect piece of gothic literature: fantastic and never predictable.
9. The Scorpio Races
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stievfvator is a fantasy novel inspired by Celtic mythology and the perfect fall read. A bizarrely beautiful story, the island of Thisby holds the Scorpio Races, where riders compete in a race to death atop capaill uisce, or water horses. This novel includes a subtle romance between the two main characters, all while defying expectations every step of the way.
10. Still Life
Still Life, the debut novel by author Louise Penny, follows Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and his team who are called to examine a suspicious death in a rural village near Montreal. This engaging murder mystery tells a tale with talented twists on traditional mysteries, sure to keep readers intrigued long after all the leaves have fallen off the trees and fall draws to a close.
So next time you're looking for a great book to keep you entertained during autumn nights, be sure to pick up one of these reads - hopefully, you won't need to sleep with the lights on!
