TOP TEN HALLOWEEN BOOKS
Halloween is simply the best time of the year. Hot chocolate, bonfires, scares and skulls. Today I take a look at some of the best Halloween books for you to be reading this Autumn.
10) Classic Victorian and Edwardian Ghost Stories compiled by Rex Collins
An absolutely brilliant collection of short stories from classic writers such as Charles Dickens, Oscar Wilde and Wilkie Collins. A great representation of the origins of horror.
9) 10,000 Zombies: Create More than 10,000 Zombies and 10,000 Stories by David Hartman and Alexander Fox
Ok, 10,000 Zombies isn’t exactly a book you sit down to read. But, when it was delivered to work a couple of weeks ago, I was smitten. Each page is beautifully illustrated with a mixture of zombies and monsters. These are then split into three sections so you can mix and match the zombies to create over 10,000 creatures. It also has a great foreword by the infamous Rob Zombie; fun Halloween book perfection!
8) The Last Werewolf by Glen Duncan
This smart and well-written horror book is a gripping read about the last werewolf in existence. However; he is a werewolf with a conscious. On the verge of killing himself, a chance meeting and a murder changes his mind. Not for the squeamish!
7) Dracula by Bram Stoker
There are a couple of classic books that you can’t ignore when it comes to horror. Bram Stoker’s Dracula is one of them. Forget True Blood or Twilight for vampires, this book is so beautifully dark and filled with tension, it will have you completely absorbed.
6) The Walking Dead: Book One by Tony Moore, Charlie Adlard and Robert Kirkman
If you haven’t heard of The Walking Dead by now, you’re in for a treat! Having recently been picked up and adapted to the small screen, the popularity of this graphic novel has exploded. This book contains the first 12 issues of the comic, including all the amazing covers. Although this is about zombies, it is more about a group of survivors and what they must go through to stay human.
5) Monsters in the Movies by John Landis
I love the old Hammer Horror movies and this gorgeous coffee table style book is a great celebration of the beasts that made these movies famous. From the Attack of the 50ft Woman to The Mummy, this book is a delight for any old school horror fan. Halloween books don’t get much better than this.
4) The Woman in Black by Susan Hill
Susan Hill has written a number of ghostly stories but I think is probably her most famous. It is also soon to be released as a movie featuring Daniel Radcliffe. Hill is a master of atmosphere and creates her scares through chills rather than gore. Read alone, late at night for a far more chilling experience.
3) From Hell by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell
This legendary story set a whole new standard from graphic novels. It is based around the notorious Jack the Ripper killings of 1888. With its beautiful illustration, chilling plot, gruesome detail and historical accuracy, this book has already become legendary with graphic novel readers worldwide.
2) The Complete Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe (Barnes and Noble leatherbound classics)
Edgar Allan Poe is a true master of horror and is guaranteed to give you some real spine-tingling chills. If you read any other ghost stories published at a similar time, it is clear to see just how advanced he was and how far he was pushing the boundaries. This collection of his entire works maybe take you a while to work through but it’s a beautiful and book and couldn’t be more worthy of your time.
1) Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
This is one of my favourite novels of all time. Frankenstein is written so beautifully and conveys so much emotion, it had me smitten straight away. Although this is a classic read, the discussion of ethics in the progression of science is something so relevant to today that is can easily be understood by any generation.
Thank you for popping by and reading my top ten. If you think I’ve missed anything or want to let me know your favourites, please don’t hesitate to let me know. Either here or on Twitter at @thetattooedbook
If you like these Halloween books you’ll love Bird Box by Josh Malerman.