Independent Bookstores Recommend 8 Spooky Reads for Fall

Jackie Fuchs from The Book Keepers in Hutchinson suggests "Her Last Breath" by Taylor Adams, which features a gripping underground thriller involving a killer on the loose. This book offers a tense experience, particularly for those who can handle claustrophobic settings.

Coco Casey of Buxton Books in Charleston, S.C., recommends "Witchcraft for Wayward Girls" by Grady Hendrix. This novel follows a group of pregnant teenage girls in a maternity home who stumble upon a spell book, leading them into a world of witchcraft. The story confronts real-life historical issues, making it a disturbing yet significant read.

Ben Mayne from Tattered Cover Book Store in Littleton, Colo., highlights "The Buffalo Hunter Hunter" by Stephen Graham Jones. He describes it as an emotional and terrifying tale that keeps readers questioning the nature of good and evil.

Ryan Elizabeth Clark of Gibson’s Bookstore in Concord, N.H., places "The September House" by Carissa Orlando at the top of her horror list, noting that it cleverly reinterprets the haunted house trope while addressing deeper themes beyond ghosts.

Victoria Ford from Comma in Minneapolis recommends "The Great Wherever" by Shannon Sanders, where the ghosts of a family farm attempt to influence their descendants' future decisions in a narrative filled with humor and atmosphere.

Christina Tabereaux of The Snail on the Wall in Huntsville, Ala., suggests "I See You’ve Called in Dead" by John Kenney, which follows an obituary writer who accidentally publishes his own obituary during a difficult time. The story combines dark humor with themes of legacy and life's choices.

Amy Erickson from Detroit Lakes recommends "Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt" by Ben Reeves, where Death, taking on the persona of a comforting figure, gets involved in the lives of his neighbors, exploring myriad character experiences.

Lastly, Mary Ellen Phillips of Maria’s Bookshop in Durango, Colo., suggests "The Hounding" by Xenobe Purvis, set in 1700s England. This historical fiction tackles the treatment of women and features elements reminiscent of the Salem witch trials.