My top picks for Creepy and Affordable Spooky Season Books in 2025. I’m always looking for Spooky Books to Read in October! These Halloween Books for Adults are the right amount of scary AND deep discounted or free on Kindle Unlimited. More money for Halloween candy!
Creepy and Affordable Spooky Season Books
Table of Contents:
- Affordable Folk Horror and Vampire Books – my top picks is The Midnight Feast!
- Great Deals on Books About Witches for Adults – my top picks are The Year of the Witching and Book of Witching
- Spooky Steals on Books About Ghosts for Adults – my top picks are Murder Road and My Darling Girl
I’ll be honest: I don’t read a lot of paranormal books.
But it’s fun to make an exception in the Spooky Season and find some Halloween books for adults to read!
FOLK HORROR AND VAMPIRE BOOKS FOR ADULTS
The Reaping by Jess Lourey – free on Kindle Unlimited!
I loved The Taken Ones, book one in this series, which was a serial killer book. So I was pretty surprised to try The Reaping and find out that it was a Scandinavian folk horror book … what?
I also didn’t even know what “folk horror” even was until I started seeing more of it in the mainstream this past year. It’s not my absolute favorite, but it’s great for a Spooky Season read.
The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley – $8.50 in paperback!
Yes another Spooky Season book that is folk horror. Last time I checked the Goodreads ratings on this were a bit low, but I enjoyed it. It was also a nice twist on a more typical Vacation Thriller.
Here’s my website review!
The Gathering CJ Tudor – $5.99 on Kindle!
This was way more vampire-forward than I expected!
The Gathering is alt-history, set in modern-day Alaska in a world where vampires (or vampyres as the book calls them) uneasily co-exist with humans.
When the body of a teen boy is discovered and the locals suspect vampires are to blame, they call in a special investigator who is familiar with vamp killings.
The Vampire Diaries by L.J. Smith
Books 1-4 FREE on Kindle unlimited.
Whether you fondly remember these from the 90s, or have watched the show, or are just craving a paranormal love triangle, check out this irresistible series!
BOOKS ABOUT WITCHES FOR ADULTS
The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson – $4.99 on Kindle!
This gripping feminist historicial fantasy follows a girl whose biracial background makes her a pariah in her small community. But she’s drawn to the forest, where witches give her the journal of her late mother. And she realizes what she must do to topple the dark forces in her town.
My Review of The Year of the Witching is here!
The Book of Witching by C.J. Cooke – $11 on paperback or $1.99 on Kindle
I read this dual historical/contemporary paranormal and I loved it!
Set in contemporary and 1590s Scotland, this book follows a mysterious paranormal society that tried to right political wrongs during a time of great strife. But a powerful book and a powerful being doesn’t just disappear into the fire…
Check out my Review of The Book of Witching with Spoilers!
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Darkness – $10 paperback or a great library or thrift pick!
I offended a book club friend by calling this “Twilight for adults” but that was not an insult ! There’s an enigmatic, attractive vampire love interest. Plus witches and an autumnal campus vibe.
Now there is a Netflix show based on the Discovery of Witches book series, which makes it the perfect time to read or watch!
Night of the Witch by Beth Revis and Sara Raasch – free with Amazon Prime
This NYT Bestseller is FREE on Kindle Unlimited! Book one in the Witch and Hunter duology, an epic enemies to lovers fantasy romance that got rave reviews!
BOOKS ABOUT GHOSTS FOR ADULTS
The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger: free on Kindle Unlimited
I love a haunted house story, and when that story is actually set in a swanky NYC apartment building, that’s even better.
This couple inherits an apartment in a building with a dark and spooky history!
Check out my review of The New Couple in 5B (with spoilers) here!
Murder Road by Simone St James – $12 in paperback
I LOVED this 1990s-set ghost story about a pair of newlyweds stranded in a creepy small town.
You can read my full thoughts on Murder Road (with protected spoilers) is here!
Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak -free on Kindle Unlimited
This book felt like a creepy story told at a sleepover and I thought it was fun!
My Spoiler Discussion for Hidden Pictures!
My Darling Girl by Jennifer McMahon – $9 on kindle
I don’t want to say what kind of a paranormal story this is because it’s more fun to just go in with no expectations.
But My Darling Girl is a mildly creepy story that I described in my review as a Hallmark movie gone to the dark side!
Tell me what YOUR favorites are for the Spooky Season because I want to try them (and maybe add them to my list!)
Also what is your favorite Halloween candy?
I didn’t know there was a Netflix show based on the Discovery of Witches, it has been sitting on my TBR list so I think I’d watch the show first.
Yes – the show is fairly new. Let me know if you try it!