If you’ve ever sat through a James Wan film, teepeed a house, tried to cast a spell, or subscribed to a true crime podcast–you’ve made it to the right page. Mango’s collection of spooky books is perfect for all of us with an edge. Whatever side of the spooky spectrum you’re on, we’ve got everything from revolting retellings (America’s First Female Serial Killer) to enchanting encounters (Living the Faery Life). Here are Mango’s top tantalizing tales of true crime, menacing mysteries, fantastic files, and stranger-than-fiction stories.
Tantalizing Tales of True Crime.
There is no better way to get in the mood for Halloween than reading spooky books. From bedtime stories to tales around the fire, chilling stories have a long tradition. If you dare, tap into these true crime tellings.
“I read True Crime, because you get to learn about the worst of humanity. That makes me feel slightly more prepared to handle unexpected situations in my day to day”
—Jermaine Lau, Social Media Manager
America’s First Female Serial Killer
Some terrifying stories are all too real. Learn about the tragic life of Jane Toppan—America’s first nurse turned serial killer, claimed to have killed over thirty people. Toppan is considered an “Angel of Mercy,” and most often murdered patients in her care. If you enjoy true crime, read (America’s First Female Serial Killer) by Mary Kay McBrayer.
Mary Kay McBrayer
Double Lives
Sometimes, the nightmare is the nice neighbor next door. Serial killers like Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, and John Wayne Gacy seemed to live average lives, until their disturbing crimes were revealed. Find out what lies behind the façade with Double Lives by Eric Brach.
Eric Brach
The Murderer’s Maid
Take another look at the famous accused murderer, Lizzie Borden, through the lens of her maid, Bridget, and a troubled modern woman, Felicita. While Borden was never convicted of the murder of her parents, she has been considered a killer in American consciousness since the 19th century. Read Erika Mailman’s exploration of Borden’s legacy in the IPPY Gold Medal Award and National Indie Excellence Award winning book The Murderer’s Maid.
Erika Mailman
Best True New Crime Series
Have you ever wanted to know more about a famous crime? Or have you wondered if a murderer is born or created? Best True Crime Stories by Mitzi Szereto will shed light on those questions, but the stories may keep you up at night.
Mitzi Szereto
Mitzi Szereto
Mitzi Szereto
Mitzi Szereto
Menacing Mysteries
So much of Halloween is about the unexplainable. From the adventures of the iconic detective Sherlock Holmes, the rituals that connect us to the spirit world, and the connections to loved ones from beyond the grave, mystery is a great genre about the wonders of what goes bump in the night.
“I love reading mysteries because I like to think critically and play detective, hoping to solve the mystery before the book ends.”
–Meloni Williams, Developmental Editing Manager
The Miracle of Saint Lazarus
Are you obsessed with cold cases? The Miracle of Saint Lazarus by Uva De Aragón is a story about a young girl presumed dead, who is mysteriously sighted around Miami year after her disappearance. This thriller is a great Halloween book to read by a bedside lamp.
Uva de Aragón
Sherlock Holmes
Follow the adventures of one of the world’s most famous detectives with Sherlock Holmes’s Stories. These collections of Holmes’s murder mystery stories complied by eminent editor Maxim Jakubowski, are the perfect short tales for readers looking for the best spooky books. Filled with works by top British and American authors, the ventures of Holmes’s and Watson continue. For more Holmes’s horror read The Tarleton Murders by Breck England.
Fantastic Files of Witches, Ghosts, and Faeries. Tap into the magic of Halloween with mystical beings from here and beyond. Halloween is a time of heightened energy, so harness that power with Mango’s fantastic collection of not-so-spooky books.
Maxim Jakubowski
Breck England
“I read moon magic and witchcraft books to better understand why I feel so much in my element during the month of October.”
—Avery Coffey, Content Creator Intern
The Witch’s Guide to Ritual
There is a brighter side to Halloween. Learn to utilize the power of the seasons with rituals, spells, and incantations with The Witch’s Guide to Ritual by Cerridwen Greenleaf.
Cerridwen Greenleaf
Moon Spell Magic and Dark Moon Magic
Halloween is much older than the frightening spectacle it is today. Explore the ancient practices with Moon Spell Magic and Dark Moon Magic by Cerridwen Greenleaf. Improve your life with moon rituals, on Halloween and all year round.
Cerridwen Greenleaf
Cerridwen Greenleaf
Mystical Crystals and The Magic Oracle Book
Not all witches are spooky. Books like Mystical Crystals and The Magic Oracle Bookare perfect tools for harnessing your inner power.Tap into ancient knowledge and bring on positive change in your life through manifestation with Mystical Crystals by Cerridwen Greenleaf. For even more wisdom, look to The Magic Oracle Book. Filled with thoughts from poets, philosophers, writers, and other great thinkers, it is so full of sage insight, it is like magic. Mystical Crystals and The Magic Oracle Book are the best halloween books for setting intentions.
Cerridwen Greenleaf
Cerridwen Greenleaf
Living the Faery Life
There may be spirits beyond what we can see, faeries being one. Kac Young shares personal anecdotes about coexisting with faeries in Living the Faery Life. Here, you’ll learn about their hidden world and find practical advice on how to live peacefully with them.
Kac Young
I Kissed a Ghost (and I Liked It)
Spooky books aren’t always scary. Sometimes they can be touching. In I Kissed a Ghost (and I Liked It), Concetta Bertoldi communicates with the dead them from the great beyond.
Stranger Than Fiction Stories. Sometimes, life truly is stranger than make believe. But don’t be fooled– spooky books about real life can keep you up at night, especially because they make you realize strange things happen everyday…
Concetta Bertoldi
“I love nonfiction books, and so often real life stories are more shocking than anything I could imagine”
–Jasmine Respess, Editorial Coordinator
We Did That?
Sometimes, the real world is stranger than fiction. Mango’s collection of spooky books for Halloween includes We Did That? Check out this exploration into the odd accomplishments of human beings that are often too strange to be celebrated.
Sophie Stirling
Any Last Words?
Eventually, everyone dies, and most people will utter a final word. Joseph Hayden has collected over 200 last words from honored athletes, great writers, and executed royals. even prolific criminals. Any Last Words? is an amazing Halloween book, because while it features inspiring quotes from admirable characters, it also has haunting last words from prolific criminals and killers.
Joseph Hayden
Read Mango Publishing Group’s best halloween books to get you in the spooky or sweet spirit.