I’ve read a lot of great ghost stories this year and it’s rekindled my love for them. I’ve learned that even though ghost stories are one of my favorite subgenres I’m really picky about them. It took me a little while to compile this list, but I really enjoyed all of them. Check out these chilling ghost stories.
The Haunting of Paynes Hollow
I just finished The Haunting of Paynes Hollow, but I really enjoyed my time reading it. It sent chills up my spine. This was marketed as a The Legend of Sleepy Hollow retelling, and I think that was a little skewed. It has a vibe all its own with other local legends thrown in. But either way if you like a headless horseman story then this is for you.
Play Nice
I’m partial to Rachel Harrison’s writing so the fact that Play Nice is on this list isn’t a surprise. This was a really great haunted house story where honestly you might like the ghost more than you like the characters. And I don’t mean that the ghost is likable. It’s terrifying. The characters are just bad people. But somehow that’s what made it fun. It’s humorous but creepy all at the same time.
Gothictown
Gothictown is set in an idyllic town in Georgia where everything seems perfect on the surface. But when you start to look a little deeper there are cracks in the facade. Juliana is run by the descendants of the founding families, and they will do anything to please their elders. Billie and her family think they’ve found an oasis when they move from New York to Georgia, but after a few haunting dreams and weird circumstances the town might not be as hospitable as it seems.
The Reformatory
The Reformatory is a must-read ghost story. It’s a heartbreaking story that shows that sometimes the scariest monsters are humans. When twelve-year-old Robbie is sentenced to six months at the Reformatory for protecting his sister he starts to see the ghosts of former students. This book is chilling in the worst ways. It’s a tough read, but it’s a powerful read.
So those are some chilling ghost stories to curl up with this Halloween.
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Great picks! I’ve read the first two and thought they were terrific, and I’ve had my eye on The Reformatory as well. I guess I’ll need to check out Gothictown too!