You’re Psyched Spooky Season is Here, Part 2
I’ve got three creepy books — and a giveaway
Hi friends,
First off, I hope if you're reading this from Florida, Puerto Rico or another place affected by Hurricane Ian you're doing okay. I'm sending you all good thoughts.
As it is now officially October, I thought I'd do a second Spooky Season Spectacular (as I noted last year, I'm a sucker for alliteration.) While each of these books has an eerie or supernatural element, none are super gory, and I think even avowed Halloween-haters might find something to love about them.
What's your favorite spooky season read? Let me know and you'll be entered to win one of this week's picks.
And, now, what to read if…
You're Looking for a Ghost Story
Shutter by Ramona Emerson*
Forensic photographer Rita Todacheene excels at capturing the details of a murder scene that allow detectives to solve cases. She's a talented photographer, but she also has a secret that gives her an edge. Rita is visited by the spirits of the victims, who point her towards clues that others miss. It's a skill Rita has had since she was a child, terrifying her grandmother and earning her a reputation as a disturbed young girl among her neighbors on the Navajo reservation.
As Shutter opens, Rita is visited by the ghost of Erma Singleton, whose death on a highway was ruled a suicide, but the spirit insists she was murdered. While the photographer can typically shut out or ignore the ghosts who haunt her, Erma is particularly strong-willed. She follows Rita everywhere, demanding her death be taken seriously. The ghost's actions push Rita into increasingly dangerous situations as she attempts to uncover the truth.
I'm surprised Shutter isn't getting more buzz. It was recently included on the National Book Award Longlist for fiction, becoming the rare crime novel to earn the distinction, yet I haven't seen many reviews of it. It's a shame because all kinds of readers — fans of coming-of-age stories, horror or mysteries — will find a lot to appreciate in it.
You Want a Creepy Classic
The New Annotated Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, edited by Leslie Klinger
Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a classic for a reason. It's simultaneously a haunting detective story and a disturbing take on the duality of human nature. If you've been wanting to give it a try — or a re-read — consider grabbing this new version, complete with annotations from Edgar-Award-winning editor and noted Victorian literature expert Leslie Klinger and images from the book's long history, including movie posters, comic books and more.
The gothic novella, clocking in at just about 100 pages, focuses on Dr. Jekyll, a kindly doctor who is, by night, the evil Mr. Hyde. It's amazing how much Stevenson puts into the story without it feeling overstuffed. Klinger's annotations help to add a layer of context to the timeless tale. They explain the book's biblical allusions, historical background and some of the now-outdated language. Although I'd read Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde once before, as a teen, I found I enjoyed revisiting this version as an adult.
Leslie Klinger, who is the world's first consulting Sherlockian (!), has kindly offered to send a copy of his annotated version of the book to a lucky subscriber of this newsletter. If you're interested in winning a copy, comment below with your favorite eerie book.
You Like Your Scary Moments to Come with Tricks and Treats
The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston
Ashley Poston's The Dead Romantics is a warm love story featuring a ghostwriter and a ghost. If you're more into "Casper: The Friendly Ghost" than "Poltergeist," this is your book.
Florence Day is the ghostwriter for a beloved, prolific romance author, but since going through a miserable breakup, she's struggled to write happily ever afters. When her new editor, Ben Andor, rejects her plea for a deadline extension, she falls into a tailspin, attempting to write an entire book in just a few days. Then, Florence's father dies unexpectedly, and she's forced to return to her small hometown for the first time in a decade. When Ben's ghost appears on the doorstep of her family's funeral home, the pair attempt to understand why he's there while Florence navigates her grief.
As that description implies, this book has a lot going on. I went in a little skeptical — it's a lot of balls to keep in the air — but Ashley Poston makes it all work. It's a moving love story about grief and dealing with our own mortality, but it doesn't get weighed down by the heavy subject matter. I read it in a day, eager to see how Florence and Ben would get a happy ending.
Thanks, as always, for reading and letting me into your inbox. Don’t forget to comment for a chance to win Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
*I received a free audiobook of Shutter from Libro.fm in exchange for an honest review.
What to Read If is a free weekly book recommendation newsletter. Need a rec? Want to gush about a book? Reply to this email, leave a comment or find me on Twitter @elizabethheld.
If you’re reading this on Substack or were forwarded this email, and you’d like to subscribe, click the button below.
Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Beloved by Toni Morrison and I weirdly feel like Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events is sort of spooky?
I loved Plain Bad Heroines earlier this year, and I'm currently reading The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle, which has been an experience of a novella. I am so excited to read Shutter-- I also am surprised it hasn't gotten more hype.