7 Halloween mysteries Archives

Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts

by Kate Racculia

Kate Racculia wrote the very weird book that so many of you LOVE, 2014's Bellweather Rhapsody. Erika Swyler, bestselling author of The Book of Speculation said, "Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts is so much fun it should be criminal. A mystery hidden in a game, hidden in a romp around Boston, with intrigue, a little romance, and a ghost? Perfection. Racculia has a gift for both humor and creating deeply relatable oddballs. Genuinely funny, whip-smart, and at times profound, it is a novel that reminds us both of the pure joy of play, and the importance of finding people who matter."

Cemetery Boys

by Aiden Thomas

In Thomas’s debut YA Fantasy, Yadriel decides he doesn’t need his family’s approval or acceptance of his gender in order to become a brujo and decides to perform the ritual himself. But instead of summoning the ghost of his recently deceased cousin, he summons the ghost of bad boy Julian who demands Yadriel find his killer. The more time they spend together, the less Yadriel wants Julian to leave. But what kind of happily ever after can you have with a ghost? This magical novel remains grounded thanks to the LA setting, Latinx culture, and fantastic cast of secondary characters.

Daisy Darker

by Alice Feeney

Brigid says: Fans of closed circle mysteries set in remote locations, this one is for you. Daisy, along with the rest of her family, has arrived for Nana’s October 31st birthday celebration. The frightening festivities take place in Cornwall at Seaglass, Nana’s Victorian mansion that is only accessible during low tide. A dark and grisly mystery ensues and none of the family is safe. Think Succession meets And Then There Were None. The clever little puzzles author Alice Feeney weaves into the plot were my favorite part. Content warnings apply.

A Masked Murder (Holiday Shorts #4)

by Necole Ryse

Brigid says: This is the second holiday novella I have read by Necole Ryse. I really enjoy how her whodunits drop you right into the action. Porsha accompanies her best friend Destiny to a Halloween work party at the boss’s remote cabin in the woods. Nothing suspicious about that at all! When a party goer is murdered, they team up with Keith, the man who recently ghosted Portia, to clear his name and find the real culprit. Strong friendships, spicy romance, and a spine-tingling murder mystery all in a small package.

Phantom Pond (Shady Hollow #4.5)

by Juneau Black

Brigid says: Mischief night has arrived in Shady Hollow! An evening full of seasonal candies, scary stories, intricately carved gourds, and frightful tricks. The next morning, townsfolk are shocked to learn that a young squirrel named Hannah never returned home from the festivities. Clever fox reporter Vera is on the case with her bookseller bestie raven Lenore and both are determined to find Hannah. If you are interested in the Shady Hollow series, this short story mystery with no murder is a fabulous place to start! It truly is a lovely series where Zootopia meets Gilmore Girls with a generous pinch of Murder, She Wrote.

Sisters Before Misters (The Finch Sisters #2)

by Amelia Diane Coombs

Brigid says: For video game designer Remi Finch and her older sisters Eliana and Maeve, Halloween is turning out to be a real bummer. Remi is the only one to show up in their planned Sanderson Sister group costume, Maeve is not acting like herself, and Eliana’s estranged husband Chad won’t sign the divorce papers as promised. If that isn’t enough to ruin their Halloween, the Finch sisters arrive at Chad’s home the next morning to a bloody scene. To make matters even worse, Remi’s dog finds Chad’s finger, but the rest of him is nowhere to be found. Fellow scaredy cats, I assure you the rest of this cozy mystery’s tone is more like a humorous USA Network procedural show than a gory thriller. While this can be read as a standalone, references to the first installment abound. I really appreciated the Seattle setting and banter between sisters.

Hallowe’en Party: A Hercule Poirot Mystery

by Agatha Christie

Brigid says: A young partygoer is murdered while bobbing for apples at a Halloween party in this classic from the queen of mysteries. (I found this game terrifying as a child and even more so now!) It’s quickly apparent the danger is far from over and luckily Detective Poirot is on the case. I found this tale to be more grim than others in the series but it is quite twisty and memorable. Plus, the recent Kenneth Branagh movie adaptation makes for a great scary movie night pick. While this is the thirty-sixth novel featuring the famous investigator, each one is a standalone and can be read in any order. Content warnings apply.

7 Halloween mysteries

Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts

Cemetery Boys

Daisy Darker

A Masked Murder (Holiday Shorts #4)

Phantom Pond (Shady Hollow #4.5)

Sisters Before Misters (The Finch Sisters #2)

Hallowe’en Party: A Hercule Poirot Mystery

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