In summer I am usually on the go. Like most, I am taking advantage of the longer hours. We have more daylight in summer. Most use it to spend more time outside.
I also love going out in the Fall. Observing the leaves turning different colors. Enjoying the cooler weather.
However, there are some days I stay in. Such has those rainy days and nights.
This is when you usually find me indoors. Sometimes after work, I take a nap. Other times I cook my favorite comfort food. But my favorite hobby is reading a good book.
I love reading books all year round. But in autumn, I love to curl up with a good mystery, thriller, or gothic book.
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Mysteries
Fall weather makes it a perfect time to read a mystery book. One is about people being stuck in an old house. Where all of the guests are trying to figure out who bumped someone off. With one guest being an armchair sleuth. Trying to find the murderer with the help of the cops.
I also like those books where the detective has to solve a difficult case. The books where the detective doesn't fit in with the aristocrats he has to question. Or books that feature a protagonist who is a sweet old or middle-aged lady who solves crimes.
If you enjoy those mysteries, I featured a few of my favorites. I will include a synopsis of it. You can figure out if it is something worth reading.
Murder She Wrote, Trick or Treachery.
Based on the Murder She, Wrote series starring Angela Lansberry. I believe there are only three Halloween books from this series. Trick and Treachery is my favorite, which is why I bought it.
Jessica Fletcher is in her hometown of Cabot Cove. Halloween is approaching and there is some bewitching going on. With the arrival of the spiritist medium, comes chaos and fear. Some people even think this medium is a witch. Now the townspeople are afraid of curses and hexes.
The "witch" ends up dead in the graveyard. Now Jessica has to solve the murder before someone else faces the same fate.
Trick and Treachery is a good book for those who enjoy the meddling Jessica. It is also an easy read for those who are familiar with the characters from the TV series.
Fiber and Brimstone written by Lauren Childs
Fiber and Brimstone's main character is Carmela Bertrand. Carmela owns a scrapbooking store. Carmela is getting ready for the Halloween season by building a puppet for the Halloween parade.
Her mind gets off her tasks when a friend is accused of murdering two people.
This mystery series is not too gruesome or violent like others. It is a fun book with some suspense. The plot is not too complicated which makes it an easy read.
What I really like about it is the fact it contains some real history about New Orleans. This particular book talks about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
For those who like cooking this book also has a few recipes.
If you enjoy this mystery, try Laura Child's other mystery Halloween-themed book:
Leslie Meir Wicked Witch Murder
Lucy Stone is a writer at a small newspaper. Lucy befriends a newcomer, named Diana Ravencroft. Diana Ravenscroft is a physic, whose pretends to seem to come true. Stone finds Diana bewitching, but the townspeople accuse her of being a real witch.
When a former friend of Diana's is killed, she is accused of doing it. Can Lucy help her new friend, or will they both wind up in trouble?
I find Lucy Stone to be judgmental, but I enjoy the mystery despite this character's flaw. This book also has some interesting characters.
Leslie Meir Wicked Witch Murder: Booksamillion
Other Leslie Meir Halloween books:
Trick or Treat Murder, Candy Corn Murder (My favorite one), Halloween Murder, Turkey Day Murder, Gobble Gobble Murder (Thanksgiving-themed book), and Haunted House Murder.
Similar book series: A Hannah Swenson Mystery Fudge Cupcake Murder (I love this series more than Lucy Stone),
Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie
You can't go wrong with one of the most sold authors of all time, Agatha Christie. This features her most famous character, Hercule Poirot.
At a Hallowe'en party with adults and children attending, a young girl named Joyce, is murdered.
Joyce was a girl known for telling lies. But one of the stories she told has a bit of truth to it. This is what causes her to be murdered. Poirot has to get to the bottom of the truth. He also has to make the connection between this murder and any others that may occurred before.
The Hallowe'en Party is shocking because a child is murdered. I find that Poirot is excellent at observing and stating there is an "evil presence". A person has to be very evil to commit such an act. I enjoyed some characters such as Ms. Oliver. What I like most is the excitement, especially in the first scene.
If you like the book you may also enjoy the movie which is on Britbox.
Another movie that is based on Agatha's work is coming out in September. This new movie is called. A Haunting in Venice at 2nd and Charles
Agatha Christie Hallowe'en Party: Bookamillion and
other
Agatha Christie books: And Then There were None at 2nd and Charles, Cheaper Here
This book is based on when author Agatha Christie was missing for eleven days. In 1926 Christie goes missing. Her car was found on the side of the road. The only clue left behind was her fur coat. Which was strange since it was cold that night.
Her husband and daughter do not know where she could have gone. Cops and the media have their opinions. Everyone is looking for her. Just as they were about to give up, she reappeared. Christie told everyone she had amnesia and did not explain what happened.
This book is historical fiction since no one really knows why and what Mrs. Christie did when she was missing.
Find Here: 2nd and Charles, Walmart, and Target
Scary Stories
Scary stories are good for this fall, especially around Halloween. These are tales you can read at a Halloween party. It brings a little excitement to your life when reading. These books are tense and suspense but not much gore. I only included some of my childhood favorites in this post.
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
I remember getting Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark from the library. I thought it was the scariest book ever. As an adult, it is not that scary, but it is good to read some of the old tales. Great book to give to your kids if you allow them to read scary stories.
Other books to read from this series:
Scary Stories to Tell at the Night:
Similar books: DON ' T TURN OUT THE LIGHTS: A Tribute to Alvin Schwartz's Scary STORIES TO TELL IN THE DARK by RL Stine
Diane Goode's Book of Scary Stories and Songs ( I have been looking for this particular book for years and finally found it.
Gothic Books
Now I mentioned Gothic books are great to read on a dreary fall day. You have characters in old mansions, family curses, and mysteries. You get to read and experience some drama. Except you don't have to suffer the consequences of it. You just read it and imagine it.
These are a few of my favorite gothic books to read.
Northanger Abbey
Now Jane Austen's books can be parody, satire, literary romantics, or realism. But for the sake of this post, I categorized this book as gothic. Northanger Abbey is probably one of my favorite books that are in this category.
It is a parody of gothic books that were popular at the time. The protagonist Catherine is fascinated with reading books by Ann Radcliffe. She is so fascinated that she often daydreams. She dreams she is the heroine of such tales. Her wild imagination gets the best of her when she is a guest at Northanger Abbey.
Mr. Tinley invites her to stay at the Tinley home. Catherine falls in love with Mr. Tinley's son. Instead of focusing on her affections, she conjures up that Mr. Tinley has a secret. She spends her time trying to uncover it. Mr. Tinley is behaving quite strangely. So, is her wild imagination getting next to her or is there a family secret?
I like this book because it is not as serious as the others. It is making fun of some of the most famous books of that time. Making a jest of how people behaved after reading these gothic novels.
If Northanger Abbey is a little slow for you and you need action but want Jane Austen try reading Pride and Prejudice and Zombies find here 2nd and Charles
PD James has written books based on Jane Austen's books. One of them being Death comes to Pemberley.
It is a sequel to what happens to Darcy and Elizabeth after getting married. Darcy and Elizabeth have been married for six years and they have children. Jane and Bingley leave close by. Their father visits quite often. Soon Georgina is to marry. Elizabeth is celebrating that occasion at their fall event. Lydia and Wichman cause a scene and are barred from the estate. One day Lydia claims that Wickham has been murdered. Now Elizabeth and Darcy have to get to the truth.
Can be find here at : 2nd and Charles
Similar book: The Murder of Mr. Wickham and the Sequel
The Fall of Usher and Other Tales
Jane Eyre
Jane Eyre is an orphan who was once raised by an abusive aunt and then sent away. She endures abuse throughout life but holds on to good memories she has of her father. Fast forward Jane is of age and must find a position.
She became a governess to a little girl. The little girl is charming, but her father is quite strange. Jane at one time sees him as a cruel man. She develops feelings for him, and it is reciprocated. He proposes and then his past marriage gets the best of him.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte is another favorite of mine. It was a good book to read. It was hard sometimes because of the abuse that Jane experienced. Those scenes with her aunt and her life at the orphanage. But it made her a character that readers hope does well.
Also at 2nd and Charles
Rebecca
Rebecca is the name book. The book starts with a young woman being a lady's companion. While vacationing with her boss, she meets a rich widower on vacation. Maxim de Winter and the main character hit it off. He proposes marriage to the young lady. She agrees and marries him.
She agrees to live with him at his old estate. When their Maxim changes. His memory of his dead wife, Rebecca, haunts him. This is mainly because his employee Mrs. Danvers keeps her memory alive.
Will the second Ms. de Winter be able to fight the ghost of Rebecca? Or will she perish too?
This story is interesting because the main character really has no name. She never really uses her given name. She is just called the second Ms. de Winter, my wife, or my dear. It is as if the character has no identity because it is being eclipsed by her husband's dead wife.
If you love Jane Eyre, you will love this book.
I also included this fictional book.
Fictional Book
This novel is a continuation of The Shell Seekers. Violet Aird is the main character. Her son and his wife are experiencing material problems. Things get worse when a person from his past reappears.
Marilla of Green Gables
I just found another fictional book that sounds interesting. If you are familiar with Anne of Green Gables, you will love this book. It is a prequel to L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables. The main character in this book is Marilla Curbert, the woman who adopted Anne. If you know Marilla Curbert's background she was just as strong-willed as Anne. She also had a love interest.
Found also at Booksamillion, Macy's, Walmart 2nd, and Charles
Other books from Lucy M. Montgomery: Emily of New Moon (More Dark than Anne of Green Gables), A Tangled Web, The Story Girl
Conclusion:
There were so many books I read or would like to read that I wanted to include. My hope is to update this list throughout Autumn. Let me know what books you like to read, and I may add them.
More Fall posts to read:
