11 Scary Halloween books to keep you up at night in 2022!

The coming of autumn is one of the most-anticipated events for book-lovers everywhere. True, the days might grow shorter and colder, but that only gives us an actual excuse to stay in, snuggled under a cosy blanket, sipping our favourite warm beverage, and getting completely absorbed into one of our favourite books.

But just as our Instagram feeds become flooded with photos of yellow and orange leaves, pumpkin spice lattes and sweaters big enough to fit at least a family of 3, a sudden change occurs. The trees start to loose their auburn colours and their naked branches protrude ominously towards our windows, like the hands of the damned, begging for salvation. The warmth of the beverages becomes lost in the mists that fall nearly every morning and cover the lands in their blanket of mystery. Suddenly, that cosiness we feel turns into a sort of dreadful anticipation, as we come to realize that we have entered that eerie period when all the spooky creations of our imagination come to live - Halloween.

Some among us dread the time around Halloween, and others go on with their daily lives as if nothing out of the ordinary is in place. For others yet, Halloween is the perfect time to envelop themselves in the tales of mystery, eeriness and primal horror, which our collective consciousness has conjured over the centuries. For those seekers of long forgotten secrets that have no place in our modern world of comfort and ease, we have put together our picks for the top 11 scary Halloween books to keep you up at night in 2022. Proceed reading at your own peril!

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Spooky book collection, photo taken from His and Hers Book Club personal archive, part of our 11 Scary Halloween books to keep you up at night in 2022!

11 top picks spookiest book Halloween 2022 — Dracula and Other Horror Stories, photo taken from His and Hers Book Club personal archive, part of our 11 Scary Halloween books to keep you up at night in 2022!

Dracula and Other Horror Stories - Bram Stoker, Barnes and Noble Leatherbound Classics Collection

Can a list of the top spookiest books be complete without mentioning the creature that was responsible for almost single-handedly creating an entire sub-genre of horror? Bram Stoker's depiction of the infamous Count and the quest to vanquish him is still as blood-chilling as it was in the days of it's publication, all the way in 1897. And while the landmark vampire novel is sufficiently scary to develop a bat-phobia to equal young Bruce Wayne himself, true seekers of the macabre should not overlook Stoker's other works, such as The Jewel of the Seven Stars, and The Lair of the White Worm, which feature supernatural villains that can give even the lord of vampires a run for his money.

If you're looking to treat yourself to a spooky edition of Stoker's works, which inspires a spine-tingling sensation in both content and aesthetic, look no further than this gorgeous offering from the Barnes and Noble Leatherbound Classics Collection. The blood-red, silver and dark design is simply phenomenal, and the back cover is one of our favourite pieces of artwork to ever grace a literary edition.

If you're interested to understand what personal experiences drove the authors on this list to create these tales of horror, make sure you check our article on the Top 8 Greatest Horror Story Writers To Chill Your Bones!

2. Frankenstein - Mary Shelley, Barnes and Noble Flexibound edition / Puffin Clothbound Classics edition

Since we've already listed Dracula in this list of 11 scary Halloween books to keep you up at night, we'd be remiss not to include another equally famous literary terror - Victor Frankenstein's eponymous monster! The story of one man's relentless pursuit to conquer death itself, and his inevitable downfall at the hands of his own creation is perhaps one of the most well-known horror stories out there. And if you haven't actually read the original version, it would be well worth to do so now!

For this specific entry, we're actually going to give you a choice between two editions, simply because both of them are so stunning that even we found it impossible to chose between them (so, naturally, we got them both!).

Our first pick is the Barnes and Noble flexibound edition. If you're not familiar with the term "flexibound", it is the word coined by publishers to describe editions which are usually made with faux leather, but unlike the standard hardbounds, they get to keep the elasticity of paperbacks and have a signature "rubbery" feeling, which is simply magical to the touch. Barnes and Noble's Frankenstein edition is a great example of a flexibound book done right - the front cover features a lightning and stiches motif, while the back cover showcases one of the book's most powerful quotes "You are my creator, but I am your master - obey!" (Chills...literal chills...). What really brings the whole look together are the sprayed edges, which subtly but effectively complement the cover and general eerie feeling of the edition. Lastly, the paper quality and it's off-white colouring gives the reader an impression that they're truly holding an old and genuine article.

The second pick is Puffin Classic's clothbound version of Frankenstein's story. If flexibound is not really your thing, you can't go wrong with a clothbound edition, which retains the signature characteristics of a hardback, but with it's own unique feel. The design leans heavy on the lightning motif, and the front cover features an outline of the monster's figure, which is enough by itself to send chills down your spine. The back-cover features another incredibly powerful quote from Shelley: "Now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart..."

3. The Phantom of the Opera and Other Gothic Tales - Various Authors, Barnes and Noble Leatherbound Edition Collection

We might as well say it now - you're going to see a lot of editions from the Barnes and Noble Leatherbound Classics collection (and no, this post is not sponsored by Barnes and Noble, but if anyone from their office is reading this... *hint, hint*). The collections of stories, plus the masterfully done cover designs and gilded edges make the books in their collection a great addition to any library dedicated to the scarier side of literature.

Featuring stories by Edgar Allan Poe, Mary Shelley, Horrace Walpole, J. Sheridan le Fanu, Arthur Machen, Clark Ashton Smith, H. P. Lovecraft, and of course, The Phantom of the Opera, by Gaston Leroux, this edition hosts such a star ensemble of master storytellers that even if it wasn't so aesthetically pleasing, it would still be one of our top picks for a Halloween read.

4. The Complete Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe, Barnes and Noble Leatherbound Collectible Classics Edition

Many of the other authors on this list consider Edgar Allan Poe as the "Father of Gothic Literature", and with good reason. His writing continue to inspire generations of aspiring writers to this day. His works, including The Raven, The Pit and the Pendulum, and The Fall of the House of Usher are the very definitions of the macabre genre and prime examples of the gothic and eerier side of the American Romantic Movement.

Red, silver and black are the prevailing colours here as well, with the infamous Raven gracing the front cover. The back cover sports a beautiful gothic design, centred around the ominous words: "Quoth the Raven "Nevermore."". For a book of it's size (over 1000 pages), this edition is surprisingly sturdy as well. The metallic sprayed edges and red ribbon page maker complete the mysterious and dark aesthetic the publisher was going for. Finally, fans of Poe's fiction would be surprised to find some works, which are rather hard to find in other "complete" editions nowadays, such as his only actual novel - The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket.

5. Classic Supernatural Stories - Various Authors, Barnes and Noble Leatherbound Collectible Classics Edition

Now this one is something truly special. This book probably has our favourite spine design on any book, out of any genre, ever! If a reader is browsing a library stand and looks purely at the spine, while the book is nestled neatly among others, they will probably not immediately recognize that this is a book containing some of the eeriest supernatural stories in existence. That is, until they pick it up and flip it to reveal a front cover that is as beautiful as it is shocking. What is it about plague masks that immediately plants a sense of impending doom in our stomach?

The book features selected works by Edgar Allan Poe, H. P . Lovecraft, Vernon Lee, Francis Stevens, A. Merritt, and William Hope Hodgson (among others), with a beautiful introduction from Stefan Dziemianowicz on the cultural significance of the supernatural horror genre.

6. The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde, Barnes and Noble Flexibound collectible series

"If It were I who was to be always young, and the picture that was to grow old! For that - for that - I would give everything!" (Oscar Wilde).

Oscar Wilde's only full length novel caused quite a scandal after its publication, due to it's glorification of the moral decline of society, and the pursuit of only beauty and sensuality. Vanity, debauchery, and a plethora of unspeakable acts mark "The Picture of Dorian Gray" as one of the keenest observations and sharpest critiques of the Victorian age.

We have our second flexibound edition on the list, and it is even more spectacular than our first entry (Frankenstein, see above). It is classy, it is engraved and it features the quote above on it's back cover. Oh, and in case you haven't noticed from the photo already, it is literally the type of book we imagine the Joker has in his library.

7. The Complete Cthulhu Mythos Tales - H. P. Lovecraft, Barnes and Noble Collectible Leatherbound Edition

What makes Lovecraft's works so terrifying is the complete lack of hope that his protagonists face. Even if they somehow manage to escape the clutches of murderous cults or long-forgotten and unmentionable horrors, the mere glimpse of the cosmic horrors that our reality remains blissfully unaware of is enough to drive them over the edge of madness. There is no escape, no solace, no happy ending - for how can you escape that, which is everywhere? How can you hide from something that transcends the bounds of time and space and flesh? How can you find happiness when your soul is filled with unshakable fear?

When trying to decide which Lovecraft edition to feature, we were faced with a heavy choice. While there were some that contained his entire body of works, and some that were perhaps more ghastly in their appearance, no other edition captured our attention as The Complete Cthulhu Mythos Tales from the Barnes and Noble Leatherbound Collection. Green, gold and black are the prevailing colour themes here, with a horrifying depiction of Cthulhu gracing both the front and back covers. And if that wasn't enough, the image of the cosmic entity is framed by a succession of strange symbols, which can be taken straight out of the Necronomicon!

8. Wicked & Son of a Witch - Gregory Maguire, Barnes and Noble Leatherbound Collectible Classics

We've had stories about vampires, ghouls, reanimated corpses, and even cosmic entities featured on this list. It's time to take a step back to the roots of Halloween and give it's original villains - witches - their due.

History is written by winners. Have you ever wondered, if perhaps that is also true in the literary world? What are the chances that the classical villains we know and loathe are not as one-sided as we thought? These two modern classics explore this train of thought further, by telling us the story of the Emerald City of Oz through the eyes of the Wicked Witch, before the arrival of that pesky little Dorothy and her troupe of meddlesome companions. The story continues in Son of a Witch, where we learn that the Wicked Witch has a secret son - Liir - whose own coming-of-age adventure is going to be much, much different.

If you're looking for a book that screams "witch's grimoire", look no further - this quality volume from Barnes and Noble will make an excellent addition to the collection of every modern fantasy lover.

9. The Vampire Chronicles - Anne Rice, Barnes and Noble Leatherbound Collectible Classics

Anne Rice is rightly called the queen of vampire fiction. While other authors, such as Bram Stoker, might have popularized the vampire genre before her, it was because of The Vampire Chronicles that we saw an important shift in the representation of vampires in modern fiction - mainly the exploration of their more noble qualities, turning them more into relatable anti-heroes, or even unfortunate victims of a curse they never really wanted in the first place.

The popularity of her work even inspired Hollywood to adapt it to the big screen. Movie adaptations, based on books, generally tend not to do well. The adaptation of Interview with a Vampire (book one of The Vampire Chronicles) was one of the rare exceptions. The script, the direction, and the flawless delivery by Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise have inspired a whole new generation of readers to explore the original adventures of Louis and Lestat.

While this edition is definitely on the chunky side, it is supremely made and there is just a sense of absolute satisfaction when you close the last page and see how many pages you've made it through.

Fun fact: Anne Rice was actually against the casting of Tom Cruise in the titular role of Lestat, but after the premiere even she had to admit that he did a splendid job with the portrayal.

10. Grimm's Complete Fairy Tales - The Brothers Grimm, Canterbury Leatherbound Classics

Need we even describe the cultural significance of the works of the Brothers Grimm? Their quest to collect and preserve all the local stories they could get their hands on resulted in the creation of a literary work, which many critiques have put on par with the Bible, in terms of it's importance to Western Culture.

Nowadays, due to the numerous Disney adaptations, the general population doesn't associate Grimm's Fairy Tales with the word "horror", but those of us who've actually read the original stories know that happy endings are not always guaranteed for all involved.

This edition from Canterbury Classics is our absolute favourite, because it's the only one of the multitude "special editions" to actually capture the gruesome aesthetic of the original fairy tales. Oh, and beware of the owl illustration - don't say we didn't warn you!

11. Classic Tales of Horror - Various Authors, Canterbury Leatherbound Classics

At last, we come to the final entry on our list. At this point you might be thinking: "Wait, didn't you guys already include one of these collections? Is the Barnes and Nobel one that different from Canterbury Classics?"

The answer to both, is yes. We did include the B&N version earlier in this article, but while that one exudes the elegance of a vampire nobleman, the Canterbury Classics one reeks with the desolation of the grave (quite literally, since the front and back covers depict a zombie-themed graveyard under a full moon). Including stories from over 20 of the greatest horror writers of all time, Classic Tales of Horror is a true stirring pot of all the gruesome, horrific and dreadful apparitions the human imagination has to offer, and it is a worthy final entry to end our list on.

What did you think of our picks for the top 11 Scary Halloween Books to keep you up at night in 2022? Let us know if we've missed any of your favourites!