This post was originally published on Audible.com.
Spooky season is finally upon us, and it's time for all things horror: witches, ghosts, cosmic mysteries, creepy graveyards, teenage slashers, and, of course, no shortage of fresh audiobooks that range from candy-sweet to purely spine-tingling.
This list has something for every listener, from charming rom-coms with a side of ghosts to dark atmospheric fantasies to bone-chilling thrillers and eerie haunted-house tales. Whether you're looking for a scare or something cozy and gothic to set the mood, you've come to the right place.
This chilling novel about the remaking of a cult classic horror film from the 1990s is brought to life by a dozen talented narrators. The captivating multivoiced performance is perfect for this beguiling, unpredictable story that blurs the boundaries between past and present, and what's real and what's not. It focuses on the mysterious and disturbing events that occurred during the filming of an art-house horror film, and the equally upsetting events of the remake, shot 30 years later with the original film's only surviving cast member.
This dark fantasy from bestselling author Leigh Bardugo is set in Madrid during the Spanish Golden Age. Like Bardugo's other work, it's full of richly drawn characters and plenty of plot surprises. It follows the adventures of Luzia Cotado, a scullion maid with a secret talent for performing small miracles. When she gets noticed by powerful people, she's drawn into a dangerous, shadowy world of magic, betrayal, fraud artists, and ancient secrets. Narrator Lauren Fortgang imbues her voice with drama and intrigue; this is the perfect spooky season listen for those looking for atmospheric vibes.
In this surprising and refreshing haunted house story, Charlie and Eve, a queer couple who flip houses for a living, become distraught when the former residents of their latest project show up and ask to look around—and then never leave. The longer the family remains in the house, the more strange things happen—until Charlie disappears, leaving Eve distraught and wondering if she's lost her grip on reality altogether.
What better way to celebrate spooky season than with a new book by horror master Stephen King? This collection of 12 stories showcases King's talent for peering into the darkest corners. These stories, including several brand-new, never-before-published ones, explore fate, death, and cosmic secrets, and they all delve into the shadows of the human psyche. Veteran narrator Will Patton does a brilliant job ratcheting up the tension; he brings each superb story to a unique and often chilling crescendo.
Chuck Tingle always brings a unique brand of humor to his work, and his latest horror novel—a thrilling blend of sharp social commentary and absurdist humor—is no exception. Misha has been trying to make it in Hollywood for years, and he's finally gotten his big break, culminating in an Oscar nomination. Determined to capitalize on this momentum, the studio execs have a brilliant idea for the season finale of his show: kill all the gay characters. Misha flatly refuses—and this puts not only the future of his career but his very life in danger. André Santana gives a performance that is equal parts rollicking fun and heartfelt emotion, while cameos from beloved sci-fi and horror authors, including Charlie Jane Anders and Stephen Graham Jones, are the icing on the cake.
This YA anthology of short stories features 15 Black heroines who encounter a whole range of terrifying monsters, investigate creepy mysteries, face death itself—and survive. It includes stories by contemporary YA greats such as Justina Ireland, L.L. McKinney, Brittney Morris, and Eden Royce, as well as a foreword by horror legend Tananarive Due. Narrator Shayna Small does a great job giving each story a different tone and feel, making this new gem a must-listen for YA horror fans.
Delanie Nicole Gill gives a chilling, evocative performance of this fresh take on the haunted house novel—it's not the house that's haunted in this one, but the family. Eight-year-old Bela lives with her parents and grandmother, but she's also visited every day by a mysterious entity she calls "Other Mommy." Other Mommy wants something Bela doesn't want to give, but as more and more bad things befall the people she loves, she realizes that unless she gives in to Other Mommy's demands, her family might not survive.
Beloved Matilda star Mara Wilson gives a wonderfully spirited performance of this charming, ghostly romance. Gretchen is a fake medium who doesn't even believe in ghosts, so she's a little taken aback when she encounters a real—and very chatty—ghost haunting the goat farm her best client has hired her to investigate. Now she has to convince the (very sexy) goat farmer that ghosts (or this one, at least) are real—otherwise, he might fall prey to the deadly curse that's been haunting his property for generations.
In the follow-up to her debut Manhunt, Gretchen Felker-Martin paints a vivid and horrifying portrait of a conversion camp for queer kids in 1995. Sixteen years later, the teens who experienced the terrors of that summer are grown up and still suffering its devastating effects—but they have to confront what happened if they want to survive. Eight brilliant narrators, including Avi Roque and Nicky Endres, create unique voices for each character, giving this multi-POV audiobook an immersive feel.
Ghost story meets love story in this poignant debut about a man trying to save his family's funeral home from disaster. Ezra has always been able to see ghosts, and he's never been super jazzed about it. He's also not particularly thrilled about returning to the family funeral home to help out after a series of unexpected events leaves his family in turmoil. To make matters worse, he's falling for his neighbor, Jonathan—but the ghost of Jonathan's husband will not leave him alone. Petey Gibson gives a beautiful performance of this unique tale of healing, haunting, and queer love.
No one does horror quite like Stephen Graham Jones, and he's done it again in this brilliant and subversive reworking of classic slasher tropes. It's a sharp listen with a unique structure, recounted as the imagined autobiography of Tolly Driver, who goes on a killing spree in his small West Texas town during the summer of 1989 when he's 17. The way Jones plays with narrative is nothing short of brilliant. This is a bloody and beautiful love letter to slasher films and the outsiders who love them.
Rivers Solomon's newest novel is both scathing and tender. When three siblings return to their childhood home in suburban Dallas after the death of their parents, they uncover a whole slew of uncomfortable truths. Through the lens of a haunted house story, they explore the violent legacies of American racism and segregation, but they also delve into complicated questions about what it takes to heal from both childhood and generational trauma. Narrator Gabby Beans exquisitely balances the many tone shifts of this nuanced novel.
A contemporary gothic novel set in a college cemetery: Could anything be more perfect for spooky season listening? In this eerie novella, a group of five nightshift workers cross paths every night in a cemetery. One night, they notice a strange, freshly dug grave—a discovery that throws their night, and their lives, into chaos. An ensemble cast adds to the thrill of this atmospheric listen.
The bestselling author of The Troop returns with another absolutely terrifying listen about a woman searching for her missing best friend, and the secrets she uncovers in the course of one life-changing day. Nick Cutter is a master of tension and surprise, and the excellent performances by four narrators only add to the suspense—this is an audiobook you won't be able to pause.
