The 10 Best Halloween Books: From Cozy Mysteries to Magical Romances

Wishes, witches and spells gone wrong…this steamy and festive rom-com has it all! Young witch Vivienne “Vivi” Jones uses her magic to put a seemingly mild curse on Rhys Penhallow, who broke her heart. Nine years later, the annoyingly handsome Rhys returns to town, and she realizes her hex was not so harmless after all. As local happenings turn spooky, Vivi is forced to work with Rhys to save the town and break the spell. Will love follow?

What would a roundup of the best Halloween books be without an adorably on-theme cozy mystery? This mysterious, spooky-cute tale follows librarian Kathleen Paulson and her baker friend, Georgia Tepper. Georgia is hired to bake cupcakes for the Reading Buddies Halloween Party at the library. But when Georgia’s mother-in-law — who recently threatened her with legal action — is found dead, she’s on the list of suspects. Now, Kathleen and her savvy cats must help find the killer and clear Georgia’s name fast!

Bestselling author Christina Henry is well-known for her eerie, otherworldly tales — and this scary page-turner follows suit! Everyone in Sleepy Hollow knows the legend of the Horseman, but no one believes it…not even Ben Van Brunt’s grandpa, Brom, who was there when it allegedly happened. Now, 30 years later, Ben finds the body of a headless person in the woods and starts questioning everything he was ever told. An engrossing and beautifully written retelling.

Miss Charlotte Pettifer is part of a top-secret league of women skilled in the “subtle arts” — but the arts are never referred to as witchcraft. This league of ladies strives to make the world a better place through good acts. But when a long lost amulet is discovered, it’s up to Charlotte to make sure this powerful talisman doesn’t wind up in the wrong hands. So when she crosses paths with a rogue Irish pirate named Alex O’Riley, the two butt heads…yet end up teaming up to find the amulet. What follows is a series of high-stakes adventures, chemistry-filled moments and oodles of fantastical charm.

Filled with magic, exhilarating action and captivating characters, this fairy tale stars Zora Broussard, who arrives in 1920s New Orleans with just a bag of clothes, a pair of enchanted red shoes and her beautiful voice. Running from her past, Zora wants to blend in and avoid her mean cousins and aunt. Then, Zora starts to perform at a jazz club and meets a pianist named Phillip. What follows is looming danger, adventure and an epic fight for true love.

Practical Magic — the beloved movie filled with haunted houses and witchy spells starring Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock — is based on this magical novel written by Alice Hoffman. For more than 200 years, the Owens women have continually blamed their Massachusetts town for all of their problems. Sisters Gillian and Sally Owens know this all too well. Growing up as outsiders in their small town was difficult — especially with their eccentric aunts, who have a reputation of witchery. Now, Gillian and Sally want to escape. But will their family’s deep bonds magically draw them back?

Ten complete strangers — each with something to hide and something to fear — arrive at an isolated mansion on Indian Island. They all show up at this location after receiving an invitation from a “U.N. Owen.” Then one of the guests is found dead, and the others are left to determine which of them is the killer before it’s too late.

Thought-provoking twists and time travel magic abound in this story that takes readers from a haunting Victorian London locale to a spellbinding reality where centuries collide. The story centers on Andrew, a man in Victorian England who goes back in time to save his true love from Jack the Ripper’s blade—with the help of H.G. Wells, author of The Time Machine. But Andrew soon encounters the unforeseen consequences of his actions…

Bestselling author Stephen King’s latest chilling novel marks the return of fan-favorite character Holly Gibney. When Penny Dahl desperately calls the Finders Keepers detective agency hoping for help locating her missing daughter, Holly is reluctant but agrees to take the case. Soon, Holly is drawn into a horrifying puzzle that leads her to two twisted local professors. Do they hold the secret to the disappearance in their basement?

Stanhope is a safe suburban neighborhood and William Wooler is the picture-perfect family man…at least on the surface. When an affair he’s been having ends abruptly one afternoon, he returns home upset and angry. Soon after, his 9-year-old daughter, Avery, returns home from school unexpectedly. Hours later, Avery goes missing. What follows is a puzzle full of twists and turns and suddenly the town of Stanhope doesn’t feel so idyllic anymore. As witnesses come forward with facts and information that may or may not be true, everyone feels like eyes are on them. And they all want to know: Who really took Avery Wooler?