Spooky Reads for Spooky Season

The days are getting colder (at least we are hoping they will soon), candy lines the shelves of stores everywhere, and it seems like things are just getting a little more eerie. That can only mean one thing: the time for Halloween is here! In celebration of the spookiest time of the year, we have some book recommendations from a variety of genres that are apropos for the season. All book descriptions are from the Forsyth County Public Library catalog.

Hallowe'en Party: A Hercule Poirot Mystery by Agatha Christie

For lovers of classic mystery novels: "When a Halloween party turns deadly, it falls to Hercule Poirot to unmask a murderer. At a Halloween party, Joyce, a surly thirteen-year-old-boasts that she once witnessed a murder. When no one believes her, she storms off home. But within hours her body is found, still in the house, drowned in an apple-bobbing tub. Famed detective Hercule Poirot is called in to investigate. Set against a night of trickery and the occult, it's up to Poirot to uncover the real evil presence responsible for this ghastly deed."

No Rest for the Wicked by Rachel Louise Adams

For anyone that loves books similar to scary movies: "In one Halloween-obsessed Midwestern town, everyone's on red alert after a local politician goes missing. Little do they know it's only the beginning. It's been close to twenty years since forensic pathologist Dolores Hawthorne left her hometown of Little Horton, Wisconsin. The town is famous for its Halloween celebrations, but also its history of violent deaths linked to the holiday. To Dolores, it's the place she fled, family, bad memories, and all. Until the FBI calls to tell her that her father—the former mayor turned US Senator—is missing under mysterious circumstances. Some people count to ten to wake up from a nightmare. Dolores always counts the bones of her head instead: sphenoid, frontal, lacrimal. But no matter how many times she counts them, it doesn't change the fact that her father is missing, that his final words of warning to her were to trust no one, and that now, the rest of her family is giving Dolores a chilling welcome. With Halloween fast approaching, Dolores must face the past she left behind before it's too late."

Best Hex Ever by Nadia El-Fassi

For those obsessed with romance novels, but wanting a Halloween twist: "As a skilled kitchen witch, Dina Whitlock knows her way around a pastry recipe. In fact, she runs her very own London café, serving magic-infused treats to her loyal customers. She is not as much of an expert on romance, thanks to the hex hanging over her head. It's hard to fall in love when your partner is cursed with a string of bad luck. But who needs love when your best friend is getting married, right? Scott Mason has returned from global travels thrilled to embark on his new role as a curator at the British Museum. Having left London two years ago to recover from a devastating breakup, Scott has missed out on a lot. With his best friend's wedding approaching, and Scott as best man, this is his chance to make up for lost time. Little does he expect to be enchanted by the magical maid of honor. During a romantic weekend filled with a peculiar hedge maze, palm readings by candlelight, and a midnight Halloween ritual, there's no denying the chemistry between them. But the hex still holds, and Dina knows that Scott is in danger of more than just bad luck—because she's falling, hard. Will Dina be able to undo the hex before it's too late?"

Halloween Cupcake Murder by Carlene O'Connor

For anyone wanting a cozy mystery with their Halloween candy: "With Galway's Halloween Mystery Tour only a few days away, Tara Meehan is scouring the town's curiosity shops for spooky decorations to draw tourists into her architectural salvage store. But when a stranger appears in her shop bearing a cryptic cupcake and an ominous message, Tara suddenly finds herself tangled in a mystery with ancient Gaelic roots, but very modern—and very deadly—consequences..."

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

For those wanting a good, old-fashioned scare: "First published in 1959, Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House has been hailed as a perfect work of unnerving terror. It is the story of four seekers who arrive at a notoriously unfriendly pile called Hill House: Dr. Montague, an occult scholar looking for solid evidence of a "haunting"; Theodora, his lighthearted assistant; Eleanor, a friendless, fragile young woman well acquainted with poltergeists; and Luke, the future heir of Hill House. At first, their stay seems destined to be merely a spooky encounter with inexplicable phenomena. But Hill House is gathering its powers-and soon it will choose one of them to make its own."

Sarah Spiller

Information Specialist

Post Road Library

Teen Middle Fiction Staff Pick: The Secret Bookstore Sleuth Society by Lindsay Currie

Looking for a cozy, age-appropriate mystery to share with your middle schooler just in time for spooky season? Look no further than Lindsay Currie's delightful novel, The Secret Bookstore Sleuth Society. 

When a sudden ice storm traps four tweens, a spunky grandmother, and a handful of bookstore patrons inside the bookstore and adjoining themed inn, a quirky scene unfolds: a man is discovered face down and unresponsive in a birthday cake! Unconvinced by the local authorities’ quick dismissal, the resourceful tweens use their school sleuth society memberships and Agatha Christie knowledge to solve the mystery themselves.

This story shines with a relatable cast of characters that tweens will instantly adore. Merrick is a science enthusiast collecting periodic elements; Archer is the basketball captain who relies on a rubber duck as a lucky charm; Sunny is a tech and video game prodigy; and Miko is a strategic Mahjong mastermind. Alongside Merrick’s deceptively sharp, mystery-loving Grandma Ida, this team shows young readers the power of friendship, critical thinking, and teamwork.

More than just an immersive whodunit, the book offers a wonderful opportunity for parents and guardians to bond with their tweens. As you turn the pages together, you'll find plenty of fun discussion topics—from guessing clues and picking your favorite of the inn’s literary-themed rooms to navigating real-life middle school struggles like moving schools, family finances, and relationships with aging grandparents. It even inspires fun new interests in science, logic games, and classic mystery literature.

“You should read The Secret Bookstore Sleuth Society because it is an epic page-turning murder mystery, with characters you want to be friends with and ships you will root for ‘till the end of time'.” – Noelle, Eighth Grader

Natalie Page
Youth Services Specialist

Cumming Library

Celebrating Our Friends During National Friends of the Library Week 2026!

October 18–24, marks the 21st annual National Friends of Libraries Week, and here at Forsyth County Public Library (FCPL), we are shouting our gratitude from the rooftops for the FCPL Friends and Advocates!

Let’s talk numbers for a moment, because the impact this group has on our community is absolutely staggering. Over the past year alone, the Friends raised upwards of $100,000 through used book sales, memberships, and donations. In fact, since FCPL became an independent, single-county system in 1996, the Friends’ total financial support is closing in on a monumental $900,000!

“Our library wouldn't be the vibrant, dynamic community hub it is today without the Friends,” says FCPL Director Adrianne Junius. “Reaching that kind of fundraising milestone is an extraordinary accomplishment. Their tireless work behind the scenes translates directly into the incredible services, materials, and programs we are able to offer the public.”

More Than Just Books 

Operating seven days a week across all five FCPL branches, this mighty team of over 100 volunteers provides our area with some of the most affordable used books and media around. But they are also environmental champions. Through a partnership with Better World Books, the Friends rescue over 60,000 books a year from entering Forsyth County’s waste stream.

FCPL Friends and Advocates President Jodie Barger gets to see the magic of this organization firsthand.

“The absolute best part of this role is watching someone’s face light up when we help them find exactly what they’re looking for—whether that reader is 3 or 93,” Barger shares. “Volunteering here is truly food for the soul. We’re keeping books out of the trash and being good environmental stewards, but what really drives us is knowing that our hard work provides free cultural and literacy programs for everyone.”

Fueling the Fun 

Every dollar raised goes back into the library, funding the lifeblood of our biggest events, including Forsyth Reads Together and the annual Summer Reading Challenge. By funding bestselling author visits, professional performers, and exciting prizes, the Friends help spark a lifelong love of reading in our kids and teens.

A full house at Forsyth Reads Together connecting and laughing. Forsyth Reads Together is made possible in part thanks to the generous support of the FCPL Friends and Advocates. 

Patrons of all ages delight in the Magic of Ken Scott at the Cumming Library during Summer Reading Kickoff. This event was made possible in part due to the support of our FCPL Friends and Advocates! 

“This summer, we had an incredible 8,113 readers join our 2026 Summer Reading Challenge,” notes Programming Manager Sarah Brubaker. “Funding the incentives for an audience that size is a massive undertaking, but we are so fortunate to have the Friends making it all possible. They even sponsor the festive t-shirts our staff wears to get the kids hyped up to read!”

Celebrate With Us (And Grab a $5 Bag!) 

Want to help us celebrate? The absolute best way to honor National Friends of the Library Week is to stop by their Annual Bag Sale happening this week! For just $5, you can grab a special Friends' paper bag and stuff it to the brim with any combination of adult fiction and nonfiction books, media, and one coffee table book.

We encourage everyone in the community to shop the bookstores, thank a volunteer, and consider joining the FCPL Friends and Advocates to help make Forsyth County a wonderful place to live, work, play, and read.

To learn more or to become a member today, please visit https://forsythfol.org/.

Leslie Marinelli
FCPL Communications Manager