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

Pumpkins galore at Hampton Park Library!

It’s the 5th anniversary of the Hampton Park Staff Pumpkin Display! Every year staff at the Hampton Park Library decorate pumpkins based on—you guessed it!—books! From classics such as Frankenstein to patron-favorites such as Nemo, the Staff Pumpkin Display covers books for all genres and ages. This year, staff got super creative exploring more 3D elements than years past. Stop by the branch to watch Superman take off, congratulate Rocky on saving the universe, or see if you can spot Waldo.

Read on for some spook-tacular pumpkin highlights in which staff share why they chose the character or book for their pumpkin.

Cathy: “For my pumpkin, I chose the book 10 Spooky Pumpkins because I thought it would be fun to turn 1 pumpkin into...10!!  I always like to use books that feature pumpkins🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃 on the covers.”

Diana: “I chose to create a Charlie Brown pumpkin because I remember watching It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown when I was a kid and still love it to this day. Every kid should know who Charlie Brown is!”

Stella: “I chose to create Rocky from Project Hail Mary for my pumpkin! After being brought to life in the movie, Rocky has become such a special character to so many people this year. Amaze amaze amaze!”

Jennifer: “I chose Oh, the Places You'll Go! because I was touched when my son received a copy of the book signed by his teachers and friends at graduation. Also, I can't draw so I figured I could at least paint concentric circles.”

Kelly: “I chose Frankenstein because I just read Of Monsters and Mainframes and that was a character in the book.”

Katie: “I chose a Superman themed pumpkin because I've been getting into superhero comics over the past year and I loved the 2025 movie.”

Kayla: “I chose Nemo because he is my son's favorite character!”

Brittany Mayo

Circulation Supervisor

Hampton Park Library

FCPL's Favorite Books of 2026 (So Far...) - PART THREE

Welcome to the third and final installment of FCPL's Favorite Books of 2026 (So Far), featuring book recommendations by our staff, organized by genre. 

Contemporary Fiction

The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett (2025)

Recommended by Sarah, Branch Manager, Denmark Library

Listened to audiobook

What is it about: A darkly comic and warm-hearted novel about an old man on a cross-country mission to reunite with his high school crush—bringing together his adult daughter, two orphaned kids, and a cat who can predict death.

Why they recommend it: Featuring exceptional writing and meaningful themes, this story is filled with humor and heart—plus a cat whose inner thoughts you get to hear! The audio edition is fantastic, and Unlikely Animals by the same author was just as delightful.

The Wedding People by Alison Espach (2024)

Recommended by Kim, Branch Manager, Post Road Library

Read the eBook

What is it about: A darkly funny and moving novel about Phoebe Stone, a recently divorced woman who arrives at a luxury Rhode Island hotel intending to end her life, only to be mistaken for a guest at a massive, chaotic destination wedding.

Why they recommend it: It approaches sensitive subjects through a witty lens, featuring deeply thought-provoking interactions between the protagonist and various characters.

Biography/Memoir

The Boys in the Light by Nina Willner (2025)

 

Recommended by Julie, Youth Services Supervisor, Cumming Library

Listened to the audiobook

What is it about: It follows the parallel journeys of Company D and Eddie Willner, the author’s father, as they are caught up on two sides of World War II.

Why they recommend it: An incredible true story highlighting the remarkable strength of two boys surviving Nazi cruelty, as well as the compassionate soldiers who rescued them. The reality of what they endured is almost unimaginable, making this harrowing true account all the more powerful and exceptionally well told.

Classic

Middlemarch by George Eliot (1871)

Recommended by Ellie, Youth Specialist, Sharon Forks Library

Read the physical book

What is it about: A sweeping Victorian realist novel set in an 1830s fictional English town, exploring marriage, ambition, and social reform. It follows Dorothea Brooke's failed, idealistic marriage to the elderly scholar Casaubon and Dr. Lydgate's financial ruin due to his shallow wife, Rosamond.

Why they recommend it: Virginia Woolf famously described Middlemarch as "one of the few English novels written for grown-up people." Eliot excels at crafting complex characters and revealing profound depth within life's everyday moments. Through its exploration of character desires and choices, the novel thoughtfully examines how significantly society shapes an individual's life. At roughly 880 pages, it is lengthy, but truly worth every second.

Children’s Literature

Wombat Waiting by Katherine Applegate (2026)

Recommended by Riley, Collection Support Aide, Hampton Park Library

Read the physical book

What is it about: A stunning middle grade standalone novel-in-verse about compassion, resilience, and surprising friendships, following a dog named Wombat in the aftermath of a catastrophic fire.

Why they recommend it: This story is absolutely adorable! Seeing dual perspectives from both Wombat and her soul human was truly wonderful. Written as a novel in verse, it is a fast-paced read filled with immense heart and emotion, packing so much narrative power into very few words.

Historical Fiction

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower (2020)

Recommended by Morgan, Information Specialist, Sharon Forks Library

Read the eBook

What is it about: A cozy, witty historical fiction series presented as the unedited journal entries of a young woman named Emma. Set in 1883 London, it follows her daily life, financial struggles, and eccentric neighbors.

Why they recommend it: “Told in the form of the protagonist's journal entries, this series set in 1883 London just oozes charm. Blending historical fiction, romance, and humor with a touch of magical realism, Emma M. Lion is the most Jane Austen-esque heroine I have read in a long time. Emma is such a charming, witty narrator. The love interests are all charming in their own ways. Even the characters you're not meant to like are so funny that it's kind of endearing! I've been reading the eBooks, but I have heard that the audio is exceptional!”

That concludes our three part series. If you're just joining us, catch up on PART ONE and PART TWO, and let us know in the comments if any of our choices were your favorites this year too!   

Jessica Dillard

Information Specialist

Denmark Library

Marvin's World of Wonder at Sharon Forks Library

2026 ended up being a very exciting year for Marvin the Mouse, the Sharon Forks Library mascot. He found his calling to travel across the globe, then shared his experience of world culture, traditions, cuisine, and language with all the kids during Storytime at Sharon Forks through the Marvin’s World Travels series.

This entire series was the brain child of Ms. Stephani. She had the brilliant idea to include my love for languages and world culture in Storytime, and before we knew it, Marvin was on a plane with his boarding pass and suitcase!

Guest presenters, who are native speakers of various languages, shared their language and culturally significant objects from the country they represent for “show & tell.” This brought far off countries into the palms of our young patrons and their families. 

We had presenters who hailed from China, French Canada, Japan, Korea, Maharashtra (India), Tamilnadu (India), and Ukraine.

A big heartfelt thank you to all the guest presenters. We could not have done this without your time and effort. Thank you so much! 

The series was loved by one and all, and we started getting requests from parents to grow this series for elementary-aged kids. 

With Marvin's recent graduation from preschool to elementary school, the timing was perfect for the Marvin's World Travels program to evolve into World Of Wonder (WOW)—an interactive monthly series designed for elementary explorers who are ready to see the world without leaving the library.

WOW is a version of Marvin’s World Travels series geared towards older kids, with more of a focus on geography, history, and culture through hands-on crafts and activities. In September, Marvin traveled to Russia, and he has a fabulous itinerary lined up for the rest of the year! 

Our next adventure for elementary-aged students is on Thursday, October 22, 4:30–5:30 p.m. at Sharon Forks Library. Join us to "land" in a brand-new country and uncover its unique secrets. From the ancient stories that shaped its history to the languages spoken on its streets, we’ll dive deep into what makes every culture special. 

Want even more World Languages for your kids? Your Forsyth County Public Library card gives you FREE access to LOTE4Kids. Read and watch youth story titles and enjoy learning activities in a variety of languages. Each title is also available in English.

Ms. Anu

Youth Specialist

Sharon Forks Library

Adult Nonfiction Staff Pick: No One's Coming by Kevin Hazzard

No One’s Coming: The Rogue Heroes Our Government Turns to When There’s Nowhere Else to Turn by Kevin Hazzard

This is a fascinating nonfiction account of how a small aviation company became a crucial support group for not just the United States but nations around the world. Their company initially grew by flying dangerous cargo that no one wanted to. These included explosives and other potentially volatile and flammable items, as well as, emergency medical evacuation missions.

In 2014, the world's largest Ebola outbreak was occurring in Africa. Two medical volunteers had contracted Ebola and were needing to be returned to the United States for treatment. No one had ever done something like this before and almost no one wanted to. The Ebola virus can have up to a 90% fatality rate if patients do not receive treatment. Thankfully, Phoenix Air had created a prototype of an airtight container that could be fit onto an airplane. Phoenix Air was requested to create a version that could house a contagious patient along with the medically necessary gear to treat them while enroute. Considering the length of the flight and all the material needed, it would need to be able to fit in a large airliner.

A group of experts were pulled together to create, test, and prepare for this never before done feat. An older version plane was acquired that could load the hospital container in and out of the cargo hold. Beyond the container, the plane had to be equipped with air tight containment system for the medical team to enter and exit the container. Time was of the essence and little time allowed for testing.

In July, 2014, the first of two flights left Atlanta for Liberia to collect the first patient and return them to Atlanta so they could be treated at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Due to space constraints, only one patient could be taken. This trip would have to be made twice.

You may remember the headlines and the fear of bringing Ebola to the States. The book details the history of the airline company, the engineering requirements, and the selfless souls who risked their lives to save others.

Joan Dudzinski

Branch Manager

Cumming Library