As Halloween approaches, readers seek out stories that perfectly capture the eerie essence of the season. It's a time when the desire for tales of mysterious strangers, hauntingly atmospheric settings, and a touch of murder and magic is at its peak. This craving often leads readers to revisit timeless classics such as Bram Stoker's iconic Dracula or Stephen King's chilling masterpiece Carrie (both I recommend!). These works have stood the test of time, continuing to send shivers down the spines of readers generation after generation.
However, the realm of spooky season reading extends far beyond these well-known titles. Delving deeper into the literary world unveils hidden gems that may not be on everyone's radar, especially those that were not originally published in English. These lesser-known works introduce readers to new voices and stories that are equally captivating.
For those looking to explore beyond the familiar, I have curated a list of four spooky translated novels that would make perfect reading during the Halloween season. I personally have all of them on my bookshelf! In fact, two of these titles we read for one of my monthly virtual book discussion. What amazing novels will you discover by signing up to participate? See what we're reading next and come join us!
Originally published in Hungarian.
What it's about: In a secluded woodland castle an old General prepares to receive a rare visitor, a man who was once his closest friend but who he has not seen in forty-one years. Over the ensuing hours host and guest will fight a duel of words and silences, accusations and evasions. They will exhume the memory of their friendship and that of the General’s beautiful, long-dead wife. And they will return to the time the three of them last sat together following a hunt in the nearby forest—a hunt in which no game was taken but during which something was lost forever.
Originally published in French.
What it's about: At the Salpetriere Asylum in Paris, Dr. Charcot holds the city in thrall with his displays of hypnotism on women who have been deemed mad and cast out from society. But the truth is much more complicated—these women are often simply inconvenient, unwanted wives, those who have lost something precious, wayward daughters, or girls born from adulterous relationships. For Parisian society, the highlight of the year is the Lenten ball—the Madwomen’s Ball—when the great and good come to gawk at the patients of the Salpetriere dressed up in their finery for one night only.
Originally published in Swedish.
What it's about: Nineteen-year-old Rafa leaves her parents' home and the seaside town she grew up in to work at the secluded Olympic Hotel, perched above the small village of Strega. There, she and eight other young women receive the stiff black uniforms of seasonal workers and move into their shared dorm. But while they toil constantly to prepare the hotel for guests, none arrive. When finally the hotel is filled with people for a wild and raucous party, one of the young women hired disappears. Who is responsible?
Originally published in Spanish.
What it's about: Fifteen-year-old Oscar Drai meets the strange Marina while he's exploring an old quarter of Barcelona. She leads Oscar to a cemetery, where they watch a macabre ritual that occurs on the last Sunday of each month. At exactly ten o'clock in the morning, a woman shrouded in a black velvet cloak descends from her carriage to place a single rose on an unmarked grave. When Oscar and Marina decide to follow her, they begin a journey that transports them to a forgotten post-war Barcelona—a world of aristocrats and actresses, inventors and tycoons—and reveals a dark secret that lies waiting in the mysterious labyrinth beneath the city streets.
Discover this selection of eerie and captivating Gothic novels that are perfect for setting the mood during Halloween season. So, which of these gems intrigues you the most? Let me know in the comments below and click on the titles to get your hands on a copy and start your thrilling reading journey!
Happy reading!
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