What are you reading this Halloween?

If you’re looking to curl up with a chilling book for Halloween but you’re not sure what to pick, then fear not, help is at hand. Robert Gold, author of Twelve Secrets, has selected his favourite spooky stories. Over to you Rob…

If I’m ever asked to pick my favourite ghost story, my number 1 choice is always THE WOMAN IN BLACK by Susan Hill. It is a brilliantly constructed story where the suspense rises throughout. It’s a fantastic read and also a wonderful play. I remember first seeing it London when I was at university and I took my nephew almost thirty years later and it was as tense and creepy as ever.

THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE by Shirley Jackson is a true classic where fear of the unknown combines with a brilliant setting to grip the reader. Psychological suspenseful, it will grip you from start to finish. I love the setting of this story in an unsettling and disturbing haunted mansion.

Agatha Christie is my all-time favourite crime writer. A friend of mine recently gave me a copy of SLEEPING MURDER and I re-read it over the last few days. The plotting is amazing as a young woman remembers a ghostly murder. This is Agatha Christie at her very best and I love this book.

My mum’s favourite book is REBECCA by Daphne du Maurier so it would be remiss of me not to include this suspenseful classic in my list. The characters, especially the haunting Mrs Danvers, are drawn to perfection, with the atmosphere and suspense held to the very end.

My cheat on this list would be THE GHOST by Robert Harris which isn’t a ghost story at all by a great thriller by the master of political thrillers.

And finally, the Halloween book I’ve read the most time over has to be ROOM ON THE BROOM by Julia Donaldson! A brilliant story from one of our greatest of all children’s writers.

Thanks Rob, have a happy and yet chilling Halloween dear Crime Vaulters!