Author Spotlight: Our Favorite Authors for Halloween

Here at Once Upon a Book Club, we have been cooking up some mysterious and spooky boxes. We aren’t just famous for the best book subscription boxes around; take our Halloween boxes, for example, which are simply to die for and are selling out faster than a disappearing vampire at sunrise!

As you get ready for pumpkin carving, trick-or-treating, and scary movie night, we wanted to share some of our favorite authors for Halloween. So grab a cup of coffee, or perhaps a pumpkin spice latte is more appropriate, and sit back and relax while you meet the authors behind some of those books that kept us nail-biting and page-turning all night long!

Simone St. James

Simone St. James is a New York Times bestseller and award-winning author, and when it comes to writing thrillers, Simone is right up at the top of the list. Her ability to portray convincing characters and scary situations that remain in your thoughts long after the lights are turned out is what keeps us coming back for more.

We are such fans of this author that she has made it into two of our amazing book subscription boxes! The first time was in October 2016 in the "Spooky Mystery Romance" box, which featured Lost Among the Living. We then featured The Book of Cold Cases in our “Unsolved Mysteries Box,” which sold out in no time. This box was also the winner of our Best Adult Subscription Box for 2022, having our readers hooked from the very first page!

Simone St. James has an impressive list of books to her name, including The Haunting of Maddy Claire, for which she won two RITA Awards from Romance Writers of America and an Arthur Ellis Award from Crime Writers of Canada. 

Her other must-read novels are Silence for the Dead, The Other Side of Midnight, The Broken Girls, The Sun Down Motel, and her latest book Murder Road. 

Shari Lapena

Here at Once Upon a Book Club, Shari Lapena has a very special place this Halloween! Yes, our most popular annual book box is back for 2024, and this year's Mischief selection is sure to keep you reading late into the night! This thrilling box featuring Shari’s What Have You Done? is paired with four chilling gifts perfect for the spooky season!

According to Shari’s bio, she doesn’t want you to be able to put her books down, and trust us, that is one thing she has successfully achieved! She is the #1 bestselling author of eight gripping suspense novels, including The Couple Next Door, A Stranger in the House, An Unwanted Guest, Someone We Know, The End of Her, Not a Happy Family, Everyone Here is Lying, and obviously, What Have You Done?

Formerly a lawyer and English teacher, Shari now dedicates herself to writing full-time from her farm in Ontario, where she lives with her husband. Her debut thriller, The Couple Next Door, became a global sensation, selling over 4 million copies worldwide. It was named WHSmith's "Book of the Year" in 2016 and topped the UK Adult Fiction charts in 2017. 

All of Shari's books have hit the bestseller lists of The New York Times, UK Sunday Times, and The Globe and Mail, with three titles chosen for the Richard & Judy Book Club. Her books have been translated into 40 languages and optioned for film and television adaptations.

Riley Sager

Riley Sager is a New York Times bestselling author of eight novels, including The Only One Left and The House Across the Lake. His novels have been published in more than 35 countries, and his latest release, Middle of the Night, has already become a must-read for all of us thriller fans. It is just as mysterious and unsettling as the rest of his books, and we love how he keeps you guessing the whole time!

Middle of the Night is best described as a gripping thriller with a blend of mystery and suspense. A man confronts the unresolved disappearance of his childhood best friend and the dark secrets that lie just beyond the facade of his seemingly perfect life. Get ready for a jaw-dropping story that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

You may be surprised to find out that Riley Sager is the pen name of Todd Ritter. He has published three novels in the Kat Campbell series under his real name, and as Alan Finn (yes, another pen name), he wrote Things Half in Shadow. Todd grew up in Pennsylvania in a ranch-style house and has had careers as a journalist, editor, and graphic designer; he now lives in Princeton, New Jersey.

So, if you're a fan of heart-stopping suspense, Riley Sager is definitely an author you’ll want to add to your reading list this Halloween!

Peter Swanson

Peter Swanson is a Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author. He has been reading crime and mystery novels ever since he was a kid and it still happens to be his favorite genre! His dream to write crime novels eventually came true when he published his first novel in 2014. He may have started off later in life than some of our other favorites (he was in his forties), but he hasn’t held back and still finds it unbelievable that he has now published 11 novels.

His novels include The Kind Worth Killing, which won the “New England Society Book Award” and was a finalist for the “CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger,” Her Every Fear, which was named an NPR Book of the Year, and Eight Perfect Murders which USA Today described as “Brims with duplicity, betrayal and revenge” to name a few.

His latest novel A Talent for Murder is a gripping thriller that will captivate those who love dark, mysterious, and tense stories. With intricate plots and clever twists, it’s ideal for crime and mystery novel fans and definitely worth a read this Halloween!

In this deviously clever novel, newlywed librarian Martha Ratliff begins to suspect her husband might be a murderer. Content with her solitary life, Martha is initially happy with her job as an archival librarian. However, her life takes a turn when she marries Alan, a charming divorcee with a job that keeps him on the road. Despite their marriage, Alan still feels like a stranger to her.

Grady Hendrix 

Grady Hendrix is an American author, journalist, screenwriter, and public speaker, well known for his bestselling 2014 novel Horrorstör, about a haunted IKEA. Born in South Carolina, Grady spent much of his youth in public libraries following his parents’ divorce at age 13. His early love for books eventually led him to work in the library of the American Society for Psychical Research before pursuing a full-time writing career.

Grady has written several acclaimed novels, including My Best Friend's Exorcism, The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires, The Final Girl Support Group, and How to Sell a Haunted House. His next work, Witchcraft for Wayward Girls, is set to be released in 2025.

How to Sell a Haunted House is a gripping supernatural tale exploring family tensions and a haunted home. After her parents' death, Louise returns to her childhood home, filled with unresolved issues, her brother's resentment, and their mother's eerie collection of dolls and puppets. As they prepare the house for sale, Louise and Mark confront both personal and paranormal secrets lurking within. Get ready for chilling twists in this perfect blend of horror, family drama, memories and unresolved trauma.

Conclusion

From Simone St. James to Grady Hendrix, that is our list of favorite writers who deliver thrills, chills, and unforgettable suspense. We would love to hear who your favorite spine-tingling authors are!

Make sure to check out our Halloween Collection, it's the perfect addition to your spooky shopping list — we have everything from spooky book boxes to the ultimate Halloween accessories and gifts!

If you enjoyed this blog, make sure to check out our blogs on October’s latest releases and what our team is currently reading! Happy Halloween from all of us at Once Upon a Book Club!