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All Hallow’s Read: Halloween 2015 Book Recommendations
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All Hallow's Read

Fall is in full swing and Halloween is only days away. It’s a great time of year to curl up on the couch with a good book, the scarier and spookier the better!

This year, I teamed up with my gal pal and book-loving counterpart here at GoD, Olympus Athens, to bring you some reading recommendations for this year’s All Hallow’s Read. We have titles from Stephen King, Guillermo del Toro, Adam Mansbach, and many more.

See below for our All Hallow’s Read: Halloween 2015 Book Recommendations…

Finders Keepers

Finders Keepers
The Bill Hodges Trilogy Book #2
Hardcover | Kindle
By Stephen King
Scribner Publishing
Release date: June 2, 2015

“By Stephen King” – that’s justification enough for this new book to make it on to the All Hallow’s Read list, right? Finders Keepers is the second book in King’s The Bill Hodges Trilogy, which began with 2014’s Mr. Mercedes. As with Misery, this new trilogy gives us an obsessed reader in Morris Bellamy, who is upset that his favorite author, the famous John Rothstein, took his favorite character, Jimmy Gold, and made him sell out. Morris eventually discovers unpublished notes and manuscript that contains a new Gold story, but when these fall into the hands of another person, the vengeful fan targets his anger at them. Constant Readers will be delighted to see the return of our three unlikely heroes from the first book, bent on saving the day once again. The end of this novel is what we’ve all been waiting for. (Read our full review here .

The Dead Run, The Devil's Bag Man Jess Galvan Series by Adam Mansbach

The Devil’s Bag Man: A Novel
Jess Galvan Series Book #2
Hardcover | Kindle | Audiobook
Sequel to The Dead Run: A Novel
paperback | Kindle
By Adam Mansbach
Harper Voyager | HarperCollins Publishers
Release date: July 21, 2015

Adam Mansbach is better known for his humorous expletive-laden bedtime story Go the F**k to Sleep, but the best-selling author also writes supernatural suspense books with his Jess Galvan series. In the first book, The Dead Run, Galvan is wrongly imprisoned in a Mexican jail, where he ends up making a deal with the devil for his freedom and the safety of his daughter if he’s carry a sinister package over the border into the U.S. In the sequel, The Devil’s Bag Man (2015), Galvan is suffering from the consequences of that bargain, as he’s now possessed by the soul of Cucuy, a 500-year-old evil Aztec priest and crime lord hellbent on bringing about destruction. The ebook editions for both books are currently on sale right now, so you can start at the beginning of the series (Book 1 is $1.99; Book 2 is $2.99.)

Crimson Peak: The Official Movie Novelization header

Crimson Peak: The Official Movie Novelization
Paperback | Kindle | Audible Audiobook
Based on the screenplay by Guillermo del Toro & Matthew Robbins
Written by Nancy Holder
Audiobook narration by Imogen Church
Titan Books
Release Date: October 20, 2015

Young, aspiring American novelist Edith Cushing falls for tall, dark, and handsome Englishman Sir Thomas Sharpe, and encounters the unimaginable when she becomes lady of the manor in this gothic romance from filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, adapted as a novelization by Nancy Holder. While Crimson Peak the film is a feast for the eyes, with its decrepit mansion and the blood-like clay that creeps up under the floor from the mines below, the book gives insight into the characters and their backgrounds not revealed in the film. The highly descriptive writing makes a wonderful source material for the audiobook, narrated by Imogen Church. This novelization is a great story all on its own, even if you don’t see the movie. If you haven’t seen Crimson Peak, which was released in theaters earlier this month, then the novelization will be a fine accompaniment. The audiobook captures the vibe of the movie, and is also great all on its own.

The Fifth House of the Heart by Ben Tripp header

The Fifth House of the Heart
Paperback | Kindle
By Ben Tripp
Gallery Books | Simon & Schuster
Release date: July 28, 2015

The Fifth House of the Heart by Ben Tripp was one of my favorite books of 2015. This unique twist on the old vampire tale was so engrossing, I did not want to put it down. There’s an unlikely protagonist: Asmodeus “Sax” Saxon-Tang, a cowardly septuagenarian antiques dealer who made his fortune stealing from vampire lairs. In this tale, which does flashback a few times to give us Sax’s back story at various times in his life, the vampires want their revenge, and they’re going to get it. Now, Sax gets help from the Holy Roman Church to combat his deadly foes. In my review of the book, I said of Sax: “Picture TV’s Frasier as an older, sexually promiscuous, semi-flamboyant antiques dealer who’s come face to face with vampires and lived to tell about it.”

Scarlet Gospels Clive Barker Banner

The Scarlet Gospels
Hardcover | Paperback | Kindle Edition | Audiobook
Written by Clive Barker
St. Martin’s Press | Macmillan
Release Date: May 19, 2015
Cover Price: $26.99

Clive Barker returns to his famous Hellraiser universe with The Scarlet Gospels, once again sees Detective Harry D’Amour come up against his long-time foe, the instantly recognizable priest of Hell, the Cenobite Pinhead. The story takes us through a desolate New York, then on through a journey through Hell (the Hell). Clive Barker is a master of horror with tales beyond our wildest imagination, always finding a way to terrify us one more with his horrifyingly descriptive prose. (Read our full review of the book.)

The Secrets of Blood and Bone

The Secrets of Blood and Bone: A Novel
Paperback | Kindle
Sequel to The Secrets of Life and Death
Paperback | Kindle
by Rebecca Alexander
Broadway Books | Crown Publishing
Release date: September 1, 2015

For something a little less terrifying this Halloween, try out The Secrets of Blood and Bone, Rebecca Alexander’s sequel to 2014’s The Secrets of Life and Death. Both books are split narratives, with the sequel divvying up the story between modern-day events with revenant Jackdaw Hammond, and the 16th century tale of Edward Kelley, the real-life assistant to famed Elizabethan alchemist Dr. John Dee. There’s enough background information included in the sequel to be able to jump on without having read the first book, but both books make for quick and easy reads, and include stories of witches, werewolves, undead, and other supernatural creatures. The first book is on sale for the Kindle right now for only $4.99 if you want to start at the beginning. (Read our full review of the new book.)

Ransom Riggs Library of Souls Miss Peregrine Peculiar Children Header

Library of Souls
The Third Novel of Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children
Hardcover | Kindle Edition
Written by Ransom Riggs
Quirk Books
Release Date: September 22nd, 2015

Library of Souls, the third book in the Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children series, was probably one of the most highly anticipated titles of the year, and definitely was one of the most secretive. Author Ranson Riggs shook things up in 2011 with the eerie Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children and its creepy vintage photographs throughout. Since then, the series (followed up in 2014 with Hollow City) has soared, with the first book being to the big screen by the one and only Tim Burton (perfect combination for sure). Library of Souls finds Miss Peregrine still in danger; Jacob and Bloom setting off on a dangerous rescue mission; and Jacob learning how to use his newfound gifts. One of the best, most compelling books of the year. (Read our full review of the new book.)

Dawn Of The Dead
Reissue Edition
Paperback | Kindle
by George A. Romero, Susanna Sparrow
Gallery Books | Simon & Schuster
Release date: May 25, 2015

George A. Romero’s 1978 Dawn Of The Dead is a horror movie classic that’s warranted repeat viewings over the past few decades, and earned legions of diehard fans. The filmmaker set the bar very high for zombie stories with this one, and without his Dead films, there’d be no zombie craze today, and definitely no Walking Dead. This year saw a reissue of Romero’s out-of-print novelization of the film, but this time, it includes an introduction by actor Simon Pegg, who dipped his toe into the zombie pool with 2004’s Shaun of the Dead, which successfully fused zombie horror action with comedy. As far as the writing goes, the Dawn book is no masterpiece, but it does stay very goes to the script, and provides additional information about the characters and situations in the film. This novelization isn’t strong enough on its own to entice any newbies into this zombie apocalypse, but tried and true fans will likely like to delve back into this universe.

Olympus Athens recommends the following…

Trollhunters Cover Header

Trollhunters
Hardcover | Paperback | Kindle Edition | Audiobook
Written by Guillermo del Toro & Daniel Kraus
Illustrated by Sean Murray | Jacket by E.M. Gist
Disney-Hyperion Books
Release Date: July 7, 2015

Here’s a little something for the youngsters — although not too young (11 and up). Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, who’s used to bringing the fantastical onto the big screen in films like Pan’s Labyrinth and Hellboy, joins with co-writer Daniel Kraus for this dark fantasy that sees a battle between evil trolls and humans teaming up with good trolls. The illustrations by Sean Murray bring this already descriptive adventure even more to life. Children go missing because they are troll food. It’s up to some high school losers, a British genius troll, and a gross grunty sweetheart of a troll, to save the kids in the town in this Goonie-ish tome. (Read our full review of the book.)

Brother Ania Ahlborn Header

Brother
Paperback | Kindle Edition | Audio CD
Written by Ania Ahlborn
Gallery Books | Simon & Schuster
Release Date: September 29, 2015

Young Michael Morrow’s family loves to kill. His parents, sister, and brother’s idea of good old family time is to kidnap a girl, bring her out into the desolate woods near their home, and torture her to death, with Michael being in charge of disposing the bodies. But, Michael is adopted, so he doesn’t have the inherited bloodthirsty gene; instead, he pities the victims and wants to get out of the life he was brought in to. Of course, that’s not so easy. Read the bloodiest nature vs. nurture tale of all. Ania Ahlborn’s horror tale is fast-paced and frightening, and manages to keep the twists and turns coming. A terrifying read for this Halloween season. (Read our full review of the book.)

Blood Infernal

Blood Infernal
The Order of the Sanguines Series Book #3
Hardcover | Paperback | Kindle | Paperback | Audible Audiobook
By James Rollins, Rebecca Cantrell
William Morrow | HarperCollins Publishers
Release date: February 10, 2015

Blood Infernal, the exciting conclusion to The Order of the Sanguines Series by James Rollins and Rebecca Cantrell, finishes what The Blood Gospel and Innocent Blood started. The Knight of Christ, The Warrior of Man, and the Woman of Learning – Rhun, Jordan, and Erin, are back, continuing their quest to stop Legion, to stop the return of Lucifer, to stop the Apocalypse. Everyone’s favorite vampire, Countess Elizabeth, is also here with her more bad and good agenda. Blood Infernal continues the awesome mixing of supernatural, religion, and war.

The Deep

The Deep
Hardcover | Kindle | Audible Audiobook
By Nick Cutter
Gallery Books | Simon & Schuster
Release date: January 13, 2015

This author of The Troop is so scary, he scared Stephen King (that’s scary!). Nick Cutter‘s second effort, The Deep, tells the horrific story of the “Gets,” which can be described as an Alzheimer’s pandemic.

How does one get it?
No one knows.

What is the cure?
None.

What are the symptoms?
First you start forgetting minor things – your phone, your keys, where you parked your car – normal stuff. Then… you forget where you live or who your family is. And finally… you forget how to live. Your body’s involuntary processes “forget” how to work. Somewhere in the deep ocean, a scientist found the secret to the cure, and that’s where the real horror begins.

Beyond Redemption Michael Fletcher Header

Beyond Redemption
Paperback | Kindle Edition
Written by Michael R. Fletcher
Harper Voyager | HarperCollins Publishers
Release Date: June 16, 2015

What if the power of belief shaped the world? What if your mirrored reflection could become strong enough to plot against you? The answers to these questions exist in a sad angry world. Beyond Redemption by Michael R. Fletcher is an apocalyptic fantasy world novel, because there’s no way this could ever be our Earth. Three murderous thieving companions travel together from job to job – maybe job isn’t the word. Maybe stealing, killing, and kidnapping are more appropriate words. These three should have no redeeming qualities, yet somehow Fletcher makes you like them. I think he is using the power of belief to do so. Their next job is to steal a god. Read our full review here.

– You can gift Kindle books and set your gift to be delivered whenever you want to anyone with an email address. On the Product Page (on the top right side), click the button that reads “Give as a Gift.” From there you enter the recipient’s email address and note the date you’d like your gift to be delivered via email, and also include a personalized message. There’s also the option to have the gift emailed right to you that you can forward the gift email to the recipient yourself or print it out and personally deliver it to the recipient.

– You don’t actually need a Kindle device to read these ebooks. Books can be read on a Kindle or one of Amazon’s free reading apps for iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows PC, Mac, Blackberry, and Windows Phone 7.

Feel free to let us know YOUR picks for favorite Halloween reads this year!

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