Spine-tingling nonfiction reads for Halloween

It’s Halloween, and before the day is over, there is still just enough time to embrace all things spooky. And while horror novels and audiobooks definitely satisfy a reader’s macabre interests, these nonfiction books reach a higher level of unsettling creepiness because these ghastly tales are about real people, real places, and real events. Here are some stories to keep you up at night.

Terrifying nonfiction books for Halloween

If you’re looking for nonfiction books that delve into the eerie, mysterious, or downright chilling—perfect for Halloween—then here’s a curated list:

• “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman’s Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer” by Michelle McNamara. McNamara’s meticulous investigation into the elusive Golden State Killer blends memoir with true crime journalism. It is deeply personal and harrowing, even more so that she died after writing this book and the killer was eventually caught.
• “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” by John Berendt. An enigmatic murder trial set in Savannah, interweaving eccentric characters, gothic ambiance, and Southern charm. This is true crime meets travelogue.
• “The Wicked Boy: An Infamous Murder in Victorian London” by Kate Summerscale. This haunting portrayal of Victorian-era child murderer Robert Coombes explores morality, society, and sensationalism. It is a darkly compelling narrative.

• “Hell’s Princess: The Mystery of Belle Gunness, Butcher of Men” by Harold Schechter. A darkly fascinating dive into Belle Gunness‘ life, one of America’s most prolific female serial killers. It is both disturbing and gripping.
• “The In-Betweens: The Spiritualists, Mediums, and Legends of Camp Etna” by Mira Ptacin. The book chronicles Camp Etna’s spiritualist history, blending mysticism, mediums, and cultural legacy. As a result, it it can be rather eerie, but it is illuminating, and richly researched.
• “The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America” by Erik Larson. The Devil in the White City talks about Chicago’s 1893 World’s Fair and America’s ‘first’ serial killer H.H. Holmes. The book is vivid, historical, and chillingly atmospheric.
• “Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness” by Susannah Cahalan. Cahalan descended into madness due to a rare illness that seemingly had no cure. It is a personal, medical mystery journey, which is both poignant and terrifying.
• “We Keep the Dead Close: A Murder at Harvard and a Half Century of Silence” by Becky Cooper. Cooper’s work surrounds Harvard’s unsolved 1969 murder. The author’s obsessive pursuit intertwines academia, misogyny, and mystery.

Read: Only Murders in the Building: why we love true crime books

• “The Last Stone” by Mark Bowden. An intense account of the cold case investigation into Maryland’s missing Lyon sisters. There was a detailed, relentless police interrogation which finally led to a conviction in 2017.
• “The Lampshade: A Holocaust Detective Story from Buchenwald to New Orleans” by Mark Jacobson. This disturbing quest traces a lampshade’s Holocaust origins. Jacobson mingles history, forensics, and moral quandaries.
• “The Stranger Beside Me: The Shocking Inside Story of Serial Killer Ted Bundy” by Ann Rule. Rule’s book looks at her chilling personal association with Ted Bundy. It showcases a unique dual perspective: friendship and horror.

• “The Road to Jonestown: Jim Jones and Peoples Temple” by Jeff Guinn. This is a deep dive into Jim Jones, Jonestown and the Peoples Temple’s tragic trajectory. The book is a comprehensive, horrifying account of mass delusion.
• “Zodiac: The Shocking True Story of the Hunt for the Nation’s Most Elusive Serial Killer” by Robert Graysmith. An obsessive hunt for the enigmatic Zodiac Killer. Graysmith’s personal involvement lends a chilling, methodical perspective.
• “Ghostland: An American History in Haunted Places” by Colin Dickey. A journey through America’s haunted places, blending history, folklore, and cultural analysis.
• “If You Tell: A True Story of Murder, Family Secrets, and the Unbreakable Bond of Sisterhood” by Gregg Olsen. A heart-wrenching tale of abuse, resilience, and sisterhood. It tells the story of three sisters’ harrowing journey towards truth.
• “The Good Nurse: A True Story of Medicine, Madness, and Murder” by Charles Graeber. The chilling account of Charles Cullen, a nurse-turned-serial killer. It also explores how the healthcare system failed patients by sheltering these crimes.

• “A Slow Death: 83 Days of Radiation Sickness” by NHK TV Crew. These agonising accounts from Hiroshima victims talk about suffering from radiation sickness. It is brutally detailed, humanising, and deeply affecting.
• “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes & Other Lessons from the Crematory” by Caitlin Doughty. Unlike the other books in this list, Doughty’s book is a positive look at death. The mortician’s candid exploration of the funeral industry is darkly humorous, educational, and refreshingly honest.
• “Unspeakable Acts: True Tales of Crime, Murder, Deceit, and Obsession” edited by Sarah Weinman. These curated true crime essays, dissects human depravity, societal views, and crime culture.

Each of these books, in their own way, touches on themes that are truly evil or eye-opening for the Halloween season, blending history, mystery, true crime, and the supernatural. Grab a cozy blanket, some candles, and dive into these tales that will surely send shivers down your spine.

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