Halloween and crime fiction are a devilishly good pairing. When the nights draw in, the leaves start to fall and the shadows seem just a little longer than usual, there’s something joyful about settling down with a good murder mystery, preferably somewhere warm and with the lights on.
On the one hand, some enjoy the campy side of the season. There’s nothing like a bit of gothy cosplay, is there? So, if your ideal Halloween involves eccentric amateur sleuths, atmospheric settings, suspicious deaths and just a hint of the supernatural, half the novels in this selection provide plenty of seasonal chills without keeping you awake all night.
On the other, many readers prefer something a lot darker, and Halloween is when the annual crop of new horror firms tends to appear. If you like crime reads more disturbing and decidedly less comfy, we’ve also picked five grittier reads where the shadows conceal considerably more than a few ghosts.
From locked-room murders and sinister secrets to slashers and true terror, I’ve teamed up with my Crime Fiction Lover colleague Rough Justice to select ten books that offer something for every crime reader this spooky season. So grab your favourite Halloween treat, settle into your most comfortable chair and prepare to meet some killers. Just remember: if you hear footsteps outside your window, it might be wise to check that you’re not living in a crime novel yourself…
1 – A Ghost Hunter’s Guide to Catching a Killer by FH Petford
Set in Falmouth in 1915, FH Petford’s A Ghost Hunter’s Guide to Catching a Killer returns to the Timperley Spiritualist Hotel, where Alma Timperley provides solace to grieving families seeking contact with loved ones lost in World War I. But when one of her guests is murdered, Alma’s talents are required for rather more earthly detective work. Petford handles the period setting well, capturing a society shaped by bereavement, social divisions and the ever-present demands of war. The spiritualist elements add atmosphere without overwhelming the mystery, while Alma makes an engaging protagonist: intelligent, compassionate and sufficiently inquisitive to find herself drawn into the investigation. Charming without being lightweight and atmospheric without becoming overly gothic, A Ghost Hunter’s Guide to Catching a Killer should appeal to those who enjoy historical mysteries with a gentle supernatural edge.
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2 – The Lodge by Paul Finch
The best-selling author of the DS Mark Heckenburg series of action-orientated police procedurals is also a celebrated writer of dark fiction and has been a mainstay of the UK horror scene for more than two decades. On the basis of his most recent book, The Lodge, published in January 2026, the author’s knack for entertaining the reader is as reliable as ever. A weekend-long true crime tour has its finale in Black Tarn Lodge, once the home of the late horror movie star Edgar Karnwood. Shrouded in mist, the Gothic mansion becomes a true scene of terror as, one by one, the members of the group are killed off in increasingly gruesome fashion. The Lodge is a riotous mix of murder mystery and pulpy tribute to the Hammer Horror films of the past.
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3 – The Cornish Halloween Murder by Fiona Leitch
Fiona Leitch brings a suitably spooky tone to her latest Nosey Parker mystery, The Cornish Halloween Murder. As Halloween approaches in Penstowan, the abandoned St Ann’s convent and cottage hospital becomes the focus of a battle over its proposed redevelopment. Strange dolls concealed within the walls, unsettling reports of ghostly activity and whispers of witches give the building a sinister reputation. For former police officer Jodie Parker, however, there is little time to contemplate the supernatural. When a builder is discovered dead at the bottom of a staircase, she and her husband, DCI Nathan Withers, must establish whether something otherworldly is responsible or whether a very human killer is hiding among the protesters, developers and locals. Leitch strikes the familiar balance between murder mystery and comedy that has made the Nosey Parker series so enjoyable. The Cornish setting is once again an important part of the story, while Jodie remains an engaging amateur sleuth whose curiosity inevitably gets her into trouble. The Halloween backdrop provides plenty of atmosphere without allowing the paranormal elements to overwhelm the central whodunnit.
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4 – The Wolf and the Watchman by Niklas Natt och Dag
Set at the end of the 18th century in Stockholm, known locally as The City Between the Bridges, this novel begins in almost Holmesian fashion. Mickel Cardell (our Watson) is a watchman in name only, the post awarded to him after losing an arm in King Gustav’s army. He spends his days in a drunken state, neglecting his duty, until one day he fishes a corpse out of the river. The case comes to the attention of Cecil Winge, a brilliant lawyer and investigator who is dying of tuberculosis, and so a remarkable friendship begins that affects both men equally. The horror, as with The Lodge, is entirely man made, as the novel pits our protagonists against a hidden group of rich and powerful sadists. This is not for the faint of heart; the author explores the cruelty of the period as well as the corrupt, rotten heart of the Swedish nobility. The Wolf and the Watchman, like the other two novels in the author’s trilogy, is a brilliant mix of literary, historical, crime and horror fiction, ably translated by Ebba Segerberg.
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5 – Tis the Season to be Scary by Vicki Delany
Vicki Delany again proves that seasonal mysteries don’t have to wait until December in ’Tis the Season to Be Scary. The ninth Year-Round Christmas Mystery moves the action to Halloween, as Rudolph, New York, prepares for a fundraising gala at the Yuletide Inn. For Merry Wilkinson, the evening should be an opportunity to celebrate her best friend Vicky Casey’s forthcoming cookbook. Instead, it ends in murder when a guest dies after eating a cake pop. With Vicky’s reputation on the line, Merry is drawn into an investigation involving a book critic, a former opera star and a host of gala guests with reasons to keep secrets. There is even a supernatural presence in the form of the ghost of Ebenezer Scrooge, although Merry has rather more reason to fear a living killer. Delany handles the cosy mystery formula with confidence, combining a colourful cast of suspects with a satisfyingly festive setting that strikes an intriguing contrast with the Halloween backdrop.
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6 – Marion by Leah Rowan
Published this summer, Leah Rowan’s Marion has quickly established itself as one of the most inventive and entertaining novels in the Femgore sub-genre of horror. The concept of this novel alone makes it worth the read, subverting as it does the trope of the helpless-female-prey-of-the-slasher by empowering one of horror cinema’s most iconic victims. In this story, it’s Norman Bates who dies, and he’s only her first victim. Marion is witty, fast-paced, and can be read as a twisted cousin of last year’s Victorian Psycho.
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7 – The Cat and the Halloween Murder by LT Shearer
Halloween provides the perfect backdrop for LT Shearer’s latest Conrad the Cat Detective mystery, The Cat and the Halloween Murder. When retired detective Lulu Lewis and her remarkable talking cat, Conrad, arrive in Stratford-upon-Avon to spend Halloween with friends, they expect a few days of seasonal fun. Instead, a midnight performance of Macbeth ends dramatically when the leading actor collapses on stage. It soon becomes apparent that it was no theatrical accident. Another member of the cast has recently died under suspicious circumstances, and Lulu and Conrad find themselves drawn into an investigation that reaches beyond the stage and into the secrets of the local community. Shearer makes good use of the Shakespearean setting, adding a suitably theatrical quality to a mystery already filled with shadows, suspicion and Halloween atmosphere. The contrast between Lulu’s practical investigative instincts and Conrad’s distinctly feline approach to detection remains the series’ greatest charm, while their relationship gives the story plenty of warmth and humour.
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8 – Senseless by Ronald Malfi
There is no better writer in horror than Malfi and Senseless is one of his best, broadening his range to include crime and thriller elements alongside the horror. Los Angeles Detective Bill Renney, widowed and close to retirement, is left trying to solve an impossible crime. A corpse has been found out in the desert, and the crime scene mirrors a case he thought he had solved a decade ago. The difficulty for Bill is that he allowed justice in the first case to take its course outside of the courts, and solving this new case will reveal his own complicity in a murder. Malfi is a master at characterisation, atmosphere and a slow creeping sense of dread. Entertaining as it is, the novel is also an examination of grief.
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9 – Murder on the Haunted Express by Emma Mason
Emma Mason takes her wonderfully unconventional detective on the rails in Murder on the Haunted Express, an atmospheric locked-room mystery that combines classic crime fiction ingredients with a distinctly spooky twist. Ex-detective Midge McGowan is hoping for a peaceful journey through the snowy Scottish Highlands, but relaxation proves elusive when a fellow passenger is found dead inside a locked carriage. There is no obvious way in or out, and rumours persist of a mysterious figure haunting the train’s last carriage. Add a silent prisoner travelling under guard and a collection of passengers with plenty to hide, and Midge has all the ingredients she needs for another investigation. The claustrophobic setting works well. With the train hurtling through the Highlands and escape impossible, suspicion naturally falls on everyone aboard. Mason understands the appeal of the traditional locked-room puzzle, while the supernatural suggestions add atmosphere without providing easy answers.
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10 – Crone by Keith Rosson
This last novel is the only one in our selection with a substantial supernatural element, which usually steer wide of because of the possibility of an impossible, unrealistic or too-easy solution to a mystery. Rosson is an emerging star of the horror genre, finding acclaim for his dark imagination, mastery of tropes and pedal-to-the metal writing style. The latter makes his novels an almost gonzo-style adrenaline-fuelled blast, but shouldn’t obscure the subtlety and nuance of his characterisation. Only just out, Crone is a mash-up of supernatural horror and hardboiled American crime writing. Eli Lamp, a former detective, fell into addiction after the murder of his daughter. Now, he’s a mob-enforcer for The Crooked Wheel. When the son of his boss is murdered, Lamp is told find the killer and his debts will be paid. The investigation promises a fresh start for Lamp, but will circle back to his daughter’s death. Will it be a price worth paying?
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We don’t always run a Halloween feature here on Crime Fiction Lover, but when we do it’s a lot of fun. Here’s our effort from 2021. Tell us your favourite horror crossovers or cosy campy crime novels in the comments below.
