Because sometimes reality just isn’t weird enough.
This month’s reading list is part of the October issue of The Roxbury Edit where I’m embracing all things fall, from great jackets and creative projects to a few delightfully strange books. Because October is the perfect excuse to get a little weird, when it comes to what we’re reading.
October is here, which means it’s officially time for darker nights, questionable amounts of Halloween candy, and books that make you wonder whether you locked the door before going to bed.
This month, I’m skipping the predictable murder mysteries and leaning into something a little stranger. Think alternate realities, mysterious disappearances, creepy motels, and places where the laws of physics seem more like suggestions.
If you love a good mystery with a side of Stranger Things, these six books should do the trick. Just don’t expect to get much sleep.
The Gone World by Tom Sweterlitsch
The alternate reality.
A murder investigation is complicated enough without throwing time travel into the mix. However, that’s exactly what happens when an agent investigating a brutal crime discovers alternate futures and a threat far bigger than the case she’s trying to solve.
Part murder mystery, part science fiction, and entirely unsettling. Apparently solving a murder isn’t stressful enough without worrying about the end of the world.
The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher
The portal to somewhere else
A woman discovers a mysterious hole in the wall of her uncle’s odd little museum. Instead of calling a contractor and going about her day, she investigates.
What she finds is a doorway into a world that most definitely isn’t on any travel bucket list.
It’s creepy, bizarre, and just the right amount of ridiculous. A good reminder that sometimes a hole in the wall should remain a hole in the wall.
The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James
The retro mystery
A young woman returns to the roadside motel where her aunt mysteriously disappeared decades earlier. The motel hasn’t changed much, and neither, apparently, have its secrets.
There are ghosts, suspicious characters, and enough eerie happenings to make you rethink ever booking a roadside motel again.
Personally, I’ve always been more of a boutique hotel person.
14 by Peter Clines
The building with secrets
Nate’s new apartment seems almost too good to be true. The rent is cheap, the neighbors are interesting, but there are a few things about the building that don’t quite add up.
Odd rooms, strange architecture, and mysteries hidden behind the walls turn an ordinary apartment building into something decidedly extraordinary.
There’s a definite Stranger Things vibe here, minus the teenagers on bicycles. It’s the kind of story that starts with a few harmless questions and ends with you questioning everything. And really, cheap rent should have been the first red flag.
The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins
The truly bizarre
A mysterious library, a missing father figure, and a group of deeply unusual siblings who possess some rather extraordinary knowledge.
This one is dark, twisted, and unlike just about anything else on the list. Power, secrets, and some seriously dysfunctional family dynamics all play a role.
If you thought your family gatherings were complicated, this bunch might make Thanksgiving look downright pleasant.
The Ferryman by Justin Cronin
The perfect world that’s anything but
On the idyllic island of Prospera, everyone lives a long, comfortable life. When their time is up, they’re sent away to be renewed and eventually returned.
Sounds lovely, right? A little suspiciously lovely.
When one man begins questioning how this supposedly perfect society works, things start unraveling.
It’s a mystery wrapped in a dystopian world, with plenty of twists and uncomfortable questions about what happens when paradise isn’t quite what it seems.
And isn’t that always the problem with paradise? There’s usually someone behind the scenes making the rules.
Looking for Your Next Good Read?
If alternate realities and creepy motels aren’t quite your thing, don’t worry. There’s plenty more on The Roxbury Bookshelf From page-turning thrillers to historical fiction and everything in between, I’ve rounded up more reading lists to help you find your next favorite. Because the only thing better than finishing a good book is already having another one lined up. Preferably with a glass of wine.
One Last Chapter…
I love a good psychological thriller, but every once in a while, I want something that goes completely off the rails. Not necessarily horror, and definitely not anything involving a masked man with a chainsaw. Just a smart, strange story that keeps me guessing and makes me wonder what on earth I just read.
These six books deliver a little mystery, a little science fiction, and a healthy dose of what the hell is going on?
Think of it as a reading list for anyone who loves Stranger Things but would prefer to experience the Upside Down from the comfort of their own sofa.
Perfect for October, when the evenings get darker, the blankets come out, and staying home with a book sounds considerably better than making plans.
Happy reading. And maybe leave a light on.
