Autumn is officially here in force. Cool days, colourful leaves and the ever-present smell of wood smoke are all signs that it's time to curl up under the covers, a cup of something warm in hand, and read the days (and long nights) away. And since Halloween is just around the corner, it's the perfect time to delve into some spookier, chillier, spine-tingling reads.
For that we bring to you our Chilly Fall Reading Guide, a list of book recommendations for readers of all tastes and ages that will get your heart racing and keep you up at night, or at least have you sleeping with the lights on.
The Little Book of Big Fears (Owlkids Books) by Monica Arnaldo
Whether it’s raccoons, the dark, math, or whatever lurks in the bathtub, everybody is afraid of something. Big or small, common or quirky, fears are normal—and maybe even a little less scary when brought to light (and made light of). Darkly playful illustrations show each fear as magnified and real as a child would imagine it. Rhyming text and complex, interesting vocabulary make this book an enriching read.
Pillow (Coach House Books) by Andrew Battershill
A gentle soul, Pillow doesn't love his life of crime. But he isn't cut out for much else, what with all the punches to the head he took as a professional boxer. When an antique-coin heist goes awry, Pillow sees his chance to make one last big score before getting out and going straight. He soon finds himself knee-deep in murder and morphine, kidnapping a pseudo-priest and doing some fancy footwork around a pair of corrupt cops in this literary crime fiction that punches above its weight.
Daughters and Other Strangers (The Brucedale Press) by Sandy Conrad
In these eight crime noir stories, characters are sent into the paths of danger and possible destruction. As women and their families deal with crisis and crime, readers encounter stories full of strangers with dear and familiar faces: farming neighbours, a writer in a real-estate day job, a teacher searching for a missing colleague and friend.
A Beginner's Guide to Immortality: From Alchemy to Avatars (Owlkids Books) by Maria Birmingham,
illustrated by Josh Holinaty
Is it possible to live forever? People have been trying to figure out a way to escape mortality since, well, forever. This book takes readers on a fast-paced tour of several wacky and wise methods humans have used to try prolonging their lives, from ancient immortality elixirs and quests for a fountain of youth to modern-day research into cryogenics and robotics. Illustrations of historical figures, imaginary places and scientific specimens add a touch of whimsy and bring out the beauty, sincerity and playful side of human curiosity.
Dancing in Red Shoes Will Kill You (Inanna Publicatons) by Donna Decker
Though the narrative of three women, Dancing in Red Shoes Will Kill You explores the tragic events of the “Montreal Massacre,” when on December 6, 1989, fourteen female engineering students were murdered in their classrooms. Beginning in the fall and leading up to the tragic winter event, this novel explores the gendered antagonisms of two college campuses and examines the enduring effects of the massacre’s 24 minutes of inarticulate inhumanity.
Cauchemar (ECW Press) by Alexandra Grigorescu
In this haunting gothic novel, 20-year-old Hannah finds herself living alone on the edge of a Louisiana swamp after her adopted mother and protector dies. At first Hannah finds solace in a new relationship with the easy-going Callum, but after her mysterious birth mother, outcast and rumoured to commune with the dead, comes back into Hannah's life, she must confront what she's been hiding from—the deadly spirits that haunt the swamp, the dark secrets of her past and the nascent gift she possesses.
Nothing to Lose but Our Fear: Resistance in Dangerous Times (Between the Lines) by Fiona Jeffries
Nothing to Lose but Our Fear brings together an international group of scholars and activists and asks them how can we think critically and act productively in a world awash in fear. Their conversations with Fiona Jeffries provoke consideration of the often hidden histories of people's emancipatory practices and offer reflections that can help us understand the conjuncture of systemic fear and resistance.
The Murder of Halland (Coach House Books) by Pia Juul, translated by Martin Aitken
Denmark's foremost literary author turns crime fiction on its head, contemplating what happens when grief catches you off guard in this IMPAC Dublin Prize longlisted novel. When Halland is found murdered almost right outside his door, his widow, Bess, is of course the prime suspect. She isn't worried about that, though, but about the daughter she abandoned years ago. As the police investigate, the slightly cantankerous Bess instead follows a trail of her own regrets and misapprehensions.
The Plotline Bomber of Innisfree (BookThug) by Josh Massey
Terrifying, suspensful and humourous, The Plotline Bomber of Innisfree tells the story of Jeffery Inkster, an ex-hipster-turned elk farmer whose dreams of a peaceful life are shattered when he becomes embroiled in the political violence of oil-pipeline expansion. Set in the near-future, this novel of activism and counter-terrorism goes beyond the protest lines, where mysterious forces are at play, forces that eat into the consciousness of all those involved.
Loyalist to a Fault (ECW Press) by Evan Munday
October Schwartz and her five deadest pals are back for another crime-solving caper, and when a ghost pirate appears on the scene, our favourite teen detective may be in over her head. The Dead Kid Detective Agency’s third quest is a veritable bouquet of misadventures that weaves the American Revolution, a beyond-chaotic school dance, a historic sea vessel and a boatload of supernatural shenanigans into one unforgettable madcap adventure.
Between the Cracks She Fell (Inanna Publications) by Lisa de Nikolits
Between the Cracks She Fell is a gripping thriller that follows Joss, a young woman who has fallen off the grid after a run of bad luck that begins with a breakup and ends with losing her home. Camping out in a vacant complex of school buildings used by a gang of teenagers for wild, drug-fueled parties, Joss forms new relationships with equally troubled people as she wrestles with the consequences of betrayal, surviving in troubled times and the pervasiveness of religious domination.
Corky (The Brucedale Press) by M. Suzanne Sloan
In this canine whodunit, Corky's present and past owners—an immigrant farmer, a boutique owner and a tourist-lodge worker—can scarcely believe their Airedale is charged with killing a man. Will the bond between Corky and one of his humans save the day?
The Night Children (Annick Press) by Sarah Tsiang, illustrated by Delphine Bodet
When the streets are empty and kids are called home for dinner and put to bed, the world becomes a magical place. It’s only then that the night children emerge from the shadows, ready to play. In this evocative and lyrical picture book, it is the night children who rule, taking over the world that the day children have left behind. Complemented by beautiful, glowing artwork, this poetic story will ignite the creative souls of children everywhere.
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