Hello November and what a spooky season it was for reading. Though we are on the other side of all things haunted and witchy take a look at this 10 stack to add to your TBR pile for next October’s reading list…or maybe Spooky Season lives on for you all year long.

“The Manningtree Witches” by A.K. Blakemore

Manningtree, England in 1643 is a miserable place to live. Rebecca West and her mother Ann are barely managing to keep a roof over their heads and the neighbors are suspicious and vindictive. When a young boy falls gravely ill after an argument with Ann West the local Witchfinder determines that he has been possessed by the Devil and Ann is to blame. Several Manningtree women are arrested and charged with witchcraft, Rebecca among them for if her mother is a witch surely she is too. Based on true events, “The Manningtree Witches” is a strongly written story that captures the pure insanity of the witch hysteria that took over England during this time. Witchfinder Matthew Hopkins is speculated to have been responsible for up to three hundred people for the crime of witchcraft. Though this isn’t an easy read, writing style as well as content, it is worth a TBR add if only to step back in time to learn more about these horrific injustices.

“The Salem Witch Hunt” by Captivating History

In 1692 Salem, Massachusetts was swept up in witch hysteria. Accusations that started in the home of Samuel Parris quickly spread throughout Salem and the surrounding areas. Soon over 200 people would find themselves accused of witchcraft and before the madness was shut down 24 people lost their lives. “The Salem Witch Hunt” covers all of the basics regarding the hysteria but never truly dives deep into what caused the issues and grazes over the victims’ stories. I listened to the audiobook version of “The Salem Witch Hunt” and as a Massachusetts native was surprised to hear several key names and towns pronounced incorrectly which all could have been easily researched for accuracy. With so many books, podcasts and documentaries out there covering the Salem Witch Trials this wouldn’t be my first recommendation to someone interested in learning more about this horrific part of New England history.

“Angelika Frankenstein Makes Her Match” by Sally Thorne

Angelika and Victor Frankenstein have a unique sibling interest in ground breaking research. Victor is driven to outsmart his nemesis but Angelika has other intentions. Having exhausted almost all of her romantic prospects she decides to create her own dream husband. Reanimating someone can’t be harder than finding a living match, could it? But when her creation comes to life he isn’t immediately head over heels for Angelika but more determined to regain his memory of who he used to be. The Frankensteins have successfully kept their experiments a secret but with one of them now actively roaming around could the siblings’ genius finally prove to be a danger? Ok…this was a weird one. If you can set aside that Will is/was very much dead you can somewhat enjoy the romance of this story but I had such a hard time getting past that. I mean, the man is sewn together concoction of bodies that she supposedly is attracted to? (A sentence I never thought I’d write.) As you can imagine, it’s hard to relate. Though for Spooky Season, you almost make exceptions to the crazy fiction of it all but outside of that this is a crazy (yet creative) one.

“The Kiss Curse” by Erin Sterling

The Jones witches are back! All is well in Graves Glen after the disaster that Gwyn and Vivi saved the town from certain doom, her shop Something Wicked is doing well and she is happily mentoring a new little group of young witches – what could go wrong? Just as her cousin Vivi leaves on her honeymoon, Gwyn notices her powers starting to fade and as if that isn’t bad enough another Penhallow has waltzed back into town setting up shop across the road from her but Gwyn won’t let him slide into Graves Glen that easily. When a mysterious witch from their past decides to return to town at the same time Gwyn will have to put her disdain for Wells aside and align with the Penhallows once again in order to protect the town she loves and those who live there. I was so excited to see a sequel to Sterling’s hit “The Ex Hex” hitting shelves just in time for Halloween. With another visit to the spooky version of Stars Hollow I am now fully ready for the season. Also, with there still being another single Penhallow brother in Graves Glen, does this mean we get another next year? (Fingers crossed!) Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

“The Butcher and the Wren” by Alaina Urquhart

Forensic Pathologist Dr. Wren Muller arrives at the scene of New Orleans’ latest homicide. Nothing about this feels right and Wren is beginning to think that a serial killer is hard at work. She starts to notice clues, like breadcrumbs being left behind, fitting together to form a terrifying puzzle that are leading her straight to the Butcher’s next victims, always too late to save them. As the killer starts to gain confidence Wren becomes more determined than ever to take this psychopath off the streets and end the game he is playing with her and his victims. Calling all Weirdos!! If you are a fan of Morbid podcast then you already know who author Alaina Urquhart is but if you have yet to be introduced (seriously, what are you waiting for?) know that Alaina brings some very highly educated and professional knowledge from her “day job” as an autopsy technician into her telling of “The Butcher and the Wren”. It’s always great when someone with background knowledge writes books like these because you know its authentic point of view. This is a short, quick read, I took it down in one day and gives off lots of “Silence of the Lambs” feels with the cat and mouse chase between Wren and the Butcher. I won’t give anything away but I have a feeling this won’t be Urquhart’s last visit with Wren and even more exciting is this story was picked up to be turned into a TV series. All good things Urquhart and for those of us who like to “keep.it.weeiiirrrd”. (Seriously, go listen to Morbid and read this book…in whatever order you choose.)

“The Book of Cold Cases” by Simone St. James

On a dark road in Claire Lake, Oregon in 1977 two men were brutally killed in two separate attacks both times the killer leaving behind a strange note determined to be written by a woman. A witness to the second crime identified twenty-three year old Beth Greer as the Lady Killer, a nickname sensationalized by the press. Flash-forward to 2017 and nothing fascinates Shea Collins more than true crime. A doctor’s receptionist by day, Shea moonlights as a cold case blogger at night for her website “The Book of Cold Cases”. When the opportunity arises to interview Beth for the blog, Shea is shocked that she is the one chosen for the job. Beth invites Shea to Greer Mansion, the site of Julian Greer’s brutal murder decades ago. From the start Shea feels as if something is off in the house. Then she starts to see objects move on their own and mysterious, dark visions around corners. Shea begins to question her own safety sitting with the person who quite possibly could be a murderer and with things unseen in the house that don’t seem to want her there. Is getting the story of the century direct from Beth worth risking it all? With so many thriller books out there it’s hard to know when one of them will be a hit but let me tell you “The Book of Cold Cases” was a winner in my book. It has a little bit of everything us spooky/crime/whodunit lovers want. I would recommend giving this one an add to your TBR list…just maybe don’t read it at night.

“Haunted Massachusetts: Ghosts and Strange Phenomena of the Bay State” by Cheri Farnsworth

Every state has their claim to fame ghost stories but my home state has to have some of the best. From UFOs, cryptids, ghosts and legends Massachusetts is filled with tales of the unexplained. Broken into regions “Haunted Massachusetts” shares strange tales of the paranormal and mysterious events from the Bay State. If you are a MA native you have definitely been told some of these stories through the years and while reading, may just learn something new about your area’s history that you have never heard before. From historic Salem and Boston to the Bridgewater Triangle pick this one up if you dare to take a step into the spooky stories from one of the most haunted states in the US.

“The Science of Witchcraft: The Truth Behind Sabrina, Maleficent, Glinda, and More of Your Favorite Fictional Witches” by Meg Hafdahl & Kelly Florence

“Kelly Florence and Meg Hafdahl, authors of The Science of Women in Horror and co-hosts of the Horror Rewind podcast called “the best horror film podcast out there” by Film Daddy, present a guide to the history of witchcraft through the stories and characters we all know and love.” – I went into this book thinking it would be filled with fun facts and little known trivia to learn about the fictional witches and magic we all grew up watching and enjoying. Maybe for some the structure of this book would work but for me it felt choppy and I lost interest quickly especially with things I was unfamiliar with. Each chapter is broken up into a different character/subject but within it’s interrupted with some science facts that at times felt irrelevant to the topic being discussed. I don’t know if I just wasn’t in the right mindset to take this on but sadly this was a miss for me. Thank you to NetGalley and Skyhorse Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

“Beyond the Wand: The Magic & Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard” by Tom Felton

The wizard we all loved to hate wrote a book! I was just out of the target audience when Harry Potter was first published but have since done multiple rereads with my children of the series and watched the movies countless times. When the bleached blonde Malfoy child steps into the screen he’s so believably the villain you forget that he is being portrayed by a twelve year old child, Tom Felton. Felton found himself dropped into the middle of the huge life altering wave known as Potter and rode it for the next decade dropping him on the other side into adulthood. Felton shares honestly and openly his experiences growing up Malfoy, his on and off-screen family life, his teenage antics (some legal, some not) and what life was like for him post-Hogwarts. The chaos, creativity and the highs and lows that come along with fame at a young age are all explored in “Beyond the Wand”. I can’t recommend the audio version enough as it is narrated by the author himself which adds the cherry on top of this awesome read. I was so disappointed when the last chapter rolled around not wanting this one to end. I highly recommend reading this one for all Potter fans to peer behind the curtain as to what it was like for the Muggle actors in one of the most iconic movie series of all time.

“The Family Game” by Catherine Steadman

Harry has seemingly got it all. A best selling book, a great life in New York City and a handsome new fiancé, Edward. Edward Holbeck’s large family is the definition of old money with power and influence to go along with it but Harry has yet to meet any of them. Edward left the family business stepping away from everyone for reasons he doesn’t like to discuss but now with an official engagement the family is trying to pull Edward and Harry back into their orbit. With Edward expected to inherit all the Holbeck empire and the family welcoming Harry with open arms it seems as if fences are being mended in the Holbeck clan. That is until Harry meets Richard, Edward’s father. To say Richard is intimidating is an understatement so when he passes Harry a cassette with a shocking confession on it Harry begins to question whether or not the Holbecks are to be feared as much as they are envied. Family traditions, dangerous games and old buried secrets bubbling to the surface has Harry running for her life. Let the games begin. Let me tell you, “The Family Game” was a page-turner…and made me incredibly grateful I didn’t marry into an insane family like this. Thriller lovers will enjoy Steadman’s latest work and have you counting your blessings this holiday season for your “normal” family traditions. Being set during the holiday season, if you are an anti-romance reader but would like a book set during the holidays to read in the coming weeks give this one a try!

’til next time,

The Booked Mama

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