LibGuides: Virtual Displays: Spooky Reads

Chilly nights call for something eerie—but not all scares come from fiction. Dive into the origins of the world’s most spine-tingling creatures: witches, vampires, ghosts, goblins, werewolves, and more.

Explore how these figures emerged from cultural fears, societal norms, and historical events. You may come to understand them… maybe even sympathize with them. But beware—once you look too closely, the monsters might just look back.

The Demon-Haunted World by Carl Sagan; Ann Druyan
ISBN: 9780345409461

Publication Date: 1997-02-25

A prescient warning of a future we now inhabit, where fake news stories and Internet conspiracy theories play to a disaffected American populace "A glorious book . . . A spirited defense of science . . . From the first page to the last, this book is a manifesto for clear thought."-Los Angeles Times How can we make intelligent decisions about our increasingly technology-driven lives if we don't understand the difference between the myths of pseudoscience and the testable hypotheses of science?
The Keeper of Lonely Spirits by E. M. Anderson
ISBN: 9780778368526

Publication Date: 2025-03-25

In this mesmerizing, wonderfully moving queer cozy horror fantasy, an immortal ghost hunter must confront his tragic past and solve a centuries-old mystery in order to embrace his found family. Find an angry spirit. Send it on its way before it causes trouble. Leave before anyone learns his name. After over two hundred years, Peter Shaughnessy is ready to die and end this cycle. But thanks to a youthful encounter with one o' them folk in his native Ireland, he can't. Instead, he's cursed to wander eternally far from home, with the ability to see ghosts and talk to plants.
Ship of Ghosts by James D. Hornfischer
ISBN: 9780553384505

Publication Date: 2007-08-28

"Son, we're going to Hell." The navigator of the USS Houston confided these prophetic words to a young officer as he and his captain charted a course into U.S. naval legend. Renowned as FDR's favorite warship, the cruiser USS Houston was a prize target trapped in the far Pacific after Pearl Harbor. Without hope of reinforcement, her crew faced a superior Japanese force ruthlessly committed to total conquest. It wasn't a fair fight, but the men of the Houston would wage it to the death. There, hopelessly outnumbered, the Houston was finally sunk and its survivors taken prisoner.
Grave Danger by James Grippando
ISBN: 9780063358034

Publication Date: 2025-01-14

Bestselling author James Grippando's legendary criminal defense attorney Jack Swyteck is back to defend a single mother accused of kidnapping her own child in a perilous case involving politics and international diplomacy that will test his legal expertise and his marriage. Jack Swyteck's new client fled Iran to Miami with her daughter, and has been accused of kidnapping by her husband. The seasoned attorney must not only plan a winning defense.
Ghosts among Us by James Van Praagh
ISBN: 9780061553387

Publication Date: 2009-06-16

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Ghosts, but Were Too Afraid to Ask From a very young age James Van Praagh was aware of a dimension that most of us cannot see, and he has dedicated his life to explaining it to the rest of us. The New York Times bestseller Ghosts Among Us takes us on an incredible journey into the spirit world that brings to light one of our greatest mysteries--what happens to us after we die?
The Morals of Monster Stories by Leslie Ormandy (Editor)
ISBN: 9781476664842

Publication Date: 2017-08-14

The simplicity of children's picture books--stories told with illustrations and a few well chosen words or none at all--makes them powerful tools for teaching morals and personal integrity. Children follow the story and see the characters' behaviors on the page and interpret them in the context of their own lives. But unlike many picture books, most children's lives don't feature monsters. This collection of new essays explores the societally sanctioned behaviors imparted to children through the use of monsters and supernatural characters. Topics include monsters as instructors, the normalization of strangers or the "other," fostering gender norms, and therapeutic monsters, among others.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
ISBN: 9783895080890

Publication Date: 1998-01-01

A summer evening's ghost stories, lonely insomnia in a moonlit Alpine's room, and a runaway imagination--fired by philosophical discussions with Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley about science, galvanism, and the origins of life--conspired to produce for Marry Shelley this haunting night specter.
Ghosts Across Kentucky by William Lynwood Montell
ISBN: 9781283327237

Publication Date: 2014-05-09

There are over 250 stories in Ghosts across Kentucky that are set in specific places and times. They include tales of graveyards, haunted dormitories, animal ghosts, and vanishing hitchhikers. Montell describes weird lights, unexplained sounds, felt presences, and disappearing apparitions. Phantom workmen, fallen soldiers, young lovers, and executed criminals appear in these pages, along with the living who chance upon them.

Nineteenth-Century Southern Gothic Short Fiction by Charles L. Crow
ISBN: 9781785273896

Publication Date: 2020-08-17

The twelve Gothic tales of this collection span the nineteenth-century South and are from some of the most famous writers of the age, such as Edgar Allan Poe, to more recently rediscovered and now celebrated writers such as Kate Chopin and Charles Chesnutt, to the completely and unfairly obscure E. Levi Brown.
Spooky Archaeology by Jeb J. Card
ISBN: 9780826359667

Publication Date: 2018-06-15

Outside of scientific journals, archaeologists are depicted as searching for lost cities and mystical artifacts in news reports, television, video games, and movies like Indiana Jones or The Mummy. This fantastical image has little to do with day-to-day science, yet it is deeply connected to why people are fascinated by the ancient past.
Dark Scenes from Damaged Earth by Justin D. Edwards
ISBN: 9781452967271

Publication Date: 2022-06-28

More than just spooky, moonlit castles and morbid graveyards, the Gothic represents a vibrant, emergent perspective on the Anthropocene. Embracing pop cultural phenomena like True Detective, Jaws, and Twin Peaks, as well as topics from the New Weird and prehistoric shark fiction to ruin porn and the "monstroscene," Dark Scenes from Damaged Earth demonstrates the continuing vitality of the Gothic while opening important new paths of inquiry.
Civil War Ghost Stories and Legends by Nancy Roberts
ISBN: 9781643360386

Publication Date: 2019-10-11

Nancy Roberts has often been described to as the "First Lady of American Folklore" and the title is well deserved. Throughout her decades-long career, Roberts documented supernatural experiences and interviewed hundreds of people about their recollections of encounters with the supernatural.
Haunted Holidays by Roberta Simpson Brown
ISBN: 9780813165691

Publication Date: 2015-09-07

"From ghost dogs to phantom orbs, from dead spirits visiting and avenging wraiths, there is plenty to keep skeptic and believer both enthralled." --Thomas Freese, coauthor of Haunted Battlefields of the South. With its tales of benevolent and malicious specters, terrifying monsters, and unexplained phenomena, Halloween is the holiday most people associate with spooky stories.
Spookiest Stories Ever by Roberta Simpson Brown
ISBN: 9780813139470

Publication Date: 2010-10-01

A collection of haunting tales set among the landscapes and landmarks of the Bluegrass State.
Spooky Haunted Houses by Tracy Nelson Maurer
ISBN: 9781512450798

Publication Date: 2017-08-01

Ever wonder if houses can really be haunted? Or how you can tell if there's a ghost in your midst? Read this book to find out--and also uncover facts about spooky historical places, some of the world's best ghost stories, and even real-life ghost hunters. You'll have a hauntingly good time!

🔮 Spooky reads await! 🔮
Check out the full list here:
Best Horror Books Set on College Campuses – HorrorBuzz

Ready to escape into something a little eerie, a little thrilling, and totally unforgettable? Grab a blanket, dim the lights, and dive into these spine-tingling horror stories set right on college campuses. Perfect for anyone craving chills that beat the stress of finals week.

👻 Looking for Halloween reads that give you all the chills? 👻
Check out this spooky selection here:
Halloween Books for Adults – Everyday Reading

The creaking of a door echoes through the silence… your heart pounds, your breath catches. Finding the perfect Halloween-themed book can be tricky, but this list is here to help you discover exactly what you’re craving this eerie season. So grab a cozy blanket and get ready to dive into some seriously spooky stories!

🎃 Spooky Reads to Get You in the Halloween Spirit | YouTube Playlist

Looking for the perfect spine-tingling stories to curl up with this season?
Whether you love creepy mysteries, ghostly tales, or thrilling suspense, this spooky reads playlist has you covered. Perfect for a night in, a study break, or just getting into the Halloween mood—grab your blanket and prepare for some chills and thrills!

Virtual Displays: Spooky Reads

Enjoy the chills