Top 10 Halloween Reads From Le Groupe Maurice
Fall is in full swing, and October 31st is fast approaching. It’s the perfect time to cozy up at home with a good book and immerse yourself in a mysterious atmosphere. For this special day, when thrills take centre stage, we present our top 10 Halloween reads, featuring books of horror, suspense and gripping thrillers!
The Cruelest Month – Louise Penny (2014)
Genre: Crime and Mystery Novel
Country: Canada
Summary: In the village of Three Pines, Quebec, spring is tentatively settling in, promising warmth and renewal. Yet beneath this apparent tranquillity, tensions and deep secrets lurk. When the villagers gather for a séance, intended as mere entertainment, the event takes a tragic turn.
Called to investigate, Chief Inspector Armand Gamache finds himself immersed in a world where mysteries and unspoken truths dangerously intertwine, threatening the fragile balance of the entire community.
The third investigation in the Inspector Gamache series, “The Cruelest Month” showcases Louise Penny’s finesse and her keen affinity for the crime genre. It is the most accomplished instalment in this series and undeniably a novel not to be missed!
The Fall of the House of Usher – Edgar Allan Poe (1839)
Genre: Fantasy, leaning toward gothic fiction
Country: United States
Summary: A man travels to an isolated, ancient manor to reunite with his friend Roderick Usher and his twin sister, Madeline. Upon arrival, he is struck by the dilapidated state of the house and the oppressive atmosphere that seems to permeate every stone.
Roderick, frail and tormented, lives in a state of constant tension, while Madeline’s silent yet unsettling presence heightens a growing sense of dread. Is the man truly safe in the company of his old friend?
Edgar Allan Poe masterfully blends psychological horror and the supernatural with a chilling intensity. The short story “The Fall of the House of Usher” is perfect for those seeking refined literary thrills to savour during Halloween.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – Stieg Larsson (2005)
Genre: Crime novel
Country: Sweden
Summary: Journalist Mikael Blomkvist, shaken by a judicial scandal, decides to put his career on hold. But when industrialist Henrik Vanger contacts him to conduct a confidential investigation, the opportunity is too compelling to resist. Vanger’s niece, Harriet, vanished without a trace forty years ago, and he is convinced a member of his own family is involved.
To aid in the investigation, Blomkvist teams up with Lisbeth Salander, a brilliant yet fiercely independent young hacker. Together, they delve into the murky history of the Vanger family, uncovering deeply buried secrets intertwined with corruption, violence and long-hidden crimes.
First volume of the Millennium trilogy, this gripping novel by Stieg Larsson combines social critique with psychological suspense, paving the way for a cult classic in Scandinavian crime fiction!
5150, rue des Ormes – Patrick Sénécal (1994)
Genre: Horror/Thriller
Country: Canada (Quebec)
Summary: When Yannick Bérubé, a film student, accidentally enters 5150, rue des Ormes, he believes he’s dealing with just an ordinary house. Yet behind its walls lies the universe of a man obsessed with his mission: Jacques Beaulieu, a self-proclaimed vigilante who imprisons evil in order to eradicate it.
Very quickly, Yannick becomes a prisoner of the Beaulieu family, where fear is constant and reason dissolves into madness. Caught between the cold logic of chess and the delirious impulses of a fanatical mind, he soon discovers that every move could be his last. How can he possibly escape without losing his life?
With “5150, rue des Ormes”, Patrick Sénécal orchestrates a brutal descent into psychosis and twisted morality. It is a dark novel that, far beyond mere suspense, questions how far the human mind can be distorted under the grip of fear and power.
The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair – Joël Dicker (2012)
Genre: Crime novel, inspired by the American thriller
Country: Switzerland
Summary: In the small town of Aurora, New Hampshire, Harry Quebert, a celebrated and respected writer, is suddenly accused of a decades-old crime. His protégé, Marcus Goldman, a young novelist suffering from writer’s block, decides to help his friend and uncover the truth behind this strange case.
As Marcus delves deeper into the heart of the story, he discovers a world where appearances blur, everyone hides secrets and writing itself becomes a mirror of both truth and deception.
Between buried dramas, forbidden passions, and shocking revelations, each chapter of “The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair” draws the reader into intense suspense. Joël Dicker delivers an absorbing narrative that unfolds relentlessly to the very last page.
Frankenstein – Mary Shelley (1818)
Genre: Gothic, science-fiction/horror
Country: United Kingdom
Summary: Victor Frankenstein, an ambitious young scientist, is consumed by the mystery of life and death. In his laboratory, he resolves to attempt the impossible: creating a living being from fragments of corpses. But his unexpected success confronts him with an extraordinary creature, whose appearance and intentions spiral beyond his control.
Horrified by his creation, Frankenstein abandons his “newborn.” The monster, left to fend for itself and rejected by society, rebels against its creator.
This foundational work of Gothic fiction explores themes of loneliness, creation and the fear of the unknown. Mary Shelley draws readers into a world where curiosity, dread and danger intertwine, while offering a striking and dramatic reflection on human responsibility.
Death on the Nile – Agatha Christie (1937)
Genre: Crime novel
Country: United Kingdom
Summary: Aboard a luxurious cruise on the Nile, wealthy heiress Linnet Ridgeway, on her honeymoon, is murdered under mysterious circumstances. It soon becomes clear that every passenger might have a motive: jealousy, grudges, unspoken desires.
Unfortunately for the killer, the renowned Belgian detective Hercule Poirot is also on board. With his extraordinary intellect, keen observational skills and legendary insight, Poirot embarks on an investigation where tension rises with every deduction.
With “Death on the Nile”, the Queen of Crime strikes again! This gripping locked-room mystery, elevated by the exotic setting of Egypt, is a brilliant blend of psychology and suspense. It is a must-read for all mystery enthusiasts.
The Shining – Stephen King (1977)
Genre: Horror/psychological suspense
Country: United States
Summary: Jack Torrance, a failed writer and recovering alcoholic, accepts a job as the winter caretaker of the Overlook Hotel, a vast establishment nestled in the Colorado Rockies. He moves there with his wife, Wendy, and their son, Danny. Endowed with a supernatural gift of telepathy, Danny senses the malevolent forces haunting the hotel.
As weeks pass, isolation, ghosts from the past and the Overlook’s insidious influence drive Jack into madness. Trapped by snow and cut off from the world, Wendy and Danny must survive Jack’s escalating violence, as he falls under the hotel’s control, which seeks to seize the child’s extraordinary power at all costs.
“The Shining” is a classic of modern horror fiction, where Stephen King masterfully blends terror and the supernatural in a style both captivating and unsettling. The novel explores human fragility, the disintegration of the family unit and the weight of secrets, maintaining relentless tension that captivates the reader until the final word.
Le Collectionneur – Chrystine Brouillet (1995)
Genre: Crime novel
Country: Canada (Quebec)
Summary: In the bustling, snow-covered urban landscape of Quebec City, a killer prowls. An aficionado of art and rare objects, this disturbed aesthete wreaks havoc: what he desires, he seizes, transforming captured young women into exclusive pieces of his “collection.”
Confronting him is Detective Maud Graham, who strives to decipher the clues left amid the macabre stagings of mutilated bodies. As she draws closer to the truth, she uncovers the relentless workings of a deranged mind, willing to do anything to preserve its morbid masterpiece.
“Le Collectionneur” is a real standout by Chrystine Brouillet. This novel establishes itself as a disturbing psychological thriller, where art merges with obsession and violence looms on every page. In this third investigation featuring Detective Maud Graham, readers are drawn into the heart of an unrelenting suspense that leaves a lasting impact with its intensity.
The Housemaid – Frieda McFadden (2022)
TOP PICK OF THE ELOGIA BOOK CLUB – Halloween reads
Genre: Psychological thriller
Country: United States
Summary: Millie, a former inmate looking for work, lands a housekeeping job with Nina Winchester, a wealthy wife with a seemingly perfect life. At first, everything appears wonderful, but Millie gradually uncovers her employer’s erratic and toxic nature. Cracks begin to show in this dreamlike existence: Nina is not as flawless as she pretends to be, and her husband, Andrew, also harbors dark secrets.
Just as Millie believes she can start over, she finds herself caught in a twisted game of manipulation, where the line between victim and perpetrator blurs, and danger draws ever closer.
The “Housemaid” is the first opus of Frieda McFadden’s bestselling series. Recommended by the Elogia residence Book Club, this novel captivates readers with its fast pace, shocking twists and unsettling atmosphere. It’s a brilliantly crafted and utterly addictive psychological thriller!
Whether you’re a fan of horror, scary stories or suspense, this ranking offers a great source of inspiration for your Halloween reads. Between unforgettable classics and more recent discoveries, we hope this selection will capture your imagination and make your autumn evenings that much more memorable!