It's that spooky reading time of the year so go beyond with fun book party tips and Halloween reads for a bookish frightening event!

Oldies but Goodies Halloween Reads

Don't be scared off by classic literature.  These novels make great book club reads and even though they have been around an eerie long time these stories to this day have staying power.  And if modern day horror and gore novels sounds too scary then start with these recommended group reads that will get you in the Halloween spirit. The below classic lit will not keep you up at night but at the very least keep you up reading!
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a short story and under 100 pages.  Pair it with The Invisible Man and you got two terrifying reads for Halloween!

​While Frankenstein is a fast read at 166 pages (pages varies on different editions) Dracula has more at 370 pages. Make sure you discuss which versions (abridged, unabridged, edited) everyone will be reading before purchasing. Just enough scare these novels will give -  so you have been warned!
When you think of mystery Sherlock Holmes comes to the forefront. A Study in Scarlet and The Sign of Four are two separate novels read together comes in under 200 pages. In A Study in Scarlet, Holmes and Watson meet for the very first time and become the dynamic duo that we all know and love.  The Hound of the Baskervilles is a short read that packs a mysterious punch with a possible killer hound on the loose in the fog dense moors of the English countryside
Crocodile on the Sandbank was such a huge Halloween hit in our group that we read the second in the series, ​The Curse of the Pharaohs, soon after.  Crocodile on the Sandbank has it all with an 1884  whodunit mystery set in Egypt with a very strong-willed, self-proclaimed spinster Amelia Peabody. Decorate your Halloween book club in ancient Egypt and celebrate!
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Who doesn't love Agatha Christie?  She is the Queen of Mystery and her work is so popular that she is a must read for at least one of your Halloween book clubs. Christie has so many novels to choose from such as these two that have been read in our book club:  The Secret Adversary and And Then There Were None. The Secret Adversary is post WWI and is about ex-service members, Tommy and Tuppence who get wrapped up in a spiraling out of control adventure in a more spy than mystery case.  See And Then There Were None review and book party ideas

Read a historical murder-mystery investigation
​Get into the spooky spirit by checking out this real-life Victorian era mystery investigation, The Dead Duke His Secret Wife and the Missing Corpse.  Set during the late 1800's England where the real Sherlock Holmes detectives were born and the biggest story of that era, Jack the Ripper, rocked a city comes a bizarre, heavy laden character tale that keeps you on your toes to the bitter end.  A truly fascinating story!
The shocking and incredible true story of Mrs. Grace Humiston, detective and lawyer who turned her back on New York society life to become one of the nation's greatest crime fighters during an era when women weren't even allowed to vote. After graduating from N.Y.U. law school, Grace opened a legal clinic in the city for low-income immigrant clients, and quickly established a reputation as a fierce, but fair lawyer who was always on the side of the disenfranchised...read more book description of Mrs. Sherlock Holmes on Amazon.com

​Costume Book Party Ideas
What's a Halloween book club without costumes?
​ Choose one of these great ideas to get your theme started!

  • ​What's your favorite book of all time?  Choose a costume based on your top book pick of a character or even an idea from the story 
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  • Movies and books!  All costume ideas from novels that became movies  
 
  • Book Heroes -  Only those that have been admired, showed courage or noble qualities are allowed at this Halloween book party.  Frodo Baggins, Atticus Finch, Jane Eyre, Katniss Everdeen, Hester Prynne, Harry Potter, Robin Hood, to name just a few...
 
  • The definition of fairy tales:  a children's story about the magical and imaginary beings and lands. There is a plethora of these timeless stories to glean for costumes ideas from Hansel and Gretel to Little Red Riding Hood. Here is a complete list of all fairy tales on Wikipedia

  • Need easier ideas?  Dress up as a character from any novel your book club has read in the past or present. The bottom line is to dress up bookish and have a blast!
Halloween book club tips on Go Beyond Book Club
Prizes for best costume, runner up or honorable mention can be a bottle of wine, small gift card or sweets.  Find unique, inexpensive bookish gift prizes on Etsy.com 

The Book Club Menu

What does your dinner for this book party look like? In celebration of your Halloween read get inspired by your spooky novel!  Encourage your book friends to be as creative as possible in sides and desserts. Again, whatever your book club chooses to read try and draw ideas from the book itself. Above right  a Fahrenheit 451 table decor.  See more on Book Party Ideas 

If you don't want to throw a Halloween theme book club then have a fall book party dinner. Have all your friends bring yummy autumn dishes that honor the season. Decorate your table with leaves, pumpkins and fall colors

Halloween Book Party Decorations

Decorate your Halloween book club party with a book title banner. They are super easy to make and gives a nod to the novel you are celebrating.  Use title of the book or a book quote

More decorating ideas...

The 7.5" Plasma Ball makes an electrifying tabletop decoration. Frankenstein inspired book club
Halloween Glow in the Dark Wine Bottle Label on Amazon or do it yourself wine labels on book club ideas
LED Blue Bat Lights perfect for your Dracula Halloween book club on Amazon.com