Greetings from the Great Bend Public Library! In honor of Monday being Halloween, I thought it would be fun to take this opportunity to highlight some of the great spooky books we have at the library that would be perfect to snag before the weekend to get into the spooky mood.
First I want to highlight a horror novel that’s set right here in Kansas, “Kill Creek,” by Scott Thomas. Deep in the prairie on a forgotten countryside road lies the abandoned, rotting remains of the Finch House. Touted as the most haunted house in America, it attracts the attention of famed, best-selling horror author Sam McGarver, who is invited to spend the night in the house on Halloween with three other horror authors as a publicity stunt. Despite the rumors of hauntings, as well as the bloody history of the nearby Kill Creek, Sam agrees to stay. But something is lurking in the house, something unseen and terrible. When Sam and the others wake it, they will have to do everything in their power to make it out alive or become part of the macabre history themselves. Set in Kansas, and on Halloween night no less, what more could you ask for in a terrifying read? If you’re looking for other haunted house stories, I would recommend checking out books like “The Haunting of Hill House” by Shirley Jackson, “The Shining” by Stephen King, “The Amityville Horror” by Jay Anson, and “The Woman in Black” by Susan Hill.
Looking for something disturbingly funny this Halloween? Try “Welcome to Night Vale” by Joseph Fink, set in the world of the popular podcast of the same name and the first in a series of companion novels. Night Vale is a small town located somewhere in the American Southwest. In this sleepy desert town, ghosts and angels are commonplace, and the occasional pterodactyl attack or giant, sentient glow cloud are just part of everyday life. In this novel, we follow two residents of Night Vale with two mysteries and watch as their lives and adventures intertwine. When 19-year-old pawn shop owner Jackie Fierro is given a mysterious piece of paper by the man in the tan jacket with nothing but the words “King City” scrawled on it, she embarks on a journey that puts her in the path of single mother, Diane Crayton. Diane, while caring for her shapeshift teen son, has recently started seeing her ex-husband, which wouldn’t be so strange if it weren’t for the fact that it’s a teenage version of him who seems to simultaneously work at the café, bank, and movie theater. As Diane begins to look for answers, she also keeps coming across those two words, “King City.” Where or what is this mysterious King City, and why does everything seem to lead back to it? Full of satire and creepy moments, this is a perfect Halloween read. If you enjoy this book, I would highly recommend checking out the other Nightvale novels, “It Devours!” and “The Faceless Old Woman Who Secretly Lives in Your Home,” both of which are standalone Nightvale novels. You can also check out Joseph Fink’s other title, “The Halloween Moon.”
These are just a few examples of fantastic spooky scares to try any time you’re looking for a frighteningly good tale. If you would like to see a more comprehensive list of recommendations and where to find them, check out the front page of our catalog at greatbend.catalog.ckls.org under “Devour Books Not Brains.” You can even put what you find on hold from your own device! For library events, visit our Facebook page and our website, greatbendpl.info. You can also message us on Facebook, email us at gbcirc@gmail.com, or give us a call at 620-792-2409 for any questions about our programming or services.
By Hannah Grippin, outreach manager at the Great Bend Public Library.
