‘It was a dark and stormy night…’ Autumn has arrived with lots of heavy rain in SW19, and Halloween is fast approaching. It’s time to stay indoors, turn down the lights and prepare for fright night with a nightmarish read! Culture Editor Janie Smith selects three wicked treats to enchant, thrill and scare you.
From killer thrillers and flights of fantasy to London’s most haunted locales, you’ll find excitement galore in these spooky page-turners. Now, are you sitting comfortably? Are the doors locked? Are you sure? Then we’ll begin…
Wonderland – Edited by Marie O’Regan and Paul Kane
Light your Jack O’Lantern, settle down and join Alice’s adventures as you have never imagined them before. Wonderland invokes so many bizarre mental images, and this electrifying anthology of tales and poems puts its own distinctive twist upon them.
Tread carefully through nightmarish imaginings, explore your spiritual side and be prepared for surprises, as the bizarre world of Wonderland inspires brand-new works from top authors in fantastical fiction.
This unique anthology is edited by Marie O’Regan and Paul Kane, award-winning editors in the horror world. If you love fantasy and horror, this is a must-have addition to your book collection.
The Secret of Cold Hill by Peter James
“By the time you shout look behind you, it is too late!” Number-one bestselling author, Peter James, presents his latest spine-chiller to haunt and confound you in time for All Hallows’ Eve.
Following a fire that completely destroyed Cold Hill House, a shiny new ultra-modern development has taken its place. As the flames raged, the violent memories belonging to the house went up in smoke. Two families have recently moved into their new property, despite most of the site being a construction site. Jason and Emily have bought their forever home, and Maurice and Claudette plan to live out their retirement there in peace. The rumble of cement mixers and diggers might be ever-present, but Cold Hill Park looks like the perfect place to live.
Looks, of course, can be deceiving. Within days both couples feel that they are not alone in their own homes. Perhaps because there are facts that never appear in the glossy estate-agent brochures: nobody has ever survived beyond 40 in Cold Hill House and no one has ever truly left…
A taut novel in which the author skilfully notches up the tension little by little, leaving readers suitably jittery and petrified! Perfect Halloween reading.
Secret Haunted London: Where Not to Go in London by John Pullen
Those who are certain that ghosts exist say that they are trapped spirits who have experienced a tragic or traumatic death. Often, murder is said to be the reason, but many also think it is related to the deceased having a strong connection to a location.
Whether you are a sceptic or not, this is a fascinating book that allows you to discover more about the history of the hauntings and their locations in secret London. Diverse supernatural phenomena are investigated in houses, pubs, museums, hotels and transport hubs, as well as the usual culprits, graveyards and churches.
Whether or not you will believe by the end of the book doesn’t really matter, because the book is not only full of detailed information but also has fabulous photos throughout too. You don’t need to be a history buff to thoroughly enjoy finding out about the ghostly goings-on in London! I can guarantee that the next time you are out about you will be secretly looking around to see if you can spot any of your own spectres to tell your friends about…
Most of the locations of the sites still exist, so at lady Wimbledon we are seriously considering going on our very own ghost hunt! Why don’t you try it, too? October is the perfect month for frightening yourself silly!
At Lady Wimbledon we hope that you enjoy our October Book club recommendations as much as we have. We’d love to know which title or titles you chose to read, and what you thought of them. Please do start a conversation on social: @EyesofLadyW#LadyWBookClub.
Written By: Janie Smith | Arts & Culture Editor
Instagram: @SW19Culture
Twitter: @SW19Culture
Email: cultureeditor@ladywimbledon.com
About The Author
Janie Smith
Janie Smith is a cup full of sass and the Culture Queen isn’t letting anything limit her. Whether she’s jet setting around the world or catching up on the latest shows she always has her ear to the ground.