6 Horror Books Written by Women That Are Perfect for Spooky Season

There’s something magical about October nights—the crisp bite in the air, the rustle of fallen leaves, the way shadows seem just a little deeper. For horror lovers, it’s the perfect time to sink into stories that make you shiver. And who better to deliver those chills than women who know exactly how to weave fear, atmosphere, and heart into the pages?

These six novels—spanning isolated terror, apocalyptic chaos, witchy charm, deadly thrills, and small-town nightmares—will keep you reading long past midnight.

1. The Shuddering – Ania Ahlborn

"They only wanted one last weekend in the mountains. But something is watching, and it’s hungry."

Ania Ahlborn’s The Shuddering traps readers in a remote cabin high in the snowy Colorado mountains. Siblings Ryan and Jane have invited friends for one last winter getaway before Ryan moves to Germany. But a brutal blizzard rolls in—and something is moving just beyond the treeline.

Ahlborn is a master of slow-burn dread. The isolation is palpable, the snowstorm claustrophobic, and the characters feel so real you can almost hear the crunch of their boots on the ice. As tensions inside the cabin rise, so does the terror outside. By the time the monsters reveal themselves, it’s far too late to run.

Perfect for readers who love The Thing-style paranoia and survival horror, The Shuddering delivers both character drama and relentless, skin-crawling suspense.

2. The First Days – Rhiannon Frater

"Everything fell apart in a single morning. Now the dead won’t stay dead."

If you crave fast-paced zombie fiction with emotional punch, The First Days will devour you whole. It’s the first book in Frater’s As the World Dies trilogy and it wastes no time throwing you into chaos.

Katie, a young attorney, watches the world collapse as the dead rise. Elsewhere, Jenni flees a nightmare that’s already claimed her family. The two women cross paths and form a fierce, unshakable bond as they fight to survive in a Texas overrun by the undead.

Frater doesn’t just focus on gore (though there’s plenty of that); she digs deep into the human side of apocalypse—grief, trauma, resilience, and the unbreakable connections forged in crisis. The result is both terrifying and strangely uplifting, making it a perfect binge-read for stormy October nights.

3. Cackle – Rachel Harrison

"Small towns have their charms. Some of them are dangerous."

If your spooky-season tastes lean toward the witchy and whimsical (with a bite of dark humor), Cackle is your next obsession. Annie has just gone through a brutal breakup and moves to a picturesque little town to start fresh. There she meets Sophie, a beautiful, magnetic woman who seems too perfect to be true.

Spoiler: Sophie is a witch—and not the kind you see in fairy tales.

Rachel Harrison blends charming small-town vibes with an undercurrent of unease, exploring themes of female empowerment, independence, and the fear society has of powerful women. The book is funny, cozy, and creepy in equal measure—think Practical Magic meets The Witches of Eastwick.

It’s not a scream-your-head-off horror, but its spell will stay with you, especially if you like your October reads with a side of enchantment.

4. The Thicket – Noelle W. Ihli

"The woods aren’t the only thing hiding something."

Forget faerie forests—Noelle W. Ihli’s The Thicket delivers its scares at a haunted-house attraction in rural Idaho, and the setting is just as menacing as any enchanted grove. Years ago, Norah’s brother disappeared after visiting The Thicket, a Halloween-season maze that draws thrill-seekers every autumn.

Now, she’s back—determined to uncover what really happened. As she navigates the twisting paths and terrifying set pieces, she begins to realize some of the scares aren’t staged. And the truth behind her brother’s disappearance may be far darker than she ever imagined.

This is a tightly-wound slasher mystery with an atmospheric, small-town setting and plenty of "don’t go in there" moments. Ihli plays with the line between performance horror and real danger, making it perfect for fans of Halloween or Hell House LLC.

5. You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight – Kalynn Bayron

"At Camp Mirror Lake, the murder is supposed to be pretend. Until it’s not."

Kalynn Bayron flips the final-girl trope on its head in this queer YA horror. Charity runs a summer job at Camp Mirror Lake, where guests pay to be part of an immersive slasher-movie experience. Every night, she and her crew set up the scares and stage the “kills.”

But when one of her co-workers goes missing and the bloody trail starts looking very real, Charity realizes someone is using the camp’s fake horror as cover for something far more dangerous.

Fast-paced, suspenseful, and layered with tension, Bayron’s novel is as much about identity and survival as it is about jump scares. The atmosphere drips with menace, and the twists will keep you second-guessing everyone—including the heroine herself.

6. The Gathering – C. J. Tudor

"In Deadhart, Alaska, the cold isn’t the only thing with teeth."

C. J. Tudor’s latest blends crime, mystery, and horror in a way that’s uniquely her own. When Detective Barbara Atkins is sent to the remote Alaskan town of Deadhart to investigate a murder, she finds herself walking a thin line between human law and something much older and hungrier.

On the edge of town lives a colony of vampyrs—monstrous yet eerily human. The uneasy truce between them and the townsfolk has held for years, but the killing threatens to unravel it completely.

The setting is pure atmospheric gold—snow-covered streets, endless night, and a community hiding more than one deadly secret. If you liked Midnight Mass or 30 Days of Night, this is a must-read for your October list.

Why These Six Belong on Your Spooky-Season TBR

Diverse Scares – From creature horror (The Shuddering) to the undead apocalypse (The First Days), witchcraft (Cackle), slashers (The Thicket), camp-set thrillers (You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight), and vampiric mysteries (The Gathering), there’s a flavor of fear for every mood.

Female Perspectives – Horror told by women often digs deeper into emotional complexity, power dynamics, and the kinds of fears that live under your skin. These authors balance chills with insight, making their stories linger long after the final page.

Seasonal Atmosphere – Snowy mountains, eerie forests, isolated cabins, creepy carnivals, and Alaskan darkness—every setting here screams autumn or winter, perfect for reading under a blanket with a cup of something warm.

Page-Turner Energy – None of these books drag. Whether they’re building tension in a quiet moment or sprinting toward a heart-pounding climax, each one will keep you reading “just one more chapter” until the sun comes up.

Suggested Reading Order for Maximum Spooks

Start with claustrophobic terror – The Shuddering will pull you straight into a locked-in survival nightmare.

Shift to apocalyptic chaos – The First Days raises the stakes from one cabin to the whole world.

Lighten with witchy charm – Cackle offers a creepy but cozy breather.

Dive into slasher territory – The Thicket brings back the adrenaline rush.

Turn the tension up – You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight keeps the blood pumping.

End with chilling quiet – The Gathering closes the season with an eerie, snow-bound mystery that will follow you into your dreams.

Whether you’re drawn to supernatural monsters, human evil, or the kind of creeping dread that makes you check your locks twice, these six books have the power to make your spooky season unforgettable.

So grab a blanket, light a candle, and prepare to be deliciously unsettled. After all… isn’t that what October nights are for?