Cursed Pages & Candlelight

Welcome, brave souls, to The Chapter Cafe—where stories steep like tea and mysteries simmer in the shadows. Tonight, under the flicker of candlelight and the watchful gaze of a harvest moon, we invite you to pull up a chair and sip from our Halloween Mystery Brew.

In this special episode, Cursed Pages & Candlelight, we’ll leaf through tales that twist and turn like autumn leaves in a storm—unsolved disappearances, haunted manuscripts, and folklore that refuses to die. Are these stories mere fiction… or whispers from the other side?

So light your lantern, lock your doors, and let the brew begin. The veil is thin tonight—and the pages are cursed.

If you’ve never joined our coven before, here’s an idea of what you’re in for.

First, we’re nibbling on Ghostly Bites—those eerie backlist gems that still haunt my shelves. These stories may have slipped into the shadows, but they deserve to rise again.

Then, gather 'round for the Witch’s Feast: a bubbling cauldron of both old and new titles, stirred with care and a dash of mischief. These books may be unconventional, but they cast powerful spells—each one a personal favorite that pairs perfectly with the season’s mysterious mood.

And for the grand finale, we present Hexed Treats—freshly conjured releases and maybe even a few enchanted ARCs if the spirits are feeling generous. These are the sweet, sinister delights that linger long after the last page…and leave us craving more.

For our first course we’ve got cozy mysteries.

First from the crypt of cozy mysteries are our Ghostly Bites: “Buried in a Book” by Lucy Arlington. Picture this—Lila Wilkins, freshly unemployed at 45, steps into the buzzing halls of a literary agency, only to find herself buried not just in query letters… but in a chilling mystery. When a penniless author drops dead in the waiting room, Lila’s new chapter takes a sinister turn. With quirky colleagues and secrets lurking in the stacks, this tale blends wit and suspense like a potion brewed just right. A perfect spectral snack to whet your appetite.

Next, we stir the cauldron with “No Parm No Foul” by Linda Reilly. Welcome to Balsam Dell, where the leaves crunch underfoot and the grilled cheese is to die for—literally. Carly Hale, our culinary conjurer, is prepping for a Halloween food competition when a rival with a vendetta threatens to spoil the recipe. And when one of Carly’s employees vanishes into the rival’s shop, the stakes rise like a cursed soufflé. Will Carly clear her name before the final bite? This one’s a savory spell of small-town charm and suspense.

Both tales serve up cozy chills and character-driven twists—ideal for curling up under candlelight, as the October wind whispers secrets through the trees…

Next we have our Witch’s Feast to keep us full.

In “Buried in a Good Book” by Tamara Berry we meet Tess Harrow, a thriller writer with a knack for the gruesome, retreating to a remote cabin with her inquisitive daughter. But this mountain town isn’t just quiet—it’s unsettlingly unfazed when bodies start turning up. As Tess’s fictional horrors begin to echo real life, the line between imagination and murder blurs. A deliciously meta mystery, perfect for those who like their scares layered and literary.

And in “Real Murders” by Charlaine Harris we start in Lawrenceton, Georgia, where the Real Murders Club gathers to discuss infamous crimes—but when one of their own is found dead in a copycat killing, the cozyness becomes chilling. Aurora “Roe” Teagarden, librarian by day and amateur sleuth by necessity, must untangle the twisted homage before the killer strikes again. While some elements of the series may feel dated, the sinister charm still casts a spell.

Both tales conjure up atmospheric settings and enigmatic plots—ideal for devouring by candlelight as shadows dance across the walls.

For our Hexed Treats to wrap up this course, we’ve got some frozen treats.

In “Spoon to Be Dead” by Dana Mentink, Trinidad Jones is gearing up for her shake shop’s first icy season in Oregon—think twinkling lights, snow-dusted streets, and peppermint milkshakes. But the holiday cheer curdles when her ex crashes in, accused of murder. Joined by a band of fellow ex-wives (yes, really), Trinidad stirs up clues in a mystery that’s anything but vanilla. A festive whodunit with just the right amount of chill and cheek.

In “Last Word to the Wise” by Ann Claire, The Christie sisters return to a winter wonderland that’s more cursed than cozy. As secrets swirl like snowflakes and suspects pile up, they must navigate tangled relationships and buried truths. With hearts on the line and danger in the air, this mystery proves that even the warmest bonds can be tested by a cold case.

These tales blend charm and suspense like spiced cider and shadow—perfect for curling up with as the wind howls and the candle flickers low.

We’ve sipped our way through shake shops and snowbound sisters, but now it’s time to trade knit scarves for high school hallways and haunted lockers. Cozy mysteries offer charm and comfort, but YA mysteries bring a different kind of thrill—where secrets lurk behind every text message, friendships fracture under pressure, and the stakes feel personal.

These stories don’t just ask whodunit—they ask who can you trust when the world feels cursed and no one is who they seem? So grab your flashlight and your favorite hoodie, because we’re diving into the dark corridors of young adult mysteries, where every clue could be a trap and every crush could be a killer.

Getting back to our Ghostly Bites, we descend into the darker corners of adolescence.

With “One of Us Is Lying” by Karen McManus, Five students walk into detention. Only four walk out. The death of Simon, the school’s gossip king, turns a mundane punishment into a murder investigation. Everyone has something to hide, and the truth is buried beneath layers of lies, grudges, and forbidden secrets. A high school whodunit that reads like a séance—tense, unpredictable, and full of revelations from beyond the social grave.

13 Reasons Why” by Jay Asher sees Clay Jensen receive a box of cassette tapes from Hannah Baker, a classmate who recently took her own life. As he listens, each tape reveals a chilling reason—thirteen in total—that led to her tragic decision. It’s not just a mystery; it’s a haunting. One that forces Clay, and us, to confront the invisible scars we leave on others. A sorrowful echo that lingers long after the last tape clicks.

These stories don’t just thrill—they haunt. They remind us that beneath the surface of teenage smiles lie shadows, secrets, and stories waiting to be unearthed.

In these witch’s feast tales, the halls of academia are anything but safe. Secrets slither beneath polished floors, and truth is a ghost that refuses to rest. These YA mysteries blend folklore, obsession, and the relentless pursuit of justice—perfect for a moonlit read when the veil between worlds feels thin.

In The Grimrose Girls” by Laura Pohl at Grimrose Academy, fairy tales don’t end happily ever after—they end in death. When Ariane dies under suspicious circumstances, her friends Ella, Yuki, and Rory refuse to accept the suicide ruling. As they dig deeper, they uncover a chilling pattern: girls at Grimrose are dying in ways that mirror dark fairy tales. A spellbinding blend of myth and mystery, where every page feels like a cursed prophecy.

“A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” by Holly Jackson starts five years after the murder of Andie Bell, the town has moved on—but Pippa Fitz-Amobi hasn’t. For her senior project, she reopens the case, convinced that the supposed killer, Sal Singh, was innocent. As she unearths buried truths and tangled lies, danger creeps closer. What begins as research turns into a deadly game, and Pippa must decide how far she’s willing to go before the truth consumes her.

These stories remind us that the truth is rarely clean—and sometimes, it’s buried for a reason. Light a candle, hold your breath, and turn the page… if you dare.

As the candle burns low and the shadows stretch long, we close our literary séance with two hexed treats—where summer turns sinister and games become deadly rituals.

“The Summer She Went Missing” by Chelsea Ichaso, where Clearwater Ridge was once Paige Redmond’s sanctuary—sun-drenched days, whispered secrets, and the comfort of friendship. But when Audrey Covington vanished last summer, the warmth curdled into dread. Now, Paige returns, determined to unravel the mystery that still haunts the lake’s edge. A story of loyalty, loss, and the chilling realization that even the brightest places can harbor darkness.

“Tag, You’re Dead” by Kathryn Foxfield is set in the neon-lit streets of London, as twisted game unfolds. Teen reality star Anton Frazer launches a citywide competition—Tag, but with high-tech gear, live-streamed chaos, and stakes that go far beyond bragging rights. Each player hides a motive: vengeance, fame, desperation. As the night deepens, alliances fracture and secrets surface. This isn’t just a game—it’s a hunt. And only one will survive the final tag.

These stories remind us that beneath every summer smile and every playful dare, something darker may be waiting. So as you close the book and snuff the candle, ask yourself—what secrets would you keep in the dark?

As the last embers flicker and the candle wax pools, our literary feast comes to a close. From cozy shake shops to cursed academies, from detention rooms to deadly games, we’ve wandered through tales where mystery clings to every shadow and secrets whisper between the lines.

These stories remind us that truth is rarely simple, and sometimes the most chilling revelations come not from ghosts—but from the living. Whether you’re drawn to twisted fairy tales, haunted friendships, or high-stakes hunts, each page has offered a spell, a shiver, and a secret.

So tuck yourself in, keep the lights low, and let your imagination linger in the dark just a little longer. After all, the best mysteries never truly end—they wait, quietly, for someone brave enough to turn the next page.

Until next time, may your nights be eerie and your books delightfully cursed. As always, subscribe, comment, send me your feedback, and check my socials for more dastardly books to curse your nights.