The Ghosts of Paw Paw Lake, written by Mark Simone & illustrated by Dan Simone

Something is afoot near Paw Paw Lake. Over the decades, residents near the lake have noticed that some things don’t make complete sense: Sometimes, things are seen that should not be there. Rational minds encounter impossible specters as the sun drains from the day. And while everyone seems to have a story of a ghostly encounter that should not be possible, they struggle to share these stories with each other and the world. That’s where Mark Simone’s haunting book comes in; in this collection of short stories, his belief that occasionally ghosts share the same spaces we occupy breaks through in a series of thrilling, mysterious, and profound tales sure to delight readers of both holiday fiction and short story collections.

Maggie: Trick or Treat by L.S. Davis

No Halloween would be complete without a great picture book for young readers, and L.S. Davis delivers in his whimsical and delightful Maggie: Trick or Treat. This makes for Maggie’s third appearance—Maggie and MAGGIE are both available through the Outskirts Press Bookstore but are not holiday-themed—and she just gets more and more interesting with each book! After all, who can’t relate to a little girl with a big appetite for food and for life? That’s right, nobody! Especially during the holiday season, what with all those pumpkin spice lattes and pies and whatnot!

Dutch River by Charles Ayer

When NYPD Detective Lieutenant Walter Hudson’s wife, Sarah, unexpectedly inherits a family farm in the tiny upstate village of Dutch River, New York, their first thought is to sell it as soon as possible. But they are immediately charmed by the village and its residents, and Sarah’s great-uncle, Armin Jaeger, leaves them a letter too puzzling to ignore. They are soon stunned to find that Sarah has been left more than a simple farmhouse in a quaint village; and matters turn even more intriguing when Walter discovers a mysterious connection between Dutch River and the murder of a prominent Boston philanthropist, Charles Martin Sewall. And matters take an even more deadly turn when Walter’s family is threatened. Walter will need all his skills and all the help he can get from his good friend, Leviticus Welles, as he desperately races against time not just to solve a hideous crime but to save his family as well. It’s a race he can’t afford to lose.

Priscilla Willa, Party Planner: Night at the Haunted Motel by Michelle McCormick

Juvenile Fiction readers should check out Night at the Haunted Hotel. Ten year-old Priscilla Willa is at it again! This time she and her partners are in charge of a murder mystery party at the old River Rock Inn. They’ve got their hands full with menus, costumes, and silly guests. But what are they supposed to do when a grumpy ghost shows up? Join the fun as Priscilla and her friends plan their most spooktacular party yet!

Ghosts of Mayflower & Ghosts of Mayflower II: Pennhurst by Tamera Lawrence

Do you believe in ghosts? In the 1980s, the Pennhurst State School and Mental Hospital was shut down due to resident abuse. Fast forward twenty-five years, and the Mayflower building hosts a number of resident ghosts. Author Tamera Lawrence, an orderly working on the grounds, documents many of these hauntings—ones that she has experienced personally as well as those experienced by others—and traces the history of what is now known as Pennhurst Asylum. This book holds a lot of cross-genre appeal and is sure to be a hit with lovers of both memoir and the paranormal. Lawrence leads her readers on a thrilling journey of discovery, documentation, and brushes with forces that defy human understanding—and her books, Ghosts of Mayflower and Ghosts of Mayflower II: Pennhurst make the perfect platform to launch your Halloween reads in October!