The Midnight Bargain by C.L. Polk
November 1, Erewhon Books
In a patriarchal society where only men can freely use magic, Beatrice Clayborn must practice her magic in secret. She dreams of becoming a Magus, a role denied to her as a woman. Her priority should be an advantageous marriage, which will save her indebted family from ruin. When Beatrice discovers the key to becoming a Magus, it is snatched from her, and she will do anything to recover it. Beatrice summons a spirit to help her but becomes entangled with two mysterious siblings. She is forced to choose between a marriage that will save her family but cost her identity, or pursue a dream that could ruin them all. - Meg
The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton
October 1, Raven Books
Samuel Pipps, a world-renowned detective, is set to be executed in Amsterdam for a crime that he may not have committed. On the voyage with him is Arent Hayes, his loyal friend and companion. Hayes is convinced of Samuel’s innocence and is desperate to prove it. However, as he sets out to uncover the truth, their journey becomes plagued by strange occurrences. Livestock turns up dead, cryptic symbols appear on sails and several passengers – including Samuel – are marked for death. Hayes knows that it’s up to him to solve the mystery before the ship sinks and kills everyone. This historical novel set at sea is the enthralling new tale from the author of The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. - Meg
The Haunting of Alma Fielding by Kate Summerscale
October 1, Bloomsbury
If you adore creepy ghost stories with a wonderfully spooky atmosphere, we have the perfect Halloween read for you: The Haunting of Alma Fielding follows the chilling true story of a woman plagued by phantasms and spirits. Set against the backdrop of Europe on the brink of war, the story takes place in London in 1938. Alma Fielding, a young and ordinary housewife, is tormented by strange occurrences, from stolen jewellery to mice crawling out of her handbag and is in desperate need of answers. After ghost hunter Nandor Fodor hears of the case, he realises it is far stranger and far more disturbing than anyone could have ever anticipated. Beware! This exhilarating and unnerving story will most definitely have you sleeping with the light on. - Hollie
The Nesting by C.J. Cooke
October 15, HarperCollins
The Nesting is a chilling new novel sure to give you goosebumps this Halloween. In this thrilling and hair-raising tale, Lexi, her husband Tom and his two children seek out a new life in a dark and ominous Norwegian forest. With the babbling brooks and snow falling all around them, their life seems like something out of a fairytale. But it could all be too good to be true, because nobody can run from the past for too long, and everyone and everything in these woods have secrets that cannot stay buried. This is a brilliant story for this Spooky Season, sure to appeal to fans of horror and psychological thrillers. - Laura
They Never Learn by Layne Fargo
October 13, Scout Press
This October, Layne Fargo brings us an addictive, dark and funny thriller. Fans of Killing Eve will enjoy Fargo’s fusion of female empowerment and revenge murder. Scarlett is a brilliant lecturer, but she’s even better at getting away with murder. Every year Scarlett makes sure that the worst man at Gorman University falls to his demise. An investigation crops up, and Scarlett decides to keep her enemies close, charming the woman in charge, Dr Mina Pierce. When Carly, a student finally free from her abusive father, sees her roommate sexually assaulted, she turns down a dark path. Will Carly’s fate reflect Scarlett’s? Will this thriller see their lives collide? - Zoë
The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by V.E. Schwab
October 6, Titan Books
When you make a pact with the devil, everything has a price. Such is the case for Addie Larue when she trades her soul for immortality, but this supposed ‘freedom’ comes at a dark cost; the devil captures her soul and curses her to be forgotten by everyone forever. Spanning centuries and continents, Schwab’s spellbinding tale follows Addie as she learns to navigate the world on her own with only the yearly apparition of her captor as a companion. 300 years of living like a ghost changes in a moment when, in a second-hand bookshop in Manhattan, a stranger remembers her. Can Addie escape her fate forever, or is the devil always one step ahead?
- Genevieve