Halloween reading doesn’t have to be scary Horror novels. There are many cozy mystery authors who have written fun and entertaining books that take place over Halloween or during the fall. There are also authors who write great paranormal mystery books and series that also take place over Halloween or have fall themes. These books are paranormal light. They aren’t really scary. The books just accept the paranormal as a part of life. If you feel that you might enjoy some cozy mystery novels with fun characters and a little twist, these authors are worth your time and won’t scare you to death. So take your pick of these entertaining Halloween or fall mysteries and enjoy.

Reading right now:

Kacey Gene’s first book in her cozy mystery series was “The Slay of the Santas” where we were introduced to second-grade teacher Jennifer Hunter’s amateur sleuthing and her friend Lieutenant Jake Hollow. Her fifth book in the series which just came out is “Pumpkin Spyce” which takes place during the Pumpkin Festival which turns totally and unexpectedly murderous.

On hold right now:

Kathi Daley writes cozy mysteries and has all kinds of series going, many of which seem to include holidays. The first book in her Zoe Donovan series was “Halloween Hijinks” and her most recent book in the series (which is the 34^th book in the series) is “Deja Diva” which is also written around the Halloween season. Her most recent and fifth book in the Cat in the Attic mystery series is “The Magic of Halloween Night.”

Jenn McKinlay’s Cupcake Bakery mystery series includes a couple of Halloween or fall themed books from “Pumpkin Spice Peril” to “Dark Chocolate Demise.”

Most of Kathleen Suzette’s mystery cozy series include pumpkins. Her Pumpkin Hollow mystery series book 16 which just came out is “Pumpkin Spice Lies.” Her 14^th book in the Rainey Daye cozy mystery series is “Pumpkin Spice Donuts and a Murder.”

J. A. Whiting’s third book in her Tipperary Carriage Company mystery series is “The Halloween Coachman.” Whiting has other series books which include mysteries with a paranormal twist which would be fun for Halloween especially the ghostly ones.

Another author that writes a couple of paranormal mystery series is Kennedy Layne whose most recent and fourteenth book in her Paramour Bay Cozy paranormal mystery series is “Pumpkin Blend.” Author Morgana Best’s Miss Spelled paranormal kitchen witch series started with “Miss Spelled” and her 15^th book in the series “The Halloween Truth Spell” just came out.

There is a brand new paranormal mystery series coming out this month which involves a magical town and witches. This first book in the Melting Pot Café series by Polly Holmes is “Pumpkin Pies & Potions.”

Other Mysterious Things:

Many famous authors have used holidays as a background to their mystery novels and haven’t left out Halloween which seems a perfect backdrop to murder. Leslie Meier’s cozy mystery series about Maine housewife Lucy Stone has hit almost every holiday including Halloween in the “Candy Corn Murder” and the “Trick or Treat Murder.” Isis Crawford’s mystery with recipes series also includes a lot of holidays like “A Catered Halloween.” Susan Wittig Albert’s China Bayles series included “Witches’ Bane,” for the Halloween element. Donna Andrews also likes to include holidays in her books and her “Lord of the Wings” was an Halloween addition to her Meg Langslow series. There are so many paranormal mystery authors (many of which I have mentioned previously), but two that I want to mention again are Bailey Cates and Bobbi Holmes both of whom would make great Halloween reads. I love Halloween any and every year, but maybe this year it is even more important. Our pandemic has changed so much that it becomes even more important to find a way to enjoy everything we can including Halloween. Despite our limitations there are so many parts of Halloween you can enjoy without endangering or infecting yourself or others including going crazy with the decorations, buying special treats to enjoy, carving pumpkins, and definitely reading Halloween related books.