120,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock 🇳🇿

Overnight NZ-wide delivery 🚀 Auckland Bookstore • Open 7 days, 8:30am–5pm

Thriller Novels for the Spooky Season

I love that my local book club always chooses a thematic book for October to fit with Spooky Season, but instead of horror we tend to go more towards a psychological thriller or spooky mystery. Here's some options for you (and maybe your book club!) to curate a little October reading list of thrillers and mysteries that are atmospheric and full of suspense.

Get the complete list

Some items may ship separately or take a little longer, depending on availability.

$36396
Elsewhere:
$42996
1
That's Not My Name

That's Not My Name

ByMegan Lally

Who is Mary Boone? No one knows... not even Mary Boone herself. A gripping debut thriller perfect for fans of Natalie D. Richards and Vincent Ralph. She thought she had her life back. She was wrong. A gripping debut thriller perfect for fans of Natalie D. Richards and Vincent Ralph. It was a mistake to trust him. Shivering and bruised, a teen wakes up on the side of a dirt road with no memory of how she got there—or who she is. A passing officer takes her to the police station, and not long after, a frantic man arrives. He's been searching for her for hours. He has her school ID, her birth certificate, and even family photos. He is her father. Her name is Mary. Or so...

$1999
Elsewhere:
$2400
Paperback
In Stock
Ships today
View details
2
The Ending Writes Itself
On Sale
14% off

The Ending Writes Itself

ByEvelyn Clarke

Secrets don't stay secret for long in publishing Six authors. One private island. Seventy-two hours to write the ending that will change their lives. ‘This is a house of novelists, not murderers. You dream up crimes. You don’t commit them.’ ‘But a writer has. And so, who better than a writer to catch them?’ World famous author Arthur Fletch is dead. His final novel, the most anticipated book in history, remains unfinished. But the ending won’t write itself. Fletch’s publisher, Merriweather Press, has invited six authors to Fletch’s private island in Scotland. Authors whose books have never had the big marketing budgets or publicity opportunities. In other words, midlist. And they’re about to be presented with the opportunity of a lifetime. Whoever writes a worthy ending will receive...

$2400
Elsewhere:
$3499
Paperback
In Stock
Ships today
View details
3
The Witch
Pre-order

The Witch

ByFreida McFadden

From #1 New York Times, #1 USA Today, and internationally bestselling author Freida McFadden comes a sharp, unsettling thriller about two women, past and present, united by the grounds of an estate and one deadly question—the danger that haunts them, is it magic—or madness? A brand-new, haunting thriller from Freida McFadden, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Housemaid! Some secrets don't die—they wait. When Julia Barlow loses her job and her apartment, she has nowhere left to go but Pemberton, her family's sprawling seventeenth-century estate in rural Massachusetts. Officially, she's there to check in on her aging grandmother. Unofficially, she's hoping the old house will give her a place to disappear. Instead, Pemberton begins to unravel her. Every night, the grandfather clock stops at exactly 3:41...

$3199
Elsewhere:
$3800
Paperback
Pre-order
Out 6 Oct 2026
View details
4
The Last Guests
On Sale
16% off

The Last Guests

ByJ.P. Pomare

Ever have the feeling you're being watched? A smart, unsettling, unputdownable literary thriller from the award-winning, critically acclaimed writer. Lina and Cain are doing their best to stay afloat. Money has been tight since Cain returned from active duty, and starting a family is proving harder than they thought. Putting Lina's inherited lake house up for rent at weekends seems like the solution to at least one of their problems. The secluded house is more of a burden than a retreat, anyway, and fixing up the old place makes Cain feel useful for once. But letting strangers stay in their house might not be the best idea. Someone is watching - their most mundane tasks, their most intimate moments - and all the things Lina and Cain want...

$2100
Elsewhere:
$2799
Paperback
In Stock
Ships today
View details
5
Lock Every Door

Lock Every Door

ByRiley Sager

Lock Every Door by Riley Sager is a gripping thriller about Jules, who takes a job as an apartment sitter at the Bartholomew, an upscale but mysterious New York building. As she adjusts to the strange rules and peculiar residents, Jules begins to suspect that the building harbours dark secrets, unravelling a web of mystery and danger threatening to consume her.

$2400
Paperback
In Stock
Ships today
View details
6
Dissection of a Murder
On Sale
13% off

Dissection of a Murder

ByJo Murray

So gripping, so clever, so good. This brilliant book had me hooked from the beginning - Alice Feeney, author of Beautiful Ugly Breathlessly compulsive courtroom drama with expertly-crafted twists that you won't see coming, Dissection of a Murder is the razor-sharp debut novel from Jo Murray. A dead judge. A silent defendant. And a courtroom full of liars. When Leila Reynolds is handed her first murder case, she's shocked at how high-profile it is: the murder of a well-respected, well-known judge. This shouldn't be the kind of case she's leading; it's way beyond her expertise. But the defendant, Jack Millman, is clear. He wants her, and only her. To make things worse, he's refusing to talk. How is she supposed to prove herself on what appears to be...

$2700
Elsewhere:
$3800
Paperback
In Stock
Ships today
View details
7
A Spoonful of Murder

A Spoonful of Murder

ByJ.M. Hall

A Spoonful of Murder by J.M. Hall is a gripping crime thriller that delves into the complexities of a seemingly peaceful community. When a beloved resident is unexpectedly found dead, a retired trio with a knack for sleuthing takes on the case. Their investigation uncovers dark secrets and hidden tensions among the townsfolk, as they try to piece together the puzzle and bring the truth to light.

$2300
Elsewhere:
$2500
Paperback
In Stock
Ships today
View details
8
The Midnight Feast

The Midnight Feast

ByLucy Foley

Welcome to The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley, a riveting tale set against the enchanting backdrop of the Dorset coast. Nestled within the shadowy expanse of an ancient wood, The Manor—a newly unveiled countryside retreat—prepares for its grand opening. As the summer solstice approaches, guests arrive, old acquaintances reunite, and a simmering tension begins to rise beneath the veneer of luxury and celebration. In this spellbinding novel, a meticulously planned solstice supper turns sinister when a body is discovered. The shadow of a forgotten secret, buried for fifteen years, now threatens to upend everything. As darkness descends and secrets unravel, the past crashes the party in the most deadly way imaginable. This enthralling narrative threads a chilling edge of folklore with the glamour of an exclusive retreat. As...

$2999
Elsewhere:
$3699
Paperback
In Stock
Ships today
View details
9
The Parkwood Murders
On Sale
10% off
New Release

The Parkwood Murders

ByChris Chibnall

They came for an escape, but can they escape a killer? Detective Nicola Bridge returns in another gripping and immersive mystery For its loyal guests, Parkwood Holiday Village in west Dorset is a haven- woodland walks, a tranquil lake, service around the clock. Until, just after midsummer, a body is found floating in the swimming pool. Detective Nicola Bridge, exhausted by worries about her troubled teenage son, faces a resort full of suspects- a husband lying about his whereabouts, a high ropes instructor hiding unexplained scars, and a polished new manager with a dangerous secret. With hundreds of guests and staff on site, Nicola must race to uncover a web of lies before the killer disappears. Or strikes again...

$2700
Elsewhere:
$3800
Paperback
In Stock
Ships today
View details
10
Not Quite Dead Yet

Not Quite Dead Yet

ByHolly Jackson

The global phenomenon from the bestselling author of A Good Girl's Guide to Murder In seven days, Jet Mason will be dead. Twenty-seven years old, she's back living with her parents, waiting for her life to begin. She'll do it later, she always says. Her parents have their doubts. Until, on the night of Halloween, Jet is violently attacked by an unseen intruder. She suffers a catastrophic brain injury. The doctor is certain that within a week, she'll suffer a deadly aneurysm. Jet never thought of herself as having enemies. But now she looks at everyone in a new light—her family, her ex-best friend turned sister-in-law, her former boyfriend. She may only have seven days—if she even makes it that long—but Jet is absolutely determined to finally prove...

$2800
Paperback
In Stock
Ships today
View details
11
You Shouldn't Have Come Here

You Shouldn't Have Come Here

ByJeneva Rose

HOOOOLY MOOOOLY. My jaw is on the floor. What. A. Wild. Ride. I need to go stare at the wall in the dark for a few minutes... I read this book in ONE day because I couldn't put it down! The ending?! ?? I'll treat you so good, you won't want to leave. That's my motto. All I wanted was a vacation, a chance to relax, to scratch an itch. I never expected Calvin Wells... or the way I'd begin to feel about him. I mean, who falls for their Airbnb host? But despite the peaceful surroundings, the unexpected company, and the chemistry between us, there's a feeling I just can't shake. A warning in the pit of my stomach. And a locked door to the basement that...

$2999
Paperback
In Stock
Ships today
View details
12
The Whistling

The Whistling

ByRebecca Netley

The Whistling by Rebecca Netley is a haunting tale set on a remote Scottish island in the 19th century. A young woman named Elspeth Swansome takes a job to care for a mute and traumatised girl in a creaky, old mansion. As she settles in, Elspeth is drawn into a mystery as eerie occurrences and ghostly whistling suggest dark secrets and spectral presences within the isolated community.

$2400
Elsewhere:
$2600
Paperback
In Stock
Ships today
View details
13
Dead Girls Can't Tell Secrets

Dead Girls Can't Tell Secrets

ByChelsea Ichaso

Dead Girls Can't Tell Secrets by Chelsea Ichaso is a gripping Young Adult mystery that follows a girl named Piper who is desperate to uncover the truth behind her sister Savannah's suspicious hiking accident that left her comatose. As Piper delves deeper into Savannah's life, she uncovers secrets and lies, questioning the true dynamics of their seemingly perfect town. Themes of trust and betrayal intermingle, leading Piper on a suspenseful quest for answers.

$2200
Elsewhere:
$2400
Paperback
In Stock
Ships today
View details
14
Hallowe’en Party

Hallowe’en Party

ByAgatha Christie

In Hallowe’en Party by Agatha Christie, detective Hercule Poirot investigates the murder of a young girl who is found dead after a Halloween party. Her claim to have witnessed a murder compels Poirot to untangle the web of secrets lurking within a seemingly quiet suburban English village. As Poirot delves deeper, the dark undercurrents of small-town life are gradually brought to light.

$3200
Elsewhere:
$3500
Hardback
In Stock
Ships today
View details