The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
A young governess arrives at a remote country house to care for two orphaned children, only to become convinced that something sinister is afoot. Henry James’s masterful ghost story is unsettling and ambiguous and best read by firelight.
The Winter Guest by Sarah Moss
It’s Christmas Eve in a remote hotel. Two guests meet for the first time. Each has a confession to make. This slim novel by Sarah Moss is imbued with an eerie sense of isolation, a creeping unease and the feeling that something is not quite as it seems. One to curl up with as the wind howls outside.
The Woman in Black by Susan Hill
When a young solicitor travels to a remote house on the English marshes to settle a deceased client’s affairs, he encounters a mysterious woman dressed in black. What follows is a deliciously chilling ghost story, full of fear, fog and secrets.
Don’t Look Now by Daphne du Maurier
Daphne du Maurier is at her most brilliantly creepy in this short story in which she weaves together grief, premonition and an ever-growing sense of menace. You may never look at Venice in quite the same way again.
A Thousand Feasts by Nigel Slater
This little collection of essays and observations from one of our finest cookery writers deserves its place on this list because it is so cosy, reflective and suitable for leisurely fireside perusal. A pleasure from start to finish.
The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters
In the crumbling grandeur of a Warwickshire country house, a doctor becomes entangled with a once-wealthy family whose fortunes are in steep decline. But is it merely the house that’s falling apart, or is something altogether freakier at work? You won’t be able to put down this wonderfully atmospheric Gothic tale from Sarah Waters.
Sleepers in the Snow by Joanne Harris
Dark, enchanting and touched with the uncanny, these stories are for savouring as the nights draw in. Just the thing for anyone who likes their fireside reading with a generous helping of the unexpected.
Wintering by Katherine May
Another non-fiction title for the list, which presses home the lesson – hard to learn in this day and age – that sometimes we need to make space for rest, retreat and respite.
Books For Darker Evenings
What are the best books to read on a winter evening?
Atmospheric novels, Gothic mysteries and ghost stories make wonderful winter reading. Classics such as The Turn of the Screw by Henry James and The Woman in Black by Susan Hill are perfect for long, dark evenings.
What are the best ghost stories to read by the fire?
For a truly chilling fireside read, try The Woman in Black by Susan Hill, Don't Look Now by Daphne du Maurier or The Turn of the Screw by Henry James. All three are celebrated for their haunting atmosphere and psychological suspense.
What are some good cosy books to read in autumn and winter?
If you prefer something comforting rather than frightening, A Thousand Feasts by Nigel Slater and Wintering by Katherine May are excellent choices. Both celebrate life's quieter pleasures and the importance of slowing down.
What are the best Gothic novels to read?
Sarah Waters' The Little Stranger is a wonderfully atmospheric modern Gothic novel, while Henry James's The Turn of the Screw remains a classic of the genre. Both explore the unsettling territory between the supernatural and the psychological.
What are the best short books for autumn reading?
Short novels and ghost stories are ideal for an atmospheric evening's reading. Daphne du Maurier's Don't Look Now is a brilliantly unsettling short story, while Sarah Moss's The Winter Guest offers a haunting, wintry tale in a slim volume.
