My Scary Top Five Children’s Books/YA Novels For The Season.

The time of Halloween/All Hallows Eve/Samhain has arrived! And so, what better way to start it off than with some seasonally scary books?

Here are my top five books for this time year:

At number five it’s…

“Rose Raventhrope Investigates: Black Cats And Butlers.” by Janine Beacham.

Cover of the book.

Rose lives in Yorke with her beloved butler Argyle. After Argyle is murdered in Rose’s house, she is determined to discover who did it and why. On her journey she uncovers some secrets about Argyle and his butler friends. She makes friends and a very dangerous enemy.

I love this book and I think it is a very good mystery book. I found it so exciting and gripping it made my heart beat fast. It is also a little bit funny, tickling me inside. Also black cats are very Halloween-y.

Hetty Monksea

At number four it’s…

“Mic Drop.” by Sharna Jackson.

Cover of the story.

‘She knew what was coming. Her inevitable end.’

This is a fabulous sequel to “High Rise Mystery.” by Sharna Jackson, a new master of modern crime fiction. I reviewed “High Rise Mystery earlier this year and I thought it was wonderful:

“High-Rise Mystery.” by Sharna Jackson

This one sees Nik and Norva on another adventure in the Tri with George. And what a mystery ensures! Katarzyna Clarke a former resident of the Tri but now also the sensational TrojKat is back for a video shoot of her lastest song Cusp. But it all goes wrong and with new murder on thier hands Nik and Norva get to work. But the police and public know of the death as well and the duo must race to solve it before they do.

I found this sequel compelling. What a mystery it is! With twists and turns Jackson has really got it together in this wonderful return of our favorite crime-solving duo. A great read for this All Hallow’s Eve as the story itself is set around Halloween!

Hetty Monksea

At number three it’s…

“The Howling Hag Mystery.” by Nicki Thornton.

Cover of the book.

I’ve reviewed this book by Nicki Thornton earlier this year so if you want to read the whole review then please do. The link is here:

Review of The Howling Hag Mystery.

‘The Howling Hag made me do it,’ she whispered.

Raven Charming Raven Charming lives in Twinhills with her family. Her mum’s Golden Rule has always been Deny Everything. But with the arrival of the new boy at school, Mortimer Scratch, and that black cat that seems to be everywhere, Raven is not sure that she can keep that rule. Then things start happening at Twinhills and Raven now needs the help of the black cat Nightshade as well as that of Mortimer Scratch, so that they can uncover the mysterious person and stop them.

I loved this new book (published this summer) by Nicki Thornton. It has mystery, family secrets, and magic. WHAT’S NOT TO LIKE?! Another book with a black cat (this one also narrates some of the story) and with a mystery of a witch, this is THE perfect gripping read for this time of year. Anyway, I can highly recommend this fabulous and exciting new novel from the author. I’d give it four and a half stars out of five, I think.

Hetty Monksea

At number two it’s…

“The Deathless Girls.” by Kiran Millwood Hargrave.

Cover of the story.

‘Deathless, they said, and their mouths spilled blood. Lay death to rest.’

Lil and Kizzy are twins, and lived their whole lives with their Mama, brother Kem and bear Albu. They are Travellers, journeying from places to place. But as their divining day is born they are tore from what they know placed as slaves to the horrible Boyar Valcan. There they live a miserable and lonely existence. But then they hear that the myths of the Dragon are real and what ensures that will test them all…

This is the book that I am currently reading for this Samhain/Halloween/All Hallow’s Eve. And “The Deathless Girls.” sure is some book! The beautiful language of Kiran is as delightful as ever. But with the darker glimpse it makes it even more thrilling. I can wholly recommend this perfect Halloween read.

Hetty Monksea

And at number one, the best (in my opinion) book for the season is…

“We Played With Fire.” by Catherine Barter.

Cover of the book.

‘You could have told them!’

Maggie Fox has supposedly committed an awful crime. However, no one listens to her side of the story. When she and her younger sister Kate, and their older sister Leah start up some mischief people start to believe them, but can this last forever? And when they know that spirits are actually sometimes responding, the choice of continuing the fakery is questioned in their minds. But they are determined to show everyone the truth and carry on with strange events following them…

The reasons I put this as the top one is for a few reasons. One is that it is perfect for everyone whatever you celebrate because ghosts or spirits are connected with Halloween, All Hallow’s Eve, and Samhain. Also, it is an AWESOME book! Another reason is that I want to share it with others. I loved Catherine’s style, and think she is an amazing author. She uses her tools so well that I sometimes I actually thought that I was Maggie and forgot where I was. I hope that other people read it and feel that same spell over them. It was wonderful to cover myself in Maggie and Kate’s story and not care for anything else. Again, it’s another book published this year and a must have for those thrill lovers.

Hetty Monksea