Horror October 2025
Recent Releases
The Possession of Alba Díaz
by Isabel Cañas

In 1765 Zacatecas, Mexico, Alba Díaz and her parents take refuge from the plague in a remote silver mine owned by the family of Alba's fiancé, Carlos Monterrubio. Beset by hallucinations, convulsions, and sleepwalking episodes, Alba suspects she's been possessed by a demon, and works alongside Carlos' cousin, Elías, to free herself from its grasp. This atmospheric gothic horror novel will appeal to fans of Alexis Henderson.
Departure 37
by Scott Carson

When hundreds of pilots receive phone calls from their mothers (whether living or dead) warning them not to fly their planes, 17-year-old Charlie Goodwin discovers that the mysterious phenomenon may be tied to a deadly 1962 naval operation. This dual timeline novel blends nail-biting horror with Cold War paranoia, boasting "copious cliffhangers, an original premise, and a resonant emotional center" (Publishers Weekly). For fans of: The Secret Hours by Mick Herron.
House of Monstrous Women
by Daphne Fama

In 1986 Philippines, Josephine receives a letter from her childhood friend (and rumored witch) Hiraya, inviting her to Hiraya's labyrinthine family estate for a game in which the sole winner will be granted their heart's desire -- and the losers will die. For fans of: Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.
The End of the World As We Know It: New Tales of Stephen King's The Stand
by Christopher Golden and Brian Keene (editors); introduction by Stephen King

Bram Stoker Award-winning authors Christopher Golden and Brian Keene coedited this chilling anthology set within the world of Stephen King's classic 1978 postapocalyptic novel The Stand, featuring 34 original stories by Tananarive Due, Chuck Wendig, Gabino Iglesias, S.A. Cosby, and more. Try this next: Wastelands: Stories of the Apocalypse edited by John Joseph Adams (and featuring a story by King).
Play Nice
by Rachel Harrison

After her estranged mother's death, influencer Clio moves into her home with the intention of selling it. Clio's mom always claimed the house was possessed, which Clio and her sisters chalked up to their mother's alcoholism. But when she finds a book detailing the house's supernatural anomalies -- the same things she now finds herself experiencing -- Clio realizes her mother may have been telling the truth after all. For fans of: How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix; The September House by Carissa Orlando.
Hemlock & silver by T. Kingfisher
Hemlock & silver
by T. Kingfisher

A dark reimagining of “Snow White” steeped in poison, intrigue and treason of the most magical kind.
Tantrum
by Rachel Eve Moulton

Beleaguered mom-of-three Thea's childhood trauma resurfaces with the birth of her daughter, Lucia, whose constant hunger and abnormally fast growth make Thea suspect Lucia is actually a monster. For fans of: Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage. 
The lamb : a novel by Lucy Rose
The lamb : a novel
by Lucy Rose

In their secluded forest cottage, Margot and her mother welcome“strays,” lost travelers whom Mama feeds and ultimately consumes, but when a striking stranger named Eden arrives during a snowstorm, Margot must confront her family's dark practices and assert her own desires.
How to survive a horror story : a novel by Mallory Arnold
How to survive a horror story : a novel
by Mallory Arnold

When legendary horror author Mortimer Queen passes, a group of authors find themselves invited to the last will and testament reading, expecting a piece of his massive fortune for themselves. Each have their own unique connection to the literary icon, some known, some soon to be discovered, and they've been waiting for their chance to step into the great author's shoes for some time. They enter the manor and wait for their prize. Instead, they are invited to play a game. The rules are simple, solve the riddle and progress to the next room. If you don't, someone dies. Because each of these authors has something to hide, and Mortimer, even from the grave, always delivers the best story. Only this time, his manor will help. You see, the Queen estate was built on the bones of the family, and the house is still very, very hungry. With the clever, locked-room thrills of Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone with the ghostly horror of The Fall of the House of Usher, how to survive a horror story is a bright, biting, thrill-ride that begs us to contemplate how the best horror stories come to be.
The Eyes Are the Best Part by Monika Kim
The Eyes Are the Best Part
by Monika Kim

Korean American college student Ji-won's fixation on the blue-eyed white men who antagonize (or fetishize) her leads to murder in this creepy and suspenseful debut from Monika Kim.
Contact your librarian for more great books!
Round Rock Public Library
200 E. Liberty Avenue Round Rock, Texas 78664
512-218-7000

www.roundrocktexas.gov/library