41. A book with a chilling atmosphere

[Jackie, Solstitial Mod]

As we move into Fall, many of us find ourselves drawn to more seasonal reads. Whether you go for something figuratively chilling, like thrillers or horror, or more literal with a snowy setting, just be sure to some cozy blankets on hand!

A few places to gather ideas:
Psychological Chillers by Women https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3...
Creepy Atmosphere Books https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
Atmospheric Reads to Add Chills to your October TBR https://www.novelsuspects.com/book-li...
Snowy books https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
Winter Reads https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7...

And this duo:
Snowed In Mysteries and Thrillers https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/2...
Snowed In Romances
https://bookriot.com/snowed-in-romances/

ATY Listopia https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

What are you reading this week?

[Thomas]

I will read Eight Perfect Murders

[Pam]

I’m planning to read The Dead Zone by Stephen King.

[dalex]

I'm choosing something from this list of sci-fi horror books, probably Dead Silence by S.A. Barnes.

https://bookriot.com/best-sci-fi-horr...

[Jillian]

The Children on the Hill by Jennifer McMahon and Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy (though I’m hoping I read this for an earlier prompt). I might also go with something set in Antarctica.

[Thomas]

Pam wrote: "I’m planning to read The Dead Zone by Stephen King."

I have that down for the Edgar award winner prompt

[NancyJ]

I happen to be reading books with “winter” tags this month in my other group, and there are a lot of great choices on this list:
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

My favorite books with cold settings include:
Migrations
The Snow Child
A Fatal Grace
Small Things Like These
The Call of the Wild
Happiness by Forna
City of Thieves
Disappearing Earth

I want to read:
Peace Like a River
The Diamond Eye
Six of Crows
The Secret History
In the Bleak Midwinter
To The Bright Edge of the World
A Constellation of Vital Phenomena
Betty
The Left Hand of Darkness

I don’t usually pick books by the cover, but I really like this one:
Winterland


For other Chilling books:
Moon of the Crusted Snow
Indian Horse
A Tale of Two Cities (it’s more chilling because it’s true)

For spooky books I really liked books by Simone St. James— The Broken Girls and The Book of Cold Cases

[Dixie]

Snow Widows: Scott's Fatal Antarctic Expedition through the Eyes of the Women They Left Behind. Chilling in every way.

[LeahS]

I am reading for spooky chills rather than weather related ones.

I'm going to read What Moves the Dead, which sounds as if it should have a chilling atmosphere. I'm interested in what the writer does with The Fall of the House of Usher. It has mushrooms as well - one of the failed suggestions I want to incorporate into the challenge.

I am also going to read Sometimes People Die which seems to have a chilling storyline and also be chilling in the challenges facing hospitals today.

[Joanna G]

I recently read The Terror, which wasn't for a prompt and got annoyed with myself because part way through, I realized it was absolutely perfect for this prompt - the setting was both cold and creepy! So recommending that here. Seconding the recommendation for Moon of the Crusted Snow as well.

Because The Terror was so perfect, I plan to read another by the same author The Abominable, which sounds like it will perfectly meet the prompt in the same way.

[Marie]

I'll read Black Ice by Carin Gerhardsen. The blurb says it is chilling and atmospheric, which is good enough for me.

[Dixie]

LeahS wrote: "I am reading for spooky chills rather than weather related ones.

I'm going to read What Moves the Dead, which sounds as if it should have a chilling atmosphere. I'm interested in..."

I read What Moves the Dead this year and really liked it. It's definitely chilling. I thought it was much better than Mexican Gothic, a book with similar themes and approaches, though not the House of Usher connection.

[Hayley]

I'm planning to read Beartown. This will be my second book by Frederik Backman. This book is one of my favourite Booktuber's all-time favourites, so I think this will be a good read.

[Joanna G]

Today's daily article is tailor made for this prompt:

https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/2...

[SadieReadsAgain]

Some of my options are based on weather, others on environment/circumstances

- The Young Team by Graeme Armstrong (gang culture)
- Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (dystopia)
- The Asylum by Karen Coles (historic mental institution)
- Burial Rites by Hannah Kent (winter in Iceland)
- The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley (winter in Scotland)
- Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh (winter in Minnesota)
- Winter by Ali Smith (set at Christmas)
- Pine by Francine Toon (Halloween in the Highlands)
- Red Clocks by Leni Zumas (dystopia)

[Joy D]

For this prompt, I read:
Snow by John Banville - 3.5* - My Review

[John]

Joy D wrote: "For this prompt, I read:
Snow by John Banville - 3.5* - My Review"

The title is chilling by itself!

[JessicaMHR]

I just finished The Kingdom of Sweets and am going to use it for this.

[roguereader]

The Jinn Daughter

[GailW]

I read Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll. Nothing more chilling than a serial killer of young women across a number of states.

[Denise]

I'm going to read Attic by Katherine Dunn, stream of consciousness in a prison with a lot of disturbing imagery

[Tracy]

My plan for this is Burial Rites by Hannah Kent. I've been wanting to read this book set in Iceland, and now I finally have the chance!

[GailW]

I read Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll.

[Severina]

I readThe Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

[Guylian]

I read by Sandra Newman. WOW!!!

[Pam]

I read The White Darkness by David Grann The subject is Antarctic exploration. 5 stars!

[Misty]

I decided to read a Nordic Noir book for this prompt: Murder at the Savoy by Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo.

[Wendy]

I did a group read of The Frozen Deep by Wilkie Collins, which is a novella based on a play that was co-written and co-performed with Charles Dickens. The play in turn was based on the ill-fated Franklin expedition, which set sail in 1845 and disappeared in search of the Northwest passage, and which would have been declared officially missing only a few years before the play was first performed. Overall it was a fun read, but could have used a few hundred pages more of character development in that typical Victorian serialized novel style....

My full review is here.

[Book Concierge]

This disturbing dystopian / maybe post apocalyptic story is very unsettling!


✔ - 15Feb24
Leave the World Behind – Rumaan Alam – 4****
This grabbed me from page one and held on through the wonderfully ambiguous ending. It’s hard to say this is post-apocalyptic, though it’s certainly headed in that direction. Alam writes these characters so well. And gives the reader the same “unbalanced” sense that the characters feel – not knowing what is happening nor whom to trust. I’m left feeling unsettled and confused and curious and excited and desperate to know what is next.
LINK to my full review

[Jill]

I read Midwinter of the Spirit by Phil Rickman.
Besides the coldness of the midwinter, this is about the story of a newly appointed Exorcist, and her complicated experiences.

[Kathy]

I read The Stone Circle by Elly Griffiths

This is the 11th book in the Ruth Galloway series. I rated 4.5 stars.

[J]

I read If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino, which I highly recommend for anybody that enjoys reading books.

[lexiskat]

The book I chose for this prompt

short and sweet review:
I like the story but it took too long to get to the point. Bride was just on a whole different planet when it came to Booker. Sweetness was so scary as a human being. Brook was a SNAKE. EASY READ

[Robin H-R]

I read
The Arctic Fury by Greer Macallister

BIO: A book that primarily takes place in the Arctic or Antarctica
REJECT: A book with a trial or with a legal term in the title

Finished: 06/01/2024
Rating: 4 stars

[Stacey]

The book I chose for this prompt was Miss Iceland by Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir. Most of the novel takes place in Reykjavik, Iceland in 1963 and explores LGBTQ and feminist issues way back when. Lucky me - I got to visit this enchanting island this past winter. And I really enjoyed this book.

[Denise]

I read The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah. It takes place in Alaska with many descriptions of the cold, and has a violent character who is "chilling"

[Samantha]

I read No One Can Know - the premise seemed to be a creepy run down house where some murders took place and the murderer was never caught. In the end I didn't find it that chilling but still think it is a fit.

A few books I think would be a fit:
The Nickel Boys
When the Reckoning Comes
The Last House on Needless Street

[C-A]

I read Beneath the Scarlet Frost by Marissa Miller, which was chilling in more than one way.



Wow! This book took me on quite the ride and may be one of the best written and captivating books I've ever read.

[Dubhease]

I read The Mystery Writer. It wasn't as goodd as I thought it was going to be

[Sherri]

I read How to Sell a Haunted House. 4 stars

[Phil]

I read Eighteen Below by Stefan Ahnhem (Read August 6th; 4*) Chilling thriller & chilling weather

[Liz]

Hi Phil, I see that you enjoyed Eighteen Below. The synposis got my attention and it's on my TBR list now.

[Marie (UK)]

i read Heavenfield

this is a series a friend recommended and I am borrowing her copies as i go along. There is a connecting theme of pagan rituals and demonic killings with participants in high places including the police.
It's setting on Holy Island in Northumberland is a place I love and knowing the area helps

[Robin H-R]

2nd time through I read:
An Untimely Frost by Penny Richards

REJECT: A book with a cover design that reminds you of one of the four seasons (Winter)

Finished: 09/28/2024
Rating: 3.5 stars

Goodreads.com:
In 1881 Chicago, the idea of a female detective is virtually unheard of. But when famed crime buster Allan Pinkerton opens his agency's doors to a handful of women, one intrepid actress with her own troubled past is driven to defy convention and take on a new and dangerous role

[Anne]

I will be reading Time's Legacy by Barbara Erskine.