6 Gothic Tales to Give You Chills This Winter

The Silk House - Kayte Nunn

The spellbinding story of a mysterious boarding school sheltering a centuries-old secret. Kayte Nunn delivers a stylish ghost story that will give you chills—from fear and delight. You’ll fall in love with the three fascinating women who are the forefront—Thea, Mary-Louise and Rowan. Intoxicating, haunting and inspired by the author's background, THE SILK HOUSE is an exceptional gothic mystery. A perfect winter read with a nice cuppa.

Spirited - Julie Cohen

A beautifully haunting and atmospheric historical novel about three brave women with unspeakable truths. In Victorian England, Viola is an amateur photographer struggling with the grief of her father's death and the sterile atmosphere of her marriage to her childhood friend, Jonah. When she discovers a talent for capturing ghostly images on camera, Viola comes to the attention of a spirit medium, and a powerful attraction between the two women is sparked... As each woman puts herself at risk, secrets are brought to light that will change their lives forever. Themes of passion, sexuality, gender and prejudice, SPIRITED is your next unforgettable read.

The Historian - Elizabeth Kostova

We’re all familiar with the tales of Dracula, but have you ever wondered about the historical truth behind Vlad the Impaler who formed the foundations of Bram Stoker’s legends? Late one night, exploring her father’s library, a young woman finds an ancient book and a cache of yellowing letters. The letters are all addressed to “My dear and unfortunate successor,” and they plunge her into a world she never dreamed of-a labyrinth where the secrets of her father’s past and her mother’s mysterious fate connect to an inconceivable evil hidden in the depths of history. The letters provide links to one of the darkest powers that humanity has ever known-and to a centuries-long quest to find the source of that darkness and wipe it out.

Mexican Gothic - Silvia Moreno-Garcia

A mesmerising feminist re-imagining of Gothic fantasy, in which a young socialite discovers the haunting secrets of a beautiful old mansion in 1950s Mexico. When glamorous socialite Noemi Taboada receives a frantic letter from her newly-wed cousin begging to be rescued from a mysterious doom, it's clear something is desperately amiss. Noemi travels to High Place, but as she digs deeper she unearths stories of violence and madness. And Noemi, mesmerised by the terrifying yet seductive world of High Place, may soon find it impossible to leave this enigmatic house behind...

The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon

A page-turning exploration of obsession in literature and love, and the places that obsession can lead. Hidden in the heart of the old city of Barcelona is the 'cemetery of lost books', a labyrinthine library of obscure and forgotten titles that have long gone out of print. Daniel is allowed to choose one book from the shelves and pulls out 'La Sombra del Viento' by Julian Carax. Then, one night, as he is wandering the old streets once more, Daniel is approached by a figure who reminds him of a character from La Sombra del Viento, a character who turns out to be the devil. What begins as a case of literary curiosity turns into a race to find out the truth behind the life and death of Julian Carax and to save those he left behind.

Wuthering Nights - Emily Bronte, I.J. Miller

Romantics everywhere have been enthralled by Emily Bronte's classic novel of the tragic love between beautiful, spirited Catherine Earnshaw and dark, brooding Heathcliff. The restrained desire between these two star-crossed lovers has always smoldered on the page. And now it ignites into an uncontrollable blaze. In WUTHERING NIGHTS, writer I.J. Miller reimagines this timeless story to reveal the passion between Catherine and Heathcliff - in all its forbidden glory.