As the nights grow colder and the year winds down, I’m revisiting some of my favorite reads from this year’s New Releases. From ghost-soaked hotels to cursed legacies, witchy teens to viral monsters and even a nefarious cheesecake murder, these were the books that stuck with me long after the last page. Of course, no end-of-year roundup would be complete without a few unexpected guests, so I’ve tucked in some chilling surprises perfect for winter reading. So, light a candle, lock the door and let’s look back at a year of terror, transformation and terrifying fiction. Here are my Top 10 2025 favorites.
Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix
In the blistering summer of 1970, a pregnant teen arrives at a reform home for girls and discovers a book of witchcraft that offers more than rebellion—it offers real power. Gritty, spellbinding, and ferociously feminist, Hendrix’s latest is a raw invocation of girlhood rage and supernatural liberation.
The Haunting of Room 904 by Erika T. Wurth
After her sister’s sudden death, Olivia finds herself haunted by more than grief—she’s hearing voices, seeing things, and the spirits only get louder once she checks into Room 904 of the Brown Palace Hotel. In this gritty, atmospheric paranormal thriller, Wurth blends Indigenous horror with raw emotional weight, unearthing secrets that refuse to stay buried.
Murder by Cheesecake by Rachel Ekstrom Courage
When Dorothy’s obnoxious date turns up dead in a hotel freezer—beside a ruined cheesecake—it threatens to derail Rose’s elaborate St. Olaf-themed wedding. Cozy, kitschy, and full of cheesecake-baked chaos, Ekstrom’s first Golden Girls murder-mystery is a sweet stab of nostalgia.
When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy
After a brutal encounter with a violent man, a struggling actress finds herself on the run with a mysterious child—and hunted by something darker than trauma: a primal, unstoppable force that feeds on fear. Brutal, strange and emotionally raw, Cassidy’s latest is a razor-sharp exploration of monstrosity, motherhood, and what happens when the Big Bad Wolf is already inside the house.
Pam Kowolski is a Monster! by Sarah Langan
Two decades after high school, Janet’s childhood nemesis has transformed into a viral psychic influencer predicting the apocalypse—and she might actually be right. Unhinged, hilarious, and razor-sharp, Langan’s novella is a riotous tale of revenge, fame, and the monsters we make (and follow) online.
Secret lives of the Dead by Tim Lebbon
A forbidden dare leads three friends into the decaying remains of a country estate—where something old, buried, and vengeful stirs beneath the floorboards. With blood-soaked relics and a curse steeped in belief, Lebbon’s chilling folk horror will have you questioning what lingers in the dark.
Play Nice by Rachel Harrison
When influencer Clio Barnes inherits her childhood home, she sees a content opportunity—until renovations stir something sinister that makes her question if her mother’s madness was really a curse. Harrison delivers a sharp, chilling take on hauntings and legacy in her first New York Times Bestseller.
We Love You, Bunny by Mona Awad
In this blood-soaked, deliriously unhinged sequel to Bunny, Awad drags Samantha Mackey back into the Bunny-verse—this time kidnapped at axe-point by her former classmates demanding their side of the story.
The Place Where They Buried Your Heart by Christina Henry
Years after her little brother vanished inside a house that devours, Jessie Campanelli is still haunted by what’s waiting down the block. Henry delivers a chilling tale of grief, guilt and the kind of evil that waits, patient and hungry, in an otherwise quiet Chicago suburban neighborhood.
Dark Sisters by Kristi DeMeester
A fire once sparked by a desperate bargain burns across generations in this genre-blending tale. Told through interwoven stories of three women—a 17th-century healer, a 1950s housewife, and a modern preacher’s daughter, DeMeester’s haunting novel explores the enduring power of love, rebellion, and a curse that refuses to die.
The Chill Quill is a monthly roundup of thriller, horror, mystery, and dark fantasy titles released each month by Lindy Ryan. Read previous editions here.
