HALLOWEEN CRIME FICTION // HALLOWEEN MYSTERIES

Happy Halloween! Halloween
so lends itself to crime fiction! Here's my updated 2023 List of Halloween Mysteries (mysteries that take place on or around Halloween). Let me know if I've missed any titles

I'll have a separate Day of the Dead list. Watch for it!

HALLOWEEN CRIME FICTION



Behind Chocolate Bars by Kathie Aarons

The Root of All Evil by Ellery Adams

The Pumpkin Killer by Stacey Alabaster

Green Water Ghost by Glynn Marsh Alam

Witches Bane by Susan Wittig Albert

Antiques Maul by Barbara Allan

The Pint of No Return by Ellie Alexander

In Charm's Way by Madelyn Alt

Lord of the Wings by Donna Andrews

Strange Brew by Mary Kay Andrews

A Roux of Revenge by Connie Archer
Double Jinx by Gretchen Archer


Killing Time by Amy Beth Arkaway

Far to Go by May Louise Aswell

Ghouls Just Want to Have Fun, Calamity Jayne and the Haunted Homecoming by Kathleen Bacus 

A Haunting Homicide: Halloween Cozy by Kathy Bacus and Sally J. Smith

Closely Harbored Secrets by Bree Baker  

Trick or Treachery: A Murder She Wrote Mystery by Donald Bain and Jessica Fletcher

The Ghost and Mrs Fletcher by Donald Bain, Renee Paley-Bain, & "Jessica Fletcher"

Punked by the Pumpkin by Constance Barker

Last Licks by Cynthia Baxter

Scary Sweets by Jessica Beck

In the Spirit of Murder by Laura Belgrave 

The Long Good Boy by Carol Lea Benjamin

Spackled and Spooked by Jennie Bentley 

Watchdog; Howloween Murder by Laurien Berenson

The Ginseng Conspiracy by Susan Bernhardt

The Halloween Pumpkin Spell by Morgana Best

A Haunting is Brewing by Juliet Blackwell

Dial Meow for Murder by Bethany Blake

Ghost of a Potion by Heather Blake (aka Heather Webber)

The Scent of Murder by Barbara Block

Under an English Heaven by Alice K. Boatwright

Witches of Floxglove Corners by Dorothy Bodoin 

Death of a Wolfman by Susan Boles
Night of the Living Thread by Janet Bolin
Boston Scream Murder by Ginger Bolton 
Death of a Trickster by Kate Borden 
Post-Mortem Effects by Thomas Boyle
A Graveyard for Lunatics; The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury
Rebel without a Cake by Jacklyn Brady
The Cat Who Talked to Ghosts by Lilian Jackson Braun
15 Minutes of Flame by Christin Brecher
Death Overdue by Allison Brook
The Hunt Ball; The Litter of the Law by Rita Mae Brown
Death on All Hallowe'en by Leo Bruce
Dessert is the Bomb by Catherine Bruns
Scrapbook of the Dead by Mollie Cox Bryan
The Big Chili by Julia Buckley
Killer Takeout by Lucy Burdette
Halloween by Leslie Burgess
All Hallow's Eve Heist by Anna Celeste Burke
Wycliffe and the Scapegoat by W.J. Burley
Death Goes Shopping by Jessica Burton
Murder on All Hallows by Beth Byers
Murder in the Bayou Boneyard by Ellen Byron 
A Deadly Brew by Lynn Cahoon
Halloween at Pumpkin Hill by Thea Cambert

Wolf in Sheep's Clothing by Ann Campbell

The Wizard of La-La Land by R. Wright Campbell

The Charm Stone by Lillian Stewart Carl

The Murders at Astaire Castle by Lauren Carr

Dark Loch by Sarah L. Carter
The Halloween Murders by John Newton Chance 
Bad Neighbors by Maia Chance
Death with an Ocean View by Nora Charles 
Frill Kill, Tragic Magic, Photo Finished, Bedeviled Eggs The Jasmine Moon Murder, Fiber and Brimstone, Bedeviled Eggs, Frill Kill, Gossamer Ghost, Ming Tea Murder by Laura Childs
Death by Bubble Tea by Jennifer J. Chow
Hallowe'en Party (A Haunting in Venice) by Agatha Christie

Jam Up and Jelly Tight by Donna Walo Clancy

Hazelnuts and Halloween by Leena Clover

Fudge Bites by Nancy Coco

Haunted Hair Nights by Nancy J. Cohen

Poison Buried Punch; Boo Buried Cupcakes by Lyndsey Cole 

A Holiday Sampler by Christine E. Collier

Lost Souls by Michael Collins

A Gala Event; Search for the Dead by Sheila Connolly (aka Sarah Atwell)

Under the Hill by Sheila Connolly

Witch Hunt: A Full Moon Mystery by Cate Conte

Not in My Backyard by Susan Rogers Cooper
Night of the Living Deed by E.J. Copperman 
Crypt Suzette by Maya Corrigan
The Ghost and Mrs. McClure; Decaffeinated Corpse by Cleo Coyle
Deadly Magic by Elisabeth Crabtree
Trick or Treat by Caroline Crane
Pumpkins are Murder by Kathy Cranson
A Catered Halloween by Isis Crawford
Spooky Business: Spooky Spider by Addison Creek
Newly Crimsoned Reliquary by Donna Fletcher Crow
Haunted House Ghost by James J. Cudney
Silver Scream, Bantam of the Opera, The Alpine Uproar by Mary Daheim
Halloween Hijinks, Pumpkins in Paradise, Haunted Hamlet, Legend of Tabby Hallow, Ghostly Graveyard, Costume Catastrope, Count Catula; Trick or Treason, Deja Diva by Kathi Daley
The Dracula Murders by Philip Daniels
Cake Popped Off by Kim Davis
The Diva Haunts the House, The Ghost and Mrs Mewer; Murder Outside the Lines by Krista Davis
Fatal Undertaking by Mark de Castrique
And Murder for Dessert by Kathleen Delaney
Swamp Spook by Jana Deleon
No Gravestone Unturned by Debbie De Louise

Murder on Halloween by Steve Demaree

Farmcall Fatality by Abby Deuel

Throw Darts at a Cheesecake by Denise Dietz

Trick or Treat, The Halloween Murder by Doris Miles Disney

A Map of the Dark by John Dixon

Halloween Party Murder by Leighann Dobbs

Ghostly Murders by P. C. Doherty

Died to Match by Deborah Donnelly

Cat with an Emerald Eye by Carole Nelson Douglas

Cupcakes, Bats, and Scare-dy Cats by Pamela DuMond

Not Exactly a Brahmin by Susan Dunlap 

Vampires, Bones and Treacle Scones by Kaitlyn Dunnett 

A Ghost to Die For by Elizabeth Eagan-Cox

Be Careful What You Witch For; Do No Harm by Dawn Eastman 

Mischief, Murder, and Merlot by J.C. Eaton

The Bowl of Night by Rosemary Edghill 
The Frozen Shroud by Martin Edwards
Knit of the Living Dead by Peggy Ehrhart
Look Closer by David Ellis 
Ghost Story by K.J. Emrick
Death by Pumpkin Spice by Alex Erickson
Door of Death by John Esteven 
The Witchfinder by Loren D. Estleman 
Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich
Dark Tides by Chris Ewan 

Dead Pig in the Sunshine by Penny Burwell Ewing

Dead Ends by Anne C. Fallon 

Sympathy For The Devil by Jerrilyn Farmer

Five Dog Voodoo by Lia Farrell

Mulberry Mischief by Sharon Farrow

Dead in the Pumpkin Patch by Connie Feddersen 

It's Your Party Die if You Want To by Vickie Fee  

Blackwork, Hanging by a Thread, Blackwork by Monica Ferris

The Black Cat Sees his Shadow by Kay Finch

Scary Stuff by Sharon Fiffer
The Lawyer Who Died Trying by Honora Finkelstein 
Trick or Treachery by "Jessica Fletcher" and Donald Bain
Halloween by D.M. Flexer
The Fudge Cupcake Murder by Joanne Fluke
Halloween Murder, Foul Play at the Fair, Trick or Deceit by Shelley Freydont
A Harvest of Bones by Yasmine Galenorn
The Spook in the Stacks by Eva Gates (aka Vicki Delany)
Broke by Kaye George
Stirring the Plot by Daryl Wood Gerber
Trouble Brewing by Heather Day Gilbert

Trick or Treat by Leslie Glaister

Mommy and the Murder by Nancy Gladstone

Haunted by Jeanne Glidewell 

Blood & Broomsticks by Jean G. Goodhind (aka J.G. Goodhind)  

A Few Dying Words by Paula Gosling

The Black Heart Crypt; Hell for the Holidays by Chris Grabenstein

Monster in Miniature by Margaret Grace 

Deadly Harvest by Heather Graham 
Pumpkin Ridge by Pamela Grandstaff  
Nail Biter by Sarah Graves
Trick or Treat by Kerry Greenwood 
Halloween by Ben Greer 

A Waffle Lot of Murder by Lena Gregory

The Snafued Snatch by Jackie Griffey

Quoth the Raven; Skeleton Key by Jane Haddam

A Crime of Poison by Nancy Haddock

Hallowed Bones; Bone to Be Wild; Clacking Bones by Carolyn Haines

Muffin but Murder by Victoria Hamilton

Black Light by Elizabeth Hand

Murder at the Pumpkin Pageant by Darci Hannah

Delicious Mischief by Marianne Harden

Southern Ghost, Ghost at Work by Carolyn Hart 

Sweet Poison by Ellen Hart

Hide in the Dark by Frances Noyes Hart 

Halloween Homicide by Kelly Hashway

Revenge of the Cootie Girls by Sparkle Hayter

Town in a Pumpkin Bash by B.B. Haywood

Digging Up the Remains by Julia Henry
A Streetcar Named Murder by T.G. Herren
Samhain Secrets by Jennifer David Hesse
Dead Pirates of Cawsand by Steve Higgs
Asking for the Moon by Reginald Hill  (SS)
The Fallen Man, The Wailing Wind by Tony Hillerman 
Death of a Pumpkin Carver; Death by Haunted House; Death of a Wicked Witch by Lee Hollis
Delicious Mischief by Marianne Horden
The Color of Blood by Declan Hughes
A Vintage Death by Mary Ellen Hughes
Halloween Waffle Murder by Carolyn Q Hunter 

Murder on the Ghost Walk by Ellen Elizabeth Hunter 
From Bad to Wurst by Maddie Hunter  
Already Dead by Charlie Huston
Long Time No See by Susan Isaacs
Murder on Old Main Street; Dirty Tricks;Dying Wishes by Judith K. Ivie
The Pumpkin Thief, The Great Pumpkin Caper by Melanie Jackson
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
Murder Among Us by Jonnie Jacobs
A Murder Made in Stitches by Pamela James
The Widow's Walk League by Nancy Lynn Jarvis
Designed for Haunting by Sybil Johnson
The Devil's Cat, Cat's Eye, Cat's Cradle, The Devil's Kiss, The Devil's Heart, The Devil's Touch by William W. Johnstone  
The Violet Hour by Daniel Judson
Muffins & Murder by Heather Justesen
A Stew to Kill by Jenny Kales

A Charming Voodoo; Decaffeinated Scandal by Tonya Kappes
The Sacrifice by Karin Kaufman
The Bakeshop at Pumpkin and Spice by Donna Kauffman and Kate Angell
Death by Chance by Abigail Keam
Day of Atonement by Faye Kellerman
Saturday the Rabbi Went Hungry by Harry Kemelman
Wed and Buried, The Skeleton Haunts a House by Toni L.P. Kelner
Verse of the Vampyre by Diana Killian
Pumpkin Roll by Josi S. Kilpack 
The Animal Hour by Andrew Klavan 
Mischief Nights are Murder by Libby Klein
The Legend of Acorn Hollow by Maureen Klovers
Paws for Murder by Annie Knox
The Spirit in Question by Cynthia Kuhn
Mean Girl Murder by Leslie Langtry
Murder in the Neighborhood by Janis Lane 
Ghastly Glass by Joyce and Jim Lavene 
The Stitching Hour by Amanda Lee (aka Gayle Trent)  
Death of a Neighborhood Witch by Laura Levine 
Death Knocks Twice by James H. Lilley
The Legend of Sleepy Harlow by Kylie Logan (aka Miranda Bliss & Casey Daniels)
All Saints' Secrets by Nicole Loughan
Picked Off by Linda Lovely
The Clock Strikes Nun by Alice Loweecey

The Body from the Past by Judi Lynn

Smoke Screen by Marianne MacDonald

Pumpkin Pied; Deadly Brew by Karen MacInerney 

Poisoned by Elaine Macko 

Bear Witness to Murder by Meg Macy

Halloween Flight 77 by Debbie Madison

The Haunted Season by G.M. Malliet  

Baby Doll Games by Margaret Maron

A Halloween Hookup by Jennie Marts

Satan's Silence by Alex Matthews 

Tricks: an 87th Precinct Mystery by Ed McBain 

Poisoned Tarts by G.A. McKevett 

Dark Chocolate Demise; The Plot and the Pendulum by Jenn McKinlay

Death on All Hallows by Allen Campbell McLean

A Sparrow Falls Holiday by Donna McLean

Witch of the Palo Duro by Mardi Oakley Medawar  

Trick or Treat Murder, Wicked Witch Murder, Candy Corn Murder by Leslie Meier 

Dancing Floor, Prince of Darkness by Barbara Michaels

The October Boys by Adam Millard

Monster in Miniature by Camille Minichino 

The Violet Hour by Richard Montanari

Bobbing for Bodies by Addison Moore

Death by Jack O'Lantern by Alexis Morgan
Stakes and Spells by Lynn Morrison
Cat Among the Pumpkins by Mandy Morton

A Biscuit, a Casket by Liz Mugavero

Send in the Clowns by Julie Mulhern

Bread of the Dead by Ann Myers 

Dead End by Helen R. Myers

Nightmare in Shining Armor by Tamar Myers 

Hatchet Job by J.E. Neighbors

Oink by Judith Newton

What Doesn't Kill Here by Carla Norton

Retribution by Patrick J. O'Brien

Halloween Cupcake Murder by Carlene O'Connor

Deadly Places by Terry Odell

Halloween House by Ed Okonowicz

Curried Away by Gail Oust

The Body in the Moonlight by Katherine Hall Page 

Dark Harvest by Norman Partridge

The Witch Who Hated Halloween by Katie Penryn

Caught Dead Handed; Grave Errors; Be My Ghost by Carol J. Perry

The Skeleton Haunts a House by Leigh Perry

Flight of a Witch by Ellis Peters 

Twilight by Nancy Pickard

Strange Halloween by Horace Poulin

Pumpkin Spice Murder by Summer Prescott
Charmed Again by Rose Pressey
Drawn & Butter by Shari Randall
Murder at Witches Bluff by Silver Ravenwolf

No Parm No Foul by Linda Reilly
Calypso, Corpses, and Cooking by Raquel V. Reyes
Poltergeist by Kat Richardson 
Magnolias, Moonlight, and Murder by Sara Rosett
Scared Off by Barbara Ross

Death Notice by Todd Ritter 


Spook Night by David Robbins 


A Hole in Juan by Gillian Roberts


Murder in a Nice Neighborhood by Lora Roberts
Scared Off by Barbara Ross
Scared Stiff by Annelise Ryan
Death of Halloween by Kim Sauke


Mighty Old Bones by Mary Saums 

Murder Ole! by Corinne Holt Sawyer

Tracking Magic by Maria E. Schneider

The Tenor Wore Tapshoes by Mark Schweizer

Trick or Treat or Murder by Kendall Scott
Devil's Day by Kyle M. Scott
Cementery Street by Brenda Seabrooke
Halloween, Hound, & Housesitting by Mary Seifert
Phantoms Can be Murder by Connie Shelton
A Killer Maize by Paige Shelton
Booked for Murder by Morgan W. Silver

Dance of the Scarecrows by Ray Sipherd
The Sterling Inheritance by Michael Siverling
Halloween in Cherry Hills by Paige Sleuth
The Lawyer Who Died Trying by Susan Smily
Recipe for Murder by Janet Elaine Smith
Halloween Season by Lucy A. Snyder
The Egypt Game by Zilch Neatly Snyder (YA)
Town Haunts by Cathy Spencer
Carbs and Cadavers by J.B. Stanley
Black Cats, Corpses and the Pumpkin Pantry by Rachael Stapleton
In the Blink of an Eye, Halloween Party by Wendy Corsi Staub
Halloween Party by R.L. Stine (YA)
Tiaras & Terror by Anne Marie Stoddard
Ghost Story by Peter Straub
Ripping Abigail by Barbara Sullivan
Candy Coated Murder by Kathleen Suzette
Murder of a Royal Pain by Denise Swanson
Mourning Shift by Kathleen Taylor

The Darkness Deepens by S.D. Thames

Halloween Homicide by Lee Thayer

Inked Up; Inked Up by Terri Thayer

Sharpe Point by Lisa B. Thomas

Charlie's Web by L.L. Thrasher

Gods of the Nowhere by James Tipper

Pine by Francine Toon

Death in the Cotswolds by Rebecca Tope

A Room with a Brew by Joyce Tremel

A Dash of Murder by Teresa Trent

Strange Brew by Kathy Hogan Trochek

Bitter Harvest by Wendy Tyson

Masking for Trouble by Diane Vallere

Pineapple Mystery Box by Amy Vansant

I Will Fear No Evil by Debbie ViguiƩ

Dangling by a Thread by Lea Wait

Haunted Hayride with Murder; In the Company of Witches by Auralee Wallace

How to Party with a Killer Vampire by Penny Warner

Murder by the Slice, Trick or Deadly Treat by Livia J. Washburn 

Five-Minute Halloween Mysteries by Ken Weber

The Scarecrow Murders by Mary V. Welk

Goodnight Nobody by Jennifer Weiner

Gourd to Death; Never Say Chai by Kirsten Weiss 
Killer Mousse by Melinda Wells
Halloween Hayride Murder by Linnea West 
Ghoul of My Dreams by Richard F. West 
Sweet Fire & Stone by J.A. Whiting
Blood Moon by J.A. Whiting and Nell McCarthy  
All Hallow's Eve by Charles Williams
Mayhem, Marriage, and Murderous Mystery Manuscripts by J.L. Wilson

Mrs Morris and the Witch by Traci Wilton

A Stitch to Die For by Lois Winston

Killer See, Killer Do by Jonathan Wolfe

All Hallow's Evil by Valerie Wolzien

Trick or Murder?; Reading Between the Crimes by Debbie Young


Halloween Mystery Short Story Anthologies



Homicidal Holidays: Fourteen Tales of Murder and Merriment, edited by Donna Andrews, Barb Goffman, & Marcia Talley

Deadly Treats: Halloween Tales of Mystery, Magic and Mayhem, Edited by Anne Frasier 

Trick and Treats edited by Joe Gores & Bill Pronzini

Asking for the Moon (includes "Pascoe's Ghost" and "Dalziel's Ghost") by Reginald Hill

Murder for Halloween by Cynthia Manson

The Haunted Hour, edited by Cynthia Manson & Constance Scarborough

Murder for Halloween: Tales of Suspense, edited by Michele Slung & Roland Hartman.

Mystery for Halloween (an anthology), edited by Donald Westlake

Halloween Horrors, edited by Alan Ryan

All Hallows' Evil, edited by Sarah E. Glenn

Chesapeake Crimes: Homicidal Holidays, edited by Donna Andrews, Barb Goffman and Marcia Talley

Halloween Thirteen-a Collection of Mysteriously Macabre Tales, by Bobbi Chukran
Happy Homicides 4: Falling into Crime, edited by Joanna Campbell Slan et al.
A Very Cozy Halloween, Summer Prescott & 7 others
Midnight Mysteries: Nine Cozy Tales,  Ritter Ames and others
Murder on Halloween by Steve Demaree

Trick or Treats: Tales of All Hallows' Eve, Edited by Diana Cat and Tony Perona 





Want some Halloween Chocolate Treats to accompany your reading? Head over to my Chocolate Blog  DyingforChocolate.com.

And here's a great article about Halloween, Cozies, and Fall Foodie Mysteries by Raquel V. Reyes: Pumpkins and Peril: Halloween Mysteries for US Scaredy Cats

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