Winter is the season for breaking out the cozy knits, and indulging in spine-chilling tales paired with hot beverages to warm you right up. There's something very comforting about getting lost in tales of creaky houses, eerie apparitions, and mysterious murders isn't there?
Check out our list of 5 ghostly tales along with 5 cold-weather drinks to keep you company this winter!
1. The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
A young governess arrives at a creepy house and finds herself in charge of two beautiful children named Flora and Miles. It's not long before she starts spotting phantoms lurking about, and decides she must protect the children against this unable horror. But what happens when Flora and Miles don't seem to fear the specters, but welcome them?
The Turn of the Screw is a short read, which means the tension doesn't let up for even a second. When you're done, try watching the new Netflix series The Haunting of Bly Manor which is loosely based on James' novel!
*Best enjoyed with mulled apple cider in a public place surrounded by people (just in case).
2. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Dr. Victor Frankenstein wishes to gain power over life and death and ends up creating a terrifying monster instead. Tormented and haunted by his creature, Victor Frankenstein must seek to either destroy it, or be destroyed.
Although technically not a ghost story, Mary Shelley's famous novel, Frankenstein, is haunting enough to deserve a spot on this list. Check out our Frankenstein print for a glimpse into Dr. Frankenstein's creepy laboratory!
* Best enjoyed while drinking a hot cup of punsch on a dark and stormy evening.
3. The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde
An American Minister and his family purchase an old property in England, despite multiple warnings about the frightening ghost which haunts it. But it's the ghost who's in for an unpleasant surprise when the family doesn't react to his usual creepy hijinks in the way he expects.
The Canterville Ghost is short and sweet—the perfect comedic palette cleanser in between reading all those more 'serious' ghost stories!
*Best enjoyed while drinking an American hot chocolate, and don't forget to add plenty of marshmallows!
4. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Something strange is going on at gloomy Thornfield Hall...When Jane Eyre arrives at the house to serve as a governess to the mysterious Mr. Rochester's young ward, Adele, she finds more excitement than she bargains for. Spooky sounds in the night, a nefarious character living upstairs, and bizarre happenings surround her.
Is Thronfield Hall haunted? Or is there something more nefarious at play? You'll have to read this delightful gothic classic to find out for yourself. We love it so much we made a Jane Eyre poster out of the words from the book!
*Best enjoyed while drinking a Gin Eyre, preferably in the near proximity of a roaring fireplace.
5. The Haunted Hotel by Wilkie Collins
The Haunted Hotel opens with a scene in which a woman visits her doctor with a strange, and eerie query: Am I evil? Or am I going insane? So begins a tale of death, ghostly sightings, and madness which comes to a thrilling climax in a hotel room in Venice, Italy.
Wilkie Collins' novel is a staple of classic Victorian mystery stories, and contains enough foreshadowing to suck you in from start to finish.
*Best enjoyed while drinking an Italian eggnog, or Bombardino, in broad daylight.
What's your favorite classic ghost story? Which of the ones on our list have you read? Share your reading recommendations in the comments below!