That October

by Keith Roysdon

It's October 1984 and high school friends in an Indiana town should be thinking about football, MTV, Halloween hayrides and must-see movies.

But when a classmate is killed and another is taken, six friends are plunged not only into the mystery of who's responsible, but why some of the adults in town aren't pushing to solve the crime and save their missing friend. They quickly learn that lies and murder are common among the adults in the town - and even among the adults in their own family.

THAT OCTOBER is a story of coming of age, betrayal and the power of friendship.

Genres: Young Adult, Mystery

424 pages, Paperback

Published June 1, 2025

Reviews

[Andrew Monge · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good coming-of-age tale, so when I heard about Keith Roysdon’s THAT OCTOBER, I was pretty pumped. Centering on the tragic death of one teenager and the disappearance of a second, the story tracks a close-knit group of friends as they work to make sense of the loss.

In THAT OCTOBER, Keith created a variety of characters — teenage kids, law enforcement officials, shadowy bad guys, town regulars — and breathed life into each of them, making for a diverse and interesting cast. Masterful work pulling that off so well.

Perhaps the most exciting aspect for me was reading a very short chapter about 75% in that left me slack-jawed. Pretty rare that crime/noir surprises me anymore, but it was such a shocker of a scene, it took me a few moments to collect myself before carrying on. Very well done.

[Michael Cody · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't read a lot of YA, but Keith Roysdon's That October seems like a strong entry in the genre. The novel is rich with engaging characters and a good mystery. The setting is a small university town in Indiana. The main household is a timely example of a modern blended family that features a police detective and her university professor husband (with secrets) and their teenage children, hers an athletic boy, Michael, and his a girl, Jackie, interested in journalism. These kids have a tight circle of friends (chosen family, really) who participate in both the good and the bad times. When a boy and girl just outside this central circle meet with mysterious violence, Michael and Jackie's circle adds its own investigation to those being carried on by local police and newspaper journalists. That October is a fun romp through the unexpected mayhem of smalltown murders, teenage angst, espionage, and more.

[David Polaski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect chilling and haunting, That October is a spooky read that had me entertained from start to finish!

[ladywallingford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyable and quite nostalgic too! It definitely embodies that 80s teen Halloween thriller vibe. It was also quite an easy read as I finished it in two days.