You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion

You’ve entered a long-abandoned haunted house on a dare—or maybe something lured you in. The doors slam behind you. The floorboards groan beneath your feet. The house holds five distinct items — I’ve already named them and have the list tucked away which I'll share with you once you're finished part A of the challenge.

Your task: Name one thing you think is hidden in the house.
You have until Friday, Sep 26 to post your answer. On Saturday, I will reveal the items. If you have guessed one of them, you will receive a task based on that item. If none of your guesses are on that list, you will end up with a penalty task instead.

For myself, I will put all 6 tasks in a randomizer and let the spirit of the randomizer pick my task.

ETA: You may choose any of the prompts listed below and not have them tied into your haunted house find.

Here are the prompts:

Ghost - Read a ghost story.
Chains - Read a book with the word "chain" in the title or subtitle
Cobwebs - Read a book with a spider on the cover or in the title.
Doll - Read a book where a female child is a significant character.
Broken Window - Read a book with something broken on the cover - broken glass, broken mirror,

If you did not find any of the identified items, or if you totally reject the task you've been offered, you will do the penalty task - read a book from this list: Halloween and Autumn Cozy Mysteries

General Rules:

1. The book may be in any format - paperback, ebook, audiobook.
2. The book may be combined with the Year Long Challenge and the Group Themed Read.
3. The book must be started and read between October 1-31, 2025 (based on your local time zone).
4. The challenge is for one book. You may read more books if you chose but you need only report one.
5. The book must be 175 pages or more determined by the issue you read.
In the case of ebooks & audiobooks, the ebook edition must be at least 200 pages and the audiobook must be a minimum of 6 hours long.

Reporting:

List your WoF name, link to the book you read and tell us which prompt you chose. Also give us a small blurb about your reactions to the book.

Ohhhh... this is exciting. I'm going to guess a picture/photograph.

I can see an old metal key. It's a long silver key, with two long grooves extending from the top. The key is on the floor but there's no obvious door or chest in sight that it might attach to or open.

I'm guessing that the previous owners let behind an old mirror with a damaged, mottled back. It's now dusty with cobwebs all over it. (The mirror might be a portal to somewhere scary or it's enchanted. Like Snow White's stepmother's Magic Mirror.)

an old portrait

I see a dusty diary.

I see a floor lamp flickering, on, off, on, before it goes completely dark.

Book with potions and spells. 🧙🏻‍♀️

broomstick

I'm going to guess....candles.

I’m going to guess a map that has been ripped in half.

My guess is grandfather clock

Kk. I reckon a taxidermied/stuffed raven/crow.

Janice wrote: "You’ve entered a long-abandoned haunted house on a dare—or maybe something lured you in. The doors slam behind you. The floorboards groan beneath your feet. The house holds five distinct items — I’..."

Ooh - there has to be dead body!

Going to see what everyone else guessed now.....

Rusalka wrote: "Kk. I reckon a taxidermied/stuffed raven/crow."

Creepiest suggestion so far. Lol

I'm impressed with the detail in some of these guesses!

… a box hidden in a closet or the basement, containing old photographs or memories of the former inhabitants of the house.

Kristie wrote: "I'm impressed with the detail in some of these guesses!"

It's all those wonderful mystery/suspense/gothic/horror books we like to read. :D

Dusty books

If there were like button, I'd like all the guesses!

I imagine a locket necklace with picture inside that somehow resembles someone in the family.

Sandra wrote: "Rusalka wrote: "Kk. I reckon a taxidermied/stuffed raven/crow."

Creepiest suggestion so far. Lol"

Oh dear :P But fair ;)

Tomorrow is your last chance to predict what's lurking in the house. :

I almost forgot that it was Saturday and you were promised a reveal.

I've enjoyed reading the suggested items that could be found in a haunted house. I'm going to open up the requirements and let you pick a prompt of your choice, including the 6th one, to read from the cozy mystery list with the theme of Halloween.

Oh, fun! I was looking forward to the reveal. Thanks, Janice.

I'm planning to read What Have You Done? for ghost story. The kids tell ghost stories in the graveyard, but also one of the characters is the ghost of a murdered girl.

That sounds interesting! I'll be interested in your comments.

I think I'm going to read Swamp Spook for the cozy mystery task. I thought I owned the book, but it's just in my wishlist. I have The Curse of Braeburn Castle, but I'll have to check to see if it's on the list.

ETA: It's not, but the book blurb reads "As ghosts are heard and treasure-seekers appear, the murders begin." so I might read it for ghosts. Decisions! I've been gophering for the toppler and I'm trying to make up my mind on a few books. Do I buy? Do they fit the list challenge? Oof, time for a break.

I was considering that one too, Janice, but I'm still only up to book 5 in the series and that's book 13. I don't suppose it would really spoil much though.

I'm reading different books in a couple of the series that are included.

It might. There's a significant turn in the series at book 11 & book 12.

Oh, good to know. Thanks.

I'm between: The Spellshop and In the Company of Witches. Any recommendations? The Spellshop has been on my TBR forever, but the second is more Halloween-y.

Sarah wrote: "I'm between: The Spellshop and In the Company of Witches. Any recommendations? The Spellshop has been on my TBR forever, but the second is more Halloween-y."

I thought The Spellshop was really cute, but I haven't read In the Company of Witches.

Sarah wrote: "I'm between: The Spellshop and In the Company of Witches. Any recommendations? The Spellshop has been on my TBR forever, but the second is more Halloween-y."

Are you considering the last prompt about Halloween cozies? If so, the book you choose needs to be on that list.

Damn, I was sure there'd be a body in the basement! Ah well, there's a couple of possibles on your cosy list.

I think I will either read Third Grave Dead Ahead for ghosts or Play Nice for broken window on cover.

Jayme wrote: "I think I will either read Third Grave Dead Ahead for ghosts or Play Nice for broken window on cover."

I really enjoyed the Charlie Davison series.

I plan to read Mystery of the Tea Cup Quilt.

Janice wrote: "Sarah wrote: "I'm between: The Spellshop and In the Company of Witches. Any recommendations? The Spellshop has been on my TBR forever, but the second is more Hallow..."

Yeah, they're both on there. Thanks!

Thanks for verifying that Sarah.

The only problem with this hauntingly good challenge is I have so MANY possibilities! 12!! Not sure which one I will choose!

So I've only just come to this thread, so I assume I'm reading from the Halloween and Autumn list? (I think I'm understanding this right)

Lynn wrote: "So I've only just come to this thread, so I assume I'm reading from the Halloween and Autumn list? (I think I'm understanding this right)"

Janice opened up the requirements, so you can choose any prompt you'd like.

I'm tempted to reread The Haunting of Hill House or The Turn of the Screw. I've meant to do it for a while and this might be a good opportunity. They are both ghost stories.

ETA links

I love Haunting of Hill House

I loved both, Katrisa, and always wanted to reread them, knowing the endings, to see what I might have missed.

The first time I read The Haunting of Hill House, it was from a reader's digest condensed books when I was around 15 or 16. I've since listened to the audiobook, and watched the movie with Liam Neeson a few times. I've also watched the original movie.

The Netflix series was really good too. I mean, it was only VERY loosely based on the book, but good regardless. It had one of the best creepy twists!

i will read Pumpkins in Paradise from first page of list
Note to self it is on KU

Shirley Jackson is amazing.

This is starting to look like a plan: reread the book and watch the movie and series. Sounds like October to me. :)

Sandra wrote: "Shirley Jackson is amazing.

This is starting to look like a plan: reread the book and watch the movie and series. Sounds like October to me. :)"

She is one of my favorite authors. Love your October plan 🎃👻