Our Picks for: Gothic or Chilling Settings

Posted on by mycoulee

In the spirit of Halloween and our fun new clip art, Norma and I decided to start a discussion post with chilling and unsettling aspects to books that have made our skin crawl or send chilling shivers up our spines.  For this post, let’s chat about gothic or chilling settings and what makes them so appealing to us.

Brenda: I love the secrets that gothic or chilling settings hold.  It doesn’t really matter what the setting is as long as it holds some secret or mystery.  I always think if the walls or the setting could talk what secrets do they have to share with us.

Norma:  I am not exactly sure what attracts me so much to gothic or chilling settings.  I just love the whole atmospheric feel that they bring to the storyline. Gothic and chilling settings are so mysterious and suspenseful for me and I absolutely love that fearful apprehension feeling.

Join us on our journey through some doors to some of our favorite fascinating creepy and unsettling settings described in 5 words or less.

 

The Broken GirlsThe Broken Girls by Simone St. James

Setting: Abandoned boarding school

LC67-4Haunting, buried secrets, eerie, and isolated.

 

The Weight of LiesThe Weight of Lies by Emily Carpenter

Setting: Old mansion on an isolated island

L329-5Mysterious, threatening, suffocating and isolating.

 

The Red HunterThe Red Hunter by Lisa Unger

Setting: Run down house

LC67-1Buried secrets, walls that could talk, dangerous

 

The Silent CompanionsThe Silent Companions by Laura Purcell

Setting:  Victorian Family Estate

LC67-8Mysterious, unsettling, creepy, menacing, and haunting.

 

The Clockmaker's DaughterThe Clockmaker’s Daughter by Kate Morton

Setting: Victorian Manor

LC67-3Spellbinding, ghostly, intriguing, secretive

 

The Witch of Willow HallThe Witch of Willow Hall by Hester Fox

Setting: Country Home

img_6579Witchy magical, haunting, ominous, mysterious, and menacing.
Mr. Flood's Last ResortMr. Flood’s Last Resort by Jess Kidd

Setting: Clutter Mansion

LC66-10Magical, eccentric, ghostly and menacing

 

Every Single SecretEvery Single Secret by Emily Carpenter

Setting: Remote chilling retreat

CL104-3Intense, dark, chilling, and suspenseful

 

An Unwanted GuestAn Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena

Setting:  Remote mountain lodge

LC66-15Chilling, dangerously isolated, untrustworthy guests

img_6562

Let’s chat!  Do you find gothic or chilling settings appealing and what makes them so appealing to you?  What are some of your favorites?  Drop us a comment!  We would love to hear from you!

Published by mycoulee

24 thoughts on “Our Picks for: Gothic or Chilling Settings”

  1. LOVE this post! I adore gothic settings in books!! You’ve listed several of my recent favourites – The Clockmakers Daughter, An Unwanted Guest, Broken Girls.

    Liked by 2 people

    2. I so need to read, Rebecca! I loved Victoria Holt as well, Jonetta and I also enjoyed Phyllis A. Whitney as well. 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

  4. When I first started reading this post, my initial response was, no, I do not like gothic or chilling settings. Then I looked at your list. Well, I have read and liked The Broken Girls and The Red Hunter. On my TBR is The Clockmaker’s Daughter, The Witch of Willow Hall, An Unwanted Guest and Every Single Secret, so I guess I do like those settings.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Lol Carla! The Red Hunter might of been pushing it a bit. I can see how others might not find that setting chilling. Lol.

      I am curious to know if you find the rest chilling. Hurry up and read them k so I know if you did or not. Lol. Clockmakers is gothic but not so chilling.

      Liked by 3 people

  5. I like chilling settings, whether it’s a paranormal/ghost story or a murderous type of story. I’m a huge fan of suspense and horror..so I like those type of settings..it’s unnerving! Gothic settings are great too..I like them in vampire or witchy type stories 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Unnerving is a great way to describe them and a few on the list above. I didn’t really think I like horror but I sure liked watching The Haunting of Hill House and want to read the book soon!

      Liked by 3 people

      1. Me too! I just bought the ebook since it was only $0.99 Lol. I heard mixed reviews and was hesitant to buy the physical copy. I went el cheapo on this one. If you enjoyed The Haunting of Hill House, you’d probably enjoy The Ring. Apparently it’s in paperback form as well and I’m on the hunt for it 🙂 Great discussion!!

        Liked by 3 people

      2. I really wanted the physical copy but I went with the ebook for the price. I will have look closer at The Ring!
        Thank you for joining in on the discussion!!

        Liked by 2 people

  6. I love this post, Brenda and Norma!!! Gothic settings delight me as well!!! I thought one we read this summer “The Disappearing” by Lori Roy really had that atmospheric gothic feel to it!!

    Liked by 3 people

  8. When I was younger I read a lot of gothic novels – Mary Stewart, Victoria Holt, etc. I’ve kind of drifted away from them but I do enjoy a gothic or chilling setting especially combined with a historic novel. Not sure what the attraction is. Simpler times maybe and the ability to imagine myself in that time and place. A couple of my more recent favourites are both by Eve Chase: Black Rabbit Hall and The Wildling Sisters. Most of the books mentioned in your post are on my TBR list as well.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. LOVED Witch of Willow Hall! I haven’t heard of all the others but you ladies know the best reads so I’m looking into them now!

    If you haven’t read The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchison you should look into it! It remains the most sinister and creepy book I’ve ever read!!

    Liked by 2 people

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