With the weather turning chilly — not to mention the shadows getting longer and the jack-o’-lanterns flickering on every porch — there’s no better time to indulge your dark side. Luckily the Explore Store has a wide range of books perfect for a spooky book club or cozying up by the fire.
Spooky Great Lakes
Heading up North this winter? This book gathers eerie tales, legends, and strange happenings from around the Great Lakes, paired with atmospheric illustrations that bring each story to life. Think twice before reading around your fire pit…
Morbidly Curious: A Scientist Explains Why We Can’t Look Away
Why do we slow down for car wrecks, binge true crime, or seek out horror movies? Scientist Coltan Scrivner draws on cutting-edge research, including studies at haunted houses around the world, to explain our fascination with the macabre. He argues that morbid curiosity is a survival instinct that lets us safely rehearse for real-world dangers. A must-read for horror fans and true crime devotees alike.
Lay Them To Rest: On the Road with the Cold Case Investigators Who Identify the Nameless
Laurah Norton sets out to identify “Ina” Jane Doe, a woman whose severed head was found in Illinois in 1993. Through her search, the book traces how forensic science has evolved, from skeletal analysis and forensic art to DNA breakthroughs, and sheds light on why marginalized victims so often go unidentified. It’s a gripping blend of science and human story for anyone fascinated by cold cases and the pursuit of justice.
The Science of Monsters: The Truth about Zombies, Witches, Werewolves, Vampires, and Other Legendary Creatures
How would a zombie actually decompose? What drives a cannibal like Hannibal Lecter? Could ghost-detection tools really work? This frightfully fun look at the medicine, psychology, and nature behind Dracula, Frankenstein, Freddy Krueger, and more is a treat for any horror fan.
Rest in Pieces: The Curious Fates of Famous Corpses
Explore the bizarre afterlives of history’s most famous corpses, which have been stolen, sold, pickled, frozen, and scattered across the globe. Counterfeiters tried to steal Lincoln’s body, Einstein’s brain took a cross-country road trip, and Lord Nelson’s sailors preserved him in brandy, then drank it. Prime for fans of dark humor who want to see how attitudes about death have changed over time.
The Sawbones Book: The Hilarious, Horrifying Road to Modern Medicine
Sawbones, by Dr. Sydnee McElroy and her husband Justin, expands their popular podcast into a funny, fascinating tour of medicine’s strangest history, from trepanation and powdered mummies to modern pandemics. Along the way, it shows how medical knowledge evolved and helps readers separate fact from fiction in today’s health claims. Bonus: Pair this read with a visit to the museum’s Questionable Medical Devices exhibit.
Shop these spooky stories at the Explore Store, in person or online.
