In the words of William Shakespeare, “something wicked this way comes.” But I’m not talking about Macbeth; rather, fall thrillers! I don’t know about you, but I save the spookiest ones for just this time of year.
As a self-proclaimed Gilmore girl, I’m nothing if not seasonal. The first chilly day here in Philly, I throw on my Rory Gilmore sweater, light a fall candle, brew a hot tea, and curl up under a blanket with a page-turner that I dare to haunt me.
To help you craft a similar autumnal ritual, I partnered with Plum Deluxe to share my all-time favorite fall thriller books (inspired by our Rory Gilmore reading challenge to read the books on Gilmore Girls, of course), and I paired these books with the most fitting handcrafted seasonal tea blends to set the mood.
In the vein of our favorite TV show, Plum Deluxe teas are made in small batches and have spice notes as cozy as Sookie’s food for our crisp mornings, slow afternoons, and early sunsets. So, take a sip of the gripping mysteries I most fervently recommend and pour a cuppa with me this fall.
The Most Gripping Fall Thrillers of All Time
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley: The All-Time Great Monster Classic
You know the story— and not just because Jess called the 6’4” Dean this beastly name on Gilmore Girls. It’s the classic book in which a young scientist creates life through unnatural means and must face the tragic consequences of his ambition.
Don’t let the fact that it’s scientific and a classic scare you—the prose is actually quite beautiful and easy to read. That said, the theme of creating without ethical considerations will certainly give you chills, since it still holds true today.
Caffeinated tea pairing: Rainy Day Puerh (sweet ‘n’ spicy) is earthy and dark, for storm-lit, gray-sky reading.
Caffeine-free tea pairing: Easy Like Sunday Morning (chocolate and lavender) blends moody chocolate and lavender for a brooding, slightly gothic result.
If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio: Shakespeare Meets Dark Academia
This story oozes with dark-academia vibes. Ten years before Oliver was released from prison, he was part of a group of Shakespearean actors at a conservatory. On one fateful night in this passionate environment, drunken debauchery led to death. Now, Oliver is finally ready to tell the truth about what happened.
With parallels to Shakespearean tragedies, the likes of which appear countless times in Gilmore Girls, it’s a daring coming-of-age novel that delivers similarly extreme emotions throughout. It’s the kind of book that will keep you reading late at night, thinking about the deep motivations that drive us.
Caffeinated tea pairing: Stargazer Caramel Maté Chai is smoky and theatrical, like candlelit rehearsals.
Caffeine-free tea pairing: Soul Warmer (hazelnut, chestnut, and caramel) is toasty and rich, for long autumn evenings.
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier: A Ghostly, Atmospheric Mystery
“Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again…”
So begins the slow-burning, atmospheric thriller about a woman the reader never meets— she died before the story begins. This fall book transports us to a grand English estate, where her wealthy widower has just married a lower-class servant.
But this isn’t your average fall romance. There, the “ghost” of Rebecca (which Max nicknames Rory) lingers through the actions of the adoring staff, who can’t let go of her memory.
Turns out, there’s so much more to the truth behind Rebecca’s tragic death. The suspenseful final 100 pages will particularly leave you wanting more, more, more plot and tea to pair with it.
Caffeinated tea pairing: Reading Nook (rose, lavender, and chamomile) features roses and a hushed English calm, straight out of Manderley.
Caffeine-free tea pairing: Evening in the Garden (elderflower, lemon, and rose) is reminiscent of a blooming rose garden with that quiet haunted edge.
The Secret History by Donna Tartt: New England Meets Dark Academia
This popular modern classic defines the fall thriller genre and the Rory Gilmore aesthetic—that’s probably why you’ll find it on her Yale bookshelf. An outcast from California is desperate to fit in at a preppy college in Vermont in the 1980s when he becomes friends with his fellow Greek classmates. Their obsession with Greek has deadly consequences, pushing them to spiral out of control as they reckon with the gravity of their actions.
It’s a masterclass in dialogue, and the tense ending makes your heart pound as you live each microsecond with the characters. Both literary and transportive, it’s no average thriller.
Caffeinated tea pairing: Bookshop Blend White Tea (cinnamon and black currant; ON SALE THIS MONTH) is built for the literary life of learning, listening, and creating, so bring it to your study sessions.
Caffeine-free tea pairing: Healthy, Wealthy, & Wise (bergamot, sage, lemongrass, and mint) suits classic students in over their heads, since sage is the herb of wisdom.
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson: A House That’s Haunted Quite Literally
Just look at that creepy book cover and instantly know you’re in for one disturbing fall treat. Merricat is a teen who lives with her ill uncle and agoraphobic sister, Constance, in an isolated New England home.
Six years earlier, the three survived a tragedy that left Constance on trial for murder. To protect herself from the judgmental eyes of the town, she practices magic. But when their cousin Charles visits, they sense danger, and their lives spiral out of control once again.
It’s one of the darkest family sagas I’ve read, written by a famous author the Gilmore Girls love.
Caffeinated tea pairing: Mindful Morning Blend (Earl Grey creme) is a settled, traditional home in a cup
Caffeine-free: Decaf Wonder-Full Pomegranate Black Tea is brisk and dark with a tart pomegranate edge
Thank you to Plum Deluxe for sponsoring this post to inspire your fall reading rituals with their handcrafted seasonal tea blends. These crisper, shorter days, I’m pairing my own Friday night reads with favorites like:
Bookshop Blend White Tea: which is both cozy and tart, like reading on Thanksgiving
Reading Nook: which feels as elevated as crisp, indoor sweater weather
Soul Warmer: a spicy, nutty blend that makes you want to bake it
If we were villains was SO good! And now I want to try all these teas!
Great list! Adding We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson to my TBR :)