Staff Pick
Everyone wears a mask, a public self that conceals the inner, true self. Shirley Jackson is the master of capturing the subtle horror of the moment when the mask slips. She sets her stories in harmless places — cheerful suburbs, beloved vacation spots, well-known cities — and skillfully peels back the layers of ordinary life to expose the hypocrisy, cruelty, and pure evil underneath. Her talent lies in taking everything that is familiar and revealing it to be strange and bewildering. Dark Tales is supremely creepy, the perfect Halloween read! Recommended By Lauren P., Powells.com