A cup of steaming coffee, crispy fritters and a decent view of the weather outside, while you sit curled up in a soft and warm blanket- a monsoon afternoon could not be any better than this. While being trapped indoors is not really loved by everyone alike, being trapped with a good atmospheric read, is actually an opportunity you wouldn’t want to miss out on. Atmospheric stories use the literary technique of atmospheric writing, in which a certain type of feeling is created by the setting, background, themes and motifs used in the story. Here are some ingenious atmospheric mystery novels, to curl up with on a monsoon afternoon.
One of the best atmospheric books and Ruth Ware’s best work, ‘The Death of Mrs. Westaway’ is a thrilling read. Harriet Westaway is living the broke life, and is constantly being threatened by a loan shark when one day she receives the news that her grandmother Mrs. Hester Westaway, has died. This makes Harriet, one of the beneficiaries of Hester’s estate. Harriet is a little confused because all her life she has known only her mother’s parents, who left the world ages ago. Harriet does not chance on the opportunity, instead she flees town and disguises as a tarot reader. But no matter how much Harriet tries to get away from her destiny, she has the title Westaway attached to her name.
This mystery read, is a perfect name to make it to the list of atmospheric books. Rob Ryan is the new head of the murder-squad, in Dublin. Solving mysteries is at the core of his livelihood, yet Ryan has a strangely mysterious past where he once was caught in the middle of a mystery. When he was twelve, he had wandered off into the woods with two of his friends while playing and was only found after hours of search. His sneakers soaked in blood, little Ryan could not remember a single thing that happened. While his two friends were never seen again. His new job is fate’s ruse of bringing him back to the memories of the incident that took place twenty years ago.
A brilliant horror-gothic by Silvia Garcia, this story revolves around Noemi Taboada. Noemi is a young beautiful woman living in a 1950s Mexico. Her life turns upside down when she receives a letter from Catalina, her cousin sister, who tells Noemi that her husband Virgil is trying to get her killed. When Noemi goes to visit Catalina, she finds the Doyle residence alarmingly strange and its inhabitants increasingly absurd. The Doyle’s inform Noemi that Catalina is suffering from consumption and try to keep her away from her sister. ‘Mexican Gothic’ is one of the most intriguing atmospheric books you will ever read.
Nina LaCour is best at writing YA fiction. ‘Watch Over Me’ is a modern ghost tale that mulls over the themes of survival and trauma. Mila lives in foster care, but when her foster family wants a baby and don’t want to adopt her anymore, she takes up an internship at a haunted farm outside Mendocino, as soon as high school ends. Although the farm is located in a remote region and is in an abandoned state, Mila wants to make it a home. But Mila is not the only one living at the farm, she has the company of seven foster children, two other fellow interns and a bunch of ghosts. With an excellent pacing, Mila’s character is used by Nina LaCour to depict loneliness in its most raw form.
One of the most thrilling and gripping atmospheric reads, ‘Shutter Islands’ inspired the 2010 film by Martin Scorsese. It is the summer of 1954, and U.S. Marshal Daniels has come to the Shutter Island, which houses criminally insane people at the Ashecliffe hospital. A patient named Rachel Solando, has escaped from the hospital. Teddy and Daniels and his partner Chuck are responsible for tracking down this insane criminal. But as Daniels and Chuck step into the investigation, they find out that there’s more to the Ashecliffe hospital, than just what appears on the surface.
A classic Goth story, ‘Rebecca’ is not just one of the best atmospheric books but it is also a book that has never actually gone out of print. At the heart of the story is the unnamed protagonist, a young beautiful woman who marries a rich widower named Maxim de Winter. Sir Maxim is 42 years old and lives in a gorgeous mansion in the beautiful estate of Manderley. When the protagonist accompanies him after the wedding, to his mansion, she meets Mrs, Danvers, the housekeeper who is just not ready to accept her as the new lady of the mansion. The protagonist soon discovers that her husband and his mansion are haunted by Rebecca, his first wife.
A thrilling drama, ‘And Then There Were None’ unfolds the story of ten strangers who are invited to a solitary mansion on an island remotely off Britain’s Devon Coast. The hosts are unknown and mysterious and go by the names of Norman Owen and Nancy Owen. After all the ten guests have arrived at the island, they are one by one accused of being responsible for a murder. When one of the guests dies of cyanide poisoned drink, chaos ensues amongst the entire party.
Also Read: Best Agatha Christie Books to Read
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