Recommended Gothic Reads

Keeping you in romantic suspense!

Recommended Reads

The books listed below contain romance, life-threatening suspense, and a puzzle or mystery. This is our definition of a "gothic romance novel."

Feel free to browse in Gothic Journal's online bookstore. Click on a linked title to learn more about it and/or order it from Amazon.com. For every purchase you make through these links to the Amazon.com website, Gothic Journal receives a small commission. If you buy the books directly from Amazon.com (not through our website), Amazon gets to keep the commission. You support our efforts on behalf of the books and authors in our genres when you access Amazon.com via this website to make any book purchase.

We are proud to be an Amazon.com Associate and we highly recommend it as a safe and efficient way to purchase the books we recommend. The links below provide more information about each book, and often include a synopsis, reviews, and picture of the book's cover.

* = Contemporary Setting
HC = Hardcover

Nonfiction

Hayes, Melissa and Marilyn Westervelt--A Mug-up with Elisabeth, A Companion for Readers of Elisabeth Ogilvie--Down East Books
Hughes, William and Andrew Smith, Eds.--Bram Stoker: History, Psychoanalysis and the Gothic --Macmillan Press (nonfiction)--July 1998

Backlist Titles

Dearborn, Dawn A.--Manchester *--Pentland Press (HC)--1999
Recommended Reads for 2000
Recommended Reads for 1999 and Before

December 2001

Andersen, Susan--Obsessed *--Zebra
Busbee, Shirlee--Swear by the Moon--Warner
Carlysle, Viveca--Love Lost, Love Found *--BET Books
Gilbert, Anna--A Morning in Eden--Minotaur Books (HC)
Howard, Linda--Strangers in the Night: Lake of Dreams/Blue Moon/Whiteout *--Pocket (HC, 3-books in one)
Robards, Karen--To Trust a Stranger *--Pocket (HC)
Sanders, Marcella--The Power of Love *--BET Books
Scarbrough, Jan--Tangled Memories *--Imajinn Books (gothic)

November 2001

Agnew, Denise A.--Treacherous Wishes *--Treble Heart Books
Amos, Robyn--Bring Me a Dream *--Harper Torch
Day, Dianne--Beacon Street Mourning--Bantam
Estep, Irene--Send Me No Roses *--New Concepts
Feehan, Christine and Melanie George--A Very Gothic Christmas--Pocket
Johnson, Doris--Midsummer Moon *--BET Books
London, Cait--Leaving Lonely Town *--Avon
McKinney, Meagan--Moonlight Becomes Her--Kensington (HC)
Meredith, Marilyn--Deadly Trail *--Hard Shell Word Factory
Peters, Elizabeth--The Copenhagen Connection *--Avon (reprint)
Raleigh, Debbie--The Christmas Wish--Zebra Regency Mystery
Sawyer, Meryl--Closer Than She Thinks *--Zebra

October 2001

Allen, Robin--The Promise *--BET Books
Atherton, Nancy--Aunt Dimity Beats the Devil *--Penguin (reprint)
Blayne, Sra--An Improper Bride--Zebra (gothic?)
Bodoin, Dorothy--Darkness at Foxglove Corners *--Five Star (HC)
Bond, Stephanie--Got Your Number *--St. Martin's
Delinsky, Barbara--Variation on a Theme *--Harper Torch (reprint)
Harrison, Shirley--Dangerous Fortune *--BET Books
Janssen, Christine--Nightmare Run *--Wings Press
Jerott, Michelle--Her Bodyguard *--Avon
Lee, Rachel--Under Suspicion *--Warner
Lutz, John--The Night Caller *--Pinnacle
Madden, Sandra--Comfort and Joy--Zebra
Radcliffe, Ann--The Mysteries of Udolpho --Penguin Classics (reprint, gothic)
Ross, Clarissa--Ghost of Dark Harbor--Five Star (HC reprint)
Siciliano, Sam--Darkness--Pinnacle (horror)
Sims, Janice--This Time Forever *--BET Books
Taylor, Janelle--In Too Deep *--Zebra
White, Karen--Whispers of Goodbye--LoveSpell Candleglow (gothic)

September 2001

Anthology--Dark Seductions *--Kensington (Trade PB)
Agnew, Denise A.--Dangerous Intentions *--Treble Heart Books
Barton, Beverly--Every Move She Makes *--Zebra
Berenson, Laurien--Once Bitten *--Kensington (HC)
Chern, Vivian--Homicidal Intent *--Dell
Craft, Francine--Forever Love *--BET Books
Drake, Shannon--Deep Midnight *--Zebra (werewolf)
Ferguson, Jo Ann--His Lady Midnight--Zebra Regency
Gardner, Lisa--The Next Accident *--Bantam (HC)
Hohl, Joan--Shadiw's Kiss--Zebra (anthology)
Hooper, Kay--Touching Evil *--Bantam
Horrock, Henry--Blood Red *--Pinnacle
Massey, Sujata--The Bride's Kimono *--HarperCollins (HC)
Osborne, Denise--A Deadly Arrangement *--Berkley Prime Crime
Rinehart, Mary Roberts--A Light in the Window *--Kensington
Schone, Robin--Gabriel's Woman--Kensington Brava (Trace PB)
Smithdeal, Charles--Without Sin *--Onyx
Terreri, Malinda--A Tax Deductible Death *--Berkley Prime Crime
Wald, Noreen--Rembrance of Murders Past *--Berkley Prime Crime

August 2001

Chittenden, Margaret--Dying to See You *--Kensington (reprint)
Coffman, Virginia--The House at Sandalwood--Hall (large print HC gothic)
du Maurier, Dpahne--Rebecca--Avon (reprint)
Goldring, Kat--All Signs Point to Murder *--Berkley Prime Crime
Holt, Victoria--Menfreya in the Morning--Thorndike (large print HC gothic)
Jackson, Lisa--Hot Blooded *--Zebra
Kingsbury, Kate--Death is in the Air--Berkley Prime Crime
Lewis, Shelby--Sacred Love *--BET Books
Madison, Carolyn--The Sinister Spinster--Zebra Regency
Meredith, Marilyn--The Choice *--PageFree Publishing
Morgan, Rachelle--An Unlikely Lady--Avon
Perrin, Kayla--Flirting With Danger *--BET Books
Platas, Berta--Livewire *--Pinnacle
Williams, Jeanne Crecy--Hands of Terror--iUniverse

July 2001

Agnew, Denise--Forevermore *--Treble Heart Books (trade pb reprint)
Bicos, Olga--Heat of the Moment *--Zebra
Cannell, Dorothy--Bridesmaids Revisited *--Penguin (reprint)
Davis, Dee--Just Breathe*--Ivy
Davis, Nageeba--A Dying Art *--Berkley Prime Crime (HC)
Michaels, Fern--What You Wish For *--Zebra (reprint)

June 2001

Cail, Carol--The Seeds of Time *--Deadly Alibi Press
Cameron, Stella--Glass Houses *--Zebra
Chase, S.E.--No Mercy *--Pinnacle
Hunter, Gwen--Delayed Diagnosis *--Mira
Johansen, Iris--Final Target *--Bantam (HC)
Joy, Dara--Ritual of Proof *--William Morrow (HC, futuristic)
Kaiser, R.J.--Hoodwinked *--Mira
Lowell, Elizabeth--Moving Target *--William Morrow (HC)
McCutcheon, Pam--Enchantment--Zebra Ballad (ghost-time-travel)
Reah, Danuta--Listen to the Shadows *--HarperCollins (HC)
Steel, Danielle--Leap of Faith *--Delacorte (HC)
Stockenberg, Antoinette--Tidewater *--St. Martin's
Thomas, Jacquelin--Undeniably Yours *--BET Books

May 2001

Anthology--Wait Till Dark *--Pocket
Karen Robards, Andrea Kane, Mariah Stewart, Linda Anderson
Adams, Kylie--Fly Me to the Moon *--Zebra
Barron, Stephanie--Jane and the Stillroom Maid--Bantam (reprint)
Byrd, Adrianne--All I’ve Ever Wanted *--BET Books
Emery, Lynn--Gotta Get Next To You *--Harper Torch
Harper, Karen--Shaker Run *--Mira
Johansen, Iris--The Search *--Bantam (reprint)
Lowell, Elizabeth--Amber Beach *--Avon (reprint)
Lowell, Elizabeth--Jade Island *--Avon (reprint)
Lowell, Elizabeth--Midnight in Ruby Bayou *--Avon (reprint)
Lynds, Gayle--Mesmerized *--Pocket (HC)
Martin, Kat--The Secret *--Zebra
McCall, Dinah--Storm Warnings *--Mira
Montgomery, Selena--Rules of Engagement *--BET Books
Novak, Brenda--Dear Maggie *--Harlequin Superromance #987
Peters, Elizabeth--Lord of the Silent--William Morrow (HC)
Peters, Elizabeth--The Love Talker *--Avon (reprint)
Neri, Penelope--Moonshadow--Love Spell Candleglow (gothic)
Stevens, Rosemary--Death on a Silver Tray--Berkley Prime Crime (reprint, Regency mystery)
Taylor, Janelle--Can’t Stop Loving You *--Zebra
Winters, Angela--Know By Heart *--BET Books

April 2001

Bussey, Loure—Dangerous Passions *--BET Books
Brown, Sandra--Standoff *--Warner (reprint)
Bugge, Carole--Who Killed Mona Lisa? *--Berkley Prime Crime
Cach, Lisa--The Mermaid of Penperro--Leisure Lovespell
Crusie, Jennifer--Welcome to Temptation *--St. Martin's (reprint)
Douglas, Charlotte--Stranger in His Arms *--Harlequin Intrigue #611
Emerson, Kathy Lynn--Face Down Among the Winchester Geese--Kensington (reprint)
Hale, Gena--Paradise Island *--Onyx (gothic)
Heller, Jane--Female Intelligence *--St. Martin's (HC)
Horn, Stephen--In Her Defense *--Harper Torch (reprint)
Lee, Adrianne--Undercover Baby *--Harlequin Intrigue #609
Lynds, Gayle--Mesmerized *--Pocket
Lynn, Sheryl--Colorado's Finest *--Harlequin Intrigue #612
Marquez, Victoria--Wild For You *--Pinnacle
McCoy, Judi--I Dream of You *--Zebra
Michaels, Fern--Charming Lily *--Zebra
O'Brien, Meg--Gathering Lies *--Mira
Peters, Elizabeth--He Shall Thunder in the Sky--Avon (reprint)
Quick, Amanda--Slightly Shady *--Bantam (HC)
Rose, Katie--Runaway Hearts--Bantam (gothic)
Skye, Christina--Going Overboard *--Island
Smith, Kathryn--Elusive Passion--Avon
Swanson, Denise--Murder of a Sweet Old Lady--Signet
Swift, Virginia--Brown-Eyed Girl *--Avon (reprint)
Toombs, Jane--Her Mysterious Houseguest *--Silhouette Special Ed. #1391
Van Gieson, Judith--The Stolen Blue *--Berkley (HC)
Webb, Debra--Protective Custody *--Harlequin Intrigue #610
West, Chassie--Killer Riches *--Avon
Wilson, Laura--Dying Voices *--Bantam (reprint)

March 2001

Anthology--Bayou Blood Brothers *--Harlequin Intrigue #606
Rebecca York, Metsy Hintle, Joanna Wayne
Agnew, Denise--Forevermore *--Starlight Writer (online)
Barrett, Jean--The Hunt for Hawk's Daughter *--Harlequin Intrigue #605
Barton, Beverly--Navajo's Woman *--Silhouette Int. Moments #1063
Beaton, M.C.--The Skeleton in the Closet *--St. Martin's
Brockman, Suzanne--The Defiant Hero *--Ballantine
Brown, Sandra--The Devil’s Own *--Mira (HC reprint)
Carlysle, Liz--A Woman of Virtue--Pocket
Carrington, Tori--You Only Love Once--Harlequin Temptation #823
Daniels, Angie--Intimate Intentions *--Genesis Press
Dodd, Christina--Rules of Attraction --Avon (gothic)
Duquette, Anne Marie--Castillo's Bride *--Harlequin Superromance #975
Feehan, Christine--The Scarletti Curse--Love Spell Candleglow (gothic)
Gellis, Roberta--A Personal Devil--Forge
Graham, Heather--Dying to Have Her *--Onyx
Heller, Jand--Name Dropping--St. Martin's (reprint)
Jones, Jill--Remember Your Lies *--St. Martin’s
Jones, Linda Winstead--Madigan's Wife *--Silhouette Int. Moments #1068
Kay, Linda--To Tame a Rogue--Zebra (time travel gothic)
King, Laurie R.--Folly *--Bantam (HC)
Livesay, Margot--The Missing World*--Penguin (trade pb reprint)
Long, James--Silence and Shadows *--Bantam (HC)
Lynn, Sheryl--To Protect Their Child *--Harlequin Intrigue #608
Martin, Kat--The Secret *--Zebra
Miles, Margaret--A Mischief in the Snow--Bantam
Myers, Helen R.--Dead End *--Mira
Osborn, Elane--Which Twin? *--Silhouette Int. Moments #1067
Paige, Robin--Death at Epsom Downs--Berkley Prime Crime
Palmer, Catherine--A Dangerous Silence *--Tyndale
Peters, Elizabeth--Summer of the Dragon *--Avon
Quick, Amanda--Wicked Widow--Bantam (reprint)
Robards, Karen--Scandalous--Pocket
Robb, J.D.--Betrayal in Death--Berkley (futuristic)
Robb, J.D.--Loyalty in Death--Berkley (futuristic reprint)
Roberts, Nora--The Villa *--Putnam (HC)
Robinson, Suzanne--The Legend--Bantam
Spindler, Erica--Bone Cold *--Mira
Staub, Wendy Corsi--The Last to Know *--Pinnacle
Stevens, Amanda--Nighttime Guardian *--Harlequin Intrigue $607
Tyner, Marilyn--Everything to Gain *--BET Books
Wishnia, K.J.A.--The Glass Factory *--Signet (reprint)

February 2001

Anthology--Murder Most Romantic *--Cumberland Press
Baker, Laura--Raven *--St. Martin’s
Bowden, Susan--Bitter Harvest *--Signet
Cullman, Heather--Bewitched--Signet Lords of Danger
Daniels, B.J.--Mystery Bride *--Harlequin Intrigue #604
Daniels, Rebecca--Rain Dance *--Silhouette Int. Moments #1061
Gabriel, Marius--The Seventh Moon--Bantam (reprint)
Gardner, Lisa--The Third Victim *--Bantam
Harrington, Johnathan--A Great Day for Dying *--Write Way (HC)
Henderson, Dee--The Guardian *--Multnomah (inspirational)
Herron, Rita--Saving His Son *--Harlequin Intrigue #601
Lane, Allison--The Notorious Widow--Signet Regency
Laurens, Stephanie--All About Love--Avon
McKinney, Meagan--Still of the Night *--Kensington (HC)
Michaels, Kasey--Too Good to be True *--Zebra
Neggers, Carla--The Carriage House *--Mira
Neita-Chen, Denise--Journey *--Noble House (HC)

Quick, Amanda--Wicked Widow--Bantam (ghost) (reprint)

Robb, J.D.--Conspiracy in Death--Berkley (futuristic) (reprint)
Simmons, Suzanne--Lip Service *--St. Martin’s
Simpson, Donna--Lady May's Folly *--Zebra Regency
Sinclair, Dani--Best-Kept Secrets *--Harlequin Intrigue #602
Smith, Carol--The Neighbors *--Warner (reprint)
Snoe, Eboni--Emerald’s Fire *--BET Books
Steward, Sally--Private Vows *--Harlequin Intrigue #603
Stewart, Mariah--Voices Carry *--Pocket
Thornton, Elizabeth--Princess Charming--Bantam
Westbrook, Robert--The Mexican *--Onyx (movie tie-in)

January 2001

Alers, Rochelle--Private Passions *--BET Books
Allen, Harper--Woman Most Wanted *--Harlequin Intrigue #599
Anderson, Linda--When Night Falls *--Pocket
Bissell, Sallie--In the Forest of Harm *--Bantam (HC)
Davis, Dee--After Twilight *--Ivy
Devine, Thea--Sinful Secrets--Kensington (trade pb reprint)
Gabriel, Marius--The Seventh Moon--Bantam (reprint)
Gordon, Laura--Royal Protector *--Harlequin Intrigue #598
Heggan, Christiane--Blind Faith *--Mira
Holbrook, Cindy--The Missing Groom--Zebra Regency
Holling, Jen--Forever, My Lady--Harper Torch
Jacobs, Jonnie--Shadow of Doubt *--Kensington (reprint)
Johnson, Sharleen--Whispers in the Mist *--Clock Tower Fiction (online)
Joyce, B.D.--Deadly Love--St. Martin’s
Krentz, Jayne Ann--Lost and Found *--Putnam (HC)
Kurtz, Sylvie--Alyssa Again *--Harlequin Intrigue #600
Kyle, Kristen--Touched by Gold *--Bantam
Lee, Rachel--Thunder Mountain *--Silhouette Dreamscapes (reprint)
Lovelace, Merline--Dark Side of Dawn *--Signet
Lovelace, Merline--The Spy Who Loved Him *--Silhouette Int. Moments #1052
McCaferty, Barbara Taylor and Beverly Taylor Herald--Double Date *--Kensington Partners in Crime
McKenna, Lindsay--Hangar 13 *--Silhouette Dreamscapes (reprint)
Mostert, Natasha--The Midnight Side *--Morrow (HC)
Myers, Helen R.--Night Mist *--Silhouette Dreamscapes (reprint)
Peters, Elizabeth--The Camelot Caper *--Avon (reprint)
Potter, Patricia--The Perfect Family *--Berkley
Preston, Fayrene--The Barons of Texas: Kit *--Silhouette Desire #1342
Riley, Eugenia--A Tryst in Time--Leisure Love Spell (reprint)
Rogers, Evelyn--Devil in the Dark--Leisure (gothic)
Shannon, Colleen--The Wolf of Haskell Hall--Love Spell Candleglow (gothic)
Stevens, Amanda--Dark Obsession *--Silhouette Dreamscapes (reprint)
Veryan, Patricia--The Riddle of the Reluctant Rake--Zebra Regency Mystery (reprint)
Wainscott, Tina--Back in Baby's Arms *--St. Martin's (supernatural)
Webb, Debra--Bodyguard’s Baby *--Harlequin Intrigue #597
Wilhelm, Kate--No Defense *--Mira (reprint)