By Cindy Skaggs

When the nights grow long and the autumn wind whispers through the trees, many of us find ourselves reaching for a spooky tale. But why do scary stories have such an enduring grip on our imagination? From ghostly whispers to eerie mysteries, scary stories have fascinated and frightened readers for centuries, and for good reason.

Psychologists say part of the appeal lies in the safe scare, which is the thrill of fear without any real danger. Much like a roller coaster, frightful fictions give our hearts a jolt and then return us safely to solid ground. That mixture of adrenaline and relief transforms fear into excitement. In fact, studies from Denmark’s Recreational Fear Lab show that the most enjoyment comes from a “Goldilocks Zone” of fear: not too mild, not too overwhelming, but just right. That balance delivers a pleasurable rush of adrenaline followed by a wave of relief.

Creepy chronicles may also help us practice resilience. Researchers suggest that horror lets us rehearse our responses to danger in a safe space, strengthening our ability to regulate emotions and cope with stress. In fact, during the pandemic, researchers found that horror fans reported lower levels of anxiety and distress, perhaps because they had spent years simulating stressful situations in fiction. If you are looking for a safe scare, crack open books like Goosebumps by R.L. Stine or City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab.

Another explanation comes from something psychologists call excitation transfer. Think of the way a ghost story builds suspense, then releases the tension with a final twist. The fear experience primes your emotions, and the release magnifies your enjoyment. This cycle of fear and relief provides a form of catharsis, an emotional workout that leaves us lighter afterward. Classic ghost tales like Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow capture this balance perfectly — was the Headless Horseman real, or just a prank? Either way, the sinister suspense makes the release all the sweeter.

Of course, not every fan of terrifying tales is in it for the adrenaline. For many, the attraction is curiosity. Horror allows us to explore mysteries we can’t experience in everyday life: the supernatural, the monstrous, the unknown. Readers of Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury wrestle with aging, temptation, and courage. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein invites us to consider the dangers of scientific ambition and the cost of rejecting those who are different.

So why do we keep returning to scary stories? Because they offer more than just shivers down the spine. They give us safe thrills, practice in courage, moments of catharsis, and sparks of imagination.

At Pikes Peak Library District, you can find scary stories for every age group: whimsical ghost tales, eerie classics, psychological thrillers, and even gentle monster comedies like the movies Monster House or Hotel Transylvania. Whether you are seven or seventy, there is a story waiting to deliver that perfect mix of fun and fear.

This October, stop by the library in person or online and take home a story that makes you shiver, wonder, and smile. After all, the best kind of scary is the kind you can close with the turn of a page.

Cindy Skaggs is a lover of all things literary and library. She is one of our region’s local authors, with ten published books and counting. In addition to reading and writing, she enjoys hiking the Rockies when they are not on fire.