To be recognized as one of Canada’s most eerie bookshops, a wide-ranging collection of horror literature is essential, but the spookiness goes beyond just the genre. Rare and vintage books carry a peculiar nostalgia, preserving echoes of past lives. Additionally, shops stocked with volumes on spell-casting, divination, and other ritual practices contribute to the haunting ambiance.
While not all the independent businesses featured specialize solely in horror literature, each serves as a creative hub for community gatherings. These establishments provide spaces where readers can engage with writers, where unfinished stories are shared and critiqued, where local authors showcase their works, and where tea is enjoyed in both a literal and figurative sense.
Highlighted here are six of Canada’s spookiest bookshops, each brimming with atmosphere, character, and local charm.
Nocturne Books, Calgary
Romance isn’t dead at Nocturne Books in Calgary, as owner Scott Ross-Molyneux’s inspiration to open the shop came from his wife. Describing themselves as the quintessential “goth girlfriend, golden retriever boyfriend” duo, the couple’s shared love for horror literature and films, particularly his wife Alliye Iriye’s penchant for the macabre, shaped the store’s unique selection.
Iriye’s taste for the dark and dismal is evident in Nocturne Books’ shelves, which cater to those who prefer their reads on the bleaker side. For instance, the inclusion of Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica, a chilling dystopian narrative where cannibalism is legalized, reflects the shop’s commitment to captivatingly grim storytelling.
A personal favorite of Ross-Molyneux is Episode Thirteen by local Calgary author Craig DiLouie, a haunted-house tale. DiLouie’s chance encounter with his own works displayed at Nocturne on the shop’s opening day underscores the strong ties the store fosters with the local creative community. Nocturne hosts author events, operates a consignment program for emerging writers, and is set to launch horror and thriller book clubs.
Raven‘s End Books, Winnipeg
At Raven’s End Books in Winnipeg, proprietor Chelsea McKee-Trenchard curates a selection more refined than the typical horror offerings found in chain bookstores. The shop prioritizes works from smaller publishers and lesser-known authors, with dedicated sections for body horror, queer narratives, and Indigenous storytelling. Raven’s End frequently hosts various events, including craft nights, a Silent Reading Club, queer book clubs, tarot sessions, and local vendor showcases.
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