October might be the perfect month to pick up a cozy — or terrifying — mystery, but authors have spooky-themed books lined up for the rest of the year (and in early 2026).

Reese Witherspoon, for one, partnered with twisty thriller author Harlan Coben for Gone Before Goodbye, which made her a New York Times Bestseller in October 2025.

“Reese came to my apartment, and I’m a little wary,” Coben told Us Weekly exclusively about their unexpected partnership. “I collaborate on TV shows, but novels … that’s other people’s thing. I don’t do that.”

How Reese Witherspoon Convinced Harlan Coben to ‘Collaborate’ on a Novel

He joked that it’s a “such a braggy story” with Witherspoon having reached out to him first. But they ended up making the perfect pair — especially after she presented a “pretty

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