Summer is icumen in, in the words of the sinister medieval chant, and some of us aren’t exactly reaching for the Elin Hilderbrand oeuvre to keep us occupied on those long lazy days of UV absorption. Once the sun has returned from its long months of coquettish withdrawal, those of us who prefer a grim plod to getting a gym bod feel like we are surrounded by sunset-hued book covers with words like “vacation” and “happy”in the titles. What do you throw in your canvas tote when the only cape you’re interested in is a black velvet one being ominously swished by a dashing villain? 

Here are some recommendations for absorbing, action-packed reads that won’t transport you to an unexpected romance on a sun-baked boardwalk. No judgment if that’s your thing–but some of us are still attracted to the gloomy side, no matter how much Vitamin D you throw at us!

Folk horror – The perfect genre to transition between spring and summer, folk horror brings a signature slow-building sense of doom to a setting grounded in traditional folk practices and nature worship. If you’ve ever visited Old Sturbridge Village and felt like it was missing a certain element of unspeakable terror, this is just the genre for you!

Narrative nonfiction – If you have to take a weekend trip to Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket, why not load your luggage with ripping tales from the whaling industry’s most dismal episodes? While your family enjoys a fried clam platter and some soft-serve, you’ll be regaling them with anecdotes that illustrate the absolute nadir of the human spirit.

Gothic – When all else fails, you can’t go wrong with an old-fashioned gothic novel. But there’s nothing outdated about the new interpretations of the genre that are emerging onto the scene these days. Authors like Laura Purcell, Virginia Feito, Kat Dunn, and Caitriona Ward have reinvented the Victorian gothic with feminist themes and dark humor. And we aren’t talking about the dense tomes of the 18th century – these are page-turners that will have you placing a hold for your next gripping read before your lemonade glass is dry!