RED Friday: Serial Killer Thriller

October’s almost at an end, but there’s still time for shadows, shivers, and scary stories. At RED (Read, Eat, Drink), our book club gatherings are never just about the book — they’re about the vibes, the snacks, and the kind of conversation that makes you check your locks before bed. This week, we’re diving deep into the dark with Stephen King’s A Good Marriage — a novel that’s equal parts sadism, murder, and lies.

Read: A Good Marriage by Stephen King

First, a shout out to my good friend, for putting this one on my radar.

A Good Marriage is Stephen King at his most unsettling. Darcy Anderson thinks she knows her husband, Bob. They’ve been married for decades, raised kids, built a life. But one night, a chance discovery in the garage cracks her perfect world wide open, revealing a secret so grotesque it’s almost unthinkable: her husband is a serial killer.

Sound familiar? The plot draws chilling parallels to the real-life saga of the BTK killer, Dennis Rader, and his wife, Paula. Like Darcy, Paula Rader lived for years in the same house as a monster, completely oblivious to the horror that lurked just out of sight. When the truth finally came out, her world collapsed in an instant. It’s that shock — the betrayal, the disbelief, the scramble to make sense of the man she thought she knew — that King captures so well. Both women are forced to reckon with the uncomfortable question: How well can you ever really know someone, even the person sleeping beside you?

King doesn’t just give us a monster. He gives us the aftermath, the ordinary woman left to pick up the pieces and choose what to do with the truth. It’s a story that will stay with you, long after you turn the final page.

Favorite quote: “She continued to smile at him, but now saw him again (after that brief, loving lapse) for what he was: the Darker Husband. Gollum, with his precious.”

Eat: Lady Fingers (Witch’s Fingers for Halloween!)

This week’s snack is a creepy little nod to the book’s theme of deception. Lady fingers sound elegant, right? But, just like Bob in A Good Marriage, the name is a lie — there are no fingers involved (promise). For a Halloween twist, turn them into witch’s fingers, complete with almond “nails.” They’re spooky, sweet, and just the right amount of unsettling. Grab the recipe here.

Drink: Divorce Papers Cocktail

After a revelation like the one Darcy faces, who wouldn’t want a strong drink? This week, we’re mixing up the Divorce Papers Cocktail — tart, a little bitter, and absolutely perfect for a night of dark secrets and uncomfortable truths.

A little backstory: the Divorce Papers Cocktail is a newer addition to the world of mixology, but it’s already notorious for its name and its punchy flavor. What makes it even more intriguing is that it’s actually an homage to one of Hollywood’s most famous breakups — the legendary marriage (and split) of Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe. The cocktail’s blend of gin, Aperol, elderflower liqueur, and lemon juice is as striking as its namesake couple: glamorous, a little sour, a little sweet, and with plenty of drama. It’s a drink made for toasting to resilience, reinvention, or the end of a chapter that was more complicated than anyone knew.

Find the recipe here.

Book Club Topic Ideas

If you’re hosting this week, here are some conversation starters to keep the chills going:

• How does A Good Marriage reimagine the BTK story, and what does it say about trust in relationships?

• Would you have made the same choices as Darcy? Why or why not?

• Do you think it’s possible to truly know someone? Where do you draw the line between trust and denial?

• How does King build suspense and empathy for Darcy, even as she faces the unthinkable?

• What’s the scariest moment in the book for you — and why?

Thank you for enjoying spooky October with us. Stay tuned for next months picks, all about gratitude, togetherness and experiencing life to its fullest. Happy Reading, Eating and Drinking!