Best Horror Books

25 Top Horror Books According To Goodreads Users | Book Riot

A mother and two priests fight to save a little girl's soul from a supernatural evil entity in this iconic horror masterpiece. William Peter Blatty's The Exorcist is a timeless tale of desperation, faith, and pure terror.

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100 Best Horror Books of All Time | Reedsy Discovery

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The Haunting of Hill House

Shirley Jackson - 2006-11-28 (first published in 1959)

Goodreads Rating

3.8 (293k)

25 Top Horror Books According To Goodreads Users | Book Riot

Delve into the world of classic horror with this chilling tale selected by award-winning director Guillermo del Toro. Part of a six-volume series, this collection includes works by masters of the genre, including Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House. First published in 1959, it tells the story of four seekers who arrive at the notoriously unfriendly Hill House. An occult scholar, his assistant, a young woman well acquainted with poltergeists, and the future heir of Hill House encounter inexplicable phenomena. But as the powers of Hill House grow stronger, one of them will become its own. Perfect for horror aficionados everywhere, this hardcover features original cover art and is a must-have addition to any library.

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100 Best Horror Books of All Time | Reedsy Discovery

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Recommended by

Ben Shapiro

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The Hunger by Alma Katsu

Ghost Story by Peter Straub

Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin

The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris

Ring by Koji Suzuki

Beloved by Toni Morrison

Pet Sematary by Stephen King

NOS4A2 by Joe Hill

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Carrie by Stephen King

The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones

Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury

Hell House by Richard Matheson

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis

Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Carrion Comfort by Dan Simmons

Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica

The Troop by Nick Cutter

Night Film by Marisha Pessl

The Woman in Black and Other Ghost Stories by Susan Hill

Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice

White is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

The Other by Thomas Tryon

The Ruins by Scott Smith

How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix

HEX by Thomas Olde Heuvelt

World War Z by Max Brooks

Lone Women by Victor LaValle

Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

The Terror by Dan Simmons

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz

The Outsider by Stephen King

The Elementals by Michael McDowell

The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell

The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor Lavalle

Horrorstor by Grady Hendrix

The Grip of It by Jac Jemc

Geek Love by Katherine Dunn

The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay

'Salem's Lot by Stephen King

Uzumaki by Junji Ito

We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver

Things We Lost in the Fire by Mariana Enriquez

I Am Legend by Richard Matheson

Drácula by Michael Burgan

The Bad Seed by William March

Penpal by Dathan Auerbach

The Fisherman by John Langan

Tell Me I’m Worthless by Alison Rumfitt

Wylding Hall by Elizabeth Hand

Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk

Broken Monsters by Lauren Beukes

The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix

Boy's Life by Robert McCammon

Swan Song by Robert McCammon

Psycho by Robert Bloch

My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix

The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum

The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas

Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer

The Haunting of Alejandra by V. Castro

Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky

Misery by Stephen King

The Spite House by Johnny Compton

The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy

The Stand by Stephen King

The Institute by Stephen King

Black River Orchard by Chuck Wendig

Don't Fear the Reaper by Stephen Graham Jones

Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle

The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson

The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher

Come Closer by Sara Gran

Fledgling by Octavia E. Butler

The Changeling by Victor Lavalle

The Ritual by Adam Nevill

The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

Books of Blood, Vols. 1-3 by Clive Barker

Nuestra parte de noche by Mariana Enríquez

Red Dragon by Thomas Harris

The Call of Cthulhu by H. P. Lovecraft

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The Exorcist

40th Anniversary Edition

William Peter Blatty - 1994-02-01 (first published in 1971)

Goodreads Rating

4.2 (231k)

25 Top Horror Books According To Goodreads Users | Book Riot

Featured in 28 articles

100 Best Horror Books of All Time | Reedsy Discovery

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The Haunting of Hill House

Shirley Jackson - 2006-11-28 (first published in 1959)

Goodreads Rating

3.8 (293k)

25 Top Horror Books According To Goodreads Users | Book Riot

Featured in 27 articles

100 Best Horror Books of All Time | Reedsy Discovery

Fiction Fantasy Mystery & Crime

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Recommended by

Mark Z. Danielewski - 2000-03-07

Goodreads Rating

4.1 (166k)

Discover an astonishing novel that took the internet by storm: House of Leaves. Follow the story of a young family who moves into a small home on Ash Tree Lane, only to discover their house is bigger on the inside than it is on the outside. Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Will Navidson and his companion Karen Green face the consequences of this impossibility, including a growing abyss and an unholy growl that soon consumes their dreams. You won't be able to put down this terrifying tale, complete with original colored words, vertical footnotes, and newly added appendices.

Featured in 25 articles

25 Top Horror Books According To Goodreads Users | Book Riot

100 Best Horror Books of All Time | Reedsy Discovery

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Mary Shelley - 2018-03-08 (first published in 1818)

Goodreads Rating

3.9 (2m)

Fiction Science Fiction

This Gothic thriller is a cautionary tale about the dangers of science. It tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a science student obsessed with discovering the cause of life. Upon bringing his creation to life, Frankenstein recoils in horror at the creature's hideousness. Tormented by loneliness, the creature turns to evil and seeks revenge against his creator. This bestseller raises thought-provoking questions on the meaning of humanity, our responsibilities to each other, and how far we should tamper with nature.

Featured in 24 articles

100 Best Horror Books of All Time | Reedsy Discovery

31 Best Horror Books of All Time - Scariest Books to Read Now

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Recommended by

Stephen King - 1980-07-01 (first published in 1977)

Goodreads Rating

25 Top Horror Books According To Goodreads Users | Book Riot

This chilling novel follows Jack Torrance as he begins his new job at the remote Overlook Hotel as the off-season caretaker. He hopes to reconnect with his family and focus on his writing, but as winter sets in, strange and sinister forces gather around the hotel. The only one to notice is his son, Danny, a gifted five-year-old. Get ready for a spine-tingling experience.

Featured in 23 articles

100 Best Horror Books of All Time | Reedsy Discovery

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Recommended by

Devon SawaElla Dawson

100 Best Horror Books of All Time | Reedsy Discovery

Dracula

Bram Stoker - 1986-05-12 (first published in 1897)

Goodreads Rating

4.0 (1m)

Fiction Fantasy

This classic horror novel explores the dark and twisted world of Count Dracula and his Victorian adversaries. As a series of disturbing incidents unfold in England, the battle between the sinister vampire and the determined human group heats up. Bram Stoker's work delves into complex themes of human identity, sanity, and Victorian sexuality, leaving readers breathless until the final page.

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Best horror books: the 35 scariest books of all time

shortlist.com

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A Novel

Stephen King - 1987-10-01 (first published in 1986)

Goodreads Rating

25 Top Horror Books According To Goodreads Users | Book Riot

This creepy novel takes place in a small town called Derry, where the haunting is all too real. A group of teenagers stumbled upon a horror that has drawn them back as adults, forcing them to face an evil without a name. Be prepared for a thrilling and chilling read.

Featured in 19 articles

100 Best Horror Books of All Time | Reedsy Discovery

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A Novel

Josh Malerman - 2014-05-13

Goodreads Rating

4.0 (186k)

100 Best Horror Books of All Time | Reedsy Discovery

In a post-apocalyptic world, something terrifying lurks outside that must not be seen - one glimpse drives you to deadly violence. Malorie and her children must navigate a twenty-mile journey blindfolded down a river. But what's following them? Is it man, animal, or monster? This harrowing odyssey takes them into an unseen world, surrounded by darkness and frightening sounds, and back into the past where they must confront the ultimate question - in a world gone mad, who can really be trusted? Josh Malerman's Bird Box is a gripping and horrific debut that will have you racing to the final page.

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23 Books That Are Actually Really, Really Scary

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A Head Full of Ghosts

A Novel

Paul Tremblay - 2015-06-02

Goodreads Rating

3.8 (82k)

100 Best Horror Books of All Time | Reedsy Discovery

This harrowing psychological thriller follows the Barrett family as they grapple with their daughter Marjorie's descent into schizophrenia. With doctors unable to help, the family turns to a priest who suggests an exorcism, leading to a hit reality TV show documenting the possession. Fifteen years later, Marjorie's younger sister Merry is interviewed, revealing buried secrets and a mind-bending tale of horror that questions reality and the nature of evil. This chilling masterpiece is reminiscent of horror classics such as Hill House and Let the Right One In.

Featured in 19 articles

The 15 Best Horror Books—We Dare You to Finish Them!

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Recommended by

John Ajvide Lindqvist - 2007-01-01 (first published in 2004)

Goodreads Rating

4.0 (110k)

Fiction Paranormal Fantasy

Enter the chilling world of Let Me In - a story set in 1981, following the terrifying discovery of a drained teenage boy. Oskar, a twelve-year-old victim of school bullies, is eager for revenge. But, a new neighbor catches his attention - a girl who possesses an unusual talent yet appears only at night. As their friendship deepens, Oskar is forced to confront a terrifying reality about his new companion. Dive into this horror tale of friendship, obsession, and the supernatural.

Featured in 17 articles

The 26 Best Horror Books To Read in 2019 (Truly Scary) | Word Power

word-power.co.uk

25 Top Horror Books According To Goodreads Users | Book Riot

Show All

Recommended by

Stephen King

Fiction Fantasy Mystery & Crime

The Hunger by Alma Katsu

Ghost Story by Peter Straub

Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin

The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris

Ring by Koji Suzuki

Beloved by Toni Morrison

Pet Sematary by Stephen King

NOS4A2 by Joe Hill

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Carrie by Stephen King

The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones

Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury

Hell House by Richard Matheson

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis

Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Carrion Comfort by Dan Simmons

Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica

The Troop by Nick Cutter

Night Film by Marisha Pessl

The Woman in Black and Other Ghost Stories by Susan Hill

Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice

White is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

The Other by Thomas Tryon

The Ruins by Scott Smith

How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix

HEX by Thomas Olde Heuvelt

World War Z by Max Brooks

Lone Women by Victor LaValle

Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

The Terror by Dan Simmons

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz

The Outsider by Stephen King

The Elementals by Michael McDowell

The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell

The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor Lavalle

Horrorstor by Grady Hendrix

The Grip of It by Jac Jemc

Geek Love by Katherine Dunn

The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay

'Salem's Lot by Stephen King

Uzumaki by Junji Ito

We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver

Things We Lost in the Fire by Mariana Enriquez

I Am Legend by Richard Matheson

Drácula by Michael Burgan

The Bad Seed by William March

Penpal by Dathan Auerbach

The Fisherman by John Langan

Tell Me I’m Worthless by Alison Rumfitt

Wylding Hall by Elizabeth Hand

Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk

Broken Monsters by Lauren Beukes

The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix

Boy's Life by Robert McCammon

Swan Song by Robert McCammon

Psycho by Robert Bloch

My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix

The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum

The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas

Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer

The Haunting of Alejandra by V. Castro

Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky

Misery by Stephen King

The Spite House by Johnny Compton

The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy

The Stand by Stephen King

The Institute by Stephen King

Black River Orchard by Chuck Wendig

Don't Fear the Reaper by Stephen Graham Jones

Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle

The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson

The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher

Come Closer by Sara Gran

Fledgling by Octavia E. Butler

The Changeling by Victor Lavalle

The Ritual by Adam Nevill

The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

Books of Blood, Vols. 1-3 by Clive Barker

Nuestra parte de noche by Mariana Enríquez

Red Dragon by Thomas Harris

The Call of Cthulhu by H. P. Lovecraft

House of Leaves

Mark Z. Danielewski - 2000-03-07

Goodreads Rating

4.1 (166k)

Featured in 25 articles

25 Top Horror Books According To Goodreads Users | Book Riot

100 Best Horror Books of All Time | Reedsy Discovery

Show All

Mary Shelley - 2018-03-08 (first published in 1818)

Goodreads Rating

3.9 (2m)

Fiction Science Fiction

Featured in 24 articles

100 Best Horror Books of All Time | Reedsy Discovery

31 Best Horror Books of All Time - Scariest Books to Read Now

cosmopolitan.com

Show All

Recommended by

Stephen King - 1980-07-01 (first published in 1977)

Goodreads Rating

25 Top Horror Books According To Goodreads Users | Book Riot

Featured in 23 articles

100 Best Horror Books of All Time | Reedsy Discovery

Show All

Recommended by

Devon SawaElla Dawson

100 Best Horror Books of All Time | Reedsy Discovery

Dracula

Bram Stoker - 1986-05-12 (first published in 1897)

Goodreads Rating

4.0 (1m)

Fiction Fantasy

Featured in 20 articles

Best horror books: the 35 scariest books of all time

shortlist.com

Show All

A Novel

Stephen King - 1987-10-01 (first published in 1986)

Goodreads Rating

25 Top Horror Books According To Goodreads Users | Book Riot

Featured in 19 articles

100 Best Horror Books of All Time | Reedsy Discovery

Show All

A Novel

Josh Malerman - 2014-05-13

Goodreads Rating

4.0 (186k)

100 Best Horror Books of All Time | Reedsy Discovery

Featured in 19 articles

23 Books That Are Actually Really, Really Scary

buzzfeed.com

Show All

A Head Full of Ghosts

A Novel

Paul Tremblay - 2015-06-02

Goodreads Rating

3.8 (82k)

100 Best Horror Books of All Time | Reedsy Discovery

Featured in 19 articles

The 15 Best Horror Books—We Dare You to Finish Them!

earlybirdbooks.com

Show All

Recommended by

John Ajvide Lindqvist - 2007-01-01 (first published in 2004)

Goodreads Rating

4.0 (110k)

Fiction Paranormal Fantasy

Featured in 17 articles

The 26 Best Horror Books To Read in 2019 (Truly Scary) | Word Power

word-power.co.uk

25 Top Horror Books According To Goodreads Users | Book Riot

Show All

Recommended by

Stephen King