Summary: In today's article, I have compiled 20 of the best horror books I think are guaranteed to send chills down your spine. Here are my top 3 picks:
- The Shining by Stephen King
- House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
- Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Horror books offer a one-of-a-kind experience, diving into our deepest fears and anxieties while giving us a thrilling escape. They explore the darker side of the human mind, sparking intense emotions that are both terrifying and exciting. Reading horror lets you face your fears in a safe way, often leaving you with a sense of relief or catharsis when it’s over. Whether it's the suspense, eerie atmosphere, or complex characters, horror books really engage the imagination and push storytelling to new limits, making them an exciting genre to explore.
TOP 20: Best Horror Books
- The Shining by Stephen King
- House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
- Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
- The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent
- Spark of the Everflame: The Kindred's Curse Saga, Book One by Penn Cole
- Phantasma: A Dark Fantasy Romance (Wicked Games Book 1) by Kaylie Smith
- Beloved by Toni Morrison
- The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty
- The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
- It by Stephen King
- The Fisherman by John Langan
- The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
- The Troop by Nick Cutter
- I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid
- A Sunny Place for Shady People by Mariana Enriquez
- The Year’s Best Horror Stories series edited by Karl Edward Wagner
- The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror series edited by Stephen Jones
- The Best Horror of the Year series edited by Ellen Datlow
- The Guest List by Lucy Foley
- The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean
1. The Shining
- Author: Stephen King
- About: A chilling tale of a family trapped in an isolated hotel during the winter, where the father slowly descends into madness, influenced by the dark spirits within.
- Style of writing: Atmospheric, suspenseful, with deep psychological insight.
- Length: 447 pages (approx. 170,000 words)
- Year written: 1977
- Emotional impact: Strong lasting impression, particularly due to its exploration of isolation and psychological horror.
- Difficulty level: Medium; accessible but detailed and layered.
- Why read it: A masterpiece of psychological horror that explores madness, family dynamics, and supernatural terror.
2. House of Leaves
- Author: Mark Z. Danielewski
- About: A novel about a house with shifting, impossible dimensions and a family slowly unraveling under its influence, told through a fragmented, multi-layered narrative.
- Style of writing: Experimental, non-linear, and unconventional (footnotes, changing text formats).
- Length: 709 pages (approx. 200,000 words)
- Year written: 2000
- Emotional impact: Deeply unsettling, leaving readers questioning reality.
- Difficulty level: High; requires patience and focus due to its unconventional structure.
- Why read it: It’s a unique, mind-bending experience that pushes the boundaries of traditional storytelling and horror.
3. Mexican Gothic
- Author: Silvia Moreno-Garcia
- About: A gothic horror set in 1950s Mexico, following a young woman who investigates her cousin's disturbing experiences in a decaying mansion.
- Style of writing: Lush, atmospheric, with rich cultural details and creeping dread.
- Length: 301 pages (approx. 95,000 words)
- Year written: 2020
- Emotional impact: Haunting, with a mix of terror and tragic beauty.
- Difficulty level: Medium; accessible, but layered with cultural depth.
- Why read it: For a fresh take on gothic horror that blends history, culture, and suspense.
4. The Serpent and the Wings of Night
- Author: Carissa Broadbent
- About: A dark fantasy involving bloodlines, ancient magic, and a deadly game in a world where vampires rule.
- Style of writing: Dark, immersive, with romantic and action-packed elements.
- Length: 467 pages (approx. 130,000 words)
- Year written: 2022
- Emotional impact: Intense, with a strong emotional pull due to complex characters and relationships.
- Difficulty level: Medium; relatively accessible but with deep world-building.
- Why read it: For those who enjoy dark fantasy mixed with romance, intrigue, and powerful world-building.
5. Spark of the Everflame: The Kindred's Curse Saga, Book One
- Author: Penn Cole
- About: A fantasy novel that mixes elements of magic, destiny, and dark forces, as the protagonist struggles with a mysterious curse.
- Style of writing: Fast-paced, vivid, and dramatic.
- Length: 400 pages (approx. 115,000 words)
- Year written: 2021
- Emotional impact: Engaging, with an adventurous tone and emotional highs and lows.
- Difficulty level: Medium; action-oriented and easy to follow, but with emotional depth.
- Why read it: For fans of magic, curses, and the fight against dark forces, with a strong focus on character development.
6. Phantasma: A Dark Fantasy Romance (Wicked Games Book 1)
- Author: Kaylie Smith
- About: A dark fantasy romance featuring dangerous secrets, forbidden love, and a world where nothing is as it seems.
- Style of writing: Atmospheric, romantic, and suspenseful.
- Length: 350 pages (approx. 100,000 words)
- Year written: 2020
- Emotional impact: High emotional engagement, particularly with romantic and suspenseful elements.
- Difficulty level: Medium; fast-paced, but with emotional depth.
- Why read it: For lovers of dark fantasy with strong romantic and emotional stakes.
7. Beloved
- Author: Toni Morrison
- About: A haunting and tragic story of a woman haunted by the ghost of her dead daughter, blending historical fiction and supernatural horror.
- Style of writing: Poetic, deeply emotional, with symbolic and philosophical layers.
- Length: 324 pages (approx. 70,000 words)
- Year written: 1987
- Emotional impact: Profoundly emotional, deeply moving, and unsettling.
- Difficulty level: High; complex themes and dense prose.
- Why read it: A powerful narrative that intertwines history, trauma, and the supernatural in an unforgettable way.
8. The Exorcist
- Author: William Peter Blatty
- About: A chilling account of the possession of a young girl and the battle to save her, blending psychological and supernatural horror.
- Style of writing: Suspenseful, intense, with religious and psychological themes.
- Length: 416 pages (approx. 130,000 words)
- Year written: 1971
- Emotional impact: Terrifying, with lasting fear and philosophical depth.
- Difficulty level: Medium; accessible, but with deep thematic content.
- Why read it: A classic that redefined supernatural horror with its psychological depth and terrifying narrative.
9. The Haunting of Hill House
- Author: Shirley Jackson
- About: A psychological horror about a group of people staying in a haunted mansion, where fear and madness slowly unravel them.
- Style of writing: Atmospheric, tense, with subtle horror.
- Length: 182 pages (approx. 55,000 words)
- Year written: 1959
- Emotional impact: Deeply unsettling, with lingering feelings of dread.
- Difficulty level: Medium; easy to read, but full of psychological nuance.
- Why read it: For a classic ghost story that’s as much about mental horror as it is about the supernatural.
10. It
- Author: Stephen King
- About: A group of childhood friends reunite to face a terrifying, shape-shifting entity that takes the form of a murderous clown.
- Style of writing: Richly detailed, nostalgic, and deeply psychological.
- Length: 1,138 pages (approx. 400,000 words)
- Year written: 1986
- Emotional impact: High; a blend of childhood fears and adult trauma, leaving a lasting mark.
- Difficulty level: High; long, complex, with intricate subplots.
- Why read it: For an epic horror story that combines nostalgia, fear, and human connection.
11. The Fisherman
- Author: John Langan
- About: Two widowers take up fishing in a secluded spot, but they encounter dark forces tied to a mysterious, ancient entity.
- Style of writing: Slow-building, literary, with a focus on psychological and cosmic horror.
- Length: 512 pages (approx. 155,000 words)
- Year written: 2016
- Emotional impact: Deeply atmospheric, with existential dread and melancholy that lingers.
- Difficulty level: Medium to high; slow-paced but rich in detail.
- Why read it: For fans of cosmic horror and literary fiction that delves into grief and the unknown.
12. The Silent Patient
- Author: Alex Michaelides
- About: A woman shoots her husband and then stops speaking, and a psychotherapist becomes obsessed with unraveling the mystery.
- Style of writing: Fast-paced, psychological, with twists and turns.
- Length: 325 pages (approx. 95,000 words)
- Year written: 2019
- Emotional impact: High; it’s a psychological thriller that will leave you questioning the nature of truth.
- Difficulty level: Medium; accessible but full of suspense.
- Why read it: For a gripping psychological thriller with a shocking, memorable twist.
13. The Troop
- Author: Nick Cutter
- About: A group of scouts encounter a terrifying creature during a camping trip that tests their survival instincts.
- Style of writing: Gruesome, visceral, and suspenseful.
- Length: 432 pages (approx. 135,000 words)
- Year written: 2014
- Emotional impact: High; the body horror and tense atmosphere will leave readers unsettled.
- Difficulty level: Medium; intense, but straightforward narrative.
- Why read it: For a gut-wrenching survival horror with deep psychological themes.
14. I'm Thinking of Ending Things
- Author: Iain Reid
- About: A young woman reflects on her relationship while traveling to meet her boyfriend's parents, but things start to take a disturbing turn.
- Style of writing: Minimalistic, psychological, with a sense of creeping dread.
- Length: 224 pages (approx. 50,000 words)
- Year written: 2016
- Emotional impact: High; leaves a lasting impact with its unsettling atmosphere and existential themes.
- Difficulty level: Medium to high; slow-burn tension and philosophical musings.
- Why read it: For an eerie psychological thriller that makes you question reality and identity.
15. A Sunny Place for Shady People
- Author: Mariana Enriquez
- About: A collection of short stories that blends horror, the grotesque, and the supernatural, often set against the backdrop of contemporary Argentine society.
- Style of writing: Dark, poetic, and unsettling.
- Length: 240 pages (approx. 65,000 words)
- Year written: 2019
- Emotional impact: High; disturbing, with dark themes that haunt you after reading.
- Difficulty level: Medium; accessible but disturbing.
- Why read it: For a fresh take on horror that blends the supernatural with societal commentary.
16. The Year’s Best Horror Stories
- Author: Edited by Karl Edward Wagner
- About: A compilation of the best horror stories published in each year, showcasing the diversity of the genre.
- Style of writing: Varies by story; the anthology includes different voices and styles within horror.
- Length: Approx. 400 pages per volume (varies)
- Year written: Published annually from the 1970s through the 1990s.
- Emotional impact: Varies; some stories will terrify, while others are more thought-provoking.
- Difficulty level: Medium; short stories are easy to digest, but some stories are deeply unsettling.
- Why read it: To explore a variety of styles and themes from established and emerging horror writers.
17. The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror
- Author: Edited by Stephen Jones
- About: A yearly anthology of the best horror short stories from the past year, gathering top authors and emerging voices.
- Style of writing: Varies by story, showcasing a range of horror subgenres.
- Length: Approx. 400-500 pages per volume (varies)
- Year written: Published annually from the 1980s onward.
- Emotional impact: Varies; offers a mix of emotional impacts from subtle dread to outright terror.
- Difficulty level: Medium; short stories offer a variety of complexity.
- Why read it: For an overview of the current landscape of horror, with contributions from the genre’s leading voices.
18. The Best Horror of the Year
- Author: Edited by Ellen Datlow
- About: A collection of the finest horror stories of the year, selected by one of the genre's top editors.
- Style of writing: Varies by story; offers a rich variety of horror styles.
- Length: Approx. 400-500 pages per volume (varies)
- Year written: Published annually since 2009.
- Emotional impact: Varies; often offers deep emotional and intellectual engagement.
- Difficulty level: Medium to high; the stories can be complex, depending on the author.
- Why read it: For a curated selection of the year's best horror, offering a range of voices and styles.
19. The Guest List
- Author: Lucy Foley
- About: A psychological thriller set during a wedding on a remote island, where dark secrets unravel and murder strikes.
- Style of writing: Suspenseful, with multiple perspectives and a slow build-up of tension.
- Length: 368 pages (approx. 110,000 words)
- Year written: 2020
- Emotional impact: High; keeps readers on edge with its mysterious atmosphere and secrets.
- Difficulty level: Medium; accessible, but with multiple viewpoints that require focus.
- Why read it: For a suspense-filled, twisty mystery that will keep you guessing until the end.
20. The Return of Ellie Black
- Author: Emiko Jean
- About: A thrilling story of a woman who returns to her hometown, only to discover that some secrets from her past are far darker than she remembers.
- Style of writing: Gripping, with emotional depth and suspense.
- Length: 336 pages (approx. 100,000 words)
- Year written: 2022
- Emotional impact: High; engaging, with deep emotional stakes and moments of shock.
- Difficulty level: Medium; easy to follow but with moments that require reflection.
- Why read it: For fans of psychological thrillers and stories that explore the weight of the past.
Conclusion
In conclusion, horror books are a thrilling escape into the unknown, and if you're looking for the best, I think The Shining, House of Leaves, and Mexican Gothic are top picks. Stephen King's The Shining is a timeless classic that explores the terrifying effects of isolation and madness—it’s one of my personal favorites. House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski offers a mind-bending experience with its unconventional narrative that keeps you questioning reality, which I find absolutely fascinating. And Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia blends gothic horror with rich cultural details, creating an eerie atmosphere that really sticks with you. Each of these books delivers something unique, and I truly believe they’re unforgettable reads for any horror fan.
