Is life so good and your days so happy? Well, let me recommend some horror novels that will spoil both.
I’m kidding, of course…but, you horrible addicts, I’m not, am I?
Sometimes, you just need a good old scare in your life. A little psychological cruelty? More macabre jump scares? A proper body horror tale that will give you all the chills? Yes, please.
Horror is a truly amazing genre. You’re actually paying for panic, disgust, or spending hours biting your nails and fearing what will happen next. We horror addicts bring this to ourselves because we can’t get enough of that heart-pounding, jaw-dropping, stomach-churning fantasy we’ve loved since we were happy, easily frightened children.
Long before I became an avid reader (and, eventually, author of 40+ books), I loved the horror story. Some of my best—and worst—nights were spent into the wee hours of the night reading (and certainly unable to sleep) horror stories.
Below, I’ve compiled a list of the best horror novels that have given me and many other readers plenty of sleepless nights and gut-wrenching nightmares. May they scare you and take you out like they did to me.
Finally, for all book lovers like me, I have something exciting to share. Little Stack is a new project I’ve been working on. The website offers a comprehensive resource for tracking author books and series, so you can easily follow your favorite authors and discover hidden indie gems. We’re creating a hub where you can track what your favorite authors are up to and be notified when they release new works. Whether you love bestsellers or indie finds, Little Stack will be your go-to resource for keeping your library organized. Check it out—you just might find your next favorite!
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Mary Shelley was the world’s first horror writer, who entered the field of fiction more than 200 years ago with the truly fantastic story of Victor Frankenstein, scientist, dabbler in alchemy, and conqueror of death.
His creation, an 8-foot-tall monstrosity of human parts sewn together, is the epitome of a terrifying, abandoned animal—a perfect portrait of all of us who feel out of place in a society that can’t accommodate us.
This is not only the originator of the horror genre, but also the inspiration behind the body horror, horror, and deep psychological flavors of horror that we know and love.
It seeks the answer to the most important human question: what is our purpose, and why are we here?
Published: 1818
Dracula by Bram Stoker
Almost a hundred years after Mary Shelley was written FrankensteinBram Stoker has given us a masterpiece Dracula.
Inspired by the history and folklore of Transylvania, and based on the legendary Vlad the Impaler, it has become one of the most popular books of all time.
Dracula does an amazing job of painting a dark, gothic picture, with atmospheric descriptions that ground you in the atmosphere and make you feel increasingly nervous on every page.
In addition to introducing an interesting new type of villain—monsters who can change shape and use their abilities to control the minds of their victims—it also paints a picture of a sad creature who is a prisoner of his own condition.
There is no “evil for evil’s sake” here, but a complex, interesting, surprising antagonist who is remarkably articulate, and personable.
Expect lots of tension, shocking moments, and a fascinating look at vampiric lore.
Published: 1897
The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
The following year Dracula was introduced to the world of fiction, Henry James published this novel (in serial format in Collier’s Weekly) that brought Gothic horror into the public eye. It is because of this classic that the Gothic horror genre is as popular as it is today.
In The Turn of the Screwthe governor is convinced that his two young charges—Miles and Flora—are troubling. The figures of a woman and a man appear in their place, and the manager is determined to find more and protect the two children, as his duty.
Inevitably, the story takes many turns to get dark. A simple, straightforward, but addictive and easy to read ghost story. Read this story for a classic Gothic horror game.
Published: 1898
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
For those who love the haunted house style of horror, this is the cream of the crop.
The premise begins simply: a family moves into an old, haunted mansion, which causes them to run away. You’d think that would be the end of it, but oh, no, no, no. The grief they face during their first experiences as children haunts them as adults, causing trauma that eventually brings them back together years later.
Each is wounded in their own ways, and it’s this true exploration of humanity that makes this story so endearing.
There are scary and scary scenes, but the truth—that the ghosts we choose to walk with can do far more damage compounded over the years—is a sobering warning to all of us.
Published: 1959
Stephen King’s Stand
We could do an entire list just on Stephen King’s books (and who knows, one day soon?) because there are so many to choose from. For the sake of this list, however, I’m limiting myself to just one book from the master of horror.
I will always be a fan of The stand for its sweet dystopian flavor. In its pages, we find a country ravaged by the flu, its population dwindling, and a few survivors struggling to survive in a harsh world.
In his mind, The stand it’s powerful because of its characters—from the virus-immune Stuart Redman to the mysterious and mysterious Mother Abigail to the evil and diabolical Randall Flagg. We are irresistibly drawn into a journey from which there is no escape, and swept into a story that sinks in while still feeling epic. The Lord of the Rings fantasy book inspired series.
Published: 1978
A Ghost Story by Peter Straub
A Ghost Story plays on one of the campers’ favorite pastimes: ghost stories told around the campfire.
It’s a literary fantasy with a creepy twist, with sharply written characters, a complex and exciting plot, and a plot that will keep you turning page after page to find out what happened.
After all, what could be so scary that four characters in a book have to keep telling ghost stories to try to make sense of it?
Published: 1979
The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty
Would you believe me if I told you that this novel should be based on true events? yes, The Exorcist you are encouraged to have Mr. Roland Doe in the 1940s, which makes its supernatural aspects all the more appealing.
Although it was released in the 70s, it remains one of the most terrifying, spine-tingling novels to this day. Although the scenes start out as scary, they turn scary and disturbing as evil invades the seemingly peaceful middle-class home and young Reagan is transformed into a truly evil creature.
Macabre, bloody, and utterly addictive, it’s a modern horror novel that I can’t recommend enough.
Published: 1971
Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice
Anne Rice breaks the mold with Interview with the Vampire-instead of portraying vampires as monstrous nocturnal creatures, driven by thirst, he paints them as bored immortals suffering from ennui, victims of their own circumstances and eternal prisoners.
The story delves deep into themes of love and loyalty, character and humanity, and the combination of this exploration into the mind of these immortal creatures combined with the Gothic flavor of storytelling creates a truly unique and wonderful novel that every horror fan needs to read at least once.
Published: 1976
The Red Dragon by Thomas Harris
The Red Dragon it’s the first one Hannibal Lecter novel, and I would argue the most powerful and compelling.
In its pages, we are given a glimpse into the mind of Will Graham, an FBI profiler with a remarkable ability to understand serial killers and psychopaths. We are also introduced to the psychiatrist Dr. Hannibal Lecter, a man with whom Graham connects and often seeks advice from.
Well, thank you Hannibal movies (starring the amazing Anthony Hopkins), we know exactly where that’s going. But Will doesn’t do that, so we’re given the pleasure of seeing him follow the advice of Dr. Lecter, whom we inevitably send into the darkness. And make no mistake: the antagonist—the Tooth Fairy, aka the Red Dragon—is a bona fide villain, a truly terrifying character who sprinkles every page with blood and gore.
It’s disturbing and brilliant and addictive from start to finish, and it’s a fantastic start to your Hannibal Lecter journey.
Published: 1981
World War Z by Max Brooks
Zombie horror is a relatively new subgenre compared to other genres (Gothic, monster, body horror, etc.), but for those of us who love it, there is a huge wealth of books to choose from.
There are no “authorities” like World War Zhowever.
It’s written by the same author who wrote the untrue but surprisingly useful Zombie Survival Guidelooks at how quickly a virus can spread globally in our modern, hyper-connected society, and what—if anything—can be done to combat, slow, or stop it.
It’s an action-packed thriller that plays horror to great effect, and is one of the great horror novels of the 2000s.
Published: 2006
American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
Research suggests that many of the world’s most influential people—from presidents to CEOs to financiers—may suffer from personality disorders such as narcissism or sociopathy. In many cases, it is the reason for their success and achievements.
American Psycho puts us in the mind of one such: Patrick Bateman, banker, narcissist, and, ultimately, serial killer.
Through his narration, we are given a glimpse into his deeply twisted and twisted way of seeing the world, the reasons and reasons for his actions, and his descent into torture, childhood, and cannibalism.
A truly terrifying read because of how true it feels. After all, we all know someone who could be Patrick Bateman, right?
Published: 1991
Tender is the meat of Agustina Bazterrica
On my recent trip to Argentina, I discovered this perfect masterpiece of dystopian horror.
In this world, a virus has changed all animal flesh to be poisonous to humans, leaving only one source of meat available—yes, guess what, human flesh.
We’re taken on a shocking tour of the factory where this new “special meat” is produced, and we’re given gut-wrenching details of how humans are transformed from living, breathing creatures into food on your dinner plate (or characters).
This is definitely not for the faint of heart or soft of stomach. Don’t be surprised if you suddenly find yourself thinking about going vegetarian for a while after reading this book.
But if you can look beyond the gruesome, gory picture, you’ll find it’s a clever, clever take on our modern consumer lifestyle—and the things we humans will do to get what we want.
Published: 2017