21 horror books to read with the lights on, from Stephen King classics to psychological thrillers
- Horror fiction scares its readers, using anything from psychological thrills to creepy imagery.
- The horror books in this list range from Stephen King classics to modern murder mysteries.
- Some of our favorites include “It,” “Bird Box,” “The Exorcist,” “Dracula,” “The Shining,” and more.
Great literature can introduce us to so many amazing things: Passionate romances, unforgettable plot twists, or fantastical beasts that feel vibrantly real within our imaginations. But carefully crafted novels can also keep us up at night, chill us to the bone, and horrify us beyond our nightmares. While some of us may avoid scary stories, other readers live for horror, finding mini-adrenaline rushes and skin-crawling scenes irresistible.
The horror genre began to gain popularity in the 1960s, thanks to a few extremely successful books, and soon morphed into the novels we see now. Horror is marked by unsettling, creepy, or menacing scenes that evoke a psychological reaction in the reader. Whether you’ve already blown through most of Stephen King’s books or just dipping your toe into the genre, the books on this list are sure to have you leaving the lights on until you’re done.
The 21 best horror books:
“It” by Stephen King
This well-known horror book is about seven adults returning to their hometown to face an evil they first discovered as teenagers: An unnamed, shape-shifting terror they call “It.” If you read other Stephen King novels, the town of Derry, Maine appears again and again but it all began with “It.” “It” is also a monster of a book — its many, many pages build to a must-read, terrifying masterpiece.
Fear factor: A sadistic, killer clown.
A thrill-packed serial killer novel
“Stillhouse Lake” by Rachel Caine
Gina was completely normal — an average housewife with a husband and two kids. But when a car accident revealed her husband’s secret life as a serial killer, she moved with her children to a home on a lake, far away from her husband’s secrets and the stalkers who think she was part of it all. But when a body appears in the lake and threatening letters start to arrive, Gina — now a prime suspect — must protect herself and her kids from a killer who’s tormenting her family. This is a horror story full of grotesque depictions and racing thrills that’ll have you tearing through the pages.
Fear factor: The rapid twists and cliffhangers.
A highly praised haunted house book
“Hell House” by Richard Matheson
Stephen King called this book “the scariest haunted house novel ever written,” so you know it’s terrifying. Rolf Rudolph Deutsch is about to die, so he offers to pay a physicist and two mediums $100,000 each to find out what happens after death. The three of them travel to the Belasco house — more commonly referred to as the “Hell House” — for one night to learn how it earned its nickname.
Fear factor: The abandoned house full of horrifying secrets.
A horrifying dystopian world
“Tender Is the Flesh” by Agustina Bazterrica
Most accurately described as “skin-crawling,” this book centers on Marcos, who keeps his eyes on his work and away from the pain in his life. He works at the local processing plant, slaughtering humans — though, no one calls them that anymore. Since the government initiated “the Transition” after a sweeping virus made animal meat poisonous to humans, eating human meat — “special meat” — is legal, and having personal contact with the specimens is punishable by death. This book is alarming, a little deranged, and lives up to its horrifying title.
Fear factor: Legal, widespread cannibalism.
A disturbing, double-timeline tale
“The Sun Down Motel” by Simone St. James
If you want to feel the rush of knowing something terrible is coming, this paranormal horror story is for you. In 1982, Carly’s Aunt Viv took a job at the Sun Down Motel, trying to save enough money to move to New York City. Now, Carly’s working the front desk to discover what mysteries could have led to her aunt’s disappearance. The entire book is suspenseful and mysterious but the horror scenes are next-level. I had to rush to finish this one before it got dark.
Fear factor: The demonic hauntings that lay just out of sight.
A twisted murder story
“The Chestnut Man” by Soren Sveistrup
This description sounds like a thriller, but the terror in these pages absolutely lands this book into the horror category. The Chestnut Man is a serial killer who leaves a handmade doll made of matchsticks and chestnuts at every crime scene. When a forensic team discovers a bloody fingerprint belonging to a government official’s daughter who had been kidnapped and murdered a year ago, the detectives must follow the murderer’s twisted clues before someone else ends up dead. This book is dark and unnerving, and you will likely find yourself unwilling to turn the next page, fearing what lies ahead.
Fear factor: An absolutely terrifying killer.
A supernatural, Christmas-themed horror story
“NOS4A2” by Joe Hill
You’ll get chills just from reading the description of this book — and the story itself is even wilder than the summary lets on. Victoria, a young girl with a talent for finding things, stumbles upon a bridge that can take her anywhere. She runs into Charlie Manx, who lures kids into a car that transports them to a horrifying playground called Christmasland. Victoria is the only child to ever escape Christmasland. Years later, Charlie hasn’t forgotten about her — and is ready to take his revenge.
Fear factor: Darkened versions of all your favorite Christmas tropes.
The terrifying tale of an unraveling world
“Bird Box” by Josh Malerman
In a world created by Josh Malerman, there’s something out there that, once seen, drives a person to deadly violence. Malorie is one of only a handful of survivors left after the mysterious thing took over the world. She needs to flee with her children, relying on their wit and hearing to stay alive. This is a horror story that will have you closing your curtains and hiding in your house until you get to the end.
Fear factor: Frightening creatures that feel so close, yet just out of reach.
The first Hannibal Lecter book
“Red Dragon” by Thomas Harris
You may be more familiar with the second book in the Hannibal Lecter series “The Silence of the Lambs,” but if you’re looking to read the whole story, you should start here. When a serial killer attacks families, the FBI turns to William Graham, one of the greatest profilers, who retired after the horrors he witnessed in capturing Hannibal Lecter. To solve this case, William finds he must turn to Lector for help. The violent point of view of the antagonist brings on the horror in full force — while demonstrating that the “good guy” isn’t always the hero.
Fear factor: The prequel to one of the most iconic horror characters.
A mind-bending thrill ride
“Lock Every Door” by Riley Sager
Riley Sager has written four suspenseful novels, each one balanced between thriller, mystery, and horror, but this one leans the most towards “horror” of the bunch. Jules’ new job as an apartment sitter in one of Manhattan’s most private and mysterious buildings comes with three rules: No visitors, no nights away from the apartment, and no disturbing the other residents. But the building is not what it seems to be — a dark history is rising within, summoning a race to find the truth before someone else goes missing. It’s super suspenseful, and I found it best to force myself through the fear to the end so the secrets would stop haunting me.
Fear factor: Severely limited time to solve the mysteries.
A Bigfoot horror story
“Devolution” by Max Brooks
As the dust from Mount Rainier’s eruption settles, Kate Holland’s harrowing journals are found, revealing an account of the unnoticed Greenloop massacre and the legendary beasts behind it. From the author of “World War Z,” this ominous horror story is action-packed, mind-bending, and utterly chaotic.
Fear factor: The horrible beasts beyond our imagination.
A classic, paranormal horror book
“The Exorcist” by William Peter Blatty
Adapted into one of the scariest films of all time, “The Exorcist” is about a mother and two priests who fight to free the soul of a young girl controlled by an evil and violent spirit. The deeper details of this novel are what make already scary scenes even scarier. Even if you’ve already seen the movie, the story has even more frightening information that heightens the fear.
Fear factor: The paranormal, unyielding elements.
A famous and highly quotable horror story
“The Shining” by Stephen King
Jack Torrance is looking for a fresh start with his new job at the Overlook Hotel, where he can reconnect with his family and work on his writing in his free time. As winter sets in, Jack’s days at the hotel get stranger and stranger, and the only one who notices is Danny, Jack’s unique five-year-old son. Full of fleshed-out characters, this slower-paced book doesn’t drag — it only builds up the fear to an unforgettable conclusion.
Fear factor: The slow progression to madness.
The original vampire book
“Dracula” by Bram Stoker
We all know the famous “Dracula” persona — the one we mimic every Halloween with plastic fangs and upturned coat collars. But it doesn’t really capture the 1897 classic gothic horror story, which depicts Dracula’s move to England as he attempts to find new blood, spreading his undead curse along the way. The story is far more horrifying and twisted than you might anticipate, and will definitely change how you view the more heroic portrayals of modern-day vampires.
Fear factor: The relentless bloodlust.
A Southern-set vampire story
“The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires” by Grady Hendrix
Set in 1990s Charleston, this novel is centered around a book club and the strange happenings around a newcomer who was brought into the club after one of the members was horribly attacked on her way home. This book has all of the southern charm, ’90s nostalgia, and savagery that you might expect from the title alone.
Fear factor: The realistic setting that makes the horrors hit too close to home.
A twisted, psychological horror
“The Other” by Thomas Tryon
This novel is hailed for Tryon’s amazing writing style, one that transcends the horror genre and makes this story worth so much more than its creepy scenes. Holland and Niles are twins, close enough to nearly read each other’s thoughts but entirely different in personality. Their family is gathered for the summer to mourn their father’s passing. With the boys’ mother still locked in her room, Holland’s pranks are growing more and more sinister and Niles isn’t sure how much longer he can make excuses for his brother.
Fear factor: The irresistible “evil twin” plotline.
A waking nightmare of a story
“Imaginary Friend” by Stephen Chbosky
Best read with the lights on, “Imaginary Friend” is a haunting story where a young boy named Christopher goes missing in the town to which he and his mother just fled. Six days later, Christopher emerges from the woods with a voice in his head telling him to do one thing: Build a treehouse in the woods by Christmas, or his mother and everyone in the town will never be the same.
Fear factor: The poetic writing ramping up the horror.
A multidimensional horror novel
“The Hollow Places” by T. Kingfisher
“The Hollow Places” is initially misleading. It starts off cute and funny, but quickly devolves into a terrifying novel with scenes so vibrantly written, they’ll be sure to haunt readers long after they close the book. Kara finds a hole in the wall of her uncle’s house that leads to a series of alternate realities, riddled with unsettling creatures that feed on fear. The world-building in this book is remarkable — Kingfisher creates something we couldn’t previously fathom and yet something we so easily fear.
Fear factor: The expert world-building that brings all the creepy fantasies to life.
A vengeful, terrifying book
“The Only Good Indians” by Stephen Graham Jones
This follows four Indigenous men who are being tracked and haunted by an entity that lingers from a crime committed a decade prior. It’s a horror story of revenge and identity as the men find they can’t outrun the culture they left behind. This eerie story will continually shock you, yet ends so perfectly, you’ll almost forgive the brutal scenes you endured to reach the end.
Fear factor: The sentimental hope accompanied by chilling revenge.
A 1967 classic paranormal horror story
“Rosemary’s Baby” by Ira Levin
In this classic horror story, Rosemary and Guy are a young couple settling into their New York apartment where it seems the neighbors are taking too keen of an interest in them, especially once Rosemary gets pregnant. The suspense in this novel is palpable, a waking nightmare that walks a thin line between unbelievable and yet completely real. This book is unnerving and sinister, one of the original horror novels that helped popularize the genre.
Fear factor: The increasingly ominous foreshadowing.
A suspenseful horror story with a slow burn
“The Burning Girls” by C. J. Tudor
Reverend Jack Brooks arrives at Chapel Croft looking for a fresh start, yet is welcomed with an exorcism kit and a warning. Horrible things have happened at the church — protestant martyrs were burned centuries back, two teenage girls disappeared 30 years ago, and just a week prior, the vicar hung himself. This is a deeply woven and haunting ghost story, with strange and deadly mysteries throughout.
Fear factor: The multiple narratives and shocking twists.
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