Advertisement
IRL

10 terrifying books to read when you’re feeling spooky

Enjoy some scary reads as you count the days until Halloween.

Photo of Colette Bennett

Colette Bennett

Article Lead Image

Horror movies are on every Halloween fan’s to-do list during the month of October. It’s fun to have a reason for a re-watch.

Featured Video

But it’s also an excellent time to dig into some delicious horror novels that will make the hairs on your arms stand on end. Curl up with these spooky book picks, and let your imagination do the scaring.

1) The Shining

best horror books 

Amazon

 

Advertisement

King is known as the master of horror for a reason. While he has a massive library to choose from, The Shining is perhaps one of his most frightening novels no matter how many times you reread its pages. If you’ve only seen the Stanley Kubrick film, the book differs quite a bit, especially with its climactic ending.

Price: $6.29+

Buy it here

2) Let the Right One In

 

Advertisement
best horror books 

Amazon

 

The source material for the Swedish film of the same name, Let the Right One In is technically a vampire story, but not quite like any other you’ve ever read. The fragile connection between the loneliness of the two main characters sets the stage for a tale that is equal parts moving and terrifying.

Price: $16.90 (regularly $19)

Buy it here

Advertisement

3) American Psycho

best horror books 

Amazon

 

Bret Easton Ellis’ story about a Wall Street mogul driven to murder by his own boredom is stomach-turning, even by today’s standards. If you can handle the emotionless dialogue of protagonist Patrick Bateman as he spirals downward into his killing spree, you’ll be amazed at Ellis’ ability to portray such a vivid character.

Price: $10.87 (regularly $16)

Advertisement

Buy it here

4) The Complete Fiction of H.P. Lovecraft

best horror books 

Amazon

 

If you’ve never read anything about the origins of Cthulhu, Lovecraft’s tale is necessary reading for horror buffs. If you already have, his lesser-known stories are worth the read. This collection is a steal either way, but if you have a Kindle device, you can score seven books for less than a buck.

Advertisement

Price: $13.49 (regularly $15) 

Buy it here

5) Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark

 

Amazon

 

Advertisement

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark and its sequels are fondly remembered by adults today thanks to the illustrations by Stephen Cammell, which should not have been in a book read by children under any circumstances due to how scary they were. If you’ve never seen the book, we bet it’ll make you feel uneasy to page through even today.

Price: $12.59

Buy it here

6) House of Leaves

 

Advertisement
 

Amazon

 

Mark Z. Danielewski’s debut novel was lauded after its release in 2000 as one of the most innovative books of the time. While it’s a challenge to read because of the formatting and jumping between two different narratives, House of Leaves is every bit as compelling today as it was when it first debuted.

Price: $19.80 (regularly $22)

Buy it here

Advertisement

7) The Exorcist

 

 

Amazon

 

Despite everyone knowing what the story is about, The Exorcist still remains truly chilling both in written and film form. Author William Peter Blatty’s writing room was rumored to be strangely cold when he worked on the book, according to accounts from his wife at the time. This edition of the novel has been polished and rewritten by Blatty, and even includes a new character.

Advertisement

Price: $7+

Buy it here

8) Books of Blood

 

Advertisement
 

Amazon

 

Books of Blood put Clive Barker on the map when it was released in 1984. A series of short stories, Barker’s effort drew Stephen King’s attention, who called him “the future of horror.” If you’re drawn to the visceral, this compilation belongs in your collection.

Price: $15.86 (regularly $20)

Buy it now

Advertisement

9) The Amityville Horror

 

 

Amazon

 

Billed as a true story when it was originally released, the tale of the haunted Long Island house incited a media frenzy. Author Jay Ansen wrote the book based on interviews given by the Lutz family, who lived in the house, but the family later sued several magazines, two clairvoyants who examined the house, and a writer working on an account of the haunting. To this day no one knows the truth, but one thing is sure: It’s an incredibly gripping novel.

Advertisement

Price: $7.19 (regularly $9) 

Buy it here

10) Frankenstein

 

Advertisement
 

Amazon

 

Most classic horror tales often get glossed over because people already know the story. Even so, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is elegant and richly told, using the tale of Victor Frankenstein and his creation as an instrument to ask the reader a bigger question about who the real villain is—and what humans are truly capable of.

Price: $7.19

Buy it here

Advertisement

MORE BAZAAR DEALS:

The Daily Dot may receive a payment in connection with purchases of products or services featured in this article. Click here to learn more.

 
The Daily Dot