10 Collectible Coffee Table Books for Horror Lovers

These gorgeous and gruesome books make fantastic gifts. 

horror coffee table books gift guide

Visual storytelling is a key component of the horror genre. Strange images, gruesome scenes, and eerie visuals skillfully anchor us within the immersive horror experience.

For aficionados of the macabre, a carefully curated collection of coffee table books offers a gateway into the hauntingly beautiful and the grotesquely mesmerizing. A fantastic horror coffee table book caters to the darkly inclined, showcasing spine-tingling art, iconic imagery, and immersive narratives to captivate and intrigue with a spine-tingling jaunt into the shadows of taboo. 

One thing horror fans love is to scream into the abyss and have the abyss scream back.

To know our fears is to face our fears, and there’s no better way to do that than with a gorgeous—and possibly disturbing—coffee table books. The books below each focus on a particular element of horror, ranging from the history of paperbacks to rare photographs from iconic films and everything in between.

Here are twelve visually stunning and terrifyingly immersive coffee table books for horror lovers. Each carefully selected book unravels a distinct tapestry of terror, inviting readers to embrace the spectral beauty and nightmarish allure of the genre.

101 horror books to read before you're murdered

101 Horror Books to Read Before You're Murdered

By Sadie Hartmann

Known as “Mother Horror”, Sadie Hartmann knows horror. She’s cultivated an enthusiastic following, co-created a horror book box, and made it her mission to spread the gospel of horror far and wide. Organized by theme, with no repeat authors, Hartmann has curated one of the most expansive lists of horror books complete with featured essays and a focus on the rising voices in the genre.

Killer Collections Dark Artifacts from True Crime

Killer Collections: Dark Artifacts from True Crime

By Paul Gambino

Every serial killer has a collection. But what about the artifacts that survive long after the criminal has been stopped. From a hangman’s noose from the 18th century to Charles Manson’s cremation ashes and a document signed by Lizzie Borden herself, this book tracks these one-of-a-kind items and offers the stories behind them.

Creepshow by Stephen King

Creepshow

By Stephen King

You can’t go wrong with a graphic novel based on Guillermo del Toro’s cult classic anthology and film brought to life by the King of Horror—Stephen King himself. Filled with gorgeous illustrations that pay tribute to the controversial but incredibly significant comics of the 50s, this book features five stories of unforgettable and iconic horror, guaranteed to haunt anyone who opens the cover.

the art of horror movies

The Art of Horror Movies: An Illustrated History

By Stephen Jones

Horror has been a part of the movie industry since its inception. In this definitive guide, award-winning writer and editor Stephen Jones walks you through the history of this influential genre starting with silent films and ending with modern horror.

best horror backs 2017

Paperbacks from Hell

By Grady Hendrix

There’s something about the classic covers of pulp horror novels from the ‘70s and ‘80s. These two decades shaped the genre and brought us unforgettable classics like Rosemary’s Baby, the Exorcist, and Carrie, to name a few. Horror author and paperback collector Grady Hendrix offers wry commentary and insight into which novels horror fans should read and which ones should stay buried.

Encyclopedia of Urban Legends

Encyclopedia of Urban Legends

By Jan Harold Brunvard

If you’re a fan of horror, you know that urban legends can kill. Anyone who dismisses them or doesn’t take them seriously is often the first to die. Which is why any horror fan needs this comprehensive guide to all the stories whispered around the campfire. Complete with 60 black-and-white illustrations and a list of hundreds of legends and their variations, this book guarantees you’ll always know the truth—no matter how bizarre.

the big book of serial killers

The Big Book of Serial Killers

By Jack Rosewood

Being hunted by a monster is always terrifying. But when that monster is a flesh-and-blood human, somehow that makes it so much worse. Throughout history these real monsters walked among us, hunted us, and killed us. With over 150 serial killers, Rosewood goes into cases both big and small, notorious and forgotten, making this an incredible source of knowledge that just might save your life.

At Home With Monsters

At Home with Monsters: Inside His Films, Notebooks, and Collections

By Guillermo del Toro

Few directors have the imagination to bring to life the stunning visual creations as Guillermo del Toro. Through interviews, his own journal entries, and curated pieces of his personal collection, this book is an intimate look at his creative process and his life.

On Set with John Carpenter

On Set with John Carpenter

By Kim Gottlieb-Walker

For the first time, readers can go behind-the-scenes into some of the most iconic horror movies including Halloween, The Fog, Escape from New York, and more. Each photo is accompanied by exclusive commentary from cast, crew, and even Carpenter himself. This book is for anyone who’s ever wondered what it was like to be on set of these unforgettable movies.

Horror Cinema

Horror Cinema

By Paul Duncan & Jürgen Müller

The history of cinema is horror. It’s been there from the start, and has evolved with every subsequent decade. In this stunning collection featuring 640 pages of horror history, you’ll find details on how horror taps into our archetypal fears and cultural anxieties. Complete with movie posters, set designs, film set photos, and on-set stills, this gorgeous book is a must-have for any horror fan.