Whenever you’re in the mood for a good scare you’ll be able to find a good book to do the job. Horror books are written with the intention of inflicting feelings of disgust and fear, and many authors have perfected it. From the classic works of authors like Bram Stoker, Mary Shelley, Shirley Jackson, and Stephen King to modern talent like Paul Tremblay, Stephen Graham Jones, Cynthia Pelayo, Eric LaRocca, Hailey Piper, and Josh Malerman, the horror genre is overflowing with plenty of options to choose from. From spooky occult horror to blood and gore—and everything in between—there’s something for every style of reader, no matter your taste.
Whether you’re interested in close-to-home horror that tackles social issues or campy slasher-style horror books that rack up the kills, the horror genre has something for every style of reader. From aquatic horror and ghostly hauntings to body horror and coming-of-age tales—you’re sure to find just the thing to sink your teeth into.
Whether you’re a seasoned horror aficionado looking to expand your horizons or a newer reader looking to dip your toes into (shark infested) horror waters, here are some great places to start:
And when you’ve finished with those, peruse the stories below for endless recommendations of chilling books to read.
Cutting social commentary and vivid horrorscapes await.
Once you go in, you might not come back out…
By Aviva Kaplan
The horrors persist—and we're reading them all.
In other words: Read like a Queen.
By Lisa Quigley
But don't wait—these deals won't last long.
New year, new terrors.
Put a chill down your spine with these creepy ebooks—free, this month only.
These new voices have terrified us the whole year through.
By Jena Brown
From blood-sucking immortals to freaky folklore, look back through a year of fear.
There's much more to the genre than its most famous author.
By Orrin Grey
The Lineup community has spoken: These are the books that scared you best in 2024.
By Kasey Noss
A detailed look at Horror from 2024, from the “library world's horror maven.”
Author Christa Carmen reflects on her gothic novels and short stories from her ever-growing bibliography.
By Kyle Lemmon
The events in these books are entirely fictional—or are they…
These scary story anthologies prove Christmas isn't always merry…
By Jena Brown
If anyone's making it to the end of the book, it's them.
By Kasey Noss
Books that deliver more chills than the weather.
Norse mythology gets a wicked makeover.
By Kasey Noss
We all go a little mad sometimes.
Reflections from Davidson (aka Nick Cutter) on his bone-chilling catalog.
By Kyle Lemmon