10 Reviews: Best Horror Books for Halloween (Sep 2023)

Frankenstein is a novel written by English author Mary Shelley which is considered to be the origin of the science fiction genre. It tells the story of a professor who is obsessed with bringing his creations to life in his scientific experiment. Unfortunately, the experiment actually brought a lot of harm to society and ruined his own life. The more you dive into the story, the more you will understand who the real monster is.

None of the movies or newer renditions of this story do it justice. The tale of Frankenstein and his monster is a sight to behold. Book is large and the print is wide for an easier read.

by Miriam

If you first caught sight of the Netflix adaptation’s Bird Box and fell in love, then you should read the book version. In this apocalyptic future world, something terrifying that must not be seen. One glimpse and a person is driven to deadly violence. Therefore, Malorie and her two young children decided to escape five years later blindfolded. Nothing is more terrifying than an unknown enemy, is it?

My high school son is NOT a reader, but this book was chosen by his young "hip" English teacher for the class to read. They even had a skype session with Mr. Malerman before they started the book! All of this really motivated my son to read this, and he could NOT put it down. He is a Malerman fanatic now and has read other books by him as well. I didn't read it to really give much information about the novel itself, but any book that gets my son to read is an 5-star book in my opinion!

by Michelle J. Devor

There are two kinds of people in this world, one who thinks that clowns are funny and one who believes that clowns are terrible. Stephen King’s IT will make these two factions fear clowns. This book is set in Derry, a small city where children are mysteriously killed by an evil without a name: It. The familiar setting makes the story even more terrifying; as if really happening near us. You can’t read just one page and stop.

My favorite book of all time. I've read 14 times and who knows how many more times I'll read it again! King creates a world where you feel the eyes of a being of unimaginable horror on you as you follow the lives of a group of childeren who come together to face a creature that has haunted their town and hunted it's children for years upon years. You will not find a better book that creates such a electric tingling atmosphere that you will catch yourself reading way past the hour you said you would put it down at.

by DerryCitizen2409

Stephen King is the perfect choice to get into the Halloween spirit with his writing that makes you curl up in a blanket of terror. Carrie tells the story of a high-school girl who is unpopular at school and makes her the object of bullying. She then realized her telekinetic powers which made her want to take revenge on her enemies. Both the book and the film version are successful in the market. Your turn to prove it.

This stands out amongst King’s remarkable body of work. The fact that this is his first published novel is outstanding. It has such a sure and powerful voice. Just like any of his work, there is more at play here than just the salacious cover. It is a tragic story in horror drag. It pulls off so well and it is so utterly effective. This is a great place to start for new King readers and a good place to go in case you feel like you already know what King is a capable of. It is such a delightful surprise.

by Lucas Chance

The Lottery and Other Stories by Shirley Jackson contains Jackson’s remarkable range from the hilarious to the horrible. One of the most famous is “The Lottery” which begins with a crowd forms in a town square for an annual ritual. You will be intrigued by what really happened there that brought you to a horrifying ending. Truly blows your mind.

These stories all have a classic Shirley Jackson aspect in common; you are transported to the time and place and become part of the story, and at the story`s end, you are left feeling a little out of sorts... rarely a "happy" ending here in the traditional sense, but clearly an ending that works for the story. I am most definitely always left wanting more.

by Alex

If you’re looking for a mystery book that won’t fail to make you shiver with fear, And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie must be on your bookshelf. Christie is nicknamed The Queen of Suspense who usually writes in a detective style. This book follows the story of ten strangers, summoned to an island mansion off the coast of Devon when one of them was found dead at night. The story becomes even tenser when it is discovered that the killer is among them.

I read this a long time ago but recently read it again for a Quarantine Book Club. I still loved it just as much this time around. It's a wonderful mystery and better than any horror movie I have ever seen. Agatha Christie writes in such a way that is simple but engaging, keeping you on your toes and the edge of your seat. She really is the Queen of Mystery! The book itself was packaged well and came in good condition.

by Black Beauty

It seems that almost any classic reader knows who Edgar Allan Poe is. In his hands, even poetry can be terrifying. He is predicted to be the inventor of detective fiction, so of course, his stories are always covered with mysterious nuances. In this book, you can read the complete short story collection. You will be taken to a world that is grim and difficult to get out of.

It's Edgar Allen Poe. This is truly classic short fiction. The stories have just the right amount of suspense, graphic imagery and grim results to provide entertaining horror stories without a reliance on the "horror-porn" of brutally graphic depictions of death and torture that have overtaken the genre in more recent times. This collection includes all the short stories ...

by M. 9 Fingers

Neil Gaiman is known for his light, hypnotic, enchanting stories that are timeless. Coraline is no exception. Although the film adaptation was quite successful, it was obligatory to read the original. Especially if you want to build reading habits in children. After reading this book, it is guaranteed that your little child will no longer dream of having another family but yours.

I bought this for my daughter who has always loved the movie. She recently became interested in reading how the book differed from the movie and this was a really good experience for her. This book has everything that you need to keep you interested and turning pages. Funny, complex characters that really keep you engaged in the story. It also had a few good moral lessons. All in all I think this is a really good read for any age.

by Lissarena

The Haunting of Hill House is always on any list of the scariest recommended books ever. This book tells of a group of strangers: an occult scholar, his assistant, a troubled woman with a history of supernatural encounters, and the soon-to-be heir of the hill house. This classic thriller was first published in 1959 and is still a favorite of horror lovers today.

Shirley Jackson not only founded what we know as the contemporary ghost story by weaving in the pains of mental health as a major part of the story without risking sentimentality, but is also the inspiration behind our favorite horror and fantasy writers. This novel is the start of all that. It's important to remember that a lot of elements in the novel we'd consider tropes of the horror genre weren't tropes when this was written--this is the origin of them. Aside from just being a good story, this is perfect for fans of the genre to read and explore the inspiration of the stories we love so much.

by Kara

Author William Peter Blatty presents a story about a child who is possessed by a demon and her terrified mother who tries to do everything she can to save her daughter. The passion and intensity of the story keep you turning page after page with a pounding heart. No wonder this book is called the scariest book ever written. The story has also been adapted into a film.

I read this book when it was first released and it scared the bejeesus out of me. The second time around, I knew what was coming, so the shock value wasn't there, but it afforded me the opportunity to go deeper into the nuances. It was a great novel when it was first published and has held up as one of the great novels of all time. If you haven't read it, grab a copy, give yourself plenty of time (you won't be able to put it down!) and make sure to keep the lights on because this is not a story you want to read in the dark! They aren't kidding when they say it's the most terrifying novel ever written!

by Ann Werner