List of Best Horror Books of All Time (Scariest, Creepiest & Contemporary)

Welcome to an insightful journey through the 'List of Best Horror Books of All Time,' written by Muhiuddin Alam on the book recommendations and reviews site, ReadingAndThinking.com.

Over the years as a leading authority on literary expertise, I've created numerous articles on the topics of Genre Fiction Books, many of which can be found on this site. I'm also a regular contributor to other book-related websites and publications.

I have received many requests to recommend some of the greatest horror books of all time. In response, I'm pleased to offer my expert recommendations in this article.

So, when I suggest these books, it's because I've read a lot and want to share the best ones with you. I'm all about making your reading experience awesome. Trust in a guide deeply immersed in the literary books and stories. I love books just like you do!

I will recommend the best horror books of all time in this post, which is based on my in-depth study and testing in this field. Some notable recommendations include: At the Mountains of Madness, The Bad Seed, Beloved, The Bloody Chamber, Books of Blood, The Call of Cthulhu and Other Weird Stories, Carrie, The Case Against Satan, The Challenge" The Changeling, and Come Closer.

These aren't the only books on this topic. Below, you'll find books with detailed descriptions of each of these outstanding resources, helping you make well-informed decisions in your greatest horror novel journey.

 

Greatest Horror Books of All Time

Horror fiction has been a part of the literary world for many years. But horror seems to be on the rise across all mediums lately. 

Perhaps people are beginning to realize that there is no better way to immerse themselves in a thriller, experience the adrenaline rush, and then close the book, turn off the TV, or "escape" from a haunted house. This feeling of surviving a catastrophe is even more satisfying. 

In order to help you, who love horror stories, embark on a "scary journey", we have collected a list of the most complete horror novel books in history, which is known as "scaring people to death". 

You may think that since there are so many choices, a certain book of your liking will definitely be included, but in fact, the number of good works may far exceed your imagination. 

1. At the Mountains of Madness by HP Lovecraft

It seems inconceivable to talk about modern and contemporary horror fiction without mentioning HP Lovecraft. 

"Fear of deep space" --- the signature horror model created by him, that is, the insignificant sense of nothingness presented by human beings in the face of huge unknown forces. 

This model has influenced countless people who followed in his footsteps. writer. Top of the Crazy, the starting point for many of Lovecraft's fantastical stories, revolves around an arctic expedition that discovers they've gone astray when they discover a lost alien race. 

Unfortunately, to mention Lovecraft, we have to mention his deadly ideas of xenophobia, racism, and white supremacy.

2. The Bad Seed by William March

The Bad Seed, which was first published in 1954, became a bestseller as soon as it came out and was shortlisted for the National Book Award that year. 

The novel tells a story that seems reasonable but treacherous and successfully creates the image of a weird girl named Rhoda, who appears pure and innocent on the surface, harmless to humans and animals, but in fact A deeply disturbing problem girl. 

It seems that she always appears in the area of ​​​​horrific accidents. The mother's suspicion that she may be involved in the case, and Rhoda's undeniable influence on the accident, are always at the core of the novel's narrative. 

"Bad Seed" adopts an addictive narrative method, approaching the climax of the novel step by step, the crux of the problem, and this technique is unparalleled in other similar novels.

3. Beloved by Toni Morrison

Be warned, this book is by no means an easy read. Pulitzer Prize-winning Toni Morrison's thriller packs a heavy emotional load and dread of death on every page. 

Essentially, "The Beloved" is a traditional ghost story, centering on a former slave who has been haunted by another world, all related to a deeply hidden and terrifying secret. 

More broadly, the novel is an examination of human guilt, and chronic hopelessness can not only exacerbate personal trauma but even more so for a man who suffered from slavery. 

As a horror novel, "Beloved" is both weird and strange, and full of destructive power.

4. The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter

As a genius at writing medieval horror mysteries, Shirley Jackson has won the love and admiration of many people recently. (She deserves it.) But we should still pay attention to the underrated crime novelist Angela Carter. "The Blood Chamber" is her first novel and is also the one she is best known for. 

This is a disturbing collection of fairy tales about women's restless desires, anger, and bestial instincts for love and sex. 

The novel of the same name as the title of the book comes from the French folk tale "Blue Beard", and other stories are drawn from "Beauty and the Beast", "Puss in Boots", "Sleeping Beauty", and "Little Red Riding Hood". 

The stories vary in length and style, but readers can appreciate a pure, corpse-related, gothic horror atmosphere, and an uncompromising female image throughout.

5. Books of Blood, Vols. 1-3 by Clive Barker

Clive Barker's uniquely bleak horror style has made him an influential voice that cannot be ignored in contemporary horror literature. It all starts with this six-volume collection of short horror stories. 

Among them, the first volume has won the World Fantasy Story Award, and at the same time created a horror model with Barker's personal style, -------- some kind of horror that ordinary people may encounter in daily life, grotesque, unreasonable, and supernatural situations far beyond their control. If you've never read Clive Barker, this is a good place to start.

6. The Call of Cthulhu and Other Weird Stories by HP Lovecraft

It's a horror story that grew out of a detective novel, in which a private eye inadvertently becomes entangled with underground cults, insanity, and undersea horrors. 

As glimpses into a world on the brink of chaos, this collection of stories describes Lovecraft's uniquely pan-psychological fears of ancient gods better than any of his other works, while at the same time bringing readers a unique experience where unpredictable things happen when the stars return to their positions.

7. Carrie by Stephen King

Stephen King has created a lot of incredible horror novels, but "Carrie" is still talked about as his debut. 

The best part of the novel, and the scariest thing, is not what Kelly is capable of, but the explosive emotions that she endures until the end but still can't bear. 

One of the most memorable scenes is the dancing part, which is a bonus, almost the best scene description in any horror novel.

8. "The Case Against Satan" The Case Against Satan by Ray Russell

Two priests are brought in to examine a girl to see if she is possessed by a demon, which sounds a bit like an exorcist, but the book is actually eight years after William Peter Blatty's. 

This is a theological horror novel. The novel not only involves people's crisis of faith but also tells a supernatural story. 

Those readers who are interested in both aspects at the same time may wish to read it.

9. "The Challenge" The Changeling by Victor LaValle

Apollo Kagwa, who just become a father, fell into a nightmare where his wife and children were taken away before he had time to enjoy the joy of being a father. Apollo decided to find his wife and children back. 

Author LaValle has successfully transformed traditional Western European folklore into a modern horror story that is not only a cautionary fairy tale but also a shocking, creepy tale.

10. Come Closer by Sara Gran

In your life, have you ever forgotten something you have done and can't remember it no matter how you think about it? Sarah Grann's weird novel begins with this experience—she was called into the office by her boss and questioned why her recent work report always contained a series of aggressive insults to herself. 

Later that night, a small but continuous knocking sound rang out in her home, and the series of events that followed would scare people to toss and turn and make them sleepless. As you read further, this fear will seep into your bones.

11. "The Devil in Silver" The Devil in Silver by Victor LaValle

After a conflict with the police, Pepper, a regular office worker, is locked up in a mental hospital. Due to his rebellious personality, he had conflicts with the staff and even the patients inside. 

Some people in the hospital believed that some kind of monster was spying on the situation in the hospital. 

Pepper didn't take it seriously at first, but one night when he saw it with his own eyes, his attitude changed 180 degrees. 

Pepper is faced with a dilemma, either continue to cooperate with this project, or take action on this horror that even the hospital staff is willing to ignore.

12. Dracula by Bram Stoker

A century has passed since the publication of this book, but it remains fresh and elegant. "Count Dracula" is indeed a vampire novel, but it is not limited to that. 

It is also a story about how to use modern technology to fight ancient magic. It also tells the story of Victorian morality and sublimated sex confrontations, and... the list could go on and on. If you've never read this book, chances are now is the time to do so.

13. Drawing Blood by Poppy Brite

For Trevor McGee, it can be said that he had a bad childhood - when he was five years old, he woke up one morning and found that his father had killed his mother and younger brother with his own hands, and then hanged himself. 

Twenty years have passed, and McGee has returned to the old house where he once grew up, but it seems that the devil that drove his father crazy never left.

14. The Drowning Girl by Caitlin R. Kiernan

Caitlin is an expert at incorporating mental illness into his work in a way that is sensitive rather than sensational. 

Likewise, she excels at implanting a strange air of supernatural horror that persists throughout the work. 

"The Drowning Girl" is a ghost story, a character study, ... and a mix of other things, all in all, a thriller not to be missed.

15. Fever Dream by Samanta Schweblin

Reading Samantha is a nightmare and one that haunts you for days at a time. 

When Amanda was dying in the hospital bed, a boy David (not her own) asked her a strange question, "When can the eggs hatch into adults?" This is a tense and twisted story. , about ghosts, spirits, and poisons, and a family's desperate efforts to survive.

16. "Ghost" Fiend by Peter Stenson

Peter Stenson's "Ghost" is a novel about zombies at the end of the world, but it is quite different from other novels of this type. 

The protagonists are a group of methamphetamine (ice) addicts, and it is this vice that allows them to survive a disaster that nearly wiped out all mankind. 

A drugged-up accidental immunity to the mysterious virus has turned nearly all remaining humans into zombies. 

Now, being able to continue to get enough drugs has become a matter of life and death for them. 

The author himself has been addicted to drugs, and he is well aware of its dangers. "Ghost" is not only a metaphor for drug addiction but also a reference to the horror in the story.

17. The Fifth Child by Doris Lessing

This contemporary gothic horror novel, set in 1960s England, revolves around a baby named Ben. The baby's parents are Harriet and David Lovat, who have given birth to four children and live happily as a family. 

However, this newborn, not only looks like a goblin (the legendary monster), eats insatiably, is surprisingly strong, and is incredibly violent, it is definitely not the general sense that people think Baby, is absolutely not. 

As he grew up, Ben's parents grew more and more terrified of his violent temper. Since Ben was seen as a monster and nowhere would want to keep Ben, they decided to send him to a mental hospital to fend for himself. 

The book's themes of humane medical care and the moral bottom line of parents run throughout and keep readers thinking until the last page.

18. "Sentimental" Fledgling by Octavia E. Butler

Almost every novel by Octavia Butler is, on some level, a horror novel. The same is true of "Sentimental". The protagonist of the story, Shao Li, a black girl, suffers from severe amnesia. 

In fact, she is a genetically modified vampire who can survive in the sun. Not only that, she has a paranoid personality and is full of curiosity about the things around her. 

The innate, terrifying ability forged by humans to resist time makes her fearless. And she is inextricably linked with the real world.

19. "Frangipani Hotel" The Frangipani Hotel by Violet Kupersmith

Hotel Frangipani has a lyrical rhythm and a lot of frightening plot. Most of the stories in the collection touch on the painful memories of the Vietnam War. 

Past fears often interfere with the tranquility of reality, and supernatural phenomena are ubiquitous and lingering. 

This is a great book for a rainy day, to curl up in a corner and read, to experience the kind of creepy introspection and flashback.

20. "Frankenstein" 1818 Edition Frankenstein: The 1818 Text by Mary Shelley

The charm of a novel can be seen in its longevity. Frankenstein's influence is enduring and irresistible. 

Although often regarded as one of the first sci-fi novels, this novel also contains many scary, even creepy elements, and it also raises serious themes about life and death, and the resurrection of the dead.

21. Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi

This work, which finally won the Booker Prize, is not just a tribute to Mary Shelley's pioneering work. In Baghdad under American occupation, bomb explosions are commonplace every day, and the number of casualties has risen exponentially. 

There is a local weirdo---Heidi, who collects all kinds of stumps from the streets of the city every day, and then sews them together as a political declaration and a protest against the unnecessary sacrifices around him. 

But when her "creation" goes missing, and a string of mysterious murders ensues in Baghdad, Heidi begins to realize that he may have created something more terrifying than war.

22. "From Hell" From Hell by Alan Moore

Alan Moore, author of V for Vendetta and The Night's Watch, turns to the enigmatic Jack the Ripper story for his first comic book story, with illustrator Eddie Campbell. 

Victorian London was filled with secret societies, royal gossip, and perverted medical practitioners. 

A tenacious detective is determined to pursue the case to the end. And the horrors revealed in this dark novel will make the errand all the more terrifying and bizarre.

23. Ghost Story by Peter Straub

Of all Peter Straub's oeuvre, this chilling collection of fiction may be his finest. It's half a horror plot of sorts, and the other half a clever nod to "Night of the Living Dead." 

This collection of novels, full of atmosphere and getting better, will completely subvert your expectations. 

The story takes place in a little-known town in the lower part of New York State and revolves around a group of old people who call themselves the "hodgepodge" community. 

After one of the members passed away, the remaining people began to recall a horrific accident that happened many years ago, and it has been in their minds ever since.

24. Gothic Tales by Elizabeth Gaskell

No horror list can deny Elizabeth Gaskell. Gaskell's reworking of folklore, fusing fairy tales, surrealism, and a touch of 1800's womanhood in this chilling, heavyweight collection of gothic novels is truly Elizabeth. Gaskell's most terrifying and successful work.

25. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

In order to find evidence of supernatural events, a psychic recruited a group of young volunteers to Hill Manor, an old house with a sad past. 

Is the house really haunted? In the progressive horror that Jackson creates, by the time the reader realizes everything, it's too late to flee. 

This is a masterpiece that provokes the reader's horror nerves.

26. The Turn of the Screw byHenry James

"The Tightening Screwdriver" will most likely appear on the major horror lists, and it really lives up to its name. 

A governess, employed by a wealthy employer, looks after her nephews and nieces. It sounds like a traditional gothic horror story at first glance, but as the story unfolds, it becomes much more than that. 

James never made it clear whether what the female teacher experienced was a supernatural phenomenon or just a mental illness. On this point, people are still debating.

27. Horrorstor by Grady Hendrix

There are few horror novels that are both thrilling and refreshing to the reader. Grady Hendricks has done it, with a novel that deftly sets a traditional haunted house story in a modern IKEA-like home furnishing store. 

The familiar sense of humor combined with the realistic description of fear allows readers to experience the adrenaline rush as they wish.

28. House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski

Chances are, you've never read a work quite like The House of Fallen Leaves. Mark Danielski's completely original, shocking debut novel is an epistolary novel. 

In this novel, the reader finds stories within stories, one story after another, but more than that. It is a true maze-like reading experience, all centered around an imagined, interior world. The house unfolds much larger than the exterior. 

"The House of Fallen Leaves" is a fusion of claustrophobia and thrilling suspense, and it is a masterpiece that can feel completely original.

29. The House with a Clock in Its Walls by John Bellairs

After seeing the film adaptation of the novel, it's best to read the original book by John Bellairs. 

This gothic suspense novel tells the story of a young boy who learns magic from his uncle and then gets involved in a confrontation between good and evil that threatens not only his family but the whole world.

30. The Hunger by Alma Katsu

Alma Kesu's independent historical horror novel "Hunger and Thirst" is a treasure. The original work is based on real historical events of the Donner Gang and also absorbs materials such as werewolf legends, Wendigo folk stories, and so on. 

Kesu tried to create a suffocating and claustrophobic atmosphere in this ominous cavalcade, even as they traversed the vast grasslands. 

The interpersonal relationship within the horse team is the key to the dramatic conflict, coupled with the power struggle among the members, as well as the doubts about the origin of the beautiful and taciturn Tamson Downer, and the private information of everyone who deliberately stayed in the east, this is the key to the conflict. 

Add that to the hungering horrors that lurk behind the campfire ahead, and you get a gripping story.

31. Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice

As a heavyweight work on the theme of modern vampires, Anne Rice's first novel selected a large number of scenes in New Orleans and Paris as the background and told a fascinating story around the themes of loss, desire, and the price of immortality. 

The main frame is that the vampire Lewis himself tells the young reporter about his vampire experience. 

The novel would go on to be the start of a popular gothic horror series in the genre and the basis for a fantasy film adaptation starring Brad Pitt and Val Kilmer. 

Editor's note: Don't miss the latest entry in the vampire chronicles, "The Bloody Communion," which tells the story of Prince Leicester's journey to rule the vampire world.

32. The Last Werewolf by Glen Duncan

Jacob Marlowe, the werewolf, always likes to seek excitement and pleasure in killing on a full moon night. 

Two hundred years later, this kind of life has come to an end, and now he is tired of all this, and it is time to end. 

He has a plan to end his life at the hands of Monster Hunter, but before that, he has some problems to solve. 

This mild-mannered yet uncompromising thriller does to werewolf stories what Interview with the Vampire did to vampires. What needs to be reminded is: to stay away from the timid.

33. The Lesser Dead by Christopher Buehlman

One of the bloodiest vampire stories I've ever read, Hands-On Mercy is set in 70s New York, where a bloody war rages between an eternally young vampire and a gang of monsters that take over the New York subway system. 

There is absolutely nothing good or redeeming about these creatures. They are a bunch of shameless killers, and they have nothing to fear. 

If there's one lesson to be learned from this book, it's that monsters have their own monsters to fear.

34. The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins

When Caroline was a little girl, her father took her and other children to the Chashan Library, taught them some ancient mysteries, and showed them their magical powers. 

After her father disappeared, a huge mystery and a sudden monster began to haunt Caroline in the real world. 

The monsters start vying for control of something left by their father. The simultaneous emergence of terrorist threats and humanitarian spirit is a huge challenge for her. 

It's a grippingly beautiful story of ancient mystical powers and how a young woman deciphers the true meaning of human existence. (Of course, if she really wanted to know.)

35. The Little Stranger (Movie Tie-In) by Sarah Waters

Sarah Waters' "Little Stranger" is a tribute to the traditional Gothic novel. Sophisticated progressive horror, nuanced and eerie atmosphere, coupled with a claustrophobic atmosphere, make this one of the best films of the last decade. 

Set against the backdrop of the crumbling George Mansion, "Little Strangers" guides readers in the footsteps of a man named Dr. Faraday as he tries to unravel an underlying supernatural mystery that may have deep roots in the Doctor's past.

36. Maplecroft by Cherie Priest

Historical stories mixed with real murders and gothic supernatural phenomena, plus Lovecraftian mythology, combined, the above is Cherie Priest's "Maple Farm" presented in front of you. 

The first book Bolton reported was based on the story of Liz Bolton, who, despite still being suspected of being the real murderer of her parents, had moved into a seaside mansion in Maple Manor, but a murderous villain from the depths of the ocean Spirit has begun to encroach on nearby communities.

37. Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero

More than a decade after working on the last case in the mining town, the surviving members of the Brighton Summer Detective Club return to investigate an old house. 

This house has been haunting them since they were adults. A masked guy was once found there. From a distance, he looked neither human nor a ghost. 

Reading Cantero's novel is like Lovecraft meeting Scooby-Doo, revisiting the old case ten years ago, and it's a bit like Stranger Things.

38. Night Film by Marisha Pessl

"Midnight Field" belongs to the kind of novel that lingers for a long time after the book is closed, with endless aftertaste. The well-designed puzzles and the gripping spiritual atmosphere are excellent. 

A journalist named Scott McGrath becomes intrigued by the bizarre death of a teenage girl whose father is a notorious and elusive horror film director. 

Since then, Michaels has been dragged into a surreal mystery with twists and turns, the darkness and danger of which are far beyond his imagination.

39. Pandemonium by Daryl Gregory

In his first novel, Darryl Gregory brings a new color to the horror genre of exorcism. He created two parallel and alternating timelines. 

Under this concept, various random evil spirit possession events have occurred step by step since the 1950s. The ghost first attaches itself to a person, wreaks havoc and torture, and then replaces another person. 

Del Pierce was possessed as a child and believes he has been exorcised. Years later, however, he realizes that the devil is still inside him, and is desperate to gain control over him. 

This is a creepy and addictive novel with pop elements and a certain artistic appeal. The Devil's Den is one of the most original works of recent years.

40. Parasite Eve by Hideaki Sena

This Japanese novel about an obsessive doctor trying to bring his deceased wife back to life is a deeply gruesome tale. 

Part of the reason is that this is a bio-horror novel, and the author is a microbiologist himself.

41. The Passage (TV Tie-in Edition) by Justin Cronin

This is definitely a model of playing old routines with new tricks. Cronin applied the vampire theme to the apocalyptic scene, creating a work comparable in size and depth to the stand (Stephen King) in "How To Last". 

Strong character creation ability and beautiful writing, of course, it is strongly recommended.

42. "Butterfly Rebecca" Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Daphne Du Maurier's "Butterfly Rebecca" can be regarded as a milestone work in Gothic suspense novels. A perfect blend of romance, obsession, progressive horror, and more. 

The very first sentence (“Last night, I dreamed that I was back at Manderley Park again”) is powerful and manages to capture the reader’s curiosity. 

An unnamed narrator becomes increasingly bewildered and unable to let go of the mysterious death of his husband's ex-wife. 

"Butterfly Dream" hides an astonishing puzzle. The author's excellent narrative skills make readers think a lot. 

Until the last moment, it is difficult for readers to guess the ending. For an idea of ​​how other versions end, check out Alfred Hitchcock's remake of the Oscar-winning film of the same name. It is said to be one of his best films.

43. Ring by Koji Suzuki

After learning that several teenagers have died from sudden heart attacks, Asakawa, a determined newspaper reporter and the uncle of one of the victims decides to investigate the matter. 

Although the incident was very bizarre, he was still determined to find out the ins and outs of this strange incident. 

He accidentally discovered a mysterious videotape, which will bring Asakawa into a situation of extreme horror. It is rumored that this is a death video. 

Anyone who has seen it must ask another person to watch the content again in order to escape the bad luck of death. 

Koji Suzuki's thriller has been adapted into film, television, and various prints, and it is popular all over the world. This novel should be considered a must-read for horror fiction.

44. The Road by Cormac McCarthy

Pulitzer Prize winner Cormac McCarthy's novel is a masterpiece in the genre of post-apocalyptic writing. At the beginning of the novel, a simple story background is constructed. 

An unknown father leads his son across the deserted America, looking for a place to live. Starting with something the father and son stumble upon, fear slowly creeps into the reader's nerves. 

This is a test of love and sacrifice and an examination of cruelty and darkness. The bleak and gloomy atmosphere of "Left 4 Dead", coupled with McCarthy's signature concise and elegiac style of writing, is definitely a rare masterpiece.

45. The Ruins by Scott Smith

Readers with a cleanliness obsession should avoid talking about this novel. A group of friends chose to go on an adventure in the jungle of Cancun during spring break. 

However, due to getting lost, after going deep into the forest, they found that they seemed to be targeted by something unexpected. This novel has always been a classic among the "killer plants" stories.

46. ​​"Silent Companion" by Laura Purcell

Are you ready for a slow but atmospheric novel starring Elsa, a pregnant widow whose husband dies shortly after their wedding? Now she lives in the old house with her husband's silly nephew and servants. 

Elsa feels cut off from the world, but in a locked room, she stumbles upon a portrait that is very similar to herself. 

Horribly, the portrait's eyes seemed to follow her. The tension of this work is a bit slow, but the final climax is definitely worth the wait.

47. Slasher Girls & Monster Boys by April Genevieve Tucholke

This collection of short stories includes the works of more than a dozen young writers. There are stories about a zombie attack on a school and others about Alice's disturbing adventures in Wonderland. 

While sharing ideas, the writers also shared different creative ideas and writing processes, which provided a good reference for readers to choose which works to read next.

48. The Stand (Movie Tie-in Edition) by Stephen King

It is said that this work is called the most important novel in horror novels. Stephen King, created an epoch-making great work, describing a completely destroyed world in which nearly 99.4% of human lives were taken away by the Great Plague. 

The novel adopts a multi-angle narrative technique. Everyone must learn not only how to adapt to this horrible world that has just emerged, but also how to deal with the evil forces all over the place.

49. The Fall of the House of Usher and Other Tales by Edgar Allan Poe

Although unpopular in life, Edgar Allan Poe's disturbing lines and short stories are now required reading in many schools after death, and there is no doubt that these works have provided him with some of the most important teachings in his life. 

Earned a place among the famous and most influential writers. If you haven't read his books yet, this collection of stories is a good primer, with works on murder and insanity such as "The Tell-Tell Heart" and "Shirley's Cask."

50. Things We Lost in the Fire by Mariana Enriquez

Mariana Enriquez's collection of stories not only contains surreal horror stories, and supernatural thrillers but also contains various phenomena of inequality and violence in contemporary Argentine society. 

Haunted old houses, black magic, and Satan's forbidden rituals, these stories will definitely make you unforgettable after reading.

51. Those Across the River by Christopher Buehlman

"After Crossing the River" is Christopher Boorman's debut novel. There is a strange custom in a small town. 

Every time before the full moon, the pigs in the town must be driven into the forest on the other side of the river. 

When hard times came, the people of the small town began to cut back on food and clothing, and at the same time, they found that it was time to revive the old customs. 

This chilling tale, a fusion of Southern horror legends and old fables of monsters, ends in a way no one expected.

52. "Three Moments of an Explosion" Three Moments of an Explosion by China Miéville

Not every single one in this collection is a horror story, but some of the scary ones are probably the scariest stories I've ever read. 

Especially SÃcken, which could be from any Laird Barron or Clive Barker collection. The author Miwell is a very talented and meticulous writer, every story shines like a gem.

53. Whispers by Dean Koontz

"The Whisperer" is Dean Kunz's first hit book, and this work has also made him a household name among horror thrillers. It is said that this is also his best early work. 

It was from this book that Kunz really found the rhythm of storytelling. Hilary Thomas thought that only by killing the serial murderer - Bruno Fry, could she really get rid of the death threat. 

Unfortunately, killing Frye was only the beginning of her nightmare.

54. White is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi

The old house of Miranda Sylvie's family is quite unusual. The family has been here for four generations. 

It is said that this ancestral home can provide shelter and comfort for family members. This place where the ancestors once lived seems to have a certain kind of self-will, which has produced some incredible effects on other family members, Miranda, Miranda's twin brother Eliot, mother Lily, and father Luke. Influence. 

After the sudden death of her mother, Lily, Miranda suffered all kinds of strange mental and physical pain. Does all this come from her poor mental state, or is it caused by evil spirits? If you think you are brave enough, just immerse yourself in it. 

This beautiful and weird story contains various supernatural events, family secrets, and ethnic conflicts.

55. The Woman in Black by Susan Hill

Starring Daniel Radcliffe, the mainstream action movie based on this work has been released. Arthur Gibbs, a well-known lawyer in London, was invited to attend a funeral in the small town and acted as an agent to handle some post-funeral matters. 

After arriving in the small town, Arthur experienced a series of strange events that went against common sense. 

In an abandoned nursing home, he heard some mysterious noises and saw some strange pictures, the rocking chair that should have been quiet moved, he also heard the weird barking of ponies, the sound of traps, and In the mist, children screamed, and of course, he saw a woman in black. 

Unprepared for all this, Arthur realizes that he has nowhere to go as the old events unfold.

56. World War Z by Max Brooks

There's no rival for Max Brooks's hallowed work, and it's a zombie horror flick that's been all the rage for a while. 

Unfolding through interviews with survivors in a post-apocalyptic zombie world, World War Z turns a B-movie into an addictive epic that sweeps the globe.

57. "The Yellow Wallpaper and Other Writings" The Yellow Wallpaper and Other Writings by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

"The Room with the Yellow Wallpaper" might sound like an uncomplicated story about a woman suffering from postpartum depression who is forced to live in a room assigned by her doctor, supposedly to ease her depression. 

Unfortunately, the longer she stayed in this room, the more desperate she felt, and trying to escape there, she gradually became more and more manic.

58. Zone One by Colson Whitehead

Set in the aftermath of the zombie apocalypse as survivors begin to rebuild the world, Colson Whitehead's ingenious novel is a thriller, satire, and meditation all in one. 

The protagonist, Mark Spitz, is an unreliable narrator and a member of the "cleaning team" in Lower Manhattan, who is mainly responsible for collecting the bodies of the homeless. 

The narrative is also mixed with absurd and bloody memories of the previous apocalypse. 

One scene not to be missed is in the subway tunnels in New York Harbor ----- I suggest you read this paragraph on the ground as much as possible.

59. The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty

"The Exorcist" was first published in 1971. It has been on the "New York Times" bestseller list for 57 weeks, among which it has been ranked first for 17 consecutive weeks. 

In 1973, "The Exorcist" was put on the screen, not only winning the North American annual box office championship but also bringing the "Exorcist" trend to the 21st century today. 

Now it seems that "The Exorcist" is not just a novel or a movie, but a milestone of the times...

60. The Shining by Stephen King

"The Shining" is one of Stephen King's trilogy of novels. Psychology and supernatural phenomena are well integrated. "The Shining" is also one of Stephen King's masterpieces. 

Stephen King was born in a poor family in Maine, USA in 1947. Study English Literature at a state university. 

After graduation, due to the meager salary, he embarked on the road of writing. Its fame rose in the mid-1970s. Since the 1980s and 1990s, he has created and published many best-selling novels.

Conclusion: The best horror books of all time in the world 

This list is based on the novel’s popularity, circulation, status in literary history, number of awards, fit with the theme of the list, etc., and comprehensively refers to Internet-related rankings/lists. Recommended, the list is for reference and entertainment only.

You can save the list of best horror books of all time and read them slowly, and they are definitely worth watching. 

(I think the recommendation is good, please pay attention, the editor will often recommend good-looking movies, TV dramas, animations, books, etc.) 

List of Best Horror Books of all time:

• Salem’s Lot by Stephen King (1975)
• Those Across the River by Christopher Buehlman (2011)
• The Ruins by Scott Smith (2006)
• White Is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi (2009)
• The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson (1959)
• It by Stephen King (1986)
• Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury (1962)
• The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager (2022)
• The Hot Zone by Richard Preston (1994)
• Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh (2022)
• Coraline by Neil Gaiman (2002)
• The Children on the Hill by Jennifer McMahon (2022)
• The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas (2022)
• Carrion Comfort by Dan Simmons (1989)
• Wonderland by Jennifer Hillier (2016)
• Doing Harm by Kelly Parsons (2014)
• The Resting Place by Camilla Sten (2022)
• Beloved by Toni Morrison (1987)
• The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham (1957)
• The Cherry Robbers by Sarai Walker (2022)
• Roald Dahl’s Book of Ghost Stories, selected by Roald Dahl (1983)
• Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier (1938)
• We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver (2003)
• Juniper & Thorn by Ava Reid (2022)
• Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton (1911)
• Minion by L.A. Banks (2003)
• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (1818)
• Lord of the Flies by William Golding (1954)
• Dawn by Octavia E. Butler (1987)
• Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix (2014)
• The Hunger by Alma Katsu (2018)
• The Other by Thomas Tryon (1971)
• Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica (2017)
• The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson (1977)
• Ring by Koji Suzuki (1991)
• The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix (2021)
• Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine (2017)
• The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James (2020)
• The Chestnut Man by Søren Sveistrup (2018)
• Bird Box by Josh Malerman (2014)
• Lock Every Door by Riley Sager (2019)
• Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky (2019)
• Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (2020)
• The Woman in Black by Susan Hill (1983)
• The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter (1979)
• The Bad Seed by William March (1954)
• Geek Love by Katherine Dunn (1989)
• American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis (1991)
• Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo (2021)
• Horrid by Katrina Leno (2020)
• The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones (2020)
• The Outsider by Stephen King (2018)
• Ghost Story by Peter Straub (1979)

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