Are you ready to leave your nightlight on? To hear every creak in your house and wonder if it’s just the wind? Whether you’re a lifelong horror fan or just dipping your toes into the world of scary books, this list is for you. We’ve scoured through countless tales of dread, psychological torment, and twisted love to bring you a spine-chilling collection of the best horror books and most terrifying books of all time.
This isn’t just a list of jump scares and gore—though you’ll find your fair share of those, too. These creepiest books burrow under your skin and stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page. Some are classic, some are modern, and some combine the unexpected—like erotic horror books best sellers and horror romance books that are equally unsettling and irresistible.
Let’s dive into the shadows.
1. The Classic Haunt: The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
Let’s start with a book that isn’t just scary—it’s literary gold. Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House is often crowned as one of the most scary books of all time, and rightly so. It’s psychological horror at its finest. There are no dripping ghosts here, no bloodbaths—just a mansion with a sinister soul and characters slowly unraveling inside it.
Eleanor, a lonely and emotionally fragile woman, joins a group of strangers to investigate the supernatural events at Hill House. But the terror here isn’t just in the creaking walls—it’s in Eleanor’s mind. This horror book is so subtle, so unnervingly quiet, that by the time it starts shouting, you’re already trapped inside its madness.
If you’ve never read it, Hill House might just become the scariest book ever in your collection.
2. The Gory Monster: Pet Sematary by Stephen King
Would any list of best horror books be complete without Stephen King? Probably not. And while The Shining or It often steal the spotlight, it’s Pet Sematary that really claws at your soul.
This book about scary stories taps into the primal fear of death—and the deeper fear of what might happen after. When Louis Creed’s young son is killed, he discovers an ancient burial ground behind his house with the power to bring the dead back to life. But resurrection comes at a price.
Grief, denial, and decay mix into a twisted cocktail that cements Pet Sematary as one of the most terrifying books ever written. It’s emotionally devastating and bone-chilling at the same time.
3. The Erotic Nightmare: The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty by A.N. Roquelaure (Anne Rice)
Now, let’s talk about the forbidden—erotic horror books best sellers that blur the line between fear and desire.
Anne Rice (writing as A.N. Roquelaure) reimagines the classic fairy tale in The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty—but this is no bedtime story. It’s deeply sensual, darkly twisted, and not for the faint-hearted. While not horror in the traditional sense, it earns its spot among creepiest books because of its power to disturb and seduce at once.
This horror romance book explores the dynamics of power, control, and submission, wrapping them in a surreal and gothic world that feels both enchanting and terrifying.
4. The Demonic Force: The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty
Even if you’ve never read the book, you’ve probably seen the movie—or at least heard of that terrifying spider-walk scene. But believe me, the book about scary stories is even more intense.
The Exorcist is widely considered the scariest book ever written by many readers. Based on a real exorcism case, it tells the tale of a young girl possessed by a powerful demon—and the desperate fight to save her soul. The detailed rituals, psychological terror, and questions of faith create a pressure-cooker that leaves you breathless.
This horror book isn’t just about the supernatural—it’s about the limits of human belief, the confrontation between science and religion, and the unbearable pain of watching someone you love suffer.
5. The Gothic Obsession: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Yes, this might surprise you—but Rebecca is a quiet horror wrapped in a romantic cloak. Often seen on lists of horror romance books, it’s a masterclass in atmosphere.
Our unnamed narrator marries the brooding Maxim de Winter and moves into his grand estate, Manderley—only to be haunted by the memory (and possibly the ghost) of his first wife, Rebecca. The psychological manipulation, the looming dread, the secrets hiding beneath elegance—everything adds up to a story that’s deeply unsettling.
If you’re looking for scary books without the gore, this classic is your go-to.
6. The Psychological Spiral: House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
This book is a horror book lover’s dream and a typographer’s nightmare. House of Leaves isn’t just scary—it’s an experience.
A family discovers that the inside of their house is larger than the outside. Sounds simple, right? But as they investigate the expanding void, their lives unravel. The novel includes footnotes within footnotes, pages that turn upside down, and text that spirals—literally.
Reading it feels like falling into a dark maze you can’t escape. It’s one of the most terrifying books you’ll read—not just for its content, but for how it toys with your perception of reality.
7. The Real-Life Horror: In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
While not a traditional horror tale, this true crime masterpiece is one of the creepiest books ever penned.
Capote details the brutal 1959 murder of a Kansas family with such chilling precision that you’ll forget it’s non-fiction. The killers, their motivations, and the eerie buildup all contribute to a sense of dread that no monster story can replicate.
It’s a stark reminder that some of the most scary books of all time don’t come from imagination—but from reality.
8. The Folk Horror Gem: The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones
Blending Native American identity, tradition, and supernatural revenge, The Only Good Indians is a modern masterpiece among best horror books.
Four friends are haunted by a disturbing event from their youth—and the entity that follows them doesn’t forget. This horror book dives deep into guilt, cultural displacement, and ancestral reckoning.
It’s brutal, lyrical, and unforgettable.
9. The Cult Classic: Hell House by Richard Matheson
If The Haunting of Hill House whispered horror, Hell House screams it.
This horror book follows a team of psychic investigators as they attempt to uncover the secrets of the Belasco House—aka the “Mount Everest of haunted houses.” The mansion is infamous for its violent and disturbing past, and the forces trapped within are anything but subtle.
What makes Hell House one of the most scary books of all time is its intensity. The entities here don’t just rattle chains—they seduce, manipulate, and attack. The book explores the grotesque, the erotic, and the utterly unholy, making it a strong contender for both erotic horror books best sellers and most terrifying books lists.
10. The Darkly Romantic: You by Caroline Kepnes
Welcome to the disturbing world of obsession, where love turns to horror in a blink.
In You, bookstore clerk Joe Goldberg meets Guinevere Beck—and falls obsessively in love. Told from Joe’s point of view, this horror romance book blurs the lines between passion and predation. What makes it so terrifying is its realism. Joe sounds like a nice guy. Until he’s not.
You’ll find yourself charmed and then repulsed, often in the same paragraph. It’s a psychological thriller with deep horror undercurrents, proving that some of the most terrifying books don’t need ghosts to haunt you.
11. The Fairy Tale Gone Wrong: Coraline by Neil Gaiman
Don’t let its classification as a children’s book fool you—Coraline is nightmare fuel.
This book about scary stories introduces us to a girl who discovers a hidden door in her home, leading to an alternate version of her life. At first, it seems perfect—until the “Other Mother” offers Coraline everything she wants… in exchange for her soul.
With its eerie button eyes, shifting shadows, and psychological horror, Coraline is one of the creepiest books ever written for young readers—and adults alike. It’s short, strange, and deeply unsettling.
12. The Mind Game: The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
At first glance, The Silent Patient might seem like a standard psychological thriller—but it’s the execution that gives it a place among the best horror books in recent years.
The story centers around Alicia, a woman who murders her husband and then never speaks again. A psychotherapist becomes obsessed with unraveling her silence. What unfolds is a slow descent into madness, manipulation, and a final twist that will leave you gasping.
It’s not supernatural, but it messes with your head so effectively that it easily ranks among scary books that haunt your thoughts long after the final page.
13. The Feminine Fury: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Revenge. Deceit. Marriage. Gone Girl takes all the elements of a psychological thriller and infuses them with a creeping sense of horror that’s all too real.
When Amy Dunne goes missing, her husband becomes the prime suspect—but nothing is what it seems. Told in alternating perspectives, this tale of toxic love and vengeance isn’t your typical horror book, but it earns a place here for its ability to terrify readers with the depths of human manipulation.
It’s a horror romance book of sorts—if your definition of romance includes gaslighting and sociopathy.
14. The One That Feels Too Real: The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum
Warning: this one is extremely disturbing.
Based on a real-life case, The Girl Next Door is considered by many horror fans to be the scariest book ever written. It tells the story of two sisters who are abused and tortured by their caregiver—and the neighborhood kids who join in.
This horror book is difficult to read, not because of monsters or demons, but because it shows what humans are capable of when morality disappears. It’s brutal, heartbreaking, and unforgettable.
If you’re looking for the most terrifying books of all time, this is one of them.
15. The Gothic Epic: Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Think of Mexican Gothic as a haunted house novel meets horror romance book, set against the lush backdrop of 1950s Mexico.
Noemí, a glamorous socialite, travels to a remote manor to check on her cousin, who claims she’s being poisoned by her new husband. The house is rotting, the air is strange, and the family? More unsettling than the walls that seem to breathe.
Mexican Gothic beautifully balances creeping dread with poetic prose, and adds just the right amount of body horror to qualify as one of the creepiest books in recent memory.
16. The Cosmic Terror: The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle
If you love Lovecraftian horror but hate Lovecraft’s racism, Victor LaValle’s novella is a stunning reclamation of the genre.
The Ballad of Black Tom takes the bones of The Horror at Red Hook and tells it from the perspective of a Black street musician caught in a web of eldritch power and societal hatred. This slim book packs more terror and meaning than most novels three times its length.
It’s a must-read for fans of horror books with historical and social depth—and definitely belongs on the list of best horror books of the 21st century.
17. The Modern Monster: Bird Box by Josh Malerman
You’ve probably seen the movie, but trust me—the book about scary stories is even more haunting.
In a world where simply seeing the entity outside drives you mad, Malorie must make her way to safety blindfolded, with two children in tow. The terror here lies in the unseen. The quiet. The helplessness.
Bird Box is one of those scary books where you hold your breath as you read, mirroring the characters’ desperation. It’s a masterclass in atmospheric tension.
18. The Obscure Yet Terrifying: Come Closer by Sara Gran
Short, sharp, and devastatingly disturbing, Come Closer is the kind of horror book that sneaks up on you. It’s the story of Amanda, a successful architect whose life slowly unravels after a series of strange events: mysterious tapping noises, violent dreams, and a growing sense that something inside her is not quite right.
The brilliance of this novel lies in its subtlety. There are no jump scares, no monsters hiding in closets. It’s about possession—but it reads like a descent into mental illness, addiction, or something even worse. It’s one of those creepiest books that makes you question reality itself.
If you’re looking for a quick but unforgettable scare, this might just be the most terrifying book you’ve never heard of.
19. The Queer Horror Romance: The Dead and the Dark by Courtney Gould
If you’re craving horror romance books with a modern, inclusive twist, The Dead and the Dark is a must-read. Part ghost story, part mystery, and part queer coming-of-age tale, it follows Logan—daughter of two dads who host a ghost-hunting TV show—as she returns to a small town filled with secrets.
Teen boys are disappearing. Strange shadows are stalking the streets. And Logan? She might be more connected to it all than she realizes.
This book about scary stories hits that sweet spot between eerie and emotional, and it’s a beautiful example of how horror can be deeply personal.
20. The Haunted Tech: Final Girls by Riley Sager
Imagine surviving a massacre—only to be hunted again.
Final Girls follows Quincy, the lone survivor of a brutal killing spree. She tries to move on, but when another “final girl” ends up dead, Quincy is forced to relive her trauma. Is she next?
While not a supernatural tale, this thriller carries the emotional weight and breathless suspense of the best horror books out there. It’s gory, psychological, and brilliantly plotted, with twists you won’t see coming.
21. The Feminist Horror Reboot: The Power by Naomi Alderman
Now for something a little different—a horror book that blends speculative fiction and societal terror.
In The Power, women across the globe develop the ability to emit electric shocks from their hands. What follows is a complete shift in the world’s power dynamic. But absolute power, as we know, corrupts absolutely.
This book is terrifying not because of monsters, but because of what it says about human nature. It’s speculative horror with real-world punch, and it’s one of the most scary books of all time in how plausible it feels.
22. The Campfire Horror: Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz
Let’s not forget the OG of terrifying childhood reads. This book about scary stories has haunted generations with its eerie folktales and grotesque illustrations (thank you, Stephen Gammell).
From the girl with the ribbon around her neck to the toe in the soup—Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark may be aimed at younger audiences, but it still earns a spot among the scariest book ever picks for its influence and sheer nightmare fuel.
If you grew up with these tales, you know exactly how unsettling they are. If you didn’t, well… there’s still time.
23. The Romance That Bites: A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson
This one is for the readers who like their horror served with gothic elegance and a dash of forbidden love.
A Dowry of Blood is a reimagining of Dracula’s brides—told from the perspective of one of them. It’s lyrical, passionate, and suffocatingly beautiful. As the narrator reflects on her toxic relationship with the immortal Count, themes of abuse, freedom, and self-liberation emerge.
It’s a poetic and intimate entry in the world of erotic horror books best sellers—perfect for readers who enjoy dark romance entwined with ancient evil.
24. The Riya’s Pick: The Troop by Nick Cutter
No joke—this is one of the few books that made me (yes, me) physically nauseous. And that’s saying something.
The Troop is about a group of Boy Scouts on a remote island, whose camping trip turns into a biological horror fest when a strange man arrives carrying a horrifying infection. It’s gruesome. It’s psychological. It’s Lord of the Flies meets The Thing.
What makes it one of the best horror books I’ve ever read is how it plays with fear on every level: fear of the body, fear of isolation, fear of each other. It’s pure survival horror, and it’s relentless.
If you can stomach it, The Troop is the scariest book ever in terms of sheer dread and grotesque detail.
Final Thoughts: What Makes a Horror Book Truly Terrifying?
There’s no single formula for the most terrifying books. For some, it’s supernatural horror—ghosts, demons, and haunted houses. For others, it’s psychological—stories that warp reality, mess with your head, or expose the evil hiding in plain sight. And then there’s the real horror: grief, loss, obsession, violence, power, isolation.
The beauty of horror is that it reflects you. What scares you is personal. That’s why this list has everything—from classic scary books to modern, diverse horror romance books, and even erotic horror books best sellers that challenge the genre itself.
Whether you’re here for the thrills or for the catharsis, you’ll find something unforgettable. And if you’re still wondering which one to read first—well, just ask yourself this: which one would you not want to read alone at night?
Go with that one.
And as always, stay spooky.
For more chilling book lists and personal recommendations, check out Riya’s Blogs—where the love of storytelling meets the thrill of the unknown.
Want to read a bit more? Find some more of my writings here-
The Ultimate Collection of Knock Knock Jokes That’ll Crack You Up at Every Age
Why Won’t My Hair Hold a Curl?
The Ghost in the Camera: An Eerie Ghost Tale
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