Best Horror Books That Will Petrify You

 “Books are the perfect entertainment: no commercials, no batteries, hours of enjoyment for each dollar spent. What I wonder is why everybody doesn’t carry a book around for those inevitable dead spots in life.”

― Stephen King

Photo by Max Kleinen on Unsplash

What is horror, really? Is it a monster jumping out from behind a door? A serial killer stalking his prey? Or is it something more subtle, something that creeps under your skin and lingers in your mind long after you've put the book down? For some, horror is the adrenaline rush of being scared out of your wits. For others, it's the satisfaction of being able to solve a complex puzzle. And for still others, it's the need to understand what makes monsters tick, to explore the dark side of human nature.

Whether you consider it to be a book or a movie, people always love horror stories and what other way would be best than to leave the scary stuff up to your imagination? According to me, even some of the movies can’t create the horror and those creeps that your imagination builds after reading a chilling spooky book. I can only imagine that feeling of someone (or rather something) standing beside me with ominous intent to haunt me, scare me or kill me, while I sleep.

Horror Book Recommendations

Here are some spook-tastic and creepy horror book recommendations that will keep you up all night! Although I do recommend not reading these horror books at night (specially near the 3 A.M. time period).

The Exorcist — William Peter Blatty

Even though this book was written way back in time, it is still considered among some of the top horror books to read. The reason being is that it has all the necessary elements of horror as well as spook and would latch onto you like a spirit until you finish it and the haunting sensation after that won't leave you (Oh let’s not remember that).

" The Exorcist is as superior to most books of its kind as an Einstein equation is to an accountant's column of figures."

- The New York Times Book Review 

The Amityville Horror — Jay Anson

If you are into haunted houses and paranormal events, then this is the right book for you! It was quite unsettling to read as well as disturbing. The events really startled me! I would definitely add it to my horror book recommendations. 

" This book will scare the hell out of you."

-The Kansas City Star

The Haunting of Hill House — Shirley Jackson

While this book is not based on a true story, the places mentioned in the book sure as hell are true places on earth. This horror book won’t let you sleep for days once you do read it (talk about not getting a sound sleep after reading such unruly events).

" As nearly perfect a haunted house tale as I have ever read."

-Stephen King

The Haunting of Ashburn House — Darcy Coates

This book was truly beautiful (yes, I really called a horror book beautiful) and you would say the same too if you read it from the start to end without skipping any events. Unlike your other horror books, this one has a beautiful storyline (might even turn on waterworks) and a heart wrenching tale. It also contains a few aspects of suspense and mystery. You won't get tired trying to figure out the pieces of the puzzle in this one.

Hell House — Richard Matheson

This book has it all, physical and mental torture, murder and suspense. This is the type of book that haunts you even in broad daylight and the spine-chilling horror won’t leave you for at least a day. If you like haunted houses then do give this one a read. This book sure lived up to its name. A hell of a house!

" May be the scariest haunted house novel ever written."

-Stephen King

Bird Box — Josh Malerman

Although it has it’s own movie, this book always lets you imagine the stuff that movies might not create. The things you imagine are way worse in books than in movies as books are quite de4tailed in this manner and this is one such book that does the trick. Talk about a world where you have to stay blind to survive as it is your only option.

" Hitchcockian . . . . A notably strong study of modern psychological terror."

-USA Today

Pet Sematary — Stephen King

If you are into horror books and are a pet lover, then this is the book for you. It will keep you suspecting your pet for some strange and weird behavior (although most animals are strange and weird but here I'm talking about that scary feeling they will give you) after reading this book. If you already know the famous author of horror, Stephen King, you already know what to expect from this book.

" The most frightening novel Stephen King has ever written."

-Publishers Weekly

The Shining — Stephen King

If you are into haunted hotels and psychic abilities (no, not in the sense of your superheroes but the paranormal ones as in a sixth sense), then this book is right for you. The scenarios in this book will most probably terrify you as they are quite gruesome to read. It is a supernatural horror novel I would definitely add in my horror books to read or horror book recommendations.

"Obviously a masterpiece, probably the best supernatural novel in a hundred years." 

-Peter Straub

House of Leaves — Mark Z. Danielewski

This book is a bit different from the rest mentioned above. It includes a fictional documentary solely based on the house (the haunted house). If you are a fan of documentary then this will be an easy read but if you aren't into fictional documentaries or any documentary at all then do avoid reading this one as it isn't you average haunted house trope including novel.

 

That pretty much sums it up and that’s all folks! Have a safe read and beware of the spooks. Please do note that DON’T read these books if you have a weak heart and can’t cope with too much horror. And also keep away from the night reading sessions (Don’t know what might come after you if you read these at night).