The 50 best horror books: The scariest books ever printed

This list contains 50 of the scariest books ever printed. It includes a mix of classic and modern horror novels.

Cover of Disgrace

Disgrace

4.2

In post-apartheid South Africa, a white woman's harrowing experience leads to an unexpected act of defiance and acceptance, exploring themes…

Cover of American Psycho

American Psycho

3.0

A darkly comedic and controversial novel that explores the psychopathic mind of a Wall Street yuppie, blurring the lines between reality and…

Cover of Pet Sematary

Pet Sematary

4.1

A chilling tale of a family's descent into terror when their children's pet cemetery holds a dark secret that brings the dead back to life.

Cover of The Bad Seed

The Bad Seed

4.1

A chilling tale of an eight-year-old girl whose innocence hides a dark secret, leaving her mother questioning the unthinkable. This classic …

Cover of The Hunger

The Hunger

4.3

A chilling retelling of the Donner Party's fate with a terrifying twist that blends historical tragedy with zombie horror.

Cover of Blood Meridian

Blood Meridian

4.0

A brutal and unforgettable journey into the dark heart of the American West, where a young boy confronts the horrors of violence and the myt…

Cover of The Hacienda

The Hacienda

4.3

Beatriz seeks refuge in a grand estate, but the house harbors dark secrets and malevolent forces that threaten her sanity and life.

Cover of Lapvona

Lapvona

3.5

In a medieval fiefdom plagued by disasters, a motherless shepherd boy becomes the center of a brutal power struggle that tests faith and rea…

Cover of The Resting Place

The Resting Place

4.0

A chilling tale of horror and suspense, where a woman with face blindness must confront her grandmother's murder and the dark secrets of a h…

Cover of The Trial

The Trial

4.0

Josef K. is arrested and prosecuted by an incomprehensible authority in this existential masterpiece by Franz Kafka, a novel that delves int…

Cover of IQ84

IQ84

In a parallel reality where two moons hang in the sky, a world of political intrigue and supernatural phenomena unfolds, challenging the bou…

Cover of Pollen

Pollen

3.6

A captivating exploration of the natural world, Pollen delves into the intricate lives of bees and the vital role they play in our ecosystem…

Cover of We

We

3.7

In a chilling future where individuality is erased and conformity is enforced, engineer D-503 must confront his beliefs about the One Party …

Cover of Tropic of Cancer

Tropic of Cancer

3.5

A raw and unfiltered account of a young writer's bohemian life in Paris, filled with vivid characters and existential musings.

Cover of The Testaments

The Testaments

4.0

Margaret Atwood's explosive sequel to The Handmaid's Tale, The Testaments, delves into the inner workings of Gilead through the testaments o…

This list contains 50 of the scariest books ever printed. It includes a mix of classic and modern horror novels. The list includes works from renowned authors such as Stephen King, Bram Stoker, and Shirley Jackson, as well as newer voices in the genre. From ghost stories to psychological thrillers, these books are sure to keep you up at night. The list also includes a mix of different sub-genres within horror, such as gothic horror, supernatural horror, and psychological horror. Whether you're a fan of classic horror or looking for something new, this list has something for everyone.

Source: https://www.shortlist.com/lists/the-30-scariest-books-ever-written-400130