Our Top 10 Best Horror Books

Whether it’s a spine chiller you’re after or something to make you wonder what goes bump in the night, a good horror novel can get your nerve ends jangling as you turn each page. For the many fans of the macabre out there, we’ve put together our top 10 best horror books.

Dracula – Bram Stoker

No horror list is complete without the appearance of this classic tale of Count Dracula’s intention to migrate to Europe from Transylvania to spread his undead plague to a new populace. Set at the end of the 19th century, it tells the story of how the 400 year old Dracula is visited by an English lawyer to finalize a deal for some land and whose fiancee turns out to be a dead ringer for the Count’s long lost wife. After imprisoning his guest, he then sets off for London to locate his lost love.

Night of The Living Dead – Romero & Russo

 Zombies have been all the rage in recent years and you can get the full undead experience when you read Night of the Living Dead, which is a chilling account of a group of youngster seemingly surrounded in an old dilapidated and abandoned house. Will any of them make it out alive? You’ll have to read yourself to find out.

Frankenstein – Mary Shelley

Or what about delving into the supernatural world of Genevan student Victor Frankenstein, who in pursuit of the scientific recognition he thinks his work deserves, makes a startling and gruesome breakthrough, breathing life into his ‘creation’ made from disparate and random body parts. Frankenstein struggles both with controlling his new pseudo son, as well as with the ethical questions his actions have raised. A must read for the avid horror fan.

The Curse of the Wendigo – Rick Yancey

The critically acclaimed Curse of the Wendigo is from the mind of America novelist Rick Yancey, who’s book tells a surreal and disturbing tale of a man on a mission to help his ex wife who comes face to face with a gruesome entity known as the wendigo. Darkness abound with this one, so don’t turn out the light!

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde – Robert Louis Stevenson

Chemistry takes center stage in this book, as eminent scientist Dr Henry Jekyll creates a concoction that he hopes will kill the evil that lives within him, but what it actually does is amplify and personify those feelings into evil alter ego, Mr Hyde. Dr Jekyll’s struggle to silence Mr Hyde and stop the killing that occurs when he transforms has 19th century London as its backdrop. Another in the line of classic horrors set during this most Gothic period.

The Demonic – Lee Mountford

Having escaped from a troubled past at her childhood home, Danni is forced to return when her father dies. Laying him to rest turns out to be the least of her worries, as she uncovers that the disturbing presence that once drove her father to commit evil is still in residence and is hungry for more souls. A real page turner for paranormal and demonic possession fans.

Horror Island – Jim Stenstrum

If it’s bit of tongue-in-cheek horror you’re after, then you’ll enjoy this one from Jim Senstrum. A perfect storm of scientific despots are somehow brought together in one place for the purposes of creating monsters to exterminate mankind. This motley crew includes Dr Jekyll, Dr Pretorius, Dr Moreau and of course, Dr Frankenstein. Will they succeed? We’d better hope not!

The Gates – Iain Rob Wright

For fans of good vs evil, angels vs demons, The Gates by Iain Rob Wright should be right up your street. The sleeve tells you everything you need to know – that there is an evil waiting at the gate. It used to be closed, but now it is open and hell an all of its devilish inhabitants are set to make our world their home. Read this apocalyptic masterpiece and you’ll be locking the doors and thanking your lucky stars that it’s just a story.

Deathday – Shaun Hutson

An enchanted golden disk takes centre stage in this deeply disturbing novel from Shaun Hutson. Having been buried over 400 years ago, a golden amulet comes into the possession of a woman who begins to experience an ever worsening series of gruesome events that leave her wishing she’d left the amulet and the evil that comes with it in the graveyard she found it in.

 

The Haunted – Michael Brent Collins

A young family move into a new house, hoping for a new start for them and their unborn child. This deeply suspenseful and atmospheric novel explains how the undead that live in the house already aren’t too happy about their new guests. Demons and darkness abound in this story that provides more than the requisite amount of chills down your spine. This best seller is another must for our list.

 

So there you have it. A list of the most gruesome, macabre and downright horrific tales that will have you hiding behind your pillow from start to finish. And just in case that’s not enough to scare you away, take a look at 13 Scary Halloween Reads, Top 10 Stephen King Books, and Stephen King’s Still Got ‘It’ for more horror genre book lists. Happy screaming!

 

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