‘Salem’s Lot by Stephen King. About vampires. It was so realistically written that I’ve slept with a crucifix on my bed and garlic on my nightstand for weeks ?
Bird box is great because if you just put yourself in her shoes it’s a concept that dives to the root of a lot of people’s fears like being alone or being afraid of the dark or the unknown
Meat-Joseph D’Lacey…dystopian setting where farm animals are no longer but humans(chosen ones) are put in place for the townfolk to eat…very descriptive slaughter scenes(same as in a slaughter house & on a farm) & just generally horrific throughout!
@Paula I don’t appreciate horror as much as I should. I tend for roller-coaster rides rather than hiding under the blankets, makes for far better dreams, too 🙂
‘I am the Legend’ is my favourite vampire book??♂️ it is the sense of dread that makes the book so good, also you have Robert Neville & his need to remain in his family house, which I understood, he is a complicated character & his own worst enemy?
TORMENT by Jeremy Robinson. Not so bad if you don’t have a deep understanding of evangelical Christian thought. Will give you nightmares for weeks if you do.
BENEATH THE DARK ICE and DARK RISING by Greig Beck. The creature in that one and its abilities….
I’m Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid. It wasn’t overly scary, but I literally had such a sense of dread and malice right from the start. Any book that can do that is worth reading
I like pretty dark romance books,the once that make you think what the hell is wrong with this author and why do i like it. But i think i found my line. In Pretty New Dolls by Ker Dukey and K. Webster (book 3 in the series,loved the first two) we get in the mind of a psychopath sick killer and he is all kinds of fucked up. And his love interest has some massive screws loose in her head. They work well together. Anyhow there where some things that made me like…….. what did i just read omg there are so many things wrong with you. The book was still interesting though 🙂
Paula McGerr Its really very good. The book won the 1996 Guardian Fiction Prize and the 1996 South Bank Show Annual Award for Literature, is a New York Times Notable Book, won the Irish Times International Fiction Prize and the Irish Literature Prize in 1997, besides being shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 1996.
Wow @Paula, what an excellent topic! Thank you SO much for this very comprehensive list of books that I should NOT read! I am terrified by horror stories and am always having to ask someone about the creepy/horror/ factor when choosing books. This list will definitely help! ??
Ring by Koji Suzuki, it was so creepy, the build up of tension in the story is done brilliantly, occasionally I had the feeling I was being watched (and not by one of my cats?)?
Well I thought The Little Stranger was the creepiest book but the book I am reading right now, (“Reading in The Dark” by Seamus Deane) took a whole new turn to being insanely creepy. It’s almost 2.30 am here and I think I will stop reading for the night ?… I think you can guess how creepy the book is from its cover.
The Stand (in parts) and IT. Both of these just for the back of the next creepiness. Bird Box because everything is in your head and my head is really scary.
I recently read a book called The Magpies and it literally creeped me out so much that I had a hard time just living my daily routine. Because I was afraid perhaps someone was watching me. Yes I recommend the book if you like the feeling of suspense. It will definitely make you think about the people around you.
The Sculptress by minette walters.im used to gorisome and macabre details but for some reason when it comes to creeps its what automatically came in my ming
Stephen King’s – Night Shift_. ****Spoiler alert**** The story in which the rat-bat hybrids gnaw thru the fire hose, water pressure is dropping, and protagonists are about to be stuck underground in the dark with the flying rats, still gives me shivers.
Watchers by Dean Koontz….just creepy. Loved it though.
Einstein!
‘Salem’s Lot by Stephen King. About vampires. It was so realistically written that I’ve slept with a crucifix on my bed and garlic on my nightstand for weeks ?
Bird Box
Yess! That was what I was gonna say but ya beat me too it! You have great taste
I agree with bird box. It’s that not being able to visualise what the horror is to me.
You have great taste. This is 100% always my answer to this question. I still am yet to find one that rivals it
I didn’t get it at all & the ending was tosh :'(
@Teresa you might want to skip the movie then 😉
Yeah, didn’t do it for me, sadly
I like subtle horror or scares & that what ‘Bird Box’ was, there is almost a temptation to look, just to find out?
Bird box is great because if you just put yourself in her shoes it’s a concept that dives to the root of a lot of people’s fears like being alone or being afraid of the dark or the unknown
The Mephisto Waltz. About the occult. Terrifying!! The movie too.
Saving this suggestion!
Me too?
Meat-Joseph D’Lacey…dystopian setting where farm animals are no longer but humans(chosen ones) are put in place for the townfolk to eat…very descriptive slaughter scenes(same as in a slaughter house & on a farm) & just generally horrific throughout!
the shining girls – just read it it’s awesome, not just creepy but like it’s about a serial killer that can jump through time. it’s amazing 🙂
I have it waiting to be read still
.
I Am Legend by Richard Matheson, I don’t know if it can be described as creepy, but from the very beginning it’s a nonstop sense of dread.
Anything he writes is good!
I’ve just noticed that he wrote What Dreams May Come, I didn’t even know it was first a book. I was pleasantly surprised.
@Oscar yes! Try A Stir of Echoes too
@Paula I don’t appreciate horror as much as I should. I tend for roller-coaster rides rather than hiding under the blankets, makes for far better dreams, too 🙂
@Paula I loved the movie Stir of Echoes.
@Carla I did too!
‘I am the Legend’ is my favourite vampire book??♂️ it is the sense of dread that makes the book so good, also you have Robert Neville & his need to remain in his family house, which I understood, he is a complicated character & his own worst enemy?
Gerald’s Game & Misery by Stephen King. Really disturbing ??
I loved Misery!
Me too!! ?
Gerald’s Game is my all time favorite Stephen King book. Nothing is as scary as being alone with your own thoughts of what will happen.
F
TORMENT by Jeremy Robinson. Not so bad if you don’t have a deep understanding of evangelical Christian thought. Will give you nightmares for weeks if you do.
BENEATH THE DARK ICE and DARK RISING by Greig Beck. The creature in that one and its abilities….
I’m Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid. It wasn’t overly scary, but I literally had such a sense of dread and malice right from the start. Any book that can do that is worth reading
Silence of the lambs before the film came out plus the prequel the red dragon
I like pretty dark romance books,the once that make you think what the hell is wrong with this author and why do i like it.
But i think i found my line. In Pretty New Dolls by Ker Dukey and K. Webster (book 3 in the series,loved the first two) we get in the mind of a psychopath sick killer and he is all kinds of fucked up. And his love interest has some massive screws loose in her head. They work well together. Anyhow there where some things that made me like…….. what did i just read omg there are so many things wrong with you. The book was still interesting though 🙂
how could i forget YOU by CAROLINE KEPNES?!!! So good as was the sequel hidden bodies. prob creepiest book i’ve ever read and liked
My favorite non-traditional creepy book. Can’t wait for the series
didn’t know it was gonna be a series for sure i only heard rumors !!
@Colleen it debuts sept 9 I believe. There’s already preview
@Paula yay!
I finished You a couple of days ago. Very creepy!
@Paula amazing news
The Little Stranger was a little creepy.
I agree!
@Jennifer It really was a fine book and was so incredibly written. I hope the movie does justice to the book.
Yeah, that house creeped me out?
Yeah, that house creeped me out?
It scared me!
I’m apparently going to have to reread Bird Box because I just couldn’t get into it at all
It by SK. Pennywise scared the crap out of me and solidify my fear of clowns.
Me too Elle, the first time I read it, I was convinced I saw Pennywise outside a train station in Glasgow, I stopped reading for a bit☺️
@Paula hahahaha!! that clown really is scary .
My Life in Two Worlds by Gladys Osborne Leonard
It’s based on her real life paranormal experiences and it gave me the heebie jeebies more than once.
I’ll have to with Little Stranger by Sarah Waters. I find it creepy.
This one just replaced the Little Stranger in my list.
This one looks creepy too. Yikes.
I’ve added it to my wishlist?
@Jennifer it really is . I was really surprised . Every chapter houses a creepy story of its own.
Paula McGerr Its really very good. The book won the 1996 Guardian Fiction Prize and the 1996 South Bank Show Annual Award for Literature, is a New York Times Notable Book, won the Irish Times International Fiction Prize and the Irish Literature Prize in 1997, besides being shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 1996.
Beguiled was surprisingly good.
You by Caroline Kepnes was a good creepy read. Had hints of the Collector. The sequel was good too but the first one was creeptastic
Baby Teeth. 7 year old wants to kill her mom. I have 2 7 year olds in my house.
That’s on my to read list. I think it will make me happy that I never had kids
I’m on wait list at library for that!
Who is the writer?
@Myriam Zoje Stage.
@Lorrea thank you
Wow @Paula, what an excellent topic! Thank you SO much for this very comprehensive list of books that I should NOT read! I am terrified by horror stories and am always having to ask someone about the creepy/horror/ factor when choosing books. This list will definitely help! ??
your welcome 😉
Ghost Story, Peter Straub
Good one!!
Ring by Koji Suzuki, it was so creepy, the build up of tension in the story is done brilliantly, occasionally I had the feeling I was being watched (and not by one of my cats?)?
Well I thought The Little Stranger was the creepiest book but the book I am reading right now, (“Reading in The Dark” by Seamus Deane) took a whole new turn to being insanely creepy. It’s almost 2.30 am here and I think I will stop reading for the night ?… I think you can guess how creepy the book is from its cover.
The Stand (in parts) and IT. Both of these just for the back of the next creepiness. Bird Box because everything is in your head and my head is really scary.
I recently read a book called The Magpies and it literally creeped me out so much that I had a hard time just living my daily routine. Because I was afraid perhaps someone was watching me. Yes I recommend the book if you like the feeling of suspense. It will definitely make you think about the people around you.
That couple were awful Niki, it creeped me out too?
@Paula yes they were horrible. Out of all the scary monsters in the world, people are the scariest of them all.
Bird Box Because of having to drift down a river with blindfolds on not knowing what was out there.
Oh definitely ‘Bird Box’ Janie, you didn’t know what to expect?
@Paula For sure Paula. Now I can’t wait till the movie!
The Kindness of Strangers by Katrina Kittle. I read it in 2006 and it still disturbs me.
Illuminae by amie Kaufman and jay kristoff
The Sculptress by minette walters.im used to gorisome and macabre details but for some reason when it comes to creeps its what automatically came in my ming
I thought so too, did you see the tv adaptation of ‘The Sculptress’? Pauline Quirke plays Olive, she was brilliant?
The Scolds Bridle was another good one by that author
Silent companions.
Is the same book as the movie, “Let Me In?”
Let Me In is the America/British remake of the 2008 Swedish film Let the Right One In. Which is based on this book.
@Tracy on amazon now. shame on you for making my to read list longer-lol!
@Cheri, it’s what I do!
???
Stephen King’s – Night Shift_.
****Spoiler alert****
The story in which the rat-bat hybrids gnaw thru the fire hose, water pressure is dropping, and protagonists are about to be stuck underground in the dark with the flying rats, still gives me shivers.