What’s the most disturbing book you’ve ever read? I love dark and disturbing books and I’m always looking for new ones to read.
What’s the most disturbing book you’ve ever read? I love dark and disturbing books and I’m always looking for new ones to read.
I started reading this trilogy called “The Jewel” by Amy Ewing, the first one was just sorta a generic YA novel, first chapter of the second and someone gets brutally murdered and the entire series just gets dark from there lmao
Brother by Ania Ahlborn. So messed up, but so good. You almost feel bad for calling it a good book because of the crazy/horrible things that happen in it
I just read The Devil Crept In by her. It was good and I was actually planning on picking up another book or 2 by her.
I read the neighbors after brother but it wasn’t very exciting
The one I read a blurb for that I was thinking of getting is Within the Walls.
The most disturbing that I’ve read lately would have to be Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris. It was really good.
I read that. I didn’t like it that much.
Fiction or non
Either.
I just finished The Collector by John Fowles. Set In the 60s, this stalks this young woman for 2 years, kidnaps her and keeps her in his basement. Super scary!
Ooh, sounds good!
It was good actually. It’s not my usual genre, but the writing was great!
There’s one by Melvin Burgess.
Actually two. One i can’t remember the name of and one called Sarah’s Face. I think
The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner and My Sunshine Away by M.O. Walsh. Both gave me horrific book hangovers I couldn’t shake for days.
Haunted, by Chuck Palahniuk.
I read it. I was actually expecting it to be much worse than it was.
Oh, there’s also The Long Walk, by Stephen King (under the name Richard Bachman). Different kind of disturbing.
I’ve read that also.
I was about to write pretty much anything by Chuck Palaniuk. Lullaby is pretty intense too.
I have quite a few of his books, but I’ve only read 3 of them so far.
Beautiful You is also disturbing, but I didn’t like it much. Same for Invisible Monsters.
The most recent for me was Three Dark Crowns, pretty disturbing plot overall
Crestwood Lake by Mark Vogel
The Lazarus Heart by Poppy Z. Brite
American psycho made me feel ill as I read it!
I’ve read it. I thought a lot of it was so boring because of all the describing. I know it was to show how obsessive he was about that stuff, but ugh. The murder parts were good, though.
I love that book. Its incredibly well written, one of my all time favourites.
Loved American Psycho…all of Brett Easton Ellis’s books are pretty disturbing
The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks.
That’s on my list of books to get. I keep skipping over it for other things, though. I will have to add it to my next order.
Alice in Wonderland. Lol! Jk… but still it’s a little disturbing. 😕 But haven’t really read any disturbing books. Anyone know any good ones?
How to find a killer by Barry lyga, loved it so much!
Dark Places by Gillian Flynn.
I’ve read all of her books.
Non fiction – The Ice Man by Philip Carlo and by the same author Gaspipe.
Oh and The Butcher again same author
All The Rage, by Courtney Summers.
BANG by Barry Lyga is out next month and it’s outstanding!!
Im loving this thread.
Me too! There are so many good suggestions.
I am reading The Midnight Star it’s the last book in The Young Elites trilogy by Marie Lu.
It’s probably not the kind of disturbing that you’re talking about. But when I got done with the first book I put it down and said “I don’t think I like books anymore” and then about 30 seconds later I wanted the second one. It’s first person and the main characters not a very good person and being in her head all the time gets a little disturbing.
The last victim
That has been on my list of books to get for quite a while.
Disturbing in what way? Cause I read “by the time you read this I’ll be dead” and it’s a trigger for people who experience bullying and thoughts of suicide
Oh no I don’t have the problem hun I was suggesting a book but I don’t want the book to trigger any feeling for the reader. I actually liked the book cause I could relate to it at the time.
Oh cool totally misunderstood your comment haha.. I shall delete my defensive retort.
What I meant was disturbing as in horror or otherwise lol
I think I’ve read that book too lol feel like a moron now
If you have read it yay, if not you might want to it’s pretty good made me cry. I also suggest “I’ll give you the sun” and “fault in our stars” <-that one hit me deep cause I got diagnosed with cancer 2 years after reading the book
I’ll look into I’ll give you the sun, haven’t read that. Thanks hun. And forgive my moronic mishap haha 😘
I don’t have any triggers. I like disturbing as in scary, messes with your head or makes you feel a little guilty for even reading it.
Ditto
I read Naomis Room by Jonathan Aycliffe last Halloween and found it almost too disturbing to finish. And I love creepy books!
NOS482 by Joe hill
I love all Joe Hill’s books. He’s on par with.his father for me.
I have read that. I have also read 20th Century Ghosts and Horns.
The most recent good one I read was The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchinson. Perfect if you’re a fan of shows like Criminal Minds.
Yes, I love Criminal Minds!
You and the second book is Hidden Bodies by Caroline Kepnes. Good, but disturbing.
I just read them both a couple weeks ago. Both very good.
I hope we get more soon.
For me it’s The Girl On a Train. Disturbs me so much because it’s so depressing
I love that book! Such a quick read so intriguing, so well written.
Yes. It’s really good, but so depressing i got depressed too 😂
I read it. I didn’t really like it. That’s probably the only book I’ve ever read that I thought the movie was better than the book.
The Bell Jar – Sylvia Plath. Old but still disturbing in its own way.
Loved this one
Me too, I love her poetry and this book is one of my favourites.
I’m reading this ATM but haven’t gotten far yet
I have read that. It’s very good.
Oh also Perfume – Patrick Süskind. Incredible novel.
The Season of Passage by Christopher Pike. I read it 23 years ago and it’s the first thing I thought of. Or The Long Walk by Stephan King (Richard Bachman)
I have read The Long Walk. I have The Bachman Books anthology. I will have to check out The Season of Passage.
The girl in the well
Coraline and When a monster calls
I have read When a Monster Calls, but not Coraline.
I thought they were both psychologically creepy…beautiful but creepy…oh and if you are a fan of Stephen King, you’ll adore his son Joe Hill…and of his books are amazing and disturbing 👍
If you like just dark humor, the Bunny Suicide series by Andy Riley is pretty fun. All cartoons of rabbits creatively killing themselves. I am ashamed to admit I was introduced to that book in the third grade…
One Child by Torey Hayden. Exquisite Corpse by Poppy Z Brite. Night by Elie Weisel
I have read Night, but not the others.
They’re both quite good, but terrifying
Tokyo from Mo Hayder
Yep. I googled everything I could find on Nanking and the war after that book. It was horrifying to read.
Yes me too 😰 it is really interesting but sooo disturbing…
This completely screwed with my mind…give me supernatural/paranormal any day. Too real for my enjoyment.
Ooh I bought this its on my TBR list..
Good luck!
Thanks I’m excited now.
This is on my tbr too
I struggled with this because it was ‘too real’…I’d rather read ghost stories!
Actually, mentioned above this comment, I found Tokyo (aka Nanking) by Mo Hayder hard to read because it was too real. Same as “Alex” by Pierre Lemaitre
I started this last summer and stopped because it bored me and I was so excited about it. Maybe I will pick it back up
I will check it out!
I started last might. Very interesting so far.
@Ash it was quite long and some parts I wanted to skip over, but the ‘creepy’ parts really got to me.
the most disturbing one I’d say was Under the Dome by Stephen King. there were some scenes in there that were disturbed me.
I have read that. I’ve read a lot of Stephen King. I have two full shelves of King on my bookcase.
Tell All by Chuck Palahniuk
Not sure if you can get your hands on The Damaged by Simon Law…a short but very, very disturbing story…it was awesome!
Alex by Pierre Lemaittre it just shook me to the core,i couldn’t sleep for dayss
That was a good read actually
Probably The Merciless by Danielle Vega …
Flowers bed!
The Donor by Robinson was so creepy!!! So good though!
“It” and “Needful things” by Stephen King 😉
I’ve read both. I have 2 shelves of Stephen King. Love him!
@Kristyn I want read most of his books 😉 How about “The Mighty Angel” by Jerzy Plich? He’s Polish autor with very specific style of writing.
I have not read The Mighty Angel.
@Kristyn I recommend it. I read it last month and it was disturbing in good way 😉
The storyteller by Antonia Michaellis. No horror just disturbing somehow I love horror books although The Butterfly Garden it’s worth a mention that one was plainly disturbing
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn! Some of the scenes are really disturbing and gruesome, but since the plot and the characters are really good, it’s worth the read:)
I’ve read all of her books. I hope she comes out with a new one soon!
If you like true crime stories read ‘The Stranger Beside Me’ by Ann Rule about Ted Bundy, that dude was creepy… 😨
I’ve always found Gerald’s Game by Stephen King disturbing.
I’ve read that. I love Stephen King. I have 2 full shelves of King on my bookcase.
Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis!
Evil from Jack Ketchum and some scenes in Spares from Michael Marshall Smith are quite disturbing.
In the Miso soup from Ryu Murakami is also one I never forgot.
The Lovely Bones by Alice Seabold. It’s SO good, but also awful and sad and depressing.
I have read that.
I hated gone girl but it was extremely disturbing to me.
I’m glad I’m not the only one! I despised that book!
I hated every single freaking character!!! Oh my gosh my aunt said she loved it so she bought me a copy and I actually ended up giving it away. Which I never do but I knew i would never ever read it again.
My sister gave it to me! She said I had to read it even though she hated it. 😂 It was AWFUL! The movie was just as bad- I was impressed that it followed the book really well, but that almost made it worse.
I’ve read all of Gillian Flynn’s books. I actually loved Gone Girl. I love how effed in the head Amy is.
“The prince of mist”, “the midnight palace”, “the watcher in the shadows” and “marina” by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. All four of them are realy creepy and I literally got nightmares the first time I read the first book.
The most disturbing one I ever read must be Pet Semetary by Stephen King – I read on vacation in Spain and sat on the beach in blasting sun with a chill crawling down my spine. Also I’m reading Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury atm and so far, there’s something about it that weirds me out
You are braver than me,I couldn’t get past the first line! It was so creepy I couldn’t read the rest!!
King or Bradbury? 😉
I have read Pet Cemetery. I have read a lot of Stephen King. He’s one of my favorite authors.
The most disturbing one that I have read recently is The Circle. I found very disturbing the fact of how close we are to the situations described in the book.
Anything by Jeffrey Deaver!
Off the top of my head, I would say “Sharp Objects” by Gillian Flynn
I have read all of Gillian Flynn’s books. I hope she comes out with a new one soon!
It might not be that disturbing but I loved The Good Girl by Mary Kubica
Pretty Stollen Dolls by Ker Dukey and K Webster….its so good. It a 2 parter Pretty Lost Dolls is the conclusion. Loved❤️💀🖤
It
I’ve read it. King is one of my favorite authors.
The Long Walk by Richard Bachman (Stephen King).
I’ve read it. I have The Bachman Books.
100 years of solitude (it is disturbing in its way do not judge me)
I have read it.
Easy one! I went to UMaine, and Stephen King was doing a guest lecture in our English class. We were reading Salem’s Lot. Playing catch up the night before, during a very loud thunderstorm, on my bunk with only one small light on. Friends knew what I was reading. In the midst of everything, they came and pounded on my door!!!!! Scared the poopies out of me!! And the book was so understated in it’s delivery, it still gives me chills!!!
I’ve read it. Jealous that you got to see him! He’s one of my favorite authors.
He lectured on Vampires, like it was an actual body of work!! And this was in the late 70’s!! It was spellbinding…..
Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey
Obsessed!
Did you read all of them? I really enjoyed their whole “man is the real monster” theme
Unwind by Neal Shusterman is a really disturbing book from a YA standpoint… Its about a society where from ages 13-18 a child’s parents can choose to “unwind” them by harvesting their organs and effectively ending their life
Loved the series though!!!
oh yeah definitely!! i read the first book when i was probably too young and it really freaked me out haha
Hellter Skelter. The story of the Manson murders.
Dark Places by Gillian Flynn or Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs. The latter is a true story. I love it. There is also a movie Running with Scissors.
I have read both. Interesting fact, some people claim that Running with Scissors is greatly exaggerated and that some parts are entirely made up.
I’ve also read books by the author’s mother and brother. I really like Burroughs.
Faces of Fear by Dean Koontz
I’ve read quite a few Dean Koontz books. I’ll have to check if I’ve read that one or not.
Stephen King’s The Stand. The Shining was a horrific story, too. I never fail to remember it whenever I see those topiary animals!
I have read both. He’s one of my favorite authors.
@Kristyn, I put him in the same niche with Dean Koontz, whose Watchers is one of my favorite books.
I thought 13 reasons why was a little disturbing because it’s about a girl who commits suicide and leaves tapes to people who were reasons she did it. It’s being turned into a Netflix show too, if your into that. 😊
Pet Semetary
I’ve read a lot of Stephen King!
YOU – Caroline Kepnes
I just read that and Hidden Bodies. They were both good!
IKR. I want more of her works!!!! Its insanely creepy
These were so good!
Strange piece of Paradise by terri jentz and helter skelter. Both are true stories and horrifying. Oh also the shell lake massacre. Its stuck with me for years.
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson; American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis; The Wasp Factory; Battle Royals …. there are so many, but it is also dependent on what you find “disturbing.” Blood and gore? Psychological? True horrors of mankind?
Dan, I find all of those things disturbing, but it takes a lot to get to me. I particularly care for American Psycho, but the murder parts were good. I loved Battle Royale!
Check out The Wasp Factory. Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy (just as good, if not better than, The Road); Jose Saramago’s Blindness; Marquis de Sade’s 120 Days of Sodom; the short story A Good Man is Hard to Find by Flannery O’Connor; Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting (soooo much better than what is a fairly good movie). I could go on and on.
The Wasp Factory has been on my list for a long time. I will have to finally get it.
The Secret History by Donna Tartt is by far the most disturbing book I’ve ever read !
Pretty much all of my favourites have been mentioned, except John Dies at the End by David Wong. It’s both funny and disturbing.
Oh, and A Child Called It. There are a lot, really
I read that whole series.
The Almost Moon by alice sebold
Gerald’s Game by Stephen King. It’s the only book I’ve ever had to put down. (I went back later and finished it)
I’ve read it. I’m a big Stephen King fan.
The Mall takes the top spot for me!!
Topping From The Bottom – don’t ever read it.
Now I’m curious.
It’s… different. After I read it I sat for about 20 minutes trying to take it all in. I can’t find a word that could even begin to explain how I feel about it.
I am definitely going to look that up.
I hunt killers triology
Nightmare book!
All of Jennifer Mcmahon’s books are awesome!
Nothing by janne teller
‘Eve’ series by Anna Carie (just the beginning, really) and ‘Speak’ by Laurie Halse
My sister rosa. It’s about a brother who has to deal with his sister who is a psychopath, and try and teach her to be human/stop her from killing anyone
YES it’s so good though
I know like it is just next level creepy. And that ending!!!!!!!
Sounds good!
Okay, this is going on my list!
13 Minutes is about a psychopath, but you don’t know who, and at the end there is literally the BIGGEST plot twist ever. Not even kidding. Oh, and a friendship group is trying to kill each other…
I”M NOT EVEN KIDDING ABOUT THE PLOT TWIST
Ooh, I absolutely love a good twist!
My TBR list is getting longer and longer!
I just read Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough. It was the best ending I have read for a long time.
Thanks for all the great suggestions! I will definitely be checking these out.
I just finished The Handmaid’s Tale, and I’m very much disturbed.
Yes, I want to read it before the series starts.
You should read the mara dyer trilogy
The Dollhouse trilogy. I loved it!
The women in the walls
Anything by Bentley Little… He’s really dark & graphic.
Flowers in the Attica or Relentless
I’ve read Flowers in the Attic. Many, many years ago.
Soooooo terrible….great book though
@Sonny
Lovely bones, which I loved but another book by the same author was even creepier. um something w/ moonlight in the title
Scythe by Neal Shusterman
Unwind trilogy. Totally chilling