Hi all! Like any good introvert with perhaps a touch of OCD, I was getting in a Listomania groove (Who else remembers that from before it was a song?) thinking about horror books I’ve read recently. So, I decided to share them with you, in case you’re on the prowl for a new chilling tale to get you into the Halloween spirit.
What’s on the table: Enjoyable standalone or 1st-in-a-series horror books written within the past 10 years.
What’s off the table: No Stephen King or Dean Koontz. As much as I enjoy their books, their volume of work and sheer popularity speaks for themselves. I’m looking for writers that I might be able to introduce you to.
So here goes!
Grady Hendrix’s Horrorstor: This was my personal introduction to Grady’s writing, and it did not disappoint. It provides incontrovertible proof that massive furniture stores are indeed infernal and out to get you. I really liked the touch of how each of the chapters featured a description of an unpronounceable Scandinavian piece of furniture, whose descriptions slowly devolved into madness.
Alix E. Harrow’s Starling House: Self-described as a “gothic horror.” After dreaming about an old supposedly haunted mansion, a desperate teen takes on a job as a housekeeper in a place that holds its secrets tight and its owners even tighter.
Josh Winning’s The Shadow Glass: The Dark Crystal meets Five Nights at Freddy’s. Did I mention my unhealthy obsession with puppets? A well-loved fictional children’s flick from the 80’s depicts a good vs. evil conflict in a vibrant fantasy world. But what if that world and the conflict were real?
Ivy Pochoda’s Eerie Basin: A short story alternating between the POV of an ambitious barkeep and her landlord, describing the harrowing tale of why she’s not allowed to purchase the bar upon his retirement (hint, there’s a curse).
Paul Tremblay’s The Cabin at the End of the World: A home invasion turns deadly, but are the invaders mentally deranged or actually on to something…? Loved the book, loved the movie, although the two end differently.
Caitlin Starling’s The Starving Saints: What happens when starving people caught in a medieval siege are suddenly confronted with their gods? Bizarre and polarizing, I wasn’t sure until about halfway through if I actually liked the book or even understood it, but then I was hooked. The descriptions were so evocative, and the whole thing gave me a vague sense of disquiet and unreality, like when you first wake up from deep sleep and you’re not sure if you’re still dreaming.
Mike Bockoven’s Fantasticland: A Florida amusement park gets isolated from the outside world due to a hurricane, and the society built by the workers left behind rapidly devolves into chaos and violence, as told through the unique lens of survivors and commentators. Because everyone loves a good Florida man tale…
Virginia Dalpe’s Selene Slade, Resurrectionist for Hire: A little reminiscent of Jim Butcher’s Deadbeat, this fantasy/horror crossover novel follows a professional necromancer nicknamed “The Zombie Queen.” What could possibly go wrong?
Friedda McFadden’s Ward D: A thriller about a medical resident locked overnight in a mental hospital. For everyone who’s ever wondered if they are going crazy, this twisty book is for you.
Nyk King’s A Stunning New Look: In this short story, a single mom’s quest for beauty goes horrifically off the rails. M. Night Shyamalan would (hopefully) be proud!
Hope you like the list! Leave a comment if I’ve left out something that you recommend–I’m always on the lookout for the next awesome read too.