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Original poster

Looking for scary books

56 replies

TodaysAGoodDay · 01/06/2014 22:40

Hi,

In January I decided to do the '52' challenge, i.e. read 52 books in a year. I am 32 books into a wonderful year, I haven't read so much in over 10 years. However, most of the books I am reading are intricate stories, beautifully written, as recommended on several threads here on MN.

I digress. What I particularly lack is scary books, in particular psychologically scary books. The only 'scary' ones in my bookcase are 'Outpost' by Adam Baker and 'The Abominable' by Dan Simmons. So I am looking for recommendations, but with three exclusions please:
-no zombies
-no blood, guts and gore
-no vampires

Yes, I know 'Outpost' is zombies. However, no more suggestions for that particular genre please.

All other ideas welcome, thank you!

OP posts:
Original poster
TodaysAGoodDay · 02/06/2014 21:21

House of Leaves is in the basket too, but rather expensive Shock for a paperback.

OP posts:
BustyDeLaGhetto · 02/06/2014 21:20

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson, and also The Lottery by the same author although that is a short story.

I am also reading 'The Haunted Book' by Jeremy Dyson at the moment which is wonderful, a series of unsettling short stories all interwoven.

Also Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist is meant to be brilliant although you said no vampires, didn't you?

NoraRobertsismyguiltypleasure · 02/06/2014 21:13

John Connolly's short story collection 'Nocturnes' is properly scary and creepy.

Nerf · 02/06/2014 21:09

The girl on the landing
It starts off really benign and fine . By the end I had all the lights on and was standing by the bedroom door in case something came up the stairs.

MrsHowardRoark · 02/06/2014 21:07

House of Leaves is so scary that I've never managed to finish it.

I also found The Influence by Ramsey Campbell creepily terrifying.

Original poster
TodaysAGoodDay · 02/06/2014 21:05

BreakingDad I have one of Clive Barker's books, Imajica, and it's one of my faves. I will check out the others.

Innocent 'The Three' is now in my basket!

Oh no, the paperback copy of Bird Box doesn't come out until March next year! Something else to go on the wish list along with Goldfinch and Stephen King's new one.

OP posts:
RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 02/06/2014 20:57

Stephen King has a new book out tomorrow.

keepingmum121 · 02/06/2014 20:57

Daphne Du Maurier. The Birds or Jamaica Inn.

Innocentbystander01 · 02/06/2014 20:54

I'm reading The Three atm. It's amazing well worth the price.
4 airliners crash at the same time on a different continent the only survivor on each plane is a child.
It's not written like a novel it's all interviews, IMs, emails and diary entry's. It's just starting to get scary I'm absolutely loving it.

Other books
Domain James Herbert
Nos 4a2 Joe Hill
IT Stephen King
The Shining Stephen King

BreakingDad77 · 02/06/2014 20:49

People have mentioned Herbert, I enjoyed Creed.

Some of Clive barkers like Galilee, sacrament, coldheart canyon, the damnation game.

skinmysunshine · 02/06/2014 20:44

Two books by same author from me: Irene and Alex by Pierre Lemaitre.

They are absolutely wonderful, psychologically scary, clever and just amazing. I wish more of his novels were available in English.

Warning: they are quite gruesome.

Original poster
TodaysAGoodDay · 02/06/2014 20:38

Cheboludo That's it! Thank you Smile

I've also added 'The Woman in Black' as people have tended to say the film is rubbish but the book is very good. I'd forgotten about that one.

Also, Dark Matter sounds perfect, and a short one at that.

Oh dear, do you think I'll have to get shares at Amazon? I seem to spend a fortune on there.

Thanks for all the suggestions Smile

OP posts:
thedevilinside · 02/06/2014 09:51

Jonathon Aycliffe, brilliant ghost stories, also Michelle Paver, Dark Matter

somedizzywhore1804 · 02/06/2014 09:27

The Woman in Black by Susan Hill. It scared the bejesus out of me.

glenthebattleostrich · 02/06/2014 09:22

How could I forget the others!! Rats is pretty gory but a great read.

glenthebattleostrich · 02/06/2014 09:21

James Herbert's ghost stories are very good, you could also try haunted by him and the ghosts of sleath. Both excellent. I also enjoyed the magic cottage.

Misery by Stephen king is good, but generally not into his stuff.

Pleasecanisleepnow · 02/06/2014 09:12

Dr sleep by Stephen king is great also pretty much anything by james Herbert. I particularly enjoyed once, the magic cottage and the others by J H.

Cheboludo · 02/06/2014 08:49

TodaysAGoodDay I think the book you mentioned up thread is Bird box by Josh Malerman, its tag line is "Don't open your eyes"

I haven't read it so can't comment on the book itself Smile

Oh, and John Connolly's first book scared me so much I haven't been able to read any others yet (I'm a big coward, though)

Original poster
TodaysAGoodDay · 01/06/2014 23:16

gambler Grin

OP posts:
thegambler · 01/06/2014 23:15

I read the election literature of all the major parties including UKIP, no zombies but they scared the crap out of me!

Original poster
TodaysAGoodDay · 01/06/2014 23:11

Thank you, you lovely lot!

So far I have ordered:
Dan Simmons:
-Carrion Comfort
-The Terror
-Summer of Night

John Connelly: Every Dead Thing

James Herbert: The Secret of Crickley Hall

OP posts:
Ememem84 · 01/06/2014 23:02

Stephen kings needful things. Scared the absolute bejesus out of me.

Or books by the guy who wrote the secret of crickley hall. James someone.

PacificDogwood · 01/06/2014 22:57

Read Mo Ryder, the Jack Caffrey series - they are whodunits but truly creepy IMO.

Also John Connolly - no vampires, no zombies, possibly some angels though… V scary stuff.

runningonwillpower · 01/06/2014 22:56

I don't scare easily so I'm struggling to recommend

'Carrion Comfort' by Dan Simmons is pretty darn good.

My personal favourite is 'Needful Things'. But all the early Stephen King stuff is pretty good. His later stuff not so much.

Rommell · 01/06/2014 22:53

MR James? Very spooky, proper old ghost-story type stuff. Best enjoyed during autumn/winter but I guess you could read him any time. They are short stories but you can buy a collection of them.