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Original poster

What's the scariest book you've read?

159 replies

imaginative · 23/01/2015 09:51

My two are 'the woman in Black' by Susan Hill - sooo creepy, and much more recently, and probably frightened me a bit more - 'What Laura Saw' by Sarah King. This one has a couple of really great twists and a very sympathetic lead character.

So which books scared you the most? I am looking for another one to read alongside 'The State We're In'. I like to have a couple of books on the go depending on my mood. Thanks

OP posts:
ItsAllKickingOffPru · 23/01/2015 19:09

Bird Box by Josh Malerman.

TheEagle · 23/01/2015 19:03

marshmallowpies, I had to hide my copy of Alias Grace in the towel cupboard because looking at the cover freaked me out for ages Grin

marshmallowpies · 23/01/2015 18:40

The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters. One or two really upsetting bits and the end is just...well, you'd have to read it.

YY to Alias Grace. Not a conventional spooky book but one scene frightened the living daylights out of me. I read it on the bus coming home and was scared to go into my house alone in the dark!

Other books I got rid of because they upset me too much were the Road and the Suspicions of Mr Whicher. That one was just too distressing though very interesting. The Road was too much for me, I'd never have chosen to read it but it was for a book group.

sanquhar · 23/01/2015 18:40

Adam nevill, the one about a cult, can't remember the title. Scared the shit out of me, proper chills and sweats too. I couldn't sleep for a few nights after reading that one.
I'm now reading his one set in the Swedish forest.

They're great

Cocolepew · 23/01/2015 18:37

Birdman! That was it.

suboptimal · 23/01/2015 18:33

IT by Stephen King. The parts in italics which told you what the childrens' subconsciouses were thinking were really creepy.

And the clown! Urgh Hmm

AllThePrettySeahorses · 23/01/2015 18:33

cosmicglittergirl - I was coming on to say Dark Matter as well. It's astonishingly good! I'm a voracious reader, but I couldn't pick up a book for over a week after I finished it because it was so brilliantly done.

DistressedAndAlarmed · 23/01/2015 18:32

Oh yes, Tokyo by Mo Hayder! Shock

Pipbin · 23/01/2015 18:30

In all honesty the book I have found the scariest is The Secret Garden. I read it as a child and it scared the shit out of me. Seriously, it starts with her waking up to find her parents dead! It took me about 3 goes to get past that bit!

captainfarrell · 23/01/2015 18:28

ha ha ha Dr Seuss!!! Very scary but it worked!

DrSeuss · 23/01/2015 18:26

Anything by Gina Ford!

snozzlemaid · 23/01/2015 18:25

Probably Mo Hayder for me too. Either Birdman or The Treatment. Both disturbingly brilliant.

captainfarrell · 23/01/2015 18:25

Your'e Next by Greg Hurwitz

thelittlebooktroll · 23/01/2015 18:23

The Woman in Black. Still scared when I think of it.

Original poster
imaginative · 23/01/2015 18:19

Thank you! So pleased I started this thread. So many to choose from now. Much better buying books through others' recommendations than relying on the blurb on the sales page and being frequently disappointed. :)

OP posts:
Providore · 23/01/2015 15:08

Tokyo by Mo Hayder. Fuck me! Terrifying!

cosmicglittergirl · 23/01/2015 14:56

Books:
Dark Matter by Michelle Paver, so creepy.
Pet Cemetary by Stephen King.

Films:
I'm a massive wuss with scary films so generally avoid, but It gave me nightmares.

originalusernamefail · 23/01/2015 14:53

IT by Stephen King. Read it on my first holiday to Crete with my mates in sixth form- THEN had to sleep next to a dripping, gurgling tap in the apartments kitchenette ! Shock

Damn near pee'd myself that night!

Cocolepew · 23/01/2015 14:49

One of Mo Hayders early books, I can't remember which one but it was the first or second one IIRC there was large man and hiding involved

I've read all ofStephen Kings but can't say any of them actually scared me the way this one did.

ThatBloodyWoman · 23/01/2015 14:45

Scariest book -The Road
Scariest film -Blair witch project.

UnicornsPooFairyLights · 23/01/2015 14:42

Another vote for James Herbert - the rats trilogy
It has that horrible 'could happen' feel to it!

MonstersBalls · 23/01/2015 14:41

'It' by Stephen King

Everything down here floats,' that chuckling, rotten voice whispered

Shock
TheEagle · 23/01/2015 14:41

Bag of Bones by Stephen King - utterly terrifying!

I was too chicken to read The Woman In Black so I listened to the audiobook instead. Still scared the bejesus out of me Shock

Another creepy book is Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood.

isitsnowingyet · 23/01/2015 14:40

I enjoyed the Stand - and found it quite creepy, but by far the scariest book I've read was Dracula by Bram Stoker - couldn't sleep for a full 3 weeks after that Grin

LeonardoAcropolis · 23/01/2015 14:36

Haunted by James Herbert is terrifying. Also Stephen King's The Shining, Bag of Bones and Misery. I didn't find The Stand scary at all.

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