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I fancy reading something scary...

55 replies

bedelia · 15/04/2017 19:48

I used to love the horror genre in my youth, but haven't really read anything scary for a while.

Ideally I'd like to read something by a great storyteller (in the form of Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, etc), and not too lengthy, though not a collection of short stories either.

Any recommendations?

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squirrelonapetridish · 29/06/2017 13:20

If nobody has mentioned it already, The Mistletoe Bride and other Haunting Tales by Kate Mosse is very good.

ClashCityRocker · 29/06/2017 13:14

I loved Nos4r2 and heart shaped box.

The fireman is dismal. It's boring, stupid, clichéd....how can you make such an exiting premise so incredibly dull?

pollyhemlock · 18/06/2017 22:28

If you can get hold of them the short stories of Robert Aickman are deeply unsettling and scary. The Cicerones is possibly the most frightening story I have ever read. You might never enter a cathedral again after reading this.

Slimthistime · 17/06/2017 21:12

You can't forget the Little Stranger!

The Woman In Black book has a different ending than the film.

Love this thread, keeping on watch for when I've read all the other books in the flat. Could be a while...

bedelia · 17/06/2017 20:50

Wow, thank you all so much for the recommendations!

I ADORE Joe Hill. NOS4A2 remains one of the books I've most enjoyed, ever! Also recently listened to the Audible production of Locke and Key, which was amazing! Admittedly, I was a little reluctant to read HSB as I didn't think his earlier work could be anywhere near as good, but read it over the past couple of days following the recommendations on here. It was genuinely scary, much better than anticipated. Not sure if I'll read The Fireman though (is it more sci-fi than supernatural? I'm beginning to realise that is the side of horror I prefer the most.

Fellside was great too, thank you to those who suggested it Smile

I read Dark Matter some time ago, and was offered Thin Air to review, but DNF as it seemed too similar to her earlier title. I may revisit though as more time has passed and my memory of DM may have faded more by now.

I've been putting off The Woman in Black and Let the Right One in as I've already seem the films (both the original, many times, and the disappointing US remake of LTROI). Should I read them anyway?

TheSecond I found Bird Box unputdownable!

I've just downloaded The Little Stranger, but have the feeling I may have read it before... Even if so, it would be a long time ago so will read on anyway Grin

OP posts:
peaceout · 05/06/2017 11:49

I'm probably going to regret being on this thread but just downloaded a couple of kindle samples amd Mo Hayder does look like an interesting author

flamingnoravera · 05/06/2017 11:01

The Tory & UKIP Party Manifestos are the scariest things I've read recently.

peaceout · 05/06/2017 02:12

amityville horror, I think
well it scared me when I was 14 :o

peaceout · 05/06/2017 02:03

the exorcist?
and what was that other one from years ago...about a house that was haunted, in the USA, supposed to be a true story

TheMysteriousJackelope · 05/06/2017 01:40

Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
Relic (read it on a business trip and didn't really want to put the light out in the hotel)
Reliquary
Thunderhead
Still Life with Crows

Lincoln Child
Terminal Freeze
The Forgotten Room

Definitely The Woman in Black

The nastiest book I have completely read was Hell House by Richard Matheson.

M.R James wrote some chilling short ghost stories.

SukiPutTheEarlGreyOn · 05/06/2017 01:29

Oops, Sematary not Cemetery.

SukiPutTheEarlGreyOn · 05/06/2017 01:24

Another vote here for The little stranger, Dark Matter and Thin Air. Needed to sleep with a light on after reading Stephen King's Pet Cemetery.

longlostgin · 05/06/2017 01:08

Don't look now, daphne du maurier

avamiah · 05/06/2017 01:07

Read the newspapers if you want a Real life horror story.
Do you not have a TV or internet ?
Innocent people have had their throats cut and been stabbed to death in London by terrorists.

LurpakIstheOnlyButter · 05/06/2017 00:57

All of HP Lovecraft. Old stuff that will give you the biggest creeps.

SinisterBumFacedCat · 05/06/2017 00:46

Nyctophobia by Christopher Fowler or Hell Train, both fantastic plots and genuinely scary.

Also Nos 4r2 by Joe Hill

Reading The Power by Niomi Alderman, genuinely unsettling and giving me nightmares, which is a good sign

glenthebattleostrich · 04/06/2017 22:32

Agree with james Herbert, particularly the Ash trilogy (Haunted, the Ghosts of Sleath and Ash) and The Secrets of Crickley Hall.

Also loved the Woman In Black and Dolly.

Now adding more to my amazon list

KittyOShea · 04/06/2017 22:29

Peter Straub's Ghost Story

cdtaylornats · 04/06/2017 22:24

Pig Island by Mo Hayder
I lent it to a friend of mine and I am under orders never to give him another of her books

CMOTDibbler · 03/06/2017 21:53

Phil Rickmans 'The Man in the Moss' or 'December' are really good, scary reads - but the sort where you scare yourself iykwim

aweewhilelonger · 03/06/2017 21:50

Great thread! Thoroughly agree with recommendations for Dark Matter and Woman in Black, which reintroduced me to good horror fiction. I went back to Stephen king after: Salems Lot kept me properly up all night!

DeepInFrance · 30/05/2017 13:26

Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin (don't read if you're pregnant).

ooohsopink · 30/05/2017 13:16

House of Leaves - Mark Danielewski. Disturbing and written in a way that puts you on edge.

squirre1 · 27/05/2017 13:25

Horns and heart shaped box by joe hill were quite scary and page turners.

Twerking9to5 · 27/05/2017 13:12

Yet another vote for The Little Stranger. One of my all time faves. Also didn't realize Michelle Paver (dark matters) had another one. Off to buy now!

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