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Original poster

What is the most chilling book you've ever read?

207 replies

Beatgrrl · 05/12/2019 14:50

At this time of year, I really love to snuggle up under a blanket, get all comfy and absolutely terrify myself with a great book and I could really use some recommendations. Which books have been absolutely bone-chillingly terrifying for you? Which have been the books that have left you too afraid to turn the lights out; too afraid to move? Which books have made you feel too scared to turn the page?

OP posts:
Danascully2 · 05/12/2019 15:44

The ice twins (can't remember authors name).

Apolloanddaphne · 05/12/2019 15:44

Under the Skin by Michel Faber. I found it very chilling and skin crawlingly creepy. It stayed with me for a long time.

tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz · 05/12/2019 15:42

On the flip side I've just finished Haunting Of Hill House after watching the (excellent) Netflix series. It was pretty much a different story and very dull with characters I didn't give a stuff about. Ditto Anhialation, that's a week of my life that could have spent on a good book Confused

Bigsighall · 05/12/2019 15:41

Yy to the perfect child!

tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz · 05/12/2019 15:40

Place marking also.

I'll add Mrs Mcgilvery. Recommend on MN some time ago, it's by Colin Gibson.

Lepetitpiggy · 05/12/2019 15:39

A lot of Susan Hills short stories are fabulous - 'The Little Hand' and 'Dolly' spring to mind.

JaneJeffer · 05/12/2019 15:36

Transgressions by Sarah Dunant

grannycake · 05/12/2019 15:33

Sophie's Choice was chilling and I've never forgotten it

Original poster
Beatgrrl · 05/12/2019 15:32

A few people have mentioned We Need to Talk About Kevin. Does it have a lot of animal cruelty in it? That's one of the few things I can't really stomach. I'm ok if it's just a reference here and there.

OP posts:
GoodbyePiccadilly · 05/12/2019 15:31

Another vote for Adam Neville. Try 'The Ritual' or 'Last Days'. He has a particular skill for creepy locations.

meandmyboyz · 05/12/2019 15:31

I love "the woman in black" susan hill so much better as a book than the film/theatre show , I've re read it so many times xx

MadisonAvenue · 05/12/2019 15:29

We Need To Talk About Kevin

Coldhandscoldheart · 05/12/2019 15:28

Then there were none by Agatha Christie and Picnic at Hanging Rock - shit me up so much I had to turn it round on the bookshelf.

DowntonCrabby · 05/12/2019 15:27

I also loved the historian.

Redannie118 · 05/12/2019 15:25

This reply has been withdrawn

The OP has privacy concerns, and so we've agreed to take this down now.

MrsMaryBOOface · 05/12/2019 15:24

Following with interest... There was a similar thread a few weeks back:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/what_were_reading/3673214-Can-anyone-help-me-find-a-very-very-scary-book

I tried to read Heart Shaped Box after reading that thread but I could not get into it at all 😔

Hiddentext · 05/12/2019 15:21

Another vote for "We need to talk about Kevin".

Iamanaubergine · 05/12/2019 15:18

Dark Matter by Michelle Paver. Really creepy, set in the Arctic circle in Winter.

Original poster
Beatgrrl · 05/12/2019 15:17

@Tableclothing American Psycho is great. I was thinking more in the realms of the supernatural but I'm open to giving anything a try.

@Fizbo Thats one of my favourites too. Love a good vampire novel.

@Herja Books about children are often the most chilling aren't they?

OP posts:
3timeslucky · 05/12/2019 15:16

We Need to Talk about Kevin ... maybe not the kind of chilling you're looking for but I found it really disturbing.

Rassy · 05/12/2019 15:15

Another vote for The Lovely Bones. Chills your blood.
I remember reading it while DD1 was outside playing with friends and I had to stop myself from going out and bringing her home.
The last line of the book has always stuck with me - 'I hope you have a long and happy life'...

Soen · 05/12/2019 15:14

Place marking

Oblomov19 · 05/12/2019 15:12
KilljoysDutch · 05/12/2019 15:07

Last Days by Adam Nevill it starts slow but that's the beauty of it the horror slowly builds until you honestly are afraid of switching off the light. I love horror movies and horror novels but I've never gotten over how terrified I was of this book.

lulla12345 · 05/12/2019 15:07

The perfect child by Lucinda Berry, more haunting than terrifying. It stayed with me though.