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Original poster

Recommend a good horror (or horrifying / disturbing) book

82 replies

makingitupaswegoon · 13/03/2021 19:47

Any type of horror or horrifying fiction welcomed. Supranational horror (haunted houses, vampires, zombies etc), psychological horror, fantasy / sci-fi horror, crime / real life horror - you know the sort of thing.

Have read loads of Stephen King but think ‘The Long Walk’ is one of his best (maybe not horror but definitely disturbing). House of Leaves creeped me out too.I’ve read some horrifying dystopian fiction too (e.g. The Road). Loved ‘Let the Right One In’ (vampires). So I’ve got broad tastes ...

OP posts:
RightYesButNo · 14/03/2021 14:18

For OP or anyone else who liked The Girl with All the Gifts, the author has a supernatural-horror-thriller-mystery series written before TGWATG, under the pen name Mike Carey: the Felix Castor series. The first book is called The Devil You Know.

Kleidung · 14/03/2021 13:52

I really loved Dark Matter. Such a strong atmosphere that I could visualise the setting and the characters as if I was watching it on film.

I enjoyed James Herbert The Fog and others but while they also have a strong atmosphere didn’t find them remotely scary or unsettling. Still fun though.

I loved The Black House by Paul Theroux as well as The Girl On The Landing by Paul Torday. Both creepy.

These are well known but if you haven’t read them it’s worth checking them out

The Turn Of The Screw by Henry James
The Haunting Of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
The Little Stranger by Sarah Watters

pursuedbyablackdog · 14/03/2021 13:46

Sarah England writes quite good occult stuff.
Some of James Herbert's books are good (I really enjoyed 'the secret of Crickely Hall') but some are dire!
But I've yet to find a really good thriller!

'

FruityPolos · 14/03/2021 13:44

Have you read any Graham Masterton? Walkers and Devils of D Day are my favourites, both very creepy.

Also try Ania Ahlborn, Brother is really good and I also loved Seed.

Algebraicyourleg · 14/03/2021 13:40

Rachel Caine’s Stillhouse Lake series is brilliant. I love the series so much I had the 5th on preorder for when it was released.

FancyPuffin · 14/03/2021 13:40

Oh, and I completely agree about The Long Walk! It’s a very underrated one of his. Duma Key is another good one that rarely gets much love.

FancyPuffin · 14/03/2021 13:38

I always recommend Adam Nevill on these threads. Start with Apartment 16 or House of Small Shadows. I find his writing genuinely creepy. He’s ace Grin

GlamourSpider · 14/03/2021 13:38

Naomi's Room by Denis MacEoin

Magicbabywaves · 14/03/2021 13:37

Pine by Francine Toon disturbed me too actually.

Magicbabywaves · 14/03/2021 13:31

I still get het up thinking about Dark Matter and I read it ten years ago.

Original poster
makingitupaswegoon · 14/03/2021 10:11

Oh some great ideas on here. I've read the Girls with all the Gifts -it's excellent. Ditto 'his bloody project'

OP posts:
FourteenthDoctor · 13/03/2021 23:30

Oh they’re so good! Enjoy!

somewheresorted · 13/03/2021 22:41

Fourteenth I’ve just finished The Rats having last read it years ago! thoroughly enjoyed it this time too - Might try the Fog next.

JoyOrbison · 13/03/2021 21:18

David Mitchell Slade House is a new take on Haunted House...

JoyOrbison · 13/03/2021 21:16

I loved James Herbert, loved watching Night Reed!

Op, not outright horror but a goid sense of creeping unease in Andrew Hurley'books, The Loney, Devil's Day

FourteenthDoctor · 13/03/2021 20:29

Ooh books of blood by Clive barker

FourteenthDoctor · 13/03/2021 20:28

Did anyone used to read the fog, the dark, the rats etc by James Herbert?

Loved them back in the day!

FourteenthDoctor · 13/03/2021 20:25

OMG!!! I got them round the wrong way! Dark matter is better sorry 🤦🏻‍♀️

JoyOrbison · 13/03/2021 20:21

FourteenthDoctor I really liked Thin Air too, but Dark Matter just had the edge foe me, I was panicking towards the end of the book!

No spoilers for any posters but in Thin Air for me the real horror was the actions of men, rather than the 'monster'.

FourteenthDoctor · 13/03/2021 20:20

Oh oh I forgot this one

The vegetarian Han Kang? (Sp)

FourteenthDoctor · 13/03/2021 20:18

I loved out too. Although my husband hated it!

FourteenthDoctor · 13/03/2021 20:15

I preferred thin air by Michelle paver.

Also Paul tremblay head full of ghosts

north water Ian macquire,

his bloody project graham mcrae

LarryUnderwood · 13/03/2021 20:12

Geek Love is not exactly a thriller but certainly disturbing and well worth a read.

LarryUnderwood · 13/03/2021 20:11

Oh Out is fantastic!!! Just a brilliant brilliant thriller

EmotionallyEncumbered · 13/03/2021 20:08

The Girl With All The Gifts - M R Carey
The Shining Girls - Lauren Beukes
Weaveworld - Clive Barker
Touch - Claire North
The Stone Man - Luke Smitherd

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