Novels and stories that scare you...

[PurpleRomanesco]

I am on the look out for paranormal and scary books. Which ones made you want to sleep with the light on?

I Am Legend and The Road both kept me awake for nights.

The Shining - the book is terrifying

World War Z by Max Brooks

Lovecraft- The only way I will have them in the house is when they are sandwiched inbetween 'happy books'. I don't know how he does it because the actual story feels a bit silly if you are trying to explain it. Once when I was reading him at night I couldn't sleep afterwards and sat up trying to pluck up the courage to throw the book out of the window. I didn't in the end but the thought of leaving it in the house was terrifying. DH took it in the end and locked it in the TV cabinet so I could sleep.

Charlie Higson books - The Fear, The Dead and The Enemy are good too, about children living in a world where the adults have become incredibly dangerous, sort of alive zombies. Young Adult but very well written.

M.R. James ghost stories. Absolutely classic ghost stories, traditional and really creepy.

I know it's not a ghost story, but It by Stephen King is the scariest book I ever read. I won't even consider watching the movie. If you are afraid of clowns, don't read it.

Maybe I'm easily scared but The Woman in Black by Susan Hill gave me a sleepless night after finishing it.

I am really easily scared so don't even read anything 'horror' but Neil Gaimans short stories 'Smoke and Mirrors' had a couple of really unsettling stories in it. DP has just read MR James - v good traditional ghost stories.

I read Communion by Whitley Strieber (?) a long long time ago. About aliens. I had to hide the book as the cover was freaky. very scary as far as I can remember.

Recently I read a short story by Joe Hill called 'Voluntary Commital' which was so good I couldn't stop thinking about it and re-hired it from the library to read again. When I got to the most sinister bit someone had ripped out all five pages from the book. Maybe they had found it TOO scary.

It is in the collection of short stories called '20th Century Ghosts' and most of them are great, some are brilliant ('Pop Art' is wonderful) but 'Voluntary Commital' is GENIUS.

And if his writing seems familiar it is because he is Stephen Kings son.

Also Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist is meant to be really scary. I couldn't get into tit but it has had very good reviews.

Into TIT ?

Typo, obvs.

I recommend "Come closer" by Sara Gran. here

"When the Wind Blows" by Raymond Briggs. It absolutely scared the shit out of me and I couldn't even sleep with it in the room. The horror of watching those two nice, stupid, middle-aged people living through a nuclear attack and trying to comprehend what was happening chills me to the bone even now.

But if you want the fun kind of scary, I second "The Shining". Way better than the film.

Franca, "Come Closer" looks fantastic - I've just ordered it. Thanks for the recommendation!

Another vote for The Woman In Black. Very creepy. I also liked The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters - she's great at building tension.

I really like Jonathan Aycliffe. Always guaranteed to be spooky

Outrageous I hope you enjoy it

The Woman In Black is scarying me too. There again it probably wasn't a good idea to read it just before I went to sleep and had a temperature.....