What's the scariest book you've ever read?

[Thurlow]

I'm currently reading IT and I didn't think it was particularly scary, maybe because I know what it's about because it's just one of those stories you know without reading/seeing it - but when I walked over a bridge over a stream today and thought "ooooh, this would be exactly the place Pennywise would hide if he lived in this town..." So it must be scaring me somehow!

Of course, it could just be the memory of Cujo, which I remember as the single most terrifying thing I've ever read at the time.

Also, Mo Hayder's first two Caffrey novels, Birdman and The Treatment, but they're probably more violent than scary. Though The Treatment was set less than half a mile from where I lived at the time I read it, which really didn't help much.

Some great things on this thread. Thanks everyone, have filled my amazon basket!

I love M.R. James, Whistle and I'll Come to you....is terrifying.

Shirley Jackson is brilliant, The Haunting of Hill House has been mentioned but I love We Have Always Lived in the Castle...creepy!

Emma's Diary is also creepy. For very different reasons.

One not for pregnant women Nemesis, Shaun Hutson, eeeurgh!!!! Disturbed isn't quite a strong enough word as I recall it closes that chapter of mind again

Marking place to read later

All Adam Nevill's are brilliant, especially The Ritual.

I'm sure everyone will laugh, but when I was 10 I read "And then there were None" by Agatha Christie and it scared the pants off me. Couldn't get to sleep and when I did, I had nightmares. I love Agatha Christie, but that one still scares me, even now.

I've read quite a few scary/horror novels, but Red Dragon was the only one that I've actually had to stop reading because it scared me so much.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn is not exactly scary, more disturbing, but it's excellent.

My amazon wish list has just grown with so many recommendations on here so many sound fab. I must admit though mo hayder with birdman and the treatment were absolutely brilliant. In fact I may start reading them again

Anything by Jean-Christophe Grangé - the first one I read was Serment des Limbes, all about negative near death experiences. I was reading until 2am to find a safe place to put the book down.

They're really good though.

The hand Maids Tale by Margaret Atwood made me feel sick to my stomach and stayed with me for a long time afterwards.

Bram Stoker Dracula I found really creepy.

The Shining. Scary as! I read a few Stephen King books when I was a teenager, as you do, but I think this was scariest.

Recently I read "Into the darkest corner" which I really wasn't expecting to find scary, and I did.

Watching this post with interest as I might want to read something scary next.