What's the scariest book you've read?

[imaginative]

My two are 'the woman in Black' by Susan Hill - sooo creepy, and much more recently, and probably frightened me a bit more - 'What Laura Saw' by Sarah King. This one has a couple of really great twists and a very sympathetic lead character.

So which books scared you the most? I am looking for another one to read alongside 'The State We're In'. I like to have a couple of books on the go depending on my mood. Thanks

Ritual by graham masterton is just horrific.
Anything by him is chilling,sexy and gorey. Love him.

I loved Dark Matter! I have been watching the series of Fortitude on the telly and it really bought Dark Matter to mind - the combination of snow and the dark is wonderfully atmospheric and spooky.

The Road left me feeling literally sick. I have had a fascination with anything apocalyptic since all those 80's teen books based on nuclear war (Children of the Dust, Z for Zachariah etc).

The Orphanage is definitely the darkest, spookiest film I have ever watched. Devastatingly sad too. Pan's Labyrinth, by the same director I think, was pretty bleak too.

Also, I found the book of The Woman in Black not at all scary, but the film scared the bejesus out of me!

Into the darkest corner by Elizabeth Haynes.

It's about a woman who has escaped dv and it was truly terrifying.

Lots of these were on the Halloween thread.

House of Leaves! nothing quite like it, there seems to be no "rules" to the supernatural happenings.

Turn of the Screw.

The Lost by Jonathan Aycliffe. Vampires but utterly terrifying.

I have The Road to read. Yikes!

Don't Look Now, omg. Classic scary film.

Alias Grace is creepy. But a lot of Margaret Atwood is.

Into the darkest corner. Yes, truly terrifying. No one really believes her...

It's such a cleverly written book, you really do think she's just got major mh issues until the book progresses. I will definitely read it again .....It's the things like the cutlery drawer and the laundry basket, it just sent chills down my spine, so creepy and the friends all thinking she's just nuts. If they made it into a film I'm not sure I could watch it.

Another vote for 'House of Leaves'. Bought it used on Amazon and don't think it was too pricey as I never spend more than about £3 on used books. But yes, utterly creepy. What I really loved about it, though, was that it had an unexpectedly hopeful and uplifting ending...I thought it was a very grown-up book which made me think a lot about things like parenthood and marriage, when I wasn't being entirely creeped out. I am tempted to re-read it now....

Serment des Limbes by Jean Christophe Grangé - it's available in English, but I read it in French.

It's all about negative near death experiences, and some nights, I was reading until 2am so that I could find a place to put it down.