Genuinely scary books...

[Peakyblinders]

I can't find any!!!
Any recommendations?
I've read everything Stephen king has ever written so not him. I love his books but they arent chilling or scary enough for me.

[doctorcuntybollocks]

Another vote for House of Leaves, The Road and The Turn of the Screw.

I found Dark Matter by Michelle Paver terrifying, but Thin Air - although well-written - was a disappointment, because it's essentially the same story in a different (but similarly cold and isolated) setting.

My recommendation is Metro 2033 by Dmitry Glokhovsky.

[TheHiphopopotamus]

@magicinthenight You're right! I almost put in my post that the ending was a bit of a disappointment. However, I enjoyed the rest of the book so much that I kind of gave it a free pass on that.

[magicinthenight]

(sorry I missed the message before, just count another vote in for Thin Air)

[magicinthenight]

For a classic, Turn of the Screw. For a more modern one, I remember Thin Air by Michelle Paver being great, probably not going to leave your blood cold but very unsettling and creepy.

@TheHiphopopotamus The House of Lost Souls fills me with such rage!! It was so promising but I just found the ending to be such a letdown. I think that it's the harshest goodreads review I've ever left, ha!

[LordEmsworth]

I didn't really like Dark Matter but am now on Thin Air by Michelle Paver and I love it.

And if you can read Jonathan Wycliffe without a blanket over your head, I am quite scared of you... I love all his stuff.

[Peakyblinders]

I've read nearly all of these and didn't find them scary at all.
I've read all of Joe Hills book's and although enjoyable they arent scary or unsettling.

Hmmm I'm going to Google house of leaves

[bedelia]

Heart-Shaped Box was rather good, but NOS4A2 is even better IMO.

Bird Box was very scary!

The Woman in Black was reasonably good, but I didn't find it scary at all.

Based on what I've read here, I really should read House of Leaves. I have a copy (yes, it IS gorgeous! and expensive!), but it seems like such a mammoth read!

[TooFew]

When Rabbit Howls - Trudi Chase. It's debateable how genuine it is but it freaks the crap out of me! Feel like I need to read this House of Leaves book!

[Iris65]

Fiction:
Carrion Comfort by Dan Simmons. I felt grimy and sick. Still wish I could find a way to remove it from my Amazon account!
The Amytiville Horror from the late 70s also terrified me. Piggy? Flies on the window. Shudder.
Non fiction:
A memoir written by a forensic psychologist who had worked with serial killers was vile and horrifying.

[TheMasterNotMargarita]

I got house of leaves from the library.
The only book I had to stop reading til dh got home.
It's very clever but really unsettling and sinister.

[TheEagle]

I've been trying to work up the courage to read it for ages but I always wimp out

[SnickersWasAHorse]

Ah, it would seem that my local library has a copy. I shall join the queue for it.

As a side note I have a Kobo book reader so I can borrow ebooks from my library!

[TheEagle]

Try //www.alibris.co.uk for a reasonably priced copy of House of Leaves

[TheEagle]

snickers, I wondered the same about House of Leaves! I think it's really long and intricately printed - you can't read it on a Kindle - so that adds to the price.

As far as I know, there are two stories, one of which appears through the footnotes so that probably influences the price.

[awrightmylover]

(I'm probably just a wuss though.)

[awrightmylover]

I was reading Arthur & George late one night (great book if you like historical stuff, couldn't put it down). Got to a creepy bit and decided to go get a drink. My room was miles away from the kitchen and the house was pitch black: going to get that glass of water, I was scared shitless!

[WestWithTheSun]

I bought House of Leaves when it first came out. It was very unsettling. I didn't finish it - OH started reading it and after getting so far in he said he wanted it removing from the house as it was bothering him that much. That's never happened with anything else!

[DoesAnyoneReadTheseThings]

The level 26 books by Anthony E Zuiker

www.goodreads.com/book/show/6507760-dark-origins

[TheHiphopopotamus]

I feel the same. I've read it twice now and I feel like there's some deeper layer that I'm just not getting but I can't work out what it is. In fact, I preferred the film even though it was utter shite

[TheHiphopopotamus]

The House Of Lost Souls by FG Cottam

And agree that most of Johnathan Aycliffes stuff is good.

[Katescurios]

Jack Ketchum really unsettling books. Girl next door is horrific, uncomfortable but compelling in a voyeuristic way. Off season is violent and bloody.

[SnickersWasAHorse]

Is House of Leaves printed on solid gold?
So many recommendations but it seems to be about £28 a copy!