What is the most chilling book you've ever read?

[Beatgrrl]

At this time of year, I really love to snuggle up under a blanket, get all comfy and absolutely terrify myself with a great book and I could really use some recommendations. Which books have been absolutely bone-chillingly terrifying for you? Which have been the books that have left you too afraid to turn the lights out; too afraid to move? Which books have made you feel too scared to turn the page?

American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis was pretty unpleasant, but I'm guessing you're more after Edgar Allan Poe-type recommendations?

Watching your thread!

I'll have a think.

IT by Stephen King. Bloody fabulous. After that, Bram Stokers Dracula.

I really enjoyed The Historian by Elizabeth Kostovo I started reading it one summer and thought it was definitely a winter book so saved it. I wasn't disappointed!

The lovely bones
I wasn’t very old and it really stuck with me maybe I shouldn’t have read it but I did and it had such an undertone of normality somehow that I felt given the wrong circumstances I could one day step sideways into that life and it terrified me

Such small hands (I think anyway, by andres barber). It's only short, perfect for a cozy evening in, but it's really very chilling. The plot is based around children though, which I know some don't like, so avoid if you're one of those people! It was described as a ghost story on the blurb, which I disagree with. Definitely scary though.

Oooo following

The perfect child by Lucinda Berry, more haunting than terrifying. It stayed with me though.

Last Days by Adam Nevill it starts slow but that's the beauty of it the horror slowly builds until you honestly are afraid of switching off the light. I love horror movies and horror novels but I've never gotten over how terrified I was of this book.

Place marking

Another vote for The Lovely Bones. Chills your blood.
I remember reading it while DD1 was outside playing with friends and I had to stop myself from going out and bringing her home.
The last line of the book has always stuck with me - 'I hope you have a long and happy life'...

We Need to Talk about Kevin ... maybe not the kind of chilling you're looking for but I found it really disturbing.

@Tableclothing American Psycho is great. I was thinking more in the realms of the supernatural but I'm open to giving anything a try.

@Fizbo Thats one of my favourites too. Love a good vampire novel.

@Herja Books about children are often the most chilling aren't they?

Dark Matter by Michelle Paver. Really creepy, set in the Arctic circle in Winter.

Another vote for "We need to talk about Kevin".

Following with interest... There was a similar thread a few weeks back:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/what_were_reading/3673214-Can-anyone-help-me-find-a-very-very-scary-book

I tried to read Heart Shaped Box after reading that thread but I could not get into it at all 😔

I also loved the historian.

Then there were none by Agatha Christie and Picnic at Hanging Rock - shit me up so much I had to turn it round on the bookshelf.

We Need To Talk About Kevin

I love "the woman in black" susan hill so much better as a book than the film/theatre show , I've re read it so many times xx

Another vote for Adam Neville. Try 'The Ritual' or 'Last Days'. He has a particular skill for creepy locations.

A few people have mentioned We Need to Talk About Kevin. Does it have a lot of animal cruelty in it? That's one of the few things I can't really stomach. I'm ok if it's just a reference here and there.

Sophie's Choice was chilling and I've never forgotten it