Like with any genre,horrorbooks often vary in terms of scariness and complexity, and those who are just starting out as horror readers may want to wait before picking up these 10 disturbing novels.Horror books may not be for everyone, but they are a beloved genrethat is as well-established as fantasy or science fiction. Fromhorror classics likeFrankensteinandDraculato modern hits likeThe Only Good IndiansandThe Final Girls Support Group,horror stories let readers dive deep into terrifying worlds, far deeper than movies can allow.
For those just beginning to read horror, it is probably best to ease into the genre. This means choosingbooks that aren’t too scary, have fast paces, and may be on the shorter side. Because of that, this list is the last place that newcomers should look.The following 10 books are some of the scariest and most complicated horror bookson the market. These novels are gory, intense, and tell stories that hit readers right to their core. There is no doubt that these are amazing horror novels, but they are not for the faint of heart.
10Blood Meridian: Cormac McCarthy
A Youth Joins A Violent Gang In The American South
To begin, let’s look ata book that isn’t always categorized as horror, despite its horrifying contents.Blood Meridianis a 1985 novel by Cormac McCarthy. Usually labeled as an epic historical story, it followsa young man known as “the Kid” who joins a gang dedicated to killing Native Americans in 1850s Texas. As the Kid continues running with this group, he comes face to face with countless awful atrocities carried out by truly chilling figures.
Blood Meridianis getting a movie adaptation after many years in development hell. At the moment, John Hillcoat is attached to direct.
Blood Meridianis a book that could easily lure in readers who aren’t as familiar with the horror genre, simply because it isn’t always recognized for its horrifying aspects. Although the premise promises blood and murder, some readers may be under the impression that the book is more historical, with some violence on the side. However, this is not the case.Blood Meridianis a deeply haunting tale of violence against humanity,and its lead antagonist may be one of the scariest villains in all literature.
9NOS4A2: Joe Hill
A Woman Is Haunted By An Old Villain
Sometimes, a horror novel is not only terrifying, but has a story that isn’t the easiest to slide into. One example of this is Joe Hill’sNOS4A2.The book tells a multi-layered tale centered on Victoria McQueen,a woman who was targeted by a creepy killer as a young girl, and who is now facing him again after the disappearance of her son. Thus, Vic is catapulted through time, forced to confront her childhood trauma in order to save her son’s life.
NOS4A2is a compelling and worthwhile book to read, but it may be too much for beginners. First and foremost, the book is hefty, coming in at almost 700 pages. In this way, this isn’t the type of fast-paced novel that readers can fly through in a single sitting. If anything,NOS4A2is a slow burn, with regular ebbs and flows, and a deep lore behind it.In this way, readers need to be ready forNOS4A2,and some lighter reading may be necessary beforehand.
8The Troop: Nick Cutter
A Boy Scout Troop Becomes Stranded & Infected
A horror book that should be avoided because of its level of gore isThe Troop.It follows a boy scout troop who are taking their annual trip to a remote part of the Canadian wilderness. Just as they’ve settled down for their first night,the boys run into a pale and terrifyingly thin man who unknowingly infects them with a mysterious virus. Now desperate with a hunger that cannot be satiated, the boys turn against each other to survive.
The Troopincludes various elements that could be off-putting to readers, from children protagonists to animal cruelty. None of it is gratuitous or unnecessary, but it is still disturbing nonetheless. In this way, beginners should definitely avoidThe Troop,butthose who enjoy disgusting goreandLord of the Flies-esque stories will absolutely love it. It is a horror story about a disease, but it also explores friendship and masculinity.
7Exquisite Corpse: Poppy Z. Brite
Serial Killers Team Up To Carry Out The Perfect Crime
Another particularly gruesome horror story with various intertwining threads isExquisite Corpseby Poppy Z. Brite. This iconic 1996 novel begins with Andrew Compton, a serial killer who fakes his own death to escape prison and believes killing is an art. Soon enough,he teams up with a violent playboy and sets his sights on his perfect victim, a young Vietnamese-American runawaywho hides her own secret in the form of her chaotic ex-lover. The four diverge in unexpected ways.
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For those readers who aren’t afraid of intense, high-octane scares, the following fast-paced horror novels may be perfect for a spooky night in.
Exquisite Corpseisnot just a horror novel, but is firmly rooted in the splatterpunk genre. This means thatthe book has no limits in terms of its graphic horror, and can often go off the railsinto truly shocking places. Already,Exquisite Corpseboasts a somewhat complex tale of four distinctly unique characters, so to add intense gore on top of it, the book is a wild ride that is far more enjoyable for veteran horror readers than newcomers.
6The Girl Next Door: Jack Ketchum
Two Girls Face Neighborhood Torture
When it comes tothe most disturbing books of all time, Jack Ketchum’sThe Girl Next Doorhas a place on many readers' lists. In this book, Meg and Susan are young sisters who are being held in the basement of their distant aunt’s house. As their aunt becomes increasingly deluded,she carries out horrible torture on the two girls, and influences her sons and other neighborhood figures to do the same. Only one young boy questions the morality of these crimes, and is given an important choice.
Rather than using a supernatural element or monster to create horror, Ketchum simply uses real humans doing awful things.
On the surface,The Girl Next Dooris obviously dark and deeply chilling. Rather than using a supernatural element or monster to create horror, Ketchum simply uses real humans doing awful things. However, what makesThe Girl Next Dooreven more perturbing is the fact that it isinspired by the true storyof Sylvia Likens, a young girl who was tortured to death by her aunt and peers. Ultimately,this kernel of truth makes Meg and Susan’s tale far more sickening.
5Tender Is The Flesh: Agustina Bazterrica
A Dystopian World Where Humans Are Eaten
One more book well-known for its carnage isTender Is The Flesh.It is set in a dystopian world where a virus made all animal meat inedible, leading to a new system where humans are slaughteredand eaten. In the midst of this, a man named Marcos is struggling, and when he finds himself in the possession of a live “perfect specimen,” he follows his human instincts, treating her like a real person rather than an animal to be killed.
Tender Is The Fleshis definitely the type of book that could make readers sick.Bazterrica does not pull punches when it comes to describing her dystopian worldand the actual process of slaughtering and preparing meat. It is a bleak and terrifying setting that only worsens as the stakes get higher. All in all,Tender is the Fleshis an important novel about humanity and capitalism, but it may not be for everyone.
4American Psycho: Bret Easton Ellis
A Wall Street Worker Will Do Anything For Success
After the success of horror movies that started out as books, some readers may want to go back to the source material and compare. A book that audiences should think twice about before picking up is Bret Easton Ellis’American Psycho.This story centers onPatrick Bateman, a charming and attractive Wall Street worker who is actually a sociopath. In the pursuit of a picture perfect life, Bateman goes to violent lengths to get what he wants.
American Psychois reportedly getting a movie remake directed by Luca Guadagnino.
There is no question that 2000’sAmerican Psychomovie is brutal, but believe it or not, the book is far worse.Christian Bale is entertaining and even comedic as Bateman, but being forced into his mind, page after page, is far less humorous. Instead,readers are witness to his most perverse thoughts and actions, which are expanded beyond what you see on the big screen.Ultimately, there is a reason thatAmerican Psychohas been banned in certain countries; it is violent, disturbing, and gutwrenching.
3It: Stephen King
An Epic Tale Of A Killer Clown
When getting into horror,Stephen King may not be a bad place to start, but one of his books that is definitely not for beginners isIt.First published in 1986, this book followsa group of kids living in Derry, Maine who are terrorized by an evil killer clown known as Pennywise.After managing to survive one terrifying summer, the kids grow up and try to forget about what happened. Yet, they are pulled back together when Pennywise returns, 27 years later.
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There are several things aboutItthat should scare off horror newbies. Without a doubt, the book is scary. Pennywise is a culmination of childhood fears, particularly clowns, and his abilities make him a nearly impossible villain to defeat. On top of that,Itis over 1100 pages long. It is a thick book that has as much backstory as scares. Thus,Itis a commitment that is probably better made by King fans and long-time horror readers.
2The Exorcist: William Peter Blatty
A Young Girl Becomes Possessed
One more popular book-to-movie adaptation that has really eerie source material isThe Exorcist.The 1971 classic tells the story ofChris, an actress and single mother whose life is turned upside down when her daughter begins acting strangely. With no diagnosis in sight, she calls in a local priest to perform an exorcism. From there, the truth of her daughter’s affliction begins to come to light in frightening ways.
The Exorcistmovie is a clear classic in the world of horror movies, but because of its age, it may not be all that scary anymore to modern viewers. The same cannot be said forThe Exorcistbook. Despite being a slow burn, Blatty manages to build the tension throughout the entire novel until it reaches its most alarming moments.The Exorcistis not just a solid scary story, but it is also a well-written piece of literaturewhich will suck readers in and keep them thinking for weeks afterward.
1House Of Leaves: Mark Z. Danielewski
A Family Moves Into A Haunted House
Finally, a book that beginner horror readers should not read isHouse of Leaves.This book’s premise is fairly simple and vague. A young family moves into a new home and begins to notice some strange details. When the children wander away into the home,their parents realize that something sinister is hiding within, and they will have to venture closerif they want to save themselves and their kids.
Aside from its horror content,House of Leavesis a bad choice for beginners because it isn’t written in the traditional way.
Aside from its horror content,House of Leavesis a bad choice for beginners because it isn’t written in the traditional way. Though it tells a complete story, the book is organized in a way where words are placed strangely on the page and the fourth wall is broken. If anything,it is like a spooky jigsaw puzzle that needs plenty of time and effort to solve.Therefore,House of Leavesis ahorrorbook that is good to work your way up to before diving in.
