Guest post by This Cursed House author Del Sandeen
Del Sandeen lives in northeast Florida, where she works as a copy editor and writes speculative fiction. Her work has appeared in FIYAH: Magazine of Black Speculative Fiction, Nightlight podcast, and Gay Magazine. This Cursed House is her debut novel. She can be found on Twitter @DelSandeen. Learn more at www.delsandeen.com.
About This Cursed House: In this Southern gothic horror debut, a young Black woman abandons her life in 1960s Chicago for a position with a mysterious family in New Orleans, only to discover the dark truth: They’re under a curse, and they think she can break it.
Fall reading can be cozy and cute, but I prefer creepy. What better time of year to sink into a good, chilling story than this one, when October ends with the spookiest night of the year? Compiling this list of scary tales wasn’t easy, but there’s something here for every fright fan – from straight slasher to alt history to Southern Gothic, and much more. If you’re looking for your next terrifying read, any of these 13 horror novels may have you sleeping with the lights on.
I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones
Horror master Stephen Graham Jones includes all the slasher elements this movie genre’s fans are familiar with (particularly if their favorites include household names like Freddy, Michael, and Jason). The title alone tells you what this novel is about. But there’s more to it than slashing. The friendship between Tolly and Amber drives this story forward. In spite of the murder and mayhem, it’s their relationship that will keep you invested, right to the shocking conclusion.
Gallows Hill by Darcy Coates
What happens when a woman inherits not only the family business but the haunted land on which it sits? The past plagues the present in this spooky tale by Darcy Coates. This novel has things that go bump in the night and things that won’t rest until they’re satisfied.
The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle
Victor LaValle turns a Lovecraftian work on its head with this novella. LaValle uses H.P. Lovecraft’s racist The Horror at Red Hook as inspiration for a story featuring a Black protagonist who hustles to survive. This is a wonderfully dark cosmic horror tale that uses its source as a starting point into an uncanny journey that cannot end well.
The Girl With All the Gifts by Mike Carey
This take on a zombie apocalypse is frightening and heartbreaking in equal measure. Melanie is one of the most memorable characters in scary fiction. She’s equal parts innocent and deadly, and yet you can’t help but root for her and the people who care for her. In her world, survival is a priority, but there’s still room for friendship and love.
The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson
Alexis Henderson’s debut is a creepily atmospheric story of one young woman’s discovery of her true self. Set in a fictional world that has echoes of Puritan New England mixed with A Handmaid’s Tale, this witchy book is bloody and shocking. But it’s perhaps the similarities with real women’s issues (both past and present) that make The Year of the Witching so chilling.
The Elementals by Michael McDowell
At the heart of many Southern gothic stories is family. Bizarre and weird, but family. That’s what makes this horror novel by the late Michael McDowell so fantastic. Set on sandy Alabama shores in a remote locale, there’s a lot to unpack with the Savages. And as events progress and the sand rises, things get stranger and then downright terrifying.
The Girl From the Well by Rin Chupeco
A vengeful ghost and a haunted teenage boy whose tattoos are much more than ink on skin captivate in this horror book from Rin Chupeco. The title may call to mind Japanese movies like Ring (U.S. version the Ring) and Ju-On (The Grudge in the U.S.). The story is based on Japanese folklore, and this Young Adult novel has a tension that only increases in its terror.
Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark
In this alt history novel, P. Djèlí Clark uses real-life terrorist group KKK as devilish inspiration. The characters who fight back against the terrors of racism in Prohibition-era Georgia are an eclectic mix of badasses who give the “Ku Kluxes” just some of what they deserve.
The Ritual by Adam Nevill
This book about four friends getting lost in the woods is like Blair Witch Scandinavia – and is about 100 times scarier. Although the story takes place in a forest, there’s a claustrophobic vibe that permeates and gets under the skin. Adam Nevill’s descriptions of mangled bodies and ancient rites make this one of the scariest books I’ve ever read.
The Good House by Tananarive Due
Spoiler alert: The home at the heart of The Good House isn’t really good. Instead, there are some dark forces at work here. Add in voodoo, a sinister atmosphere, and memorable characters, and this is one of Tananarive Due’s books that’s a solid can’t-miss.
Bag of Bones by Stephen King
He’s the King of Horror for a reason. While much of Stephen King’s repertoire falls somewhere on the frightening spectrum, this ghost story is one of the most terrifying he’s ever written. However, the scares from the ghost pale in comparison to the tragic events that took place in the past. This one is equally scary and sad.
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Morena-Garcia
What appears to start as a visit to a family member, perhaps to rescue her, soon turns into a creepy trip that quickly goes downhill. Silvia Morena-Garcia’s protagonist Noemí isn’t your typical 1950s young woman looking for a husband – but that doesn’t mean the weird Doyle family at the heart of the story isn’t looking to make her a wife, for the worst reasons ever.
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
No horror story listicle would be complete without mentioning this menacing gem from Shirley Jackson. Widely considered the best haunted house novel ever, the scares are more subtle, so if that’s more your speed vs. being clobbered over the head, this is the book for you. It’s a great introduction to one of the best authors to ever write in the genre.
