Horror with words has thrilled readers for centuries, with spine-tingling chills, psychological terrors and supernatural horrors that haunt long after the last page is turned. If you prefer your horror in classic gothic tales, psychological nightmares or gruesome supernatural stories, there’s a horror novel to haunt you. This is a list of the best horror books for adults, sure to scare you in the best way.

Classic Horror Novels

Some horror tales have turned classic, influencing the genre itself and generations of writers. These classics are just as frightening today as when first published:

• A Dark and Stormy Beginning: Dracula by Bram Stoker – The definitive vampire tale that defined Count Dracula and his lust for blood, a work of suspense gothic horror.
• The Definitive and Ultimate Monster Story: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley – A classic story about science gone wrong, human ambition, and the consequences of playing god.
• Pure Psychological Madness: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson – A psychological thriller about the dual nature of man and what happens when the ugly side is repressed.
• Supernatural Terror: The Turn of the Screw by Henry James – An ambiguous, psychological, haunting ghost story with eerie tension.

Modern Horror Classics

The following books have redefined the horror genre in recent decades, mixing traditional scares with psychological depth and complex storytelling:

• The Shining by Stephen King – With a haunted hotel at its center and a tormented writer becoming more unhinged with each passing moment, this is one of the most classic horror novels ever.
• The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty – Based on true-life events, this frightening novel about demonic possession and faith lies at the heart, one of the scariest books ever written.
• Psycho by Robert Bloch – The source material for the iconic Hitchcock film, introducing us to the infamous Norman Bates and his haunting secrets.
• Hell House by Richard Matheson – A classic haunted house novel in which a cadre of investigators faces an unspeakably evil force.

Psychological Horror and Thrillers

Horror isn’t only about phantoms, ghosts and freaks; sometimes, the most frightful tales originate in the extreme reaches of the human brain:

• The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris – A chilling thriller introducing brilliant, terrifying serial killer Hannibal Lecter.
• Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn – A psychological thriller featuring chilling twists and disturbing mind games exploring relationship horror and deception.
• Bird Box by Josh Malerman – The apocalypse has come due to an unnamed force that drives those who see it insane and makes survivors live blindfolded.
• The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum – This one is based on true events, and it is a gut-wrenching, chilling story about human rights abuse, suffering, and human cruelty.

Supernatural and Occult Horror

For fans of ghostly spirits, demonic forces, and supernatural beings, these books will creep you out:

• The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson – One of the all-time great haunted house novels, rife with psychological anxiety and spectral reaction.
• House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski – A perplexing novel of horror that experiments with narrative structure, reality, and insanity.
• The Ritual by Adam Nevill – A terrifying mash-up of folklore, isolation, and ancient despairs all very, very deep in the Scandinavian wilderness.
• The Fisherman by John Langan – A literary horror novel that combines elements of cosmic horror with themes of personal grief and loss.

Gory and Extreme Horror

If you have an iron stomach and a taste for really disquieting horror, these books take the art of fear and revulsion as far as it will go:

• American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis – A disturbing psychological horror novel that offers a gruesome insight into the psyche of a psychopath.
• Off Season by Jack Ketchum – A brutal, gruesome tale of cannibalism and survival.
• Exquisite Corpse by Poppy Z. Brite – A deeply disturbing, violent horror novel not for the faint of heart.
• Survivor by J.F. Gonzalez – A terrifying and graphic novel about human depravity and survival against impossible odds.

Cosmic Horror and Lovecraftian Nightmares

For fans of otherworldly horror and cosmic dread, these books explore the terrifying unknown:

• The Call of Cthulhu and Other Weird Stories by H.P. Lovecraft – A selection of stories with cosmic horrors beyond human understanding.
• The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle –A brilliant reworking of Lovecraftian horror with social commentary.
• Revival by Stephen King – A tale of obsession, religion, and horrifying glimpses into the beyond.
• The Fisherman by John Langan – A unique blend of literary fiction and cosmic horror that delivers existential terror.

Conclusion

Read horror and experience the unmatchable feeling of fear, suspense and psychological depth. Whether it’s haunted houses, psychological thrillers, supernatural nightmares or extreme horror, there’s a title in this list that’s gonna keep you awake at night. Enter at your own risk, and, if you must, read these stories, and be prepared to lose a few hours of sleep!