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10 Scary Good Horror Novels to Add to Your Reading List

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Horror comes in many forms, meaning there’s a wealth of spine-tingling tales of terror beyond streaming and VOD. Sometimes a great horror novel can deliver the chills in ways other mediums of the genre cannot.

Whether you’re combating cabin fever or simply looking for a new author to add to your reading pile, these ten scary good horror novels deliver. 


“A Head Full of Ghosts” – Paul Tremblay

With the recent news of an adaptation starring Margaret Qualley with direction by Scott Cooper (Antlers), there’s no better time than now to get acquainted with the terrifying source material. Tremblay, a modern master of ambiguous terror, weaves a compelling and brisk read about a suburban family torn apart thanks to the emergence of acute schizophrenia in their teen daughter. Or is it something demonic? A Head Full of Ghosts is a mind-bending tale that offers jaw-dropping shocks, and it’s penned by an author well versed in horror cinema. 


“The Fisherman” – John Langan

If you’re in the mood for a dark folktale that weaves together intersecting timelines, otherworldly creatures, and cosmic dread, this is a must. Abe and Dan are two friends bonded by extreme loss, and a roadside stop on the way to their fishing trip causes them to alter course for Dutchman’s Creek, a place of legend and magic. The potential to have their losses wiped clean proves too strong, but the steep price they pay after may not be worth it. Cosmic horror on an epic and massively creative scale.


“Meddling Kids” – Edgar Cantero

In 1977, the teen detectives of the Blyton Summer Detective Case and their Weimaraner cracked open a significant case that leaves a costumed culprit behind bars for a very long time. Cut to thirteen years later, and the gang has long split up. None of them faring well in adulthood. Police want one of the members across multiple states, another battles alcoholism, and another has spent many years in Arkham Asylum. Nightmares and the suicide of the fourth member bring the gang back together to retrace the steps of their last case; there was something much worse than a masked man behind it all. Something otherworldly and Lovecraftian, and it wants free. Cantero remixes the Scooby-Doo setup with Lovecraftian terror, merging light-hearted horror with Dagon-like beasts. He avoids the pitfalls of oversaturating the prose in pop-culture references in favor of earnestness and action-horror.


“The Hunger” – Alma Katsu

Everyone is familiar with the ill-fated Donner Party that resorted to cannibalism on the Oregon Trail after a series of mishaps. Katsu takes the well-documented tragedy and gives the historical tale a supernatural horror spin. After introducing a slew of characters in the Donner Party wagon train, the bubbling factions among the group, and a series of early signs of the future derailment, children start to go missing and mutilated bodies of livestock and humans pop up along the way. The group ignores all warning signs of danger, but what is the threat? Is Tamsin Donner truly an evil witch? Are the Native Americans responsible? Or is the land cursed by evil?


“Flight or Fright: 17 Turbulent Tales” – edited by Stephen King and Bev Vincent

If you’re in the mood for bite-sized horror, authors Stephen King and Bev Vincent curated seventeen tales inspired by the fear of flying. It’s an anthology of every possible thing that could go wrong in the air, both supernatural and realistic. Flight of Fright offers an eclectic mix of classic stories from the likes of Richard Matheson, Ray Bradbury, Roald Dahl and Dan Simmons, as well as brand new tales from Stephen King, Joe Hill, and more.


“The Remaking” – Clay McLeod Chapman

Ella Louise and her daughter, Jessica, were horrifically burned at the stake by the townsfolk of Pilot Creek. Their story and the cursed land where it took place became the stuff of urban legend to be passed along at the campfire. Urban legends have an exciting way of growing and evolving, and The Remaking follows how this particular tale transforms every twenty years. From the basis of a ‘70s horror movie to a modern retelling in the ‘90s and beyond, lives are irrevocably shattered. Ella Louise and Jessica intend to live on through story. Unusual narrative structure aside, Chapman marks himself as a definite horror movie fan with character names like Janet Strode and a detailed world steeped in horror movie sets and conventions.


“Full Throttle” – Joe Hill

A collection of thirteen shorts by an author quickly on his way to becoming just as prolific as his dad, Stephen King, this hefty tome from Joe Hill has something for everyone. If you’re all caught up on “Creepshow” on Shudder, then read Hill’s original “By the Silver Water of Lake Champlain,” which served as the basis for Tom Savini’s segment. If you’ve seen Netflix’s In the Tall Grass, then definitely be sure to read the story Hill co-wrote with King, included here.


“The Sun Down Motel” – Simone St. James

After her parents’ divorce, Viv Delaney winds up at the Sun Down Motel as the night clerk. She’s hoping to save up enough money to move to New York, but instead, she finds herself drawn into a mystery thanks to the ghosts that haunt the place. Thirty-five years later, Viv’s niece arrives looking for her missing aunt’s whereabouts. Like her aunt, she winds up working as the night clerk at the Sun Down Motel, drawn into the same ghosts and mysteries. She may not realize the danger she’s in until far too late. A suspense-driven mystery, the supernatural elements are spooky and prominent, but this is more horror adjacent. Think something in the vein of Stir of Echoes.


“The Boatman’s Daughter” – Andy Davidson

An atmospheric southern gothic tale, this story follows Miranda, a drug smuggler in the bayou. Her job means she runs afoul of the most unsavory types, but Miranda is resourceful and was raised by a witch. She’s going to need to rely on everything she learned when she falls in too deep with a deranged preacher and his flock. Brooding, elaborate prose, and eerie in setting, Davidson wants to ensure readers vividly see, hear, and feel the haunting swamplands. Gorgeous as it is violent, The Boatman’s Daughter is perfect for those looking for a lush, eerie fairytale.


“The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires” – Grady Hendrix

The latest by gifted storyteller Grady Hendrix, set for release on April 7, touts itself as Fried Green Tomatoes and Steel Magnolias meet Dracula. Set in the ‘90s, of course. For Patricia, the only thing she looks forward to in her life is her book club, a group of mothers united by their passion for true crime novels. A handsome new stranger in the neighborhood brings the book club a new source of gossip and speculation. However, Patricia sets him as the prime suspect in her personal investigation when children go missing. If the title is any indication, he’s not human. 

Horror journalist, RT Top Critic, and Critics Choice Association member. Co-Host of the Bloody Disgusting Podcast. Has appeared on PBS series' Monstrum, served on the SXSW Midnighter shorts jury, and moderated horror panels for WonderCon and SeriesFest.

Books

‘In Search of Darkness’ Book Review: A Must-Have for ’80s Horror Fans

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In 2019, the documentary of 80s horror In Search of Darkness became an instant hit with horror fans. Now, a beautiful coffee table style companion book is available and is a must-own for all fans of one of horror’s greatest eras. The book is a walk down the horror aisle of the best mom and pop video store in the heyday of VHS, featuring full color photos, poster art, insightful essays and more. More than just a nostalgic throwback, In Search of Darkness is the kind of book I wish I’d had back in my years as a burgeoning horror fan but is also satisfying for the film fanatic I have become in the years since.

The format is beautifully and simply laid out, with at least a dozen (usually more) movies from each year of the decade presented in order of release accompanied by informative and insightful essays by the authors Heather Wixson and Patrick Bromley. Both authors have been mainstays of film journalism, specializing in horror, for many years. Wixson began her career in 2007 with Dread Central and has spent the past ten years as the Managing Editor of Daily Dead, from which she recently retired to focus on books and other projects. She has devoted the past several years to interviewing and writing books about the Make-up and Special Effects wizards that have brought so much to film over the years, specifically the horror genre.

Bromley is a film journalist and critic whose work can be found all over the place including right here on Bloody Disgusting. He recently provided the commentary for the Vinegar Syndrome release of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 and is known as something of a Tobe Hooper expert. He is also the founder and editor of F this Movie!, an eclectic film website, and host of its accompanying podcast. So, to be clear, the authors know their stuff.

Wixson and Bromley divide writing duties roughly in half and though each has a distinctive voice, their writing styles dovetail beautifully into a cohesive whole. Each author plays to their strengths. Being familiar with both their work I didn’t even have to look at the bylines to know that Heather covered Christine and Terror in the Aisles and Patrick took on The Funhouse and Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers. Wixson’s passion for make-up effects is clear and comes through in many of her contributions. In general, Wixson takes on the “big” titles, the movies that defined the decade the most, and Bromley covers what the more cynical among us might call schlock, but he would likely call pure cinematic bliss. There are exceptions and surprises, of course, as there should be (Patrick covers The Shining for example). Each essay dives into the history behind the film, the major players involved, the reception, and legacy with often surprising aspects drawn from interviews with the filmmakers from various sources and insights from the authors.

For all their in-depth explorations of each film, in general the authors keep their critics’ hats safely stowed, keeping in mind that every entry on the book has its fans. In fact, they may well have sold me on finally hitting play on some of the schlockier offerings of the decade like Evilspeak, Nightbeast, and Blood Diner. Hell, I may even give The Beast Within a spin for shits and giggles. The point is that this book is a celebration through and through. The authors are honest about the critical receptions of the films, which were often unkind, and sometimes let their own opinions shine through, but recognize how beloved even the schlockiest films can become given time and availability. And that is an ongoing theme of In Search of Darkness. What may have been dismissed in its day often becomes revered as the years pass. Variations on the phrase “the years have been kind to…” referring to various maligned projects like The Thing, Halloween III: Season of the Witch, The Blob and many, many others, can be found throughout the book for good reason.

Each chapter of the book also includes a rundown of the top horror movies at the box office for the year as well as the top movies of all genres for context. The final page for each year highlights some of the major news and pop culture events including the top songs, albums, and television shows. There is a large central section that pays tribute to the talent involved with the greatest horror films of the 80s including directors, actors, effects artists, and more. This section includes brief biographies of John Carpenter, Wes Craven, Stephen King, Tom Savini, Barbara Crampton, Robert Englund, and many others presented in a dynamic and engaging fashion.

One of the beauties of the book is that it covers so much ground. Sure, you’ll find Friday the 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Hellraiser, and the Halloween sequels in it, but you’ll also find deeper cuts like The Changeling, The Being, and Tetsuo: The Iron Man. I was happy to find the same love given to Frank Henenlotter and Larry Cohen as to George A. Romero and David Cronenberg. In other words, In Search of Darkness is extraordinarily eclectic, highlighting the diversity that truly defined what is often viewed as a homogenous decade. The authors make the case that the 80s was horror’s greatest decade, and with what they lay out throughout this book, it’s tough to argue against that. I even came across a film or two I hadn’t even heard of before, which has become increasingly rare as the years go by.

At just shy of $85, the cover price may give some horror hounds pause, but believe me, it’s worth every penny. This is a beautiful volume that every fan of 80s horror will want on their shelf or prominently displayed on their coffee table. Filled with favorite titles, hundreds of full color photos, insightful and informative writing, this is simply a must own.

You can order your copy now.

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