23 Creepy Books We Think You Should Pick Up For The Season Of Spooks
Here's to sleepless nights for all of us this October!
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1. The Damnation Game by Clive Barker.
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Why you'll love it: Written in 1985, this books combines horror, romance and fantasy to create a dark, little package you won't be able to put down. Just a word of warning: Don't read this before bed, or if you've got a queasy stomach around gory imagery.
Buy the paperback now on Amazon Australia for $19
2. Where The Wild Ladies Are by Aoko Matsuda.
Why you'll love it: If you're a big fan of Japanese folklore, or folklore in general, you'll absolutely devour this book. It's a delightful collection of short stories that explore the lives and minds of women who, may or may not be technically human, or alive for that matter. It's slightly more lighthearted than some of the books on this list, but a must for horror lovers with a soft spot for Japanese lore.
Buy the paperback now on Amazon Australia for $23.60.
3. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson.
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Why you'll love it: If you loved the Netflix adaptation of this book, there's no doubt in my mind that you won't be able to put this one down. Stephen King described the experience of reading this novel equivalent to “stepping into the mind of a madman”.
Buy the paperback edition for $18.11 or the Kindle edition for $0.99 from Amazon Australia.
4. Audition by Ryu Murakami.
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Why you'll love it: This gory and suspenseful read is best enjoyed in a single setting. Though the plot seems to be incredibly transparent, you'll still find yourself completely captivated in the protagonist's world, turning page after page to see what's going to happen next.
Buy the paperback edition for $22.60 or the Kindle edition for $14.71 from Amazon Australia.
5. Sticks and Stones by Katherine Firkin.
Why you'll love it: If you're not quite into spooky stories just yet, but want to jump out of your regular genre zone, give this crime fiction story a go. Written by Aussie author Katherine Firkin, this book takes you from a standard missing persons case to a serial killer investigation. You'll constantly be kept on the edge of your seat wishing you could scream at the characters "Get out of there!".
Buy the paperback edition for $16 or the Kindle edition for $12.99 from Amazon Australia.
6. You by Caroline Kepnes.
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Why you'll love it: You may recognise this title from the Netflix original but trust me when I say the book is in a ballpark of its own. Not only does it have the most insanely clever title I've ever seen,
"What are you reading?"
"You"
"What?!"
— it's also clever, gripping and wonderfully written. Despite his faults, Joe is an insanely likeable character and will have you on his side no matter how desperately you want to hate him. If you're after something a little more lighthearted that won't keep you up at night, this is the book for you.
The second book, Hidden Bodies, is also phenomenal — check it out here.
Buy the paperback edition for $16.95 or the Kindle edition for $9.99 on Amazon Australia.
7. The Hunger by Alma Katsu.
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Why you'll love it: Katsu’s The Hunger is based on the true story of American pioneers who took a dodgy shortcut on their way to California through the mountains. The thriller has twists, turns and supernatural elements that are sure to send a chill down your spine.
Buy the paperback edition for $17.25 or the Kindle edition for $12.99 from Amazon Australia.
8. Tiny Nightmares: Very Short Tales of Horror edited by Lincoln Michel and Nadxieli Nieto.
Why you'll love it: If you prefer bite-sized tales that'll make the hair on the back of your neck stand up to the longer counterpart, you'll adore this collection of short stories. I highly recommend curling up during this wonderfully stormy weather with a warm tea and keeping your lights on when you're enjoying this bad boy.
Buy the paperback edition from Booktopia for $31.25 or the Kindle edition from Amazon Australia for $15.44.
9. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier.
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Why you'll love it: You may have seen the film by Hitchcock, but Rebecca is an incredible piece of gothic literature that goes down perfectly on a rainy day with a great big mug of tea. It's a cult classic and must-read if you enjoy any part of the genre.
Buy the paperback edition for $17.25 or the Kindle edition for $11.99 on Amazon Australia.
10. Either Side of Midnight by Benjamin Stevenson.
Trigger warning: The plot of this book centres on suicide, the coercion to commit suicide and mental health. If you, or someone you know needs help please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue.
Why you'll love it: This thriller takes the classic crime novel and twists it. If someone kills themselves on TV, how can it possibly be murder? Stevenson takes you on a journey that delves into mystery and the TV world —it'll keep you guessing right up until the last possible minute.
Buy the paperback edition for $16 or the Kindle edition for $12.99 on Amazon Australia.
11. We Need To Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver.
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Why you'll love it: The way that this book was written is both wonderful and incredibly haunting. It's packaged as a series of letters from a trouble mother to her husband and generates quite the debate on nature versus nurture. So if you like page turners that make you think, this one is for you.
Buy the paperback edition for $17.25 or the Kindle edition for $13.29 from Amazon Australia.
12. Ghost Story by Peter Straub.
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Why you'll love it: Stephen King himself described this book as one of the best supernatural novels of the 20th century and it really is that good. It has all the tropes that any great horror novel should contain — a small town, a group of characters with a dark past and an evil presence. This is definitely a book for the ages that can be read over and over again.
Buy the paperback edition for $24.99 or the Kindle edition for $13.99 from Amazon Australia.
13. The Ruins by Scott Smith.
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Why you'll love it: It doesn't get any more ~classic horror~ than this Scott Smith novel. The main characters set off on a journey that they're 100% not prepared for and, of course, it all goes to hell. The book is gripping, the plot flows well and you'll put this book down feeling satisfied.
Buy the paperback edition for $20.87 from Amazon Australia.
14. Nightmare Abbey by Thomas Love Peacock.
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Why you'll love it: If you enjoyed Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, you'll definitely get a kick out of Nightmare Abbey. This gothic satire novel is not exclusively a ~horror~ book. In fact, a lot of people would argue the opposite, but it's still compelling, charming and hilarious.
Buy the paperback edition for $9.30 or the Kindle edition for FREE from Amazon Australia.
15. The Woman in Black by Susan Hill.
Why you'll love it: Although the theme of this book aren't explicitly terrifying, it's so well-written that it'll end up transporting you to a place in your head that's hard to forget. It's not the scariest ghost story you'll ever read, but it's the perfect book to get you into the Halloween spirit.
Buy the paperback edition for $13.35 or the Kindle edition for $3.99 on Amazon Australia.
16. The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty.
Why you'll love it: The Exorcist was originally published in the 1970s and has had a significant cultural impact since its release. The movie was the source of everyone's worst nightmares and the book is just as chilling, which makes it perfect to read this spooky season.
Buy the paperback edition for $15.42 or the Kindle edition for $4.99 from Amazon Australia.
17. The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe.
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Why you'll love it: Poe's short stories are some of the best in the game and The Fall of the House of Usher is no different. It's complex, mesmerising and possibly the creepiest haunted house story you'll ever read. It also manages to be both terrifying and delightful, which cannot be said for many books in the horror genre.
Buy this and other Poe tales with the paperback for $24.04 or the Kindle edition for FREE from Amazon Australia.
18. Summer of Night by Dan Simmons.
19. Pet Sematary by Stephen King.
Why you'll love it: The slow-burn suspense of Pet Sematary will have you on edge the entire time you're reading (or listening). And trust me, it's worth every stressful moment. If you haven't read this one yet, get onto it ASAP.
Buy the paperback edition for $18.68 or the Kindle edition for $12.99 on Amazon Australia.
20. Coraline by Neil Gaiman.
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Why you'll love it: As far as horror book characters go, Coraline is a favourite among fans. This quirky, yet incredibly creepy book, features an independent, clever and curious protagonist who you just can't help but adore. Although it's technically a children's book, Coraline has its own dark and twisted storyline that will, without a doubt, have a permanent spot in your heart.
Buy the paperback edition for $15.03 or the Kindle edition for $7.77 on Amazon Australia.
21. Carrion Comfort by Dan Simmons.
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Why you'll love it: Though this book seems like quite the beast to tackle, it will keep you captivated throughout. The plot is fantastic, the characters are well developed and the concepts explored are thrilling, making the length of the book absolutely worth it.
Buy the paperback edition for $25.77 or the Kindle edition for $11.99 on Amazon Australia.
22. The Haunted: True Stories for the Ghost Lover's Soul by L. Sydney Fisher.
Why you'll love it: If you love short stories and true ghostly encounters, then look no further. This compilation of mysterious ghost stories will have you questioning every dark corner in your house or wanting to go on a ghost hunt immediately.
Buy the paperback edition for $16.59 or the Kindle edition for FREE on Amazon Australia.
23. The Hypnotist (Joona Linna, Book 1) by Lars Kepler.
Why you'll love it: Translated from Scandinavian, this book will give you absolutely everything you need if you enjoy creepy crime thrillers. The timelines are exhilarating and the storylines are so captivating that you'll soon be deeply invested in this investigative tale.
Buy the paperback edition for $17.50 or the Kindle edition for $11.99 on Amazon Australia.
Oh, and if you're one of those people that prefers to ~listen~ to your books, you can grab them from Audible Australia! Plus the first one's free (and who doesn't love a freebie?).