Scary horror novels

[Charlie Payne]

Dark Matter by Michelle Paver scared me!

 

[BAYLOR]

Dark Matter by Michelle Paver scared me!

Waking the Moon by Elizabeth Hand excellent book

Also , The Keep by Robert Charles Wilson

 

[Foundr]

Is anyone scared by horror novels? This isn't a post criticising the genre, I don't read many horror novels just because I don't think they could achieve what I think they set out to do. However, I could be wrong in their intentions.

Are horror stories meant to be scary or just have a horror implication? (like *real* vampires attacking kids or monsters from the bog stalking the abandoned amusement park etc.).

The last novel that freaked me out was Phantoms by Dean Koontz. Before that, it was probably R. L. Stine and his Goosebumps (that's how long ago I am talking).

Try My house of horrors. It's a Chinese novel translated into English by a master translator, I'm pretty sure it could give you some scare if you read it at night

 

[BigBadBob141]

Stephen King's "The Shining" creeped the hell out of me as did James Herbert's "The Spear" but then I was a hell of a lot younger then, recently S.Ks. "Duma Key" had its moments, these are all good horror books, all recommended!

 

[BAYLOR]

Stephen King's "The Shining" creeped the hell out of me as did James Herbert's "The Spear" but then I was a hell of a lot younger then, recently S.Ks. "Duma Key" had its moments, these are all good horror books, all recommended!

You might like James Herberts novel Shrine what has been adapted for the big screen as The Unholy.

Also The Hungry Moon. This one starts a bit slow, but build up very quickly . This a really wonderful creepy horror novel . Also by Ramsey Campbell I vey highly recommend his short story Down There. The Seed From the Sepulchre by Clark Ashton Smith . That's a fun little horror story.

 

[Randy M.]

Just finished Kill Creek by Scott Thomas, a variation on the haunted house story, the premise of which reminds me a little of Richard Matheson's Hell House. It's another that starts slowly but begins to build and has some harrowing moments.

 

[Phyrebrat]

Stephen King's "The Shining" creeped the hell out of me as did James Herbert's "The Spear" but then I was a hell of a lot younger then, recently S.Ks. "Duma Key" had its moments, these are all good horror books, all recommended!

Duma Key is sublime. I couldn't say how many times I've read it. The lawn jockey (no spoilers) has stayed with me ever since.

 

[nixie]

I think I'm turning into a monster, my son's friend has been diagnosed with covid. He called my son to ask if he would get some books of me and drop them at gate.
I've sent a couple of Stephen King's, The Stand, Cell also Nora Roberts The One trilogy.
He did say he likes horror.

 

[paranoid marvin]

I do think it is difficult to write a full length horror novel, particularly because you cannot keep the 'horror' going over 400+ pages. here has to be background and a slow build up of tension , which is why I class most of King's work as 'thriller'. On the other hand , his shorter stories (and those of the like of MR James, Poe etc) which can be told in one sitting over the course of 20-30 minutes can cut to the chase and keep a sense of foreboding, suspense and horror throughout.

Probably the closest full length book that keeps the tension high throughout is James Herbert's 'Domain'. I've read many others, none seem to come close to this intensity.

 

[BAYLOR]

I do think it is difficult to write a full length horror novel, particularly because you cannot keep the 'horror' going over 400+ pages. here has to be background and a slow build up of tension , which is why I class most of King's work as 'thriller'. On the other hand , his shorter stories (and those of the like of MR James, Poe etc) which can be told in one sitting over the course of 20-30 minutes can cut to the chase and keep a sense of foreboding, suspense and horror throughout.

Probably the closest full length book that keeps the tension high throughout is James Herbert's 'Domain'. I've read many others, none seem to come close to this intensity.

While not strictly horror I think you might like The Frankenstein series by Dean Koontz . It comprise 5 books . In the seres ,the main villain is Victor Frankenstein who has a really has horrific plan for the world . Opposing him, is his first creation The Monster known as Deucalion. They've been battling it out down centuries. It's got both humor , horror action and suspense . For me ,it was fun read.

 

[Droflet]

Hell House by Richard Matheson. I'm not normally into scary books but it's Matheson, so I enjoyed the scary ride.