Horror bestsellers

Mexican Gothic

“Best book I have read this year. An amazing, gripping tale of a young woman in a strange old house. It's an epic ghost story mixed with some element for "Girl with all the Gifts." Compelling characters and a twist ending that will have you in the edge of your seat until the very end. 10/10 would recommend. ”

Tiffany, Leaves Book and Tea Shop

If you enjoyed The Good House, then you’ll love Lone Women.

“Small historic details and sweeping descriptive vistas place this unusual novel among the most interesting we've read in historical fiction this year. The hell-for-leather plot combined with deeply realized characters make it one of the best, period, and Joniece Abbott-Pratt's unsettlingly calm reading of even the most fantastical elements does the book perfect justice...Good historical fiction will challenge our memories and established stories by showing us more of what happened, to more of the people (including people of color), with more truth about inequality. LaValle, already accomplished in the field, has delivered a genuinely new story that hovers in the realm of parable and races on a thriller's edge. I desperately wish Zora Neale Hurston were here to read it! ”

Nialle, The Haunted Bookshop

A House With Good Bones

“I was pleasantly surprised at how quick and almost light this was despite the book discussing intergenerational trauma and abuse. This is really a credit to the wonderful narrator, Sam, and the comedic tone Kingfisher maintains even in the most perilous of moments. A love letter to mother/daughter relationships AND vultures.”

Audrey, BookWoman

My Heart Is a Chainsaw

“This frequently amusing and ultimately satisfying meta-horror novel follows Jade, a Native high-schooler with no friends, no extant future outside her janitorial job, and a deep love for slasher flicks, which are her coping mechanism in the face of an alcoholic father and absentee mom. Film trivia pervade the narration at every turn, but slasher newbies (like myself) will find the references easier to follow thanks to Jade's essays, presented in between chapters. Soon enough, a series of deaths convince Jade that a real slasher cycle is starting. Is this the overactive imagination of a struggling teen? And if not, what is it? My Heart Is A Chainsaw balances its obligations to both developing real characters of the sort not seen in pulp films, and functioning as a slasher itself, one that will keep you guessing until the end. On the way there, horror tropes are used to examine Native American identity, economic inequity, and childhood trauma. If you're into slashers, this is one you can't afford to miss; otherwise I would suggest listening to a sample to see if the narrational style is up your alley.”

Graham, Next Chapter Booksellers

The Only Good Indians

“I am a person who doesn’t like to be scared. This book left me a little spooked, but in a way that made me smile because it’s so powerful and because the book’s so-called monster has good reason to be so. Stephen Graham Jones’ writing is rhythmic and cool, funny and tender, sometimes ruthless. This work of literary horror is about Blackfeet and basketball, friendship, love, and the torturous knife-twist of regret. Shaun Taylor-Corbett’s narration is perfect—laid back but intense, in the pocket. I enjoyed the hell out of this book.”

Mary, Raven Book Store

Devolution

“This was a blast to read. Kate and Dan Holland have an opportunity to move into an eco-friendly community called Greenloops in the shadow of Mt. Rainier. Kate’s therapist asks her to keep a journal, and this is how their story is preserved. Because after Mt. Rainier erupts, horrible things happen at Greenloops. Really horrible things…”

Ann Nye, Excelsior Bay Books

Leech

“This book slowly builds your sense of vertigo by combining body horror and gothic family drama. To find oneself empathizing with a parasite only heightens the sense of dis-ease. I’m still reeling.”

Keith Glaeske, East City Bookshop

The fiction and poetry of Queer Little Nightmares reimagines monsters old and new through a queer lens, subverting the horror gaze to celebrate ideas and identities canonically feared in monster lit. Throughout history, monsters have appeared in popular culture as stand-ins for the non-conforming, the marginalized of society. Pushed into the... Read more »

How to Sell a Haunted House

“This was truly a creepy and well plotted story. I loved the two narrators, the delivery from both was spot on. If you like a haunted house/ghost story/creepy puppet situation, you won’t be disappointed listening to this. This is my first foray into Grady Hendrix and I was not disappointed! ”

Katie, Whitelam Books

The Final Girl Support Group

“What if gruesome murders like that of I Know What You Did Last Summer, Scream, or The Texas Chain Saw Massacre actually took place? What then happens afterward to the girls who survive the ridiculous combination of crazy guy, improvised weapon, and spooky setting? Nearly 2 decades after their respective brushes with death, these “final girls” still meet in an unamusing church basement in hopes of moving on. But when one of their own ends up dead, it’s possible their pasts have finally come for them. The Final Girl Support Group is a frenzied ride through horror movie tropes come to life. Fans of ‘80s and ‘90s slasher films will get a kick out of this satire mixed with realistic characters and topped off with ample servings of crazy. Grady Hendrix has outdone himself with this novel that runs both hard and fast, as well as realistic and over the top. An entertaining commentary on the slasher genre, through and through.”

Nicholas, Mysterious Galaxy Books

Slewfoot

“A dark and vengeful historical fantasy full of excellent storytelling. This book is both a mystical fairytale, and an intense horror novel that will keep you listening to see what happens next! Fans of Guillermo Del Toro films will devour this book.”

Courtney, Auburn Oil Co. Booksellers

“A masterpiece of supernatural horror.”—The Washington Post
“An enchanting, shattering, once-in-a-lifetime reading experience.”—The New York Times (Editors’ Choice)

GOOD MORNING AMERICA BUZZ PICK • ONE OF TIME AND ESQUIRE’S BEST BOOKS OF 2023 (SO FAR) • A woman’s mysterious death puts her husband and son on a collision course with her demonic... Read more »

Hide

“I've always enjoyed reading Kiersten White's YA so I was eager to pick up her new adult title. Whew! What an exciting ride. I listened to it on Libro.fm as an ALC and I was constantly on edge with this story! I loved all the characters, but especially Mac, Ava, Legrand, and Brandon. I wanted to wrap them all in fluffy blankets so they could finally catch a break but it wasn't meant to be. If the idea of playing hide and seek for your life intrigues you, this is the title for you! ”

Katlin, Story on the Square

Into the Drowning Deep

“In Into the Drowning Deep, Mira Grant has conjured up scary mermaids living in the depths of the Pacific Ocean. An expedition sets out to learn if mermaids truly exist and to uncover the fate of a previous expedition. The new crew is being recorded for a documentary, with the hope it will prove mermaids are real and clear the network of wrongdoing. Both Tory, whose sister was killed on the first expedition, and Jillian, who has been teaching about mermaids for years, are going out on the state-of-the-art ship; however, that ship has one major flaw. You will not look at The Little Mermaid the same way again!”

Jason Kennedy, Boswell Book Company

The Blacktongue Thief

“This book captures everything I loved about high fantasy as a kid without the misogyny and racism. Christopher Buehlman's narration is compelling, his tone and pacing finely honed over his long career touring renaissance festivals. While remaining an utter delight from beginning to end, it is layered with a nuanced and honest exploration of a fantasy realm that doesn't hide its teeth, while always retaining care for characters and readers alike.”

Stephanie, Print: A Bookstore

From the macabre mind of a Bram Stoker Award-nominated author, this heart-pounding novel of horror and psychological suspense takes a ghost hunting reality TV crew into a world they could never have imagined.

Fade to Black is the newest hit ghost hunting reality TV show. Led by husband and wife team Matt and Claire Kirklin, it delivers weekly... Read more »

The Book Eaters

“A deliciously different approach to the vampire story about the power of love and motherhood and the lengths one young mother goes to when she realizes her diet of fairytales is not enough and discovers her insular existence in a patriarchal world is filled with unexpected monsters. It asks what makes for a monster? What does good mean? Who is family? An atmospheric and dark urban fantasy that’s perfect for literary lovers with its creative descriptions of what books taste like. Excellent audiobook.”

Cori, Bright Side Bookshop

This electrifying, chilling sequel to the New York Times bestselling thriller None Shall Sleep focuses on junior FBI consultants Travis Bell and Emma Lewis with a new case that may unravel everything they’ve been working for. 

After a harrowingly close contact with juvenile sociopath Simon Gutmunsson, junior FBI consultants Emma Lewis and Travis... Read more »

Bad Cree

“Bad Cree is a gem. A gore-laden love song dedicated to Aunties, Sisters, Cousins, and Mothers. When nightmares become all too real, there is rarely anyone better to turn to. Jessica Johns' prose is smooth, original, and paints vividly with the imagination; maintaining a delicate tension throughout and propelling the reader forward. Even in this story's most frigid, frightening moments, there is a depth of warmth between these characters that renders this book unforgettable.”

Jack, Raven Book Store

The Haunting of Bly Manor meets House of Salt and Sorrows in award-winning author Kyrie McCauley’s contemporary YA gothic romance about a dark family lineage, the ghosts of grief, and the lines we’ll cross for love. The Sleeping House was very much awake . . .Days after a tragedy leaves Marin Blythe alone in the world, she receives a surprising... Read more »

Bird Box

“Imagine something so terrifying, one glimpse and a person is impulsively driven to commit deadly violence, to oneself and others? Suddenly forced into a world of darkness, covered windows and blindfolds, Malorie must survive for the sake of her unborn child. Finding herself amongst a group of survivors, led by the knowledgeable Tom, Malorie soon learns the threat may not only be outside, but, living inside their house. While switching between the past and present, Josh Malerman's debut novel is a thriller from start to finish. Flash forward to five years later, Malorie is desperate to make a twenty mile journey downriver, blindfolded with the four-year olds, boy and girl. Will their wits and trained ears guide them to salvation or will they encounter the horrific threat that has annihilated most of mankind? Extremely creepy...especially if you are afraid of the dark, like myself!”

Kristin, McLean & Eakin Booksellers

This is the way the world ends: with a nanosecond of computer error in a Defense Department laboratory and a million casual contacts that form the links in a chain letter of death.

And here is the bleak new world of the day after: a world stripped of its institutions and emptied of 99 percent of its people. A world in which a handful of panicky... Read more »

Brought to you by Penguin.

This Penguin Classic is performed by Ben Barnes, star of the film adaptation of Dorian Gray, also known for his roles in Westworld and The Chronicles of Narnia. This definitive recording includes an Introduction by Robert Mighall.

Enthralled by his own exquisite portrait, Dorian Gray exchanges his soul for eternal youth... Read more »

The Last House on Needless Street

“This book was creepy! Ward weaves an intriguing and disturbing tale that at every page has you internally screaming for more (and also mouthing WTF IS HAPPENING). It's weird but clever and the wrap up is unexpected in the traditional horror/thriller world (though some may begin to suspect early on). In audiobook format, this tale lends itself to a terrifying, breath-holding experience as the narrator Christopher Ragland and author Caitriona Ward leave a trail that you can't help but follow though you know there can't be rainbows and puppies at the end.”

Kimi, Buttonwood Books and Toys

Imaginary Friend

“I will admit I was a little afraid to download this one when I saw how many hours I had in store for me but I just couldn't resist a creepy tale on these brisk October nights! Chbosky weaves a fantastic tale of epic good versus evil. A child goes missing, only to turn up 6 days later, completely unharmed but with no memory of his time in the woods. But he is different, smarter, more confident, prone to illness and possibly going crazy. As his mother fights to keep him safe the entire town seems to fall prey to a mysterious illness that seems to have happened once before--ending only with the disappearance of another little boy into the same woods. Will Christopher be able to save the town (and maybe the world) before his time runs out? Will the Nice Man triumph over the Hissing Lady? The Imaginary World begins to bleed into the Real World as Christmas approaches and the town fights for it's very soul.”

Genavieve, Books & Company

Tananarive Due, author of The Living Blood (F0061) won the American Book Award and is praised as Stephen King's equal by Publishers Weekly. In The Good House, Due sets a story of ancient powers and modern retribution in a small Pacific Northwest town. When a young woman returns to her grandmother's empty mansion, she is pitted against demonic... Read more »

STARRED Reviews in Library Journal and Booklist!
A Most-Anticipated Title in CrimeReads, BookRiot, Tor.com, Electric Lit, and more.
Featured in Autostraddle, Apartment Therapy, Goodreads, and more.

Gretchen Felker-Martin's Manhunt is an explosive post-apocalyptic novel that follows trans women and men on a grotesque journey of survival.

“A modern... Read more »

Tell Me I'm Worthless

“The haunted house at the center of the novel is old. It carries a history of violence that has painted its walls both literally and metaphorically with blood. In the contemporary moment of the novel, Alice and Ila are torn—struggling to live their lives while still haunted by the brutally traumatic experience they shared a few years before. In her forward, Rumfitt states the novel is about two things: trauma and fascism. Do not take this warning lightly. It is exacting and precise in its critique of contemporary anti-trans discourse—of rhetoric that is as saturated with hatred and fear as the house at the novel’s center is with blood. TW: Racism, anti-semitism, trans-phobia, sexual assault, self harm, suicide”

Jenni, Mysterious Galaxy Books

The Haunting of Alejandra

“Poignant, relatable and perfectly scary. Raquel Beattie's narration was on point. Don't listen late at night! ”

Maren, Nook & Cranny Books

A Cosmology of Monsters

“When is the last time a horror novel was both scary and charming? A Cosmology of Monsters is that book! Riffing on themes from H.P. Lovecraft and Ray Bradbury, Hamill weaves a complex tale of lost cities, haunted Halloween attractions, and doorways to other worlds. I really enjoyed this literary horror story, which starts out as a love story (don’t ALL good horror tales?) and grows progressively creepier. The book posits the questions: Who are the real monsters, and why do we love to be scared? Truly an uber-creepy yet delightful homage. I loved it.”

William Carl, An Unlikely Story

The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires

“I don’t know about everyone else, but I, for one, am really excited that vampires are making a comeback. I think they’re such a fun trope in pretty much every genre, and this was no exception. True to the Grady Hendrix style, this book was the perfect campy, slightly off-kilter, and moderately gory suburban horror story I didn’t know I needed.”

Kendall, Brilliant Books Audio

His Hideous Heart

“I already enjoy Edgar Allen Poe and his Gothic darkness, and this collection of modern writers choosing a Poe classic was something fresh and interesting. After many of the stories (and one poem), I had to stop to absorb and process before moving on to the next. Sometimes for many days, they were so genuinely thrilling and disturbing. Beautiful, funny, surprising, and affecting, I think Poe would read many of these and see himself in them. On the audiobook, each story was read by a different voice, which was a perfect way to set off each writer's style.”

Kim, Lark & Owl

Stephen King's classic #1 New York Times bestseller and the basis for the massively successful films It: Chapter One and It: Chapter Two as well as inspiration for HBO Max’s upcoming Welcome to Derry—about seven adults who return to their hometown to confront a nightmare they had first stumbled upon as teenagers...an evil without a name: It.... Read more »

The acclaimed national bestseller that is “old-school horror at its best” (Stephen King) follows a scout troop as it is unexpectedly caught up in an isolating and utterly terrifying fight for their lives.

Once every year, Scoutmaster Tim Riggs leads a troop of boys into the Canadian wilderness for a weekend camping trip—a tradition as comforting... Read more »

"The audiobook read by Lauren Ezzo makes for compulsive, edge-of-seat listening." - Buzzfeed

"Ezzo's dark tone and emotional connection terrify and comfort listeners in equal measure. Not for the faint of heart."-AudioFile Magazine

Titanic meets The Shining in S.A. Barnes’ Dead Silence, a SF horror novel in which a woman and her crew board a... Read more »

A darkly funny, frightening novel about a young woman learning how to take what she wants from a witch who may be too good to be true, from the author of The Return.
 
All her life, Annie has played it nice and safe. After being unceremoniously dumped by her longtime boyfriend, Annie seeks a fresh start. She accepts a teaching position that... Read more »

A full-cast audio edition of a perennial favorite—The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, which has sold over one million copies. Special content in this edition includes the story behind The Graveyard Book, written and performed by Neil Gaiman.
The Graveyard Book is the winner of the Newbery Medal and the Carnegie Medal (the only novel to ever win... Read more »

  World War Z: The Complete Edition (Movie Tie-in Edition): An Oral History of the Zombie War is a new version of Max Brooks' episodic zombie novel. The abridged versions of the original stories are now joined with new, unabridged recordings of the episodes that were not included in the original (abridged) version of the audiobook. These... Read more »

Graveyard of Lost Children

“Graveyard of Lost Children, by Katrina Monroe, lives somewhere between a true crime drama and a fairy tale. As the story unfolds, it becomes increasingly unclear if Olivia is experiencing a psychotic break, or if her baby truly was stolen and replaced with a changeling. Monroe has mastered the art of the unreliable narrator - as much as Olivia warns us that she shouldn’t be trusted, and doesn’t even trust herself, we find ourselves drawn into her world, her reality, and her experiences. A haunting and terrifying examination of womanhood, motherhood, postpartum depression, and how families protect themselves, this book is sure to stay with readers for a long time. (Heavy warnings for mental illness and child endangerment, but it is a good book.) ”

Marya, Out West Books

Don't Fear the Reaper

“It is no secret that I will read anything and everything that Stephen Graham Jones puts out. Doesn't matter: book, audiobook, even Tweet. This man is pure genius. I am SO glad to be back in Proofrock and in the slasher-inspired universe. To have a book on my shelf that continues the Lake Witch lore is truly an honor. Each chapter is inspired by a different slasher film and my favorite--which is also the longest--delivers on the gore, the tropes, and the worshiping of the genre. Jade is back and her bad-ass-ness gains steam as the book goes on. I loved the character of Letha and the journey she's gone on. The whole town is pulled into this slasher extravaganza and I was not left disappointed. This book felt like an accelerated growing up for Jade and her friends. The writing style is unparalleled and delivers a horror experience like no other. Seriously, if you haven't read SGJ, drop everything and do it now.”

Lauren, M. Judson Booksellers

NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER • A novel of sensational literary and psychological suspense from the best-selling author of Less Than Zero and American Psycho that tracks a group of privileged high school friends in a vibrantly fictionalized 1980s Los Angeles as a serial killer strikes across the city

“A thrilling page turner from Ellis, who revisits... Read more »

Set in the fictional town of Castle Rock, Maine

Master storyteller Stephen King presents the classic #1 New York Times bestseller about a mysterious store than can sell you whatever you desire—but not without exacting a terrible price in return.

The town of Castle Rock, Maine has seen its fair share of oddities over the years, but nothing is as... Read more »

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Daughter of Doctor Moreau and Mexican Gothic comes a fabulous meld of Mexican horror movies and Nazi occultism: a dark thriller about the curse that haunts a legendary lost film—and awakens one woman’s hidden powers.

“No one punctures the skin of reality to reveal the lurking, sinister magic... Read more »

Deep in the heart of Appalachia stands a crooked farmhouse miles from any road. The Morrows keep to themselves, and it's served them well so far. When girls go missing off the side of the highway, the cops don't knock on their door. Which is a good thing, seeing what's buried in the Morrows' backyard.

But nineteen-year-old Michael Morrow isn't... Read more »

“This impressively bleak vision of the near future is as grotesquely amusing as it is grim.” ― Publishers Weekly STARRED REVIEW

 “A gripping tour-de-force torn from tomorrow’s headlines.” ― David Demchuk, author of Red X and The Bone Mother

“A bold dystopian novel that captivates with its dread and depth. The Marigold is unhinged literary horror... Read more »

You Can't See Them. But They Can See You.
This forest isn't charted on any map. Every car breaks down at its treeline. Mina's is no different. Left stranded, she is forced into the dark woodland only to find a woman shouting, urging mina to run to a concrete bunker. As the door slams behind her, the building is besieged by screams.
Mina finds... Read more »

"Timely, thrilling, and gripping from start to finish. An absolute page-turner." --Karen M. McManus, #1 New York Times bestselling author of One of Us Is LyingJay is living his best life at Karloff Country, one of the world's most famous resorts. He's got his family, his crew, and an incredible after-school job at the property's main theme park.... Read more »

John Dies at the End is a genre-bending, humorous account of two college drop-outs inadvertently charged with saving their small town—and the world—from a host of supernatural and paranormal invasions.Stop.You should not have touched this flyer with your bare hands.No, don’t put it down. It’s too late. They’re watching you.My name is David Wong.... Read more »

What Moves the Dead

“This was one of the best retellings of The Fall of The House of Usher I’ve ever read. Between the representation and the absolutely witty humor and excellently horrifying descriptions. This was an absolute joy to read. Also, half way through the book I learn that Avi Roque narrates the audiobook and I will listen to anything he narrates, because he’s: Just. That. Good. He added the right vibe and feel that this book begs to have. Now, no one talk to me about mushrooms for the next week or so, I’m temporarily horrified by them.”

Armilene, Rediscovered Books

Two terrifying classics by “the best kept secret in contemporary horror fiction” (The Washington Post)
 
Thomas Ligotti’s debut collection, Songs of a Dead Dreamer, and his second, Grimscribe, permanently inscribed a new name in the pantheon of horror fiction.  Influenced by the strange terrors of Lovecraft and Poe and by the brutal absurdity of... Read more »