Determining the ten scariest horror novels I’ve read seemed like an impossible task. A task fraught with potential for criticism. What scares me may not scare you. Yet I feel the ten horror novels I chose are universally agreed upon as damn scary and well worth the read.
If you don’t see one of your favorites on this list, don’t fret. It might be that I haven’t read it yet or consider your favorite to be just outside my top-ten.
Let’s get right into the list. Tell me if you agree with my selections. Are these some of the scariest horror novels you’ve read?
#10. Silence of the Lambs – Thomas Harris
Although Thomas Harris experienced a great amount of success with his first two novels, Red Dragon and Silence of the Lambs, his popularity exploded with the release of Silence of the Lambs in movie theaters. Although the movie is an all-time horror classic, Harris’s book is even better. Get to know Agent Starling and Hannibal Lecter with your mind’s eye as the camera. As much as I love the movie, it cannot compare to the book.
#9. It – Stephen King
Even those who’ve never read It know who Pennywise is. If you were put off by the original movie, starring Tim Curry, you owe it to yourself to read King’s classic. It combines the coming of age prowess of The Body (Stand by Me) with vintage King horror. The result is an epic, horrifying novel.
#8. Books of Blood 1 – Clive Barker
Clive Barker burst upon the scene with Books of Blood 1, a horrifying anthology of short stories which broke new ground for creativity and macabre imagery. My personal favorite from his first collection is In the Hills, the Cities. What a ghastly vision! Barker is a prose master, the most literary horror writer to ever pick up a pen. Definitely deserves mention among the scariest horror novels ever written.
#7. Red Dragon – Thomas Harris
Where it all began. Before Silence of the Lambs, there was Red Dragon, Thomas Harris’s classic horror and detective thriller masterpiece. Red Dragon inspired the movie, Manhunter, with William Peterson, and eventually, Red Dragon, with Ed Norton and Anthony Hopkins. Brilliantly written, Red Dragon leaves you breathless. You will forever fear The Tooth Fairy.
#6. Pet Sematary – Stephen King
The classic novel which inspired the movie of the same name, Pet Sematary asks us how far we would go if the ones we loved most were taken from us. If we could bring them back from the dead, would we dare? As a father of two children and pets, I experience a great deal of anguish from King’s classic novel. Not only is it heart-wrenching, it is also damn scary.
#5. Off Season – Jack Ketchum
Jack Ketchum’s debut novel, Off Season, revolted critics and thrilled horror fans. A tale of primitive cannibals secretly living along the Maine coast, Off Season is gruesome, unrelenting, and twisted. In one novel, a star was born in Ketchum.
#4. Funland – Richard Laymon
Richard Laymon was stolen from us too soon. During his abbreviated life, he penned classic, gruesome horror novels which built a cult following among insatiable readers. Many of Laymon’s novels were candidates for my personal top-ten. Funland might be his scariest novel. Set at a California boardwalk carnival overrun by vagrants, Funland is brutal and creepy, exactly what Laymon fans have come to expect.
#3. Salem’s Lot – Stephen King
Not the first vampire horror novel, but probably the best. Stephen King’s second novel follows the sleepy town of Salem’s Lot. Part haunted house story and part vampire horror, King’s Salem’s Lot is a classic. From its believable characters and locations to its creepy horror, Salem’s Lot never disappoints. I read this one, at least, a few times per decade.
#2. Intensity – Dean Koontz
I’ve always considered Dean Koontz more of a thriller writer than a horror writer. When he’s made the choice to delve into pure horror, Koontz has always managed to produce magic. Intensity is arguably the most-frightening novel ever written and easily Koontz’s best. A non-stop roller coaster ride which lives up to its title, Intensity combines a strong character arc with slasher elements. Koontz’s book clearly inspired the movie, Haute Tension, in this reviewer’s opinion. Definitely one of the scariest horror novels I’ve read.
#1. The Girl Next Door – Jack Ketchum
Hands down, the scariest novel I’ve ever read. No other novel made me feel this tense or helpless. There is a reason Stephen King referred to Jack Ketchum as the scariest man in America. Ketchum’s The Girl Next Door explores the darkest recesses of humanity. If the book isn’t frightening enough for you, consider that The Girl Next Door is based on a true story. If that fact doesn’t revolt you, nothing will.
How Did I Do?
Let me know if you agree with my selections.
What are the ten scariest novels you’ve read? List your favorites in the comments, and let’s get the discussion underway.
11 thoughts on “The Ten Scariest Horror Novels I’ve Read”
An excellent list. Apparently our libraries are similarly stocked!
Good to know, Tom. Glad you liked the list.
Dan have you ever read this series?
https://www.goodreads.com/series/42594-the-devil
I was totally enthralled with these. Loved them for years. Shame this man taken too soon too.
Wolf.
No, but I’m already intrigued. Thank you.
Your welcome. He had several books also not in series that were excellent too.
Great list love them all. Awesome choices, I have read them all and can’t disagree on any of them. Here is link to my list
http://www.booksbooksbooksandcoffee.com/2016/10/happy-halloween-i-choose-my-20-favorite.html?m=1
Good list, Abraham. Can’t argue with any of yours, either!
Your list is great, and your #1 is the same as mine. Let me give the rest of it a shot (not ranked…I’ve read over 100 books a year-mostly horror- since high school and I’m currently 38…so just getting it down to ten is an accomplishment)
2: The Troop, Nick Cutter
3: Bird box, josh malerman
4: In the Dark, Richard Laymon
5: Survivor, JF Gonzalez
6: the Resurrectionist, Wrath James White
7: Song of Kali, Dan Simmons
8: Darknet, John Little
9: the summer I died, ryan c Thomas
10: exorcist road/exorcist falls, jonathan janz
Now, this isn’t a list of my favorites (although there are some that are in that list too) but the ones that I though were scary/suspenseful
Thank you, Jason. I may revise this list at some point, as I very much enjoyed Widow’s Point by Richard and Billy Chizmar, and Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay. Your list is great. Love Jonathan Janz.
Hey Dan!
Wow, totally forgot that I replied to this post; I would’ve mentioned it at STC this past weekend. And you’re right on both: I loved Widow’s Point, and I’d forgotten to include Head Full of Ghosts. But we both already know that we have similar tastes in horror AND music. Thanks for making STC great for me
Great to meet you, Jason. Are you coming back for 2019?