Top 6 horror books for a truly frightful Halloween read

As autumn well and truly descends on the UK, the nights draw in and the weather gets colder, meaning that many of our outdoor summer hobbies need to be exchanged for things we can in the comfort of our own homes.

For me at this time of year, there’s nothing quite like snuggling up on the sofa with a cup of tea and good book. I got back into reading last year after not picking up a single book since I was a teenager, and have been taking things at my own pace, but with so many books having been published in the last 10 years, I’ve already got a “to read” list that’s over 50 books long – and it’s not getting any shorter no matter how much I read.

Horror and fantasy books are my favourite two genres to read, and with Halloween just over a week away, there’s no better time to pick something truly spooky for your next read.

I’ve spent the majority of this month reading scary stories and have a couple more lined up to help me round out the month. And if you’re anything like me and have major choice paralysis when it comes to picking what to read next, then look no further.

Below is a list of six horror stories you can sink your teeth into this Halloween. From short and sweet reads to Stephen King classics, there should be something for everyone.

1. What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher (2022)

Perfect for fans of: short reads, books in a series, retellings of classics.

What Moves the Dead is the first book in the Sworn Soldier series by T. Kingfisher. It tells the story of a retired soldier named Alex Easton who hears that their childhood friend, Madeline Usher, is dying. Alex rushes to be by Madeline’s side at her remote countryside manor, and finds a nightmare comprised of possessed wildlife, a creepy lake, and fungal growths that are taking over.

The novella is just 165 pages long, so it’s perfect for people who want to ease into reading without taking on a mammoth project or for those who want to read a book in one sitting. This is one of the first books I read last year when I got back into reading, and I blitzed through it so fast that it completely re-ignited my love for reading.

It is a retelling of Edgar Allen Poe’s short story, The Fall of the House of Usher, so anyone looking to enjoy the classics without the sometimes stuffy writing of the 1800s may find What Moves the Dead to be more palatable.

While the novella is part of a series, the books are somewhat self-contained, as they follow the same main character in a different setting. There are currently three books in the series, and the most recent, What Stalks the Deep, was released in September this year. I’ve not read that one yet, but it’s my next planned read this month.

2. A Botanical Daughter by Noah Medlock (2024)

Perfect for fans of: classic horror, historical fiction, LGBTQ+ stories.

I’m actually still reading this book, but I already love it so much I have to include it on this list. To me, there’s nothing more creepy than things that can exist in the real world. A book about vampires doesn’t scare me, but a story about plants that have sentience and can take over human bodies? Yeah, that’s terrifying.

A Botanical Daughter isn’t quite that, but it does tell the tale of two gentlemen living in Victorian-era England, one of whom is a botanist and the other, a taxidermist. Together, the pair embark on a Frankenstein-style experiment to create their own daughter made out of plants, mushrooms, and a human corpse.

It’s a great enough adaptation of the classic Frankenstein story in its own right, but add in the underlying story of two Victorian men in love trying to hide their relationship, and it makes for a beautifully tragic tale.

3. The Haar by David Sodergren (2022)

Perfect for fans of: short reads, gory details, sad stories.

The Haar is a fantastic book that covers a lot of complicated subject matter within its humble 206 pages. It follows the story of Muriel McAuley, an elderly Scottish woman whose quiet town is being taken over by an American billionaire.

While that concept of capitalism driving people from their homes is scary and hits a bit too close to home for some people, that’s not the horror element at play in this novel. That would be the titular Haar, a mysterious fog bank that creeps inland and brings with it something sinister.

This is another one I read recently, as I managed to speed through the 206 pages in just two sittings. It starts off very unassuming, but when the horror elements kick off, the book ramps up in a major way. It’s definitely not one for the faint-hearted, as some of the gory details even turned my stomach a bit.

Gore aside, however, this book also made me cry like an absolute baby. How Sodergren managed to turn a bloody horror story into an emotional rollercoaster about an old woman coming to terms with losing her husband and her home, I’ll never know – but I’m very glad that he did.

4. Hide by Kiersten White (2022)

Perfect for fans of: abandoned theme parks, high stakes, creepy children’s games.

Have you ever thought to yourself: What if the children’s game hide-and-seek had real consequences if you were found? Probably not, but that’s the question Hide wants to answer – and it does so very well.

Hide tells the story of 14 contestants who have seemingly been randomly selected to compete in a hide-and-seek contest in an abandoned theme park. If they manage to stay hidden, the prize money is a hefty $50,000. But, as this is a horror book, it’s obviously not a normal game of hide-and-seek.

As contestants get picked off, it becomes increasingly apparent that something sinister is going on as the remaining players try to find out who or what is hunting them down and, more importantly, try to survive.

I’ll admit Hide isn’t the best book on this list, but it’s certainly creative and if you want to read something that sounds like it would make a great horror film one day, this is probably the one you want to reach for.

5. Pet Sematary by Stephen King (1983)

Perfect for fans of: longer reads, horror heavy-hitters, undead tropes.

It wouldn’t be a horror books list without at least one Stephen King novel, would it? I’ll hold my hands up and say that, despite being a prolific reader of horror, I haven’t read many King books. But I have read this one, and I have many more on my list for the future.

Pet Sematary follows the Creed family, specifically patriarch Louis Creed, after they move into a new home. Behind their house is a path that leads to the titular “Pet Sematary”, where children of the surrounding area have buried their beloved pets in years past. When the Creed family experiences their own tragic loss, however, Louis realises that all is not what it seems with the burial site.

In the introduction, Stephen King himself refers to Pet Sematary as the “most frightening book” he’s ever written. He states: “When I’m asked what I consider to be the most frightening book I’ve ever written, the answer I give comes easily and with no hesitation: Pet Sematary.”

You’ll also find plenty of reviews for the book stating the same thing. Now, I didn’t find it all that scary myself, but I may not be the target audience. If you’ve ever lost a pet or a family member and wished for them to come back, this book might just send shivers down your spine as it tells you exactly what could happen if they did.

6. Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle (2024)

Perfect for fans of: horror film tropes, funny reads, LGBTQ+ stories.

Finishing off my list is Bury Your Gays, a story that is just the right amount of scary, funny, and emotional. I listened to the audiobook rather than reading a physical copy, and I would highly recommend it for anyone who wants something to listen to while they do the housework.

The story follows a Hollywood scriptwriter named Misha, who has just been nominated for an Oscar and finally feels as though his life is coming together. However, when his producers pressure him to kill off one of the gay characters in the season finale of his show, he realises there are bigger forces at play – and they’ll stop at nothing to get what they want.

It’s an interesting concept for a horror book, but it works perfectly. If you like horror films, this book takes things one step further, giving you a horror story about the lives of those behind the scenes.

There are so many horror film tropes scattered throughout the book that act more like fun references than boring cliches, and without giving anything away, the ending is a nice change from the often depressing final chapters of most horror books.

So there you have it, six horror books to get you started on your Halloween reading spree!