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The best haunted house books to scare yourself sleepless
Spine-chilling horror and gothic novels where haunted houses are the main attraction.
Published on September 25, 2023
The Spite House: A Novel
Johnny ComptonEric Ross, a desperate father of two daughters, accepts a bizarre proposal: Stay in the notoriously haunted Masson House in Degener, Texas, long enough to document ghostly activity. If Eric can complete the job (and keep his sanity), his money problems are over. In “The Spite House,” a Gothic horror novel told from multiple perspectives, paranormal threats put familial bonds to the test.
Just Like Home
Sarah GaileyCreepy haunted house meets chilling true crime vibes meets cold-blooded serial killer in Gailey’s gothic horror novel. But the real horror here is the dark, dysfunctional family dynamic. When Vera is forced to move back to her childhood home to take care of her dying (and cruel) mother, she must face her serial killer father’s bloody past and the ominous secrets lurking in her family home.
The Babysitter Lives
Stephen Graham JonesCharlotte is hired to babysit six-year-old twins the night before Halloween (already a spooky start) when strange things begin to unfold. At first it seems the twins are tricksters, but something far more sinister lurks in this house with a chilling past. Feel the walls closing in as Jones (“My Heart is a Chainsaw,” “The Only Good Indians”) packs in terrifying revelations and all the classic elements of a satisfying haunted house horror story.
Hell House: A Novel
Richard MathesonMatheson, known for writing some of the most spine-tingling “Twilight Zone” episodes, plays homage to Shirley Jackson’s “The Haunting of Hill House” in this legit scary haunted house novel. Nearing the end of his life, a rich man demands answers to what happens after we die. He hires a team of investigators who set up shop in a house with a ghostly reputation.
A House With Good Bones
T. KingfisherMulti-award-winning author Kingfisher’s dark paranormal thriller mixes Lovecraftian and Southern gothic horror. Beneath the shiny facade of a picture-perfect home lurks a terrifying presence, complete with vultures circling above. When her mom suddenly starts behaving erratically, Sam, an archaeoentomologist, uses her skills to dig into the ominous occurrences.
The Writing Retreat: A Novel
Julia BartzA writing retreat goes horribly wrong in this psychological thriller with gothic undertones. Fledgling writer Alex is invited to a famous author’s creepy manor to compete against four other writers for a publishing contract. But the estate holds sinister secrets, and Alex soon realizes more is at stake than a book deal.
Horrorstor: A Novel
Grady HendrixThink the checkout lines at IKEA are scary? Try spending the night at Hendrix’s fictional version of the furniture megastore where supernatural forces will help you … into the grave. After a wave of mysterious wanton destruction of merchandise, three intrepid employees volunteer to stake out the store overnight to find out who — or what — is behind all the carnage.
Nothing But Blackened Teeth
Cassandra KhawA menacing mansion built on an ancient burial ground. A grisly ghost bride hell-bent on revenge. But Khaw’s haunted house tale influenced by Japanese folklore isn’t your typical horror story. When a group of friends gathers for a destination wedding, they unearth dangerous secrets and unleash blood-thirsty supernatural monsters.
White Smoke
Tiffany D. JacksonSupernatural and societal horrors abound when a blended family moves into a renovated, rent-free house in a Detroit-esque town. Everyone in the neighborhood knows the house’s bad rap, but Marigold, who has anxiety and is trying to avoid relapsing into drug abuse, has to learn the hard way about dealing with ghosts. Jackson proves once again why she has become one of YA’s most esteemed voices.
Kill Creek
Scott ThomasThere’s perhaps no book more perfect for this list than the gothic “Kill Creek.” Some of the biggest horror novelists decide to spend Halloween night at one of the most notorious haunted houses. Obviously, everything goes wrong and it gets very scary, very fast.
Plain Bad Heroines: A Novel
Emily M. DanforthWelcome to a haunted school for girls, the setting of this wickedly good Gothic tale. In the first adult novel from Danforth, author of “The Miseducation of Cameron Post,” a spellbinding story within a story within a story(!) unfolds around the school’s cursed history. This wildly imaginative horror-comedy delights in celebrating the queer and defiant young women it depicts.
The Good House: A Novel
Tananarive DueWritten by Due, a heavyweight in the Black horror genre, “The Good House” takes place in a little town in Washington, where people are enamored with Angela Toussaint’s late grandmother’s house. Angela is hoping that good things will happen when her family decides to stay there for the summer. Instead, a tragedy rips them apart. The novel “tackles the intersection — the collision, really — between violence and young Black manhood,” Nisi Shawl wrote for Tor.
The Turn of the Key
Ruth WareThe modern-day Agatha Christie reimagines “The Turn of the Screw” for the tech era in this atmospheric thriller. A young woman lies about her past to land a dream job working as a nanny in a rich family’s high-tech smart house. But the dream disintegrates into a nightmare when one of the children ends up dead and the nanny is arrested for murder.
The Turn of the Screw
Henry JamesGo back to the source with the chilling story that spawned the haunted house genre: James’ classic horror novella. When a new nanny moves into an isolated manor to take care of two strangely silent kids, spooky secrets begin to unravel about the family and their sinister estate.
What Moves the Dead
T. KingfisherAlex Easton visits old friends Madeline and Roderick Usher after receiving word that Madeline is dying. But something is very wrong at the Usher house, which pulses with fungal life, and the Usher siblings are behaving erratically. Multi award-winning author Kingfisher (“The Twisted Ones”) pens an eerie iteration of Poe’s short story “The Fall of the House of Usher.” It’s an atmospheric horror novella about people and place gone awry — and one friend trying desperately to uncover the truth.
House Next Door
Anne Rivers SiddonsThis is the quintessential haunted house book, except for a of couple important details. The evil house is a modern new build, not some crumbling old manor. And the main characters are the disgruntled next door neighbors. But disruptive construction noises are the least of their problems, when people associated with the home begin to meet horrifying fates. “The House Next Door” rachets up the terror by tapping into suburbia’s dark underbelly.
This Thing Between Us: A Novel
Gus MorenoEqually creepy and stirring, unnerving and unputdownable, Moreno’s horror thriller leaves you exhilarated and terrified. It might even transform your Alexa into the stuff of nightmares. Twisty, darkly funny, and with nods to horror movies, this wholly unique high-tech haunted house novel conjures up the haunting grief of loss and the potential pitfalls of our technology-assisted lives.
House 23: A Thriller
Eli Yance“House 23” is a gory psychological thriller with many layers to peel back before getting to the deepest and darkest secrets. Most community members believe Joseph Lee murdered his wife, which makes him a resentful outcast. Then a new couple moves in across the street, and the wife looks exactly like Joseph's deceased partner.
Maynard's House
Herman RaucherRaucher excels at building suspense in a way that both frightens and enthralls his readers. After Maynard Whittier is killed in action, his friend, Austin, inherits his old cabin tucked away in the backwoods of Maine. What seems like a cozy cabin in the woods turns out to be a terrifying setting for a slow-burn horror. Strange, eerie children, an isolating winter storm, and mysterious forces at work within the house will fill you with dread page by page.
Rosemary's Baby
Ira LevinThis is the novel that has been scaring the pants off generations since it first hit the shelves in 1967. Levin, a bestselling author, tells the story of a young married couple who, after moving into a gothic New York City apartment building, discovers their new neighbors might be Satanists. In the movie version, the haunted building is based on the Dakota, which has a real-life reputation for ghost sightings.
I'm Thinking of Ending Things: A Novel
Iain ReidThis critically acclaimed Canadian thriller is a psychological saga for the ages. As you might guess from the title, Jake’s girlfriend is thinking of leaving him. But first she agrees to go to an awkward dinner with his parents on their farm. Things only get more tense, bizarre, and terrifying as the evening progresses. Netflix’s adaptation diverges from the source text, so it’s well worth a read.
Property of a Lady
Sarah RayneIf you dare, step inside the Charect House, creaking with sinister history and eerie happenings. After Michael’s friends inherit the property, they ask him to check it out and keep an eye on the renovations. Cue strange disturbances from beyond the grave, which prompt Michael to team up with Nell West, a local antiques dealer. Together, they dig into the mysterious and tragic past of the Charect House.
Anna Dressed in Blood
Kendare BlakeIf you’re looking for a highly original spin on horror, “Anna Dressed in Blood” is the book for you. Ghost hunter Cas is on a quest to avenge his father, while ghost girl Anna kills any human who dares to enter the home she haunts. This YA duology has everything: Gruesome twists, romance, and a healthy helping of black humor.
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
Ransom Riggs“Peculiar” is putting it mildly for this chilling YA tale that plays with the power of perceptions. Set on a remote island, gothic X-Men-esque characters inhabit what appear to be the ruins of an old orphanage. This haunted house tale has a very Tim Burton vibe, which is fitting since he adapted it for the big screen.
Coraline
Neil GaimanDelightfully dark, Gaiman’s tale of the curious, brave, and clever Coraline is sinister and suspenseful, yet filled with quirky charm. Curiosity may have killed the cat, but Coraline can’t stop wondering what’s behind the locked door in the strange old mansion her family now calls home. With the author’s own narration of his novella, the unforgettable Coraline vividly comes to life.