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Books to read if you’re a Stephen King fan
Horror novels fit for fans of Stephen King — some recommended by King himself.
Published on May 19, 2023
It
Stephen KingKing captures the magic of childhood, and lifts the reader’s spirit high with his depiction of the shielding power of friendship in the face of evil for a group of grammar school kids. The book breaks your heart, too, floating to the surface the pain kids suffer as they grow aware of the failures of their would-be adult protectors. “It” will terrify you — in a good way. It’s gotten several movie adaptations for a reason.
Pet Sematary
Stephen KingRead the novel the author himself found utterly terrifying. “Pet Sematary” pushes the boundaries of the horror genre, bringing every parent’s worst nightmare to life in a shocking combination of trauma and loss, the dead and undead.
The Ruins
Scott SmithSuspense and horror build page by page in this vacation thriller following a group of American tourists living it up on summer vacation in Cancun. When a fellow tourist’s brother goes missing while in search of archaeological ruins, the Americans set out on a jaunt into the jungle to help locate the missing man. From there, everything goes to hell and a terrifying, ancient presence makes itself known in what King called "the best horror novel of the new century.”
The Clown Brigade
Stephen Graham JonesWhen Kyle plans to surprise Jenna with a romantic weekend to help him get over Steph — who's still his go-to spin cycle instructor — he doesn’t anticipate the turbulent flight, uncooperative security, or so many clowns creeping around. Jones (“The Only Good Indians”) takes on the maddening and sometimes deadly consequences of living and loving online, and the power of our delusions, in this chilling Scribd Original.
Baby Teeth: A Novel
Zoje StageHanna loves her dad. Her mom? Not so much. In fact, she’d do anything to be the one-and-only in her father’s life — even if it means taking her mom out. Permanently. As Hanna’s attempts to remove her mother from their family grow increasingly refined, her mother is forced to confront their failing family dynamics. Stage’s debut novel is a twisted psychological thriller about a truly dysfunctional family and a young girl’s out-of-control adoration for her dad.
Tender Is the Flesh
Agustina BazterricaNot for the faint of heart, but perfect for fans of King’s brand of horror, this sci-fi dystopian — and Bazterrica’s debut novel — tells the tale of a future world where a mysterious virus has rendered all animal meat poisonous to humans. Unfortunately, humanity finds cannibalism a more appetizing option than going vegetarian.
The Lie: A Novel
Hesh KestinAccording to King, this is a “page-turner that will engage your mind and emotions in a way few novels do… ‘The Lie’ is what great fiction is all about.” Set in modern-day Lebanon and Israel, this character-driven thriller focuses on a rescue attempt of two young soldiers, including Ari, the son of protagonist Dahlia Barr — an attorney who believes she can change the system from within and do away with torture. She finds herself in an impossible situation as her moral compass is tested and the political becomes personal. Thought-provoking and complex, Kestin’s novel questions morality and legality on both sides of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.
Growing Things and Other Stories
Paul TremblayGQ dubbed Tremblay as “horror’s newest big thing” and for good reason. His unsettling anthology of 19 short stories has no shortage of scares to choose from: Haunted houses, ghosts, global catastrophes, the occult, and more are all brought to life in vivid description. His writing style effortlessly mixes subtle horror with the downright macabre to keep readers on their toes and up through the night. In King’s review, he called the volume “one of the best collections of the 21st century.”
The Troop
Nick CutterWhat starts as an idyllic weekend camping trip soon turns into the stuff of nightmares for Scoutmaster Tim Riggs and his troop when a sickly looking stranger interrupts the troop’s bonfire. The interruption kicks off a chain of terrifying events rife with stomach-churning scenes that are guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat. “‘The Troop’ scared the hell out of me, and I couldn’t put it down,” commented King. “This is old-school horror at its best.”
Doing Harm: A Novel
Kelly ParsonsAccording to King, “Doing Harm” is “the best damn medical thriller I’ve read in 15 years.” Dr. Mitchell, a brilliant and ambitious surgeon, is charged with leading a group of medical trainees. However, after a patient is murdered in the hospital, Mitchell becomes embroiled in a game of cat-and-mouse, with the killer holding damning evidence that could ruin his career and marriage.
The Girl from the Well
Rin ChupecoOkiku, a murderous Japanese ghost out for vengeance, is the morally gray anti-hero we all need. She’s been around for centuries, making it her mission to free the spirits of other murder victims and take out their killers in the process. After a strange boy with a terrifying secret moves into the neighborhood, it’s up to Okiku to help him.
Hunting Down Amanda
Andrew KlavanIf you’re into nonstop action thrillers about kids with special abilities à la “Firestarter,” check out “Hunting Down Amanda.” After terrorists bring down a plane that causes a fire in a small village, five-year-old Amanda wanders into the woods and uses her extraordinary healing powers to bring a dead man back to life. A group of trained assassins is quickly deployed to kill Amanda’s mom and bring her back to a shadowy corporate group hellbent on exploiting her supernatural abilities.
A Head Full of Ghosts: A Novel
Paul TremblayTry to discern the truth as “A Head Full of Ghosts” moves quickly between past and present. Narrator Merry Barrett is interviewed by a writer, sharing the events that destroyed her family 15 years ago. Back then, Merry’s older sister Marjorie exhibited signs of schizophrenia, so her parents turned to exorcism and allowed a film crew to watch. But their televised account differs wildly from Merry’s disturbing memories.
The Killer Next Door
Alex MarwoodIn this gripping whodunnit described by King as “scary as hell,” residents of a dark and dismal boarding house are interviewed about a gruesome accident that has taken place. Each resident has something to hide and as tensions rise, secrets and lies are revealed and a serial killer plots his next murder.
The Chill: A Novel
Scott CarsonOminous and spooky, “The Chill” centers on the urban legends surrounding the Dead Waters — the ruins of a submerged New York village. A hundred years later, a dark prophecy is discovered, a prophecy that demands a new sacrifice and threatens to destroy New York City.
You: A Novel
Caroline Kepnes“Gone Girl” meets “Gossip Girl” in this extremely unnerving novel about how easy it is to become prey to stalking (or, to become a stalker yourself) in this hyper-connected digital age. Joe Goldberg (played by Penn Badgley in the Netflix adaptation) may have taken a page out of Annie Wilkes’ book on what it means to take infatuation a step (or several) too far.
Dead on Arrival
Kiki SwinsonWith low funds, serious gambling debts, and infertility struggles, Reese and Dawn are barely keeping their heads above water. They can’t resist an offer from a friend to help with a project in exchange for easy money. However, the “easy” project turns out to be participation in a human trafficking ring. The situation turns far more lethal than the couple could have ever imagined when some of the smuggled immigrants turn up dead.