It’s that time of year again. A time to reflect, to look back over a tumultuous twelve months, and to talk about the horror books that helped us survive them.2022 has been a helluva year for the good kind of horror. Far too much for one man to cover. So I’ve drafted in some highly qualified friends – Emily Hughes and Janelle Janson. They have their fingers right on the arterial spurt of the genre – and they have each read far more than me.Together we deliver this year's State of the Horror Nation – talking about big issues in horror, the key books we’ve adored…and the dozens and dozens of titles we’re looking forward to in 2023.We raise a glass to a late and beloved horror icon, we make some new year’s resolutions, and Janelle and Emily get a bit squeaky about their big horror crush. Bet you can guess who (it’s not me!)Thanks for all your support this year.Books picked:Ghost Eaters (2022), by Clay McLeod Chapman – ep. 110A Child Alone With Strangers (2022), by Philip Fracassi – ep. 120Echo (2022), by Thomas Olde Heuvelt – ep. 78Our Share of Night (2022), by Mariana EnriquezAll the White Spaces (2022), by Ally Wilkes – ep. 76We Are Here to Hurt Each Other (2022), by Paula D. AsheMary: An Awakening of Terror (2022), by Nat Cassidy – ep. 101Burn the Plans (2022), by Tyler Jones – ep. 81Just Like Home (2022), by Sarah Gailey Books anticipated: Don’t Fear the Reaper (2023), by Stephen Graham Jones Silver Nitrate (2023), by Silvia Moreno GarciaVampires of el Norte (2023), by Isabel CañasPinata (2023), by Leopoldo GoutTell Me I’m Worthless (2023), by Alison Rumfitt (already out in UK)Spite House (2023), by Jonny ComptonLone Women (2023), by Victor LavelleEverything Darkness Eats (2023), by Eric LaRoccaEpisode 13 (2023), by Craig DilouieHouse of Good Bones (2023), by T. KingfisherNights Edge (2023), by Liz KerinThe Edge of Sleep (2023), by Jake EmmanuelThe Drift (2023), by C. J. TudorBad Cree (2023), by Jessica JohnsMaeve Fly (2023), by C.J. LeadeA Light Most Hateful (2023), by Hailey PiperLooking Glass Sound (2023), by Catriona WardThe Beast You Are (2023), by Paul TremblayThe Salt Grows Heavy (2023), by Cassandra KhawBurn the Negative (2023), by Josh WinningHow to Sell a Haunted House (2023), by Grady HendrixAbnormal Statistics (2023), by Max Booth IIIThe Insatiable Volt Sisters (2023), by Rachel Eve MoultonCamp Damascus (2023), by Chuck TingleExtended Stay (2023), by Juan MartinezHouse of Cotton (2023), by Monica Brashears Support Talking Scared on Patreon Come talk books on Twitter @talkscaredpod, on Instagram, or email direct to talkingscaredpod@gmail.com Support the show