Fully-Booked
  • Book Reviews
  • Best Book Lists
  • Book Adaptations
  • Editorials
  • Book Genres
    • American Literature
    • Black Literature
    • Canadian Literature
    • Classic Literature
    • Dystopian Fiction
    • Fantasy
    • Folklore Books
    • Historical Fiction
    • Horror
    • Mystery
    • Mythology Books
    • Nonfiction
    • Poetry
    • Romance
    • Science Fiction
    • Summer Reads
    • Theatre
    • Winter Books
    • Women In Literature
    • Young Adult
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Author Interviews
    • Book Talk
    • Bookish Newsletter
No Result
View All Result
Fully-Booked
  • Book Reviews
  • Best Book Lists
  • Book Adaptations
  • Editorials
  • Book Genres
    • American Literature
    • Black Literature
    • Canadian Literature
    • Classic Literature
    • Dystopian Fiction
    • Fantasy
    • Folklore Books
    • Historical Fiction
    • Horror
    • Mystery
    • Mythology Books
    • Nonfiction
    • Poetry
    • Romance
    • Science Fiction
    • Summer Reads
    • Theatre
    • Winter Books
    • Women In Literature
    • Young Adult
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Author Interviews
    • Book Talk
    • Bookish Newsletter
No Result
View All Result
Fully-Booked
No Result
View All Result

Home > Best Book Lists > 10 Haunting Horror Novels You Probably Haven’t Read Of

10 Haunting Horror Novels You Probably Haven’t Read Of

Emily S. by Emily S.
October 21, 2021
in Best Book Lists
Discussion
horror novels to die for
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Threads
Table of Contents Toggle
  • 10. Come Closer by Sara Gran
  • 9. The Cement Garden by Ian McEwan
  • 8. Forsaken by Andrew Van Wey
  • 7. The Ritual by Adam Nevill
  • 6. The Sorrows of Satan by Marie Corelli
  • 5. I’m Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid
  • 4. Songs of a Dead Dreamer and Grimscribe Thomas Ligotti
  • 3. The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks
  • 2. The Sentinel by Jeffrey Konvitz
  • 1. The End of Alice by A.M. Homes

It’s spooky season! And what is the best ways to enjoy your spare time? Reading horror novels of course!! The tried and true spooky stories are always a great option of course, but sometimes you’re just in the mood for something a little more obscure or unknown. There are tons of horror novels out there that don’t get the kind of credit that they deserve for the thrills and chills that they deliver nonstop.

spooky season

Below you’ll find 10 lesser known horror novels that are freakishly scary. Whether you prefer imaginary or real life horrors, there’s a spine chilling story out there for every reader.

*Disclosure: We only recommend books that we love and would read ourselves. This post contains affiliate links, as we are part of the Amazon Services LCC Associate Program and others, which may earn us a small commission, at no additional cost to you.

10. Come Closer by Sara Gran

come closer

Meet Amanda. Successful. Married. Has a loving husband and a wonderful home. Of course, things are not always what they appear at first sight. Amanda is living her life normally, and doing what she does best, when she realizes that she is self-sabotaging at work. If that weren’t enough, she keeps hearing this noise in her house, and slowly her behavior begins to shift entirely as a result. Then her dreams become haunted by a woman who promises to never, ever leave her.


As Amanda begins to lose grip on her reality, the reader is right beside her, foreseeing a tragic end for the protagonist and hoping that she sees what is happening before it’s too late. The story is written to drag you in deep and hold you there as you try to figure out what is going on. Is it a mental breakdown? A possession? Moody and enthralling, Come Closer is a great read to pick up on a dreary fall evening.

ReadNext

veil by jonathan janz review feature

Veil By Jonathan Janz Is Terrifying Because It Feels So Real

IT welcome to derry reactions and expectations

Welcome to Derry: Can HBO’s IT Prequel Avoid Feeling Like a Reboot?

May 30, 2025

9. The Cement Garden by Ian McEwan

the cement garden

While Ian McEwan is a known novelist, The Cement Garden is a lesser known story of his that deserves its time in the spotlight. This book is a whole different type of horror. While it does not focus on gore, legends, or scare tactics, Ian McEwan takes real life and twists it into a morbid reality. The way he writes makes the reader believe that a tragedy can happen to any family, even the ones next door. The perfect combination of fiction and reality that make horror novels great.

The Cement Garden follows four siblings — Julie, Jack, Sue and Tom. Their life seems to be the average suburban life. Mom, dad, brothers and sisters. But then dad suddenly dies, and soon afterwards the mom starts to get more and more sick until she passes away as well. Her final wish is that the siblings not tell anyone she has passed so they won’t be taken into foster care. In order to honor her wishes, they take her body into the basement and cover her in concrete.

Treading into questionable territory about sibling relationships and questioning what is right and what is wrong, McEwan drags you into a different kind of domestic horror. 

8. Forsaken by Andrew Van Wey

forsaken


Full of secrets, nightmares, lies and a ghostly presence, this story is ready to haunt your dreams. You are an average guy working at the local university teaching art to kids. You have a wife, kids, and a dog.

One day, a painting shows up. A masterpiece by all technical definitions, the painting perfectly depicts two children with eyes that could kill, a bleak landscape that seems to continue forever, and a lonely tree dying atop a hill. The best part? Every time you look at the painting the landscape changes. That’s just the beginning of the mystery of the painting, the children, and the horror lurking beneath the surface.

7. The Ritual by Adam Nevill

the ritual

When four friends want to reconnect and go on a camping trip, everyone is excited. But a lot of time has passed by, and they are not the same people they once were. These differences cause some tension between the men, and they realize that they are not as close as they once were.

They head out on a hike, but when someone suggests a shortcut and they all get lost tempers flare and old grudges surface. Lost and hungry, the group is stuck wandering around this uninhabited forest with no way out. Then one of the members disappears, and the real horror begins. Heads up: a film adaptation of The Ritual was released in 2017 and lives over on Netflix.  

6. The Sorrows of Satan by Marie Corelli

the sorrows of satan


Set in 1895, The Sorrows of Satan follows Satan’s journey towards finding someone who is morally strong enough to resists his temptations, and pure enough to say no to his lies and promises. Satan conducts his search in London, where the population is largely corrupt.

Satan corrupts everyone and everything with lies, horror, deceit and trickery until he finds someone who does not fall prey to his web of deceit. But what happens when Satan’s prey realize what he’s doing to their minds? Do they even care? And what about the one person who did not succumb to him… can they be saved?

5. I’m Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid

im thinking of ending things


The unnamed narrator of I’m Thinking of Ending Things has been dating her boyfriend Jake only for a few months, after having met in a pub during trivia night. Their relationship has progressed, and he’s taking her out to meet his parents. While there, she does not like what she sees. They ask her strange questions, leaving her feeling uncomfortable. Then she sees baby picture of Jake, which look way more familiar than they should. Understandably shaken, she is more than ready to go home.

On the drive back, familiar sights continue to appear, and the narrator finds herself questioning who she really is, whether or not she should break up with Jake, and what the hell is really going on…

4. Songs of a Dead Dreamer and Grimscribe Thomas Ligotti

songs of a dead dreamer and grimscribe

What starts out as your average mystery/kidnapping story of a child abductor soon becomes a different sort of terror altogether. What comes for each and every man? Death, and man’s fear of themselves. This collection of short stories gives its reader the chills, gore and dread that lovers of horror novels are looking for.

I never attempted any writing other than horror in its most generic sense — Thomas Ligott

3. The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks

the wasp factory

On an isolated island in a small town lives our main character, 16 year old Frank. Frank has no papers, no ID, and doesn’t technically exist in the eyes of the government. His father Angus is overprotective and makes him tell anyone who asks that he is Angus’ nephew, not his son. Angus insists on making every piece of food Frank eats and monitors what he does with his time; but Angus has secrets that he won’t confide in his son.

Soon, Frank finds a way to emotionally separate himself from his overbearing parent; he creates a wasp factory. A torture maze for wasps, that leads the insects to a sadistic demise. As more details come to light, Frank’s story becomes something more twisted than anyone could have imagined. The Wasp Factory treats readers to a twisted, toxic look at mental health, and questions who the villain of the story truly is.

2. The Sentinel by Jeffrey Konvitz

the sentinel


When Allison Parker, a fashion model, moves into a New York brownstone she starts to see her life start to go off the rails.

Suffering from migraines, sleepless nights and nightmares, she needs any distraction she can get. She decides to befriend her neighbors, but all of them seem annoying and weird. Because of this she finally lodges a complaint with the real estate agent. But the agent just looks at her in confusion; there’s only one other tenant in the building, not many…

Allison’s boyfriend goes on the hunt for answers about this neighbor, the building, and what is going on. The horror for the couple has just begun, and Allison is about to question everyone she’s ever trusted.

1. The End of Alice by A.M. Homes

the end of alice


This book plays on the fascination some people have with convicted murders in jail. Our narrator is a man named Chappy, a guy who has been incarcerated for 23 years on multiple counts of pedophilia and child murder. He thinks about is life, his past, his mom and most recently a 19 year-old who has started writing to him. Apparently-and unsettlingly-this 19 year-old wants to seduce a 12 year-old while on her summer break from university.

As they continue their correspondence we learn more and more about Chappy. The story follows their correspondence, the fascination the 19 year old has with the convicted man, and her summer “plans”.
Detailing the morbid side of humanity, A.M. Homes creates a horror that hits close to home, worming its way into your thoughts and taking root. 

And there you have it, 10 new horror novels to keep you up at night. These stories are twisted, fantastical imaginings ozf terror and should not be ignored. Stay sooky, and keep the horror going through October and beyond.


Enjoying this article?

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter
Genre: Horror
ShareTweetShare
Emily S.

Emily S.

Contributor

Has a bird who tries to steal all of her snacks- even if she is currently eating them. Also still thinks being able to read chapter books in kindergarten makes her cool.

DISCUSSION

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
guest
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

RECOMMENDED ARTICLES

veil by jonathan janz review feature

Veil By Jonathan Janz Is Terrifying Because It Feels So Real

IT welcome to derry reactions and expectations

Welcome to Derry: Can HBO’s IT Prequel Avoid Feeling Like a Reboot?

May 30, 2025
fear street series revisit feature

This Netflix Slasher Trilogy Triggered Every Teenage Emotion We Had Locked Away

May 23, 2025
darkly by marisha pessl adaptation feature

Why Darkly Might Be The Next Big Psychological Thriller For Horror And Gaming Culture Fans

May 10, 2025
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
murderbot season 2 feature

Murderbot Season 2 Might Happen But Not In The Way That You Think

May 18, 2025
spicy books releasing in 2025 feature

10 Most Spicy Romance Books Coming Out In 2025

February 24, 2025
gripping queer horror books feature2

Romantic Chills: 15 Gripping Queer Horror Books That Will Keep You Up At Night

April 27, 2025
murderbot season 2 feature

Murderbot Season 2 Might Happen But Not In The Way That You Think

4
Fear Street Prom Queen review feature

Review: Fear Street: Prom Queen Lost The Fear Street Touch

2
books like quicksilver feature

These Books Have the Same Addictive, Dangerous Vibes as Quicksilver

2
the housemaid 2025 movie

I Read Every Housemaid Novel And I Am Torn About The Casting Of The Movie

June 14, 2025
water for elephants banned feature

Why Was Water for Elephants Banned? We Still Don’t Get It

June 13, 2025
historical fiction for teens feature

Teens Won’t Be Able To Put These 10 Historical Fiction Books Down

June 11, 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
Fully-Booked

Copyright © 2020-2025 www.fully-booked.ca

Important Links

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • In The Media
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & conditions
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Statement
  • Impressum
  • Disclaimer

Follow Us

Fully-Booked
Manage your privacy

To provide the best experiences, we and our partners use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us and our partners to process personal data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site and show (non-) personalized ads. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.

Click below to consent to the above or make granular choices. Your choices will be applied to this site only. You can change your settings at any time, including withdrawing your consent, by using the toggles on the Cookie Policy, or by clicking on the manage consent button at the bottom of the screen.

Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Statistics

Marketing

Features
Always active

Always active
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
Manage options
{title} {title} {title}
Fully-Booked
Manage your privacy
We use cookies to offer you a better experience, analyze traffic, and at times, serve the best possible and relevant advertisement to you. By continuing to use this site, you agree with the use of cookies in accordance with our linked policies below.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Statistics

Marketing

Features
Always active

Always active
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
Manage options
{title} {title} {title}
No Result
View All Result
  • Book Reviews
  • Best Book Lists
  • Book Adaptations
  • Editorials
  • Book Genres
    • American Literature
    • Black Literature
    • Canadian Literature
    • Classic Literature
    • Dystopian Fiction
    • Fantasy
    • Folklore Books
    • Historical Fiction
    • Horror
    • Mystery
    • Mythology Books
    • Nonfiction
    • Poetry
    • Romance
    • Science Fiction
    • Summer Reads
    • Theatre
    • Winter Books
    • Women In Literature
    • Young Adult
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Author Interviews
    • Book Talk
    • Bookish Newsletter

Copyright © 2020-2025 www.fully-booked.ca

wpDiscuz