Here’s a list of the top five scariest horror books of 2024, perfect for readers looking to be genuinely unsettled:
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“The House of Last Resort” by Christopher Golden
Set in a crumbling hilltop town in Italy, this novel follows a couple who purchase an old house with dark secrets. As they uncover the terrifying history of the church that once owned the house, supernatural forces begin to unravel their lives. Eerie atmosphere and classic haunted house elements make this one of 2024’s most chilling reads -
“The Haunting of Velkwood” by Gwendolyn Kiste
What if an entire neighborhood became a ghost? In this hauntingly strange story, three girls return to a ghostly neighborhood they once escaped. The book deftly weaves together themes of memory, family, and trauma, creating a disturbing but emotionally resonant narrative -
“Incidents Around the House” by Josh Malerman
From the author of Bird Box, this novel delves into the horror of a young girl haunted by a malicious entity she calls “Other Mommy.” As the tension rises, the family’s safety crumbles under the relentless presence of this supernatural being, offering a terrifying exploration of familial love and fear -
“Mouth” by Joshua Hull
A blend of body horror and grindhouse storytelling, Mouth follows a drifter who discovers a bizarre, toothed orifice in the ground. As he struggles to feed the mysterious entity, the grotesque horror of this novella grows, offering a raw and visceral experience -
“The Angel of Indian Lake” by Stephen Graham Jones
Concluding his Indian Lake Trilogy, Jones delivers a heart-pounding final showdown in the haunted town of Proofrock. This novel mixes emotional depth with brutal horror as the protagonist faces monsters both literal and psychological
These books stand out for their unique takes on horror, blending psychological dread with supernatural thrills.
