Horror Week

Darkling by K. M. Rice is a good one for those who want something spooky, but don't like outright horror. I say this as someone who never seeks out spooky stories, but still found Darkling generally likable. :) It's available on Kindle, paperback, and Audible audio.

A great list of scary books for Halloween!

Currently reading The Turn of the Screw, and listening to The Woman in White. Both sitting so uneasy in me.

If anyone knows a book that is truly scary, let me now. Never found a book that really scared me yet.

Shouldn't "Horror Week" be the last week of October?

Only reading Stephen King this month!

i just started reading My Best Friend's Exorcism & it's like reading a brightly coloured 80s horror movie

Complete Ghost Stories by one and only M.R. James.

If you've never read it, check out the awesome novel, We Have Always Lived in the Castle, about a disturbed, and disturbing, little girl and her sister (are they witches?) trapped in smalltown America, surrounded by townsfolk who hate them. Unforgettable and perfect reading for this time of year.

I don't think anyone should be allowed to read a book rather than the shining. (on halloween)

The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury ought to be on any list of Hallowe'en stories.

I have only published two horror stories, "Hard Memory" and "Playtime". The latter starts:

"There was a group of children on the street, playing with a dog. As I watched, one of them started to eat it from the tail end."

That, I suppose, could go for my two-sentence bit, but it serves as my attempt to produce something I always love in a good horror story: the "WTF? Did I just read what I thought I did?" that King does particularly well. I shall watch Pet Sem once more, and then dig out the original version of Shirley Jackson's Hill House, which is a gold mine for my other favourite device in horror: the very disturbing throwaway comment.

"Oh God; it knows where I am now"

If you like the world of visceral horror than I suggest Hellscapes I &II by Stephen Zimmer of Seventh Star Press. Perfect read for this time of year along with a few other titles from seventh Star Press such as Knife's Tale by Daniel Dark, Cinema of Shadows by Michael West, Shadow of Somerest by Bob Freeman, or Slash of Crimson by Carl Moore. Plus many more that will satisfy any taste.

Elyse wrote: "Only reading Stephen King this month!"

👍

My list to get you going!

https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...

Well than I suggest you try these after Halloween. If you like Stephen King than you will love our authors. We would love to have you check us out.

Me gustaaaAAAaaaaaa!

If you like literary fiction but want something spooky this season (or anytime) I just read two ghostly books by award winning authors. Both are ghost stories. Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward and White Tears by Hari Kunzri. Both are set in the Mississippi Delta where lots of lost souls are creeping around.

Lostaccount wrote: "If anyone knows a book that is truly scary, let me now. Never found a book that really scared me yet."

"Birdbox" by Josh Mallerman, only book that ever scared me in 45 years of reading.

Great! These lists are what I was looking for, waiting Halloween. :)

Some Mary Downing Hahn books are scary. Though I was 12 when I read them.All the Lovely Bad Ones is a really good book though.

Like Prudence, I read "The Turn of the Screw" years ago and couldn't sleep for weeks.

Currently reading "Finders keepers" By Stephen king it's really good

Marko wrote: "Complete Ghost Stories by one and only M.R. James."

Every Christmas, the BBC do a TV version of one of his stories, and I have had some seriously shuddery moments as a result.
This:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HD1j...

I will try to watch the movie The Changeling (1980) again. Peter Medak was the director. One of the most psychologically upsetting movies of all time. To this day, I cannot sit through it.

Lolrus wrote: "Lostaccount wrote: "If anyone knows a book that is truly scary, let me now. Never found a book that really scared me yet."

"Birdbox" by Josh Mallerman, only book that ever scared me in 45 years of..."

Birdbox was really creepy in a great way!

Sam wrote: "If you've never read it, check out the awesome novel, We Have Always Lived in the Castle, about a disturbed, and disturbing, little girl and her sister (are they witches?) trapped in s..."
One of my faves!

YAY!!!! You did a horror one. Will have fun checking this one out.

Lostaccount wrote: "If anyone knows a book that is truly scary, let me now. Never found a book that really scared me yet."

I hear you; most "horror" just ends up being about silly monsters or bland paranormal pieces. I'm always on the hunt for something that will actually cause me to jump at any little sound. That being said, I don't know if you read YA, but The Dead House really got to me. It's not outrageously scary but it was extremely disquieting, especially when read late into the night.

If you haven't read A Night in the Lonesome October yet, do it! It's not scary, but it's the perfect book to read for Halloween.

Bird Box was just great, one of the best horror stories I've read, and definitely the best to have come out in recent years.

Also, would definitely recommend Books of Blood: Volumes One to Three, as some of the best and weirdest horror short stories you can read anywhere, all very short and yet satisfyingly deep and full of vivid imagery, almost to the point of being poetic in its grotesquerie. Notable mentions go to the following stories: "Book of Blood", "Midnight Meat Train", "In the Hills, the Cities", "Dread", "Human Remains"... just to start off!

I haven't read too many ghost stories, I am too much of a wuss, but Dark Matter by Michele Paver was so creepy and horrifying.

uhmmm... can anyone recommend a horror and/or scary book for a scary cat like me?

It should be a month!
Hope everyone has a devilishly wicked week.

Marko wrote: "Complete Ghost Stories by one and only M.R. James."

Oooh, I've heard about that, thanks.

The Wine-Dark Sea by Robert Aickman. Short stories, more in the genre of "weird" stories, but unsettling.

I have just finished a Stephen King's book. Skeleton Crew

Prudence wrote: "Currently reading The Turn of the Screw, and listening to The Woman in White. Both sitting so uneasy in me."

Ooh! I just finished Turn of the Screw myself! Really holds up through the ages doesn't it? So spooky and unsettling! *Shivers*

Nichole wrote: "I will try to watch the movie The Changeling (1980) again. Peter Medak was the director. One of the most psychologically upsetting movies of all time. To this day, I cannot sit through it."

Oh, man! That was a slumber party staple when I was a kid! I still have to close my eyes if I pass a staircase in the dark because I'm terrified that a ball will come rolling down and give me a heart attack.

Im currently reading a historical novel based on the real Dracula. It's pretty good so far and the author commented at the beginning saying he tried to follow the actual history.Vlad Dracula: The Dragon Prince

Currently reading Sleeping Beauties by Stephen King :)

Reading Before The Devil Breaks You, by Libba Bray. It's the third in a truly terrifying series set in New York City during the Roaring 20s.

that is wierd.

This is a nice list of things I might start reading this Halloween,Thanks for that!!!

What great timing for Horror Week - currently reading the second book in the funny and gruesome "John Dies at the end" Series This Book Is Full of Spiders: Seriously, Dude, Don't Touch It - so much fun. A lot of dude-humor, but I think some nerdy ladies out there would really dig it.

I am reading "The Definitive H.P. Lovecraft: 67 Tales of Horror" ;) So I am already prepared for this GR's Horror Week ;)

Alejandro wrote: "I am reading "The Definitive H.P. Lovecraft: 67 Tales of Horror" ;) So I am already prepared for this GR's Horror Week ;)"

Excellent Alejandro! 😸

Lostaccount wrote: "If anyone knows a book that is truly scary, let me now. Never found a book that really scared me yet."

Bag of Bones by Stephen King really spooked me. So did the Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson. Both books are also in my top books of all time.

Some books are pretty lame in this list to be honest.

I'm reading Something Wicked This Way Comes, because what's Halloween without my old pal, Bradbury?