Be Afraid: It's Horror Week on Goodreads!

Posted by Cybil on September 30, 2019
Celebrating Horror 2019


We hope you aren't easily frightened...because these reading recommendations will haunt you long after you've read the last page. So, what are you waiting for? Won't you join us in our celebration of horror's latest and greatest?

Fresh Hell: Meet the Rising Stars of Horror
What madness lies ahead for your reading list?

Lovecraft's Twisted Legacy
Author Victor LaValle on Lovecraft's reach.
Graphically Great Horror
Monstress' Marjorie Liu on her faves.

New (and Upcoming) Terror
Creepy kids, spooky woods, nightmarish house guests: A list for sleepless nights.

Top 50 Horror Novels
From Mary Shelly to Shirley Jackson.
The Nightmare Generator
What will haunt your dreams?




What will you be reading for Horror Week?

Let us know in the comments!


Comments Showing 301-350 of 388 (388 new)


message 301: by Artur (new)

Artur Crash Increíble


message 302: by SquidneyReads (new)

SquidneyReads I really enjoyed participating! I read A Head Full of Ghosts and it was more terrifying than expected.


message 303: by Rachel (new)

Rachel I just started The Luminous Dead and around Halloween I like to re-read Widow's Point, Island 731, and The Island of Doctor Moreau.

And I'm always looking for other books like Doctor Moreau, 731, and Widow's Point.


message 304: by Alana (new)

Alana Sayat Currently reading It by Stephen King for the first time!
Getting ready to read The Institute next :)


message 305: by Vincent (new)

Vincent Button I think this is one of the most haunting movies I've ever watched. It's taken me almost a decade to build up the nerve to read the book. Never Let Me Go


message 306: by Brenda (new)

Brenda I’m reading The Institute by Stephen King


message 307: by Michael (new)

Michael Vidler Don't know if it counts as horror, but I recently published this- https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1697420753 ("Banished Angel", also available on Kindle). First person who read it said they couldn't put it down.


message 309: by Alicia (new)

Alicia Riley Started to read The Exorcist


message 310: by Lee (new)

Lee Mason Finally getting around to reading House of Leaves


message 311: by Lacey (last edited Oct 07, 2019 07:55AM) (new)

Lacey Say goodbye to ordering. Visit your public library and check out the book for free! If you don't want to visit the library, you can always see if they have the free app OverDrive or Libby. You can download the ebook or audiobook to any electronic device! I'm a public librarian, so I just had to say this! :) Good luck with your latest read!


message 312: by [deleted user] (new)

Started The Haunting of Hill House, and hopefully I will not weird myself out as S. King says haha


message 313: by Kenneth (new)

Kenneth The Best Ghost Stories Ever Told, edited by Stephen Brennan


message 314: by Sarah (new)

Sarah Ali Alright...
Creeps and horrors


message 315: by Akiyo (new)

Akiyo Tani I'm so scared by your comments that I'm not going to try to read them :(


message 316: by [deleted user] (new)

I highly recommend Wychwood and its sequel Hallowdene by George Mann. If you enjoy folk-horror/mystery/detective stories set in the English countryside.

If you are looking for something to spook you, maybe a ghost story by M.R. James? When it comes to being genuinely creeped out, I suggest his stories to others.


message 317: by Sarah (new)

Sarah Blood of the Flock by Gerald Rochelle. This is a follow-up for me from this author of Cold Blood. Fancy eternal life? You won't after reading this!


message 318: by Jane (new)

Jane This year's Hallowe'en read (actually, a re-read) is Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin. I first read it about 45 years ago. Back in the 70s, my older brother and I used to enjoy reading occult-themed books, such as this one and some by Dennis Wheatley. It was a lot of fun reading them. Rosemary's Baby is more suspenseful than scary, but Levin very effectively reveals clues to the reader about what's really going on. And it has one of the worst husbands in fiction! A good tale for the season.


message 319: by Andrew✌️ (new)

Andrew✌️ I think I'll try A Head Full of Ghosts and after that, all I can by Lovecraft. :)


message 320: by Amy Bea (new)

Amy Bea Lacey wrote: "Say goodbye to ordering. Visit your public library and check out the book for free! If you don't want to visit the library, you can always see if they have the free app OverDrive or Libby. You can ..."

You are wonderfully correct! I also work at the public library. It's where you can find just about ANYTHING and the price is right!!


message 321: by Amy Bea (last edited Oct 26, 2019 12:46PM) (new)

Amy Bea Gene wrote: "Last night I started "Silence for the Dead" (Simone St. James) I'm only 30 or so pages in, but I do like the way the story line is being set up."

Try her books "The Haunting of Maddy Clare" or An Inquiry Into Love and Death They are SCARY rather than horror. Lovely lovely!!


message 322: by Catherine (new)

Catherine Habbie There is something for babies too!
Baby's First Halloween by Catherine Habbie Baby's First Halloween
Hope you enjoy them as much me!


message 323: by Amy Bea (new)

Amy Bea This list most certainly should carry something by Richard Matheson, like, Hell House or perhaps A Stir of Echoes

His writing never fails to intrigue us all. He has written many Twilight Zone episodes.


message 324: by Amy Bea (new)

Amy Bea Has anyone out there read, Harvest Home by Thomas Tryon?
This is one for the ages! Sublimely scary! Eerily haunting.


message 325: by Nelson (new)

Nelson Last week I read ALice, Really violent, and I liked it alot.


message 326: by Nelson (new)

Nelson Right now I am into Doctor Sleep by Stephen King and Dacre Stoker's "Dracul" which I believe is a horror masterpiece.


message 327: by Nelson (new)

Nelson curleduptoes wrote: "Jelena wrote: "Dracul
This one is sooo spooooky"

I completely agree! Some lovely horror it has."

I cant put it down , a masterpiece


message 328: by Nelson (new)

Nelson I am also rereading Stoker's Dracula.


message 329: by Kay (new)

Kay Marie wrote: "Horror books are my main genre so that is mostly what I read all year long, but for October I am doing my own personal challenge of reading horror books that are about Halloween. So I got a few lin..."

What would be your top recommendation in this genre?


message 330: by Annette (new)

Annette Vincent wrote: "I am just getting started on the book title "We are all completely fine" by Daryl Gregory. It is a semi superhero, zombie horror, and supernatural thriller book."


message 331: by Annette (new)

Annette Vincent wrote: "I am just getting started on the book title "We are all completely fine" by Daryl Gregory. It is a semi superhero, zombie horror, and supernatural thriller book."

Daryl Gregory is very good, hope you enjoy!


message 332: by Riley (new)

Riley Pet Semetary by Stephen King.


message 333: by Marie (new)

Marie I'm almost done reading Stephen King's The Stand The Stand by Stephen King


message 334: by Rain (new)

Rain The House Next Door by Darcy Coates.


message 335: by Rain (last edited Oct 27, 2019 11:02AM) (new)

Rain Gene wrote: "Last night I started "Silence for the Dead" (Simone St. James) I'm only 30 or so pages in, but I do like the way the story line is being set up."

Ooh! I liked Silence for the Dead! Hope you enjoy it!


message 336: by Polly (new)

Polly Bruce The Poison Thread by Laura Purcell.


message 337: by Brad (new)

Brad Furminger I just read The Troop and found it to be horrifying. It feels reminiscent of Stephen King's early works and several times found myself cringing while reading - not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach. Can't recommend it enough.


message 338: by Gene (new)

Gene Borowski Rain wrote: "Gene wrote: "Last night I started "Silence for the Dead" (Simone St. James) I'm only 30 or so pages in, but I do like the way the story line is being set up."

Ooh! I liked Silence for the Dead! Ho..."


I did. :)


message 339: by Melliott (new)

Melliott Ptaylor wrote: "I read The Turn of the Key, thinking it might be an update of The Turn of the Screw. It wasn't. It was supposed to be suspenseful, but it wasn't. It was disappointing. I had some of it figured out ..."

We Have Always Lived in the Castle is the BEST. Shirley Jackson is amazing.


message 340: by Melliott (new)

Melliott For my spooky reads, I got Help for the Haunted, by John Searles, and Bellman & Black, by Diane Setterfield. About halfway through the first one so far.


message 341: by Vanessa (new)

Vanessa Dargain Catherine wrote: "There is something for babies too!
Baby's First Halloween by Catherine HabbieBaby's First Halloween
Hope you enjoy them as much me!"


LOL !


message 342: by Vanessa (last edited Oct 29, 2019 07:37PM) (new)

Vanessa Dargain Linn wrote: "I'm reading Dracula."

Dracul . The name even gives me the creeps . Way more than Voldemort . Enjoy .


message 343: by Kelly (new)

Kelly Morris Ruggiero Revival, Stephen King


Terry ~ Huntress of Erudition The Darkwater Bride
The Darkwater Bride by Marty Ross

A gruesome, sordid tale set in Victorian London - you need a strong stomach for this one!

It is an Audible original theatrical production.


Terry ~ Huntress of Erudition Evening's Land by Pauline West
Evening's Land
Beautiful cover
Wonderfully written, but truly the most horrific book ever....


Kiesha ~ Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd Any recommendations for Regency or Victorian horror?


message 347: by Gene (new)

Gene Borowski Kiesha ~ 1Cheekylass wrote: "Any recommendations for Regency or Victorian horror?"
The Woman in Black by Susan Hill
The "Woman in Black" is a good one.


message 348: by Aarón (new)

Aarón Sequeira I am reading The Exorcist, by William Peter Blatty, and I am fascinated. It's very chilling.


message 349: by Roger (new)

Roger Try Frank Barnard's new novel, 'A Remembrance of Ghosts'. Spooky, gripping, and original.


message 350: by Lesa (new)

Lesa Parnham Lynette wrote: "My Halloween pull for this year:
Rebecca
The Turn of the Screw
The Black Witch
Not so much deep horror this year as classic Gothic and magic-based fantasy."


Sam wrote: "I don't even own horror books :D"

Sam wrote: "I don't even own horror books :D"


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