7 Novels That Are Scarier than Any Horror Movie ...

By Holly

If you love horror movies and haunted houses, then you need to read some scary novels, too! Even though nothing will be able to jump out at you, they'll still be able to terrify you. If you want to be extra scared, make sure that you read them while you're all alone at night. If you think you're ready, here are some of the best books that will cause your skin to crawl:

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Please subscribe for your personalized newsletter:

Successfully subscribed!

Thank you for subscribing! Check your inbox for personalized content.

1. Ticktock by Dean Koontz

text,cartoon,font,poster,biology, Dean Koontz is a remarkable novelist. He has written several books worth reading, but this is one of the best ones. It's about a man who finds a doll on his doorstep and doesn't know what it means or who it is from. However, pretty soon, he notices a creature emerging from the doll that tries to kill him. With only the help of a strange waitress that he stumbles across, he tries to survive until the next morning.

2. The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris

poster,text,font,advertising,album cover, You probably already know the whole story about Hannibal Lecter, but have you actually read the novel? It's even more disturbing than you'd imagine. Of course, it's not the first book written by Thomas Harris. It's the second of the Hannibal books, so you'll want to start with Red Dragon, which is the first of the series.

3. Hell House by Richard Matheson

poster,album cover,book,fiction,FROM, Even the title sounds terrifying, doesn't it? As you've probably already guessed, it's about an abandoned house that gets investigated by the main characters. They only search through it for one night, but that's more than enough time for them to discover why it's so horrifying.

***

The eerie allure of Hell House lies in its ability to make you feel as if you're also meandering through the spine-chilling corridors with its troubled protagonists. With each page, Richard Matheson masterfully ramps up the suspense, weaving supernatural elements with the character's darkest fears. It's as if the house itself is a living, malevolent entity, with secrets that claw at the very threads of sanity. If you dare to crack open the cover, prepare for a psychological journey that grips tight and refuses to let go, long after you've turned the last page.

4. House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski

text,font,screenshot,brand,design, House of Leaves is not a traditional book. It has three different story lines told by three different narrators. It has pages with one sentence on them and pages where the text slants across. It's hard to describe, but it's something you'll want to tell all your friends about.

In the journey of finding the perfect love story, one often gets lost in the plethora of quotes and dialogues. However, if you're looking for the epitome of romance, Allie & Noah's story can be your perfect solace. Check out these engrossing the notebook quotes that will make you believe in love's magic once again. these quotes provide a roller-coaster of emotions that every woman can resonate with.

5. It by Stephen King

person,entertainment,poster,performing arts,font, You can pretty much pick up any Stephen King book and enjoy its scariness. However, It is one of the scariest stories that he's created. It's about a group of children who witness something terrifying and manage to survive. However, when they're older, they're all brought together again to witness the same horror, and some of them won't be as lucky the second time around.

Gallery Spotlight

Save and share the images that inspire you. Tag @allwomenstalk to get featured.

6. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

IQed,text,poster,font,book, Neil Gaiman also created Coraline, which is pretty scary for children. Meanwhile, Ocean at the End of the Lane is scary for the adults that read it. It's about a man who travels back to his hometown for a funeral and ends up remembering things about his childhood that he had completely forgotten.

7. John Dies at the End by David Wong

handwriting,font,hand,calligraphy,finger, Does the title of this novel give away the ending or is it bluffing? Well, you'll have to read it to find out. There's a lot of talk about drug usage in this book, so be prepared to read about the harsh effects of medications.

Books can be just as scary as any movie could ever be. If you don't believe it, read these novels and decide for yourself. What's the scariest novel that you've ever read?

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Please subscribe for your personalized newsletter:

Successfully subscribed!

Thank you for subscribing! Check your inbox for personalized content.

Feedback Junction

Where Thoughts and Opinions Converge

Say her name by James Dawson

The Relic was a great horror book. This is a case of "don't judge a book by its movie".

I guess I'm downloading yet another Dean Koontz book on my Kindle tonight...and maybe House at the End of the Lane, and House of Leaves. I'm staying away from Stephen King's It! Still get the creeps when I think of the movie.

Yyyeeessssss john dies at the end!! And don't forget the sequel, This Book is Full oh Spiders (Seriously Dud, Don't Touch it)

It by Stephen King is pretty damn scary. Thanks for the books:)

House of leaves! Such a good book

I've read 4 of the 7. Gonna look folk for House of Leaves. Sounds great!

House of Leaves, Yes! One of the best novels I have ever read, so very creative, terrifying, perplexing, strange and so oddly fulfilling 😉

Good list!

I loved House at the End of the Lane but it's not a scary book in the least. Great read though.

Google Preferred Source Banner Add allwomenstalk.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search.

EST 2005

Evolve. Empower. Elevate.

Creators on the platform
3,000+
Total social reach
12M+
Features published
100K+
New Earn badges & level up while you read

Create your profile. Earn badges. Level up your reading.

Join Allwomenstalk to track your streaks, collect badges, and earn XP for the things you already do—reading, sharing, and taking quizzes.

  • 🔥
    Daily streaks with gentle boosts for 3, 7, and 30 days.
  • 🏅
    Collect badges like Reader I–III, Socialite, and Quiz Ace.
  • ⚡️
    Earn XP for reads, deep reads, likes, comments, and shares.

It’s free. Takes 30 seconds. Already have an account? Sign in.

10,000+ badges earned last month

Level

3

Streak

7 🔥

XP420 / 700

Badges

🔥 On a Roll
📖 Reader I
📣 Socialite

Trending products

Other Cool Reads

Related Topics

authors like jhumpa lahiri websites for used books devastating books quotes about book clubs classic books teens tragic love stories in literature qa a day 5 year journal art projects with old books books for teenage guys who dont like to read best books for animal lovers