A wide range of supernatural creatures crop up inhorrorbooks, andzombies make especially terrifying villains to read about. This is partly because they start out as humans, meaning just about anyone can turn during a zombie apocalypse. This truth forces readers to face their own mortality, as well as the harsh reality that even loved ones can become monsters.
With such grim messaging,it’s no wonder zombie narratives are so popular within the horror genre. Some of themost terrifying horror booksout there center on the undead. There are also plenty of great stories that put more unique twists on this common concept.
10Pride And Prejudice And Zombies (2009)
Written By Seth Grahame-Smith
Pride and Prejudice and Zombiesis a fun take on the zombie subgenre, especially for those passionate about classic literature — and more specifically, Jane Austen. Seth Grahame-Smith’s 2009 book stretches the original story ofPride and Prejudice,adding in plenty of zombie activity Elizabeth Bennet must squash.
A movie adaptation ofPride and Prejudice and Zombiescame out in 2016.
Fans of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy needn’t fret, as the duo still has a romance in this book — just with some zombie slaying on the side. It’s an engaging and hilarious ride, perfect for horror fans, even if it isn’t all that scary.
9American Rapture (2024)
Written By C.J. Leede
C.J. Leede is best known for writingMaeve Fly, buther 2024 zombie book is just as worthwhile.American Rapturefollows"a good Catholic girl"named Sophie as she travels through a United States that’s been ravaged by a virus turning people into monsters. These aren’t the zombies you’re used to; not only are they feral, but they have uncontrollable sexual urges.
There’s a reason the book has a 4.34 average Goodreads rating, with readers praising its unflinching approach to purity and trauma.
Sophie’s journey seems destined to test her beliefs, and the religious commentary adds an interesting layer toAmerican Rapture. There’s a reason the book has a 4.34 averageGoodreadsrating, with readers praising its unflinching approach to purity and trauma. It’s amust-read 2024 horror book.
8World War Z: An Oral History Of The Zombie War (2006)
Written By Max Brooks
World War Zis a frequently recommended zombie horror story, andthere’s a good reason Max Brooks' book is so popular. The 2006 novel is set in a post-apocalyptic world that’s nearly wiped out by the devastating Zombie War. The book utilizes an epistolary format to tell the tales of those who experience and survive the horrific event.
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A modern classic in its own right,World War Zis an obvious choice for readers wishing to see how a zombie apocalypse would unfold in our worldand affect ordinary people. The book is unsettling and manages to insert plenty of clever social commentary within its pages.
7Feed (2010)
Written By Mira Grant
Mira Grant’sFeedis another zombie horror book that’s been around a while, and it’s well worth picking up. The first book in theNewsfleshseries starts with a zombie outbreak in 2014, then picks up 20 years later. Two bloggers are determined to uncover a conspiracy surrounding the infected, no matter the risk.
2010
2011
2012
Feedback
2016
Feedisn’t your traditional zombie novel, as it focuses more on the handling of information during the crisis. Still, its portrayal of the response to such an Earth-shattering event is a horror story that feels close to home.
6The Girl With All The Gifts (2014)
Written By M.R. Carey
Fans ofThe Last of Uswill appreciate the fungal infection at the heart ofThe Girl With All the Gifts,though the book’s central character isn’t immune like Ellie. In fact, Melanie spends much of her life locked away in a lab, unsure why the people around her seem to be so afraid.
M.R. Carey wrote a prequel toThe Girl With All the Giftsin 2017 calledThe Boy on the Bridge.
Melanie is one of the kids infected with the virus — but she’s special.M.R. Carey takes readers on a gripping journey to find out why, exploring themes of humanity in this heart-wrenching and unnerving story.
Written By Justina Ireland
One of the most unique approaches to zombie fiction,Dread Nationtakes the concept of the undead and combines it with the Civil War era. Set in a world where zombies interrupted the Civil War,Dread Nationfollows a 15-year-old Black girl forced to attend combat school to fight zombies — a requirement by law.
2018
Deathless Divide
2020
Dread Nation’s alternate history setting is a highlight of the book, and it allows Ireland to explore serious topics like racism and classism. The narrative is full of action and great character moments, but its setting is what truly sets it apart.
4Fever House (2023)
Written By Keith Rosson
With a mysterious severed hand heralding the apocalypse,Fever Housegets off to a different start than other zombie stories. However, the madness the severed hand provokes definitely is reminiscent of a zombie outbreak, and it places our main characters in the midst of a gruesome high-stakes adventure.
2023
The Devil by Name
2024
Those looking for unique zombie stories won’t want to miss out on Keith Rosson’s 2023 release.Stephen King even praisedthis fast-paced thrill ride, and it’s even got a sequel to show readers what happens in the aftermath of all the chaos.
Written By Jonathan Maberry
Jonathan Maberry is no stranger to the zombie subgenre, andthe author’sDead of Nightis a solid addition to it.Dead of Nightopens with a prison doctor injecting a murderer with an experimental drug that’s meant to kill his body but not his consciousness. Unfortunately, it turns him into a zombie instead.
2014
Still of Night
Cue the zombie apocalypse, andMaberry ensures that it’s well-paced, thrilling, and full of genre traditions. Readers who want a zombie horror book that will keep them on edge from start to finish should keep this on their radars.
2The Rising (2003)
Written By Brian Keene
The Risingenvisions zombies that are capable of intelligence and speech, making their ravenous desire to feed more complicated. It also makes the next steps for the survivors in Brian Keene’s world that much more difficult. Despite this, the book’s hero sets out to find his son, even if it means traversing a dangerous landscape.
2003
City of the Dead
2005
2007
Deliverance
Keene’s approach to the undead makesThe Risinga standout in the zombie subgenre. The zombies pose a real challenge to the human survivors, making this book even more suspenseful than zombie stories usually are.
1Day By Day Armageddon (2004)
Written By J.L. Bourne
J.L. Bourne’sDay by Day Armageddonunravels the zombie apocalypse through the journal of its main character, a Naval Pilot who watches the whole thing unfold. The situation presents difficult choices, and the reality of that is masterfully captured throughout the story.
2004
Ghost Run
Day by Day Armageddonis a fast and gripping read, and it’s perfect for fans ofWorld War Z.It brings some interesting conversations to the table, and its epistolary format really immerses readers in thehorrorof the narrative.
