Warning: This article discusses topics of sexual assault, extreme violence, and death.
There are plenty of incredibly terrifying stories that, technically, aren’t classified as ahorror book. Although there are severalscary classic horror booksto check out, there are also titles from other genres that are just as eerie.
While there might not be monsters or the supernatural, fear comes in many forms. From sci-fi totwist-ending thrillers, these brilliant novels are also haunting reads.
Written By Cormac McCarthy
Cormac McCarthy’sThe Roadis a fantastic post-apocalyptic read about a father and son living in the dust of the remains of the US.The Road’s cannibalistic groups and messages about global warming are definitely chilling. Althoughthere is no big threat other than humanity itself,nobody is truly safe inThe Road.
Imagery like a newborn baby being roasted over a fire or the father shooting a marauder is even more unsettling inThe Roadgraphic novel, but McCarthy’s original words create a horror atmosphere that sticks with readers long after.
9The Sparrow (1996)
Written By Mary Doria Russell
The Sparrowby Mary Doria Russell is a fascinating tale about a Jesuit missionary’s journey to a faraway planet. The opening establishes the overall unnerving tone of the book, with the sole survivor, Emilio, barely making it back to Earth. His recollection of events on Rakhat starts fondly, but his narration grows more harrowing as he recounts meeting more inhabitants of the planet.
Emilio is clearly psychologically damaged after witnessing mutilation, death, and destruction.The Sparrowis agreat sci-fi novel that deserves a movie adaptation, especially because Russell’s description of the haunting incidents is so memorable.
8Never Let Me Go (2005)
Written By Kazuo Ishiguro
Never Let Me Goby Kazuo Ishiguro is a dystopian and eerie book about an alternate reality that uses human cloning for organ farming. Kathy’s depiction of this world is strange, andthe horrific treatment of the clones and the conditions that they are forced to live in is shocking.
The novel’s political and ethical themes are thought-provoking, and even though there aren’t any directly grisly moments, the harsh realities of the characters’ situation is incredibly terrifying.
Never Let Me Gois abook that is more fiction than science, but this allows for its scarier elements. The novel’s political and ethical themes are thought-provoking, and even though there aren’t any directly grisly moments, the harsh realities of the characters’ situation is incredibly terrifying.
7The Shining Girls (2013)
Written By Lauren Beukes
Even though Lauren Beaukes’The Shining Girlsis an August Derleth Award winner for Best Horror Novel, the haunting time-travel story is technically shelved as sci-fi. Serial killer Harper Curtis’ journey through the decades to target the titular group is thrilling yet nerve-wracking.
The non-linear narrative that jumps between the murders and a future investigation into Curtis builds a lot of anticipation,especially as the killer is seemingly motivated by a haunted house that sets him on this path.Apple TV’sShining Girlsadaptationbrings Beaukes’ novel to life beautifully and depicts Curtis’ unhinged behavior perfectly.
6Pretty Girls (2015)
Written By Karin Slaughter
Karin Slaughter, the mind behind thepolice proceduralWill Trent, is also the author ofPretty Girls, a compelling tale set twenty years after Claire’s sister, Julia, disappears. Claire’s determination to understand her sister’s absence is chilling, especially as she discovers more about Julia’s past.
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Pretty Girlsis an emotional read, andthe simple murder mystery novel turns into a narrative full of extreme violence and psychological manipulation.There are plenty of creepy elements toPretty Girlsthat make it feel like a horror book, mainly because of its overly graphic descriptions of certain moments.
5Lord Of The Flies (1954)
Written By William Golding
Lord of the Fliesby William Golding is unofficially considered horror, but it’s actually labeled as a thriller. The dwindling mindsets of the young boys who get stranded on an island is a brilliant look into how separation from the real world can mentally destroy someone.
The fact the characters are children makes this story even more unsettling,something that the upcomingLord of the Fliesremakeneeds to execute perfectly. The abrupt change in their personalities as the threat of the imaginary Beast is weird, but it makes readers shiver time and time again.
4Johnny Got His Gun (1939)
Written By Dalton Trumbo
Dalton Trumbo amazingly creates a harrowing tale withJohnny Got His Gun, which focuses on WWI soldier Joe.The loss of his limbs makes Joe a prisoner of his own mind that he can’t escape,and his memories of happier times before the war are deeply harrowing.
Johnny Got His Gunis also amovie that shows the most horrific depictions of war, and Trumbo adapts his own work for the screen fantastically. Readers often claim thatJohnny Got His Gunplagues their nightmares, which makes sense, considering how brutal Joe’s experiences are.
31984 (1949)
Written By George Orwell
1984by George Orwell is a classic novel that delves into the petrifying realities of a totalitarian society.Orwell presents a world far from idyllic, rife with war, conflict, and centralized power,all for the sake of the dictating government’s message of the greater good.
Orwell presents a world far from idyllic, rife with war, conflict, and centralized power, all for the sake of the dictating government’s message of the greater good.
1984forces readers to reflect on society in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable, but that’s the point of the book. Severaldystopian movies with an Orwellian messageare inspired by1984, especially because the threat to individuality and freedom is undoubtedly an overall scary premise.
2The Last Policeman (2012)
Written By Ben H. Winters
Ben H. Winters’The Last Policemaninitially seems to be a standard detective story. However,the establishment of a barely functioning world in the build-up to an extinction-level event is extremely frightening. Society gives up with the looming knowledge that an asteroid is coming toward Earth, except Hank Palace.
As Hank tries to keep it together and continue investigating murders,The Last Policemanquestions what the point of life is.The Last Policemanleads with mystery, but the unnerving shadow of the end of days makes readers’ skin crawl.
1A Clockwork Orange (1962)
Written By Anthony Burgess
A Clockwork Orangeis another dystopian tale that is wildly harrowing. Alex’s life and world are full of horrifying things, ranging from extreme violence, drug-laced nights of drinking, and mass sexual assault. Anthony Burgess’ iconic novel becomes increasingly erratic across each of the three parts.
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Alex is far from a likable protagonist, and it makes sense thatA Clockwork Orangeis banned or censored in certain parts of the world.While it is thought-provoking,A Clockwork Orangeis absolutely ahorror book, even if it isn’t shelved as such.
