The Best Horror Novels to Read this Fall

October has arrived, and with it, the official start of the spooky season! There are plenty of horror movies streaming, but what if you're more of a bookworm? Well, you're in luck! I have compiled a list of some of the best horror novels to curl up with while counting down the days to Halloween.

Top Horror Novels to Read This Halloween

My Best Friend’s Exorcism by Grady Hendrix

My Best Friend’s Exorcism is one of my all-time favorite horror novels. I would happily recommend anything Grady Hendrix has written. The book follows two childhood best friends in the 1980s who are about to start their sophomore year of high school. Unfortunately, right before school starts, one of the girls goes missing in the woods for a couple of hours and emerges… different.

One thing I love about Hendrix’s writing is that he includes realistic reactions to the horror throughout the story. Characters don’t believe anything supernatural is happening. By the end, they are all left traumatized, making the book much scarier and devastating all at once.

The Auctioneer by Joan Samson

Part of Grady Hendrix’s Paperbacks from Hell collection of 70s and 80s horror novels, The Auctioneer is dripping with dread from the moment you open it. An isolated family living on a farm in a small town is roped into donating items to their town's auction run by a mysterious but charming newcomer.

This book is perfect if you are interested in psychological horror with no gore. The Auctioneer packs all of its horror into the characters and the settings. It offers a fascinating deep dive into herd mentality and what a charming person can get away with.

The Keep by F. Paul Wilson

If you’ve seen the 1983 movie adaptation of The Keep, I am deeply sorry. I promise the book is a million times better (I don’t know what went wrong there). In 1940s Romania, a group of SS soldiers occupying an abandoned castle are being killed off in the night. They bring in a professor of history to study the castle and figure out what is killing the men, only to find out they’ve awoken something far more evil than they could have ever imagined.

One of my favorite vampire books of all time, The Keep creates an entirely new origin of the vampire myth. There are also elements of fantasy, romance, and not to mention the murdering of Nazis—a perfect blend.

Patricia Wants to Cuddle by Samantha Leigh Allen

If you want a break from intense horror, I highly recommend Patricia Wants to Cuddle. A reality dating show is filming a new episode in the Pacific Northwest, hoping to capture some beautiful shots of the scenery. Little do they know, they’re in Bigfoot territory.

Patricia Wants to Cuddle is a queer horror novel that is more fun than it is scary. This book is enjoyable and easy to get through, much like a campy B-horror film.

Books of Blood by Clive Barker

If you're more into short stories, I recommend anything by Clive Barker, especially the Books of Blood. If you’ve seen Hellraiser, you have an insight into how Barker’s mind works. However, I promise his writing is even more disturbing (in the best way).

His way of inventing and describing terrifying and disgusting creatures is mesmerizing. I cannot think of another author who writes the way he does; it is so beautifully sickening.

Beloved by Toni Morrison

Beloved is a book that I have not been able to get out of my mind since I first read it. Set in Ohio in the 1870s, Beloved tells the story of a formerly enslaved woman and her surviving children living in a home haunted by the woman’s eldest daughter. One day, the ghost disappears and is replaced with a sick young woman who calls herself Beloved.

A mix of supernatural horror, this book explores the horror of slavery, turning trauma into a literal ghost that haunts the characters in the story. Morrison writes in a beautiful and profound way that pulls you into the world of the book and sticks with you long after you're finished.

I could say so much more about this book, but you need to read it to fully comprehend how haunting, crushing, and hypnotizing it really is.

Conclusion

These horror novels offer a range of chilling experiences, from psychological dread to supernatural terror. Whether you prefer the nostalgic vibes of the 1980s or the haunting tales of the past, there’s something here for every horror enthusiast. So grab a cozy blanket, turn off the lights, and dive into these spine-tingling reads as you prepare for Halloween.

Remember, the best way to celebrate the spooky season is with a good book in hand! Happy reading!