And Other Spooky Stories

Yesterday when my Husband called me to make sure I knew it was raining so I could open the windows, he also reminded me that this Friday would be the 13th. Personally I love Friday the 13th, but I know that a lot of people think it’s unlucky, and would much prefer to stay in. So if you have that opportunity, then I’d really recommend reading a book. I mean it would be just your luck that you’d get electrocuted turning on your DVR. Since Halloween is just around the corner, and Friday the 13th is a scary day for a lot of people anyway why not make that book a scary one?

I’ve decided to list out some of my favorite scary books that I completely recommend. There will be full reviews later. Most likely you can get these at your local library, or on nook or kindle if you really don’t want to go outside.

1. The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury

Really anything by Ray Bradbury, no one does Horror/Sci Fi like Bradbury. He is the king of creepy. Bonus: there was an episode of Criminal Minds based around the Illustrated Man

2. My Sweet Audrina by V.C. Andrews

If Bradbury is the King of Creepy, Andrews is the Queen of Demented. While not outright Horror, these books are scary, and straight up messed up.

3. Misery By Stephen King

I’m virturally 100% certain Stephen King has been called the Master Of Horror. I agree.

4. The Killing Edge by Heather Graham

Be careful which you pick up, she writes both Horror and Love Stories, I’m not a fan of the love stories, but the Horror are some of the best I’ve read. I adore her.

5. Video Kill by Joanne Fluke

Best known for her Hannah Swensen Series, Joanne Fluke does murder well.

That’s it for the Adult books, but I do have some YA books that fit into the Horror and Supernatural Category.

1. The Night World Series by L.J. Smith

These books are the right amount of Vampires, Witches and just a bit scary. Best known for The Vampire Diaries, L.J. Smith has some amazing Supernatural Fiction.

2. The Den Of Shadows Quartet by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

Barely older than me, Amelia Atwater-Rhodes publishes her first book at age 14, and they’re good.

3. The Wicked Series by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguié

Loved this series. So much that after finishing Witch in the first volume, I went back and bought the final two volumes in the set. There are 5 books in the series total, 2 in the first volume, 2 in the second and the third is the final book.

4. Fear Street Nights by R.L. Stine

I’ve been reading R.L. Stine since I was little and my grandmother much preferred me to be reading Sweet Valley High or Nancy Drew instead. While I liked those books (okay Loved Nancy Drew) nothing compared to the thrill I got from the Fear Street books.

5. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

This book (now a major motion picture) freaked me out. But more than this one, I recommend Alice Sebold’s Lucky. It’s the true story of her Rape and it’s aftermath. There is nothing scarier than reality, and that book made me afraid to go anywhere by myself at night for months.

Moving on to Childrens books. I don’t have as many of these as I do the others, I graduated from childrens books to YA completely by the time I was in 3rd grade. I actually read My Sweet Audrina in 1st grade (Boy was my mom pissed when she caught me putting it back on the shelves, then she was even madder when she found out at the end of our long conversation that her 1st grader fully understood what was had happened in such a dark and twisted book.) However these books are suitable for kids and will always hold a special place in my heart.

1. A Night In Terror Tower , Goosebumps Series by R.L. Stine

I adore Goosebumps, my 2nd grader is obsessed with the series right now, and not only are we absolutely devouring the books, but the series is on Netflix instant play. Know your kid before you hand these over though, even as an adult some of these still creep me out. My kid is all Ook and Spook, but if yours is more into faery-tales then these may not be for them

2. Grimms Faery-Tales by The Brothers Grimm

If you have the kind of kid that’s into Faery-Tales and you want something scary then this is the book for you. Bear in mind that this is not disney’s Cinderella and Snow White. Bad things happen in these books. Noses are pecked off, Bears eat people. These are the Originals.

3. Wait Til Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hann

I’ve mentioned this book before, I read this in 3rd grade and it is still my All Time Favorite book. Mary Downing Hann does Children’s Horror well, I recommend A Doll In The Garden and The Old Willis Place.  I remember being warned that I would have nightmares, and my father had to call the school with the Hellraiser story (My mother put on Looney Toons for me when I was in Kindergarten, fell asleep and woke to find me laughing at pinhead. I still find him funny, a pin cushion is not a proper monster.)

Now for some Honorable Mentions:

The Mysterious Mr. Quinn by Agatha Christie
Bedlams Barde Series by Mercedes Lackey (And virtually everything else she wrote)
Dresdin File Series by Jim Butcher
Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan (Bonus this book was Banned from a lot of libraries, personally I don’t think any book ever should be banned. Especially not this one, it’s one of my childhood favorites, and I’d kill to have a copy of it now)
Encyclopedia of Vampires, Werewolves and Other Monsters by Rosemary Guiley
The Vampire Chonicles by Anne Rice
The Marbury Lens by Andrew Smith

And Last but not least the Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling, I don’t consider it horror, but my mother absolutely insisted it be included. When you think about it some absolutely terribly stuff happens to young Potter, and it certainly could be considered scary to some kids. Mostly I think it fits the Supernatural bill, but you might find it under action or adventure as well.

For more Horror Novel Recommendations I suggest you check out this video by Katie from Chapterstacks on Youtube.

What are some of your favorite Horror Novels?