Fair warning, readers, you may lose sleep over these books. Whether it’s because they spook you or because you simply can’t put them down, these horror novels are sure to deliver the spine-tingling and suspenseful thrills you’re looking for this fall and beyond.
Blood Like Ours by Stuart Neville
Stuart Neville returns this fall with the supernatural horror follow-up to Blood Like Mine. Rebecca Carter only has two thoughts in her mind when she wakes up in a morgue in El Paso, Texas. The first is her hunger for blood, and the second is that she must find her daughter. Meanwhile, she’s being pursued by FBI agent Sarah McGrath. Sarah knows that Rebecca was involved in the death of her partner and she’s out to see justice served at any cost.
The Bone Thief by Vanessa Lillie
Syd Walker, a Cherokee archaeologist with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, finds herself tangled up with a historical society after a young Native girl and a set of bones suddenly go missing. The more she learns about the Founders Society, who believe they have ancestral rights to the land as descendants of the original colonizers on the land, the more she suspects that the group may be responsible for a long string of unsolved disappearances in the area.
Hazelthorn by CG Drews
Craving botanical body horror? CG Drews has you covered with this YA novel. Evander has been forbidden to leave the Hazelthorn estate ever since he was taken in by Byron Lennox-Hall, a reclusive billionaire. When Byron suddenly dies, he leaves everything to Evander instead of his grandson Laurie. Evander feels certain that Bryon was killed and working alongside Laurie, who once tried to murder Evander, may be the only way to uncover the truth.
The Villa, Once Beloved by Victor Manibo
Sophie journeys with her boyfriend Adrian to his family’s colonial manor in the Philippines. She knows they’re at Villa Sepulveda for a funeral, but what she doesn’t expect is for rumors of a family curse and a murderous demon to begin circulating. After everyone becomes trapped in the home by a landslide, Sophie starts to learn the unsettling legacy of the Sepulveda family and fears who she can trust among them.
Dark Sisters by Kristi DeMeester
This novel tracks the curse that connects three generations of women. The first is Anne, a widow living in the 1750s who is accused of witchcraft and flees with her daughter. She strikes a bargain for their protection, unknowing that this choice will create ripples that last centuries. The second is Mary, a housewife in the 1950s who becomes wrapped up in a forbidden affair. The last is Camilla, the daughter of a pastor in the early 2000s who uncovers a connection between herself and the urban legend of the Dark Sisters.
We’re Not Safe Here by Rin Chupeco
Young adult readers who enjoy piecing together stories told through elements such as video transcripts and online message boards will want to pick up Rin Chupeco’s latest. A vlogger who goes by Storymancer knows something is wrong in Wispy Falls. Years ago his younger brother went missing and no one, even his parents, cared enough to search for him. Now that a body has been discovered in the surrounding woods, Storymancer knows it’s his chance to uncover the truth behind his town’s seemingly safe facade.
Darker Days by Thomas Olde Heuvelt
Over a century ago, the residents of Lock Haven, Washington made a dark bargain to be blessed with health, success, and happiness. But each November a price must be paid and a soul is sent into the woods as a sacrifice. As Luana and Ralph and their two children are preparing to wait out the month, something goes wrong and the stranger who has come to collect their debt isn’t leaving empty handed.
The Forest of Missing Girls by Nichelle Giraldes
Lia Gregg returns to her childhood home to give herself time to reevaluate her life after a breakup and connect with her mom and teenage sister. She didn’t expect to still feel so afraid of the woods surrounding her home. Lia grew up hearing rumors of young girls who would go missing in the woods, and when a teenage girl goes missing, Lia fears that the tales are becoming true and that her sister may be next.
Twin Tides by Hien Nguyen
A tragic phone call brings LA influencer Caliste Ha and Georgetown freshman Aria Nguyen together in this YA thriller. When the two cross paths in Les Eaux, Minnesota, they’re shocked to realize they’re twins and have both arrived after learning that their missing mother was found dead. As Caliste and Aria get to know each other, they begin to investigate their mother’s death and disappearance and work to uncover why they were separated from each other in the first place.
You Should Have Been Nicer to My Mom by Vincent Tirado
Is there a demon hiding within the Abreu family? When the patriarch dies, he leaves behind a mysterious message in his will claiming that one of the remaining members of the family is a demon he made a deal with and that all of them will be damned if the demon isn’t discovered. Though his final words are brushed aside as the confused thoughts of an old man, Xiomara wonders how true they might be once everyone becomes trapped together during a storm.
What’s the best horror novel you’ve read this year?
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