If you are looking for an adrenaline-spiking, skin-crawling, don’t-wanna-look-away feeling of haunted houses and scary movies, then horror novels are the way to go!
From supernatural short stories to horror classics like Stephen King’s “It,” horror novels give us a sensation of unease that lingers long after we’ve closed the book and turned out the light.
Here are the six best horror novels to read in 2022, whether you’re looking for your first gruesome horror novel or the latest jaw-dropping thriller.
“White Smoke” by Tiffany D. Jackson
Mari believes she is escaping the demons of her past when her blended family moves to a picture-perfect home in the Midwest, despite the fact that it is surrounded by considerably more deteriorated and secret-keeping neighbors. Over the course of this horror novel, weird things begin to occur in Mari’s new home, but the threat becomes too real when her younger stepsister tells her of a friend who wants Mari gone.
“Daisy Darker” by Alice Feeney
“Daisy Darker” is a horror novel for fans of Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None,” about Daisy Darker’s estranged family, who had gathered on a distant island for Nana’s 80th birthday. When the tide entraps them, and Nana is discovered dead, followed an hour later by another family member, they must unravel their secrets and identify the murderer if they hope to live.
“It” by Stephen King
This famous horror novel is about seven adults who return to their hometown to confront an evil they first encountered as kids. They refer to a nameless, shape-shifting horror as “It.” In The town of Derry, Maine shows up often like in other Stephen King novels, but it all began with “It.” “It” is likewise a behemoth of a novel; its many pages culminate in a horrifying, must-read masterpiece.
“Mexican Gothic” by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
This winner of the Goodreads Choice Awards is a gothic, historical horror about Noem Taboada, who travels to the Mexican countryside after receiving an ominous letter from her newlywed cousin. When she arrives at her new residence, High Place, she is confronted with a murky family history, buried secrets, and a property that may attempt to imprison her, as it appears to have done to others.
“A Dowry of Blood” by S.T. Gibson
The new fantasy horror novel “A Dowry of Blood” reimagines the narrative of Dracula’s bride, Constanta, who was transformed from a mortal peasant into the wife of an immortal ruler. In this queer, dramatic paranormal horror thriller, when Constanta begins to comprehend the actual terrible power of her husband, she uncovers his dark secrets. She must choose between love and her freedom.
“When the Reckoning Comes” by LaTanya McQueen
When Mira left her segregated southern village more than a decade ago, she left behind her best friend, a supposedly haunted plantation, and horrifying childhood memories. Returning just for her best friend’s wedding on the creepy plantation, Mira’s history and the town’s past begin to unravel as the weekend commences.