50 True Stories That Will Scare You to Death: True Crime, Hauntings, Aliens, and More

by Sebastian Krahl, Fábio Lyra (Illustrator)

Terrifying true tales to keep you up at night—from TikTok sensation Sebastian Krahl
This deeply horrifying collection of 50 chilling stories is not for the faint of heart. Collected and told by viral true crime storyteller Sebastian Krahl, these true tales dive into the unexplained, the unsettling, and the unimaginable, with frightening and gruesome real-life accounts of murder, mystery, abduction, hauntings, and so much more.
From popular creator Sebastian Krahl—With over 9.5 million total followers, Sebastian Krahl (@Sebastiank22) is known for his well-researched and detailed recountings of true crime, paranormal encounters, unsolved mysteries, and more.
True, and truly scary—These stories don’t shy away from the darkest corners of reality—read them with the lights on.
Discover stories
A set of haunted bunk beds who turned a family's dreams into a nightmare. A woman whose ghost solved her own murder. A kidnapping victim who was kept in a box for years. An alien encounter from one of the real-life men in black. A murderer who lived in his victims' home for days. A set of creepy reincarnated twins.

Are you scared yet?

Genres: Horror, True Crime, Nonfiction, Paranormal, Short Stories, Crime, Audiobook

304 pages, Paperback

First published July 28, 2026

Reviews

[Tucker Almengor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many thanks to Sourcebooks Audio for the advanced audio copy in exchange for an honest review
★ 4.13 stars ★

if i'm still alive after reading this, i'm getting a refund...

narrator: he did, in fact, survive

but not unscathed because holy moly... those stories were certainly scary.

Honestly, I was expecting middle grade to YA levels of scary but nope... there are some genuinely haunting and disturbing true stories in this book so i strongly urge caution to those with a weak stomach.

this book isn't for the faint of heart. but for those who like scary stories, especially true ones, this is your book. if you love getting that feeling of fearing there's something just out of view about to sneak up on you, this book makes you feel that.

i especially enjoy the aliens & abductions chapter... not because i believed any of it but because it was just so ridiculous and unbelievable which ended up becoming fun and campy.

the scariest stories, though, were the non-supernatural ones... because, after all, what's scarier than the horrors we humans inflict on each other?

all in all, highly recommend this one. a quick read to breeze right through and freak yourself out. don't read with the lights off...

[Dozelina 666 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a really enjoyable time with this collection!

Containing about 50 stories covering everything from true crime and hauntings to alien encounters and unexplained mysteries, this is a book that's incredibly easy to pick up "for just one story"... and then suddenly realize you've read twenty. I ended up binge-reading most of it because I was curious to see what the next story would be.

Now, did these stories scare me to death? Not exactly. Adult me wasn't particularly frightened, but teenage me would have absolutely loved this book. I could easily imagine reading these stories around a campfire, during a sleepover or while telling spooky stories late at night with friends. That's where I think this collection really shines.

Some stories definitely stood out more than others, but I enjoyed the variety of topics. Whether you prefer true crime, paranormal encounters, or unexplained mysteries, there's a little something for everyone.

My biggest criticism is that I often wished the stories were longer. With 50 stories spread across roughly 300 pages, many of them felt a little too brief. Several times I found myself wanting more background information or additional details, only for the story to end just as my curiosity had peaked. (can you imagine knowing the spirit/demon followed the people to their new home ... and then the story just ends? :/ )

Overall, I had a great time reading this collection. While I wasn't necessarily scared, I found it entertaining from beginning to end, and like I said it before, I think it would be especially fun for teenagers or anyone looking for short, creepy stories to share during camping trips, sleepovers, or spooky season.

Rating: 3.5⭐

Thank you to NetGalley and Callisto for the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

[Remi · Rating 4 out of 5]

for me, the illustrations are what make it work so incredibly. Fábio Lyra’s art adds an immediate sense of unease that elevates the short horror pieces.

reading this book unexpectedly brought back a strong sense of nostalgia. it reminded me of being a child, waiting for my piano teacher at music cram school, flipping through short horror story collections just to pass the time. that same feeling of quick, bite-sized dread is very much present here.

these true stories are brief and easy to dip into, making this a good pick for readers who enjoy horror in small doses rather than fully immersive narratives. while not every story left a lasting impression, the combination of eerie subject matter, hauntings, unexplained phenomena, and striking visuals creates a consistently spooky reading experience.

for readers who enjoy illustrated horror anthologies or who feel nostalgic about short-form scary stories, this one delivers exactly what it promises.

-------

to-read:

some drawings are indeed quite spooky.

*thank you to Callisto for the ARC*

[Stefanie Mai-Schlien · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to start off by saying I have no idea who Sebastian Krahl is, I solely wanted to read it based off of the premise - I love anything to do with hauntings, abductions and true crime.

I actually really enjoyed this book! It had a great variety of stories, quite a lot that I hadn't heard of before which was nice. I think the section of the book that I knew about the most was the chapter about hauntings as there were some very well known cases in it (several of the Ed and Lorraine Warren hauntings!). There were still quite a few though that I'd never heard of in that chapter.

Something I really enjoyed was that there were stories from all over the world included in the book. I feel like it's usually always stories from the US or England that get covered in media so it was nice to actually hear about some cases from elsewhere. I was surprised that there were actually a few from Australia and I don't think I'd heard about any of them before!

The only downside to this book was that due to the amount of stories, each story was condensed as much as possible. This meant that I didn't really get all of the details that I normally love hearing about. I understand that that wouldn't have been possible with so many stories but I think maybe I would have preferred each chapter as individual books so that more details could have been included. I didn't get as much out of it as I would have watching an episode of a tv show dedicated to a case. I wanted the equivalent of an episode's worth of details for each case in the book.

With that said, I think this book would be PERFECT for teenagers who love this sort of stuff because I know I would have absolutely LOVED this book as a teenager. I think the lack of depth/details would work in favour for a teenage audience.

If you enjoy hearing about the messed up things that have happened to people then I'd definitely recommend checking it out!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Callisto Publishing for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

[KaysKillerReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

50 True Stories That Will Scare You to Death by Sebastian Krahl is a beautifully organized and well written collection that genuinely creeps under your skin. Each story is short, but still manages to pack in just enough detail to leave an impact without dragging things out.

I really appreciated how the structure keeps you engaged the entire time. Just as one story ends, another pulls you right back in. It never feels overwhelming or weighed down with unnecessary details.

This would make a great gift for horror lovers, true crime enthusiasts, or anyone curious about the real things that go bump in the night. It is definitely a book that feels better experienced in your hands rather than on a screen, I feel that all the art and layout is missed in the e-format. I will be adding this one to my collection when it releases.

4 stars

[Dash Hooper · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was fine. Definitely some of the stories were more impactful than others. I did like that the book was divided into different sections - aliens, haunting, etc. the stories are all very quick reads so you could pick the book up and read for a bit and easily take a break. It was a very quick and easy read. I didn’t find the stories that scary, but many were gruesome. Thank you to NetGalley and Callisto publishing for the ARC

[Eunice Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who loves anything related to the supernatural, true crime, and unsolved mysteries, this book was right up my alley. Fun fact: after watching shows like Scariest Places on Earth and other ghost-hunting series when I was younger, I was convinced I wanted to join a paranormal investigation group someday. 😂

One thing I really appreciated about this collection is how concise and straightforward the stories are. The writing gets right to the point, making it an easy read while still being informative and entertaining. I found myself flying through story after story because each one was short enough to keep the momentum going but detailed enough to hold my interest.

What made many of these stories especially unsettling was knowing that they were based on real events. I've seen plenty of movies about hauntings, infestations, poltergeists, and other paranormal phenomena, but reading about the real-life cases behind some of these stories hits differently. There were several moments when I caught myself thinking, "Wait, I've seen something about this before and it actually happened?" It also left me wondering what became of the people involved and where they are now.

I also liked that the book didn't focus exclusively on cases from decades ago. Some of the stories are surprisingly recent, including events from the 2000s and 2010s. For me, that's even creepier. We live in a world filled with smartphones, cameras, and constant connectivity, yet there are still mysteries and paranormal experiences that remain unexplained. Somehow, modern technology doesn't make these stories any less frightening.

My favorite section was definitely the unsolved mysteries. Even when I was already familiar with some of the cases from documentaries and TV specials, they still left me baffled. These are the kinds of stories that make you stop and wonder, "How is this still unsolved?" What I especially appreciate is that books like this help keep these stories alive. For missing persons and unsolved cases, continued awareness is one of the few ways we can help. Every time a case is shared, it reaches new people and keeps the search for answers going. That's why I never get tired of reading or watching content about these cases, even when I already know them. I'm thankful that the author included these stories and helping ensure that the victims and their families are not forgotten.

I do wish the book had included actual photographs related to the cases, whether of the people involved or the locations mentioned. The illustrations were still a nice touch, though, and added to the atmosphere.

This is the kind of book that's perfect for late-night reading, although if you're easily startled and have an overactive imagination, you might want to think twice. 😂 Let's just say there were moments when I regretted reading certain stories right before bed. I survived my nighttime trips to the bathroom by loudly singing worship songs and refusing to think about what I'd just read.

If you're a fan of true crime, paranormal encounters, unexplained phenomena, and unsolved mysteries, this collection offers a little bit of everything and makes for a fun, creepy read.

[The Sassy Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review: 50 True Stories That Will Scare You to Death by Sebastian Krahl

Rating: 4 Stars

I recently picked up 50 True Stories That Will Scare You to Death, a chilling collection by Sebastian Krahl, and it definitely lived up to its spine-tingling promise. Krahl, known for his viral true crime and paranormal storytelling, compiles fifty real-life tales that range from hauntings and mysterious disappearances to alien encounters and unsettling murders. The stories are all grounded in reality, which makes them all the more disturbing—you really get a sense of the dark, eerie corners of the world we often try to ignore.

The book covers a fascinating variety of topics, like haunted bunk beds that turned a family's nights into pure terror, a ghost who seemingly solved her own murder, and even a kidnapping victim kept confined in a box for years. There’s also a creepy account of a murderer living undetected in his victims' homes, and some strange tales involving reincarnated twins and men in black alien encounters. Each story is brief but packed with enough detail to keep you hooked—and, if you’re anything like me, peeking over your shoulder.

One thing I really appreciated was the book’s presentation. The cover is eye-catching and perfectly sets the mood before you even open it. Inside, Fábio Lyra’s illustrations add a striking visual element that complements the spooky vibes of the narratives. The stories themselves are short for anyone who prefers horror in smaller bites. It’s great for dipping in and out, especially if you want a quick scare without committing to something heavier.

Not every story stuck with me after closing the book, but the overall mix of true crime, paranormal phenomena, and unexplained mysteries kept the suspense alive throughout. If you're someone who loves illustrated horror anthologies or feels nostalgic for short-form scary tales, this collection delivers exactly what it promises—a consistently eerie and entertaining experience.

All in all, I’d give 50 True Stories That Will Scare You to Death four stars. It’s a solid pick for anyone wanting to explore some genuinely spooky true stories without diving too deep, and it’s sure to keep you glancing nervously around the room well after you put it down.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

[Hope Stewart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Based on the title, I was expecting to at least glance suspiciously into a dark hallway before bed. Instead, I yawned, turned off the light, and slept like a baby.

50 Stories That Will Scare You to Death is...well...optimistic with its title.

The stories are presented in a very matter-of-fact, documentary style, which works if you're looking for a collection of odd tales and urban legends. Unfortunately, that straightforward delivery also keeps most of them from building any real sense of dread. Reading them felt less like sitting around a campfire and more like listening to someone read entries from "Things That Allegedly Happened."

A lot of the stories cover the usual suspects, the Dyatlov Pass incident, the Bell Witch, mysterious disappearances, haunted locations, and other paranormal favorites that have been retold so many times they've practically qualified for retirement. If you've read more than a handful of "true" paranormal/crime books, you'll probably spend a lot of time saying, "Oh...this one again."

Then there's the word *true*. Let's just say the definition gets...creative. Some entries are based on documented events with supernatural speculation attached. Others seem to rely on the time-honored source of "someone's cousin's neighbor totally swears this happened." If we're calling all of these "true," then my childhood story about the monster under my bed deserves its own chapter.

That said, not everything was recycled. There were a handful of stories I'd never come across before, and those made the collection worthwhile. I appreciated discovering a few lesser-known legends, even if none of them had me checking the locks twice.

Overall, this is a decent collection to dip into if you enjoy folklore, urban legends, and paranormal curiosities. Just don't expect to be scared to death. Or scared to inconvenience. Or, honestly, scared at all.

Three stars for introducing me to a few new stories. The other forty-something have probably been making the rounds since chain emails were a thing.

[Allie James · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8/5

50 True Stories That Will Scare You to Death is an organized compilation of stories that left me feeling creeped out, enamored by the unknown, and even angry at humanity.

It's organized into several sections, such as Paranormal Hauntings, True Crime, Aliens, Missing People, and more. At first, I was disappointed that the paranormal section is first in the book, as I was really looking forward to that one and was concerned I wouldn't be as interested in the other sections of the book, but that wasn't the case at all. There is plenty of scariness to go around in this book and I feel pretty certain that some of the stories will affect you, as they did me.

Which brings me to one of my very rare content warnings: some of the stories in this book, especially the true crime stories, are not for the faint of heart and will leave you disgusted with your fellow humans. There were two stories that particularly upset me and I imagine I will never forget. So if you're easily upset by dark crimes, especially involving children, I would warn you to at least be aware of what you're about to read.

With that said, the stories are well-written and compiled into easily recognizable sections so you can get excited when you begin a new section. I was worried the alien stories would bore me, as those just don't quite interest me as much as haunting and true crime, but I actually found them all to be really intriguing. The stories Krahl chose for this collection are great ones that definitely stand out among the muddled ramblings of your weird uncle who swears he saw a UFO one time.

There were some familiar stories in the collection, but mostly new ones. And even the ones I recognized had new information I had not been aware of and that made me interested in reading the well-know story over again.

Overall, Krahl did a great job compiling and writing these stories, and I definitely hope he continues to publish compilations as he discovers more and more of the strange stories in our world.

[Ally · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're looking for something that will genuinely send chills down your spine, 50 True Stories That Will Scare You to Death is exactly what you need. This is hands down one of the creepiest collections of stories I've ever listened to, and I found myself looking over my shoulder more than once while listening.

Each story is short enough to keep the pacing brisk but detailed enough to build an incredible sense of dread. Whether you believe every tale is true or simply enjoy the thrill of the unknown, the collection creates an unsettling atmosphere that lingers long after each story ends. From eerie encounters to unexplained events, every chapter offers something that horror fans will appreciate.

The audiobook experience is what truly elevates this collection. Sebastian Krahl has the perfect voice for this type of book. His narration is calm, measured, and incredibly immersive, allowing the suspense to build naturally without ever feeling overdone. His delivery made each story feel like it was being told around a campfire late at night, making the experience even more haunting.

This audiobook is the perfect way to kick off spooky season, but honestly, if you're a horror fan any time of year, it's an absolute must-listen. I couldn't stop listening because I always wanted to hear just one more unsettling story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

If you love creepy true story collections, paranormal mysteries, and narration that enhances every chilling moment, don't miss this one.

[Katie Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to @sourcebooks.audio for the gifted ALC!

This is the PERFECT read for Summerween and the <100 day count down to Halloween! When I started this audiobook
close to my bed time I didn't think I would scare that easy but I was IMMEDIATELY proven wrong… I was so creeped out after just the first story! Truly had the daylight scared out of me every day while I read this & I had to ask my husband to go outside with me at night for like a whole week after reading this, because I forgot something in my car and it did not matter that I'm a grown ass adult haha.

I loved the short story format on audio, and was very pleased with the narration. I can be picky about narration and the narrator fit the vibe and story telling quite well. I actually found the narration a bit cathartic for the true crime portions of the story collection I do like that the narratives were divided into sections such as paranormal, true crime, etc. so you can easily go to your preferred themes for your listening experience. I could only handle a few stories at a time but it was absolutely worth it even for a short 10 minute drive to work. Def grab this one if you enjoy short story collections and horror!

Stories and themes that stood out to me: any story featuring the infamous Warrens, graphic alien abductions, modern folklore, the black eyed children (literally the scariest thing I've ever read about)

Overall: 5
Narration: 5
Unsettling: 5/5
Out: July 28, 2026
Audio length: 6 hours, 34 minutes

[SkylarrReadsByCandlelight · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection is a fun, fast read that leans more into eerie curiosity than outright terror, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. What I enjoyed most is the global scope of the book. Pulling stories from multiple countries adds a refreshing variety, and it gives the collection a kind of campfire story feel, like you are passing around tales from all over the world.

Some of the stories have definitely been told before, particularly if you are already interested in true crime or urban legends. That said, they are still enjoyable to revisit in this format, especially all in one place. The Men in Black stories were particularly intriguing and added a nice layer of mystery.

Not every entry landed the same way. A few stories felt overly familiar, and one in particular, “Porsche Girl,” felt unnecessary compared to the rest of the collection. By the final section, the stories were still fun, but not especially scary, which might be a drawback depending on what you are hoping for.

One thing I really appreciated throughout the book was the artwork. It adds atmosphere and helps elevate the storytelling experience in a way that makes the book feel more immersive.

Overall, this is a solid pick if you enjoy "spooky", true stories from around the world. It is less about being truly terrifying and more about that nostalgic thrill, like the kind of stories you would tell to try and scare your friends when you were younger.

[Missa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed 50 True Stories That Will Scare You to Death by Sebastian Krahl. As someone who loves true crime and unexplained mysteries, this collection was exactly the kind of book I could easily lose myself in. Each story is short enough to read in one sitting, yet detailed enough to leave a lasting impression. The variety of topics: from chilling murders and mysterious disappearances to hauntings and alleged alien encounters and kept every chapter feeling fresh and unpredictable.

Sebastian Krahl has a natural talent for storytelling. His writing is engaging, easy to follow, and manages to build suspense without becoming overly dramatic. Even when I was familiar with a case, I still found myself completely invested because of the way it was presented. The pacing makes it difficult to stop after just one story, and I frequently caught myself saying, “Just one story.”

This book is perfect for fans of true crime, paranormal accounts, and unexplained phenomena who enjoy bite-sized stories that are both entertaining and unsettling. While some stories are disturbing, they are handled respectfully and maintain the focus on the events rather than sensationalizing them.

Overall, this was an entertaining and addictive read that kept me turning pages late into the night. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a collection of eerie, thought-provoking stories that will make you sleep with the lights on.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review of Advanced Reader Copy received from NetGalley.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sebastian Krahl and team for this eARC.

50 True Stories That Will Scare You to Death is a collection of 50 short but powerful stories of murders, hauntings, alien encounters and other creepy cases.
Overall, I enjoyed this. I consume a lot of this type of content, so I don't expect all of the stories to be completely new. I was pleasantly surprised to find that there were quite a few cases in this that I hadn't heard of. I thought there was just the right amout of information per case, and a good amount of cases under each section.
I really liked the illustrations too; I thought they paired perfectly with each story.
The writing felt quite amateur and informal; it almost read like the author typed as he spoke the story - this might have been on purpose, to give a sort of "story telling by the camp fire" effect.
As the book went on, I started to recognise more and more of the cases, which was a bit disappointing and felt like maybe the author started to put a little bit less effort in as the book went on, and wrote about more well known cases rather than finding some more unique ones.
I would read another similar book by this author again and I would recomend this to people who are maybe new/newish to this genre and want to discover some creepy stories.
I rate this a 3.5

[KELLY · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're fascinated by horror, history, true crime, and paranormal activity, this audiobook is an absolute MUST Listen. I made the smart decision to listen during the day because these are definitely not cozy campfire ghost stories.

From levitations, swarms of flies, blood seeping through walls, and hands reaching out from mattresses, eerie mists, ghostly assaults, trapped souls, terrifying demons, mediums, churches, haunted hotels, plantations, aliens, and unexplained phenomena and more, every story pulled me in.
Very few of the cases were familiar to me, so I found myself looking up many of the 50 stories afterward and saving everything I discovered for another time. My nerves (and my heart!) could only handle so much creepy in one day.

And the narrator's voice was calm and steady the entire time. Honestly I don't know how he stayed so composed while telling these stories! Despite his relaxed narration, I still had goosebumps and felt genuinely creeped out.

If you love eerie, disturbing true stories filled with paranormal mysteries and unexplained events, this audiobook is a MUST LISTEN. Creepy, unsettling, fascinating... ohhhh myyyy this one was fantastic and definitely deserves a second listen!

Listen on release date 07 / 28 / 2026.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Audio.

[KELLY · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're fascinated by horror, history, true crime, and paranormal activity, this audiobook is an absolute MUST Listen. I made the smart decision to listen during the day because these are definitely not cozy campfire ghost stories.

From levitations, swarms of flies, blood seeping through walls, and hands reaching out from mattresses, eerie mists, ghostly assaults, trapped souls, terrifying demons, mediums, churches, haunted hotels, plantations, aliens, and unexplained phenomena and more, every story pulled me in.
Very few of the cases were familiar to me, so I found myself looking up many of the 50 stories afterward and saving everything I discovered for another time. My nerves (and my heart!) could only handle so much creepy in one day.

And the narrator's voice was calm and steady the entire time. Honestly I don't know how he stayed so composed while telling these stories! Despite his relaxed narration, I still had goosebumps and felt genuinely creeped out.

If you love eerie, disturbing true stories filled with paranormal mysteries and unexplained events, this audiobook is a MUST LISTEN. Creepy, unsettling, fascinating... ohhhh myyyy this one was fantastic and definitely deserves a second listen!

Listen on release date 07 / 28 / 2026.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Audio.

[Michelle Antoinette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Callisto Publishing for my eARC of 50 True Stories That Will Scare You To Death By Sebastian Krahl.

This collection features unsettling tales of the paranormal, missing persons, aliens, and true crime.

I really loved how short and to the point each story was and how well organized each subject was. I enjoyed the missing persons stories the most—they are truly unsettling.

3⭐️⭐️⭐️s for this collection because while it was entertaining, I already knew about 90% of the stories. I was disappointed because I wanted to read some new material that would be really terrifying, but due to my interest in the paranormal and true crime I had already seen films, documentaries, or read a vast majority of the cases featured in the book.


I would recommend 50 True Stories That Will Scare You To Death for anyone wanting to break into the paranormal and/or true crime. I believe it would be a super enjoyable read for someone that doesn’t have a lot of knowledge about the featured stories already.

For all of my book reviews and recommendations follow me on instagram @chelleshelf365.

[Brit · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS DEBUT BOOK BY Sebastian Krahl!!!

I got this book as an ARC! Thank you so much for the opportunity to read it I do want to start with saying that!!!

I love true stories regardless of the genre it is and this did not disappoint at all! I love that there are different chapters that cover different areas of weird, spooky and at times some unexplainable things! There were some stories that were very spooky and kept my mind going at times long after I had read them!!! It's well organized and easy to follow/read. It is straight forward and to the point of the stories. There isn't much beating around it! I like there is enough detail in the stories for the most part that don't leave you guessing if the individuals in the stories are ok or not. You do get to know what happened to them.

The stories about the abductions and aliens really kept me wondering and questioning things. Not the author but had me questioning things in life. Like how can this many people describe things that are so close and not know each other nor be in the same place or time and things match up? It covers ghost stories that make you sit back and wonder about things.

[Stacy40pages · Rating 4 out of 5]

50 True Stories That Will Scare You to Death: True Crime, Hauntings, Aliens, and More by Sebastian Krahl. Thanks to @poisonedpenpress for the gifted copy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

TikTok sensation, Sebastian Krahl, has collected 50 of the most horrifying true stories from around the world.

True stories, yall! I loved that these were actual documented stories. It made it all the more creepier while reading. I loved how the chapters were divvied up by category (haunting vs. alien encounters for example), although I actually preferred to read one from each category and go back and forth. The stories are pretty short so you can just read a few at a time if the horror is too much for you. I had to validate a few of them on Google, and sure enough.. they are out there and real!

“These aren’t urban legends or bedtime tales meant to entertain. These are real events. Real victims. Real terror.”

Read if you like:
-Short stories
-Varying types of horror
-Scary stories you can share at parties
-True horror!

50 True Stories That Will Scare You to Death comes out 7/28.

[Travel Books and Movies · Rating 4 out of 5]

This nonfiction collection explores fifty supposedly true stories involving unexplained disappearances, eerie encounters, disturbing crimes, mysterious phenomena, and other chilling events from around the world.

This was an enjoyable audiobook to listen to while working around the house. I'm generally not a huge fan of supernatural stories or UFOs, but I appreciated that these cases were presented in a fairly factual, documentary-style manner rather than feeling overly sensationalized.

I'd heard a handful of the stories before, which made me curious about how and why the author selected these particular fifty cases. Regardless, they made for an entertaining collection of dark, unsettling stories that were just creepy enough without becoming over the top.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance listening copy in exchange for my honest review.

Book: 50 True Stories That Will Scar You to Death
Author: Sebastian Krahl
Genre: Nonfiction / True Crime / Paranormal Nonfiction
Places Featured: Various worldwide
Review Score: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Amy Proctor · Rating 4 out of 5]

50 True Stories That Will Scare You to Death: True Crime, Hauntings, Aliens, and More by Sebastian Krahl describes horrifying entities and demons haunting houses and hotels, unconscionable things people can do to one another, and alien abductions and mysterious UFO sightings.

The most disturbing stories were those of murder, kidnapping, torture, and abuse. While these are some of the most famous (and infamous) cases, Sebastian Krahl’s retelling is interesting. A.W. Miller deftly narrates these spine tingling stories.

These are not your typical campfire spooky stories. These truly terrifying events are not for the easily frightened! “The Black-Eyed Kids” story had me listening for unwelcome knocks on my door!

Thank you to Sourcebooks Audio | Callisto and NetGalley for providing an advanced listener copy of this title for an honest review.

[Diane Hernandez · Rating 3 out of 5]

With a title like 50 True Stories That Will Scare You to Death, I expect three things to be true.

Are there 50 stories? Yes. There are five categories: The Dead, The Gone, The Invaders, The Hunted, and The Unexplained. The Dead filled with spooks has 15 stories. The Unexplained is a miscellaneous category that has five. The other sections contain ten stories each with tales of missing persons, aliens, and murderous cold cases respectively.

Are they true? Purportedly.

Most important are they scary? This, unfortunately, is where these tales fail to shine. I didn’t get one shiver while reading them even in the dead of night. Most did KT have a real conclusion either. They just petered out. For this reason, I have to give 50 True Stories That Will Scare You to Death 3 stars. Entertaining? Yes. Scary? No.

Thanks to NetGalley and Callisto for providing me with an advanced review copy.

[Chy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read my fair share of books with titles like 'scariest ghost stories, most haunting stories, stories to keep you up all night' and after finishing them I'm always left with the thought of well... it was good, but it wasn't THAT scary or haunting or creepy.

I can say that the title of this one lives up to what's in the pages.

While I was familiar with a lot of the stories listed in this book I didn't mind rereading the cases because I enjoyed the authors writing. I also enjoyed the variety of locations and stories that he chose to highlight and for me personally while I love a good ghost story the ones that scared me the most in here were the true crime stories.

All in all this was a fantastic read that I highly recommend for anyone who is looking for a good scare or wanting to read more about paranormal and true crime cases.

[Ashley Mari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4.5/5)
50 True Stories That Will Scare You to Death: True Crime, Hauntings, Aliens, and More by Sebastian Krahl
If you're a fan of all things uncanny, eerie, and macabre, this collection is an absolute treat. Sebastian Krahl brings together a wide-ranging variety of chilling accounts, seamlessly blending true crime, paranormal hauntings, extraterrestrial encounters, and weird mysteries into bitesize entries.
While a few of the famous cases were already familiar to me, there were plenty of lesser-known, deeply unsettling stories that I had never heard before—making it a incredibly fun, fast-paced read from start to finish. The short format makes it easy to dip in and out of, though you might want to leave a light on if you're reading it late at night. Highly recommended for anyone who loves dark history and mysterious lore!

[Kayla Erdmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for Callisto Publishing and NetGalley for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
The stories in this were sometimes gruesome and a great collection overall. These stories are short enough and manage enough details to creep you out. This book was a quick read that held my interest. 50 True Stories That Will Scare You to Death read similar to the Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz which growing up was my favorite horror series. The illustrations by Fabio Lyra are creepy and horrifying adding perfectly to the spooky factor. I feel like the kindle edition didn't do a lot of justice, similar to the novel mentioned above this would be better consumed as a physical book.

[Liz ✨]

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Audio for the ALC of 50 True Stories That Will Scare You to Death!!

I went into this audiobook with high expectations especially with a title like that! I was hoping for stories that would genuinely creep me out or leave me feeling unsettled. Unfortunately, this one just didn't work for me.

I ultimately decided to DNF at around 60% because I found myself losing interest. While the stories are based on true events, none of them really grabbed my attention or delivered the level of suspense and tension I was expecting. I kept waiting for one story to hook me, but I never found myself fully invested.

Even though it didn’t work for me, I can see others really enjoying these short stories.

[Michelle Preston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Sourcebooks Audio | Callisto and NetGalley for this ALC of 50 True Stories That Will Scare You to Death.

These stories range from paranormal to true crime to alien abductions. They will all keep you on your toes and have you gasping or cringing. Several of them had me immediately pausing the book to go tell a friend about the story. Each story is just long enough to grab your attention, but not too long. There were several that left me feeling very uncomfortable, but that's exactly what it was supposed to do. If you're into scary stories, or strange encounters, this one is definitely for you.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was great. I definitely felt like I was watching the ID channel. The narrator had the perfect voice for this kind of book.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this one on audio and it gave true crime/camp fire podcast vibes. This one is by a TikToker named Sebastian Krahl. I had never heard of him but I do love a collection of scary stories.

This one is a great summerween or fall read as there are 50 bite size stories you can easily fit into your day. All the stories feel well researched and told in a way that doesn’t feel drawn out or lacking any information. You get everything from alien abductions to hauntings to ghost stories to true crime stories. Some of these I had heard previously but there was plenty that I hadn’t heard before!

I would recommend this one for anyone who loves a collection of bite size stories or just someone who is a fan of everything creepy!