What do you think?
50 True Stories That Will Scare You to Death: True Crime, Hauntings, Aliens, and More
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?
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?
Audible Audio
First published July 28, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
August 14, 2026
I always struggle to rate nonfiction but I really enjoyed this, the art in particular was fascinating.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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...
★ 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...
August 20, 2026
I love true crime and non fiction mysteries or unexplainable occurrences, so this one was perfect, especially as it had a great range. Stories spanned from UFOs, hauntings, kidnappings, etc, as well as all throughout decades, dating back to the ‘20s.
The stories are grouped by the topics I mentioned above, and I have to say that I hadn’t heard of most of them, but I found each one fascinating and some down right chilling, especially the true crime ones. Some of the hauntings were also eerie, especially when reliable witnesses are involved.
The audiobook was very well narrated and I enjoyed listening to this collection of 50 stories based on real events whenever I had time to pop in my earphones.
If you dare, try to listen to these at night when you’re alone, and I bet you won’t be able to sleep!
Thanks to Sourcebooks Audio for the audiobook and this is my honest opinion.
The stories are grouped by the topics I mentioned above, and I have to say that I hadn’t heard of most of them, but I found each one fascinating and some down right chilling, especially the true crime ones. Some of the hauntings were also eerie, especially when reliable witnesses are involved.
The audiobook was very well narrated and I enjoyed listening to this collection of 50 stories based on real events whenever I had time to pop in my earphones.
If you dare, try to listen to these at night when you’re alone, and I bet you won’t be able to sleep!
Thanks to Sourcebooks Audio for the audiobook and this is my honest opinion.
September 1, 2026
3.5 ⭐️ Like most children of the 80s, I grew up watching unsolved mysteries and scaring the daylights out of my young self and as a result am a true crime junkie as an adult. I was hoping this would fill that true crime bucket and while some of these stories worked and kept me deeply engrossed, there was a lot that fell short. I am not familiar with this author as I don’t do TikTok, but definitely get that he knows his stuff when it comes to obscure true crime.
What worked:
* I loved the variety of stories here - you get supernatural, aliens, true crime (death, abductions and unsolved mysteries) and probably more I am missing. Not all of them worked but I liked the variety. Once I got past the first two chapters, I was deeply engrossed with the true crime stories.
* I really liked that stories were included from all parts of the world, ones I would have never heard about before this book.
* If you are new to true crime, this might actually be perfect for you. The details were sparse, so it isn’t overly graphic in the imagery of the storytelling. For me, I’d want more but I can see how this could work for some.
* This is a very quick read, I picked this up and finished the audiobook in one day and one sitting.
What didn’t work:
* The narrator starts off pretty blasé for the first two sections, there was no intensity, personality or anything in the delivery. It does get better and perhaps it’s the writing that didn’t work. The stories are SO short that by the time they are told and you want to know more, it moves on. The supernatural stories, which I typically love were my least favorite by far. They were entirely too superficial in details and just didn’t work. In later chapters, you get actual quotes, details and a semblance of emotion. The narration gets better as the stories change!
* I felt like a voyeur of these stories in a bad way by the end. Nothing new was told, there wasn’t a point to it besides telling what happened. There was no insight or call to action and I felt bad about myself for taking any entertainment out of these horrific true stories.
* None of these are actually scary, I think the title is misleading. Sad? yes. Horrible? yes. Disturbing? yup. Scary? Absolutely not.
Overall, I enjoyed it - even if I felt slightly guilty for enjoying it in the end. Thank you to Source Audiobooks for the gifted advanced listeners copy in exchange for my honest opinion. This book is out now.
This was my 86th book of 2026
Format: Gifted ALC
What worked:
* I loved the variety of stories here - you get supernatural, aliens, true crime (death, abductions and unsolved mysteries) and probably more I am missing. Not all of them worked but I liked the variety. Once I got past the first two chapters, I was deeply engrossed with the true crime stories.
* I really liked that stories were included from all parts of the world, ones I would have never heard about before this book.
* If you are new to true crime, this might actually be perfect for you. The details were sparse, so it isn’t overly graphic in the imagery of the storytelling. For me, I’d want more but I can see how this could work for some.
* This is a very quick read, I picked this up and finished the audiobook in one day and one sitting.
What didn’t work:
* The narrator starts off pretty blasé for the first two sections, there was no intensity, personality or anything in the delivery. It does get better and perhaps it’s the writing that didn’t work. The stories are SO short that by the time they are told and you want to know more, it moves on. The supernatural stories, which I typically love were my least favorite by far. They were entirely too superficial in details and just didn’t work. In later chapters, you get actual quotes, details and a semblance of emotion. The narration gets better as the stories change!
* I felt like a voyeur of these stories in a bad way by the end. Nothing new was told, there wasn’t a point to it besides telling what happened. There was no insight or call to action and I felt bad about myself for taking any entertainment out of these horrific true stories.
* None of these are actually scary, I think the title is misleading. Sad? yes. Horrible? yes. Disturbing? yup. Scary? Absolutely not.
Overall, I enjoyed it - even if I felt slightly guilty for enjoying it in the end. Thank you to Source Audiobooks for the gifted advanced listeners copy in exchange for my honest opinion. This book is out now.
This was my 86th book of 2026
Format: Gifted ALC
July 28, 2026
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.
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.
August 16, 2026
3.5 stars, rounded down. This book was okay. The stories within it are definitely interesting, but they were just covered at a surface level. I would have preferred fewer stories, but a deeper dive into them.
Audio: The narrator was decent enough. He has a good voice, and good timing. He, however, does not know how to pronounce names in Spanish, which honestly should be a requirement for someone intending to narrate a story that includes them.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Audio for the gifted audiobook.
Audio: The narrator was decent enough. He has a good voice, and good timing. He, however, does not know how to pronounce names in Spanish, which honestly should be a requirement for someone intending to narrate a story that includes them.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Audio for the gifted audiobook.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
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.
August 22, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Callisto Publishing for this e-arc! All thoughts are my own.
A collection of tales that are designed to make you shiver.
Overall, I would give this collection of stories 4 stars. It's a quick and entertaining read. The stories can be considered scary; however, I feel I do have a warped sense of what is scary. For one, I already consume a lot of true crime/tales of the mysterious content. A good chunk of these stories I have already read or watched... in more detail than provided here. These are very basic surface-level stories; if you want the full story, you'll need to look elsewhere.
That being said, I do feel that my already knowing some of these stories is what kept it from being scary, and it is difficult to actually scare me with all the horror content I do tend to watch.
But there is a very good structure to this story, with breaking down the different categories. The UFO ones do seem a little out of place with the rest of the categories, but I can see why they were included here.
The only downside (besides not being scared) is that I would have loved more detail on each case. In particular, the true crime ones, as that is a special interest of mine.
A collection of tales that are designed to make you shiver.
Overall, I would give this collection of stories 4 stars. It's a quick and entertaining read. The stories can be considered scary; however, I feel I do have a warped sense of what is scary. For one, I already consume a lot of true crime/tales of the mysterious content. A good chunk of these stories I have already read or watched... in more detail than provided here. These are very basic surface-level stories; if you want the full story, you'll need to look elsewhere.
That being said, I do feel that my already knowing some of these stories is what kept it from being scary, and it is difficult to actually scare me with all the horror content I do tend to watch.
But there is a very good structure to this story, with breaking down the different categories. The UFO ones do seem a little out of place with the rest of the categories, but I can see why they were included here.
The only downside (besides not being scared) is that I would have loved more detail on each case. In particular, the true crime ones, as that is a special interest of mine.
August 29, 2026
As someone who grew up watching Unsolved Mysteries and enjoys storytellers like MrBallen and The Why Files, 50 True Stories That Will Scare You to Death seemed like a no-brainer. Unfortunately, the stories didn’t live up to the title.
The audiobook covers a variety of unsettling topics, including paranormal encounters, missing persons, hauntings, and other strange events. However, most of the stories are so short that they feel more like Cliff’s Notes versions than fully developed accounts. None of them were particularly scary, and they often ended just as they started to become interesting.
The narration was serviceable, but I think the narrator could have done more to create a creepy or suspenseful atmosphere. A stronger delivery might have made some of the stories more effective.
That said, this could still be an enjoyable listen if you’re new to creepy stories or want some quick material to play around a campfire with friends. Just don’t expect anything scary enough to scare the living daylights out of you.
My Favorite Stories:
The Exorcism Of Annaelise Michel
The Haunted Hospital/Asylum 49
The Pascagoula Abduction
The Blonde Alien Woman
Thank you to Sourcebooks Audio, LibroFM and the author for this ALC. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
The audiobook covers a variety of unsettling topics, including paranormal encounters, missing persons, hauntings, and other strange events. However, most of the stories are so short that they feel more like Cliff’s Notes versions than fully developed accounts. None of them were particularly scary, and they often ended just as they started to become interesting.
The narration was serviceable, but I think the narrator could have done more to create a creepy or suspenseful atmosphere. A stronger delivery might have made some of the stories more effective.
That said, this could still be an enjoyable listen if you’re new to creepy stories or want some quick material to play around a campfire with friends. Just don’t expect anything scary enough to scare the living daylights out of you.
My Favorite Stories:
The Exorcism Of Annaelise Michel
The Haunted Hospital/Asylum 49
The Pascagoula Abduction
The Blonde Alien Woman
Thank you to Sourcebooks Audio, LibroFM and the author for this ALC. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 20, 2026
4.5
I saw this book at Target and the bold colors and painted edges caught my attention. I always am wary to say I "enjoy" true crime, rather it is interesting and I feel it is important to hear these kinds of stories. This book gives an overview of many stories that you can choose to look further into yourself if you choose.
I do think the sections were a little more fluid than they seemed as I thought some later ones may have fit under the paranormal more than the chapter they were, but they still made sense.
I loved the Morbid podcast shoutout at the end, as I believe I have heard some of these on that podcast as well.
I saw this book at Target and the bold colors and painted edges caught my attention. I always am wary to say I "enjoy" true crime, rather it is interesting and I feel it is important to hear these kinds of stories. This book gives an overview of many stories that you can choose to look further into yourself if you choose.
I do think the sections were a little more fluid than they seemed as I thought some later ones may have fit under the paranormal more than the chapter they were, but they still made sense.
I loved the Morbid podcast shoutout at the end, as I believe I have heard some of these on that podcast as well.
August 21, 2026
Some of the stories are the conjuring movies with the warrens
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
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*
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*
August 13, 2026
-ARC review from Netgalley-
If you enjoy reading a collection of short stories, this might be for you. There is a wide variety of themes—do you want to read about UFOs? True crime? Ghosts?
Personally, I didn't feel the writing style evoked any sense of suspense or unease, which made the book feel rather dull.
On top of that, I couldn't shake the feeling that it had been written with the help of AI.
If you enjoy reading a collection of short stories, this might be for you. There is a wide variety of themes—do you want to read about UFOs? True crime? Ghosts?
Personally, I didn't feel the writing style evoked any sense of suspense or unease, which made the book feel rather dull.
On top of that, I couldn't shake the feeling that it had been written with the help of AI.
February 6, 2026
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
July 22, 2026
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.
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.
March 31, 2026
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
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
August 21, 2026
2 1/2 stars rated down ⭐️
This book is kind of all over the place with ghosts being in one chapter and true crime being in the next it doesn’t flow well. Maybe if the focus was on one subject rather than five different ones I would have been more interested in this book. I also wish some if the stories were researched better, this book reads like someone watched a 30 minute YouTube video and spit back to you what they got from it. Not to mention the references are atrocious lol
If you want something 10x better than this go to YouTube and watch wendigoon, he has a video on a lot of these stories and he goes into more depth. 👽✌️
This book is kind of all over the place with ghosts being in one chapter and true crime being in the next it doesn’t flow well. Maybe if the focus was on one subject rather than five different ones I would have been more interested in this book. I also wish some if the stories were researched better, this book reads like someone watched a 30 minute YouTube video and spit back to you what they got from it. Not to mention the references are atrocious lol
If you want something 10x better than this go to YouTube and watch wendigoon, he has a video on a lot of these stories and he goes into more depth. 👽✌️
July 30, 2026
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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⚠️
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⚠️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
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
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
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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
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
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
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.
May 30, 2026
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.
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.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews