The Definitive Horror Book List (1379 books)

Please vote on, or add your favorite horror books to this list.
Authors be WARNED! This is not a promotional page for your books, please do not spam this list, it would be futile. All authors who spam this list will be removed!

flag

All Votes Add Books To This List

1	The Shining (The Shining, #1) by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 4.28 avg rating — 1,682,264 ratings score: 54,324, and 555 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	It by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 4.24 avg rating — 1,250,508 ratings score: 44,768, and 460 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	The Stand by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 4.35 avg rating — 827,155 ratings score: 36,295, and 374 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	Dracula by Bram Stoker 4.02 avg rating — 1,452,911 ratings score: 32,613, and 336 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	’Salem’s Lot by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 4.10 avg rating — 651,879 ratings score: 32,386, and 337 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	Pet Sematary by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 4.08 avg rating — 688,908 ratings score: 28,388, and 296 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	The Exorcist (The Exorcist, #1) by William Peter Blatty 4.21 avg rating — 268,251 ratings score: 23,695, and 248 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson 3.81 avg rating — 386,037 ratings score: 21,346, and 226 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	Frankenstein: The 1818 Text by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley 3.90 avg rating — 1,839,934 ratings score: 19,160, and 204 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	Misery by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 4.23 avg rating — 835,895 ratings score: 18,418, and 195 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
11	Carrie by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 3.99 avg rating — 833,759 ratings score: 17,187, and 186 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	Rosemary’s Baby (Rosemary's Baby, #1) by Ira Levin 4.05 avg rating — 157,566 ratings score: 15,814, and 170 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	The Silence of the Lambs (Hannibal Lecter, #2) by Thomas Harris 4.26 avg rating — 584,696 ratings score: 15,720, and 168 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	I Am Legend and Other Stories by Richard Matheson really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 135,936 ratings score: 15,543, and 165 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	Ghost Story by Peter Straub 3.92 avg rating — 82,700 ratings score: 15,097, and 162 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	The Tell-Tale Heart and Other Writings by Edgar Allan Poe 4.19 avg rating — 244,284 ratings score: 14,521, and 153 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	Interview with the Vampire (The Vampire Chronicles, #1) by Anne Rice 4.02 avg rating — 644,008 ratings score: 12,856, and 140 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	Swan Song by Robert McCammon 4.30 avg rating — 75,323 ratings score: 12,352, and 132 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
19	Red Dragon (Hannibal Lecter, #1) by Thomas Harris 4.07 avg rating — 370,184 ratings score: 9,795, and 108 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	Watchers by Dean Koontz (Goodreads Author) 4.19 avg rating — 171,328 ratings score: 9,724, and 107 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
21	The Dead Zone by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 3.97 avg rating — 243,808 ratings score: 9,643, and 107 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury 3.90 avg rating — 151,926 ratings score: 9,326, and 103 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks (Goodreads Author) 4.02 avg rating — 563,255 ratings score: 9,278, and 102 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski (Goodreads Author) 4.09 avg rating — 197,102 ratings score: 9,037, and 94 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
25	The Mist by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 3.93 avg rating — 178,762 ratings score: 9,034, and 100 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson 3.83 avg rating — 656,834 ratings score: 8,869, and 99 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	Relic (Pendergast, #1) by Douglas Preston (Goodreads Author) 4.05 avg rating — 114,915 ratings score: 8,647, and 95 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
28	Jaws (Jaws, #1) by Peter Benchley 3.94 avg rating — 178,068 ratings score: 8,475, and 99 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	At the Mountains of Madness and Other Tales of Terror by H.P. Lovecraft 4.25 avg rating — 24,796 ratings score: 8,112, and 89 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	Books of Blood: Volumes One to Three (Books of Blood, #1-3) by Clive Barker (Goodreads Author) 4.19 avg rating — 29,782 ratings score: 7,849, and 86 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	Hell House by Richard Matheson 3.69 avg rating — 62,406 ratings score: 7,778, and 87 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
32	Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill (Goodreads Author) 3.84 avg rating — 151,965 ratings score: 7,579, and 83 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
33	Phantoms by Dean Koontz (Goodreads Author) 3.95 avg rating — 79,846 ratings score: 7,538, and 87 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis 3.80 avg rating — 357,447 ratings score: 7,353, and 81 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	Needful Things by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 3.98 avg rating — 275,068 ratings score: 7,130, and 84 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
36	Cujo by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 3.80 avg rating — 318,729 ratings score: 7,057, and 82 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
37	We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson 3.91 avg rating — 288,661 ratings score: 6,466, and 73 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson 3.83 avg rating — 137,528 ratings score: 6,219, and 70 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	Christine by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 3.86 avg rating — 261,921 ratings score: 6,218, and 74 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
40	The Ruins by Scott Smith 3.69 avg rating — 65,712 ratings score: 6,162, and 69 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	Desperation by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 3.86 avg rating — 152,328 ratings score: 6,119, and 70 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	Night Shift by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 4.04 avg rating — 196,977 ratings score: 5,804, and 70 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
43	Psycho (Psycho, #1) by Robert Bloch 4.13 avg rating — 76,520 ratings score: 5,803, and 66 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde 4.13 avg rating — 1,840,024 ratings score: 5,793, and 65 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
45	Boy's Life by Robert McCammon 4.41 avg rating — 41,130 ratings score: 5,790, and 64 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker (Goodreads Author) 4.08 avg rating — 67,518 ratings score: 5,706, and 64 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
47	The Terror by Dan Simmons 4.09 avg rating — 72,540 ratings score: 5,651, and 62 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
48	Summer of Night (Seasons of Horror, #1) by Dan Simmons 4.05 avg rating — 28,558 ratings score: 5,509, and 62 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
49	The Island of Dr. Moreau by H.G. Wells 3.73 avg rating — 133,940 ratings score: 5,503, and 64 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
50	The Long Walk by Richard Bachman (Pseudonym) 4.03 avg rating — 261,308 ratings score: 5,502, and 64 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
51	The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower, #1) by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 3.91 avg rating — 658,479 ratings score: 5,467, and 64 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
52	The Strain (The Strain #1) by Guillermo del Toro 3.80 avg rating — 90,011 ratings score: 5,427, and 62 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
53	The Dark Half by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 3.81 avg rating — 151,644 ratings score: 5,392, and 64 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
54	The Vampire Lestat (The Vampire Chronicles, #2) by Anne Rice 4.11 avg rating — 215,247 ratings score: 5,108, and 59 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
55	The Call of Cthulhu and Other Weird Stories by H.P. Lovecraft 4.02 avg rating — 116,831 ratings score: 5,037, and 59 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
56	The Turn of the Screw by Henry James 3.38 avg rating — 177,586 ratings score: 5,001, and 58 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
57	Intensity by Dean Koontz (Goodreads Author) 4.03 avg rating — 92,718 ratings score: 4,791, and 55 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
58	The Fall of the House of Usher and Other Tales by Edgar Allan Poe 4.17 avg rating — 74,787 ratings score: 4,701, and 55 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
59	1984 by George Orwell 4.20 avg rating — 5,363,013 ratings score: 4,558, and 53 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
60	Tales of the Cthulhu Mythos by Jim Turner (Editor) 4.22 avg rating — 4,885 ratings score: 4,388, and 51 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
61	Bag of Bones by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 3.92 avg rating — 210,343 ratings score: 4,304, and 52 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
62	Tales of H.P. Lovecraft by H.P. Lovecraft 4.19 avg rating — 6,551 ratings score: 4,192, and 48 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
63	The Complete Stories and Poems by Edgar Allan Poe 4.40 avg rating — 294,227 ratings score: 4,159, and 48 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
64	The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum 3.92 avg rating — 54,507 ratings score: 4,066, and 46 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
65	Mina and the Undead (Mina and the Undead, #1) by Amy McCaw (Goodreads Author) 3.83 avg rating — 1,879 ratings score: 4,026, and 41 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
66	Gerald's Game by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 3.58 avg rating — 177,459 ratings score: 4,020, and 49 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
67	Horns by Joe Hill (Goodreads Author) 3.93 avg rating — 119,650 ratings score: 3,991, and 48 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
68	The Cellar by Richard Laymon 3.63 avg rating — 8,729 ratings score: 3,911, and 47 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
69	The Talisman by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 4.11 avg rating — 140,334 ratings score: 3,882, and 49 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
70	Houdini Heart by Ki Longfellow (Goodreads Author) 3.84 avg rating — 5,460 ratings score: 3,839, and 39 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
71	The Keep (Adversary Cycle, #1) by F. Paul Wilson (Goodreads Author) 3.99 avg rating — 19,654 ratings score: 3,788, and 46 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
72	Rose Madder by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 3.76 avg rating — 123,008 ratings score: 3,766, and 45 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
73	Strangers by Dean Koontz (Goodreads Author) 4.02 avg rating — 47,366 ratings score: 3,750, and 45 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
74	Weave World by Clive Barker (Goodreads Author) 4.13 avg rating — 33,936 ratings score: 3,749, and 43 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
75	The Tommyknockers by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 3.61 avg rating — 163,958 ratings score: 3,620, and 47 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
76	Skeleton Crew by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 3.97 avg rating — 136,576 ratings score: 3,612, and 46 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
77	The Walking Dead, Vol. 1: Days Gone Bye by Robert Kirkman 4.27 avg rating — 241,586 ratings score: 3,599, and 41 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
77	They Thirst by Robert McCammon 3.91 avg rating — 13,688 ratings score: 3,599, and 44 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
79	Duma Key by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 3.99 avg rating — 135,698 ratings score: 3,582, and 43 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
80	Under the Dome by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 3.93 avg rating — 321,762 ratings score: 3,561, and 44 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
81	The Cabinet of Curiosities (Pendergast, #3; Nora Kelly, #0B) by Douglas Preston (Goodreads Author) 4.26 avg rating — 55,364 ratings score: 3,509, and 41 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
82	Firestarter by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 3.92 avg rating — 245,257 ratings score: 3,458, and 44 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
83	The Witching Hour (Lives of the Mayfair Witches, #1) by Anne Rice 4.09 avg rating — 123,742 ratings score: 3,353, and 40 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
84	Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist 4.04 avg rating — 120,037 ratings score: 3,297, and 40 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
85	Carrion Comfort by Dan Simmons 3.91 avg rating — 25,271 ratings score: 3,280, and 39 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
86	Off Season (Dead River, #1) by Jack Ketchum 3.75 avg rating — 19,616 ratings score: 3,093, and 37 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
87	Battle Royale by Koushun Takami 4.26 avg rating — 84,714 ratings score: 3,034, and 34 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
88	Hearts in Atlantis by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 3.86 avg rating — 102,187 ratings score: 3,019, and 38 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
89	Different Seasons by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 4.36 avg rating — 219,813 ratings score: 3,018, and 38 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
90	Cabal by Clive Barker (Goodreads Author) 3.92 avg rating — 22,418 ratings score: 2,933, and 38 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
91	Cell by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 3.65 avg rating — 235,861 ratings score: 2,918, and 37 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
92	Song of Kali by Dan Simmons 3.61 avg rating — 15,604 ratings score: 2,878, and 35 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
93	The Damnation Game by Clive Barker (Goodreads Author) 3.81 avg rating — 21,188 ratings score: 2,864, and 35 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
94	The Queen of the Damned (The Vampire Chronicles, #3) by Anne Rice 3.92 avg rating — 160,977 ratings score: 2,857, and 36 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
95	Nightmares and Dreamscapes by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 3.95 avg rating — 87,486 ratings score: 2,845, and 38 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
96	Island by Richard Laymon 3.77 avg rating — 7,331 ratings score: 2,822, and 35 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
97	The Other by Thomas Tryon 3.97 avg rating — 22,836 ratings score: 2,817, and 35 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
98	The Traveling Vampire Show by Richard Laymon 3.82 avg rating — 9,486 ratings score: 2,761, and 35 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
99	The Rising (The Rising #1) by Brian Keene (Goodreads Author) 3.80 avg rating — 10,927 ratings score: 2,720, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
100	NOS4A2 by Joe Hill (Goodreads Author) 4.07 avg rating — 142,440 ratings score: 2,665, and 30 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

← Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 13 14 Next →

1,379 books · 1,973 voters · list created October 20th, 2009 by Kevin (votes) .

Tags: definitive, horror, thrillers

661 likes · Like

Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.

People Who Voted On This List (1973)

Kevin 1580 books
95 friends

Greyweather 2660 books
65 friends

JDB 590 books
11 friends

Christy 7507 books
2608 friends

Erin 7118 books
1751 friends

Marvin 2196 books
825 friends

Express 22 books
0 friends

James 151 books
24 friends

More voters…

Post a comment »
Comments Showing 1-50 of 50 (50 new)

date

newest »

message 1: by Eric (new)

Oct 21, 2009 09:51AM

This is a great list! There's actually stuff on it that I like a lot! I think it's much better than the other horror book lists on this website - good job, voters!

reply | flag

message 2: by William (new)

Jan 03, 2010 05:35PM

I agree. Overall a very good list that helped reorder my to-reads.

reply | flag

message 3: by Tressa (new)

Jan 03, 2010 06:01PM

I saw some Simon Clarks and other books I'd like to read soon.

reply | flag

message 4: by Carl (new)

Jan 04, 2010 05:54AM

What do I do? Just click on numerous ones I think are the best?

reply | flag

message 5: by Tressa (new)

Jan 04, 2010 06:04AM

Yes.

reply | flag

message 6: by David (new)

Jan 27, 2010 02:21PM

They should combine the Pet Semetary votes. There are two on the list but combined, it would have enough votes for the top 5. Great list!

reply | flag

message 7: by Normandy (new)

Nov 15, 2011 07:12PM

I just voted on this list. I have read several books on this list but there are so many I have not read. There are definitely some books I need to check out.

reply | flag

message 8: by Jeff (new)

Jan 15, 2012 02:27PM

Carrion Comfort by Dan Simmons is a superb horror novel. Anyone that's a horror fan should read this book. Chances are you will love it.

reply | flag

message 9: by TJ (new)

Feb 12, 2012 06:11AM

Terrific list! Lots of horror classics present!

reply | flag

message 10: by [deleted user] (new)

Jun 28, 2012 04:09PM

the ressurectionist by Wrath James White. A masterpiece and creepy as all get out

reply | flag

message 11: by Jennifer (new)

Jul 21, 2013 11:31PM

If you haven't read Hell House or The Devil Next Door...go get a copy!!!!

reply | flag

message 12: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Aug 11, 2013 04:56PM

Removed at list creator's request:

Cryonic: A Zombie Novel

reply | flag

message 13: by Kevin (new)

Aug 11, 2013 10:48PM

Thank you Susanna

reply | flag

message 14: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Aug 12, 2013 08:22AM

No problem.

reply | flag

message 15: by Marilyn (new)

Feb 16, 2014 01:09PM

How are the Twilight books even on this list? It's about as scary as two-week-old, stale bread.

reply | flag

message 16: by Kevin (new)

Feb 16, 2014 08:39PM

People can add any book that they thought scared them. I assume someone found Twilight scary? In any case, those books haven't even broke into the top 100 list.

reply | flag

message 17: by Marilyn (new)

Feb 17, 2014 12:56AM

Weaksauces, then.

reply | flag

message 18: by Kirsten (new)

Jul 28, 2014 01:16PM

Kevin wrote: "People can add any book that they thought scared them. I assume someone found Twilight scary? In any case, those books haven't even broke into the top 100 list."

Well, Twilight fans can be a little scary. I had one overhear me speaking to a fellow English major from the other side of the room. I don't remember what book we were talking about, but the Twilight fan assumed we must be talking about Twilight and decided to insert herself into our conversation. It was a harrowing experience.

reply | flag

message 19: by Darren (new)

Oct 02, 2014 07:14AM

The Tommyknockers

reply | flag

message 20: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Dec 17, 2014 07:06PM

Removed by list creator request:

Mateguas Island: A Novel of Terror and Suspense

reply | flag

message 21: by Kevin (new)

Dec 18, 2014 12:49AM

Thank you Susanna.

reply | flag

message 22: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Dec 18, 2014 10:50AM

No problem.

reply | flag

message 23: by Kevin (last edited Jun 08, 2015 08:59PM) (new)

Jun 08, 2015 02:37PM

I will not tolerate spamming on this list. Books that jump into the top 100 with ratings of less than 1000 will be removed. There is NO way a book belongs in the top 100 with lower ratings.

Books that are up for removal:
1. Dancing With A Dead Horse
2. The Cruise
3. Sorrow's Point
4. Plebs
5. The Culling
6. Forever and Ever

Anthony Hulse, do not spam my list! I will have Susanna remove your books ASAP! This is not a promotional page for wanna-be authors! This list is for reference!

reply | flag

message 24: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Jun 09, 2015 08:34AM

Removed the books Kevin listed, at his request.

reply | flag

message 25: by Kevin (new)

Jun 09, 2015 02:19PM

Susanna - Censored by GoodReads wrote: "Removed the books Kevin listed, at his request."

Thank you Susanna :-)

reply | flag

message 26: by Greg (new)

Sep 03, 2015 01:31PM

Of all the goodreads lists, this one seems to reflect my own reading taste best, even though horror is not my favorite genre. Easily, I put "The Terror" as my favorite horror novel. The second is the extremely disturbing "After Dark" by Murakami, which I read twice in a row. Third, "Rosemary's Baby."

reply | flag

message 27: by Mitchell (new)

Oct 09, 2015 08:46AM

Please check out The Most Popular Horror on Goodreads and add what I missed. Thanks.

reply | flag

message 28: by Mitchell (new)

Oct 09, 2015 08:52AM

A suggestion - you could set the minimum ratings for a book newer than say year 2000 at 1000 ratings. Books older than 2000 could have no minimum - that way a lost classic could be rediscovered but won't be overshadowed.

reply | flag

message 29: by Leigh (new)

Oct 24, 2015 08:04AM

Marilyn wrote: "How are the Twilight books even on this list? It's about as scary as two-week-old, stale bread."

I don't know, it's pretty terrifying to read it and then realise that she got paid for it.

reply | flag

message 30: by Kevin (new)

Feb 17, 2016 10:16AM

People, if you know of a book that hasn't made the list, feel free to add it. Do not post the books not on the list in the comment section. It does no good here.

reply | flag

message 31: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (last edited Jan 17, 2017 02:21AM) (new)

Jan 17, 2017 02:06AM

Pity one can't check this list for duplicates anymore, due to a bug :-( So please, do go through all pages before you add a book you've read, in order to avoid duplicates...

reply | flag

message 32: by Shadowjac (new)

Jan 23, 2017 11:24AM

Went through and removed author spam, removed 50+ books that the authors have put on the list, DID NOT remove books that looked like they'd been added by a sock puppet account though because there's no way to be sure.

reply | flag

message 33: by Seth (new)

Feb 14, 2018 07:45PM

The Gunslinger by Stephen King is not technically Horror it's Fantasy. It should removed.

reply | flag

message 34: by Mitchell (last edited Feb 14, 2018 11:27PM) (new)

Feb 14, 2018 11:26PM

Seth wrote: "The Gunslinger by Stephen King is not technically Horror it's Fantasy. It should removed."

Apparently the 2685 people who shelved The Gunslinger as Horror (including me), disagree with you.

reply | flag

message 35: by Seth (new)

Feb 15, 2018 12:37PM

Well according to Wikipedia: "The Dark Tower is a series of eight books written by American author Stephen King that incorporates themes from multiple genres, including dark fantasy, science fantasy, horror, and Western."

So I guess we are both right in a sense however I would say that the first book the Gunslinger is not horror, it has more a western and a start of a fantasy epic feel to it.

reply | flag

message 36: by Mitchell (new)

Feb 15, 2018 02:13PM

Seth wrote: "Well according to Wikipedia: "The Dark Tower is a series of eight books written by American author Stephen King that incorporates themes from multiple genres, including dark fantasy, science fantas..."

I shelved it as:
fantasy, fiction, horror, liked-reviews, read, series, western

So I agree.

reply | flag

message 37: by Kellianne (new)

Apr 30, 2019 01:46PM

This is a pretty good list, lots of stuff that I like. I do have some concerns about the folks that consider the Twilight series to be horror. I mean... Twilight? Really? and the Sookie Stackhouse series? and while the Dark Tower series is my very favorite series in the world, there's not a horror filled moment in the lot of them.

reply | flag

message 38: by Matthew (new)

Sep 15, 2019 07:57PM

A question...what' s the difference between dark fantasy and horror? Stephen King and Clive Barker are consistently described as both.

reply | flag

message 39: by Mitchell (last edited Sep 15, 2019 10:06PM) (new)

Sep 15, 2019 09:42PM

The challenge with a goodreads list is that without setting clear criteria in the list description, a book can be added due to personal opinion and there really isn't a good rationale for removing it.

On my equivalent lists I typically set minimum number of ratings and minimum number of shelving for a topic.

Is Twilight horror? On the surface I think that vampires are generally horror. But look at the shelving - 18k ya, 16k fantasy for the 3rd and 4th most shelved categories for Twilight. 497 people also shelved it as horror - but it was the 41st highest category.

I'd say it's not horror.

But I'd also have a minimum number of shelving for horror - say 1000 - and this is what has been declared in the comments of this list - at least for the first page.

I have a horror list that is a lot more restrictive and it only has 125 books on it and 79 voters. And it still requires maintenance, removing inappropriate books and tightening down the list criteria.

reply | flag

message 40: by Greg (new)

Nov 25, 2020 02:35PM

I think great horror novels must, first and foremost, be a great book. Then, for me, it should make me uncomfortable during a read, and then have scenes that will never leave my mind. Like in "The Terror", I felt the absolute isolation, the freezing cold, the unknown all around. The same author's "Abomination" has all of those elements plus feelings of vertigo, but it's just not a great novel because it runs out of steam. "We Have Always Lived in the Castle" is a very good book. But it's not horror at all. It's very moody, and a murder mystery, but not scary.

reply | flag

message 41: by Kevin (last edited Nov 26, 2020 06:51AM) (new)

Nov 26, 2020 06:49AM

Greg wrote: "I think great horror novels must, first and foremost, be a great book. Then, for me, it should make me uncomfortable during a read, and then have scenes that will never leave my mind. Like in "The ..."

To be honest, trying to define what horror is is a task not easily done. Some may define horror as anything containing horrific acts which could include a multitude of situations. Others may state horror must have an element of the supernatural with things that go 'bump in the night'. Defining horror can only be subjective. What scares one may not scare another. Some may define horror as speculative fiction. The idea here is to not overthink it. This is a list for reference and nothing more. People may browse the list and they can decide for themselves what interest them and which books they may choose to give a pass.

reply | flag

message 42: by ``Laurie (new)

Mar 29, 2022 08:42PM

The Exorcist is listed twice

reply | flag

message 43: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (new)

Mar 30, 2022 12:31AM

``Laurie wrote: "The Exorcist is listed twice"

Shouldn't be anymore (I had the system perform a duplicate check and it found 4 duplicates).

reply | flag

message 44: by Kevin (new)

Apr 03, 2022 09:55AM

BookLovingLady wrote: "``Laurie wrote: "The Exorcist is listed twice"

Shouldn't be anymore (I had the system perform a duplicate check and it found 4 duplicates)."

Thank you for clearing the duplicates.

reply | flag

message 45: by Carolyn (new)

May 20, 2022 07:48PM

Way too many Stephen King books. Need a wider range of books from different time periods.

reply | flag

message 46: by Werefox by moonlight: (new)

Jul 23, 2022 01:40PM

Werefox by moonlight: Half man, half beast, but all horror

1984 isn't horror

reply | flag

message 47: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (last edited Jul 23, 2022 10:38PM) (new)

Jul 23, 2022 10:36PM

I, Were-fox: wrote: "1984 isn't horror"
I agree, 1984 (#77) isn't horror in my opinion. But at least 40 people thought otherwise 😁

reply | flag

message 48: by Kevin (new)

Aug 03, 2022 10:03PM

1984 is a dystopian tale based on a grim look of what society could be. Scary? I say yes. It is subjective.

reply | flag

message 49: by Kevin (new)

Aug 03, 2022 10:08PM

Carolyn, Stephen King is a prolific author who also has garnered quite a following. There are over 1300 books posted here, so yes, there is a very wide range of reads listed. You simply need to browse through the pages to understand this.

reply | flag

message 50: by Sally (new)

Jun 11, 2023 05:41AM