Horror Aficionados discussion

Hey all Horror nuts out there!

I am back reading the genre after a number of years away from it but I have to say I am struggling to find anything that even hits the creep metre, much less the fright metre.

I remember reading novels in my twenties and having a tough time turn off the light late at night / early in the morning.

So I am asking for suggestions!

A little pointer, the whole vamp werewolf theme does nothing for me. IMO that well ran dry a long time ago. I have found some well written novels and enjoyable reads, but that is about it.

Suggestions???

Please and many thanks!

What have you read that you enjoyed? I am also looking for for something...that I am having trouble describing.

I have reread King and Straub, read a couple of Joe Hill books, Maberry, and a few others. I should revisist Koontz or maybe Clive Barker, but I am worried I will be disappointed.

Just want something to make me have nightmares like I used to. Maybe that is done with,

I'll recommend two authors to you: Michael Rowe and Christopher Buehlman. Excellent writing and lots of creepiness.

I'm reading Rowe's Wild Fell right now and it is wonderful so far.

Deliver, technically an erotica, is the last book that got me. Terrible nightmares; my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Sparrow is a gut punch.

If you can take it there's Cows.

Paul Tremblay's A Head Full of Ghosts
Laird Barron's The Croning
Gemma Files' Experimental Film
Caitlin Kiernan's Agents of Dreamland
John Langan's The Fisherman

As you know, mileage varies, but these worked for me.

John wrote: "I have reread King and Straub, read a couple of Joe Hill books, Maberry, and a few others. I should revisist Koontz or maybe Clive Barker, but I am worried I will be disappointed.

Just want someth..."

You may be right about that being done with. The things we like/ can deal with change as we grow.

Scariest books I've read so far are:

Ghost Story by Peter Straub
The Ruins by Scott B. Smith

Try The Mall ,not quite bizarro but very weird, and one of my faves Dark Matter, this one gave me chills - very atmospheric.

I am in the same place, been reading horror almost exclusively since I was 15 and not much does it for me anymore. Pet Semetary gave me goosebumps, as well as 'Salem's Lot, but the last thing to give me real chills was H.P. Lovecraft's "Herbert West – Reanimator" - something about the atmosphere of the story is just deeply unsettling to me. I loved it!

Catriona Ward's Rawblood and Laura Purcell's The Silent Companions are two of my recent favourites.

WendyB wrote: "I'll recommend two authors to you: Michael Rowe and Christopher Buehlman. Excellent writing and lots of creepiness.

I'm reading Rowe's Wild Fell right now and it is wonderful so far."
Thanks Wendy!

I read one by Buehlman and am planning on looking at more of his works. Loved his writing and he had me creeped out until the monster turned out to be a werewolf. But still enjoyed his writing.

I will check out Rowe as well.

Kirsten wrote: "Scariest books I've read so far are:

Ghost Story by Peter Straub
The Ruins by Scott B. Smith"

I am worried about rereading Ghost Story. I enjoyed it so much 20 years ago and the last book I read by Straub was incredibly disappointing. But I will check out Scott. Thanks!

Lena wrote: "Deliver, technically an erotica, is the last book that got me. Terrible nightmares; my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

Oh, yeah not sure I can handle the topic. But thanks!

Jared wrote: "I am in the same place, been reading horror almost exclusively since I was 15 and not much does it for me anymore. Pet Semetary gave me goosebumps, as well as 'Salem's Lot, but the last thing to gi..."

I really don't like Lovecraft but I think it has more to do with who he was and how I read his stories. Will check this one out, thanks!

Thanks for the responses! I am looking at each of them! Keep them coming!

Corinne wrote: "A Special Place: The Heart of a Dark Matter by Peter Straub A dreadful version of the master/apprentice relationship. I highly recommend :P"

Thanks, I actually have this book so I will add it to my list!

Lena wrote: "The Sparrow is a gut punch.

If you can take it there's Cows."

Thanks! I will look into Cows, sounds like i might do the job. As for The Sparrow I should have added that I am looking to commit to a series.

Randy wrote: "Paul Tremblay's A Head Full of Ghosts
Laird Barron's The Croning
Gemma Files' Experimental Film
Caitlin Kiernan's Agents of Dreamland..."

Wow quite the list! Thanks very much. Other than The Fisherman, which I have read, I look forward to checking these out. They seem to be along the lines of what I am looking for.

Melanie wrote: "Try The Mall ,not quite bizarro but very weird, and one of my faves Dark Matter, this one gave me chills - very atmospheric."

Thanks for the selections! The Mall looks to be a series, so I will put that aside for now. I was concerned when I saw Dark Matter thinking it was Straub's novel (which I disliked greatly). I will definitely add this to my list.

Benjamin wrote: "Catriona Ward's Rawblood and Laura Purcell's The Silent Companions are two of my recent favourites."

I am a sucker for historical fiction worked into different genres! Thanks for these two picks!

John wrote: "Jared wrote: "I am in the same place, been reading horror almost exclusively since I was 15 and not much does it for me anymore. Pet Semetary gave me goosebumps, as well as 'Salem's Lot, but the la..."

I'm a 2nd gen Lovecraft fan.

Kel wrote: ""

Thanks! I have actually started in on this list!

Randy wrote: "Paul Tremblay's A Head Full of Ghosts
Laird Barron's The Croning
Gemma Files' Experimental Film
Caitlin Kiernan's Agents of Dreamland..."

Just read Agents of Dreamland! Thoroughly enjoyed it!

Glad to hear it. Earlier this summer Tor released Black Helicopters by Kiernan, an expansion of a novella by the same title. Haven't gotten to it, yet, but I will. Like Agents... it looks very good.

Melanie wrote: "Try The Mall ,not quite bizarro but very weird, and one of my faves Dark Matter, this one gave me chills - very atmospheric."

Dark Matter was excellent atmospheric horror! I also loved Bird Box if you're seeking another can't-see-it-evil.

Christine wrote: "Melanie wrote: "Try The Mall ,not quite bizarro but very weird, and one of my faves Dark Matter, this one gave me chills - very atmospheric."

Dark Matter was excellen..."

I actually have a copy of Dark Matter. I will add Bird Box tothe list (same author I am assuming?).

Thanks!

No, different author. This is Birdbox: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

Christine wrote: "No, different author. This is Birdbox: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1..."

Oh cool, thanks again!

Benjamin wrote: "Catriona Ward's Rawblood and Laura Purcell's The Silent Companions are two of my recent favourites."

Thanks for this one, really enjoyed it. Finished it yesterday. You can see my review.

John wrote: "Benjamin wrote: "Catriona Ward's Rawblood and Laura Purcell's The Silent Companions are two of my recent favourites."

Thanks for this one, really enjoyed it. Finish..."

No problem - glad that you liked it!

Randy wrote: "Paul Tremblay's A Head Full of Ghosts
Laird Barron's The Croning
Gemma Files' Experimental Film
Caitlin Kiernan's Agents of Dreamland..."

Enjoyed A Head Full of Ghosts, thanks for the suggestion!

You're welcome, John. And I second Cecilia's latest recommendation. Wormwood: A Collection of Short Stories is a terrific collection.

WendyB wrote: "I'll recommend two authors to you: Michael Rowe and Christopher Buehlman. Excellent writing and lots of creepiness.

I'm reading Rowe's Wild Fell right now and it is wonderful so far."

Wow, thanks for this suggestion. Being Canadian it was a pleasant surprise!

Cecilia wrote: ""

It is on the list! Thanks!

Benjamin wrote: "Catriona Ward's Rawblood and Laura Purcell's The Silent Companions are two of my recent favourites."

Thanks for this one. Just finished it and really enjoyed it. Never thought the premise could be creepy but kudos to the author!

Try these two:

by Lee Mountford
and
by Tom Lewis

I had to leave the light on with both of them!

Lena wrote: "The Sparrow is a gut punch.

If you can take it there's Cows."

Hi Lena,

Yeah Cows was a bit much for me. I have little issue with the abuse of humans, but the whole animal abuse thing ... stopped half way through.

I will try your other suggestion though!

Maybe try Michelle Remembers or Communion by Whitley Strieber (both of the authors believe what they wrote actually happened to them). Based on the authors you mentioned, try Robert McCammon (Swan Song), Dan Simmons (The Terror). I'd also suggest The Cellar by Richard Laymon.

Also, more suggestions based on the authors you mentioned: Relic by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child as well as The Tomb by F Paul Wilson.

Kirsten wrote: "Scariest books I've read so far are:

Ghost Story by Peter Straub
The Ruins by Scott B. Smith"

I agree that The Ruins was surprisingly scary!

by Dean Koontz
by Stephen King (I had to read this with all the lights in the house on!)
by Shirley Jackson

Karen wrote: " by Dean Koontz
by Stephen King (I had to read this with all the lights in the house on!)
[bookcover:The Hauntin..."

Good picks! Read the first two years ago and am planning a reread. Read The Haunting of this past year and enjoyed it. The Series wasn't terrible, though different from the book.

Thanks!

Melanie wrote: "Try The Mall ,not quite bizarro but very weird, and one of my faves Dark Matter, this one gave me chills - very atmospheric."

Dark Matter ... what a read. Great suggestion and thanks!

John wrote: "Melanie wrote: "Try The Mall ,not quite bizarro but very weird, and one of my faves Dark Matter, this one gave me chills - very atmospheric."

Dark Matter ... what a r..."

No worries, always looking for a good scare :)

Read The Troop and Summer of Night.

Well, John, what kind of horror is your drug of choice? I mean it is a vast genre and people are scared of different stuff. Despite naming authors are there any particular subgenres you enjoy?

A book I read recently and found very reminiscent of early Stephen King is The Siren and The Spectre. It is a great mash-up of different kinds of horror and its subgenres.
If you're looking for a tense but slow-burning historical epic with supernatural underpinnings try The Terror (also a great series on Amazon). Maybe the human mind is most unsettling to you: Last Days. Another good one I keep recommending is Seed, one of my favourite horror books of this decade. Dead Lake might be a good way to find out if Darcy Coates' writing is four you, it is a very quick read and a good example of her ability to build atmosphere. If you like this novella, odds are you'll also like most of her novels.

Not quite horror but certainly (very) dark fantasy are both Faerie Tale and The Child Thief (yes, that Peter).