Top Book Lists: Top 10 Books/Literature Lists and Articles

Book

Ghost Story

Ghost Story is a horror novel written by Peter Straub. It was published on January 1, 1979 by Coward, McCann and Geoghegan. The book was adapted into a film by the same name in 1981.
The novel was a watershed in Straub's career. Though his earlier books had achieved a limited amount of critical and commercial success, Ghost Story became a national bestseller and cemented the author's reputation.

Ranking the best novels and non-fiction books of every genre.

Bibliophilia

Lists of the greatest, worst, goriest, and scariest horror movies, series, characters, scenes, and more.

Everything Horror

Graveyard Shift

Avid readers seeking hair-raising experiences often find themselves drawn to the best horror books, filled with spine-chilling tales and terrifying worlds. With numerous authors mastering the art of fear, delving into the best horror books of all time offers spine-chilling adventures that captivate the imagination and leave an indelible mark on readers' minds. From supernatural hauntings to psychological nightmares, these literary masterpieces capture the essence of horror in its most primal form.&nbsp;The best horror books of all time are intricately woven narratives, combining haunting tales with excellent writing that evokes feelings of terror in readers. By delving into these frightening tales, readers are immersed in the best horror books of all time, each offering unique experiences that push the boundaries of the genre. Hauntingly memorable and undeniably chilling, these novels provide a thrilling exploration into the darkest corners of human nature and the unknown.&nbsp;For instance, The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty stands as an excellent horror novel, presenting a harrowing tale of demonic possession that has left generations of readers shaken to their core. Stephen King's It weaves the terrifying story of a malevolent entity preying on the small town of Derry, Maine, showcasing the author's ability to create enduring nightmares from seemingly ordinary settings. Another prime example is King's Salem's Lot, an engrossing tale of vampires and the unraveling of a once-thriving community, cementing its reputation as one of the scariest books of all time. These chilling stories represent just a fraction of the horrors awaiting readers who dare to explore this spine-tingling collection.&nbsp;The scariest horror books offer a rich tapestry of haunting stories, diverse styles, and enduring themes. Each tale contributes to the ever-evolving landscape of horror literature, pushing the boundaries and challenging perceptions of fear in uniquely gripping ways. By examining these acclaimed works, one gains a deeper understanding and appreciation for the novels that have solidified their place as the best horror books of all time.&nbsp;

Srch

affiliatized

affiliate_intent

Ranker Prime

Flagship Poll

Scalable Cleanup

Horror Audience

Trending on Ranker

Disney+ Sales Exclude 9/22

SNet_Lists

Dark Film

Revite List Description Title

Tag Wizard

Do Not Delete - Cleaned

Do Not Delete - Quality Filters

The 100+ Best Horror Novels Of All Time, Ranked

Ranker Community

Horror Books

What are the scariest novels of all time? Not surprisingly, a lot of the books listed here are from the horror genre, but there are other, just as terrifying books to read as well. Can anyone argue that Cormac McCarthy's The Road wasn't terrifying in its own way? Exactly. We're all scared by different things and subjects, and our reading choices reflect this quite often. So vote for the scariest books you've ever read (or really want to read) and vote down any you didn't like. And please, definitely add any scary novels that might be missing from the list!Some of the scariest novels of all time involve monsters. After all, readers have been obsessed with the supernatural for hundreds of years. There is a reason that Bram Stoker's Dracula consistently winds up at or near the top of lists like this one. Ghosts also make for frightening novels: Hell House, anyone? If you haven't read it, make sure you do so - but not at night. And not if you are alone. Ever. It is without a doubt deserving of a place among the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-horror-books-of-all-time" target="_blank">greatest horror books of all time.</a>Not surprisingly, a lot of the books on this list of scary novels were made into <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-horror-films-ever-made" target="_blank">excellent horror movies</a>. Some also have heavy elements of science fiction - I Am Legend is a great example, though nearly all of Richard Matheson's novels and stories would certainly qualify for a place on this list. Some of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/greatest-science-fiction-authors-v1" target="_blank">best science fiction authors</a> wrote some seriously creepy stuff.And yes, no list of anything involving the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-horror-books-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">scariest books of all time</a> would be complete without a hefty dose of Stephen King. King is a master. In doubt? Check out this list of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-very-best-of-stephen-king" target="_blank">greatest all-time Stephen King works</a>. It's impressive.

Misery

Ticker Exclude

Amazon Alexa

longtail_search

Revite Title

The Scariest Novels of All Time

Scariest Novels | List of Top Scary Books

Coco Tang

Stephen King

What books does Stephen King recommend? You don't become one of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/most-prolific-american-serial-killers/ranker-crime?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">most prolific</a> writers of all time without reading a few books. In his book, On Writing, Stephen King stresses the importance of constantly reading new books. He tries to read every single day, which is no easy task <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/stephen-king-writing-habits/jacobybancroft">given his schedule</a>, but King feels it is important to stay educated. So if you want to pick up a book and start reading, where do you start? There are a gazillion books out there, how do you narrow it down? Well, again, it's Stephen King to the rescue. In the back of On Writing, there's a list of books recommended by Stephen King himself and it's a great list for anyone looking to start writing their own novels, or just enjoy a great story. King also recommends a plethora of titles in Danse Macabre, his rather in-depth tome on the horror genre. Check out the list below for all the books Stephen King recommends and vote up the ones you think are the best reads.

Angela's Ashes

primis_ranker

102 Books Recommended By Stephen King

Books Stephen King Recommends

Jacoby Bancroft

The Haunting of Hill House (Netflix)

If you hungrily&nbsp;gobbled up the entirety of <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/hidden-background-ghosts-in-haunting-of-hill-house/kyle-chorpening" target="_blank">The Haunting of Hill House</a>, Netflix&#39;s supernatural series created by Mike Flanagan, and you already buried your face in the Shirley Jackson novel that inspired the show,&nbsp;you might be craving even more horror narratives in the &quot;quiet&quot; or Gothic tradition. But where to start? There are probably thousands of titles that fit within this horror subgenre, so it&#39;s important to know which ones will immediately appeal to the sensibilities crafted by Jackson and modernized by Flanagan.

We present to you these 15 works of fiction that share both plot and thematic similarities with Hill House. Use this as a&nbsp;quick guide for your to-read pile, or, if you&#39;ve already consumed these books, let us know which ones are comparable by voting them up. And if you&#39;re too spooked out by the books below, you should absolutely check out these <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/what-to-watch-if-you-love-the-haunting-of-hill-house/watchworthy" target="_blank">shows like&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/what-to-watch-if-you-love-the-haunting-of-hill-house/watchworthy" target="_blank">The Haunting of Hill House</a>.&nbsp;

FKA Pushable Teams

cleanup_exclude

exclude_in_feed_os

Recommendations Bucket

created for affiliate

primis_nerdstalgic

Archive Ignore

15 Books You’ll Love If You Loved 'The Haunting Of Hill House'

Christopher Shultz

Literature

It turns out that books with ghost in the title are way more common than you think. Here are 90+ good books with ghost in the title, including both fiction and non-fiction. It's safe to say that many&nbsp;of these titles are books about ghosts or&nbsp;apparitions, but the core commonality between these books is that they have the word ghost in the title. Books with ghost in the title include Ghost Story by Peter Straub, The Ghost Road by Pat Barker, and Ghost Moon by Karen Robards. If you have a favorite ghost book, vote it up below, or add it to the list if it's not already here. It doesn't matter if it's science fiction, fantasy, romance, or non-fiction - if the book has ghost in the name, it belongs on this list.

FANS ALSO LIKE

Ghost Story

Listed on...