Horror/Scary/Creepy/Gothic

You'll notice that this list is not titled just 'Horror'.  That's because there are a lot of books that have a really creepy vibe, but they aren't classic horror - I don't think the intention is to be scary, just to creep the reader out.  You will find some of the books on this list on other lists, like Ghost Stories (not all ghost stories are meant to be scary, hence the separate list), Paranormal/Supernatural, or even Mystery.  Unfortunately, it isn't a very long list yet, as a woefully large percentage of book I've read that would fit into this category were not very good.  But don't worry, I'm always on the lookout for ones I can actually recommend!

Books that have a review or mini-review on this blog can be clicked on to go to that post.  Be sure to see my note at the bottom of the list about reading and age appropriate levels.


Abigale Hall by Lauren A. Forry

(/) (UG) (England, 1940’s, ghosts, mystery, mental illness, sisters, murder)

And the Trees Crept In by Dawn Kurtagich

(/) (UG) (urban legends, family secrets, paranormal happenings)

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake (series)

(4.6/4.4) (UG) (horror, ghosts, ghost hunters, romance)

Behold the Bones by Natalie C. Parker

(/) (UG) (friendship, mystery, family secrets, magic, ghosts)

Deathwatch by Ari Berk

(6.3) (UG) (family, secrets, ghosts)

Doll Bones by Holly Black

(5.4) (MG) (friendship, mysteries, magic)

Frozen Charlotte by Alex Bell

(5.3) (MG+) (hauntings, possessions, supernatural, horror)

Graveminder by Melissa Marr

(UG) (dead & undead, supernatural contracts, mystery)

Insanity by Susan Vaught

(5.3) (MG+) (asylums, hauntings, supernatural abilities)

Into the Grey by Celine Kiernan *

(MG+) (brothers, twins, ghosts, WWI, family relationships)

Long Lankin by Lindsey Barraclough

(5.4) (UG) (family, death, secrets, evil ghosts)

Savannah Grey by Cliff McNish

(5.2) (MG+) (special abilities, evil entity, friendship, suspense)

Servants of the Storm by Delilah S. Dawson

(/) (UG) (Southern Gothic, New Orleans, ‘zombies’)

Shallow Graves by Kali Wallace *

(4.9) (MG+) (death, mystery, cults, reanimation)

Spellbook of the Lost and Found by Moira Fowley-Doyle *

(/) (UG) (magic, family secrets, family relationships, friendship, *)

Stonecutter by Leander Watts

(5.4) (MG) (1800’s, Gothic)

Strange Grace by Tessa Gratton *

(/) (UG) (magic, bargains, witches, family, friendship, sacrifice, love triangles, secrets, *)

Ten Thousand Charms by Leander Watts

(4.2) (MG) (paranormal, 1800’s, American frontier, Gothic)

Tennyson by Leslie M. M. Blume

(5.1) (MG) (mothers & daughters, family secrets, Great Depression, the South,

                    paranormal happenings)

The Children's Home by Charles Lambert

(/) (UG) (disfigurement, orphans, fantasy)

The Fall by Bethany Griffin

(4.8) (UG) (The Fall of the House of Usher, twins, gothic)

The Girl from the Well by Rin Cupeco

(6.3) (UG) (ghosts, possession, revenge, mystery)

The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray by Chris Wooding

(7.1) (mystery, murder, hauntings, evil, Victorian era)

The Haunting of Sunshine Girl by Paige McKenzie

(5.2) (MG+) (ghosts, possession, mothers & daughters)

The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert

(5.2) (UG) (mothers & daughters, magic, fairy tales)

The House by Christina Lauren

(6.0) (UG) (hauntings, mystery, abandonment, romance)

The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey

(7.0) (relationships, monsters, obsessions, Gothic)

The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier

(4.9) (MG) (Family, magic, obsessions, evil creatures, orphans)

The Night Sister by Jennifer McMahon

 (/) (UG) (family relationships, secrets, paranormal/supernatural, murder mystery)

The Poisoned House by Michael Ford

(4.9) (MG+) (family secrets, hauntings, Victorian era)

The Sacrifice Box by Martin Stewart

(/) (MG+) (ancient evil, friendship, coming of age, horror/thriller)

This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel (series)

(4.9/5.0) (UG) (Frankenstein, 1700’s, twins, romance, mystery, Gothic)



Note:  Lists are arranged with Title, Author, Reading Level, Age Appropriate Level, and Descriptive Tags.
(Age appropriate level denotes the youngest readers that the book is appropriate for.  That doesn't mean that older readers will not enjoy the book!)

* =  books that I thought were GREAT

UG = upper grades  (contain sex, drugs, and/or very graphic violence; deal with mature subject matter such as rape, prostitution, child abuse, etc. )
MG+ = junior high  (may contain some profanity or sexual references; may deal with subject matter too mature for younger audiences)
MG = 4th through 6th grades (nothing inappropriate for children, but may not keep the interest of younger readers)
MG- = all ages (perfect for bedtime stories or read-alouds, or for precocious readers in the lower grades)

* = LGBTQ themes - characters, situations, or references to same-sex couples


Books included in this list are all ones that I have read myself and given a rating of at least 3 out of 5 Stars (why would I recommend anything less?)  When a book is part of a series, only the first title is listed, but the reading level for all books in the series is shown.  Lists will be updated periodically as I read new books.