Good Horror Books?

[shalako]

I just finished Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum (very chilling) and I'm wondering what I should read next. Some of my favorite books are Needful Things by Stephen King, House of Leaves by Mark Danielewski, and Penpal by Dathan whatever-his-last-name-is. I also enjoy Gillian Flynn and Joe Hill. Any level of creepy is fine, I don't care if it's terrifying or just spooky, so long as the writing is good. If you've never read any of the books I mentioned I'd still love to hear your recs - what's YOUR favorite horror book?

[DATo]

My favorite monster of all time is the werewolf. I am not a fan of Steven King but I did, overall, like Silver Bullet. I remember being in a book shop with a girlfriend long long ago and as she was talking to the shop owner about a book she wanted to order I casually picked up this book (which had just been published) and began to read it only because the title suggested the werewolf theme. I had only read a few pages and found that I was hooked. It was a good read though King, in his own inimitable way, manages to screw it up in several places in a manner which is to me like listening to fingernails scraping on a blackboard, but not enough to ruin the overall effect.

I don't know if this is your cup of tea, but you might give it a go.

[shalako]

Silver Bullet was the very first horror book I ever read! My grandfather gave it to me when I was nine to pass time at a family reunion and from then on I was hooked. Although even at that age I remember cringing a few times at King's writing XD

[Kourtney Bradley]

I read Girl Next Door a few months ago as well. Wow, that one was much darker than I expected!

[Ginya]

Since you enjoyed Jack Ketchum I want to recommend Edward Lee and Richard Laymon (the 3 of them have even appeared in anthologies together!) They both have published huge amounts of work though to be fair they can both be very graphic at times and some of Richard Laymon's work can get very weird and sexual (the Beast House books).
I would highly recommend The City Infernal series by Edward Lee. He remakes his own vision of hell for these books and everyone gets their just deserts (as well as chances for redemption)
I'm also a Huge Bentley Little fan. He's a shock horror author if ever I've read one and some really bizarre stuff happens in his books. (They are so so fun) The Dominion is my personal favorite and incorporates aspects of ancient mythology and my second would be the Dispatch about a man who is quite persuasive with a pen and then of course is the Store, which shows you the Real horrors of upper management.
Oh geez, I rambled...I hope you find something you like!

[shalako]

Thanks for rambling! These sound GREAT, I can't wait to check them out

[Anna500]

I'm a fan of Japanese horror books so I would recommend the 'Ring' and 'Hell' by Yasutaka Tsutsui, both half interesting atmospheres to them.

[shalako]

That sounds awesome! Have they been translated into English?

[Anna500]

That sounds awesome! Have they been translated into English?

Yes, both of them are available in English.

[shalako]

That's great, thanks! I'll get right on those

[NCooley]

If you like books about werewolves check out independent author Alexander S. Brown book Syrenthia Falls.

[shalako]

I just checked it out and it seems really good! Kinda like Carrie it seems but with werewolves. Thanks for the rec

[Civil 8]

Hi Guys, I'm new to all this, in fact just registered myself....
Oooh, talking about horror books, I just can't recall when I last read one....I use to enjoy books by the author Dean Koonz (not certain if I got his name spelled right!). He just some how manage to capture your imagination and getting you into his plot..... I tried picking up one of his newer writes, but just couldn't get into it. Maybe he has changed his style of writing or is it me, who has just stop wanting to be spooked in my mind.....

[shalako]

I read one of his books (it was about a clown) when I was a kid and I adored it, I really should read more

[Ginya]

It's fun rambling! Feel free to friend me if you ever feel like talking about any of them : )

Thanks for rambling! These sound GREAT, I can't wait to check them out