10 Favorite Horror Books Not by Stephen King

[@deanwhite7970]

Oh year. Loved Dark Places too. Love anything Flynn writes.

[@billkeon880]

Loved Endless Night. If you haven’t read Flesh by Laymon you should try it. It was my first of his novels and it’s one of my favourites of his, though he is kind of hit and miss. Also love Cutter and all McDowell

[@TheBookubus]

I recently got a copy of The Witching Hour so I do want to give that a read sometime, even though it's quite daunting in size! And I'm planning on picking up Cold Moon Over Babylon soon because I've been meaning to read it for ages. Great video!

[@TheFeliciakelley]

“The Witching Hour” is one of my favorite books!!!

[@michellerichmond31]

Intensity by Dean Koontz. I just found your channel so I'm not sure if you've read it.

[@elcheekoful]

She's read it. She said she liked it. She did a dean koontz video.

[@daveedmunds1109]

Great video. Got quite a few of those on my shelf. One that always springs to mind with me is Intensity by Dean Koontz. Also Heart Shaped Box by Joe Hill is pretty immense.

[@JoanieMaeZie]

Dave Edmunds Both books I love! I actually almost included Intensity on this list. Thank you!

[@daveedmunds1109]

@@JoanieMaeZie I'm going to read pretty girls next on your recommendation!

[@JoanieMaeZie]

Dave Edmunds heck yes! I hope you enjoy it!

[@B.S1984]

Just see this video. So glad Richard Laymon was mentioned. Read almost all of his books absolutely love him. Hope you enjoy more of his 😊

[@OldSchoolPrepper]

Thanks Jo...I just popped over to the library and checked out several of these books in audiobook form....I listen to a book most days while i work. BTW Dark Places was made into a movie (Charlize Theron 2015) books are always better however it is a good watch. I'm also sure you know that Joe Hill is Stephen King's son's (Joseph King) pseudonym. Thanks again for the video

[@mikemars2112]

Love Laymon but haven't yet read Endless Night! I really need to get around to reading Karin Slaughter as I've known a few people who highly recommend her stuff. The Troop was phenomenal. I also really enjoyed Nick Cutter's third novel, The Acolyte. Dark Places is amazing, too. Gillian Flynn is so damn talented. Strange Weather! Novella collections are almost always amazing. I also enjoyed Joe Hill's book of short stories, Full Throttle. Interesting to see Hannibal Rising make the list. Have heard so many negatives. It's the only Hannibal book I have left to read, so maybe I'll get around to it soon.

[@stevenbolton7145]

I'm from across the pond, you should try reading (if you haven't already) James Herbert and Adam Nevill, both described as Britain's answer to Stephen King.

[@TheHammy1987]

Thanks for that comment - just added about 15 books to my TBR :D

[@deanwhite7970]

I really liked your video. Two novels I think you should check out are A Simple Game & The Ruins both by Scott Smith. One is supernatural the other is human evil only. Both are Excellent. I read Witching Hour all the way through. After it I never read another Ann Rice novel. I just found it very boring and nothing happened I don't think. I have read Hannibal Rising, not my favorite Harris book, but I did like it. Thanks for giving me some new authors & titles!

[@WritteninBlood]

I think I have Endless Night under a different title. I enjoy Laymon a lot myself. I have Dark Places but haven't read it so your recommendation helped to push it up on my TBR. The Troop was so awesome!

[@JoanieMaeZie]

Books of Blood I hope you like Dark Places!

[@WritteninBlood]

@@JoanieMaeZie Me too. I liked Sharp Objects.

[@JoanieMaeZie]

Books of Blood Yes!

[@benjaminkennedy5083]

Oh crap I didn’t even know I was following you on goodreads, I’ve been watching your videos all the time. This was a great list!

[@danamelton1738]

I love that the book right behind you in the beginning is called, I am behind you! Great video. Lol I've found a love for Laymon as well I can't believe I waited so long. Hannibal rising to me seems to be everyone's least favorite lector book. But I loved getting his backstory.

[@JoanieMaeZie]

Dana Decker Lol I didn’t even think of that. I can’t believe I waiting so long for Laymon either. I’m dying to dive into more. Hannibal Rising doesn’t seem as popular, but yeah his backstory was great. I think the other books focused more on other characters, and maybe the redirection in focus isn’t as good for most people? Thanks for commenting :)

[@Sun.Gemini]

I love your book shelf 💕

[@jimmymango]

I just bought I Am Behind You because of this vid!!! Sounds up my alley for sure!! ... and you should check out Funland by Richard Laymon if you haven’t already. Great novel!!

[@LiteraryGladiators]

I am so glad you put together a list of this nature! There are so many readers that will read Stephen King's horror, but not read any other horror writer. I find that to be sad, because there are so many other great horror writers. I really enjoy Stephen King's horror and books in general, but I like other horror writers as well. The one I read most recently that became an instant favorite of mine is Boy's Life by Robert McCammon, which crosses genres, but McCammon has been frequently labeled as a horror writer. I would like to read more of what he has to offer. I am glad to see that Richard Laymon made it to your list. I think his writing is underrated, though it does feel like fast food reading. I read Dark Mountain, The Cellar, The Woods Are Dark, and Savage, but you made a pretty good case for Endless Night. The ones that seem to intrigue me the most that I have yet to read are In the Dark and Resurrection Dreams. I should look into the Hannibal series at some point, as well as Gillian Flynn and anything by Anne Rice. Joe Hill's Strange Weather makes me think immediately of Stephen King's Different Seasons in how King did such a great job writing novellas and sometimes stringing them together or just using a common theme. Hill is someone I have to pick up at some point. I read Let the Right One In back in 2012 and enjoyed reading it. I would like to look into more of what Lindqvist has to offer. Thank you for sharing! -Josh

[@JoanieMaeZie]

Literary Gladiators I can relate to sticking with just King. If you find a favorite author who’s writing and stories you jive with, and who’s so prolific, it’s easy to just keep on with his books. But that’s part of why it’s nice to have these lists as well. If someone is hesitant to branch out, it’s great to have some recommendations. Robert McCammon is someone I’ve been wanting to get to for a long time now. Boy’s Life and Swan Song are probably top of my list. I’m so excited to get to more Laymon. I think I’ll try Island next. It seems to have a lot of elements I enjoy thrown together. Fast food writing is a good description for him I think, but I’m glad to find so many other fans. I hope you do try Joe Hill sometime. He’s one of my absolute favorites. Anne Rice and Thomas Harris are both great as well, but I could just recommend one, Hill all the way. I’m glad to see another writer put out a novella collection, and it was nice to have an underlying, albeit subtle, theme. I really appreciate shorter fiction, especially horror, but novellas are usually published on their own for the same price as a novel. Lovey to get four for the price of one :) Thank you for commenting!

[@bmoneybby]

Most people don't read King for horror imo.

[@juleschristiansalabatinore6543]

Hi, Joanie! Now I wanna read the Gina Wohlsdorf books after watching your video. :) As for me, my favorite horror books/stories not written by King are The Hollow Man by Dan Simmons, Coraline by Neil Gaiman, Right To Life by Jack Ketchum, The Night Cyclist by Stephen Graham Jones, The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker, The End of The End of Everything by Dale Bailey and Candles Burning by Michael McDowell & Tabitha King.

[@JoanieMaeZie]

Jules Christian Salabatino Real Hi! Several of your favorites I haven’t heard of. The Night Cyclist and Right to Life have both been on my radar, but I’ve only read a couple of these. Thanks for your list! Though my TBR is a few books taller lol.

[@sirmrguitardude]

I'd recommend The Blind Mirror by Christopher Pike. It's an adult novel and once it gets going it rocks

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Loved this video! So happy you enjoyed Endless Night so much. I definitely want to read more Laymon. I also need to finish Joe Hill's collection but I only read 2 of the stories. And you piqued my interest in I Am Behind You. I haven't heard anyone else talk about it so I never picked it up.

[@JoanieMaeZie]

TheShadesofOrange Booktube Channel Thank you! I feel like I discovered a new favorite author in Laymon. I don’t think Strange Weather is for everyone, but I hope you enjoy when you finish. I Am Behind You doesn’t have a super high rating on Goodreads, so it’s clearly not everyone’s favorite, but it was so creepy and fun and intriguing for me. Thank you for commenting!

[@sydlovesbookss8352]

My favorite horror books are urban gothic by brian Keene, endless night by Richard Laymon and a gathering of gore by Tim Miller and Bonny Capps and Shaun Hupp

[@vickysbooknook]

This is such a great list! All of the books that you’ve mentioned that I’ve read are my favs too! I’m 3/4 through Pretty Girls right now and it’s rocking my world! It’s definitely a favorite of the year so far.

[@davidlona7553]

Great Review As Always. You Liked Hannibal Rising? I haven't Read The Rest of The Books of This Series Because In My Opinion The Silence of the lambs is the greatest book off All Time But Now that I've Heard your opinion I can't wait to read Hannibal Rising. THANK YOU

[@deeslittlecorner217]

Great video! I don't own any of these books but quite a few will get onto my 'want to own list'. Man I really need to force myself to read/finish at least 5 books before I watch this type of recommendation videos bc my wishlist is growing way way to fast.

[@JoanieMaeZie]

Book Bits Lol I know exactly what you mean!

[@WritteninBlood]

I think Red Dragon is my favorite of the Lecter books but I did truly enjoy Hannibal Rising, also. Cold Moon Over Babylon is so good and so incredibly creepy. May I recommend Blackwater the Complete Saga by Michael McDowell? It's 800 pages but it is so dang good!

[@JoanieMaeZie]

Books of Blood Yes! I’ve been interested in that. I will move it up on my list. Will Graham has definite appeal, and the Tooth Fairy is a great character. I can very much appreciate Red Dragon being your favorite of the HL franchise.

[@WritteninBlood]

@@JoanieMaeZie did you watch the Hannibal series with Mads Mikkelsen and Hugh Dancy? I loved that series and was so mad when they cancelled it.

[@Trevor-j8i]

Really glad to see a Laymon tome on this list!

[@JoanieMaeZie]

Trevor :) I’m so excited to get to more of his stuff...feel like I’ve missed a gem until now.

[@Trevor-j8i]

@@JoanieMaeZie Luckily his used books from the Leisure era are pretty cheap. $3 - $5. Some of his stuff (like THE STAKE, DREADFUL TALES and RESURRECTION DREAMS) seems to be out of print, so I'd suggest you buy it while it's still relatively cheap!

[@garysscaryfaeries3046]

Autumn series by David Moody.

[@mindysbookjourney]

This was a really great list. I loved Pretty Girls, The Troop, and Dark Places as well.

[@shawndurham297]

I’ve been hearing Laymon’s name a lot. I had never heard of him until like 2 weeks ago.

[@JoanieMaeZie]

Shawn Durham I’m glad if he’s gaining traction. I can’t wait to get to more of his stuff!

[@runawaytrain9794]

@@JoanieMaeZie I've read a number of Laymon's works, and I ENVY you that you're in for one helluva good time with my favorites of his so far: In The Dark, Night In the Lonesome October, and Island!

[@runawaytrain9794]

Laymon's great, too bad he's not with us anymore but wrote a good number of books anyway. You know if he's generally endorsed by two of the Titans, King And Koontz, he's GOTTA be worth a read. Anyway I'd begin with ''In The Dark'' which is creepy, atmospheric, and a very clever plot that doesn't 'cheat' the reader either...Laymon knows what you're thinking ;)

[@jeremiahpapa7868]

Joe Hill potentially could eclipse his Dad. Really tough but Joe Hill is crushing it.

[@billkeon880]

my two new non-King favs are The Elementals and Kin

[@BobbiReads]

I love Richard Laymon!!! I just found your channel so I’m not sure if you’ve read him before. If not go read the rest of his books! All of his books are free right now on kindle unlimited too! Some of my favs are: The Traveling Vampire Show In the Dark Island Into the Fire

[@MichaelRomeoTalksBooks]

I loved The Troop.

[@ReadingRetail]

I’m binge watching horror booktubers!! Love them so much!! Hi how are ya🥰🥰

[@JoanieMaeZie]

Reading & Retail fun times! I’m pretty good. I hope you’re finding some awesome peeps.

[@anthonylopez9594]

She just casually says there's like 300 pages of backstory in the middle hahahaha 300 page flashback sounds amazing

[@JasonsWeirdReads]

I love Witching Hour. I loved it more than The Vampire Chronicles. The second book, Lasher, is really good too. Taltos, the third book, not so good at all imo. Great list!!

[@JoanieMaeZie]

Jason’s Weird Reads thank you! I started Lasher, but I was a little uncomfortable and frankly depressed by some of the content, so I’ve just left it at the Witching Hour. But I agree I like the WH more than her vampire chronicle books. Thanks :)

[@TheFeliciakelley]

“Witching Hour” is by far my favorite!!

[@angeladesilva5256]

I’m the future could you please link the books in the description box? I loved this video.

[@MrShaiya96]

HEY JO FISHER! Please see this- Just giving my horror recommendations: anything by Thomas Ligotti The Terror by Dan Simmons The Secret of Ventriloquism by Jon Padgett The Grip of It by Jac Jemc Of course I reccomend asian horror. Utterly terrifying: The Ring trilogy(you may know the Ring movie) by Koji Suzuki Goth by Otsuichi

[@narwhaletime4594]

jo, you have a great taste in books.

[@MsDeathGuy]

Yes,this....

[@legacystudios9531]

I’m looking for books that have monsters in it any

[@josephgilbody7182]

My favorite is 11/22/63. I think a lot has to do with the fact that I was a freshman at an all boys Catholic High School. The President's death was announced throughout the school. I was there and lived it so I can relate.

[@geraldbalzano431]

hello? this is a video about HORROR novels NOT written by Stephen King ... so you tell us your favorite NON-HORROR novel that IS written by Stephen King? Pay attention!

[@shady.passionate]

Good morning

[@thetimemaster1475]

Have you read Dracula or Frankenstein?

[@JoanieMaeZie]

I've read Dracula and about the first 1/3 of Frankenstein. Dracula was fun, but I struggle with older works. I might try Frankenstein again sometime. Are they favorites of yours?

[@thetimemaster1475]

Jo Fisher Yes, I am reading Dracula now and I like it but I have not read Frankenstein yet. I plan on reading it after.

[@JoanieMaeZie]

Krypton I hope you enjoy both!

[@rosiealma4276]

I absolutely love "I Am Behind You", but I'm avoiding "The Troop" because of the parasite. I imagine it would cause nightmares. I thought the beginning of "The Witching Hour" was excellent, she gave me the creeps, but it could have done with being edited into about half the size. Nice varied list and great video!

[@JoanieMaeZie]

Samantha S Thank you! I don’t think I’ve talked to any other fan of I Am Behind You. Glad to know there are some others out there! The Troop is pretty intense. I was bothered by one scene that didn’t even involve the parasite. Yes The Witching Hour probably would have benefited from at least a little editing. Even so, it felt pretty readable to me for its length. Thanks for commenting :)