101 Horror Books to Read Before You’re Murdered 🔪📚 Horror Book Recommendations

[@BooksandLala]

Shout out to the effort I bet this took to edit! Downloading 101 pictures, timing them all accurately AND updating the categories on screen, PLUS keeping up with the read/unread tally. Love it.

[@BooksandLala]

Also I literally ordered this book in the mail last week. Crazy timing.

[@OneBrokenDove]

​@@BooksandLalaHi Kayla ❤

[@gabbyreads]

Omg I just got this book in the mail recently, and I was thinking of trying to build a TBR from it for a video too 🤯 we are in sync for real hahaha 👯

[@GavinReadsItAll]

We need to cross reference our TBRs once you’ve gone through it to see how many are the same 👀

[@martymcflown3707]

"This title is not a threat" Or it's the best murder mystery twist of all time: it was Slagatha all along.

[@GavinReadsItAll]

Slagatha all along 😂

[@PokhrajRoy.]

Spooktober and Spooktember are very busy months for Gavin here.

[@GavinReadsItAll]

Ain’t that the truth!!

[@pagestreetpublishing]

WHAT AN AMAZING VIDEO!!!!! Thank you so much for taking the time & effort to create this. The Page Street team is beyond TOUCHED. You were the highlight of our work group chat this morning.

[@syrritajones2538]

“That sounds weird to me, so I’ll probably say yes” literally made me a subscriber. Lol

[@pandora2658]

I loved The Library at Mount Char, which was rather unexpected, tbh. I personally don't think the descriptions/synopsis do it justice, and it is the exact kind of weird that I like. The audiobook was excellent, as well.

[@megs_bookrack]

Oh and you absolutely need to read Brother by Ania Ahlborn. It's not too extreme for you and is actually much more emotional than you would think

[@foulmouthednewenglander4392]

Sadie Hartmann is amazing and is also one of the woman behind the night worms horror book monthly subscription box

[@AkiraCatte203]

So excited for you to read The Haunting of Hill House! It was definitely a favorite from this year. I also loved Jackson's We Have Always Lived in the Castle, maybe even more than Hill House, so if you end up liking Hill House, you should definitely give that a read too

[@emmal7510]

I loved The Twisted Ones. I would describe it as slow burn horror. Still have to finish The Hollow Places. I kind of hit a point where I could go, "Everything's fine!" and haven't convinced myself to put the characters through the rest of the book.

[@blackcatseye22]

The title made me laugh.

[@books-on-a-wire]

I absolutely love Sadie's book and can't wait for the next one. I've been doing this challenge all year and currently at 50 read. I've got 16 left on my TBR. 😂 Penpal and Laws of the Skies are sitting on my All-Time favorites shelf. Brother by Ania Ahlborn is about a family of cannibals but if you can read Off Season, you might find Brother kinda tame. 😂 Happy reading!!

[@jasminewestover7068]

I’m such a horror newbie so love watching this and getting some recommendations! ❤

[@parisgreen4600]

Hi Gavin, at 27:25 your second pronunciation of 'vignette' is correct - 'Vin-YET'. Thank you for this video, I really enjoyed it!

[@AshWednesday06]

I’m a horror fanatic, books and movies and I own this book! It’s amazing! I also enjoyed Paperbacks From Hell, that one is about classic paperback horror. 🖤

[@GavinReadsItAll]

I need Paperbacks from Hell

[@purplexzombie3371]

I'm just getting into Horror. I prefer supernatural/ridiculous horror. Definitely want to check this book out.

[@jessannb11]

Gav you should definitely check out Penpal! It’s the only book I’ve ever read that truly terrified me and made me feel viscerally afraid alone in the dark 😂

[@GavinReadsItAll]

Ooo okay I’ll put it back on the TBR 👀

[@jessannb11]

@@GavinReadsItAllI first read it as an r/nosleep story many years ago and the author went on to refine it as a book. When I tell you I still think about this story and it gives me chills all these years later…

[@laurend6931]

Why did I think you did a video where you reviewed Kill Creek and talked me out of reading it? 😂🤔 Now I have to remember where I saw the review. Maybe I’ll put it back on my TBR.

[@paperbackenthusiast]

Banger title! Killed me, in fact

[@Emma-wn1fv]

So excited for your autumn content !!

[@renee_3364]

Ommiting Annihilation from the cosmic section is a CRIME though!! I love this video: kudos for the effort it must have taken to compile and edit all of it 🙌🏻🙌🏻 I’m planning on doing a massive post on different horror subgenres for the start of October. If you want even more recommendations: let me know so I can link it when it’s up. Or just add a list of recs in a comment

[@annettes5623]

The last days of Jack sparks is so good, very strangely funny and I loved it!

[@sashamoons868]

Not me knowing I'm too much of a scaredy cat to read horror but still watching the entire vid. I do have The year of the witching on my TBR for next mnth though. 🎉

[@LozzfrmOz]

Shout out to Graphic Artists❤ Some of these book covers are on a whole different level 🙌

[@LizFaith-sv4ng]

I agree, we need more books like this one for all the genres!

[@ririschannelx]

Such a great idea for a video 😊

[@asomecat8495]

When you got to the book Baby 'Teeth' all I could think about was the video from Cindy about it. lol.

[@Artractive_]

I love your Halloween decorations!! 🥰🍁✨🎃

[@sarahlopod]

omg Gavin, the I’m Thinking of Ending Things movie is WILD. i only recommend watching it if you want to see how bad it is, its truly next level.

[@shelbymckenzie7704]

We stan a late upload king

[@GavinReadsItAll]

Tis the season

[@lisa68743]

I have been wanting this books for months.😊

[@ogodthe]

The Return is my favorite book, it's what I would consider 'cozy horror'. I recommend listening to the audio, Rachel's books read like a movie in your head!

[@ThisKiwi03]

Hi Gavin 🤗 - I just shared this video with my SCAREathon family (a readathon i’m hosting in October to celebrate my birthday and first year on booktube). I think some of the books you mentioned would fit perfectly for some of my prompts

[@KrystleLovesHorror]

Since horror is my favorite genre, and I love your channel, this video is RIGHT up my alley! 🤗❤ I’m sure you’ll have ones I haven’t even read yet, so I’ve gotten out my paper and pen! 😆

[@ashleyederf8116]

New follower here! I bought this book last year so I love that someone else knows about it! The recommendations are pretty interesting.

[@keninmaine1690]

I would highly recommend Penpal. With each chapter, the sense of dread gets stronger. This one really stuck with me.

[@Meag_]

I got this book from my library a few months ago and I was so impressed by it! It gave me so many new horror that I want to read 💗

[@mxgitsxne7335]

gav on a wednesday?? an amazing surprise 😊

[@GavinReadsItAll]

Gotta keep you on your toes

[@samantharose1001]

was there no King?? I’m kind of surprised ! I don’t really read horror, but I enjoy getting to see your reactions and discussions around what you like in the genre! I didn’t realize there were so many subgenres how cool!

[@Ccloveshorror]

@@samantharose1001 no she’s a big king fan but felt she owed it other authors to give them the spotlight.

[@samantharose1001]

@@Ccloveshorror oh cool! Thanks for the insight :)

[@Egan-pop]

I found that book at B&N recently. I'm a horror newbie too and I haven't read any of the books in it. Guess I better get reading! 😮😅

[@GavinReadsItAll]

I've barely read anything from it, I feel ashamed haha

[@beckyduff]

Another bookish colab reading The Grip of It would be so fun!

[@ghostlygirl713]

I love Mother Horror's book so much! I've followed her on Instagram for years.

[@Mesa37122]

I have this book too, definitely recommend as well! I just made a little TBR of books from the list that were also available from my library.

[@sarahscupofcoffee]

Such great recommendations and you’ve read a handful of them!! 🤗

[@selma8184]

The Library at Mount Char was one of my absolute favorite reads of this year, but i wouldn't categorize it as horror in any way! it's a high concept fantasy mystery with like an eerie vibe to it, i guess, and some disturbing things happen, but "horror" is not the main thing going on. i thought it was amazing, it absolutely boggled my brain, it was incredibly well written, from the worldbuilding, to the characters, to the plot twists and unraveling of the mystery. but i think it would do it a disservice for people to go into it thinking it's a horror in the classic sense of the word and being disappointed when it's not. i got introduced to it as fantasy with the premise "There's a God that has gone missing and the mc is looking for him" and i was very intrigued by it, but i can see why you wouldn't be interested in it in the context of horror!

[@liamgardner4037]

So excited to get to some of these!! ❤️🍂

[@emmal7510]

For a different take on the zombie apocalypse, you might want to try Feed, by Mira Grant. It is the start of a trilogy and there's a couple of related books.

[@GavinReadsItAll]

Oh I’ve been meaning to try that one, thanks for the recommendation

[@stace_d]

So many interesting sounding books! Please don't read White Horse though... I've seen only bad or lukewarm reviews of it, and I feel like the author needs a break (I believe its her debut?)

[@brittanynader5892]

You must read PenPal at some point! I think about it all the time. Great video and concept!

[@CherryCheetah]

It is great - to think that a "mere" creepypasta made it onto the list. Though I must admit I haven't read the book version - so I don't know how much it's different from the version from r/nosleep

[@crizmeow8394]

I live penpal, I listened to the “boxes” segment once and never again because I was so devastated

[@jamiea4791]

I love this book! Read it on release and have been tracking my progress reading all of the books recommended. :)

[@GavinReadsItAll]

It’s so good!! Love the interactive elements too

[@jamiea4791]

@@GavinReadsItAll Now that I'm watching the video, Red was my first Jack Ketchum book and it blew me away and made me cry. It's a revenge story! An old man and his dog. :( GOTH by Otsuichi is one of my all-time favorite books and authors. Both though definitely save for when you can handle animal stuff. Samantha Kolesnik is also a big recommendation, she writes wonderful queer stories (especially Waif and Lonesome Haunts). Transmuted is also fantastic body horror! The opening is so funny.

[@jamie-arbitrarydeadline2600]

The Lesser Dead by Christopher Buehlman is one of my favorite books I've read this year. Vampires. NYC. The 70s. Abandoned subways. And creepy kids. What's not to love?

[@NatalieJadeM]

Hi Gavin, I recently discovered your channel and have been binge watching all of your videos! After you said you want to read more noir thrillers I had to jump on and recommend Ray Celestin's City Blues quartet. It's more noir than thriller in my opinion but I love his writing style and he really sets the mood! Each instalment is set in a different season in a different city in America. Lots of Mafia fixers and Private Investigators! He also recently released Palace of Shadows which is inspired by the Winchester house but set on the Yorkshire Moors! As a Yorkshire lass myself I adored his description of the Moors and how they almost seemed alive and threatening in their complete desolation. Happiest of spooky seasons to you, keep up the great work and take care!

[@delioncourt34]

what an amazing resource! i've definitely been hunting for some good horror to read so this is absolutely perfect i can't wait to pick up a copy. thanks for bringing it to my attention!

[@turnthepaige7347]

omg I haven’t read one single book in this video 😭 im still very new to reading horror but now I have some great recommendations! Thanks Gavin!

[@fionamctaggart5904]

So many new adds to my tbh! I also soft DNFd My Heart is a Chainsaw, but SGJ is coming to my local literary festival this fall so I’m going to give it another try

[@TheHammy1987]

You absolutely need to read Heart-Shaped Box! The Fisherman is one that I also really enjoyed, mainly for its creepy atmosphere, but I know that opinions on that one vary quite a bit. Also, I've read 13 of the books mentioned and from the author spotlight I have read 8 authors before. You still convinced me to buy 101 Horror Books to Read Before You're Murdered - I put it on my Birthday wishlist! Looks like that is just THE horror-Bible I need in my life :D

[@theanswerisbooks]

The Library at Mount Char is WILD and the blurb doesn't do it justice. You should give it a chance!

[@ThatPurpleGirl81]

Oooooo! Joe Hill is a great writer and Heart-shaped Box is a fantastic book! If you're reading Stephen King, I think you need to explore Joe Hill eventually. His short story collection 20th Century Ghosts was amazing and got everyone's attention. Eta: Oh Gavin hearing you say you don't care for short stories hurts my heart. 😭 If you want to judge a book by its cover, there is a story collection by Mike Allen called Unseaming. The cover sells it and the stories inside are incredible, especially the first and last connected stories (they would make a great horror movie). Those are my very strong recommendations! ❤

[@krisprepolec5616]

His Locke and Key graphic novel series is fantastic.

[@loststreetspirit]

The library at mount char is so good! Definitely worth a read.

[@annettes5623]

Last days is one of my favorite books of all time!!! You should def add it to your TBR

[@misskarin]

I bought this book last year and I'm obsessed with it. It's so fun to flip through and I've found some great books I'd never heard of.

[@colleenequinn3]

I highly recommend Ring Shout, True Crime, The Twisted Ones, When the Reckoning Comes, and The Year of the Witching. They were all 4 or 5 stars for me.

[@ArtemisLiCa]

Ooh, I really enjoyed the movie for Anihilation! Maybe you could include it if you decide to do a video comparing movies to the books they're based on. I had such a fun time with it. And the bear scene was intense! I'd be interested to see how that was done in the book.

[@Annaisfullybooked]

Alma Katsu’s The Hunger is superior and I hope you give it a try at some point. This video is genius! ❤

[@Umamorinhayt]

Heartshaped box is SUCH a good book! I lost my copy and to this day I cry about it.

[@rhyst124]

If these were mentioned, I apologize *Silver Nitrate* by Silvia Moreno-Garcia *Bleed* by Ed Kurtz *The Dolls Alphabet* by Camilla Grudova

[@Virgo__]

I have read some of these! There are a few I really liked, but seemed divisive when they came out. For example, the Jack Sparks book. Paul Tremblay is an author who I have a weird relationship with. I always read his books and enjoy them, even though I never feel that he lands the ending, (and usually the last 1/4 of the book, lol.). Literally ever lol. But I still keep reading 😂

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

Ohh you need to read annihilation!! It's so so good and one of my favourite gothic sci-fi horror novel honestly. I have read some of these and some others are on my tbr. Curious to hear your thoughts on the ones that made it to your TBR. I need to read more josh malerman as I enjoyed bird box so much!

[@cindywingetbooks]

I have heard of most of these but I read a lot of horror. You definitely need to put Pen Pal on your TBR! It's sooo good!

[@MsUnamusedNerd]

I don’t know if you’re much into video games but have you read books related to video game franchises? I’m currently reading borderlands unconquered myself. I own all three of the official novels and looking to get the fourth one that got released a couple months ago.

[@GavinReadsItAll]

Oooo no I haven’t but I’d be down to

[@TheLyokoWarriors]

@@GavinReadsItAll Since it's October, I highly suggest Dead Space: Martyr.

[@megs_bookrack]

Well , this is a fun little vid I didn't know you had planned 😂 I have only read 25 of the featured books, but you have to add The Wicked by James Newman to your TBR. It's not cows level if Extreme

[@hdestiny95]

Just put this book on hold at my library! 👻

[@staci85]

This Thing Between Us by Gus Moreno. This falls under like grief/horror. Married couple living in Chicago buy an "itza" (like an Alexa) and weird creepy things start happening in their apartment....wife dies in an accident and the husband (whos still experiencing these weird things in the apartment) tries to get away, moving out of the city and whatever is haunting him follows. Loved this book I recommend it. (Check for trigger warnings)

[@Nina_chitchat]

great recommendations!! i haven't read a lot from these but i soon will! i am really in my horror/thriller era right now when it comes to books. 👻👻🩻

[@krisprepolec5616]

When the reckoning comes is great, and it is a slim read :-) I am finally reading Hex for Halloween this year.

[@kleffgoeverafter]

Transmuted is so freaking good! And super short so definitely a quick read

[@GavinReadsItAll]

I gotta bump it up the TBR

[@tomhutchinson9981]

Hey! Love your videos. I've only just started reading again this year and Hex by TOH was the first book I read and completely locked me into reading again! 100% reccomend

[@noelanikaanana]

Saving this to build my October TBR 🎃 Baby Teeth.... good read, I'd suggest keeping that on your radar

[@MeMyshelfAndI]

The Bone Weaver's Orchard definitely takes an unexpected turn and for that reason I would recommend it. I don't remember what % in, but it's a fair way through and then there's a turning point and THAT'S the book.

[@MeMyshelfAndI]

Revelator made my top books of the year I read it Her family has their own religion where they worship _Ghost Daddy_ who lives in the _god hole_ and if that doesn't convince you to read it then nothing will 😂 (I think you also said no to The Library at Mount Char which is one of the weirdest best books I've ever read and I don't think I've ever seen someone not love it. It's such a hard book to describe but it's so good)

[@nadinebenjamin1882]

Gavin, give Ania Ahlborn a try. She's so gooood!! I loved both Brother and If You See Her. Heads up, though, she typically doesn't write happy endings.

[@Life_With_Clara]

The Last Days of Jack Sparks is amazing! You can't trust anything you read and nothing is as it seems. Also a fantastic audio version of it too. Highly recommend.

[@BA-hm6fc]

I've only read ring shout out of all of these and loved it. There were some books already on my tbr but it also grew by 2 thanks to this video!

[@lisa68743]

Tthank you so much Gavin. I will keep coming backto this video to get book recs from Sadie! Love you honey!😊👹

[@holdenbeach4ever]

I read 11!! Great video idea 📚

[@fancifulimpression]

Summer camp for slashers is a great slashers I’d highly recommend adding to your list!

[@aliciafaithreads]

I have this book and I love it! Mother Horror is a treasure!

[@KittyAndTheBooks]

White Horse was really good. Just Like Home was fantastic, but I understand why people don't like it. It is so odd, but it spoke to a deeper part of my soul. Hollow Places was definitely missing from the list. :D

[@RachelJ2016]

Kill Creek!!!!! It’s so good! I hope you love it, definitely bump that to ASAP, top of the TBR 🤌🏻

[@allgirlreview433]

The Ruins is so good. Hope you enjoy it.

[@katiewinn2660]

Very intrigued that The Ancestor is on this list. I have an ARC of it from several years ago that's been kicking around my shelves, but I recently found out it has pretty mid ratings on Goodreads. Now I'm really curious to read it and see where I fall on the opinion spectrum... 🤔 Books I've read from this list: The Year of the Witching (3 stars. It was fun while I read it but I'm glad I got it from the library since it's not something I'll reread. Just found out there's supposed to be a sequel at some point, but I'm undecided if I'm interested.) Alma Katsu (I also read The Deep and I agree, it was 2 stars for me. Too many plot threads that took away from the main story and made it muddled.) Stephen Graham Jones (I read The Only Good Indians and rated it 4 stars, but I haven't gone back to him since. Not his fault, I'm just not really a horror girlie...) Books I added to my TBR: Not many because horror is really not my usual thing, but... Hearts Strange and Dreadful (1821 historical horror? Yes please!) Little Eve (Had me at the castle on the cover and for some reason the description gave me Hinterkaifek vibes.) Children of Chicago (Maybe? Intrigued by the serial killer element.) I have so little reading time because I'm in my last year of grad school, but I'll consider bumping The Ancestor up my TBR since it's the only one I own. The rest I'll save for after graduation.

[@Virginia14919]

When The Reckoning Comes by LaTanya McQueen is good! I definitely recommend that one.

[@livwithbooks]

I bought this book back in May and I have so many TBR and vlog ideas from it! Just starting your video! I have some things in the book I’m trying not to spoil myself for! (I want to choose some of authors with recs and read their recommendations but I want to go in completely blind!)

[@livwithbooks]

Haha the way I shut my tv off so fast when I heard you say “Stephen Graham Jones recommends” and as it turned it off realized you didn’t say I immediately came back 😂 (But seriously no one tell me)

[@noemiborbely5383]

Red by Jack Ketchum is a brilliant book, even outside of the horror genre. It is never talked about cause Off Season gets the attention but I think Red is where his story telling excels

[@GavinReadsItAll]

Oooo okay maybe I’ll add it back on the TBR

[@tony_starch]

As someone whose favorite genre is horror and doesn’t get easily scared anymore, Penpal by Dathan Auerbach is one of the few that actively scared me when I read it Also I read 24 books of the ones mentioned! Most of them are already on my tbr too

[@donnabudke5592]

Had to laugh. I have this book and followed along as you went through it. So far I have only read two but will definitely be reading more.

[@birgitaushamburg]

Please, please read Rachel Harrison! "The Return" was one of my best books of last yearfor a reason!

[@queenkim8631]

Books from the list I've read & my rating: When The Reckoning Comes ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Return ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Penpal ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Kin ⭐️⭐️⭐️ True Crime ⭐️⭐️ The Laws of the Skies ⭐️⭐️ Baby Teeth ⭐️ Suffer the children ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Tender is the Flesh ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 We need to do Something ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Shiver (Didn't rate it) Brother ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@witchymary5246]

I read 21 (including all the books from the recommended authors section I've read). Personally I would recommend reading ECHO over HEX. I actually dnfed hex to not taint the perfect experience I had with Echo (my favourite book of last year)

[@danimforest]

I read Goth and the animal cruelty chapter was so hard to read that I almost DNFed the book. I pushed through. The book has one of the most confusing endings I have ever read. I still cannot tell you exactly what happens. The animal cruelty in the book is why I would never recommend it. I read and watch a huge amount of horror, and I found that chapter so difficult. But ignoring that chapter, I found the rest of the book to be interesting.