The Top 30 Best Horror Books You Need to Read Before You Die

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I'm taking the unusual step of commenting on my own video. For some reason lots of people seem to be upset by a comment I make near the start. I say that I am conscious that this list is made up largely of white male authors (which is true, it is). Apparently this is a controversial thing to say. "The author's colour shouldn't matter!" people type (interestingly, no one seems to care about the gender part of my statement). Let me explain why I think the colour (and gender, and sexuality) of authors DOES matter. We live in a society where culture has been dominated by white male voice for centuries. Millions of our fellow citizens have struggled their entire lives to find voices in genres like horror who they felt represented their existence. The fact that such authors are now appearing is fantastic, both for the people who haven't been represented in the past, and for people like me. I read to experience and understand things I don't see in my everyday life. Much as I love many white male authors, I don't only want to read about an existence I'm already familiar with. So from now on rather than individually replying to loudly offended people I will just direct them to this statement. And if you're one of the people who does get why it matters, thank you for watching my videos and supporting my channel.

[@indecipherable22]

Very well said.

[@RalphNC09]

I'm not upset by anything. If that is your opinion that's fine. The thing is though, someone's color doesn't, in reality, matter. Yeah for a long time color and race was an issue, but it isn't now. Someone's race doesn't make them better, worse, or have more value to contribute to something. Their character does. I don't want to see us go backwards on MLKJ's achievements.

[@indecipherable22]

@@RalphNC09 What? In a perfect world yes, ethnicity, sexuality, gender, etc wouldn’t decide someone’s popularity as a writer, for example. Your comment seems to imply that MLKJ’s achievements were to make race unimportant or something. The issues he and many others fought against are still prevalent.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

@@RalphNC09 for me the reality is that colour SHOULDN’T matter but it still very much does.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

@@indecipherable22 👏🏻👏🏻

[@Scrimosa]

No time to die with such a big and evergrowing TBR. Thanks for the recs!! I must say that the covers for these are astonishing. Pity they don't make them like that anymore.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Ha! My pleasure! Hope you enjoy them. And yes, I totally agree about the covers.

[@marywilson3633]

I happened to come across your video tonight and thoroughly enjoyed it. I have read many of the books mentioned. Of course, being 71 I’ve had a lot of years to spend reading. I was glad to see Blackwater mentioned, as I don’t think many people are aware of this book. I’ve subscribed and looking forward to catching up on your other videos.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thanks Mary, really glad you enjoyed it. I think Michael McDowell is starting to get more recognition now, thanks to the renewed interest in vintage horror. Hope you find more videos to enjoy on the channel!

[@tlou_daryl]

I have been "beating the drum" of Summer of Night for years. Thank you for including it here. A masterpiece in my opinion!

[@kemouse]

Song of Kali and Children of the Night were good too. I like his sci-fi stuff too

[@PrincessNicEssus]

Very late to the party. But can I recommend “Intensity” by Dean R Koontz - as a young woman when I read this it was so empowering. Having read nearly all of Stephen Kings earlier novels, my favorite of his is the short story “The Mist”. The theatrical version was actually pretty good, surprisingly enough. Just ordered Moon Dance looking forward to reading it, unfortunately it wasn’t available as an audiobook on KZbin. Thank you for the referral!

[@donnaplaster7255]

I am 72 years old and have read all but 5 in your list. I just ordered Night Film. Looking forward to reading it.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@abbyvoss8681]

Usually my suggested videos are not great, but this is perfectly up my alley. Amazing video, have a ton of new books to buy and an awesome new KZbin channel to watch!!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thanks Abby! Really glad you enjoyed it. 😊

[@simuliid]

Shirley Jackson's We Have Always Lived in a Castle. What an incredible writer she was.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Agreed - she was so so great. I think I like her short stories most

[@pateris]

Most indeedy !

[@Melancthon7332]

@@CriminOllyBlog Imagine only having read The Lottery, and discovering that Jackson had written at least a dozen stories almost or just as good as The Lottery, all these masterpieces of minimalist dread and unsettling precision. Amazingly good writer.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

@@Melancthon7332 She really is wonderful

[@seraph8293]

Forces to read it in school ngl

[@blacknwhitecookie8967]

Scott Smith's The Ruins is probably the creepiest I've read. I guess you could call this a type of Mother Nature Horror. Another great, classic horror is Richard Matheson's Hell House. I would bring my family for holiday at the Overlook before I'd take one foot in Hell House.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Yeah, The Ruins is excellent! I haven’t read Hell House but I really need to.

[@skengels]

Oh yeah, Hell House was amazing!! SO much fun! If anyone has recommendations for haunted house type books, I would be very interested. I would add in The Girl in the Swing by Richard Adams, not necessarily a horror, but extremely tense with a rising sense of unease, very cool.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

@@skengels I’d not heard of Girl in the Swing - it sounds intriguing!

[@skengels]

@@CriminOllyBlog Same guy that wrote Watership Down! My old roommate had a panic attack while reading it and couldn't finish so you know it's good.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

@@skengels yeah I thought that must be him! That’s nuts

[@AnneEWilliamson]

Gosh, what a great list! It's so hard to pick 30 best horror books! So many of these I love! Like Silence of the Lambs (whether it is more horror or thriller) is an incredibly and chilling book, with Hannibal Lector being one of the greatest fictional killers. The Haunting of Hill House is another truly disturbing one! Jackson creates this creepy atmosphere like no other author!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thanks, Anne. And yes, Jackson really was fantastically good at atmosphere

[@jimhaggard7436]

In case you’re wondering the order: H.P. Lovecraft Complete Stories Clive Barker Books of Blood Dracula by Bram Stoker Moon Dance by S.P Somtow The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum Let’s Go Play At The Adams’ by Mendal W. Johnson Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris By Reason of Insanity by Shane Stevens IT by Stephen King Summer of Night by Dan Simmons The Stand by Stephen King Swan Song by Robert McCammon The Rats by James Herbert Slugs by Shaun Hutson The Fog by James Herbert One Rainy Night by Richard Laymon House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski The Cipher by Kathe Koja The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson The Woman in Black by Susan Hill The Shining by Stephen King Ghost Story by Peter Straub We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson Black Water Series by Michael McDowell The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty The Case Against Satan by Ray Russell Ring by Koji Suzuki Night Film by Marisha Pessl John Dies at the End by Jason Pargin The Coming Thing by Anne Billson

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you!

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Brilliant video! This was an ambitious one and it was really great. Of course, I’ve read many of these. The others I will definitely read before I die.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thanks Michael!

[@babsschloss]

The Woman in Black is brilliantly done, atmospheric and chilling. I've read the book, watched the terrifying BBC film adaptation (not to be confused with the terrible Daniel Radcliffe remake) and experienced the fabulous Shaftsbury Theatre stage production - minimalist and truly astonishing.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I saw the play years ago and remember it being incredibly effective

[@geslinam9703]

I didn’t like the movie, it had a few spooky bits, but it didn’t do much for me. Going to read the novel soon, so many people, like you, say it’s so much better.

[@johnbarton562]

Great list - loved your video and explanation of each. Two books of horror short stories that I really enjoyed are: Deathbird Stories by Harlan Ellison, and The October Country by Ray Bradbury - - maybe more just unsettling than horror in some stories, but once you read them, they stay with you. That is the type of writing that I love.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I’ve not read those. Will check them out. Thank you!

[@bronwyngavin6076]

The Shining, hands down, scariest book I read as a young person. I had to sleep with the closet light on. Neither movie did it service, but Jack Nicholson, chefs kiss!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Yeah, that really is an iconic performance from Nicholson!

[@floogelhornzzz4770]

_Ghost Story_ scared me the most of any novel.

[@floogelhornzzz4770]

What was the scariest part of _The Shining_ ? I thought the description of the fire hose nozzle was pretty scary.

[@nathanfoung2347]

I always appreciate videos like this, especially in a genre that I've not had too much exposure to. Good stuff.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Cheers, Nathan! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@culturefan]

Good to see Swan Song in there. I actually found the first half of the book pretty funny in areas. Granted I have a pretty twisted sense of humor at times, but I think it's intentionally so.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Yeah I know what you mean, there's definitely an element of satire there

[@derkeheath5172]

I liked it more than The Stand. It's wonderfully pulpy.

[@Lukasafer]

I only saw your thumbnail and for a good few seconds. I thought you were dennis quaid. I will watch this whole video on that basis alone.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I can confirm I am definitely not Dennis Quaid, but am very flattered by the comparison. His performance in The Big Easy is one of my favourite things!

[@stephenwalker2924]

I can't believe I've just found your channel. Really interesting and helpful stuff. Plus revolving watches, what's not to like? Keep up the good work and all that. 😀

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Ha! Thanks Stephen! Glad you enjoyed the video (and the watches!).

[@Wendigosh]

Starting off with lovecraft and barker i immediately knew this would be a good list. Ty🙏

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it

[@lavernehodge3320]

Great list! I've read King, McCammon, Straub and Jackson. I enjoyed them all. I have Night Film and House of Leaves but haven't read them yet. I think I'm intimidated by House of Leaves. I added several to my TBR. Thanks for the recommendations.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

House of Leaves is a big, weird book, but it’s very readable when you get into it. Don’t let it intimidate you!

[@goodknight37]

That anyone could take offense to any of your statements is unfortunate, and proof that many people these days are quite literally looking for opportunities to take offense. Well done video👍

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you - I completely agree. I think there are people (on both sides of any argument) who actively seek out confrontation

[@obvv7714]

It’s nothing about “these days” people have always been like that. It’s just easier to encounter people you don’t agree with at higher frequency now that social media is a thing.

[@TippyH]

I love your videos! So glad you included The Girl Next Door and Let’s Go Play. Both are extremely good studies in empathy and brutality. I agree that Let’s Go Play may actually be the stronger work - the elegance of the writing juxtaposes its absolute brutality. I’ve never been more unsettled by a book.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you so much! And yeah it’s really a troubling work

[@sehlordhorr8540]

I’ve read Dracul and My Best Friend’s Exorcism this spooky season. Both are so good! I’m really impressed by the quality and care that went into Dracul, it really surprised, and MBFE made me cry hehe. Grady Hendrix is probably my favorite modern horror author. I enjoyed this vid, thanks 👍🏻

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I’ve heard really good things about Dracul. MBFE is great, really glad you enjoyed it. And the video! Thanks for watching 😊

[@Death_By_Rebirth]

1:48 The people who prefer diversity over quality are the same people who prefer volume over logic, and they deserve a punch in the face. Don't grovel before them. With you're background in horror and youtube channel, you're an expert and a pro. You should have more respect for yourself and what you love. Also, have you ever read Gary J Shipley? Great stuff. I work in a library and practically force my horror loving coworkers to borrow and read my copies. And then they in turn end up buying more of Shipley's stuff so that they can force their friends to read him. The prose is tight, vivid, bleak, brutal, and thought provoking.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Not grovelling at all, I’m just very aware that there are big gaps in my reading life. And I certainly don’t consider myself an expert, more just an enthusiastic amateur (thanks for the kind comment though). I haven’t read Shipley but he looks really interesting. Thanks for the recommendation!

[@Death_By_Rebirth]

​@@CriminOllyBlog Ah, so more just like wishing that other cultures would produce more horror? I get that. I always like seeing it when black/death metal bands come out of underrepresented countries. Genocide Shrines from Sri Lanka had a pretty good EP about a decade ago, for example. But its always a curiosity to me. I feel like these kinds of things are more a product of certain types of cultures, so its interesting to see things come unexpected places. Like, I have never come across an Iranian death metal band, or any metal at all from sub-saharan Africa. They either aren't exposed to it, aren't interested, or aren't tolerated, much to my disappointment. It kind of leads me to believe that metal is a product of the modern world, like a way to cope with the psychological shortcomings of living in a highly cultivated, psychologically artificial society. We just aren't able to actually participate in violence and death. And I think that people that do have to tend not to glorify it. A death metal band from the Congo would be the real deal, guaranteed psychos. I feel like there is more to horror though. It is a more complex medium, resulting I think perhaps from cultural environments rather than through physical environments. I think it changes the mode of expression and approach. For example, there are some really weird interpretations of what happens in dark forests at night from cultures all across the globe. But I think sometimes when people dream up horrific ideas, they aren't coming up with fiction, but rather with ideas for things to do to their enemies. Sometimes as straightforward as cannibalizing their hearts on film like we've been seeing with the cartels down in Mexico, but also magic spells involving corpses to enslave peoples minds, like we've seen in tantric alchemy centuries ago. The elaborate psychological manipulation involved, whether you're performing black magic or writing a good horror novel, is absolutely fascinating to me.

[@jackbedient]

Spectacular list! Read most of the old school ones back in the 80s as a teen swimming in the horror novel renaissance.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@travis2351]

It makes me so happy Richard Laymon made this list. Him and Koontz got me into horror

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Lovecraft and King were my first, but Laymon and Koontz followed not long after! Thanks for watching!

[@treydomingue9559]

I’m sorry I’m so late to your channel, but I stumbled on your video and absolutely loved it. I’m a lifetime horror reader and thought I’d read everything of importance, but your video definitely gave me a couple that I’d slept on that I’m going to be picking up. I also absolutely loved your Laymon breakdown. One Rainy Night was the first of his novels I read and you’re right, he’s a terrible writer, but I couldn’t put it down and have since collected everything he’s written. None of them are great, but they’re all somehow amazing at the same time. I can never explain that to people who haven’t read his work but if you have, you get it!

[@penitent468]

That was fantastic! My TBR just grew by about ten books. Thank you!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

My pleasure! Thanks so much for watching :)

[@francesmeyer8478]

My late father gave my son a beautiful copy of "Dracula". My son is now fifty-two and that book is still a much cherished posession. He rereads it periodically. It brings back fond memories of his grandfather.🇺🇸

[@ITCamefromthePage]

Was pleasantly surprised that I had read more of these than I thought I would have and many of my blindspot have been gathering dust on a shelf...time to give them a read. Great video!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it

[@JPChoquette]

Great video, I'm glad to have found your channel! Southern Gothic is probably my favorite of the subgenres you mentioned. We Have Always Lived in the Castle was so strange...I think I need to re-read it as I'm still not sure I got everything. :) Blackwater also sounds good, though I haven't read it yet.

[@ms_taree7335]

Ordered the RATS trilogy ! I have read some of these and the way you describe the books make we want to dive into horror again. I was also a steven king kid ~

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Excellent! I hope you enjoy them! 🐀

[@Mister_Fright]

The Rats is a great book!

[@spencergregory8049]

Is there a scene in the book where they fight animals in a zoo? I want to say a lion but I read it a long time ok!

[@ms_taree7335]

@@spencergregory8049 Guess you are going to have to read it again. to find out ~ :)

[@elliotgregory3356]

@@ms_taree7335 Ha ha 😂 Please tell me.... Seriously though I remember that bit because I think the Lion puts up a good fight but one of the animals does a runner!

[@emilykennelly7895]

Oh Iain Banks loved his work and so glad I found your site🇨🇦💜🇨🇦

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thanks Emily! So glad you're enjoying it

[@ericrawlins8444]

Great list, I've read about half of these. I KNEW you were going to mention Swan Song, The Rats, and Summer of Night (which really surprised me, I'd always thought Dan Simmons wrote trashy novels, but SoN was very literate--it made me think of Dandelion Wine, but minus all the fond nostalgia and cozy family values; highly recommended). For haunted people, I would add Peter Straub's Julia; for Southern Gothic, I would add Michael McDowell's The Elementals; and for cursed art (in this case, blueprints), I would add Anne Rivers Siddons' The House NeXt Door (the horrors are a bit on the aww, first-world problems side, but the build-up, dread, climax, and the The End? ending still give me the creeps 40 years after my first reading). Love coming across your videos, Olly, keep 'em coming!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thanks Eric, really glad you're enjoying the channel. I'd not heard of The House Next Door but will check it out!

[@mariam2964]

Dan Simmons is definitely not a trashy novelist, he is one of the most intelligent writers around. He ran a program for gifted children when he was a teacher.

[@mushin19]

thanks for the recs Olly. I've read the popular ones and added rest to my TBR 🤘cheers

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Enjoy!

[@mushin19]

@@CriminOllyBlog 🙏❤️

[@arlem525]

Oh and thank you for acknowledging McDowell. I love his books, have you read The Elementals? that's my favorite of his novels.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I have, and actually I didn't love it. I think I might just have not been in the right mood for it

[@nobo1982]

Recently read a reprint of “Fingers of Fear” from the late 1930s and found it to be shockingly creepy and insightful. Also glad you included straubs “Ghost Story” as that book left me shook! That book felt frighteningly familiar and homey

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I'll have to seek that one out

[@fu554]

Really loved The Stand. Still creeped out by storm drains since reading “It”. Swan Song - couldn’t put that one down. Loving this channel and review of books. Always been a fan of the horror genre. Great to have more recommendations for late night reading.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Fantastic! Really glad you're enjoying the channel. Thanks so much for watching and commenting!

[@apolloniusbeitsman5444]

The Stand was so boring lol. And that deus ex machina ending. So cringe with the telepathic nonsense.

[@loriwilliams9102]

Swing song was so much better than The Stand❤

[@jenniferlovesbooks]

Great list. I don't read a lot of horror but like to dip my toe in occasionally. I have only read 6 of these - two Shirley Jackson, two Stephen King, Night Film and House of Leaves. I am hoping to read Dracula later this year.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Hope you enjoy Dracula when you get to it!

[@alfredinthebookcave5331]

I'm very glad to have found your channel. What a wealth of horror I never knew existed!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you! Really glad you're enjoying it

[@karlynnjade]

Just found your videos via your Stephen King ranking and I'm now addicted! I'm glad you have so much content! I'm excited to keep up with your new videos!

[@violetfemme411]

I LOVE Clive Barker! "In the Hills, the Cities" is probably my favorite of his short stories. 💜

[@CriminOllyBlog]

That is a really great one

[@violetfemme411]

@@CriminOllyBlog You're the 1st person to whom I've mentioned it that has read it. I'm currently laid up again with a bad ahem "cold" so as I can't sleep I'll be binging your channel 💜

[@CriminOllyBlog]

@@violetfemme411 hope you feel better soon! My videos will definitely help you drop off 😂

[@violetfemme411]

@@CriminOllyBlog Not at all! I'm so ramped up right now, hearing you mention so many of my favorite reads. Actually I was just thinking, if you and I were discussing books one on one, we'd be laughing hard at how many times we said the exact same things at the same time. 🤣 btw...are you familiar with the book "A Confederacy of Dunces?" You've probably discussed the book and the interesting yet tragic backstory on it. So far I'm binging on the horror and most disturbing lists. But I intend on catching up on all your videos. I'm over the moon, having found you and your channel. 💜

[@jacktorrenc3140]

Dread in volume 2 is one of my all time fav. Pig Blood Blues (Vol 1) is great too.

[@Chris-ln6so]

Great list! The Woman in Black is my absolute favourite ghost story - it just does not miss a beat. Fantastically unnerving. ‘Ghost Story’ has been on my to-read list for too too long. Time to dive into it.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thanks Chris! Hope you enjoy Ghost Story!

[@J.DeLaPoer]

The Woman in Black is the pinnacle and apotheosis of the classic British ghost story. In fact I highly recommend all Hill's supernatural work (haven't read her other stuff). Ghost Story is also top notch, although with a bunch of old men as heroes and rather cerebral, deliberate pacing it's not for folks who like fast-moving action and gore. Still one of the seminal works of the genre, and the novel that made Straub's career -- sadly he just passed on Sept 4th...

[@floogelhornzzz4770]

Read another book of his that he wrote afterward called _Shadowland._ It was amazing! My fifth favourite novel of all time.

[@NamasteBbooktube]

Great list. Have you read 'Duma Key' by Stephen King? That's one of my favourites.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I actually haven't yet

[@NamasteBbooktube]

@@CriminOllyBlog it's an underrated masterpiece.

[@murraygolding8471]

The Stand was an awesome book- in my view Stephen King's best. Nice to see Laymon's honourable mention- i have loved all his books- also Loved all of Herbert's books- excellent author.The Exorcist is the scariest book and film - disturbing and the one to beat, pleased you agree here - Surprised that there is nothing by Graham Masterton genuinely one of the most talented authors ever . We all like different things.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I do need to read more Masterton, but I've enjoyed most of the things I have read by him

[@murraygolding8471]

@@CriminOllyBlog Try Hell Candidate- amazing

[@murraygolding8471]

@@CriminOllyBlog Actually some of his haunted house books offer something more than that which goes bump in the night- I really enjoyed your video and have noted down some tips from you- Thank you.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

@@murraygolding8471 Thanks Murray!

[@michaelbooker6142]

I've read many of these books and I loved the majority of them. I believe Laird Barron's The Imago Sequence is a short story collection worthy of being beside H. P. Lovecraft's work and Clive Barker's The Books of Blood. I'm definitely checking out the rest of your videos since this was such a great list

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Really glad you enjoyed the video, thank you! I’ve not read Laird Barron but will check him out.

[@J.DeLaPoer]

Not a Barker fan really, but Lovecraft is great and Barron is the best/closest thing to a modern successor. I love the Barron mythos and unconventional meld of hard boiled & weird in much of his work. Also for a first novel The Croning was excellent, albeit perhaps slightly opaque for those unfamiliar with his short story corpus. _All hail Old Leech!_ *If you're new to Barron I recommend starting with his best short story, The Men From Porlock.* It's brilliantly creepy, central to his mythos, a great introduction for a newcomer, and functions as a sort of historical prequel to his first novel. My highest possible recommendation; if you are a Lovecraft fan this is absolutely for you -- and if you like that story you'll love the rest of his stuff.

[@jacktorrenc3140]

I should have read your comment before writing mine. You have outstanding taste! (lol) Part of what I enjoy about Barron's work is the cosmology that underlines much of his short stories - like Lovecraft. How we (humans) are no more than insects to the powerful entities we call God(s). The Gods don't hate us, we're simply not worthy of their attention. Unless you foolishly manage to make them aware. Then it's similar to our relationship with insects. They might discover we're tasty, amusing to torture or a pest best exterminated. Sometimes I imagine what would go through the 'minds' of ants while their nests are sprayed with pesticide or stomped on by some child. Something like, "Dear God(s)! What have we done to deserve this horrible fate?" That's the horror of Lovecraft. It isn't that God doesn't exist. He/She does exist, but we're beneath their attention. We are meaningless. (And that's the best case scenario!).

[@michaelbooker6142]

I've read Laird Barron's first three short story collections as well as The Croning. I plan on reading Swift To Chase sometime this year. I love his Children of Old Leech stories and eventually I want to read his crime books. Other authors of Weird horror shirt stories that I love are Nadia Bulkin, Nathan Ballingrud, Philip Fracassi, and if course Thomas Ligotti.

[@jacktorrenc3140]

Nathan's "North American Lake Monsters " is a fantastic ss collecion. Found out about his work from one of Datlow's "Years Best Horror Series" - fid0i Sunbleached. In a later volume she selected 'An Atlas of Hell" and "The Maw". Just read Fracassi's newest: "A Child Alone with Strangers". Not his best, but better than 90% of what's out their. His ss/novella "Mother" still creeps me. The clueless, self-absorbed, husband deser punishment for his selfish, contemptible treatment of his family. Still, divorce court would have been a better path than black magic/spider/Alien path she choose. Still, the husband was such a selfish POS, I didn't feel too badly when he was his child's first solid meal

[@Charlotte-fd7xp]

I love that you made categories! Often it‘s really hard to find out if what you want to read and understand as „horror“ is the same thing that KZbinrs consider scary.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you! I'm glad you found that helpful!

[@J.DeLaPoer]

Lots of good stuff on your list! Summer of Night is a very underrated classic that I find much better than IT, within the Roman-a-clef, coming-of-age subgenre. Simmons' Song of Kali and The Terror are also top notch stuff. Also a vote for several Straub's earlier works of which Ghost Story is the best (RIP Peter Straub Sept 4/22). Lovecraft goes without saying, and Hill's The Woman in Black, is _the apotheosis_ of the classic British ghost story. However, I'm upset that you left out The Elementals by Michael McDowell. It's one of the best "haunted house" (but not really) novels ever, and McDowell in general is a criminally unknown but excellent author... I just can't believe you chose Blackwater over The Elementals! Also that you left out Ellis' American Psycho -- although it's not straight up horror it wouldn't be out of place here, and is one of the greatest novels of the modern era *period.* I would've also added Robert Chambers' The King in Yellow and anything by Robert Aickman as absolutely top notch essentials of weird/horror. Otherwise a great list! I wouldn't vote for anything to be taken off I guess, but personally I don't much care for Robert McCammon. Boy's Life was good, but most of his novels just didn't do anything for me. Also I've grown to be much less of a fan of Stephen King as I grew out of my teens decades ago. His earlier stuff was far better than his output of the last several years, but The Stand and The Shining do at least fit within his prime era. I've been more or less disappointed wit him since Under The Dome, and even before then felt most of his output becoming derivative; rehashing the same themes and characters ad nauseum (the 'magical negro' for example is a perennial inclusion). He cannot write an ending to save his life since The Stand, and I'm not at all a fan of his leftist, anti-gun politics which have crept more and more into his work. It's like since the '90s his best aspects have stagnated while the worst have grown. Rant over 💤

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I really need to read The King in Yellow and some Aickman too. I do like American Psycho, but like you said it’s kind of not really horror in a way.

[@troytradup]

Traveling for work right now -- thanks for giving me some great flight-delay vids!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you! Hope the delay wasn't too bad!

[@chrisgomes5048]

Awesome list! Many of them I've read, but a lot that I haven't. Interesting categories too! Your cursed film category brought two novels to mind: Experimental Film by Gemma Files and Flicker by Theodore Roszak - although the latter isn't horror, but conspiracy on the same level as an Umberto Eco novel.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you! I’ve heard great things about Experimental Film!

[@TheMike28212]

I loved this video. So many great recommendations! I have owned a copy of Moon Dance for over 25 years and for whatever reason have never read it. I will someday…

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@beethoven2351]

Might I suggest an additional category: alien horror? Possibly Blindsight by Peter Watts, and Who Goes There? by John W. Campbell... Your thoughts?

[@CriminOllyBlog]

A few people have asked about SF horror so it might well be something I look at in the future.

[@robinthornton8282]

I'm glad to see you grouped together the stand with swan song. I love both these books and also grouped them together too. Enjoyed them both equally.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Yeah, both are excellent

[@NovelOpinions]

Aside from the some of the Stephen King, I’ve not read any of these… BUT Lovecraft is on my short list. I live quite near his old stomping grounds so intend to read and explore to immerse myself more. I think I’d like to read Silence of the Lambs as well. I feel like I may have read this when I was young, but my mind is turning into a sieve these days.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

That sounds like a very good reason to read Lovecraft! My mind is pretty similar these days!

[@tomflynn2912]

I took a drive (and got lost) in Providence, RI one night. All i could think of was HPL, especially when i passed a graveyard!

[@NovelOpinions]

@@tomflynn2912 we have some good graveyards here for sure!!

[@yelisieimurai]

What an awesome video! I am new to the genre, so it was exiting for me. Great idea with different themes and sub genres

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Jeff-ie2gj]

Great video! I have read the Stephen King books, The Girl Next Door, and The Exorcist. I will look into all of the others. The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson is another great one. Read that one if you haven't already. 👍

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you! I have read The Amityville Horror!

[@fu554]

Clive Barker is an amazing author. Stumbled across WeaveWorld many years ago and was hooked. I have read all of his writings. Creativity at its finest.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Yeah, he's amazingly imaginative

[@stephenblas2066]

⁸

[@stephenblas2066]

The books of blood.....Clive Barker

[@JonathanDunsky78]

Barker is magnificent. My favorite is The Great and Secret Show.

[@carolinesconcertvids860]

I know they're not horror, but I saw in the background you have a couple of Mo Hayder books. I have Poppet by her and also A Time Of Torment by John Connolly. So I was pleased to me have similar tastes In books. I've read a couple of books you recommended but the ones I haven't I'll certainly be looking in to

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Yeah I haven't got to those yet, but hope to soon. John Connolly (from what I've read if him) is really good

[@AmitSharma-nf5ed]

Dear Sir, "The Lord of the Flies". I read it when very young and thought as I began that it was a nice children book. By the end, I was chilled and disturbed totally. The epileptic episode of Simon with the Lord of the Flies (the pig's head) - Simple and yet terrible. Masterpiece in my opinion by William Golding.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Yes, that is a truly great book

[@sharonbrock7060]

Great list! I've read several of these authors: King, McCammon, Harris, Jackson and Straub. I've added several books to my TBR, thanks! Have you ever read any Jonathan Maberry ? His Pine Deep trilogy is tense and monster-y. His Joe Ledger series is great. His Patient Zero would fit nicely in your zombie list. It horrified me on two levels. The Zombies themselves and their bloody actions. But the deliberate infection of those people...yikes!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Glad you enjoyed it! I do have Patient Zero but I haven’t read it yet! Thanks for the recommendation

[@lynnbrannan4578]

Swan Song is excellent! I have recommended it to friends and they have all loved it.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

It really is great!

[@timkirsten6184]

I'm fairly new to horror but of the ones you listed I've read Books of Blood, all the SKs, Swan Song and The Rats and I'd agree with all of them, so I'll definitely try get to all the others at some point. Great video, subscribed :)

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thanks, Tim, glad you enjoyed it! For someone who is new to horror you're doing pretty well so far!

[@KxgrGuitar]

Absolutely agree about Richard Laymon, pretty terrible as a writer but 'the traveling vampire show' and 'endless night' are two of my all time favourite horror books. Endless night rivals 'intensity' by Koontz for a kid escapes murderer book, and 'the traveling vampire show' has one of the best pay offs/twists in the genre

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I need to read The Travelling Vampire Show - don't think I ever have

[@richardstange5939]

Thank you for making this video! I’m a huge fan of the horror book and film genre. With the new film coming out next month, I decided to finally read The Exorcist. Because if your video, I just purchased A Case Against Satan from Amazon.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Cool! Hope you enjoy it!

[@fiberartsyreads]

Great list. I’ve read some and haven’t read some of course. I love The Cipher so much. weird horror is my kinda thing. Night Film is great. Love the mixed media in that one too. We Have Always Lived in a Castle is my favorite Jackson book that I’ve read so far. Like you said, it’s so unsettling. Merricat is such a great character. Of things haven’t read yet from the list, I most want to get to Swan Song, Summer of Night and Blackwater.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Yeah Merricat is really wonderful. I think you will absolutely love Blackwater

[@angelicablue]

I'll vouch for Summer of Night. Phenomenal! I've read it 3 times, always in the heat of a midsummer, & it does not disappoint.

[@fiberartsyreads]

@@angelicablue Oh awesome! Thanks.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

@@angelicablue I’m looking forward to rereading it soon

[@angelicablue]

@@CriminOllyBlog I took your advice regarding Blackwater, & I am solidly entranced! Only about 1/3 of the way through (my copy arrived Friday, & I started it the next day), but WOW. What an EPIC story!! Thanks for recommending!

[@MaisieStirfry]

Thank you so much for this, and for all of the content you share. I really enjoy your videos and hope you continue to make them. There are a few new ones on this list for me, and a couple you've inspired me to go back and reread. I did try (twice!) to read Night Film, but I couldn't get past the author's over-use of italics...maybe it's just me, but I found this so distracting. Thanks again :)

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you! Glad you’re enjoying the channel

[@CestKevvie]

The only books on this list that I've read so far are House of Leaves and We Have Always Lived in the Castle. Thanks for all these recommendations!!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it!

[@JeffreyVieira-t6x]

Great premise, 2 books of similar nature. Thumbs up for Ghost Story and Swan Song. Thought Red Dragon by Thomas Harris was more chillin Than SOTl. I have some reading to catch up on... 👍

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Glad you enjoyed it. Happy reading!

[@bad-girlbex3791]

I'd have put Daphne du Maurier's 'The Birds' ahead of the rats book as being an earlier example of many creatures attacking humans. That was written back in the 50s and whilst it was a story, rather than an actual novel length tale, it definitely shaped the genre. As for 'The Girl Next Door' I found that to be a really dull, monotonous book which seemed to suffer under the weight of its own premise, in that once the stakes were upped to a point of regular violent assault and torture, there was nowhere else for it to go. It was just like "then we beat her around the head...then we hung her from the ceiling...then we burned her....blah...blah...blah..." it had zero tension, didn't shock or surprise because it pretty much foreshadowed what was going to happen and then it just became a very pedestrian, mechanical description of whatever methods of torture could predictably be brought forth to attempt to shock. If it was based on a real story, it just goes to show that real life criminals aren't particularly imaginative. At least there was a "will they, won't they" feel to 'Let's Go Play At The Adams' and the motivations behind each character's actions were far more interrogated to the point where they felt fully believable and realised. LGPATA is a far superior tale to TGND.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I am ashamed to say I haven't read The Birds! I really need to. Agree with your criticisms of the Ketchum book, although I did think it worked. I do prefer Adams though.

[@AmitSharma-nf5ed]

I agree with the fact that "The Birds" was first short story about rebellion of animals against humans. The short stories "The Apple tree" and "Dont look now" by Daphne Du Maurier are also quiet good.

[@JohnnyRecently]

I had not read five, including both comedy horror books. I ordered the Shane Steven's novel. Never heard of it. I thought you made a fantastic list and you're comments were spot on and inciteful.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you! Really glad you found the list interesting. Shane Stevens is really great.

[@CliffsDarkGems]

Fantastic video! I will track down Blackwater come hell or high water! For coming of age novels I would suggest Something Wicked this Way Comes by Ray Bradbury and Shadowland by Peter Straub, which I feel is a hugely under-rated novel. I love Clive Barker, especially Weaveworld. He himself classifies this as fantasy, What do you think?

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thanks, Cliff! Agree that the Bradbury is excellent! I need to read more Straub as I think I’ve only read 2 or 3 of his. I agree with Barker that is longer work is fantasy. The Books of Blood are definitely horror though!

[@CliffsDarkGems]

@@CriminOllyBlog To be honest, I am not convinced. Weaveworld, Imajica and The great and secret show have so many horror elements. Lets call it fantasy/horror. I have the same issues with Intensity by Koontz. I am not a Koontz fan but found some of this content dark and disturbing, which is missing in his other books. When I eventually get down to making videos, I will have to decide on including cross-genre books on my list. I adore Clive Barker, but Coldheart Canyon (which is amazing) and The Damnation Game are his only "true" horror novels. Question, What do you think of Michael Slade, and in particular Ghoul and Headhunter? Crime? Horror?

[@CriminOllyBlog]

@@CliffsDarkGems I would call the Slade books horror, but they do have very strong crime (and especially police procedural) elements

[@johnward5404]

Been watching for a bit finally subbing today. Thanks for the great content!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you! Glad you're enjoying it

[@Monsterblood]

Of these, I've read The Shining Lovecraft (almost everything he wrote) Dracula Both Shirley Jackson novels and The Rats I definitely will look into Moon Dance a bit more, I've been searching for a good werewolf novel and have yet to find one that was really satisfying

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Moon Dance is great! You should definitely check it out

[@jesscavazos]

Just discovered your channel this week. Really enjoying your videos and book recommendations!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Fantastic! So glad you're enjoying it

[@MichaelRomeoTalksBooks]

I've added some titles to my tbr. Some titles I would have included are The Other by Thomas Tryon, The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin, Hell House by Richard Matheson and Moon Music by Faye Kellerman.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Yeah I did consider including Levin. And I probably should have had Matheson in there somewhere! I forgot to mention in my comment on your latest video that I used to have a copy of that Joseph Tully book - I don't remember if I ever actually read it though.

[@MichaelRomeoTalksBooks]

@@CriminOllyBlog If you read Tully you would probably remember the WHOOSH sound that haunted the main character.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

@@MichaelRomeoTalksBooks yeah I must not have then

[@2025Mindfulness]

Loved The Other and Stepford Wives. I want to read Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

@@2025Mindfulness Rosemary’s Baby is great fun

[@jamiewatts8244]

Great video. I love a good horror book (thought I'd read most most of them, until I saw this) I have since written down about 5 of your recommendations! Although I would have included M R James in the short story section (but like you say.....every one has their own opinion)

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you! Glad enjoyed it

[@stews9]

Horror is a style, not a genre as such. It can be applied to any genre. This is why Silence of the Lambs is puzzling. It's a crime procedural, a killer thriller, and, because of how many scenes and characters are handled as grotesques, it's got a superb horror gloss, too. Horror became a separate market category around the time publishers were trying to jump on the Stephen King bandwagon. Technically, a genre is defined after it coalesces around certain necessary tropes and topoi. Horror hasn't got those. By definition horror means horripilation, or skin-crawling revulsion, like when you inadvertently put your hand down in rotting flesh. You shudder. Fear is terror, and suspense is dreading what may come next. Those all factor in, but there isn't a checklist for horror as there is in other actual genres.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

That's a really fascinating point and one I'd never considered before. Thanks, Gene!

[@isirlasplace91]

So many great options to add to my tbr!! I'm currently reading House of Leaves, and boy!! What a ride!!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

It's great isn't it

[@isirlasplace91]

@@CriminOllyBlog It sure is!!!

[@wburris2007]

I don't plan to die any time soon, so I best not be in a hurry to read these books.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Very sensible!

[@lacamila666]

Loved this recommendations! I added some to my infinite TBR, thanks.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Fantastic! Really glad you found the video useful

[@DDB168]

Thats a great list, I realy should prioritise Silence of the Lambs but alas I'm stuck on a book about rabbits 🤣

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Sorry about that! Lambs > Rabbits

[@frogonalillypad8882]

You said that you started reading horror when you were 13, well that's how old I am and I'm just starting as well haha! Thank you for the recommendations!!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Cool! Hope you enjoy the recommendations!

[@erikadlloyd5586]

I was 14 years old when I got into Stephen King. Pet Sementary my first book from him

[@CriminOllyBlog]

That's a great place to start!

[@derkeheath5172]

That's one seriously brutal book to start with. Personally, I think it's his best, and one of the greatest horror novels of the 20th Century, but damn is it hard to stomach at times.

[@inoculatedcity]

Good video! I’m pretty new to horror and have been mostly just listening to audiobooks of Stephen King short stories - I really loved The Road Virus Heads North, so I’m excited to check out your ‘haunted artwork’ recommendations :)

[@geslinam9703]

Two of my favorite books, both ghost stories - The Little Stranger/Sarah Waters and Julia/Peter Straub. Julia was particularly creepy, and I think Straub’s first, and best, novel. Like Ghost Story, it’s about the past coming back to haunt the present, in the form of the ghost of a 12 year old sociopath. A slow burner, but very effective. Not in print anymore, but old copies can be found now and then, and I think it is available as an e-book.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I've not read Julia, but am definitely keen to try more of Straub's books. Thanks for the recommendation!

[@geslinam9703]

@@CriminOllyBlog Julia is available on Kindle, but you have to pay for it. You can also find used copies of the book on Amazon and Etsy. There should be some reviews of the book here on KZbin. There was also a movie made in the late 70’s, “The Haunting of Julia” with Mia Farrow - not bad, but the book is so much better. Hope you will give it a try!

[@pateris]

@@CriminOllyBlog I have a fondness for "Mystery", even if as the title implies, it's not horror, its a… guess what ? 😁

[@CriminOllyBlog]

@@pateris Romance?

[@pateris]

@@CriminOllyBlog Go to your room … 😁

[@JBass33]

Here is my list: “The Ruins” by Scott Smith, “Apparition” by Michaelbrent Collings, “Pet Cemetery”by Stephen King, “We Need to Talk About Kevin” by Lionel Shriver, “Infected” by Scott Sigler, “The Slab by Michael R. Collins, “Apartment 16” by Adam Nevill, and “Something Wicked This Way Comes” by Ray Bradbury.

[@krisprepolec5616]

I think we must be of a similar age, as I read many of these as a teen as well. I would suggest Blood Crazy by Simon Clark in the people go crazy category. Just great.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I've read a couple of things by him I think, but that one! I'll look out for it. Thank you!

[@monicapressley6086]

I have enjoyed watching several of your videos and even though I don't always agree you definitely know your stuff! For me King is one of the leading short story writers and arguably word for word it is his best stuff. (and I am a big fan of most of his books) I'm not a big Lovecraft fan although I definitely respect his contribution to the genre and realize I wouldn't have some of my favorite stories without the groundwork he laid. Regarding the original horror writers Poe is probably more of a favorite for me personally. Love Books of Blood and while not every story works equally all of them are so memorable. I need to read more of his long fiction and have several of them in my TBR pile.

[@davidsigler9690]

No "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde."?.....would consider this a foundational story into horror; it certainly was one of those early books I read that got me into reading.....certainly my favorite of that early horror stories.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

That's an excellent one that I missed! I did say it wouldn't be a perfect list!

[@davidsigler9690]

@@CriminOllyBlog I suspected as much, lol....you can't remember everything....(BTW, I created a tag, maybe I did it wrong, did you get a tag from me?).....

[@CriminOllyBlog]

@@davidsigler9690 I don’t think I did! When did you do it?

[@davidsigler9690]

@@CriminOllyBlog 15th.

[@ariw9405]

Wow Moon Dance! I totally forgot about reading that book. Definitely a great read.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

It's so good!

[@krisreviews]

I feel like I need to read more horror... branch out from Stephen King a bit... that being said, It and The Stand are definitely 2 of my favorite King books! And Misery too 🤗

[@CriminOllyBlog]

King is great, but there is so much more excellent horror out there!

[@afeeser]

I love that Clive Barker is one of the first authors you mentioned. I read a lot of his work in the 1980s and 90s. For Lovecraft, I've only read a few of his stories, so far. I really enjoyed the Watcher in the Dark.

[@katherinecierra5683]

Olly, I'm not worthy of being in your comment section!! I've literally read zero of these! DNFed Dracula when I was 13 and read just one or two stories out of my Lovecraft collection before lending it to someone who never returned it.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Everyone is worthy of being in my comments!

[@juliescott317]

Night Film and House of Leaves are some of my favorites I recommend. I also enjoy The Troop by Nick Cutter, it's visceral and so well written. As a geologist, I always appreciate Lovecrafts At the Mountains of Madness, such a wonderful read as well. Thanks for the recommendations, I'll be adding a few of these to my TBR list for this fall!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Hope you enjoy them! Thanks for the recommendations

[@anthonyjenkins2001]

No Poe???? I'd pick EA Poe over Lovecraft any day of the week.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Yeah I'm not a huge Poe fan

[@anthonyjenkins2001]

@@CriminOllyBlog Blasphemy!!!!!! 😂

[@retrog1]

Nice list, I've read half of them. Great to see Shane Stevens here, and Let's Play At The Adams' is one of the most disturbing books I've ever read, the ending is a real slap in the face. I was half expecting to see one of my other guilty pleasures turn up, the Gas by Charles Platt, apocalyptic horror porn masterpiece of the 70's

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I’ve not read The Gas (or even heard of it), but am now searching for it because it sounds AMAZING. Thanks for watching!

[@retrog1]

@@CriminOllyBlog be prepared to pay a lot of money for a physical copy of that one.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

@@retrog1 yes so I see! £80 was the cheapest I could find and I’m not paying that! It sounds like there was an ebook at one point in the UK but seems to be unavailable now sadly.

[@retrog1]

@@CriminOllyBlog it was banned at one time and very hard to find until a number of old stock copies turned up in the 1990's, you could find it for £10 in those days. It's totally over the top filth, but well written and hilarious (cloud of nerve agent is released over UK and causes everybody to turn into sex crazed monsters)

[@CriminOllyBlog]

@@retrog1 I’ve set up a saved search on eBay. Maybe I’ll get lucky!

[@carlgranados7106]

Dan Simmons "Carrion Comfort" is even better than Summer of Night. Stephen King called it one of the top five horror novels.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I've read that one too, but I personally prefer Summer of Night

[@paulfillingham4778]

Carrion Comfort can’t decide what it wants to be, a horror story, a spy novel, a thriller. One thing it is is abysmally written. I bought these two books years ago and never got round to reading them. Recently I did. Summer of Night is just a series of ideas taken from other books and films and mishmashed together, awful. Carrion Comfort is the most poorly written book I have ever read and a complete nonsense of a story. I intend never to read anything written by Dan Simmons again.

[@TPOrchestra]

Thank you for including the great "Blackwater" by Michael McDowell. I often re-read favorite novels, but one of its single books, "The House," creeped me out so much I've avoided reading it again. Something about a freakishly small closet...

[@CriminOllyBlog]

It is a great book, and wonderful to see that it's being republished in it's original serial format

[@scruffy524]

Good list. Don't know why your felt the need to apologize for the race and sex of the authors. Seems a little racist and sexist.