10 great vampire books in 10 minutes

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10 Creepy Horror books: • 10 great atmospheric h...
Books discussed:
Dracula by Bram Stoker
Vivia by Tanith Lee
Anno Dracula by Kim Newman
Vampire Junction by SP Somtow
Woman Eating by Claire Kodha
Throat Sprockets by Tim Lucas
Live Girls by Ray Garton
The Light at the End by John Skipp and Craig Spector
'Salem's Lot by Stephen King
I am Legend by Richard Matheson
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[@MichaelRomeoTalksBooks]

4 books I would have included are They Thirst by Robert Mccammon, Interview With The Vampire by Anne Rice, Fevre Dream by George R.R. Martin, and The Hunger by Whitley Strieber

[@asherscott3151]

Fevre Dream made me care about steamboats 😂

[@DerekKozlowski-f5r]

Mccammonn edited a vampire anthology called under the fang. Thought it was very good.

[@MichaelRomeoTalksBooks]

@@DerekKozlowski-f5r I need to track that down

[@katjack2780]

Not a novel, but a novella, and fitting in with Occult Detective month, you can't forget Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu. It predated Bram Stoker's Dracula by 26 years.

[@rein2889]

For those not normally into vampire books I’d recommend: - Fledgling, Octavia Butler - Blindsight, Peter Watts

[@Tokayd13]

The vampire in Blindsight was creepy as hell. I also wanted more of him...

[@chris9gonzo]

Would recommend They Thirst, by Robert McCammon. Read it in the early 90's and really loved. Also, Lost Souls, by Poppy Z Brite

[@ironjade]

Another vote for "Fevre Dream" . Here's one that everyone's forgotten about, the very creepy "Some of Your Blood" by Theodore Sturgeon.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I'll check out the Sturgeon one - thank you!

[@CliffsDarkGems]

Great list Olly! I would recommend Let The Right One In and Carrion Comfort by Dan Simmons, as a completely different kind on psychic vampire novel. I also enjoyed a very strange, supposedly YA vampire romance when I was younger: Sunshine by Robert McKimley. I did not see the YA or romance in it but found it quite dark and enjoyable. May give it a re-read for GarbAugust next year.

[@envelopeskrcc]

One of my favorite books of all time is Sunshine by Robin McKinley. The main character is a baker and the book is filled with lushious descriptions of food which provide a counter point to all the gristly, bloody vampire scenes. Its about prejudice and consumption and overcoming trama all while being a Really Fun time

[@t7147]

Fantastic list! I hope you do others like this. As mentioned by others here, I recommend Let the Right In. I loved the film and the book even more.

[@shalimarlittle8374]

Same. My absolute favorite.

[@FinalGirlHorror]

The Necroscope series by Brian Lumley is one of the best vampire stories. The Strain series by Guillermo del Toro is also fantastic, and I am a sucker for the Sookie Stackhouse books (aka True Blood) by Charlaine Harris.

[@julesf494]

Second this!! Absolutely love the Necroscope series

[@blackcountrygirl856]

I would recommend Interview with a vampire by Anne Rice. Only read Dracula this year for the first time x

[@worm2976]

If you haven't already discovered the rest (unlikely) I'd HIGHLY recommend The Vampire Lestat....it's part 2 of the series, gives you Lestat's journey and character _including_ his years with Louis and Claudia but from a different perspective It's my favourite vampire novel atm, and I'd say it's where the series peaked (the brilliance continues into book 3 : Queen of the Damned)

[@B-RollBooks]

Great list, and even better idea for a spooky season series. Completely agree that Salem's Lot is one of the great vampire novels.

[@civoreb]

Underrated and never mentioned vampire books imo are Necroscope by Brian Lumley, and Enter Night by Michael Rowe.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Necroscope very nearly made the list! I need to read more of the series

[@HeidiJohnes]

Interview With a Vampire by Ann Rice is my number one.

[@jseger9000]

The Summoning by Bentley Little. Little can be hit or miss, but when he's on, he is great.

[@ewanstuart5521]

Fevre Dream is my favourite vampire novel.

[@kevinbartlett9499]

Great read and very underrated

[@emilyo.5224]

Same!

[@DSVN23]

I always loved the Saga of Darren Shan books probably some of my favourite Vampire books. Fevre Dream and The Strain are great also!

[@alex_unabridged]

Fab list, Olly! I think Salem's Lot has got to be my favourite one you mentioned here, but the book at the top of my own list has got to be The Passage by Justin Cronin. I also quite enjoyed The Strain (Del Toro/Hogan) - there's a theme common with those two, I do seem to be drawn to the whole 'vampiric virus' thing...!

[@GoranCK]

The southern book club's guide to slaying vampires by Grady Hendrix...Just the title sold it to me😂But the book is great and super-fun to read.Grady's writing style is just so easy and movie-like and characters are always 👍

[@chriscze6153]

Fully agree with this!

[@TalesofNeverwhere]

I have anno dracula on my shelf an really need to read it. Thank you for talking about it!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@BookishChas]

Awesome list Olly! Salem’s Lot is my favorite Stephen King book. I’ve never read I Am Legend, but I’ve heard it’s a great book.

[@paintmattpaint8487]

Not finished The Historian (Elizabeth Kostova) yet, but it's good so far. Also The Keep (F Paul Wilson), Necroscope (Brian Lumley), BlindSight ( Peter Watts).

[@tonysmith4918]

How about Fevre Dream by George R.R. Martin? Mark Twain meets Bram Stoker (not literally!) in an excellent novel that I would love to see filmed one day.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I really need to read that! I did almost include it as one I mean to read soon

[@farhad_s]

I've decided to go back to vampires recently, as I really want to read Empire of the Vampire and see what the fuss is about. Reread Dracula this month, will reread Interview With The Vampire soon. Salem's Lot I read last year as part of my Dark Tower journey, excellent book. Small Town Stephen King is peak literature.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Yeah he does capture that small town vibe brilliantly

[@Kritz_Reads]

great list, I haven't heard of quite a few of these. I recently got a copy of Vampire Junction from a friend, so it was fun to see it on your list.

[@michaelbooker6142]

I love these top tens. I can't wait to see what the next one will be about.

[@tonyhillier5619]

Mick Farren's Renquist quartet is superb. Never hear anything about them but highly recommended. Start with Time of the Feasting.

[@vilstef6988]

Hi Ollie, have you ever read Blood Sucking Fiends? A truly different creature, a funny vampire novel.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I haven't, but have heard good things about it!

[@jessicamoffitt2550]

This is a great video, so many great recs that I can't wait to dive into!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you! Hope you enjoy them

[@albertbenz93]

Anyone who liked Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice, will find its sequel The Vampire Lestat fascinating. One of my favourites, even over IWTV.

[@benhoward5730]

Hi Olly, I love the channel. Great list. I read Erebus by Shaun Hutson years ago and remember really liking it.

[@LiterateTexan]

Ray Garton is a favorite of mine, too. Live Girls is a treat.

[@Aslowfade]

Think you should have squeezed Let The Right One In as number 10 and a half 😄

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I really don’t know how I missed that one because I love it!

[@robertlynn7746]

Great list! I've read Salem's lot and Dracula

[@rodgilley-writer]

A cool list! Added to my goodreads TBR! I recently finished reading CODE RED, a very entertaining read, with a very different spin on vampires!

[@nobo1982]

If you enjoy cursed objects/art and strange and (i think) exciting takes on vampire fiction i cant recommend “project vampire killer” by Johnathan rabb who also wrote the book “Camp Ghoul Mountain Part VI: The Official Novelization” his books are truly unique and utterly bizarre

[@TangibleReads]

Nice fangs. I enjoyed I am Legend movie.

[@tyronesoares3268]

Everyone giving great recommendations, also like to add the Vampire Tapestry by Charnas.

[@sarahherbison5419]

Dark Dance from Tannith Lee is great but disturbing

[@themojocorpse1290]

I am legend is classic and must say I did enjoy salems lot though I’ve only read it once in the 70s when it first came out may warrant a reread for Halloween . Had a copy of the passage for a while just not got to it and carrion comfort is one I must read as I love Dan Simmons. Some interesting choices there 👍🏻

[@geslinam9703]

Mrs. Amworth by E F Benson. One of my favorite shorter vampire stories. Not sure when it was written but the author died in 1940, and there is a window scene. I’ve wondered if Stephen King was inspired by this story when he wrote ‘Salem’s Lot.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I’ll have to look that one up! Thank you

[@geslinam9703]

Easy to find, it’s in a few anthologies, but I think you can also read it online.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

@@geslinam9703 good to know!

[@ahem88]

Recently read "Empire of the vampire by Jay Kristoff" and it was a nice vampire story, not so spooky, more adventure and knight like, but still a good vampire story.

[@nathanfoung2347]

"Let the right one In" warrants a mention and possibly "Interview with a vampire" as well. But a great list nonetheless. I need to hunt some of those down.

[@adrianburchell8075]

almost forgotten Vampire Junction, don't know if I even have it now. Other recommendations are Freda Warrington's unofficial Dracula sequel Dracula the Undead, the Vamphyrric series by Simon Clark, They Thirst by Robert McCammon, Fevre Dream by George RR Martin and Sherlock Holmes & Count Dracula by Christian Klaver

[@readacorn]

Women Eating went strait to my wish list. The other ones only didnt because they were mostly already known to me. I would also like to mention Matt Haigs "The Radleys" A great and humourus vampire story - at least in my book. 🙂

[@GracieMarie011]

Olly have you read Dowry of Blood S.T. Gibson and The Delicate Dependency by Michael Talbot? Dowry of blood was written so beautifully wasn’t a fan of some of the sex scenes- which I don’t mind in books but there are several of them in particular the last scene. But the book was written from a female perspective & is written beautifully. The Delicate Dependency is written by a gay author in 1982, he has since passed on. I loved it because it felt so much like the original Dracula. Thanks for the recs hope this gives u a few more to enjoy! Have Necroscope on my Oct TBR hoping that one is good. Happy fall Olly!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I haven't read either of those! Will have to seek them out - thank you!

[@chrisconnors7418]

Justin Cronin's books (The Passage etc) are fairly good. A fun sarcastic one is Bad Blood by Chuck Wendig. Nothing deep but a quick fun read around the premise of what does a vampire do if most of the human race has become zombies that he can't eat.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I did try The Passage years ago but struggled with it. I’ll give it another try sometime

[@chrisconnors7418]

@@CriminOllyBlog It doesn't work for some. I know The Shades of Orange didn't like it that much, IIRC(?).

[@CriminOllyBlog]

@@chrisconnors7418well different books often land differently for different readers

[@jen-vx3ks]

That thumbnail is the best 😂

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I think you’re the first person to spot it!

[@theartistknownaszack9234]

Dracula is really fantastic

[@animalntelligence3170]

I just encountered a movie by the director Motton of Dracula -- I wonder what you think of it.

[@geslinam9703]

I’m reading Dracula right now too. Only I ordered a bad version on Kindle that skips chapters….I need to look for my hard copy. I loved the novella Carmilla, ‘Salem’s Lot of course, and both Interview with the Vampire and The Vampire Lestat. I want to read Whitley Streiber’s “The Hunger”

[@MAguilera-qs6fv]

The Historian

[@ilovegreen0150]

Definitely Anne Rice novels❤️

[@DDB168]

I am Legend 👍 It's the only one on the list I've read. 🤭

[@arifulalam16]

Surprised to see Empire of the vampire book not this list...

[@marineboy-kv6rf]

Have to recommend a book i;ve red a number of times and always enjoyed,The Journel of Edwin Underhill by Peter Tonkin.Long story short..a timid english teacher turns into a vampire after piercing his skin with a stake after falling into an ancient grave of a vampire...very atmospheric in the Hammer films vein and really exciting too!

[@igorrenfield6588]

I’m surprised that Anne Rice didn’t make your list.

[@juanmorales9738]

I am also rereading Dracula . My second time. I’m hoping To read Dan Simmons’ vampire books. But one book I’ve read which was very entertaining is Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan’s THE STRAIN trilogy. The first one is a lot of fun giving homage to the arrival of Dracula in London. He arrives on a boat. The vampire in THE STRAIN arrives on a plane. It starts of as a law enforcement investigation, then it blows up from there.

[@CleaSelene]

Oh, missed this comment when I wrote mine 😅 Then let me ask here, what did you think of The Fall and The Night Eternal, though? I had a lot of fun with the Strain, but really hated the - how do I keep this spoiler free - spin they gave the vampire mythology in the later books, pretty much leaving the innitial sciency approach to the wayside.

[@juanmorales9738]

@@CleaSelene well I can’t remember exactly why but I got about halfway on the second one and I didn’t finish it or read the third one. But I’ve always wanted to try to read them. Like you I did enjoy the first one. It was great.

[@johnnythepillpopper1974]

WStrieber…The Hunger Let the. Right one in DSimmons….Carrion Comfort SClark….Vampiryc BLumley….Necroscope series JCronin…..The Passage trilogy Usually never discussed among horror fans JRollins..The Blood Gospel trilogy

[@stephennootens916]

I have to admit I have only read two vampire novels all the way through. One is Dracula which I am re reading now and the other is Salam's lot which I am thinking about re reading. I got half way through Passage by Justin Cronin which is vary different type of vampire novel but couldn't get all the way through it. It starts off soul crushingly bleak and it some how gets worse as it goes along.

[@DerekKozlowski-f5r]

The summoning - Bentley little

[@ianallison4814]

Please do top 10 slasher books

[@TheRealMcCoyAndChipsAhoy]

Yasss ! I love me some vampire fiction

[@ulyssesgonzalez2068]

Highly recommend Fevre Dream GRRM

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I have heard great things about that

[@ulyssesgonzalez2068]

@@CriminOllyBlog I have an extra copy, if you would like I can send it to you.

[@tinasuncion4423]

No Anne Rice?

[@BeyondTheBlurb]

READ: None WANT: Three* NEW WORDS LEARNED: Oneⁿ *I Am Legend *Salem's Lot *Dracula ⁿSplatterPunk

[@fiberartsyreads]

🧛‍♀️🧛‍♀️🧛‍♀️🧛‍♀️

[@Gadoxplayer]

❤

[@benschwader4537]

My wife says women write vampire novels too.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

There were 2 female authors on the list, but yeah it could have been more balanced. I think the big one I missed was Anne Rice, but I really don’t like her books. Similarly haven’t enjoyed Laurell K Hamilton and didn’t love Twilight. I did nearly include Suckers by Anne Billson, which I love, but I’ve included that in a top 10 before. Would love to hear suggestions for other female authors I might try 👍🏻

[@mazzky1093]

The Passage and its 2 follow-ups were some of my favorite vampire novels. I'm a sucker for apocalypse novels and the sense of loneliness here, on a species level, was great.

[@Tokayd13]

I loved The Passage and its sequels!

[@sethkodiak]

Oh my gosh no question. Some of the best, most descriptive, poetic writing I’ve ever read while keeping the story moving. My favorite book and trilogy of all time.

[@georgebennett1242]

Surprised Let The Right One In wasn't on this list. I loved it!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I loved it too but forgot about it 😂

[@georgebennett1242]

@@CriminOllyBlog understandable with the volume of books you read!

[@GoranCK]

​@CriminOllyBlog Hehe,it's tough to do a top 10 list,one always remembers stuff to late😂

[@nunyabizness6595]

Not vampires but i just got done watching the original frankenstein and bride of frankenstein. James Whale was some kind of mad genius director. He did two more horror movies after that and then moved on to other genres. At least we got four. I need to watch the movie on his life gods and monsters. Whale killed himself due to pain so a sad ending.😮😮😮

[@Harbottle64]

I'd add the amazing The Passage by Justin Cronin. A fantastic book that was a real epic. loved it, though the rest of the trilogy was a bit of a disappointment. Secondly, The Strain by Guillermo Del Toro & Chuck Hogan. A real roller-coaster ride of a story.

[@BartlebyScriv]

Good evening! What about FEVRE DREAM!?!?! George RR Martin. I read it at age 16 in 1989/90. Superb take on Vampires

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I need to read that! And have done since I was about the same age when I had a copy and never got round to reading it!

[@BartlebyScriv]

You must say what you think when you do! I’m well intrigued as I love your estimations

[@kevinbartlett9499]

It's awesome Olly

[@Grokl-f8n]

"The vampire lestat" by Anne Rice would have been the second book on my list after Dracula

[@CleaSelene]

Innnnteresting, why Lestat and not Interview? _honest curiosity_

[@Tokayd13]

I would have chosen both, but I think Lestat is interesting because Lestat is just so gleeful about it all. Louis rejected, Lestat embraced. @@CleaSelene

[@worm2976]

​@@CleaSelenechipping in simply because i agree with OP's choice of TVL over IWTV Lestat has a vivacity, dramatic devilry, audacity and recklessness that make him a better narrator and a more entertaining character to follow

[@heidifogelberg3544]

Oh, you mentioned Tanith Lee and I do love Tanith Lee! Thank you for highlighting her! (RIP, gone too soon). I have most (but not all) of these, and I've read through the comments. Worth mentioning Chelsea Quinn Yarbrough's Saint Germain series, for those who want to read lots of books about a character. With a historical basis. Not the creepiest, but solid. And btw, what a great idea for the month - a weekly top 10 horrid topics! Love it.

[@tangledandfar]

I recommend The Delicate Dependency by Michael Talbot... the most unique vampire book I've read. edited to add a recommendation for a Tanith Lee short story called Bite-Me-Not or, Fleur de Feu

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thanks for the recommendations!

[@joelstube86]

Let The Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist is an amazing vampire book and book in general

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Yeah I really don’t know how I forgot about that one when I made the list 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@zestysretroandgames6185]

Dang no Twilight Mercy Thompson Sookie stackhouse Vampire academy Vampire diaries

[@ITCamefromthePage]

VAMPIRES FOREEEEEVEEER/

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Until you stake them

[@BunnyDracula]

I really enjoyed this video, Olly, and your picks are spot-on. Other novels you should consider in the genre are: 1. Carrion Comfort by Dan Simmons - psychic vampires 2. They Thirst by Robert McCammon - vampires infest Los Angeles 3. The Necroscope series by Brian Lumley - H.P. Lovecraft by way of Ian Fleming 4. Let The Right One In by John Alvide Lyndqvist - Lingonberry vampires (extra gory) 5. The Vampyricon Trilogy by Douglas Clegg - epic in scale, sword and sorcery at its best (with vampires) and, of course 6. The entire series of novels by author Les Daniels, featuring Don Sebastien de Villanueva , from the Spanish Inquisition thru the Aztec Empire, and beyond Again, I really dig your channel. P.S. That series of vampire novels by Kim Newman are real corkers. Love them!

[@drstrangefreak]

Dowry of Blood by S.T Gibson was a five star read for me, beautifully written.

[@Kritz_Reads]

Agreed!

[@josephperkins6625]

Vampires by John Steakley is good

[@treaverhargis2946]

Do you have any other suggestions for other books that feature "cursed art"? That sounds super interesting.

[@kj4673]

Heart Shaped Box by Joe Hill

[@IBleedMercuryOfficial]

You've missed the incredible series of books from Michael Romkey, beginning with I, Vampire. Stellar books.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Not heard of those - will take a look. Thanks!

[@Lourdes-nc3sp]

That thumbnail 😂🧛‍♂️👌🏽

[@myrarucker7953]

Good video!!!

[@cinnimonpannos4405]

I loved that book, Vampire Junction.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Somtow is sadly overlooked as an author nowadays

[@gingerbibliophile]

Love vampires! Definitely my favorite nighttime creeper! I read Dracula in high school, but Anne Rice was my first vampire back in middle school actually. Maybe that’s why I love the creepy 😅

[@wendyvilla2904]

💚🖤

[@edlewisnoctreviews]

Can't go wrong with Dracula! I've heard ups and down about Anno Dracula. And I recently read I am Legend and loved it and need to read both Salem's Lot and Vampire Junction.

[@channelmeaspirit]

Great Top 10!😀👍... ....but Where's Necroscope?🤔

[@CriminOllyBlog]

That did nearly make the list, great book. I need to continue with the series

[@channelmeaspirit]

Same here, I only read the 1st book.

[@StephanieJCohen]

I love the Anno Dracula series.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I definitely need to read more of them

[@Tokayd13]

Bookmarking this video, AND all the comments suggestions. I love me some vampire fiction, but clearly there's a whole lot out there I wasn't even aware of! From your list I've only read Dracula, I Am Legend, and Salem's Lot. Others I've read are Interview with the Vampire and its sequels (Anne Rice) and The Passage and its sequels (Justin Cronin).

[@eriebeverly]

That moved at a clip. Curious to see what the following 10s are going to be. I own but have never read Throat Sprockets. I read Tim Lucas' exhaustive/exhausting Mario Bava biography and still need a few years before I go back to the writer.

[@michellehood3523]

These '10 best' vids are great. Please consider doing them on the regular. Some of my fav vampire books, ones that I haven't heard you mention before, are The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova, Dracul by JD Barker, A Long Time Dead by Samara Breger and The Taker by Alma Katsu. Plus I'm not embarrassed to admit that I didn't hate Twilight all those years ago when I read the series. Couldn't read them now though.

[@scottragland2817]

I like this list. Another to consider: "The Finno-Ugrian Vampire" by Hungarian author Noemi Szecsi. It's kind of an urban fantasy coming-of-age vampire novel. It feels like she either didn't learn or didn't care to use urban fantasy tropes and rules, which makes it a refreshing take on vampiric urban fantasy.

[@CleaSelene]

Not necessarily a top 10 contender, but what do you/do people think of Hogan/del Toro's The Strain? I really hated where book 2 and 3 went, but I found The Strain itself a really fun ride and I just adored the Van Helsing type character and wanted him protected at all cost ❤

[@Wreckedsaint-nk5ub]

I remember when it came out, Sunglasses After Dark by Nancy A. Collins was raved to the skies by most of the horror-covering media of the time, yet you never hear it mentioned in Vampire discussions anymore. I remember liking it a lot at the time, must try to find a cheap copy.

[@beaniebaby485]

Happy to see Anno Dracula on this list! One of my favorite series!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Such an entertaining book - I need to read more of the series

[@beaniebaby485]

It’s pretty fun. I will say the second one was a bit more difficult to get through for me but I had a great time with the other books in the series.

[@booksteaandwaxmelts4767]

Great list olly! I have vampire junction on my tbr shelf very much looking forward to reading it. I’ve read all the Anno Dracula series up to Daikaiju they are great reads! I’ve never heard of Vivia but am intrigued so will be looking out for that one. Great video,happy reading 📚💜✨

[@Paperbird76]

I really liked jay kristoff s empire of the vampire. And the hunger by whitley strieber