Getting Started with Horror Fiction: 6 Scary Books You Must Read (2022 Edition)

[@thedudeabides2968]

'The Stand' by Stephen King! My first horror book I read back in the early 80s. I proceeded to buy everything King has ever released.

[@thejudgeholden84]

Definitely my favourite horror novel. Read it in grade 9 and it got me hooked on the genre

[@ΑφροδίτηΠαπαχρυσάνθου]

it was Edgar Allan Poe for me. He’s generally my favourite author of all time and i’ve read all of his works both poetry and his tales. Poe got me into reading books (not just horror) and into the amazing world of classics!!!!

[@stacielara9856]

Yes!! Him and King for me!

[@cappyroo]

I'm a 50 year old woman. Hadn't read (much) horror since my teens - I am a pretty steady reader so I definitely read a few horror novels over the years. Then, when I was in my mid forties, I started reading horror/weird fiction. I had predominantly been a fantasy/sci-fi reader but also had a childhood attraction to Saki, Tales of the Unexpected, Shirley Jackson etc... I've always liked cosmic horror that straddles fantasy, and, in particular, Kaitlin R. Kiernan. Also: I have also always liked horror films. Then, in my mid forties I began to read some horror short story compilations, which led to The Croning by Laird Barron, which led to Adam Neville, Michael McDowell, John Langan, Paul Tremblay, S.P. Miskowski, T. Kingfisher, Stephen Graham Jones, Jeffrey Ford, Samanta Schweblin, etc. Also did a deeper dive into some classic horror antecedents (Lovecraft, Machen). Been reading horror since. So basically Laird Barron was the catalyst for my re-entry into the world of horror after loving it as a child/teen.

[@hollyvanwye9294]

You've read some good stuff over the years. I share your liking for Saki and also for Shirley Jackson who IMHO was a top-notch horror writer. The Haunting of Hill House and We Have Always Lived In The Castle come to mind...and of course, "The Lottery"!

[@sensationalinsecondary678]

Stephen King’s The Shining got me into reading horror. I was 14 when I read it for the first time and my mom owns the entire collection in hardcover and I have read every single one.

[@davidwillems9904]

Laird Barron's "The Imago Sequence" short story collection got me back into horror after being away for a while. And that book led me down more of the Weird Fiction subset of horror fiction.

[@AdamCesare]

Such a great book!

[@infombclinicalresearch68]

great book

[@DavidBrown-in8hi]

That ain’t shit……

[@DamnableReverend]

The one that got me started was H.P. Lovecraft. Within the space of a year when i was about eleven i read nearly all of his work. maybe not for everyone, but it was very definitely for me, and blew my tiny mind out of the cosmos forever. I should try Store..I've read a bit of Bentley Little before but he's never really caught me yet. Still feel like one day he might.

[@hollyvanwye9294]

Lovecraft is legendary. I live in Providence, his home town, and I've SEEN some of the actual places that he wrote about. His "Shunned House" is a real residence on Benefit Street, just a few doors down from where my Dad once worked. Pawtuxet Village I also know, and the river where Joseph Curwen dumped those reanimated Egyptian mummies in The Case of Charles Dexter Ward. And of course there's Swan Point cemetery where HPL himself is buried. I started reading the Mythos at age 11 or 12, and I'm still enjoying this author's wonderfully twisted mind!

[@nightshadeii9248]

Randomly clicked the title because of the title. Then realized I’m halfway through ‘Exponential’ and you’re the author 😂

[@bryanthebryan2638]

Richard Laymon was the writer that got me into books seriously. At a young teen, his stuff was reminiscent of the kinds of B horror movies I grew up on. It became an elevated way to experience the same content. I consider myself "a reader" over 30 years later, and that's thanks to Laymon. The Stake was my entry into his world.

[@chrisdortch6472]

Always happy to see Bentley Little get some love. The Store is a bizarre gem and so is Little. This was great! Loved Clown in the Cornfield 2 and have Dead Mall ready to go on my comics pull-list! Thanks for all you do!

[@iamatoaster2693]

Big Bentley Little fan. My favorite of his would have to be The Resort.

[@dianalarosa706]

I JUST ordered both your books clown in a cornfield 1&2 and this video popped up and im just that more excited to read your books. also loved watching this video seeing you review other horror author's work. ahhhhh! :')

[@AdamCesare]

Thank you so much, Diana! Hope you enjoy the reads.

[@emmaribena5529]

OMG I can't believe you're the author of Clown in the Cornfield. It's on my tbr list. I saw it in the background and it reminded me to look in my library! That's so cool! I haven't read fiction for about 7 years since I had kids, but I've recently got back into it. I started around age 17 reading every Poppy Z Brite book as it was released. I started last week with Stolen Tongues which I enjoyed (apart from the weak ending). I have SO many on my list now. I'm currently reading Bunnies and a Karin Slaughter book. I'm waiting for House of Leaves to arrive from ebay and my next read will be Pet Semetary. Thanks for your awesome videos xx

[@lesliepowell-mccarty7067]

I started reading horror when I was 9 years old and my first real horror novel was Salem's Lot (I was a little advanced at that age but have since leveled off...) I am now 56 and horror is still my favorite genre. ✌️😎😱👻

[@hollyvanwye9294]

Good for you! It's mine too. 👍

[@joechip8666]

I am familiar with these books but I always come back to this channel for your enthusiasm. You made my day.

[@stevensallie2439]

I just finished Clown in a Cornfield and LOVED IT. One of my favorite books of all time. It's the shot in the arm horror YA books needed. I can't wait to check out Frendo Lives.

[@piusmurray6378]

The book that got me into horror was Peter Straub's Ghost Story that I read when it was first published. Right after reading Ghost Story, I read Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire and then kept up with her Vampire Chronicles.

[@hollyvanwye9294]

I'm on the same page as you regarding horror fiction. Ghost Story is on my "Top 10 Best" list, and I'm in love with Rice's Vampire Chronicles. However, my favorite writer in this genre will always be H.P. Lovecraft. I so enjoy his Cthulhu Mythos shtik--- even with all the italics and purple prose!

[@gageprentiss5733]

The Croning, by Laird Barron. As well as his collections, The Beautiful Thing That Awaits Us All, The Imago Sequence, and Occultation.

[@bobbyq1452]

The Thief of Always by Clive Barker started the horror/dark fantasy journey for me.

[@wesply7439]

I loved that book

[@anthonyvacca7355]

After 10 years of reading other things, Ramsey Campbell’s Midnight Sun reminded me that I’m 100% a horror fan.

[@joelociraptorgaming80]

I feel like I've always been drawn to horror since I was a kid. I only ever wanted to read Goosebumps when I was younger, moving on to the Shivers series eventually and then started reading Stephen King and Dean Koontz in highschool. As a comic artist/writer myself I'm always on the lookout for new horror comics, I ended up picking up all the issues of Dead Mall and really enjoyed it, great work!

[@pd3665]

I've always been a fan but took a break from this genre. Re-reading "Salem's Lot" over a cold, snowy weekend brought me back. Talking about Stephen Grahams Jones, I've enjoyed his "Mongrels". Based on your recommendation, I will pick up "My Heart is a Chainsaw". I also like Silvia Moreno Garcia.

[@seanrm]

M. R. James 'Complete Ghost Stories' Algernon Blackwood ' Ancient Sorceries' After those, everything else was downhill.

[@kevinmonceaux2101]

It was The Hardy Boys mystery books that got me into reading initially when I was young. I can't remember what the first horror book I read was. I do remember reading The Ghost of Five Owl Farm as a kid. By high school I was reading a lot of Stephen King. I've read variety of horror, but I'm especially fond of classic haunted house style horror that's heavy on atmosphere and light on gore, etc. I've just recently gotten back into reading after not reading much for a couple of decades or so. The first book I read this time around was The Haunting of Gillespie House by Darcy Coates.

[@TheGamingWard]

The Croning by Laird Barron got me back into horror after a LONG time away from it and I am diving headlong back into it. So excited

[@angelwoodrum1873]

I read Flowers in the Attic in high school because my mom would talk about it a lot. I was always a reader, but that's the one that made me realize that all the spooky movies I liked watching were AWESOME in book form. I fell off of reading through college, and got back into it when I read Stephen King's IT in graduate school. This year has been a year full of horror reading that started because of Stephen King's Joyland **chef's kiss**

[@susanburgess820]

The illustrated man by Ray Bradbury is one of my most go to favorite books I re read when I can.

[@albertmiller3082]

Ray was a core influence for me, too. I read every word he published with serious interest.

[@hollyvanwye9294]

Such a great writer!

[@StigmataX13]

What got me into horror: Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (my aunt introduced me to those, much to the dismay of my parents). What got me back into reading after grad school hell: Harvest Home by Thomas Tryon, now one of my all-time favorites!

[@zfunk56]

The first book that really got me into horror or paranormal fiction was called "Stonewords: A Ghost Story" by Pam Conrad. I also read some of the Fear Street books as a kiddo. Later I read Anne Rice, Stephen King, and others.

[@francesnordan2915]

It was The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury in 2960 I was just a little kid.

[@andradegames1913]

When you read it as horror fiction "The Sorrows of Young Werther" by Goethe is very effective. I dont know, it has so many morbid themes going on and it scared me a lot.

[@admiralhowdy]

I read horror randomly, and not lately to be honest. 2 novels I remember fondly from years and years ago were In Darkness Waiting by John Shirley, and Carrion Comfort by Dan Simmons. The latter might be considered more scifi than horror, maybe, but man, they both stuck with me over the years.

[@bpuryea]

The Stand by Stephen King around 1980 or so. It's between that, Swan Song and Boys Life by Robert McCammon, or Carrion Comfort by Dan Simmons for my all time favorite horror book.

[@Summalogicae]

When I was about 10 I was totally into D&D and that led me to lovecraft and Poe as my first introduction to horror. After many years in academia as an undergrad and then grad student, I didn’t read anything not required and spent a few years totally burned out on reading anything. Then someone gave me the novel, The Living Dead by Romero & Krauss, and loved it, which caused me to fall back in love with both horror specifically, and reading generally.

[@jessz.]

The Night Shift short stories by Stephen King is what got me started

[@RetroManiac84]

The book that got me back into reading horror was "Clown In A Cornfield" by Adam Cesare.

[@AdamCesare]

I hear that’s a good one. (thanks, I’m very glad to hear this.)

[@RetroManiac84]

@@AdamCesare Yeah I've seen almost every classic slasher movie ever made and wanted to see how the genre was thriving through literature. Every book reviewer I checked out had your novel on their list, so I ordered it right away. When I saw the cover, I was expecting an 80s throwback slasher. When I was halfway through the story, I felt like I was reading a 90s style Post-Scream slasher. But by the end, I realized that all my expectations were subverted and you really had done your own thing. Obviously I don't wanna get into spoilers here in the comments, but certain moments really caught me off guard because I was so used to the tropes of other slasher stories, and it was nice to be surprised. Can't wait to check out the sequels, as well as the Slaughter Series by Sergio Gomez. Thank you for your contribution to horror literature, Mister Cesare.

[@stevecook992]

“The Fisherman” by John Langan immediately got me into the horror genre. I have not looked back since

[@maxwashingtonmusic7000]

I'm putting all of these onto my GR list! Interesting recs! Congrats on the comic! Dark Horse is such a great company. They've put out Mignola's Baltimore and so many other great comics. Awesome Toxie shirt! I live near the Troma office in Queens! I recently self pubbed my book Max Washington: Stuff, Volume One. It has my horror and fantasy stories. I'm working on a book starring my original characters Leather Rain and The Mystical Gumshoes, and Fuzzikill and Bow Rain. I'm gonna turn the stories into comics next year. I'm looking forward to reading your books and following your channel! Cheers :))

[@jeffreysommer3292]

It was Dracula that got me into it when I was a kid. My current fav is House of Leaves...

[@JeantheSecond-ip7qm]

My first horror book was Edgar Allen Poe picture book my mom bought for me as a little child. I couldn’t even read anything that complex yet, but I was fascinated by the artwork. I had an interesting childhood.

[@RolandDeschain1]

As a very young kid I always loved horror movies. But what got me into reading horror was that comic book adaptation of DRACULA with the incredible Gene Colan art. GOOSEBUMPS came after my time so there wasn't much 'horror for kids' out here. So I kind of had to go straight to the hard stuff and it was reading SALEM'S LOT when I was 11 that really changed my life. That book was especially impactful because there was a young boy as one of the main protagonists, so I was able to identify with Mark Petrie's character even though he was a couple of years older than me.

[@marlonm3805]

The book that got me started was the Amityville Horror. I read that as a child but I was so terrified to read it at night but I could not put that book down!

[@hollyvanwye9294]

I would recommend Let The Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist. A vampire (sort of) love story but not at all what you'd expect. . It's wonderfully twisted, harsh and gritty. Lindqvist's bloodsuckers are terrifying and they DO NOT twinkle!

[@NFK8]

Exquisite Corpse by Poppy Z Brite got me out of my reading slump.

[@snxtlvl4684]

Our Share of Night (Nuestra parte de noche) by Mariana Enriquez brought me back from an almost never ending reading slump ¡saludos desde Argentina!

[@xxshineattackxx1387]

My first horror book arrived last Friday. The book I got was Stephen King's The Shining. I'm a long time horror fan who never was interested in reading until I was told I am required to read for a couple minutes in my English class. Coincidentally my first assignment was a movie review. I chose to review Stanley Kubrick's The Shining and decided to read Stephen King's novel to coincide with my review. I am now obsessed with the story and the sequel and I can't put the book down.

[@Alex-sr3ez]

The Shining is one of King’s best (and scariest) novels he’s ever written. I’d put his novel “IT” right there also. Both are downright scary reads.

[@xxshineattackxx1387]

@@Alex-sr3ez I’ve read IT since this comment! My favorite story out of all the media I’ve absorbed by far. Very scary and excellent story.

[@Alex-sr3ez]

@@xxshineattackxx1387 yes it is just as much a “coming of age” story as it is a horror one. It truly is a masterpiece.

[@therealjohnnyb2151]

Dude that Basket Case cutout up top behind you brough back some childhood freaked out times. Holy that was scary...especially as am 8 yr old lol.

[@deliciousdread.]

Watching The Exorcist at age 8 turned me away from horror movies and horror in general for quite a while. In my teens I began reading Dean Koontz and Anne Rice novels.

[@DerekJohnson42]

I had read horror off and on since the early 1980s, and in 2015 was pretty much convinced I probably wouldn't read or watch any more horror. Stephen Graham Jones's Mongrels, Paul Tremblay's A Head Full of Ghosts, Gemma Files's Experimental Film, and John Langan's The Fisherman all were recommended to me within a couple of months. I realized I not only wasn't done, but my own creativity and imagination rested here.

[@amygeyer1166]

Mine was a scholastic book of Edgar Allen Poe stories and poems I bought at my grammar school book fair. I saved it and it now lives on my daughter’s bookcase.

[@marygillette4938]

My Mom loved to read aloud to me even up until I was a young teen. The first real novel she read to me was Peter Benchley's Jaws. I later found a copy of Stephen Kings Night Shift on her desk and didn't put it down until I had finished it

[@ITCamefromthePage]

Some great recommendations here, really loved it. I think what really got me back into reading was finally getting through the King monoliths of The Stand and IT. Books I never thought I'd be able to finish. Had a stroke in 2020 and got through it (still suffering the effects) with a mix of audiobooks whilst forcing myself to read physical as well.

[@travisrollins5424]

The one that got me started : Dean Koontz = Dragon Tears First time I was "reignited" : Brian Lumley = Blood Brothers I never lost the passion but I lost the time, so the second re-ignition was Audible. There It was : Christopher Buehlman = The Lesser Dead

[@LDRight]

The very first was S. Kings Creepshow comic. I was maybe 11ish? My older cousin caught me sneaking into his room to read it, he just gave it to me. I then snuck to watch the movie while my parents were asleep. Im still trying to chase that adrenaline rush ! Grim memorials was also scary (for a kid)

[@donovanstokes5511]

Clown in a Cornfield got me into reading Horror! 💯 📚

[@AdamCesare]

Hell yeah, Donovan. That's so cool to hear!

[@donovanstokes5511]

I’ll see you the 23rd @O Neal Library! So excited 📚 😁

[@AdamCesare]

See you there, Donovan!@@donovanstokes5511

[@zayne4640]

The book that got me into horror was Five Nights at Freddy’s: The Silver Eyes. I was in fourth grade(?) when it came out, and I was hooked when my friend let me borrow his copy. I bought the whole trilogy, then bought some other horror series, and I loved them. Now I’m reading Clown in a Cornfield, and the writing is amazing!

[@AdamCesare]

I really appreciate you checking out Clown! Hope you enjoy

[@cdolan13]

I have always loved reading horror. I grew up reading the classics: Dracula, Frankenstein, etc., then graduated to Stephen King (who has grown long in the tooth for me) and Peter Straub. I then moved on to Clive Barker and Neil Gaiman, Dan Simmons, Dean Koontz. Now I try to read books by authors I never have such as Stephen-Graham Jones, Grady Hendrix, Catriona Ward, Christopher Buehlman etc. But I keep going back to the classics. I am reading all of Poe and H.P. Lovecraft, have an affection for M.R. James and E.F. Benson, and will finally read The Exorcist. Ten of my favorite horror novels: 1. Dracula 2. The Shining 3. Frankenstein 4. Ghost Story 5. The Stand 6. Salem's Lot 7. Let The Right One In 8. The Haunting Of Hill House 9. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde 10. The Fisherman Thanks for the video, I will be tuning in more.

[@emperorcupcake]

I was a huge horror book fan (mostly King) but I stopped reading for a long time. I got back into it a couple years ago with Grady Hendrix and Jennifer McMahon and now I'm obsessed! I also loved The Return, the Only Good Indians, and of course Clown in a Cornfield :)

[@AdamCesare]

You have impeccable taste, Melyssa!

[@genageeraert8039]

It by Stephen King is my all time favourite book. I read it when I was 8 and was hooked.

[@hollyvanwye9294]

That's a classic.

[@lisastratton2890]

Stephen King's IT was the book that brought me into horror books.

[@StephanieCrawford333]

What got me into adult horror (aka beyond R.L. Stine and the like growing up) was King's Night Shift, which I read on an airplane to Illinois to visit my grandparents. I left that plane a changed person!

[@AdamCesare]

I had a similar experience with a King collection, though it was a car ride, not a plane, and it was Nightmares & Dreamscapes

[@NocturnalToothbrush]

Funny you're asking this. While in university I stopped reading for fun. I only got back into last weekend. I spun up John Carpenters Lost Themes 1, 2 and 3 on my record player, started a fire in the fireplace and sat down with the novelization of Halloween 3 Season of the Witch. I had a great time and it resparked my love for horror literature. I just picked up The House Next Door by Anne Rivers Siddons. I'm looking for more to read, so this video is perfect.

[@4secondsofhaley]

How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix got me back into my love of horror after years of avoiding the genre! Always looking for books that truly make me feel scared and are engaging.

[@meerkat7406]

"The Damnation Game" by Clive Barker

[@DrMattColborn]

Hey Adam - book that got me into horror; DRACULA! And I’m also a Matheson fan - I’ve re-read HELL HOUSE several times!

[@CourteousKitsch]

The first horror story that got me into the genre as a little kid was "Legend of Sleepy Hollow," but the first novel I ever bought as a preteen with my own money and read was a paperback from hell called "Sins of the Flesh," which got me hooked. I went on to read everything by Brian Lumley, Robert McCammon, Anne Rice, and Steven King. Then I went over a decade reading no horror at all. The books that brought me back was Keene's "Ghoul" and your own book "Mercy House"! I read them almost simultaneously, and have been reading horror nonstop ever since.

[@miagirl]

Hurricane Season got me started on Horror . So far I've read...Tender is the flesh, The Devil in Nanking, Mindhunter, Esquisite Corps, Crow Girl, He'll House, Heart shaped box & a couple more..lol

[@nikkihp79]

I love Bentley Little’s books. I got started listening to his books on audible. Now I own quite a bit of hard copies. And I own both of The clown in the cornfield books.

[@AdamCesare]

Thank you so much, Nicole!

[@neilpeters3415]

Honestly, Clown in a Cornfield brought me back to horror fiction. Since then I’ve read and really enjoyed Mexican Gothic, Between Two Fires, Meddling Kids, and I’m starting the Final Girl Support Group.

[@saraestridge3183]

I clicked on this video without even realizing that you are the author of the last horror book I bought, Clown in a Cornfield. 😯 I haven’t read because I’m still finishing Goblin by Josh Mallerman. What a funny coincidence though! Now I have MORE to purchase! 😂

[@VisibleName00]

Lovecraft got me hooked in horror but I stayed away of the genre for a while. Wanting to read classics like Dracula and Frankenstein brought me back in!

[@books_nooks_spooks]

I read only true crime exclusively for about 15 + years after just feeling that horror took a slump way back when. However, I then discovered Riley Sager and My Best Friends Exorcism and that slowly brought me back into not just fiction but horror. More recently I re-read The Shining which I hated the first two times but this time after 20 years since I last picked it up, loved it and that was it for me…..plus there are so many new horror authors to catch up on now 🖤

[@jonathonfrazier6622]

I love The House on the Borderland. I believe written by William Hope Hodgeson.

[@hollyvanwye9294]

👍

[@grantross2609]

Hodgson is one of the Kings of Horror !

[@jonathonfrazier6622]

@@grantross2609 Really? I have only read the one book. I'll have to delve more deeply into his work.

[@peterolbrisch8970]

Dance Macsbre.....it really broadened my interest. Being a little ocd, I ended up getting and reading all the books listed in the apendix and a lot of others mentioned throughout.

[@johnward5404]

Oh snap I didn’t know you were around on Booktube as well! I have heard great things about Clown in a Cornfield, so I’m gonna go ahead and buy it, what’s the best way to support you when buying?

[@AdamCesare]

Thanks so much, John! And wherever you like buying your books (new): I have no preference!

[@Bookeyman87]

John Does at the End got me back into reading horror as an adult. It was such a fun and imaginative, page turner of a novel. Definitely got the wheels spinning to branch out and read more contemporary authors in the genre.

[@Jacobcherryhorror66]

Not surprised we have similar recommendations 😂 Great list man!

[@AdamCesare]

Thanks so much, Jacob!

[@JaketheMovieGeek]

My first horror book was Pet Sematary - Stephen King

[@Vedimiae]

1. Thank you for this channel and this series in particular; I picked up a ton of your recommendations during treatment, and they got me through a lot. Thanks, Adam! 2. “The Return Man” by VM Zito. A zombie apocalypse scenario where a mercenary in a pocket of overrun wasteland travels the country and puts down the undead family members of the living for money. Inspired my favorite tabletop RPG (Red Markets).

[@skullkrusher4418]

I had never read horror until I picked up Pet Sematary earlier this year. That book blew me away and I've been on a bit of a horror binge ever since.

[@aldomostert8202]

when I was a small child my introduction to horror was Goosebumps when I was 11 I was introduced to It by Stephen King and from that I discovered Lovecraft who is still my favorite author

[@LinRobles506]

The shining, and Doctor sleep by Stephen king got me into Horror ❤️

[@Yatukih_001]

The book which encouraged me to start reading horror, is Jonathan Livingstone Seagull. After that I read Slaughterhouse Five. A few Lovecraft and Stephen King stories later, it was time to start writing your own works. Jonathan Livingstone Seagull is nightmare fuel. Wanna know why? Imagine being an open minded seagull surrounded by a closed mind society of seagulls and you try to fly higher than any seagull has flown before. Everyone laughs at you, and you know what you are doing, but you have no way to express it in words. That, my friend, is horror. Thanks for your video man. Kind regards from Ásgeir in Iceland.

[@nextpageadventure9160]

I'm new to horror. I'm realizing I like as long as it's not body horror/slasher or torture type stuff from humans. I don't want horrifying humans, I need more supernatural/ paranormal or sci fi horror.

[@jennyb8629]

RL Stine books as a kid! And then Stephen King books.

[@Redfoxatl]

Playground by Aron Beauregard got me not only back into horror, but back into reading. SInce then Ive read The Slob, Yellow, and I just bought his new book Wet Market. SO twisted!

[@olives20-o1k]

Haunted by Chuck Palahnuik definitely put me on the horror genre i read it after a recommendation from a family member and i have to say i was enthralled from page 1 !

[@treaverhargis2946]

BR Yeager's Negative Space! I haven't read a book in almost a decade and I'm flying through this thing.

[@user-ll5ki3ur1e]

Can't wait to check out Ghoul! Keep shelving My Heart is a Chainsaw, and has been on my list for awhile. Also excited to see Friendo on the big screen :) Subscribed!

[@nadiaanastasia3873]

What brought me back to horror is Brother by Ania Ahlborn! Very good book with an incredible ending.

[@AdamCesare]

Great book!

[@Jynxsphynx2869]

Love your recommends! I think I may have met you briefly at my job (Barnes & nobles). You came in to sign copies of your book. Wish I could’ve discussed some horror reads/films w you. Cheers 😊

[@amandaelizondo3309]

Goosebumps when I was 10. Darren Shans Demonica series. 🖤

[@arunnair9841]

My first ever horror book was Mary Shelley' s Frankenstein. Elizabeth's murder by the monster haunted me for days. I lost touch with horror a few years back until I read Penpal by Dathan Auerbach. The book is creepy as hell and scary.

[@AaMo59]

Bro I had no idea this was the actual author’s channel I just picked up both ciacf books might have to prioritize them now this is my sign.. I’ve been face down in the stand for a month but clown in a cornfield will be next

[@lesterbangs]

I say the same thing about SGJ that he's my favorite living author, and I have the exact same sentiments about him! Also Matheson is one of my all time favorites and I agree he does not get enough in modern discourse. I'm a bookseller and I'm shocked to find that a lot of his stuff isn't as easy to get as it should be. I always tell people to start with I am legend and then do the short stories too, it's wild how ingrained he is into horror and yet people don't talk about him.

[@Skye7188]

Does anyone know if "The Store" was used as inspiration for a show? I seem to remember watching a show (it was one episode of a show I think maybe a Halloween special) and it had that exact plot (I've never read the book, so idk if the ending is the same). A big box store moved in and pushed out all the little stores. Everyone started working at the store and were creepy loyal to it. The main character found out that the store was actually sentient and feeding off of the workers and customers some how, as well as brainwashing them. It had a weird blue glow and actually spoke to the main character and tried to stop him. I think the main character ended up defeating the store by burning it down or out smarting it. It was a long time ago when I was a little kid, I can't remember every detail, but I swear I remember it. It might of been a "Tree House of Horrors" episode honestly.

[@kingskeazy890]

“The ruins” got me into reading horror. See a lot of people hating on that book but I loved it. What got me back into reading horror was and I’m not sure which I read first but they were around the same time, but those two were “house of leaves” and “salems lot”

[@tripleparakeetshoes4613]

Wait, you have a KZbin channel?! I love Clown in a Cornfield!

[@AdamCesare]

Yup! Hope you enjoy watching. And please pre-order clown in a cornfield 3!

[@booksintights3508]

when I was a child, The Hound of the Baskervilles, Conan Doyle; recently, the book that ended a very long book slump and that is a riot, Escape from Happydale, Jack Quaid (loooove slashers!).

[@deanwhite890]

I suppose the book that got me into horror and reenergized my reading in general was King’s Firestarter. I love that book just as much as I hate both cinematic versions of this story. Brian Keene got me into so-called Splatterpunk with A Gathering of Crows, but Richard Laymon cemented my fascination with The Cellar. It seemed so bold and uncompromising, but after several Laymon novels, I saw that he pretty much uses the same schtick in every book he wrote.

[@jimmyp9852]

5th Grade: Lois Duncan-Killing Mr. Griffin Then Dean Koontz: Bad Place

[@spookygoldfish3869]

Stephan Ghram Jones “Mongrels” absolutely kick started my return to horror in a beautiful tale of live half a life, half a wolf and half a boy, and his mixed heritage as well