My Top 10 Horror Books of All Time (as of 2023)

[@Michael_L_Morrison]

I struggle with Top 10 lists. So, I have a top 5: 1 - Swan Song - McCammon 2 - IT - King 3 - Salem's Lot - King 4 - The Exorcist - Blatty 5 - The Witching Hour - Rice

[@ithrahmunchswallow468]

Swan Song 🤔 I did not know this was horror 🤓 bumping it up my list 🙌🏼

[@Michael_L_Morrison]

@@ithrahmunchswallow468 It's officially listed as horror even though it fits across multiple genres. So, it sits in my horror section on my bookshelf. LOL

[@ithrahmunchswallow468]

@@Michael_L_Morrison All of my favorite books are difficult to classify 🙌🏼🤓

[@kylenolen9546]

Swan song is a top tier book

[@Fulcrum-sf5zb]

I’m currently reading Dracula for the first time. It was a slight slow burn at first, but I’m loving it now.

[@douggieharrison6913]

Really? I just read it the first time and I think it comes out pretty hot with Harker in Dracula's castle. Then it goes to a slow burn when it goes back to England with Lucy and Mina. It def has ups and downs afterwards. A classic for sure, but by today's standards it's a pretty okay book. The prose isn't the best due to it being a 19th century Irish author and a 21st century American reader

[@Nick-ht5yi]

@@douggieharrison6913 tried reading this years ago and stopped when Lucy started writing letters. I would love to revisit now that I’m a lot more patient, but I do think it starts of very strongly

[@wildzeke]

Dracula, the original found footage horror story.

[@PsilocybeJedi]

Just finished it. LOVED it. The OG audiobook is excellent too, it got me into audiobooks

[@noname3609]

I haven't read many horror books but a good one would be The Terror by Dan Simmons. 😊

[@ithrahmunchswallow468]

That's on my list since I saw that there was a TV show 🙌🏼

[@BookMaven9]

Excellent book

[@Gruso57]

Especially for history buffs

[@noname3609]

@@Gruso57 Absolutely 🙏

[@M.M.Morris]

Dan Simmons is a master of the craft. if you want to be a writer Dan Simmons is definitely one to learn from.

[@angelwalker979]

I have the 3 story collection by Blackwood, the Willows, the Wendigo, and the Listener. All 3 are so good the Listener is one of the scariest stories I've ever read. Highly recommend for horror lovers. Great list Mike, I love them all!

[@lesliepowell-mccarty7067]

I'm so happy to hear you will be reading more horror! Great list! 🧡👻🖤🎃

[@davidhayes6491]

I've read many horror novels that were scary for the characters in it. But "It" was the first one that actually made me scared while reading it. Good top choice.

[@mariposa9506]

The shining was my first. I had to stay up all night to finish cause I was too scared to sleep till I was done.

[@robertholmes7467]

Hay Mike, it has been awhile since i caught a video and you thoroughly deserve your 100K plus subscribers. You still have a wonderful way to communicate books to us readers. Great list and The Exorcist and Dracula really are amazing reads. I have always loved the idea of interviewing a Vampire a truly great spin on a subject that everybody thinks they could find something new to write about the legend. Many have tried, and failed. Anne Rice could never better it... If your reviews and style of communication doesn't encourage more people to read... they can't be reached. All power to you and your channel going forward.

[@alynam82]

Such an awesome, awesome list! A couple on here would make my own top 10 like IT and Exorcist. A few of my own top favorites: *Carrion Comfort- Dan Simmons * Bad Moon Rising - Jonathan Maberry (although the whole Pine Deep trilogy was amazing! I'm surprised how this isn't talked about more in horror community) *Swan Song - McCammon (because technically, it's a horror story) * C.A. With Strangers- Fracassi (may be recency bias, but I don't think so. This left an impression)

[@543blaire543]

You should list the books in your description so we can screenshot for a future library trip 😊

[@mikesbookreviews]

I meant to! Thanks for reminding me. I'll update that now.

[@Bsaunders17]

I’m very excited for the horror to be more prevalent on ur channel! Let’s go!

[@simonedwards9450]

You should read James Herbert. Fantastic writer. Very gothic and scary in parts. The rats trilogy, The Fog, Shrine, Nobody True, the Secret of Crickley Hall, the Ash trilogy

[@raneylee9617]

One thing you touched on that is absolutely a fact is that SK is the best at how kids talk and think. No matter how old he gets. I have been on a mission the last few months to go back and read all his old stuff and couldn’t believe how he writes kids and their inner monologues and how they talk to one another. I was floored many times and thought “holy crap I remember thinking that same think at that age” or “that’s exactly how a kid would see it since they aren’t old enough to understand”. In other books, so many authors make kids too childish or too adult because they themselves forgot what it was like to be a kid. Somehow he still knows in his 70s. ❤

[@zachhaywood1564]

The Exorcist is my all-time favorite novel, period. And the movie is definitely a top ten. If I can be bold, the book is just as good as the movie. Good on William Peter Blatty for keeping his screenplay faithful to the book.

[@GenerationHairTV-ou812]

Great list. I'm new to the channel. I would like to add a couple of my favorites. Swan Song has been mentioned a few times. I am also a fan of Pitch Dark by Steven Sidor. But one of my absolute favorites is a short zombie story compilation called Book of the Dead. Edited by John Skipp and Craig Spector, it features tales by Steven King, Ramsay Campbell, Robert McCammon and more.

[@michaelcommisso8487]

This is a great list, can't really argue with anything lol except I thought maybe Swan Song would've made it, you made a great video on that one

[@RekindledReader]

Solid list 🤙🏻 Taking some recommendations away as well 🙏🏻

[@dinocollins720]

I read I Am Legend because of your review Mike! I absolutely loved it!!! What a twist!

[@mikesbookreviews]

It's so good!

[@JAKandtheBookStack]

I love the update! Thanks for the warning of animal abuse in The Troop

[@ithrahmunchswallow468]

I can never re read Lord of the Flies.

[@rachelsplace]

Hi Mike! I’m a new booktuber and I just mentioned you in the video I recorded yesterday and I’m referencing this video now as I edit it :) I recently purchased Something Wicked This Way Comes because of this video! You inspire me! Keep doing what you’re doing!

[@beerme8949]

Lol always cracks me up when people complain about "animal cruelty" in books or movies when on another scene a person is being tortured to death or gutted or something lol

[@grantarnold704]

Good list, Mike! IT would take my top spot as well. And I couldn't agree with you more about Heart Shaped Box. I think about that scene you described all the time. It's one of the creepiest scenes I've read in horror. Joe Hill is great at setting and atmosphere. He puts you right there in the room with those characters like few others can. What a talented writer. Supposedly, he's got a new novel coming in 2024. Fingers crossed.

[@Alex-sr3ez]

In my opinion IT is the scariest SK novel. The Shining would be a close 2nd.

[@OurRawHeart]

Reading Necroscope by Brian Lumley at the moment. Passed me on the bookshelves since the 90s and never really bothered. Found the entire series in a 2nd half bookstore for €5!! Pet Sematary will always be the best!!!!

[@TrickyAust]

Necroscope is great! It's as if the vampires from Anne Rice's books had a complete psychotic break. I also love the tie ins with mythology for the background of the vamps in Necroscope.

[@littleaussierippa]

Necroscope is a brilliant series. I'm glad you discovered it and hope you enjoy it.

[@TrickyAust]

@@littleaussierippa Totally agree...& love your KZbin tag! 🤙

[@ManDuderGuy]

Duuude, the 2nd and third Necroscope books are such a wild ride, especially the third.

[@matthewharper7333]

I really didn't care for Necroscope. I wanted to like it, but it just wondered around too much for my tastes. When he's watching his gym coaches make out on the beach I gave up on it. Everyone said it gets better, but why slog through something you don't dig when there are plenty of books that are good all the way through?

[@alib6615]

I love Joe Hill. I wasn't even aware of him until I saw the movie "Horns" on Netflix one night. That movie blew me away and I immediately re-watched it. Then I started looking it up things about it online and found out it was based on a book by Joe Hill (who I had never heard of before). Then I found out he was one of Stephen King's sons. Because I liked the movie so much, I immediately ordered the book and was not disappointed. That was it, I was hooked. No, he cannot fill his father's shoes, but that's fine - he is his own writer and a very talented one at that. And, yes, the spooky apple didn't fall far from the spooky tree. I have read all of his books with the exception of "The Fireman", "Strange Weather", and "Full Throttle" (I own them but they are on my TBR list). I love his writing and can't wait to see what he does next. Always fun to get updated Top 10 lists! Loved this for spooky season.

[@angelwalker979]

I'm reading Strange weather, only finished the first story right now but I really liked it! Fireman has been on my tbr forever!

[@mikesbookreviews]

Still haven't seen or read it

[@kirstyfairly4371]

Great list. I have too many horror books on my favourite books list to name them all, but some of my faves are Frankenstein, I'm Thinking Of Ending Things, the first 3 books in Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles, Head Full Of Ghosts, No One Gets Out Alive, The Ritual, & The Woman In Black.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Some great picks!

[@lukeskywalker6809]

IT is my favorite horror novel, too. And just so everyone knows, IT isn’t just a horror novel. It (IT) is much much more.

[@littleaussierippa]

Great to see you'll be giving horror more love on your channel Mike. Will you be continuing into the multiverse anytime soon? It's been too long.

[@mikesbookreviews]

I wanted to take a step back on the re-reads but I imagine I'll get back to it next year.

[@mayzo51184]

I've never read something wicked this way comes but I'm gonna have to read it now. I have seen the movie several times and it used to freak me out as a kid. I am right there with you on your top favorite books. The Exorcist is awesome. and I've read it several times. I love how deep it goes into the psych stuff as well as the posession. I have a couple of Joe Hill's books on my TBR so I'm excited to read those. It is another of my all time favorite books. I try and read it every year because I love how Stephen King writes for the kids and the adults too. I first read this when I was an adult and I was still scared bye a lot of the scenes. Great video and I can't wait to see what other horror books you're reading

[@jessfarmer5513]

The fireman was absolutely incredible! It was my first full read through by Joe Hill!

[@kyle1806]

While not traditional horror, Blood Meridian, is a truly horrific book. Also one of the greatest books of all time, the best recent american novel and my favorite novel of all time. Cant recommend enough. Just beware the prose is as terrifying as the scenes of moral depravity.

[@GenieLee1996]

A great example of his greatness at the way kids talk to each other is The Institute. Great list!!

[@FATIMAPECHI]

Great top 10!! 😊 I still have a TON of horror books to read, but my current top 10 is: 1. The Exorcist - William Peter Blatty 2. Dracula - Bram Stoker 3. The Elementals - Michael McDowell 4. Interview with the Vampire - Anne Rice 5. Heart-shaped Box - Joe Hill 6. Misery - Stephen King 7. Beware the Night - Ralph Sarchie 8. Dark Water - Koji Suzuki 9. Silence of the Lambs - Thomas Harris 10. The House - Frank Peretti & Ted Dekker My list will definitely change the more books I read, but I'm pretty happy with it so far. Happy Halloween!! 🎃

[@mikesbookreviews]

Great picks!

[@curtjarrell9710]

I don't have a formal Top 10 list, but if I did it would include The Queen of the Damned by Anne Rice, Harvest Home by Thomas Tryon, Dracula by Bram Stoker and Rosemarys Baby by Ira Levin.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Strong.

[@dirrtyb313]

Yo just wanted to come in here and tell you thank you for recommending the troop. I agree with your sentiment in this, it is now on my top 10. I loved every aspect of this book, the word play was amazing in the setting was creepy. The kids were relatable and what happens throughout the story is just terrifying.

[@ShadysideLibrary]

I subscribed to your channel about 3 years ago because of that last video. Glad to see an updated version! I’ll definitely be diving into some of these soon! Thanks Mike 🎃

[@mikesbookreviews]

Happy to hear it!

[@GaryMartinDobbs]

Great video - I paused half way through and grabbed my H P Lovecraft collection from my shelf, read The Color of Time and then came back to the video - thank you.

[@mikesbookreviews]

That is awesome!

[@anotherbibliophilereads]

An interesting list. I have read them all. Some might be included if I ever made my own list.

[@heidi6281]

Mike did you read Duma Key? Or did you miss that one? If not, I would love for you to read that very scary King novel!

[@debramercer1627]

That one part was necessary for the formation of the Katet and its mystical powers. IT.

[@debramercer1627]

That one part is necessary for the formation of the katet and its mystical powers. IT

[@aboxofbeans8422]

Love your reviews man. I've been basing my decisions on what books to buy every paycheck off your videos. Keep up the good work, I look forward to these.

[@danielhartley9343]

Dipped my toe into the horror genre this year. I read Seed, How to sell a haunted house, and pet Sematary.

[@ithrahmunchswallow468]

How was Seed?

[@danielhartley9343]

@@ithrahmunchswallow468 I enjoyed it. Maybe a little slower for my taste but I think it’s worth a look for sure.

[@ithrahmunchswallow468]

@@danielhartley9343 cool thanks. I'm finishing up Our Share of the Night now and it I slow burn brilliance.

[@ithrahmunchswallow468]

IT is the only book that has scared me but i was living by a remote swamp with no bathroom in my trailer. The night walks to the bathroom were exciting 🤪

[@livelovekanyewest]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@Alex-sr3ez]

I’ve been reading King since the early 80s and IT has been one of the only books that scared the hell outta me. (The scene where the balloon suddenly pops in the library still makes me shiver.)

[@ithrahmunchswallow468]

@@Alex-sr3ez um impossible to scare. Best any book does is make me uncomfortable this is why I love Bentley Little 🤪

[@Alex-sr3ez]

@@ithrahmunchswallow468 wait a second. You said in your original comment: “IT is the only book that has scared me…” And now you’re saying it’s impossible for a book to scare you. So which is it?

[@ithrahmunchswallow468]

@@Alex-sr3ez that was the last one. I was 19. 🤷‍♀️

[@lnuhfer]

You should do a quarterly horror book review and then double down during spooky season. We love horror books.

[@AndreDeSimone-dy1cz]

Most of the horror that I do right now is on audio because it feels like someone telling you a story around a campfire and horror tends to have less characters to keep track of, which is why I can't do fantasy on audio. The problem is that it's so narrator dependent. Bird Box and Interview with a Vampire were both a star or two lower than they should have been if I'd read them. Pet Sematary (Michael C Hall from Dexter), The Exorcist (William Peter Blatty), and Between Two Fires (Steve West) were the opposite and were hugely elevated by the performances

[@nicholasleonardbookedits-si9ng]

A vow the borealis on our wrist. We blink the way the headless horseman rides; how pounds the heart! his gallop on the bridge. Commitments tame the dreadful course of Time. A bower parodies the guillotine. There, couples smile while cheating Death with bowed foreheads and lips about to meet where in Love’s kiss eternity is fetched. This bond assists the newlywed’s escape, and laughing at the hooves behind their backs. The horseman’s tricked to stop at thrown bouquets, and at the graveyard groove they hide at last. With quiet giggling behind tombstones two hands between two stones are still eloped

[@edwardtoyebo9690]

James Herbert is one of my favorite horror authors. The term Splatter Punk began when his novels started selling. The Rats trilogy and The Fog are great, but my favorite of Herberts catalogue, The Dark. This book is filled with incredible descriptions of mass mayhem. large scale destruction and death. It is a shame no one turned this into a movie. The scene at the soccer stadium would make for one hell of a money shot. Of your list, most of which I have read, The Shining is my favorite.

[@jennd2100]

My biggest challenge with Horror is that I can’t do much body horror/gore because it icks me out, but it doesn’t scare me… I’m really hard to scare in books. I want to be terrified not grossed out.

[@sebastiantavera3256]

then read Stephen King lol, or even H. P. Lovecraft

[@jennd2100]

I’ve read It and The Shining… they didn’t do much for me. I read Fairy Tale and knew it wasn’t going to be scary, but I enjoyed that one.

[@dpeady78]

In no particular order IT - Stephen King Salems Lot - Stephen King Boys in the Valley - Philip Fracassi Summer of Night - Dan Simmons My Heart is a Chainsaw - Stephen Graham Jones The Return - Rachel Harrison Beneath - Kristi DeMeester Swan Song - Robert McCammon Come With Me - Ronald Malfi Wanderers - Chuck Wendig

[@vanlo1178]

The movie Something wicked scared me so much as a child, but I loved scary movies so I loved it! I didn't even realize the movie was based off a book. I have to read that!

[@cpwalton813]

Mike, I think you underestimate the number of horror fans who watch your channel. I think it’s reasonable to cover horror throughout the year and double down during spooky season.

[@praetorxyn]

It is my number 1 as well. Such a perfect book. Dint know they I've read much horror besides King and Bou:s Life.

[@Tonysmithmusic]

i loved heart shaped box, read it so quick. amazing.

[@ScottnCarol4JC]

Listening to IT right now. About 10% in and it’s great so far.

[@Basey]

A friend and I were watching movies that terrified us as kids and his was Something Wicked this Way Comes. After I finished making fun of him for being scared by that, I ended up reading the book which I absolutely fell in love with. I need to read it again. My movie was Lady in White *shudders*. It and The Stand are 2 of my favs from SK. Loved the Dark Tower series too.

[@cosmo588]

I’ve just starting reading Salems Lot, my first King book, it’s so good.

[@andrewunthank3521]

How was it?

[@Talking_Story]

great list we do share some picks!

[@garyhost6678]

Love the horror content.

[@soysauceboy2023]

You do a good job, Mike. I appreciate the work you put into your videos. Your passion comes through 👍

[@dash4800]

I am legend will always be my number one. Not only is it just great, but it was one of the most formative reads of my life. When people ask the style of writing i like or my favortie authors i always reference that book and the way Richard Matheson writes it.

[@aspoonfulofknowledge]

Thanks very much for sharing. Ray Bradbury sounds interesting. Will be on my list of reading after your description. Keep up the good work!

[@praisetobuddha2]

I was looking for something to read while vacationing in a cabin in the woods. This video is my jam.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Happy to help!

[@ithrahmunchswallow468]

Haven't read 8, 9 or 10. Bumping them up my list. Christopher Buhelman's Between Two Fires is my favorite and i read a new Bently Little every six months 🤪

[@bethbaskett3]

I love all these that I've read (most of them), and I'll read the ones I haven't. Love your channel, Mike!

[@chrisghidoni4298]

Great video as always, Mike. I read The Troop as my first spooky ready for this month. Great book. And when I finished it I wasn’t hungry, ha. Currently reading The Haunting of Hill House. Looking forward to more videos, cheers!

[@mikesbookreviews]

I just wanted to find a turtle and give it a hug. Also, great to see you! Hope things are going well.

[@chrisghidoni4298]

@@mikesbookreviews ❤️🐢❤️. Doing great, thanks. Hope you’re doing well too!

[@SuperStrangSshadow]

I found your channel because of the last top ten horror video of all time list you made. I feel alone with not liking The Troop by Cutter but Pet Sematary by King will always be my fave horror book because of its darkness. But a lot of good books on this list, especially Dracula. ❤

[@mikesbookreviews]

Horror is a very divisive genre. There are plenty others love that didn't click for me.

[@SuperStrangSshadow]

@@mikesbookreviews yeah I always tend to like the ones that other people doesn't like. 😅 And don't mean to spam your comment section...

[@AnonymousAnonymous-hy1fv]

Did you watch the new TV show of Interview with the Vampire? What did you think? There's a lot of changes but I feel it somehow still manages to capture the spirit of the book and personally I love it more than the movie.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Nah, I'm tired of "adaptations" that aren't made as the author described. I'm glad others enjoy them and I'd never take that away from them. I just choose not to watch.

[@hollyc4624]

Great list! I have never read The Exorcist either and never read HP Lovecraft….I have The Exorcist in physical form and during your video downloaded the Kindle Unlimited of all of HP Lovecraft, so I am ready to give them a try. I read the whole Mr Mercedes trilogy and then Holly and loved it! Stephen King is fantastic. I try to read 1-2 of his per year and tried Mr Mercedes previously and it didn’t hook me the first go but this time, I flew through the series and Holly! Wow, not a horror in the same way but OMG, dark and messed up! I am in the last 100 pages of Nevill’s No One Gets Out Alive and loving it. And reading the early arc of Distant Sons by Tim Johnston. It’s a little slow at the beginning but picking up. I decided to embrace the dark and creepy for Halloween this year and don’t regret it at all. So many great books!

[@mikesbookreviews]

Lovecraft can be a little jarring at first due to the act people spoke differently 100+ years ago. But once you get used to it his stories will stick with you.

[@hollyc4624]

@@mikesbookreviews Thanks for the warning! I’m willing to overlook language from so long ago. It’s the stories that I’m interested in checking out.

[@charlieroberts5961]

Always wanted to do this...first!

[@KareBlueBear]

Thanks 'Ive been reading horror since my teens. That's a nice copy of Heart Shaped Box.

[@donnara8379]

LISEY story has been my favourite Stephen King book in a very long time but thank you so much for this. I am a new subscriber and enjoying it a lot.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Welcome aboard!

[@jackiesliterarycorner]

Great list! I'm still working on developing mine by reading more horror authors.

[@TrickyAust]

Great list! I'd also give the novel The Omen a go. The movie was good but I always find the books creepier because your imagination adds a heap of detail. Your comment about your transition from sci fi / fantasy to horror resonated with me. I was never a big horror fan but at some stage my mind made the connection of fantasy = horror and that made horror a lot more attractive to me.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Books are almost always better than the movie, at least in my experience

[@TrickyAust]

Absolutely! You get a much deeper look at the characters - inner thoughts, personality, motivations. I also like the immersion from having to use my own imagination to picture the characters and scenes.

[@lhasalynn2091]

At 78 now--and still a strong lover of horror---I would agree with your No. One choice of "It"--in fact I just ordered the book, as I can't find my original! LOL! I have always said that Stephen King's ability to relate to how children speak and interact is so far above most other authors' that his books are always worth reading--just for that fact alone. (Not in the same genre--but a wonderful book about coming of age is Robert McCammon's "A Boy's Life".) Lynn in NYC

[@rhahnabunaid]

Thomas Ligotti's short stories are also well worth reading. Very lovecraftian.

[@mikesbookreviews]

I'll look some up!

[@tinypinata505]

I just read The Exorcist for the first time and was blown away. Still an absolutely riveting read after all these years.

[@mikesbookreviews]

100 percent

[@SpecialAgentBillMaxwell]

I can't decide on 10, so here's my top 15. I can't sort them. The order here is arbitrary: North American Lake Monsters Perfume: The Story of a Murderer The Terror The Hellbound Heart Rosemary's Baby Entropy in Bloom Let the Right One In Experimental Film The Shadow Over Innsmouth (if I had to choose one Lovecraft work . . .) The Wasp Factory House of Leaves Uzumaki The Exorcist The Cipher Blood Music

[@the_unnamed_narrator]

Mike, I dont know if you read your comments, but given your love of The Willows, The Color Out of Space, and The Haunting of Hill House, I think you would *really* love Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer.

[@mikesbookreviews]

I do read them! The movie was a big disappointment for me and that it turned me off the book.

[@the_unnamed_narrator]

@@mikesbookreviews That's too bad! I liked the movie and thought it captured the tone and aesthetics of the book pretty well, but the plot was completely different (other than the basic idea of an all-female expedition into a mysterious zone), and the movie obviously can't replicate the writing style. I think the director has said he used the book as inspiration and was never even attempting a faithful adaptation. Depending on what you didn't like about the movie, you might like the book, or it might just not be your thing.

[@paulObriant]

I believe a good number of us who love fantasy and science fiction also love horror. Honestly they bleed together quite often. I love your videos and please keep making all the goodness!

[@lockdowntechie3122]

My favourite horror books are history texts

[@nikkivenable73]

Mine are math books. 😂

[@timothyzeiler2902]

guys have you read the bible? its a great horror book

[@Jonpat]

I have read the Bible, but not sure which books you’re referencing. There’s nothing I’d call horror in there, maybe some of Judges?

[@lockdowntechie3122]

@@nikkivenable73 they are comparable i guess

[@nikkivenable73]

@@lockdowntechie3122 lol, yes!

[@nikkivenable73]

I hate Sci Fi and fantasy so I ONLY watch the videos where you talk about horror…Stephen King etc. I wish you’d do more of this type but I understand why you don’t. I appreciate you.

[@TheMrNukeman]

Ahhh one of these people that doesn't understand the majority of horror is sci-fi or fantasy...

[@dailycarolina.]

@@TheMrNukeman Exactly. IT🤡, The Exorcist, any Lovecraft story besides being a horror books they're also a Dark Fantasy; Dracula is gothic fantasy.

[@GenuinelyCurious120]

You got me to read Dune and I think its my new favorite book. I gotta check out IT now 😅

[@mikesbookreviews]

Go for it!

[@mattwcook9127]

Not sure where I'd put it on a top 10, but "The Black Farm" by Elias Witherow is one of my all-time favorites... Though, it does fall under the "extreme" category, and is therefore very difficult to recommend to people

[@darktheories1758]

Pause. I'm 0 seconds in. So I'm going to pretend like you can hear me before you ever even made the video. You have 10 shots here to impress me. Don't let me down. I'll return in 23 minutes to either praise or destroy you. lol jk. FIVE MINUTES LATER... (in the voice from spongebob) Ok. TWO in and I HAVE to JUDGE YOU! You picked this job, not me, bub. lmao. JK. TWO books in and you get the praises, dude. Heart Shape Box was such a fun and cool horror novel. I really am glad to see this! My list ultimately is a bit different from your own, but I didn't spot any out-and-out atrocities and even have a book to check out now in The Troop. Well Done, bub!

[@joepop25]

I remember sneaking the exorcist from the library when I was 10 it scared me so bad, I watched the movie on my 8th birthday and the book scared me so much more, I lied to my mother to let me wait outside the Akron city library the day legion came out and I lied to her and said it’s just a detective novel i loved it also. And I waited at boarders books when exorcist the beginning came out and I hate that book with all my heart lol

[@francissookraj3202]

Good horror book list ,Mike. I heard so much good things about Nick Cutter and The Troop, I look out for his books. You left James Herbert out of your list, which is a shame because he was a brilliant horror writer and he written some gory books.

[@awizardintraining]

exactly my top 2 as well Mike. Where would you rank Swan Song?

[@marcyavila3436]

I liked The Ruins by Scott Smith. But I will be reading your Ray Bradbury pick. I loved his short stories but haven't read this one.

[@jacobdavis3359]

Will you continue the into the multiverse series I’ve just started watching your horror reviews

[@annirose5835]

Amazing channel good job 👍

[@saiyangod94]

I read i am legend because i loved the movie and i was shocked how completely different it was. Loved the book

[@stevepeacock654]

Looking forward to you picking up The Rats by James Herbert. Surely just an evenings reading for you that but could open up some amazing British horror. The Fog is another by him that really deals with setting the creepy and inevitable tone throughout. Hopefully he might make the 2025 list!

[@mikesbookreviews]

That's one of the new authors I'm most excited about.

[@juliaryder4928]

If you haven't read them yet, Check out Legion by William Peter Blatty and Hell House by Matheson.

[@bdaigno]

Just bought The Willows based on your recommendation. Well...bought, it's free on Kindle right now. ;)

[@mikesbookreviews]

Enjoy!

[@callumgracey1867]

The fisherman- by John Langan has wonderful cosmic horror elements and well deserved the stoker award. Audio book brain is good to Stephen graham jones' the only good indians is also excellent in the sort of "it follows" vein but his writing style can get in the way of his genuinely creepy stories

[@mikesbookreviews]

Unpopular opinion but Fisherman was a miss for me. And I wanted to love it.

[@brianwright7640]

You should read Horns by Joe Hill next. I guarantee you will like it and probably blow through it quickly. The Fireman kind of dragged for me. Strange Weather was good too.

[@mikesbookreviews]

I've heard that from many in the comments now

[@GrahamRay2040]

I’d highly recommend Shraders Chord by Scott Leeds. Incredible debut

[@mikesbookreviews]

I'll check it out!

[@Ulmo90]

Currently reading Pet Sematary, this will probably be my top one, together with Carrie, I am Legend and some otherndark books I've read

[@mikesbookreviews]

Great picks

[@chriscall492]

IT is the scariest book i have ever read. Also hats off for putting I Am Legend at #4. Amazing book. If youve watched the movies but never read the book then you have no idea where the name came from. Phenomenal book.

[@bustinjustin8096]

A24 should do Heart-shaped Box. That would be perfect for the atmosphere horror and a few good actors to bring it to life. Would be so scary.

[@jamesshipley9164]

Ghost Story by Peter Straub as a recommendation. It reads like a solid mix of IT and Salem's Lot. The 1980 movie was interesting but very bad as an accurate cohesive adaptation

[@carlosbranca8080]

Great you have The Willows on your list. I love Algernon Blackwood. I don't find Joe Hill's novels scary at all, i prefer from him Horns which is more weird and magic realism fiction and his collection of stories Twenty Century Ghosts which is excellent. Good list

[@mikesbookreviews]

The Willows is creepy as hell.