Terrifying Haunted House Books You Must Read 🏚️👻

Discover the most chilling haunted house books that will keep you up at night! From the classic "The Haunting of Hill House" to the heart-pounding "Episode 13," these stories will make you question every creak and shadow in your own home. Don't miss out on these must-read tales of terror! Subscribe for more spooky book recommendations!
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[@desertwitch9608]

The Shining….. what could be more creepy than being trapped in a giant hotel that is haunted in the middle of a blizzard

[@sabbracadabra7503]

And there are definitely analogies between The Shining and The Haunting of Hill House. The theme runs through both of a location that may not be "haunted" in the traditional sense, but is nevertheless for some reason a Bad Place, and that badness can be awakened and amplified unconsciously by a psychically sensitive person who takes up residence there.

[@mikalareads]

The Shining is CERATINLY one of those haunted house(/hotel) books that I will be sure to read! I love how you explained the parallels to The Haunting of Hill House! This gets me even more excited because I know EXACTLY what you mean about the "bad place" and I can totally see that in Hill House too! Im so excited now!!!

[@nillieable]

I am glad that you didn't include House of leaves. That book is a real page turner. You turn 10-20 pages at a time.

[@teslagoth9401]

💯

[@danat3961]

I don’t get the house of leaves hype..

[@books-on-a-wire]

One of the most unique takes on a haunted house was Smithy by Amanda Desiree. It hits on vintage vibes (set in the 70s), found footage courtesy of journal entries, letters, transcripts, and the feeling of dread and tension was incredible. It's long but it reads fast. Mers over at Harpies in the Trees turned me onto it and she is the only person I've ever heard talk about it. It's high on my list.

[@adriennelee26]

House of Leaves, The Ghost Writer by John Harwood, Wylding Hall by Elizabeth Hand, The Dead House by Billy O'Callaghan, The Haunting of Leigh Harker, Nazareth Hill by Ramsey Campbell, The Shining, and of course, The Haunting of Hill House are some of my favorites. But I've honestly always found the haunted house story is better served by the short story format. A lot of my favorite short horror stories have centered on haunted houses. The writers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries did this especially well.

[@Liz_510.]

And she is back ladies and gentlemen, my girl Mikala, this video was amazing and i love how you share books that othhers arent talking about. I am currently listening to the Adirondack witch and i am not far imto it but its good so far ❤❤❤

[@mikalareads]

AWWW Liz your comment touched my heart so much! Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm glad you're enjoying the video and the book recommendations. OKAY YES the next one of these I am considering doing is the best of the "Witch" trope, and I really want to include the Adirondack witch! I know it may be a bit predictable but it freaked me out! ANd just turns into a FEVER DREAM! 💥 I hope you love it!!!

[@rossedwards3989]

My go to recommendation for anyone looking for ghost stories is the silent companion's by Laura Purcell very dark and creepy. She is a great author who's work needs more love

[@lisbethfajardo7349]

I read last fall “Kill Creek” by Scott Thomas. My opinion was a pretty great spooky story! I did not want to read the book when I’m home alone 😅. This is the first video I ever watched from you! I will subscribe your channel 😊

[@desertwitch9608]

Amityville Horror Story really scared me. I read it when it first came out and I had just moved into my first apartment. Scared the crap out of me

[@mikalareads]

Thank you for sharing your experience with Amityville Horror!!! I am starting a tbr shelf now for haunted house books to read next and this will be going on it!

[@faeriefire78]

This isn't a haunted house book, but I've seen it commented before that We Have Always Lived in the Castle is like a haunted house origin story and I 1000% agree with that. I almost wish a really competent writer would pick up that thread as a sort of fan sequel.

[@bookwormlisa5940]

The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell. There is a scene that scared me like a jump scare in a horror movie.

[@Danni.Dabbles]

Love haunting of hill house! I want to reread it at some point. Horrorstor is one I've wanted to get to for awhile. Eee! Nat Cassidy totally deserves to be on this list. I'm so excited for his next book! The September House is also one of my favorites. I really enjoyed Margaret and what we learned about her and her history throughout the story. I've been thinking about Theme Music recently. After reading it and now that I know what happens, I'm interested in rereading it to see if I notice certain things. Love your picks dearie! I would add Mary to your list and potentially My Darling Dreadful Thing (I'm currently reading this one so I can't say for sure, but it is super eerie).

[@mikalareads]

Yessss I really feel like we have such similar tastes in books Danni!!! I'm so glad you loved so many of these books too!!! 💖💯🙌✨️ I DEFINITELY want to read my darling dreadful thing.... it's on my tbr but my reading slump has me in a state of book avoidance currently however I definitely will be reading that once I get out of this slump!!!

[@frederickhart9140]

I recently retired and moved to Mexico. I've been looking for historical and or horror based books set in Mexico. I stumbled upon a book that checked both boxes. The book is called The Hacienda by Isabel Canas. It is set just after the Mexican War of Independence (early 1800's) It deals with a woman who was wealthy and influential before the war, but now is poor and working under slavelike conditions until her Prince Charming comes along and marries her. He seems a bit on the weird side but doesn't spend much time at home. She is left in charge of a huge and very spooky Hacienda (creepy staff included) The hacienda is in the middle of nowhere. She starts to see and hear strange things while in certain rooms of the hacienda. She thinks she is going crazy until a traveling priest also experiences the same strange events. Another suggestion is an Oldie but Goodie by Henry James; The Turn of the Screw. It was first published in 1898 and I believed that due to it's age it would not be scary at all. Man was I wrong! The horror is incremental. It is a slow burn, but each page, each chapter it becomes more and more suffocating. The main character is a young governess of two very strange children that cause her to question reality itself.

[@sharonlovesbooks]

I read Episode Thirteen last year and was so disappointed, it didn't scare me and honestly, I didn't enjoy it at all but I am glad you liked it. 😊

[@lauriemacfarlane2968]

The Dwelling by Susie Moloney is also very good. Thanks for the recommendations.

[@mikalareads]

Thank you for the recommendation! I'm always on the lookout for great reads, and I appreciate your input! Ill be adding it to my TBR!!!

[@SuperStrangSshadow]

I agree with The Haunting of Hill House. Read it last year and need to read We've Always Lived in the Castle.

[@stephanieharchar5463]

Love Shirley Jackson. Stephen King cited her as one of his favorite authors also.

[@mikalareads]

It's great to hear you enjoyed The Haunting of Hill House! We've Always Lived in the Castle is another brilliant work by Shirley Jackson, you'll love it!

[@SuperStrangSshadow]

@@stephanieharchar5463 Good. I love horror and recently turned to more of the old horror books instead of the new ones. And King is my fave.😊

[@SuperStrangSshadow]

@@mikalareads Great. I watched a movie inspiered by her life called Shirley. It was ok but want to check out more of her books.

[@Alexandra-hg2hx]

My fave is Teeth in the mist by Dawn Kurtagich. It's unlike anything I've read before and the ending left me questioning my own sanity 'cause I was SHOOK.

[@mikalareads]

OHHH Thank you for this rec! Adding to my TBR!!!

[@TheBookHerm]

adding all that were not already on my tbr! What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher and The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell both had me gripped and spooked!

[@mikalareads]

Thank you for adding those books to your TBR! I hope you enjoy them as much as I did. Also I really enjoyed What Moves the Dead and I have wanted to read The Silent Companions for so long I will definitely be moving it up my tbr now!!!!

[@aiscahill]

I'm so here for this video. I absolutely LOVE books that feature creepy houses, or somehow makes a house a central plot point 😍

[@kadawalden]

My absolute fave haunted house book is Burnt Offerings by Robert Marasco. Sooo good, and eerily relatable if you're passionate about caring for an old house like I am. A movie based on it was done in 1976 (Betty Davis's last role before she died), and it was very faithful to the book. Haunted house stories are my favorite genre, I'm always looking for suggestions, so thank you for this video - Kada 👻

[@fancifulimpression]

I recently read Diavola and I think it’s a great twist on the classic haunted house story as it’s set in a vacation rental in Italy. I love that it is a discussion of toxic family dynamics with a touch of the supernatural. Similarly to how you spoke about September house I really enjoyed it for reasons other readers didn’t like because it got me thinking about my own life and things that felt relevant.

[@npavao1592]

Great video. I will definitely be referring to this when looking for my next book to read.

[@michellecgb]

I love your shirt omg ❤

[@mikalareads]

AWWW Thank you so much!!!! 🏚👻

[@krisannmccord]

Definitely House of Leaves is worth a check. It freaked me out more than it should have.

[@mikalareads]

I definitely will be adding house of leaves to my haunted house tbr!!!! 💯❤️

[@angylcantread]

i love this! Such a good list! I was looking for more recs but turns out I've already read all of these! 😂

[@justjanel1]

The clips edited in!!!! Ahhhh. Loved it! It really added to the video. ❤

[@mikalareads]

Thank you for noticing the added clips! I'm glad you enjoyed them!😍🥰

[@staceygiosi3878]

Nestlings was so good, the end kind of broke me .

[@mikalareads]

OMG ME TOO, the ending really hit me hard and like I appreciated that so much as well because I think a lot of books don't go the "slightly unhappy" route and wrap up a bit more neatly, so this one really felt so much more real to me! 💯

[@tawnyachristensen7310]

Love the vintage horror film clips! September House is one of my favs!

[@mikalareads]

Thank you for the kind words! I'm thrilled that you love the film clips! And I especially loved The September House too!

[@the_eerie_faerie_tales]

Horrorstör, Episode Thirteen and The September House are some of my all time faves!! Another favorite is actually about a haunted sunken ship, From Below by Darcy Coates... that one definitely gives the creepy vibes!

[@mikalareads]

It's great to hear that you enjoy those books! I can't wait to read From Below by Darcy Coates, I already can tell I will really enjoy it! Darcy Coates is one of those authors I am going to just have to binge read all their books because they all look up my alley!

[@katmancilla5777]

Agh! I have the audiobook of From Below! I can't wait to listen to it!!

[@the_eerie_faerie_tales]

@@katmancilla5777 such good ocean horror imo! there is one scene in particular that is forever burned in my brain. hope you enjoy it when you get to it!

[@teslagoth9401]

Just finished the September House today…. Wow 👻

[@mikalareads]

Yesss I'm so glad you read The September House! 💯❤️

[@debrayoung2178]

Starling House! I’m only on chapter 7 but the creepiness is coming on strong and it’s not like anything else.

[@kimt3864]

Great video. A lot of very insightful comments here. Thank you!

[@mikalareads]

Thank you for watching and for your kind words!

[@pamelaspencer2497]

Salem's Lot by Stephen King is so scary, and there is a house in the book.

[@daredevilelegance9296]

In the summer horror vein, check out Blood Cruise. It’s a unique take on zombie vampires taking over a cruise ship. Some of them are smart while others are mindless, ravenous beasts. It follows a handful of survivors trying to stay alive until dawn. I LOVED IT!

[@michellecgb]

Look at you playing with clips 👏🏼 what a fun addition

[@mikalareads]

I'm glad you enjoyed the clips addition, thanks for the positive feedback!!!

[@nobo1982]

If you like haunting of hill house u should definitely read some of its inspirations , fingers of fear, and the fall of the house of usher.

[@mikalareads]

I will be adding these both to my tbr thank you!!!!

[@stephanieharchar5463]

Elizabeth Hand's "Haunting on the Hill"is a retelling of Shirley Jackson's Hill House and it is a lovely homage and a wonderful book.

[@mikalareads]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts! It's always great to hear from fellow Hill House fans! I did read "Haunting on the Hill" this year and I rated it a middling 3 however it was awesome to get to dive back into that world!

[@RecoveringBookHoarder]

The Broken Girls and The Sundown Motel by Simone St James. Thanks for the recs!!

[@katmancilla5777]

I loved the sundown motel!

[@debrayoung2178]

Nice! I love Simone and haven’t read these. Thanks!

[@thegkbc4510]

this video popped up in reccommended the list was extremely solid but, what made you an auto sub is seeing the three investigators book on your shelf :-) btw, im adding quite a few of these the hacienda was a decent haunted house book

[@michaelburke4048]

The Three Investigators really propelled me into horror and mystery. Try as I might, however, I can't spot the book. There are several I can't make out, due to either my old eyes or my screen resolution. Which book did you see?

[@thegkbc4510]

@@michaelburke4048 if you look near the right side, you will see The Magic Circle it is orange and facing the camera

[@ericad3397]

So many good books that I still have on tbr 😫. I own must of the ones you mentioned from previous recs. I recently read The Patient by Jasper Dewitt, it’s not a haunted house however it did creep me so much. I was so scared that i literally had to put the book down.

[@mikalareads]

That's awesome to hear! Ohhhh, The Patient sounds like something I would really enjoy reading too! I am definitely adding it to my TBR!

[@michellesmelancholia]

Great video! I was never interested in The September House but now I am! Have you read Diavola? I loved it and the author mentioned being inspired by The Haunting of Hill House!

[@mikalareads]

Thank you for your kind words! It means a lot to hear that my video could pique your interest in The September House. Also I did try reading Diavola but didnt finish, however you have just motivated me to give it another try because you said the author mentioned being inspired by The Haunting of Hill House which I LOVE THAT!!!

[@Tim_with_Tomes_and_Tales]

Such a great video, Mikala. It must have taken forever to edit this together. I hope it gets a lot of views for you. I might have added Stephen King' The Shining, Poe's Tell Tale Heart, and Lovecraft's The Rats in the Walls to the list. A couple of these are short stories though and The Shining is about a haunted hotel like his short story 1408.

[@mikalareads]

AW thank you my friend, because it really DID take forever to edit 😅 I really appreciate that!!!! Also I started a shelf on my tbr for all "haunted house" books and I am now adding all of these too my list! Thank you for the recommendations!

[@bornagainreader]

I hope I never end up in a life or death situation with a random coworker. Also, if you like claustrophobia, have you read Our Wives Under the Sea? I feel like I say this all the time, but I still need to read Episode Thirteen. I love the reality show/found footage concept. 11:22 - I was waiting for it. 😅 Great list!!

[@mikalareads]

ME EITHER!!!! Also I NEED to read Our Wives Under the Sea still! I definitely hope you enjoy Episode Thirteen when you get to read it! It's such a good one I thought! Thank you!!!!

[@christelsmit9223]

I quickly went through your channel to see if you have a video on your favourite witchy book recs and I didn't see it. I'm just curious seeing as you have Slewfoot and Cackle displayed if you have a bunch of favourites. It could be a nice video idea? 🧙🏻‍♀️🧹🌜🐈‍⬛

[@mikalareads]

I would LOVE to make this video next for witch recs!!! Slewfoot and Cackle are two favorites of mine for sure!! And theres a few more I know I could add to a list! Thanks for the idea! 💯📚

[@christelsmit9223]

@@mikalareads that would be awesome 😊

[@Emily12406]

I have never found a book that truly scared me,I am hoping Episode thirteen will do that, and in the way that I am soo scared that I have to sleep with the lights on. got any recommendations for me?

[@mikalareads]

I totally get that feeling! Episode thirteen might just be the one to give you those chills! It is maybe the scariest book I have read but I have to also highly recommend listening to the audio book along with the physical if you can! It is WELL worth the experience in my opinion!

[@JesstheBookFreak]

I'm putting all these on my tbr even Haunting of Hill house (because I already read it but will have to reread again!) ❤ I recently read Gallows Hill by Darcy Coates and that one actually scared me and she is becoming an autobuy author for me!

[@mikalareads]

That's awesome to hear! Darcy Coates is an author I KNOW I need to read because I think I will love her work, I am adding Gallows Hill to the top of my TBR now!

[@JesstheBookFreak]

@@mikalareads that's so good to hear! 😁

[@NikolayTach]

“Put the red couch in the closet, the blue chair against the wall and the green table with the mirror the evil blood shed formal smile looking back at you with the broken jaw crackled out the door.”

[@PoppyMorreale]

I would of been shocked if you didn't add the haunting of hill house

[@mikalareads]

I'll be haunting myself if I missed that one!😂

[@courtydances]

Is Haunting of hill house (book) very similar to the TV series? I’ve already watched the series and loved it but I don’t want to know everything

[@mikalareads]

Its honestly very different from the Tv series! I did love both the show as well as the book for different reasons, but if you do decide to try the book just know it follows a pretty different plot!

[@PoppyMorreale]

Do you like twin peaks and did you see that trailer for the front door

[@mikalareads]

I never actually watched Twin Peaks but I was a huge tumblr fan back in the day so I feel like ive watched it through all the Gifs Ive seen HAHHA! No but I do actually want to watch it at some point, I love 90's television!