Top 10 Horror Books Published in 2024

[@Grynworzalofficial]

You are my secret weapon weathervane for gauging my next year's narrative direction. A great resource not only for the readers but an invaluable external perspective for authors. Thank you. Maybe you could do a top nine and a half of the genres, tropes and aesthetics you would like to see us explore as authors over the coming year? I call my style Colonial Gothic and I have an alternate timeline novelette coming out set in an America controlled by a Christian Nationalist Militia. It follows a couple and their niece and in-laws as they are smuggling an autistic child and his twin sister across the southern states to Canada. I know you appreciate a good autistic character, I will look for you on bluesky or threads when I release it.

[@socaltoobie8984]

Really enjoyed The Night Guest. First time I re-read a book before picking up the next one. 😊

[@nevskislake]

This is a great list. There are so many books on this list that I definitely need to put on my TBR. Thank you for all of the recommendations, Rachel!

[@salomegreeneyes1542]

Hi Rachel, I read The Devil and Mrs Davenport! You recommended it awhile back!!!! 🎄Happy Holidays 🎄

[@clancyconnolly495]

I have The Night Guest out from my library right now, so very excited to see that on this list! Coup d'Grace is also on my list as is Youthjuice :) Compound Fracture is genuinely not something I normally would not gravitate towards but after hearing your rave review I am definitely interested in giving it a shot! Excellent top 10 list, you've given me so many great books for me to check out in 2025 between all of your top 10 lists this year! :)

[@TheHammy1987]

I absoultely LOVED The Devil and Mrs. Davenport! So glad you did too! :) Also, I have Coup de Grace on my physical TBR, since I received it in a book-box and wasn't exactly rushing to get to it - until now. Sonow I know what my next book will be, thank you! ;-)

[@lesliepowell-mccarty7067]

I loved, loved, loved The Devil and Mrs. Davenport! It deserves more attention IMHO.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Agreed

[@Octobig]

this top 10 feels so stacked!! thank you for all the excellent recommendations, i'm really looking forward to picking up some of these during my winter break ❄📚

[@CathyHarrison-bd8vi]

I tried to listen to Incidents around the house and didn’t even make it through 1 chapter. I hated the narration, Delanie Nicole Gill trying to read in a child’s voice was cringe worthy. Plus I hated that Bela calls her Dad “Daddo”.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Yeah I don't think I could have done the audio

[@SFF180]

Lousy audiobooks can ruin even the best books.

[@lef0nda]

Thanks. Added some more to my tbr :)

[@Jennyplante]

Coup de Grace is a freaking masterpiece. Great list; thank you!

[@sh4577]

Currently reading The Devil and Mrs Davenport and loving it!! I think my fav horror book I read this year was The Reformatory by Tananarive Due. So engrossing, emotional but scary at the same time and I just love her writing style. Highly recommend!!

[@josephiyeke8946]

Just got Craft, it sounds right up my alley! Thanks for the recco!

[@TheShadesofOrange]

I hope you enjoy it

[@lpa4058]

Yay! I was waiting for this list! I want to read all of these!

[@Msangiewow]

Yesssss this is always my favorite list!

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Glas you enjoy it

[@Already-Overbooked]

Oh!!! I am hyped to read these next year!

[@robertnix1458]

I will definitely check out Compound Fracture and Coup de Grâce. Thank you for what you do!

[@TheShadesofOrange]

I hope you enjoy them

[@sharath_95]

A much needed recs Rachel, thanks 👍

[@TheShadesofOrange]

You're welcome!

[@nathanfoung2347]

Great list Rachel, I'm always keen to try new horror, I'm picking up Night's Edge to check out from your list, then the followup too, always up to sink my teeth into some vampire horror.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Hope you enjoy them

[@coleenmorgan431]

I want to read Compound Fracture and Coup de Grace. I loved The Devil and Mrs Davenport and Incidents Around the House. However my favorite horror read this year that was published this year was We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer. It was SO good IMO

[@haitiankimreads7173]

I buy everything you recommend, you’ve never steered me wrong 😊

[@TheShadesofOrange]

I hope I don't fail you

[@sams5963]

I read Coup de Grace on your recommendation. My favorite horror this year was Terror at Miskatonic Falls. The poems by the residents are what moves the story.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Not familiar with that one

[@sams5963]

@TheShadesofOrange put it on your wish list and I'll send it to you. I really think you might like it. *Just saw on Amazon Canada website that the book is not available up there. Do you have an anonymous PO box?

[@SFF180]

Night Guest just didn't work for me. 😕Still looking forward to catching up with some of these others.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

I remember your review. This one honestly did get into my head so I put it among my favourites

[@887frodo]

I tried “Hell followed with us” and found it lacking. I had already read a better telling of that story and it was Martin’s “Manhunt”, which I absolutely love. I have so many books to read and I am so morose in this undertaking that I will have to pass on Compound Fracture.

[@jamesbittle469]

I don't read a ton of horror books, but I did read a good one this year. I really enjoyed Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica. ,

[@teslagoth9401]

Have you read any of the Killer VHS series? I read Teleportasm in one sitting and loved it so I bought them all ⭐️

[@wedprez]

I have snacks, Rache. Highlight of my year. Rank them stabby books.

[@madlynx1818]

Good video, again. Your quick and to-the-point style really informs me. I’m curious about the book on your shelf, ‘The Rig’. I just read a lot of interesting reviews about it. Have you read the book ‘Stake’ by Kevin J Anderson? It’s a really fun vampire tale that keeps you wondering if vampires are real or is the main antagonist just a crazy serial killer.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Oh thank you. And no I haven't read that one

[@madlynx1818]

@ how about ‘The Rig’, have you read that yet? I’d like to hear your review of it. I think you’d like ‘Stake’. It was a real page-turner and a lot of fun.

[@nicolefz92]

😊😊🏆🏆 Hope they make a Fatal Frame Maiden of Black Water book (video game)

[@johnjones1510]

Check out The Store or anything Bentley Little.

[@AntisocialAuntie]

🖤🖤🖤

[@jeanninethompson6243]

🎄

[@candicebarbata5028]

🕯️📚✨

[@roanokebrooks]

🛸

[@rebeccateseneer1166]

I read Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon and loved it! That led me to Model Home and I loved that one too. Great list❤

[@EricBowersTrekkie]

😵‍💫🤯😵‍💫🤯😵‍💫🤯😵‍💫🤯

[@randee719]

Thank you for warning about animal abuse. I will not read.

[@bookmarcreads]

😱🏡👻

[@Jzscrstsprstr]

🧛‍♀

[@FrankOdonnell-ej3hd]

⚛❤

[@Snick3927]

Invaluable, Rachel, as always. Yours taste and standards are mine. 🫡

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Thanks

[@Tetsujin-28]

Coup de Grâce: That switch killed the story for me. Night Guest: downloaded . I Who Have Never Known Men (Jacqueline Harpman): Best book (overall) I read this year. Julia (Sandra Newman) is more dystopian thriller than horror and Grey Dog (Elliott Gish) and top tier too. 🌨❄🏂🏔🍁