Top 10 Scariest Books I've Ever Read

I don’t scare easy. But I do love it when I come across a book that challenges me, that provokes my imagination into a spiral of ghastly possibilities.
However, in order for that to happen, I need the book to be well-written; I need fluid and compelling prose to suck me in and have me suspend disbelief. And I need some level of invention. The familiar tired tropes are never going to work on me, as far as scares go, no matter how good the execution.
So in this list of 10 books I am going to share with you, the commonality according to me, is that they are all well-written and inventive or original to some extent. And I think there is a decent variety, in terms of themes and threats and how the books managed to scare me. There is one book from the ‘80s, one from the ‘90s, and the rest are more recent: the last 15 years or so. #booktube #horrortube #books #scary
Music used in this video
John Adams, Fellow Traveler
I have, books of psychological horror and dark literary fiction
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[@pkvanderzee6226]

1. 120 days of sodom (Marques de Sade) 2. The Shining (Stephen King) 3. Intensity (Dean Koontz) 4. Books of Blood (Clive Barker) 5. Birdman (Mo Hyader) 6. The Surgeon (Tess Gerritsen) 7. The murder book (Jonathan Kellerman) 8. Twilight eyes (Dean Koontz) 9. Kiss the girls (James Patterson) 10. Night shift (Stephen King)

[@sophia_comicart]

Hey Michael, love the channel. I had an idea for a list. Books that are somewhat to extremely similar but one is written well and the other less so. Like when an artist uses tracing paper to draw over a students work so they see how close or far they are from improving their work, it could be a great learning resource for writers or just a point of admiration for casuals like myself. Keep it up!

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

Hi Sophia. I love the idea! Like what Slither is to Jaws. ... Now, I'm not going to be able to sleep tonight. i will be up thinking of other examples😀

[@sophia_comicart]

@@Michael_Wertenberg Can't wait. No pressure though... Sleep well ;)

[@literarylove123]

I don't scare easily, either, so I was excited when I saw the title of this video. I've read a few of these books. The opening of The Reddening gave me chills. I added the others to my wish list. Great video!

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

Thanks. 😀For me, in The reddening, it's the boat scene that's stuck with me most (and the scene where she goes into the house to ask for help and I knew they were going to come back painted in red).

[@Tetsujin-28]

Misery was one of the scariest books I've read. Horrified/Disturbing: That would be "Hawk Mountain" and the audiobook for "Strange Sally Diamond". Ending Things was a fun read and I just watched the movie adaptation which wasn't too bad. Japanese movie Audition is still the most horrifying thing I've seen. The Eyes of My Mother: a close second. Headed over to a Horror Fest tomorrow. You want anything? Great content.

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

I have Audition on my TBR. I've heard many good things. I'd never heard of The Eyes of My Mother before. Just watched the trailer! Apparently it is based on a true story. Enjoy the horror fest! I'm good, but thanks😁I'm still kind of homeless so I can't have things (no where to put them)

[@almatoledo1608]

I just mentioned The Audition!!!!

[@woodificould]

A channel I didn't know I needed. Thank you for the recommendations!

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

You're welcome. Thank you for the kind words😀

[@geslinam9703]

I like your list because it doesn’t contain anything by Darcy Coates…or Pet Semetary. Some of these look interesting, definitely going to read the one by Peter Straub. One of my favorite novels is his ghost story “Julia,” which I believe was his second novel, written in the early 1970s. Very spooky.

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

Thanks for the kind words. I've heard many good things about Julia. I'd also heard many good things about Pet Semetary and finally got around to reading PS only a few months ago. It didn't work on me. 😔Too many scenes where characters base their 'decisions' on premonitions. Thankfully, there's diversity in horror, and we don't have to all love the same books 🙂

[@geslinam9703]

@ not my favorite of King’s novels, am just so tired of almost every video on scariest books giving it a mention. His were my childhood books, what I read when I moved on from Nancy Drew. I am over them all…except maybe for ‘Salem’s Lot, re-read that one last year. Definitely his best. Hope you get around to reading Julia. I am partial to ghost stories, myself.

[@Ceaselessprayer]

Love how you ended it with the poetry of Shivers. Bravo! Also, I know you talk about books but do you have a list of scariest films? Have you already done one?

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

Nice job identifying the audio😀I'm a HUGE Cronenberg fan. I will do a list/video of scariest films. Good idea.

[@Ceaselessprayer]

@@Michael_Wertenberg same here, love Cronenberg, Carpenter, Von Trier, Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Takashi Mike, Michael Haneke, Fulci are some of my favs Possession with Sam Neil is a 💎 Love to see your list!

[@rooroo8392]

Great list! I've been reading more scripts lately than books, but I've still got some of these on my TBR. The Ritual scared the crap out of me. 😁

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

Any good scripts recently?

[@rooroo8392]

@@Michael_Wertenberg Yep, I liked "Bad Boy" ... it's from the POV of a dog who suspects his owner is a killer. Oddly satisfying. Shame it wasn't a cat, though. Apologies to Zvyezda.

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

@@rooroo8392 That's a great premise. Somehow, I think if it was a cat, it wouldn't much care one way or the other.

[@rooroo8392]

@@Michael_Wertenberg Hahah, true.

[@SpecialAgentBillMaxwell]

Nick Cutter's "The Troop" is really something else too. I'll try out "The Deep" on your recommendation because I really liked Cutter's style. That "Ritual" book looks cool too. Well, all of them do, because I've only read one of your picks and there's a lot to choose from, but I've got to start somewhere, haha.

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

😁Let me know what you think if you do read them!

[@ryang3225]

The troop unfortunately didn’t do much for me but that’s just me! I bought it really really hoping it would too.

[@pickyourpopculturepoison]

I really think the toy boats sell the fear. 😂 I’m Thinking of Ending Things is my favorite book of all time. It’s fantastic. It’s so unsettling yet heartbreaking.

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

"Toy boats sell the fear." Exactly! They make me think of children which equals responsibility. And what's more terrifying than responsibility?

[@somerandomguy1217]

Love the channels, keep the recommendations coming.

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

Thank you. Will do😁

[@stu73ke]

Good video, very interesting. I have read a few of these, I really enjoyed A Dark Matter, and as a fairly slow reader, never really thought of it as slow. Very unusual premise but was a great read. The Reddening - very creepy, stayed with me that one.

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

Thanks for the kind words😀It could be that I found A Dark Matter slow because I was in a weird head-space at the time; but I also found his Ghost Story slow, too (though slow isn't necessarily a bad thing). A Dark Matter has definitely stuck with me, and it might not have if I'd read it quickly

[@Krawler14]

Nevill's stuff is amazing. I will be checking out some more on this list as well! Sidenote- do you ever accept ARC reads? Any particular way authors can get in touch with you?

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

Good question. I haven't accepted ARCs (from Adam Nevill being the lone exception). I think there are probably other BookTubers better suited for that. I'm quite a grumpy reader; I would feel too much pressure to like the book, and since I'm committed to giving honest feedback, and I would feel uncomfortable giving negative feedback to an author's work, I don't deal with ARCs for that reason. But send me a Goodreads link when it comes out and I'll put it on my radar. Thanks

[@Krawler14]

@@Michael_Wertenberg I completely understand. Thanks for the response, Michael. I'll throw you a link later this year. Keep the content coming, I'm enjoying it.

[@Kevinakletva]

"Night in Zagreb" series by Adam Medvidović is scariest

[@BrentDavis75]

Good list. And, I'll now be checking out the music of John Adams. Thank you.

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

Hi Brent. Thank you for the kind words. I'm a huge John Adams fan. Let me know what you find and what you think of his work.

[@BrentDavis75]

Found an album of the complete string quartet works of John Adams (Fellow Traveler by Attacca Quartet). Amazing stuff. Thanks once again.

[@kevy1967]

First of your videos I’ve seen but I liked your list. It was refreshing that there was no Stephen King, a good writer but there are so many better ones out there). You won my subscription. I’ve added a few books to my list, hopefully I’ll live long enough to get through it!!

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

Hi Kevy. I agree. I like Stephen King, but I rarely talk about him on this channel. I figure there are enough people talking about him, and there are so many other great writers to champion. Let me know what you think if you end up reading one of these from the list.

[@joshuagrahl5351]

Stephen king on a top 10 list is like googling free things to do in the city and getting "go to the park"

[@CliffsDarkGems]

Another Awesome Video! Brother is on my tbr, but I have heard mixed reviews. OK Ramsey Campbell, we were supposed to read this month, lets do it later in the year. I will be reading The Ritual soon and will mention you as my inspiration. Yeh, Off Season would also be in my top 5! That novel scared the crap out of me and has lingered in my brain. From all my years of reading Horror, I still consider The Shining as the scariest, most downright terrifying book I have ever read.

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

Yeah, I'm a bit swamped with work now (which is great because I'm broke and have been jobless for so long. So that's actually good news). But I'm up for Ramsey Campbell (maybe we'll try again in June). Just don't ask me the book. You pick.

[@CliffsDarkGems]

@@Michael_Wertenberg Man, there is no pressure with this stuff. We do this for fun, mostly, I see your channel going places. No jealousy, promise. If you ever want to do a horror chat again let me know!

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

@@CliffsDarkGems I love the positive vibes you put out😊🥰😁

[@CliffsDarkGems]

@@Michael_Wertenberg Thank you my friend!

[@robynmarler1951]

Hiya. I've got a frustrating problem. I read a TERRIFYING sci-fi book, they were in space looking for a planet to colonize and they found a place where a load of people had been so horribly killed that they skidaddled as fast as possible away from there, but then they realised that the mysterious culprits were tracking them and catching up. But it was such a turbulent time in my life that I can't remember the title or the author. Does anyone know it, or have an idea of who else I could ask?

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

Hi Robyn. That's a good question. I want to help. If you can think of any other details, I'll make a public call for help in a future video. Anything about the book cover? The year or decade of publication? Long or short?

[@robynmarler1951]

You absolute star! I think the cover showed a space ship. I read it in 2002 but it wasn't brand new. It was medium length, not massively long. It was very factiony, there was a lot of conflict on the ship, in fact the main character spends time in the brig. And right at the end, they make a desperate plan to lure the aliens on board and self destruct the ship, so they leave just one person to do that and he glimpses the aliens and freaks out but the reader never finds out what they were. But it was just SO effectively ominous, it delivered major dread and I would love to read it again. Thankyou so much for being interested!

[@dyanstoutenburg9974]

I did a Google search called …. Sci-fi horror books spacecraft written 1990’s and Goodreads popped up with 325 books with book covers and synopsis. You may find your book there. Happy hunting.

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

After making a public call in my latest video, we're getting some responses. Check out the comment section: Re: cry for help! The novel your viewer describes is Ship of Fools (2001) by Richard Paul Russo. Published in the UK under the title Unto Leviathan.

[@H0und0fHircin3]

Right away I'm thinking of Ship of Fools

[@rachelbowlandulstad2156]

Of course I'm going to sound like a Philistine and say that the corresponding movies to Piercing, The Ritual and I'm Thinking of Ending Things are all worth checking out. As for graphic novels... Should you decide to dive in... I have a degree in comic books and am more than happy to give you a reading list. It means I paid a lot of money to spend four years reading and drawing comics! LOL DISCLAIMER: As always the books are better. Especially the fear factor on the Ritual but I will say the creature design was pretty cool. And Piercing is a must read for anyone who goes thru a life change.

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

Philistines are perfectly welcome here, for what it's worth😀I had no idea there was a movie for Piercing! (makes sense, since the author is also a film-maker) Will be checking it out. Thanks. I've actually never read a single graphic novel!😮I think, if I decide to correct that scandalous omission, I would probably start with one from one of my favourite writers, Clive Barker...

[@ascorvinus]

@@Michael_WertenbergIf I may recommend one, Black Hole by Charles Burns is some gripping psychological horror.

[@LanaWarzynski]

Books are great cause we all interpret the story in our own manner

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

Exactly!

[@patricia_ps]

You're right about originality, that's one of the best things in The Orthography of M and M (and I'm not saying that because you're the author). I'm currently reading The Reddening and I agree, it's terrifying. I'm enjoying every page.

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

😊😊Best comment ever!!😊Thank you. Let me know what you think of The Reddening when you've finished. Hope you continue enjoying it as much as I did.

[@Kritz_Reads]

I have yet to read Adam Neville, though I do have 2 of his books on my shelf just waiting for me to get my act together. Brother is high on my list to get to, and I also want to read off season this summer. I did not love the Deep. The set up and premise was great, but then it fell apart for me and just got ridiculous. It actually made me mad.

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

I'm with you on the last act of The Deep. Didn't love it. But I was very scared through the first half of the book. I'll be curious to hear your reaction to Nevill and Brother. Off Season is intense. be careful😀

[@andymackie8283]

Adam Nevill's House of Small Shadows is my favorite of his. Phantasmagorical horror.

[@Albertanator]

I am mainly interested in supernatural horror....Do you have a list that explicitly refers to this genre? Thanks....

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

Hello. Cute kitty. I generally don't differentiate since most horror is supernatural. But I do have other rankings with nearly exclusively supernatural horror. You may want to check out my ranking of all the August Derleth Award winners: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g3ume4WBr8qLrtk&ab_channel=MichaelWertenberg or my Top 10 Horror You Need to Read kzbin.info/www/bejne/mWjRhXWOjqyorKs&ab_channel=MichaelWertenberg

[@Albertanator]

@@Michael_Wertenberg Thanks....I will do so.

[@geslinam9703]

This is my preference too, mainly ghost stories, especially the ones written in Victorian times into mid 20th century. I find myself disappointed with most of what I read today.

[@ben-vw5ix]

Thank you a lot for your recommendations, i just stumbled across your account and i really appreciate your opinion!

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

Thank you😁Please, do let me know what you think if you end up reading any of the books I recommend here😁

[@ekurisona663]

michael, did you read 'from hell' by alan moore? or uzumaki by junji ito?

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

I hear great things about both of those. Shockingly, I have zero experience with graphic novels. I've been thinking about doing a video: My First Experience With Graphic Novels. I think for my first, I might try one of the two you mention. Or I'll go with my favourite writer, Clive Barker.

[@ekurisona663]

@@Michael_Wertenberg sandman by Neil gaiman is another one that I would recommend - I hope you enjoy them they are such a different medium

[@electrolyteblend]

What is the audio from the end of the video from?

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

The penultimate scene in Shivers by David Cronenberg

[@rickwrites2612]

I read your #1 this past year. Excellent example of folk horror.

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

Agreed! I'm glad you liked it too.

[@johnnythepillpopper1974]

Have you read Let the Right One Inn/Let Me In….highly recommend it

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

I haven't read it, but I've heard good things. Thanks for the recommendation😀

[@johnnythepillpopper1974]

@@Michael_Wertenberg it seems like something you would like

[@hollyvanwye9294]

I just finished reading it a few days ago, and what a rollercoaster ride! Some very good horror has been coming out of Sweden lately.

[@angelwalker979]

Harbor is really good, by same Swedish author, John Lindqvist. I liked it better than Let me in, but I'm not a huge vampire fan. @Michael, I think you'd love Harbor

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

@@angelwalker979 That's a great recommendation. I'm also not much of a vampire fan (though nearly every vampire book I end up reading I enjoy). And I do want to check out this author. Will be looking into both of these titles...

[@DarkSiren81]

Absolutely love your videos and recommendations!

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

Thank you!I love the positive vibes😊

[@coreyledin-bristol7068]

Home invasion terrifies me as well. I have never recovered from reading In Cold Blood.

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

Yes! That's a good example of a scary book (and sad, too, how little value they placed on people's lives)

[@knl654]

first crime novel i read and loved it but also scared me.

[@gregory_bloomfield]

A DARK MATTER was my least favorite book by Peter Straub. I thought it was boring and slow, and nothing happened for a long time in the story.

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

I agree with you. But, for some reason, it's one of those books that has stayed with me. Can't seem to shake it out of my head.

[@BlackandGoldRanger]

The topic is scariest books read. Stick to the topic or change the topic to books that stayed with me.

[@gregory_bloomfield]

@@BlackandGoldRanger I don’t have a scariest book that I’ve ever read. I have yet to find one that scares me. I read tons of horror.

[@gregory_bloomfield]

And who made you the gatekeeper?

[@BlackandGoldRanger]

@@gregory_bloomfield Therefore I wouldn't look to you for scariest novels.

[@intrepidabsurdist]

The Ritual was definitely scary, but I found parts of ‘Last Days’ even scarier.

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

Good book.

[@karamarie6781]

OMG you must read Kin by Kealan Patrick Burke. It makes Brother seem like Sesame street!

[@koolkitty2768]

I agree! That was a really well written book! 😊

[@koolkitty2768]

I actually thought Brother was very middle of the road. It really dragged at times and I thought predictable!

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

Great recommendation! Thanks. I read Sour Candy by KPB and quite liked it. Been meaning to read more by him. Will check this one out. Thanks.

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

@@koolkitty2768 You guys have sold me on it. Will be checking it out.

[@mariaradulovic3203]

What do you think of LIgotti? Have you read his Conspiracy?

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

I've only read his fist collection: Songs of a Dead Dreamer. Loved it. (Didn't find it scary though, except the first story in the collection., The Frolic, wow.) I need to read more from him. It's on my reading plans for 2024...

[@peterthebooklover9375]

I have not read any of the books you mentioned. I couldn't give you any opinion on those. I can tell you some of the best horror books I have read. The Exorcist and Pet Semetary. They didn't really scare me but I thought they were very creepy. The books Helter skelter, Devil in the White City city and In Cold Blood plus the books I read about serial killers, those scare me a lot more because they are real

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

Shockingly, I have yet to read Pet Semetary. But it's on my cue. Maybe later this month or next...

[@robynmarler1951]

The Exorcist is actually a very heartwarming book.

[@DanTaylor-z9r]

The Exorcist is a true story factionalized. I knew a priest who was present. It took place in St Louis. Learning that scared me!

[@coleenmorgan431]

I really love Ania Ahlborn! Brother and Seed are my favorites. If you haven't read it yet I'd recommend Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman. Came out June 2024.

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

Thank you for the recommendation! I also should probably check out Seed. I need to read more from her.

[@nickcollins2191]

Pearl is also very good by Josh Malerman. I'm reading Incidents Around the House rn.

[@dianadavis286]

FLoating Dragon by Peter Straub - the only book that kept me up at night. My Heart is a Chain Saw by Stephen Graham Jones - I got an ARC just before the book came out and this book truly disturbed me. The Lord of the Flies and The Grace Year - both very similar and both scared me.

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

Good additions! Thank you

[@leezirkle7840]

I'm so glad I found you. I love horror

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

Hi Lee. I love the enthusiasm😁Welcome aboard!

[@toweypat]

Many of these sound quite intriguing.

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

Let me know what you think if you end up trying one of them out.

[@JohnnyRecently]

Adam Neville is several cuts mainstream horror authors.

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

several cuts above, agreed!

[@Michael-ue3ku]

Please guys! Get to the list. We don't care about anything else!

[@angelwalker979]

Straub? Tortureously slow? Shadowland has always kind of stuck with me. Cover by Ketchum is good. Reddening is one of the very few left that i haven't got to yet. I have seen this book get a lot of hate and heard it's his weakest. Of course I'm not buying that bs. Wanted your thoughts on that though Michael.xx

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

Hate for the Reddening? I've never heard of such blasphemy!😠From my limited experience sith Straub -- A Dark Matter and Ghost Story -- I'm taking the opening of your comment as sarcasm.🤨

[@angelwalker979]

@Michael_Wertenberg 😂 yea it was sarcasm. But! I like his books! The ones I have read anyway. Julia is my favorite of his, I think it was his first book, and it's not real long. I actually loved the Talisman too, his collab with King.

[@iansharp7422]

Shadowland and Ghost Story were his best. Found his later books not so good. Also liked Julia, another of his early books, the movie The Haunting of Julia was based on AKA Full Circle.

[@fairyfairy6090]

Off Season was absolutely terrifying xx

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

Agreed! Now I know where my limits are😵

[@fairyfairy6090]

@Michael_Wertenberg The thing that scared me most was just how casual the Sawney Bean Clan were about the killing of the house guests. The one girl who was still alive as they were hacking her limbs off. I read it in my early 20s. I am 48 now, and the off-season has never left me.

[@almatoledo1608]

Noted a few! If The Audition was a book, that would be it.

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

The Audition is a book. Written by the same guy who went on to direct the movie. Ryu Murakami. (or maybe I'm misunderstanding the comment)

[@almatoledo1608]

@Michael_Wertenberg your comment is correct, thank you.

[@EduardoRodriguez-du2vd]

Thanks!

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

Thank you!

[@almatoledo1608]

Is the coda Marilyn? No, right?

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

Not sure

[@BlueEyedMatt42]

I love your toy collection!

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

Thank you😀I can't claim ownership of it though. I'm staying in the guest house of a house by the beach. I found a chest of children's beach toys and figured: that will work for my scary books video. (Trying to make do with what's available to me)🙃

[@BlueEyedMatt42]

@@Michael_Wertenberg you’re just channeling The Shining. I’m sure the views are so breathtaking that you can finally just breathe, and enjoy nature.

[@toweypat]

I was just thinking, what an appropriate background :)

[@onourpath]

I loved I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Reid. His next two novels are great, too: Foe and We Spread -- so creepy, all of them! Take some photos of the French countryside and beach, will you? 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻 I'll never lay my eyes on it, so I'd love to see shots of your surroundings.

[@kevinjones4808]

Try Killing Lessons by Saul Black or Adam by Ted Dekker

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

I've heard good things about Killing Lessons.; Ted Dakker I wasn't familiar with. Thanks for the recommendations!

[@ekurisona663]

hey, whatchou readin for

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

Waffle-House Career Aversion Issues, mainly🙃

[@television4994]

Maybe a shibboleth, but it's pronounced "App Latch Uh" No, seriously. App Latch Uh Never ever EVER App Ah Laysh E Yah. Ugh. That makes my SW Virginian skin absolutely crawl.

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

As a horror writer, I aim to make your skin crawl. But not in that way😔My sincere apologies.

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

In my defnece though, it's the British pronunciation (mixed with vestiges of my French accent, unfortunately)

[@alinajafi4038]

First, I appreciate King not being on the list since it's trash. Second, I could only find Reddening and Offseason from this list in audio format. Didn't like Reddening much, incoherent writing and too long. Offseason wasn't original for me, since I was born in the very year the book has been written and you can imagine how many times I've encountered this very subject in movies etc. But a very well written book. 👏

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

I'm glad you were able to find a writer that works for you

[@oldsalt4798]

It's pronounce "App-a-LATCH-a," not "App-a-LAY-sha."

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

UK pronunciation (with vestiges of a French accent)