BookRank
Where to start

Horror books to read

Not sure which horror books to read? We ranked 200 of them using 84,580 reader ratings; the average is 7.6/10. Below: three books to start with, then short reads, series starts, new books, and classics.

If you read only one, make it The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (8.4/10). If you prefer a series: The Dark Tower starts with The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger.

Start here

Three horror books that many readers rate highly — each one a first volume or a book that stands alone.

  1. The Graveyard BookNeil Gaiman · 2008 · 304 pages8.4/10 · 1,560 ratingsGaiman begins with a murdered family and then tells a surprisingly gentle story.
  2. The StandStephen King · 1978 · 1153 pages8.4/10 · 1,956 ratings
  3. SlewfootBrom · 320 pages8.4/10 · 270 ratings

Short reads: under 300 pages

For a weekend or a commute. 31 of the rated horror books are this short; these score best.

  1. The Thief of AlwaysClive Barker · 1992 · 239 pages8.1/10 · 118 ratings
  2. There Is No Antimemetics Divisionqntm · 2021 · 272 pages8.0/10 · 808 ratings
  3. HellboyMike Mignola · 1999 · 124 pages8.0/10 · 180 ratingsHellboy · book 1 of 12
  4. Ring ShoutP. Djèlí Clark · 176 pages7.9/10 · 425 ratings

Series worth starting

The first volume of each series, with the full reading order one click away.

  1. The Dark Tower: The GunslingerStephen King · 1982 · 258 pages7.5/10 · 2,378 ratingsThe Dark Tower · book 1 of 8 · Reading order →
  2. Red DragonThomas Harris · 1981 · 376 pages7.9/10 · 662 ratingsHannibal Lecter · book 1 of 4 · Reading order →
  3. The SummoningKelley Armstrong · 2008 · 400 pages7.6/10 · 202 ratingsDarkest Powers · book 1 of 3 · Reading order →
  4. The PassageJustin Cronin · 2010 · 912 pages7.8/10 · 705 ratingsThe Passage · book 1 of 3 · Reading order →

New in 2025 and 2026

The best-rated new books with at least 50 reader ratings.

  1. King SorrowJoe Hill · 20258.1/10 · 166 ratings
  2. HungerstoneKat Dunn · 20258.0/10 · 100 ratings
  3. You Weren't Meant to Be HumanAndrew Joseph White · 2025 · 268 pages7.8/10 · 73 ratings
  4. The Buffalo Hunter HunterStephen Graham Jones · 20257.8/10 · 310 ratings

Classics from before 1976

Still read, still rated: the older books that hold up best.

  1. The ExorcistWilliam Peter Blatty · 1971 · 400 pages8.0/10 · 537 ratings
  2. The October CountryRay Bradbury · 1955 · 306 pages8.0/10 · 83 ratings
  3. 'Salem's LotStephen King · 1975 · 509 pages7.8/10 · 1,525 ratings
  4. Frankenstein; or, The Modern PrometheusMary Shelley · 1818 · 211 pages7.8/10 · 3,074 ratings

Liked this? Try that

Pairs from our similarity data: the same kind of story, a different author.

If you likedtry
DraculaBram StokerMore like this in “Find a book” →CarmillaSheridan Le Fanu · 7.6/10
World War ZMax BrooksMore like this in “Find a book” →The Girl with All the GiftsMike Carey · 8.0/10
The StandStephen KingMore like this in “Find a book” →The PassageJustin Cronin · 7.8/10
The Graveyard BookNeil GaimanMore like this in “Find a book” →The SummoningKelley Armstrong · 7.6/10

How long are the rated horror books?

Under 300 pages31
300–499 pages85
500 pages or more41

157 of 200 rated titles with a known page count. Largest group: 300–499 pages.

Narrow it down with “Find a book”

“Find a book” holds 194 horror books. Pick a shortcut — the filters are already set:

Horror books in a series37Standalone horror books157Short horror books (under 220 pages)23New horror books11Horror books, mood: tense109Horror books with a film or series18
All horror books in “Find a book” →

Questions readers ask

What horror books should I read first?

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman: 8.4/10 from 1,560 ratings, and it needs no earlier book. Next on our list: The Stand and Slewfoot.

What is a good horror book under 300 pages?

The Thief of Always (239 pages, 8.1/10) is the highest-rated one under 300 pages.

Which horror book series should I start?

The Dark Tower: begin with The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger, the first of 8 books. The reading order page lists every volume.

What are the best new horror books?

King Sorrow (2025) leads the recent titles at 8.1/10 from 166 ratings.

How are these books chosen?

Only books with enough reader ratings to be ranked (at least 50) are picked. The score is a weighted average across independent rating sources, pulled toward the category average when ratings are few.

Go further

Other genres: where to start

FantasyScience fictionCrime & mysteryThrillerRomanceClassicsBooks to read →