Top 5 Horror Novels

For those of you who enjoy a good book now and again Halloween is the perfect time to settle down with one of these top 5 horror novels. As most youths today prefer watching a horror film to reading a horror book, they tend not to realise that most of these films are actually based on books or inspired by them. In that respects I have picked 5 of my favourite horror novels that have been made into successful films but are still definitely worth a read.

The Shining by Stephen King

The Shining By Stephen King

Probably one of the most well know books by Stephen king, the shining captivates readers and draws them into a world of alcoholism, abuse and possession. After a father loses his job he moves his family to a seemingly empty hotel where he has accepted work as a caretaker for the winter. His young son has a psychic ability to communicate with spirits and experiences visions that grow out of control when they move into the hotel. Cut off from the outside the hotel seems to develop an evil force with a presence of relentless secrets. Captivating your imagination King lets you experience each characters downfall into insanity and the repercussions they hold. With some truly gory moments and genius writing you are drawn into the book with intrigue and disgust. Famously made into a blockbuster film by Stanley Kubrick the original novel is just as scary and captivating so it is well worth a read, with the lights dimmed of course.

Ghost Story by Peter Straub

Ghost Story By Peter Straub

So you think you can get away with murder? Think again! When a group of young men meet a beautiful woman they instantly fall in love. When one of the men Edward beds the woman he struggles to perform and she later mocks him in front of his friends. As he leaps in an attempt to silence her she is knocked over and fatally hits her head on a stone fire place. The friends decide to cover up the death and dispose of the body. 50 years have passed and the sudden death of one of Edwards’s sons sparks a sequence of chilling events. Unravelling the truth Edward discovers his son had just like him met a beautiful young woman who he was intending to marry. This woman has a mysterious aura and looks identical to the woman Edward accidentally murdered 50 years before. Could her ghost be back for revenge?

Misery by Stephen King

Misery By Stephen King

Victim of a car crash author Paul Sheldon is rescued by a seemingly nice woman called Annie. She takes him back to her home, nurses his wounds and splints his broken leg. Letting him stay until he is well Annie seems like the perfect hostess until she tells him ‘I am your number one fan’. Paul Sheldon is famous for writing books centred on a character called Misery and having just completed his latest novel Annie asks if she can read it. Realising that Misery has been killed off in the latest story Annie is far from pleased and flies into a rage. Annie begins to reveal her true colours and threatens to kill him if he doesnÆt write another novel to bring back Misery. Paul soon realises annie is a completely obsessed nutter. With nobody knowing where he is and being held prisoner, his weak state prevents him from escaping. Annie has a seriously dark past and soon makes clear that when he disagrees he will be punished in a painful torturous way just like the others. Follow his story of torture and pain as Annie does all she can to get her own way, but will it all end in misery?

Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist

Let The Right One In By John Ajvide Lindqvist

When the body of a teenage boy is found completely drained of blood the whole town of Blackeberg, Sweden stirs with the rumour of a ritual killing. We meet 12 year old Oskar, a local boy who gets mercilessly bullied at school, collects newspaper cutting of murders and steals for fun. He has so many problems for a child but with no one to talk to. That is until the mysterious Eli moves in next door. Oskar and Eli’s paths cross one evening in the courtyard of their apartment complex where Oskar is playing with a rubix cube. Eli who seems unaffected by the cold instantly draws Oskar in with her mysterious ways. As the friendship between the two grows, you delve into the worlds of both Oskar and Eli with not all being as it seems. Things around the town start to get messy and more bodies are found, the clue may be that Eli can only come out at night. With plenty of emotive subjects, blood, guts and gore, let the right one in is captivating and intriguing, definitely a book to remember.

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

The Haunting Of Hill House By Shirley Jackson

After spending years nursing her sick mother Eleanor must find her place in the world. She is invited along with two others to visit hill house with dr Montague who is conducting a study of the house. Intent on studying the history and haunting Eleanor’s history of psychic phenomena is used with intention to bring the house to life. Little do they know the house as plans of its own and one is not going to leave. Full of tension, suspense you will definitely get the creeps reading this. The haunting of hill house is more of a psychological thriller that uses suggestions to imprint visions in your imagination, rather than using obvious things, drawing you further into the book. Feeding on the fear of the residents you won’t want to visit any spooky empty houses after reading this book, for sure.