As an avid reader of multiple genres, (suspense/thriller/horror/mystery) I have so many favorite books that it’s definitely difficult to narrow down my top 5 in any genre. And it may seem cliché to some that 2 of my favorite horror books are by prolific horror author, Stephen King, but what can I say? That man knows how to get inside my head and keep me turning pages.

So, here they are, in no particular order. I’ve copied the synopsis for each book. All books are available on Goodreads and Amazon online.

THE SHINING by Stephen King

Jack Torrance’s new job at the Overlook Hotel is the perfect chance for a fresh start. As the off-season caretaker at the atmospheric old hotel, he’ll have plenty of time to spend reconnecting with his family and working on his writing. But as the harsh winter weather sets in, the idyllic location feels ever more remote . . . and more sinister. And the only one to notice the strange and terrible forces gathering around the Overlook is Danny Torrance, a uniquely gifted five-year-old.

For me, one of the scariest settings is when a book takes place in an isolated old home or inn in the forest with no one else around for miles. This book delivers atmosphere and isolation that drive a man out of his mind.

WILLIAM by Mason Coile

Henry is a brilliant engineer who, after untold hours spent in his home lab, has achieved the breakthrough of his career—he’s created an artificially intelligent consciousness. He calls the half-formed robot William.

No one knows about William. Henry’s agoraphobia keeps him inside the house, and his fixation on his project keeps him up in the attic, away from everyone, including his pregnant wife, Lily.

When Lily’s coworkers show up, wanting to finally meet Henry and see the new house—the smartest of smart homes—Henry decides to introduce them to William, and things go from strange to much worse. Soon Henry and Lily discover the security upgrades intended to keep danger out of the house are even better at locking it in.

I’m not going to lie – AI scares me. I don’t trust technology to operate without glitches, like a smart house that locks you inside. Coile twists these glitches into one of the scariest books I’ve ever read.

THE OMEN by David Seltzer

Jeremy Thorn and his wife, Katherine, have just welcomed the newest member of their family to the world: their beautiful son Damien. But as the boy grows, so does the terror surrounding him. Fatal accidents, suicides, and unexplained violence seem to follow the Thorns wherever they go—but why? And how can Damien have anything to do with the carnage and bloodshed? He is only a child. But Damien Thorn is like no child on Earth. He bears the mark of the beast. And his time is at hand.

This book features another premise that I find particularly scary – when children are evil. I remember reading The Turn of the Screw in high school and having nightmares about my younger sibling having an evil side.

BIRD BOX by Josh Malerman

Something is out there . . .

Something terrifying that must not be seen. One glimpse and a person is driven to deadly violence. No one knows what it is or where it came from.

Five years after it began, a handful of scattered survivors remain, including Malorie and her two young children. Living in an abandoned house near the river, she has dreamed of fleeing to a place where they might be safe. Now, that the boy and girl are four, it is time to go. But the journey ahead will be terrifying: twenty miles downriver in a rowboat—blindfolded—with nothing to rely on but her wits and the children’s trained ears. One wrong choice and they will die. And something is following them. But is it man, animal, or monster?

Engulfed in darkness, surrounded by sounds both familiar and frightening, Malorie embarks on a harrowing odyssey—a trip that takes her into an unseen world and back into the past, to the companions who once saved her. Under the guidance of the stalwart Tom, a motely group of strangers banded together against the unseen terror, creating order from the chaos. But when supplies ran low, they were forced to venture outside—and confront the ultimate question: in a world gone mad, who can really be trusted?

Interweaving past and present, Josh Malerman’s breathtaking debut is a horrific and gripping snapshot of a world unraveled that will have you racing to the final page.

Ever since Covid shut down the world, apocalyptic horror seems scarier to me because much of it isn’t that far from reality.

MISERY by Stephen King

Paul Sheldon is a bestselling novelist who has finally met his number one fan. Her name is Annie Wilkes, and she is more than a rabid reader—she is Paul’s nurse, tending his shattered body after an automobile accident. But she is also furious that the author has killed off her favorite character in his latest book. Annie becomes his captor, keeping him prisoner in her isolated house.

Annie wants Paul to write a book that brings Misery back to life—just for her. She has a lot of ways to spur him on. One is a needle. Another is an axe. And if they don’t work, she can get really nasty.

Although there are lots of stories involving unhinged fans, King’s ability to create larger than life characters definitely rounded out my top 5 list.

I love psychological thrillers and horror. I love the twisted thoughts that inhabit characters. I love the fear of the unknown, the fear of being watched, and the fear of the dark. How characters think. The tormented mind. Human flaws. How far someone will go. All the things that go bump in the night.

What scares you? Share your favorite horror reads in the comments below.