In recent times, the allure of horror books has reached new heights. Perhaps it’s the gloomy weather or the unsettling reality of our world that draws us to the darker corners of literature. I, too, find myself scouring for lesser-known horror novels to devour. As you navigate this year’s releases and the familiar paths they tread, you may be wondering what lies beyond the surface level of popular titles.
Seeking out these hidden gems led me to a trusted ally: Goodreads statistics.
Specifically, I employed the ‘num ratings’ filter to uncover horror books that flew under the radar. My criteria were straightforward: the book had to have been published prior to 2020 and boast fewer than 250 Goodreads reviews. While some of these titles may blend into other genres, their core essence remains rooted in horror. As you delve into this list, be aware that some may contain trigger warnings; take necessary precautions and conduct research if needed.
The Between by Tananarive Due
Tananarive Due’s backlist of horror books may not be as well-known as her novel ‘The Good House’, but they are a treasure trove of underread gems. The author draws heavily from personal experience to craft stories that are both haunting and thought-provoking. In ‘X, Y, Z’, Due weaves together elements of psychological suspense, social commentary, and supernatural horror to create a timely and unsettling tale.
The story follows Hilton, a man who narrowly escaped drowning as a child, only to find himself facing a new kind of terror decades later. When his wife, the county’s only elected African American judge, begins receiving racist hate mail, Hilton’s protective instincts go into overdrive. As the nightmares intensify and the lines between reality and fantasy blur, Hilton is forced to confront the dark forces that threaten not just his own sanity, but also the very fabric of his community.
The Uninvited by Dorothy Macardle
In 1942, siblings Roderick and Pamela Fitzgerald fled the chaos of London life in search of a peaceful existence. Their eyes landed on Cliff End, an affordable property that seemed too good to be true. However, the local residents’ eerie whispers about the house’s mysterious past had them questioning their decision. As they delved deeper into the history of their new home, they began to uncover hints that the rumors might not have been entirely unfounded.
The Fitzgeralds soon found themselves facing a reality that was both unsettling and intriguing.
Pressure by Jeff Strand
In 2006, a sense of normalcy enveloped Alex’s life as a devoted father and husband. His days blended together in a comfortable routine with his wife and daughter by his side. However, the reappearance of a figure from his past jolted him back to a long-forgotten chapter in his youth. The sudden appearance of a familiar knife, one that had lain dormant for years, in the hands of his curious daughter sent Alex’s anxiety soaring.
He couldn’t shake off the feeling that someone was determined to complete what they had started all those years ago.
Wonderland by Jennifer Hillier
In 2005, Jennifer Hillier’s lesser-known novel masterfully blended elements of horror and thriller genres, resulting in a chilling tale that will leave readers on the edge of their seats. Wonderland, a seemingly idyllic amusement park by day, transforms into a sinister playground when a man is discovered dead amidst the cotton candy stalls and twinkling carnival lights.
The discovery of another person’s disappearance soon after sets Deputy Police Chief Vanessa Castro racing against time to unravel the mystery before it’s too late. As the stakes rise and the atmosphere grows increasingly eerie, readers are drawn into a gripping narrative that expertly weaves together suspense, intrigue, and terror.
The Rattled Bones by S. M. Parker
As Rilla Brae grapples with the sudden loss of her father, a mysterious presence begins to haunt her. However, it’s not his ghost that’s following her – but rather a spectral figure glimpsed on a nearby island off the coast of Maine. The enigmatic girl appears and disappears, her haunting melodies drifting across the waves to Rilla’s shore.
When she encounters Sam, an archaeology student excavating the island’s secrets, Rilla finds herself inexplicably drawn to the history that’s slowly being unearthed. Decades of buried truths begin to surface, beckoning Rilla to unravel the mysteries hidden beneath the island’s rugged landscape.
Are You Afraid of the Dark? by Seth C. Adams
In 2019, a poignant tale unfolded, capturing the hearts of 14 Goodreads reviewers. The story revolves around Reggie, a 14-year-old struggling to come to terms with the loss of his father. As he seeks solace in the woods behind his house, his treehouse becomes a sanctuary where he can escape into the serenity of the forest. However, one fateful day, a mysterious figure emerges from the trees, bleeding and battered.
Reggie’s initial hesitation gives way to compassion as he allows the stranger to recover in his treehouse. As days turn into weeks, an unlikely bond forms between the two, and Reggie’s perception of reality begins to shift irrevocably.
The Quelling by Barbara Barrow
Remains by Andrew Cull
Lucy Campbell’s life was forever shattered when her son was brutally taken from her. The trauma of his death left her a recluse in a psychiatric hospital, trapped in an abyss of grief and despair. Yet, whispers began to circulate that there might be a way for her to reconnect with her lost loved one. Intrigued by this prospect, Lucy found herself drawn to the house where her son’s life was cut short. Little did she know, however, that she was not alone in watching the very same location.
Someone else was also keeping vigil, their presence as unsettling as it was unexplained.
Gnarled Hollow by Charlotte Greene
Emily Murray’s life took an unexpected turn when she was offered a chance to work and study within the former estate of a renowned author. As an unemployed English professor, she didn’t have much to lose, but little did she know that this opportunity would lead her down a rabbit hole of mystery and intrigue. Once inside the sprawling estate, Emily began to notice strange occurrences – the house seemed to shift and change shape before her very eyes.
This enigmatic phenomenon forced Emily to reexamine everything she thought she knew about reality. As she delved deeper into the mysteries of the estate, the stranger things became. For fans of Mexican Gothic, this book is sure to captivate with its blend of psychological thrills and supernatural twists.
Mistletoe by Alison Littlewood
The notion that Halloween is the only time for spine-tingling storytelling is a misconception. This Christmas-set horror novel proves that fear can strike at any time of year. The story follows Leah, whose life is forever changed after her husband and son meet their untimely demise. As the holiday season approaches, she seeks solace in a rural farmhouse, hoping to escape the sympathetic glances from those around her.
However, as soon as she settles into her new home, strange occurrences start to plague her – disembodied voices, unseen presences, and unexplained events that defy explanation.
Nan-Core by Mahokaru Numata, Translated by Jonathan Lloyd-Davies
In 2015, the thought-provoking novel Nan-Core was first published in Japan. The story revolves around Ryosuke, a protagonist who returns to his childhood home after the passing of his mother. However, his visit takes an unexpected turn when he discovers a mysterious purse, a lock of hair, and a series of journals that appear to contain confessions to murder.
As Ryosuke delves deeper into these findings, he is forced to confront the possibility that everything he thought he knew about his family was based on deception. With these shocking revelations, he must re-examine his relationships with his parents, uncovering their true identities and motivations behind the masks they wore.
The Low, Low Woods by Carmen Maria Machado and Dani
Published in 2019, the first volume of this series boasts an impressive 118 Goodreads reviews. While technically released in 2020, earlier single issues from 2019 bring it within the scope of this review. The sparse online presence of issue #1, with only 25 reviews on Goodreads, further solidifies its inclusion here. Carmen Maria Machado may be more widely recognized for her works Her Body and Other Parties and In the Dream House, but this series equally deserves attention.
As El and Vee awaken in a movie theater with no recollection of the preceding hours, readers are introduced to the enigmatic disease that erases memories and the town’s mystifying underbelly.
Devil’s Wake by Steven Barnes and Tananarive Due
In 2012, a series starter was published, which brought a sense of realism to the concept of Earth facing potential apocalypse. The story begins with an infection brought to our planet by an alien species. This infection causes those affected to transform into entities that defy any prediction. As winter sets in over the Pacific Northwest, Terry and Kendra find themselves fighting for survival as they struggle to discover something worth living for.
Now You’re One of Us by Asa Nonami, Translated by Michael Volek
In 2007, Noriko’s journey took a significant turn as she married into her new family and gained acceptance. However, as she delved deeper into the lives of her in-laws, she began to question everything she thought she knew about them. This masterfully crafted Japanese Gothic horror novel masterfully weaves together suspenseful moments, gradually building anticipation before unleashing a torrent of dark revelations that expose the sinister secrets beneath one family’s seemingly ordinary facade.
The Country Will Bring Us No Peace by Matthieu Simard, Translated by Pablo Strauss
In 2019, Simon and Marie’s journey with infertility led them to make a drastic change, trading their fast-paced city lifestyle for the peace and quiet of the countryside. They settled in an idyllic village that seemed to be frozen in time, its charm only slightly marred by the rundown state it was left in after the factory closed.
As the days went by, the couple couldn’t help but notice a peculiar phenomenon – it was as if people were slowly vanishing into thin air, leaving behind an unsettling sense of eeriness that hung over the town like a perpetual shadow.
The Nightmarchers by J. Lincoln Fenn
As Julia listened to the tales of her childhood, she couldn’t help but dismiss the stories about her great-aunt Irene’s untimely death on a remote island. The whispers spoke of Irene, a botanical researcher, who had delved into the mysteries of the nightmarchers – ancient spirits that bound themselves to the land. Julia’s family claimed Irene was convinced the spirits had joined hers, dooming her to become one of them forever tied to the island.
But as a journalist, Julia always approached these stories with a healthy dose of skepticism. That was until she received an unexpected plea from her great-aunt’s sister, asking Julia to travel to the island and uncover the truth behind Irene’s mysterious demise. As Julia spent more time on the island, she began to sense that perhaps her family’s tales weren’t just mere fables after all.
The longer she stayed, the more she realized that some secrets were better left unspoken, and others were waiting to be unearthed.
Water Ghosts by Shawna Yang Ryan
In 1930s California, a small farming town was thrown into chaos when three enigmatic Chinese women emerged from the mist. The sudden appearance of these mysterious strangers sent shockwaves through the community, with whispers of curses and omens spreading like wildfire.
As the townspeople struggled to comprehend the presence of these spectral visitors, one revelation shook them to their core: one of the women was none other than the long-lost wife of a prominent local businessman, whose gambling parlor was the epicenter of the town’s social life. The questions swirled: Where did these women come from? And why had they returned after all this time?
The Bone Weaver’s Orchard by Sarah Read
In 2019, the Old Cross School for Boys had garnered an impressive 85 reviews on Goodreads. However, beneath its seemingly ordinary façade lay a sinister truth. Whenever a boy went missing from the institution, he was simply classified as a ‘runaway.’ But when Charley stumbled upon a pool of blood behind a hidden wall, his curiosity got the better of him.
As he delved deeper into the school’s dark past and concealed secrets, he discovered that not everyone was pleased with these revelations coming to light.
Slights by Kaaron Warren
Following a life-altering near-death experience in 2010, Stevie’s thoughts were consumed by a peculiar phenomenon. As her heartbeat slowed to a near-halt, she caught glimpses of a mysterious room filled with individuals she had wronged throughout her life. The encounter left an indelible mark on her psyche, sparking an all-consuming fascination: What lay behind this enigmatic gathering, and was she truly the only one privy to its secrets?
With each subsequent brush with mortality, Stevie’s obsession grew, driving her to push herself to the brink of death, yet not quite crossing over. This relentless cycle became her quest for answers, as she sought to unravel the mysteries of the room and her own unique connection to it.
Honour Thy Father by Lesley Glaister
For over six decades, four sisters – Milly, Agatha, Ellen, and Esther – have been trapped in their decaying mansion, frozen in time by the fear of their deceased father’s malevolent spirit escaping into the world if they were to leave. As the years pass, the sisters’ isolation begins to take its toll, and they start to uncover secrets about each other that have been hidden for far too long.
The question that has haunted them all these years is no longer just a whispered rumor – it’s a burning desire to know the truth behind their own lives.