Horror Book Buyer’s Guide

The Christmas season is quickly approaching and now is the perfect time to pick up some amazing reads for that horror book lover in your family!

I have been reading A LOT this year, and the number of fantastic books released is staggering!

So, to help you choose – here are my top reads and who you should buy them for!

I have broken them into three categories; Novels, Collections and My Own Releases (did you really think I wouldn’t try and plug my own stuff here!)

As you can see, the majority of the books listed here are all indie authors, self-published or released via small press publishing!  How fantastic is that!  All of these books can be found through Amazon, as well many are available through your local bookstore or library!

*Side note – I know there have been some really amazing releases this year.  Currently this is all I have been able to get too.  I still have so much on my TBR pile that they will end up being added to next year’s must haves.  BUT just so I don’t pass anything over, at the very end, I have included a short list of books I must read this year, that have been receiving massive buzz and praise, so they may catch your fancy as well!

 

Novels:

Tamer Animals – Justin M. Woodward

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40604732-tamer-animals

Goodread Rating 4.42/5

My Review

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2432267623?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

Who will like this? – This is for fans of coming-of-age tales, creepy camping and gory endings!

 

The Wicked Ones – JZ Foster

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37685076-the-wicked-ones

Goodread Rating 4.32/5

My Review

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2399508002?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

Who will like this? – This is for fans who enjoy creepy, dark elements and demons!

 

The Only Child – Andrew Pyper

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32620376-the-only-child

Goodread Rating 3.13/5

My Review

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2432267911?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

Who will like this? – Don’t let that Goodread rating fool you, this is my favourite book of all time.  This is for fans of gothic tales, alternative history and blood and guts.

 

The Forgotten Island – David Sodergren

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41595990-the-forgotten-island

Goodread rating 4.62/5

My Review

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2518636145?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

Who will like this? – This is the best horror movie ever written.  A creature feature on an abandoned island.

 

The Nightmare Room – Chris Sorenson

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38200785-the-nightmare-room

Goodread Rating 3.89/5

My Review

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2459407023?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

Who will like this? – For fans of ghost stories, haunted house tales and tortured internal battles.

 

The Faithful – Matt Hayward

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41893688-the-faithful

Goodread Rating 4.47/5

My Review

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2562790889?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

Who will like this? – This gem is for fans of cosmic horror, red neck revenge and people coming together to fight evil!

The Window – Glenn Rolfe

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40718680-the-window

Goodread Rating 4.23/5

My Review

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2540988150?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

Who will like this? – For fans of coming-of-age tales, being possessed, and gory action!

 

Zombie Bigfoot – Nick Sullivan

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31806860-zombie-bigfoot

Goodread Rating 4.29/5

My Review

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2399506809?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

Who will like this? – For fans of cryptozoology, creature features and fast and furious action!

 

Devouring Dark – Alan Baxter

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41967576-devouring-dark

Goodread rating 4.31/5

My Review

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2582052218?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

Who will like this? – For fans of gangster noir, urban fantasy and street battles.

 

Now Comes the Darkness – Joe Zito

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42645584-now-comes-the-darkness

Goodread rating 4/5

My Review

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2587762439?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

Who will like this? – For fans of overcoming hardships, dark, gothic bleakness and religious struggles.

 

Children of the Dark – Jonathan Janz

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29431798-children-of-the-dark

Goodread Rating 3.96/5

My Review

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2398937741?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

Who will like this? – For fans of coming-of-age, creature feature, blood and gore!

 

Return to Dyatlov Pass – J.H. Moncrieff

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39198425-return-to-dyatlov-pass

Goodread Rating 4.07/5

My Review

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2432267781?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

Who will like this? – For fans of mysterious history, creature feature and horrific conditions

 

Gilchrist – Christian Galacar

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39292457-gilchrist

Goodread Rating 4.14/5

My Review

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2452065330?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

Who will like this? – For fans of ghostly mysteries, haunting occurrences, and strange locations.

 

The Hellbound Heart – Clive Barker

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2767170-the-hellbound-heart

Goodread Rating 4.03/5

My Review

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2453721976?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

Who will like this? – For fans of Hellraiser, other worlds and gore.

 

Kill Hill Carnage – Tim Meyer

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40692181-kill-hill-carnage

Goodread Rating 4.01/5

My Review

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2459408644?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

Who will like this? – For fans of creature features, mysterious circumstances and overcoming harsh odds.

 

The Switch House – Tim Meyer

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40533882-the-switch-house

Goodread Rating 3.99/5

My Review

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2494011632?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

Who will like this? – For fans of haunted houses, overcoming horrific events and creepy characters.

 

Kind Nepenthe – Matthew V. Brockmeyer

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35592297-kind-nepenthe

Goodread Rating 3.86/5

My Review

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2461450387?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

Who will like this? – For fans of haunted occurrences, drug dealers gone bad and redneck occurrences.

 

 

Collections:

Breathe.  Breathe. – Erin Sweet Al-Mehairi

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36384965-breathe-breathe

Goodread Rating 4.38/5

My Review

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2488227155?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

Who will like this? – Contains dark poetry and horrific short stories.  For fans of overcoming violence, odd occurrences and deep ponderings.

 

Bones – Andrew Cull

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40497019-bones

Goodread Rating 4.54/5

My Review

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2472235270?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

Who will like this? – For fans of dark happenings, haunted houses and bleak occurrences.

 

Greener Pastures – Michael Wehunt

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34552752-greener-pastures

Goodread Rating 4.07/5

My Review

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2493684638?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

Who will like this? – For fans of found footage films, creepy settings and dark happenings.

 

Dreaming at the Top of My Lungs – Israel Finn

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37551028-dreaming-at-the-top-of-my-lungs

Goodread Rating 4.51/5

My Review

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2518633108?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

Who will like this? – For fans of extreme situations, uncertain environments and crazy happenings.

 

Let There Be Dark – Tim McWhorter

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41154499-let-there-be-dark

Goodread Rating 4.86/5

My Review

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2518633808?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

Who will like this? – For fans of haunted happenings, extreme bleakness and creepy experiences.

 

My releases

I would be remiss to not suggest any of my stuff!  If you are looking to support yours truly, here are five fantastic releases to choose from!

Invisible

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38619085-invisible

Goodread Rating 4.75/5

What it is: full length novel.  For fans of creature features, haunted lighthouses and mysterious circumstances.

 

Frostbitten: 12 Hymns of Misery

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41397063-frostbitten

Goodread Rating 5/5

What it is: Collection of short stories.  For fans of bleak surroundings, dark occurrences and coming-of-age horror.

 

Wagon Buddy

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41829295-wagon-buddy

Goodread Rating 4.15/5

What it is: Novella.  For fans of imaginary friends, revenge and mysterious occurrences.

 

YURI

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42076492-yuri

Goodread Rating 4.75/5

What it is: Novella.  For fans of twisted tales, haunted houses and extreme circumstances.

 

Dim the Sun

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42594874-dim-the-sun?ac=1&from_search=true

Goodread Rating Unrated (Released December 1^st)

What it is: Ebook only.  Collection of dark poems and a darker short story. All proceeds go to helping my friend Rob Derman support his Winter Olympic goals!

 

Other books:

So these are the other books that have been getting huge praise and buzz that I currently have, but have not been able to get to reading them yet!  They all sound fantastic and can’t wait to tackle them!

 

Kin – Kealan Patrick Burke

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12231218-kin?ac=1&from_search=true

Goodread Rating 3.96/5

 

Creature – Hunter Shea

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38608020-creature?ac=1&from_search=true

Goodread Rating 4.14/5

 

The Siren and the Spectre – Jonathan Janz

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38608066-the-siren-and-the-specter?ac=1&from_search=true

Goodread Rating 4.14/5

 

Bird Box – Josh Malerman

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18498558-bird-box?ac=1&from_search=true

Goodread Rating 4/5

 

The Sea Was a Fair Master – Calvin Demmer

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40033777-the-sea-was-a-fair-master?ac=1&from_search=true

Goodread Rating 4.42/5

 

Widow’s Point – Richard Chizmer

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37172520-widow-s-point?ac=1&from_search=true

Goodread Rating 4/5

 

A God in the Shed – J-F Dubeau

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30221892-a-god-in-the-shed?ac=1&from_search=true

Goodread Rating 3.52/5

 

The Silence – Tim Lebbon

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22748082-the-silence?ac=1&from_search=true

Goodread Rating 3.8/5

 

They Feed – Jason Parent

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39306945-they-feed?ac=1&from_search=true

Goodread Rating 3.97/5

 

Train Thoughts – Jay Sigler

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39723498-train-thoughts?ac=1&from_search=true

Goodread Rating 4/5

 

So there you go!  The books were so great this year, I decided to not list them in any particular order!

Thank you for checking out this list.  By no means is this the only great horror books out there, so if you have a favourite book or author, please tell everyone about it!

And as always, once you have read a book, please, please leave a review!

Cheers!

Steve