Hello friends, fans and folks who’ve stumbled upon this! You’ve arrived at my YEAR END BEST OF LIST, but more than anything, this is simply a list of the books that I read in 2023 that blew my mind. At the time of writing this, I’m at almost 200 books read for the year, but as is always the case, some stick with you more than others, and I’d say I’m a ‘generous’ reader and reviewer, in that I go into every book thinking they’re a five star read and going from there.
In the past, I used to do two Best-Of lists. One would be for books released in that calendar year and one would be for books I read that year that came out in other years. Not the case this year, as honestly, I just would rather do one haha! 50% laziness, 50% efficiency.
So, without further wait – here are the books I read that I absolutely loved in 2023 in order of when I read them!
The Marigold by Andrew F. Sullivan.
What a crazy, phenomenal book. This one is a dystopian nightmare of a city alive, a crumbling dream and those unfortunately caught in the middle. Outstanding read.
No One Gets Out Alive by Adam Nevill
I think only Adam Nevill can describe a section of blackness in a room in such a way that its not just black, but something undulating, pulsing and absolutely horrifying. This novel about a young woman in desperate need of a room, grabs you by the throat and never relents.
The Clackity by Lora Senf
Doing this list is odd, because it feels like I read this book a few years back, but that might be because the sequel has already arrived! This middle-grade novel deftly works its way into your heart and is a perfect introduction to the dark stuff for younger readers. It followed a young girl trying to find her aunt in a strange, paranormal-filled world. Great stuff.
GRAVENFROST by Peter Hammarberg
A book about a crazed Special Agent, this one was a perfect mix of Fox Mulder humor and extreme horror deliciousness.
The Residence by Andrew Pyper
I re-read this novel as part of a group read-along and it reminded me of how perfectly sorrow filled this one is. Part real-life historical fiction, part speculative grief-shrouded horror, Andrew delivers a divine look at the lengths a mother goes to bring her son back from the beyond.
Lure by Tim McGregor
A swiftly-paced novella, this one focuses on a small town, a strange arrival and the results that await those in the water. A knock out from start to finish.
Faces of Beth by Carver Pike
A stealthy examination of mental health and how it creates a domino effect around those who care, Pike delivered a tour de force with this novel.
The Demonologist by Andrew Pyper
Another book I re-read as a group read-along, the story of David Ullman and his pursuer will always hold a special place in my heart. Andrew’s galloping prose, fast-paced scenes and father-looking-for-daughter narrative have made this a timeless classic.
The Handyman Method by Nick Cutter and Andrew F. Sullivan
What starts out as a man finding a Youtube channel and showcasing his toxic masculinity morphs into a chaotic tale of generational sacrifice and existential dread. This duo knocked it out of the park.
Suckerville by Chris Sorensen
A throw back novel to the 80s creature-feature time, this novel rips along a million miles an hour. This is the definition of ‘unputdownable’ and Sorensen fills this one with a ton of squirmy goodness.
Bee Tornado by Chris Sorensen
Not to sit back and chuckle over the release of ‘Suckerville,’ Sorensen quickly released ‘Bee Tornado,’ which is an even better novel than ‘Suckerville.’ While the first novel focused on the chaos, ‘Bee Tornado’ adds a layer of emotional attachment, while fully maintaining the ridiculous glee throughout.
The Briars by Stephanie Parent
A fresh take on horror, this novel follows a woman working as a dominatrix in a place where something lurks. From start to finish, this is a layered, solid story and one that will connect with you in more ways than one.
And By God’s Hand You Shall Die by David Sodergren
Perhaps Sodergren’s most ‘extreme’ release so far, we arrive at a brothel in New York in the 70’s and watch as a priest who should be dead becomes unhinged and a young woman fights for her life.
Whalefall by Daniel Kraus
A book that on its surface (ha!) seems like a one-dimension story, this novel is the ultimate surprise. Following a young man, angry at his father, who goes on a dive to try and find him, only to be swallowed by a whale and fight for his life. Completely engrossing.
Djinn by Craig DiLouie
Thrown into the heart of the middle-east, we follow a woman looking for answers and a strange place in the middle of nowhere that hides a secret. DiLouie delivers a Hollywood blockbuster.
The Inconsolables by Michael Wehunt
Anytime we get a new piece of fiction from Wehunt, its time to celebrate, but an entire collection was a delight. Each story thrums with the macabre paint only Michael can paint a story with and showcases why he’s a modern day master.
The Grimmer by Naben Ruthnum
Part autobiographical look at his childhood, part supernatural YA thriller, Ruthnum gives us a phenomenal story packed in topical wrapping paper. This one will connect deeply and have you rooting for Vish throughout.
The Night Will Find Us by Matthew Lyons
A group of friends head to the woods to campout and have fun. The woods have other plans. Phenomenally bleak from start to finish, this one had me captivated.
Midnight Masquerade by Greg Chapman
A criminally overlooked author, Chapman writes like very few can. Within this latest collection we’re given a perfect showcase of why everyone should be reading Greg’s work. The title story is worth the admission alone.
Precious Cargo: My Year of Driving the Kids on School Bus 3077Â by Craig Davidson
A non-fiction release from Craig, this one delightfully shares the story of his time in Calgary when he took job driving a special needs school bus. The connections he makes with the kids is just phenomenal to discover and ultimately, it was amazing to see each of them share in the spotlight together.
They Stalk the Night by Brian Moreland
Delivering cold weather horror and creatures as only Moreland can, this one starts with a storm rolling in and follows that up by throwing in some blood thirsty creatures and a warped tale of survival.
The Daughters of Block Island by Christa Carmen
A pristine, gothic novel about an odd place, an odder home and a search for answers, Carmen manages to give us both a fast-paced thriller while also delivering a slow-burn simmering mindfuck. Perfect from start to finish.
The Homecoming by Andrew Pyper
The third book I re-read of Andrew’s this year for a group read-along, this novel will make you hyperventilate as more layers are unraveled and we careen headfirst towards the completely bonkers ending.
The Black Lord by Colin Hinckley
If this novella was a car race, you’d be white-knuckling the steering wheel as you zipped down a mountain course with no brakes. Hinckley gives us some of the most unnerving moments you’ll ever read and leads us all to the thing that grows in the dark.
The Claw of Craving by Joseph Sale
An impassioned and imaginative retelling of the King in Yellow mythos, Sale possesses the most magical imagination out there and harnesses it through some of the best prose you’ll ever read.
Under a Watchful Eye by Adam Nevill
What starts off as a simply tale of a former friend showing up uninvited one evening, transforms into a sprawling, cult filled story of a strange history, an odd compound and a blackness that grows over everything.
GRIM PORTRAITS: Six Stories About the Dark Side of Art by Kealan Patrick Burke
Much like Wehunt above, when news of a new Burke release arrives, everyone loses their collective minds in excitement. And much like Wehunt, you know Burke will deliver the goods. This collection brings us to some very dark places and holds us there under Kealan’s steady hand.
One of Us by Craig DiLouie
Perhaps one of the greatest ‘horror’ novels ever written, this one from DiLouie does the impossible by giving us a story that will always remain highly relevant and exposes the worst aspects of humanity. All while the reader clutches as the last threads of hope.
Psychic Teenage Bloodbath II by Carl John Lee
Picking up shortly after the first one, Carl John Lee takes us deep into the psyche of our characters and throws the readers to the wolves. Lee has a sublime way of making us care, even when the worst possible things are happening all around those characters. The epilogue is one of the most heartbreaking things you’ll ever read.
Despatches by Lee Murray
An engaging, epistolary novella, we follow along during the war and discover that the enemy isn’t the only thing trying to kill you. This goes into cosmic horror territory and is done magnificently.
https://www.pspublishing.co.uk/despatches-ebook-by-lee-murray-6169-p.asp?v=0&variantid=6170
Snarl by John Boden
A novella that follows a small town man, desperately in love with a woman who may or may not be leading him on, this made for a perfect dark drama with a multitude of storylines that all converged in a hideous, sorrow filled ending.
In The Garden of Rusting Gods: A Collection by Patrick Freivald
A collection perfectly balanced between horror and science-fiction, Freivald throws the reader into the deep end over and over again, only to deliver the goods and absolutely crush each and every story. Just an amazing collection.
Eynhallow by Tim McGregor
A magical novel following a woman trapped in her circumstances until a mysterious figure arrives on their island, Tim makes us live and breathe this novel and every single paragraph will chill you to the bone.
Eynhallow
In Excess of Black by Red Lagoe
Just finished this one a few days ago, but it won’t be leaving my noggin’ for a long, long time. Lagoe gives us a visceral story with so much blackness it should almost be illegal. A grief-stricken mother, a lifelong affliction and a black, amorphous blob that begins to transform. Amazing.
Scarewaves by Trevor Henderson
Oh, what a marvelous treat this novel was. A middle grade horror novel about a new resident in town, a town with a paranormal history, we get plenty of nightmare-inducing creatures, band-together hijinks and a setting that works so very well to Trevor to bring this world to life.
Alright, so there we go, my massive list of all the books I’ve LOVED in 2023. There’s a ton of books I loved as well, but these ones were just a bit above the rest. Happy Holidays friends!