Into The Closet of Skeletons: Exploring the Best-Selling Horror and Ghost Story Books for Adults

Ominous shadows over hidden alleys, Blood drops on walls, eerie omens echoing in our hearts. In the world of Literature, the horror genre has produced some of the most mind-numbing, blood-curdling books that have left us readers petrified but yearning for more. This page brings you five of the most loved (and feared) Horror and Ghost Books of All Time, for Adults and Young Adults alike, from centuries back to recent times. These bone-chilling must-reads will leave you double-checking your doors and cautiously avoiding any dark, musky basements. So make sure to add these to your reading lists because trust me, you do not want to miss out on this roller coaster of an experience! 

1.    The Stand by Stephen King

Topping off the list, we have the possible torchbearer of post-apocalyptic works. The Stand by Stephen King is the holy grail of apocalypses and end-of-the-world stories. This post-apocalyptic dark fantasy novel centres around a world, where 99 per cent of the population has been wiped out by a deadly, mutated strain of super-flu. Those who managed to escape a painful death are left alone in a crumbling world, terrified, confused, and in need of a strong leader. The masterful writing and amazing world-building along with the carefully thought-out plot, has made sure that it stays unmatched on the list of the Best Horror Books of All Time and that the book remains as riveting and eerie as when it was first published. 

2.    Tender is The Flesh Augustina Bazterrica

This 21st-century dystopian horror thriller will leave you shaken to the core, sweaty, and with your heart pounding in your ears. Originally written and published in Spanish then later translated into English, the book centres around a dystopian world in which all animal meat starts to get contaminated by a deadly virus. Filled with gory details, horrific scenes, and wondrous euphemisms, this book is known to leave the reader distraught and paranoid, making us explore the extent of depravity humanity is capable of. This book is quickly becoming a fan favourite among horror fanatics and is undoubtedly one of the Top Horror Books for Young Adults.

3.    The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty

 Popularly dubbed ‘one of the scariest novels of all time’, this book was later made into a movie which was also dubbed, ‘one of the most scariest movies of all time’. The story details the demonic possession of an eleven-year-old girl and the frantic attempts of two priests to exorcise the demon. The book is famous for its detailed descriptions, capturing and locking in place the aspect of horror. The reader can vividly experience each step of the journey, starting with the eerily comfortable and peaceful start and the slow build to a bone-chilling crescendo. This masterpiece is a must-read for all the horror fanatics out there and an all-time, Top-Grossing Best-Selling Horror Novel. 

4.    The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

This literary gem has stood the test of time since its publication in the 1950s. The book has been hailed multiple times as an impeccable work of unnerving, toe-curling horror. This supernatural, gothic horror thriller is about a group of four people, living in Hill House, an ominous, eerie, secluded manor with a reputation for being haunted. Soon, all four of the inhabitants start experiencing strange events. Unseen noises, writing on the walls, and roaming ghosts. This book is bound to leave your teeth chattering and wary of every room you walk into. If you love reading Ghost Novels and Paranormal Stories, this is the book for you!

5.    Dracula by Bram Stoker

Often dubbed as the definitive vampire novel, Dracula is a literary masterpiece that defined multiple tropes and associations that have become a staple of the subgenre of vampires. This epistolary novel gives a new definition to fear and manipulates the reader's mind to go beyond the shackles of fear, into something a lot more terrifying. An excellent narrative of loss, obsession, and subdued sexuality, this novel single-handedly underpinned an entire subgenre. Dracula will undoubtedly remain among the Top Horror Books of All Time.