It’s that time of year again. The time of year when everything starts to get a little colder, a little darker, and the Halloween decorations get hauled out of the attic for another season of spookiness. To celebrate, I’ve compiled a list of more of my favorite creepy novels. (You can see my other list here.)

Be aware, however, that not all of these entries fall neatly into the horror genre. A couple of these gave me chills without any ghosts or supernatural creatures in sight—instead, the horror comes from more . . . human elements. I hope the list inspires you to give one of these gems a try this season.

The Elementals by Michael McDowell

Let’s start with the most traditionally scary book on this list, shall we? Michael McDowell’s novel takes place in 1980s Alabama and revolves around two well-to-do old Southern families: the McCrays and the Savages. Joined by marriage, the two families vacation every year at Beldame, a tiny swathe of land on the Gulf shore housing three Victorian summer houses. One is used for each family, with the third standing empty—long abandoned and filling with more and more sand every year.

But (surprise!) the third house isn’t as empty as it seems, as the young India McCray soon discovers. McDowell’s graphic depictions of supernatural entities (including grotesque children and fetuses) within the house piggybacks on the almost unbearable suspense he builds. Steeped in Southern sensibilities, this novel is a shock to the system from the very first scene (if you know, you know).

Masters of Death by Olivie Blake

On a lighter note is Olivie Blake’s hilariously biting take on vampires, ghosts, and more. Viola Marek is both a vampire and a real estate agent, surviving on blood juice boxes and the help of her supernatural support group. But a problem arises when a house she’s trying to sell is stubbornly being haunted by the ghost of its snobby (and annoyingly handsome) former owner.

Viola seeks out Fox D’Mora for help—a medium and the godson of Death itself (who, as it happens, has somewhat of a gambling problem). What ensues is a chaotic journey that will require Fox to confront his past—both the love of his life who abandoned him without explanation years before and a rampaging god who wants to claim both the living and the dead for himself. With unforgettable characters whose sarcastic quips are as insightful as they are hilarious, Blake’s take on the supernatural is a little bit creepy and a whole lot of fun.

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

If you like more mystery than horror in your Halloween reading, might I suggest this brilliant and labyrinthine novel by Susanna Clarke? It begins with the titular character, Piranesi, who seemingly has no memories from outside his mysterious house. The “house,” in truth, is a series of infinite rooms and corridors that regularly flood from a literal ocean that roars through it on a regular basis.

But Piranesi has tracked the tides and spends his days roaming from statue-filled room to statue-filled room to avoid the floods. The only break to this monotony is when he receives his twice-weekly visit from The Other, a man who says he needs Piranesi’s help in researching “A Great and Secret Knowledge.” The horror in this novel comes from the isolation and mounting fear that Piranesi experiences as he stumbles across evidence that all is not what it seems in his mysterious world. Clarke builds a dark, impenetrable world that simply goes on and on—giving readers an almost dizzying sense of disorientation and dread.

The Vegetarian by Han Kang

While certainly not a horror novel in the traditional sense, Han Kang’s bleak study of humanity is perhaps the most horrific entry on the list. The story centers on Yeong-hye, a quiet and unassuming housewife who lives with her traditional husband. When she begins having blood- and gore-filled nightmares, Yeong-hye takes control of her life in the only way she can: She becomes a vegetarian.

This is seen as beyond odd in a culinary culture as meat-centered as Korea’s. But the attempts to get her to eat meat—from her husband, parents, older sister In-hye, and In-hye’s unnamed brother-in-law—takes a disturbing turn as they each lay claim to Yeong-hye’s bodily autonomy. It is a terrifying glimpse into the mental and physical breakdown of a woman who simply wants to be heard.

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

Leigh Bardugo may be best known for her YA Shadow and Bone series, but let me tell you: She also knows how to pull off an eerie adult novel too! This is the first in the Alex Stern series (followed by Hell Bent, as well as the third and final installment that’s expected to come out in 2026) and introduces Galaxy “Alex” Stern as a troubled twenty-year-old.

As the sole survivor of a gruesome murder scene back in California, she is offered a full-ride scholarship to Yale by a mysterious benefactor . . . with one catch: She must closely monitor Yale’s secret societies. What she discovers—both about the occult happenings on campus and her own bloody past—leads her on a wild ride full of magic, mystery, and horror.

Andrea Moran lives outside of Nashville with her husband and two kids. She’s a professional copywriter and editor who loves all things books. Find her on LinkedIn.