Best Horror Novels of All Time

Whether it’s Halloween season or beach season, there’s nothing like a good horror novel. Horror novels can make for frantic, fast-paced reads, and keep you up well into the wee hours of the morning. Here are some of the best horror novels of all time.

I Am Legend by Richard Matheson

1. I Am Legend. Before you see the new movie starring Will Smith, be sure to pick up the book written in 1954 by legendary horror author Richard Matheson. The short novel is about the struggle of the last man on earth. But he’s not alone.

2. Hell House. If you enjoy I Am Legend, pick up a copy of Hell House, also by Richard Matheson. As the title suggests, this is a haunted house story that will scare the hell out of you. Four people are asked to examine the psychic phenomena at the Belasco House to determine if there is life after death. But the question is: Will any of the four come out alive?

3. The Haunting of Hill House. If you enjoy haunted house stories, you will love this classic by Shirley Jackson. It was made into an awful movie called The Haunting, but the original novel, published in 1959, remains one of the best horror novels of all time.

4. The Shining. This story of the Overlook Hotel’s caretaker remains one of Stephen King’s best. Jack Torrance’s slow descent into madness is even better on the page than it is on film. Originally published in 1977, the newest paperback edition includes an introduction by the author.

5. The Exorcist. Think the movie was scary? Try reading William Peter Blatty’s original manuscript. The Exorcist is the best novel featuring possession, and one of the best horror novels of all time.

6. Rosemary’s Baby. Another fantastic film that was originally a fantastic horror novel. Rosemary’s Baby by Ira Levin is a magnificent read, unless your pregnant.

7. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. This classic by Robert Louis Stevenson is as eerie today as it was in January of 1886 when it was first published. None of the movie adaptations do this horror story justice, so just read the book.

8. Dracula. Bram Stoker’s masterpiece is a must-read for any fan of the horror genre. The Count truly comes alive on the page in Bram Stoker’s classic vampire novel.

9. Frankenstein. Mary Shelley delved deep into the human condition and examined man’s fascination with death on a level never before (or after) achieved in fiction. Frankenstein remains one of the best horror novels of all time.

10. At the Mountains of Madness. As a matter of fact, read just about anything by H.P. Lovecraft, and you will not be disappointed. He was a true master of the horror genre. Another great recommendation is The Dunwich Horrors.