15 Best Horror Books Of 2024

There was no shortage of great new horror books in 2024, and the best of them successfully delivered scares and broached important subjects at the same time. Horror is often used to unpack unsettling elements of the real world, and on that front, 2024’s releases don’t disappoint. The genre’s best new novels tackle everything from religious extremism to harmful Hollywood tropes, so there’s a lot to be gained from picking them up.

2024’s best horror books also put unique spins on common tropes and narratives, revamping everything from hauntings to slasher stories. A few also continued or wrapped series, with Stephen Graham Jones and Keith Rosson both delivering highly anticipated finales this year. 2024’s offerings encompass such a wide range of concepts, themes, and characters, there really is something for every type of horror reader. Those who love the genre have had an absolute feast of new releases to enjoy over the last 12 months.

15

What Feasts At Night

By T. Kingfisher

T. Kingfisher had an impressive 2024, releasing one of the best fantasy books of the year with A Sorceress Comes to Call, as well as one of the biggest new horror releases. What Feasts at Night is the second installment in the author’s Sworn Soldier series, and it lives up to the heights of What Moves the Dead. The novella is every bit as eerie as it should be, using Kingfisher’s atmospheric prose to weave a masterful follow-up to the 2022 story, this time involving a hunting lodge in Gallacia.

Odd incidents begin to unfold from the moment Alex Easton steps foot into the lodge, and they soon find themselves wrapped up in a horror story on par with their last adventure. Alex’s character is so compelling, it’s impossible not to follow them down Kingfisher’s latest rabbit hole. It’s no wonder that What Feasts at Night was nominated for a Goodreads Choice Award in the horror category, and it’s really just its slow build-up and short length that prevent it from reaching the heights of some of 2024’s bigger horror releases. Fortunately, we’ll get more of Alex in a third book.

14

Model Home

By Rivers Solomon

Rivers Solomon’s Model Home is a standout horror book from 2024, and not just because of its eye-catching green cover. Using the author’s lyrical prose to impressive effect, Model Home sees three siblings returning to their old house — a place they’d never wanted to set foot in again — after the deaths of their parents. Model Home may seem like a haunted house story on the surface, but its narrative uses this to raise conversations about trauma, racism, and grief. Its takeaways are fittingly haunting, making it a 2024 must-read.

Model Home masterfully threads its themes into its plot, and it never feels like it’s sacrificing one in favor of the other. While it gets off to a slow start — and could definitely go a bit longer once things start moving — Solomon’s latest continues the author’s trend of effectively using horror stories to drive home poignant and necessary messages. It’s a needed spin on the haunted house subgenre and certainly among the best the category had to offer in 2024.

13

I Was A Teenage Slasher

By Stephen Graham Jones

Stephen Graham Jones is the author behind two of 2024’s best horror books, one of them being I Was a Teenager Slasher. One of the most-anticipated horror books of summer 2024, I Was a Teenage Slasher delivers on its promise to put a fresh and fun spin on the slasher genre. It’s the sort of story that grips readers from the very beginning, then keeps them turning the pages with its surprisingly compelling characters and relationships. The book’s memoir format sets it apart, and its ending secures its place among the best horror books of 2024.

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I Was a Teenage Slasher properly pays homage to the slasher category, and it more than earns its Goodreads Choice Awards nomination for Readers’ Favorite Horror. It’s comical and creative, albeit a bit outlandish at times. It may not tackle critical themes as deeply as some of the year’s other horror releases, but it delivers on the fun and thrilling ride its premise teases.

12

Diavola

By Jennifer Thorne

Jennifer Thorne’s Diavola takes a family vacation narrative and turns it on its head, delivering a physical manifestation of the horror so many feel at the thought of family gatherings. And as its premise suggests, this gothic horror book goes beyond scares. Anna’s trip to a haunted villa in Italy offers the perfect mash-up of familial drama and supernatural suspense, keeping the tensions high on multiple fronts. It makes for an extremely fun ride, but one that has deeper discussions about family dynamics at its core.

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Diavola is fast-paced and suspenseful, but its greatest strength comes from the book being so relatable. The characters may not be likable, but that’s exactly the point — and most readers will concede to knowing someone who matches their portrayal, even if they aren’t family. The supernatural aspects of Diavola could be stronger, and the novel takes some time to get into. But the end result will leave readers wanting more like it, and its Goodreads Choice Awards nomination highlights how much it’s resonating with readers.

11

House Of Bone And Rain

By Gabino Iglesias

Gabino Iglesias is a go-to horror author, and 2024’s House of Bone and Rain drives that point home. Another nominee in the Goodreads Choice Awards’ horror category, House of Bone and Rain is a gorgeously written and heartbreaking tale about five friends in Puerto Rico whose lives and connections are shaped by loss and trauma. One of them sets out on a quest for vengeance, which coincides with a massive hurricane that is thought to leave evil spirits and horrors in its wake.

House of Bone and Rain is an emotional roller-coaster of a novel, and its characters are at the heart of its success. Of course, Iglesias does an impressive job of blending the central revenge narrative with the book’s supernatural elements, just as the author infuses what’s mostly a bleak story with poignant moments and revelations that keep readers engaged. The violence and darkness of this story may not be for everyone, but these qualities are what make it such a memorable 2024 release.

10

The Black Girl Survives In This One

By Multiple Authors

Sometimes, the best horror books are compilations of stories focused on a single theme, and The Black Girl Survives in This One proves as much. Edited by Desiree S. Evans and Saraciea J. Fennell, The Black Girl Survives in This One is a horror anthology that deserves far more attention in the conversation surrounding 2024’s new releases. This collection upends the unfortunately common and harmful trope that Black people, and especially women, die early in horror stories. To challenge it, The Black Girl Survives in This One introduces readers to a range of kickass Black final girls.

Featuring authors like Justina Ireland and L.L. McKinney, The Black Girl Survives in This One allows its heroines to shine in a variety of horror narratives, encompassing everything from supernatural terrors to horror and sci-fi blends. The collection is one of the most impressive (and important) additions to 2024’s horror lineup, and its 4.06 Goodreads rating speaks to that. As is the case with any anthology, some stories stand out more than others. However, all of them will leave readers wanting more groundbreaking narratives like the ones within the collection’s pages.

9

The Angel Of Indian Lake

By Stephen Graham Jones

Stephen Graham Jones’ second book to land among 2024’s best horror releases, The Angel of Indian Lake brings the author’s Indian Lake Trilogy to a thrilling and satisfying close. Set four years after Don’t Fear the Reaper, The Angel of Indian Lake sees Jade Daniels returning to Proofrock, Idaho and grappling with one last killing spree. Jade has grown a lot throughout the previous books, and that’s clear as day in this final installment. Also clear is how much love Graham Jones has for the character, the story, and the genre overall; it shines through in his gripping finale.

The Angel of Indian Lake doesn’t waste time jumping into Jade’s final adventure, nor does it fail to tie this story back to the previous installments. Those who love Graham Jones’ series will undoubtedly be happy with its conclusion, which is the highest-rated of the three books, boasting a 4.17 average Goodreads score. It also snagged a Goodreads Choice Awards nomination for Readers’ Favorite Horror, which is no surprise given how beloved the entire trilogy has been. It does read more thriller than horror at times, but that doesn’t prevent it from delivering on the suspense.

8

Incidents Around The House

By Josh Malerman

Josh Malerman’s Incidents Around the House has gotten a lot of attention in 2024, with the consensus being that the author’s newest novel will keep even seasoned horror readers up at night. Centered on an eight-year-old girl who’s being haunted by a supernatural being called Other Mommy, Incidents Around the House has all the right ingredients for a terrifying time. The choice to tell this story from a child’s perspective is one that calls back to some of the scariest horror movies, and Other Mommy’s depiction is not for the faint of heart.

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Malerman’s latest does exactly what any good horror book should strive to: it keeps readers glancing over their shoulders and staying up far later than they should. While it doesn’t necessarily go into deeper conversations or feature lyrical prose, its straightforward approach to horror is refreshing. That’s why so many readers are raving about it, and it’s earned it a Goodreads Choice Awards nomination for Readers’ Favorite Horror. With any luck, Incidents Around the House will get picked up for a film adaptation, as it lends itself well to one.

7

Not A Speck Of Light: Stories

By Laird Barron

Award-winning author Laird Barron returned with a new story collection in 2024, and Not a Speck of Light is one of the greatest horror releases of the year. Pitched as “a mosaic of the bloody and the macabre,” Not a Speck of Light is a reminder of what makes Barron’s work shine. Its narratives feel like a return to form for the author, embracing his signature style while bringing something undeniably fresh to the table. As always, the prose is immaculate, and the stories deliver on the promise of the dark and bizarre.

There’s such a wide range of stories in Not a Speck of Light that it’s impossible to get bored, and “Tiptoe” will certainly go down as one of the author’s most memorable works. That said, not every story reaches the heights of the book’s best ones, and the collection overall isn’t the best Barron has to offer. That’s saying something, as Not a Speck of Light is still a stunning and worthwhile read, especially for those who like their horror a little strange.

6

Bury Your Gays

By Chuck Tingle

Chuck Tingle may have kicked off his writing career with outlandish erotic romances, but the Camp Damascus author has found his stride in the horror category over the past few years. Bury Your Gays is a testament to that, proving Tingle’s best addition to the genre yet. Taking on Hollywood’s problematic “bury you gays” trope, along with how it relates greedy business practices and LGBTQ+ representation in media, Bury Your Gays is as important as it is gripping. It perfectly balances its central narrative with its commentary, making it a well-rounded and engaging read.

Bury Your Gays isn’t as scary as some of the other novels to hit shelves in 2024, but its engaging plot, compelling main character, and central themes make up for that. The book’s 4.18 average Goodreads score and nomination for a Goodreads Choice Award highlight its strengths, which extend beyond its social commentary. Bury Your Gays is just as much a love letter to storytelling as it is a critique of Hollywood, challenging the ways we’ve let money and technology corrupt this critical part of the human experience.

5

American Rapture

By C.J. Leede

C.J. Leede’s American Rapture takes an unflinching look at the apocalypse, religious trauma, and bodily autonomy, setting it up to be one of the most influential horror books of 2024. Using the concept of a virus that essentially turns humans into uncontrollably horny zombies, Leede sends her sheltered main character on a cross-country adventure that unpacks problematic beliefs surrounding sexuality. Exploring the consequences of repressed sexuality and shame is an uncomfortable endeavor, but it’s a necessary one that underscores many real-world terrors.

Given its central plot, American Rapture is not an easy read, and it won’t be for every horror fan. It’s definitely a book to check trigger warnings for. However, it’s well-crafted, thought-provoking, and intense — all strengths that land it among 2024’s top five horror books. American Rapture deserves far more attention in the horror conversation this year, as its positive reviews and 4.15 Goodreads rating suggest. Its commentary goes beyond its discussions of sexuality, too, which it uses as a jumping-off point to explore some of the scariest aspects of humanity.

4

The Devil By Name

By Keith Rosson

With Stephen King praising Keith Rosson’s Fever House duology, it’s not surprising that the second installment is among 2024’s best new horror books. The Devil By Name explores the aftermath of what happens in Fever House, but it somehow manages to surpass its predecessor, all while tying up loose ends in a satisfying way. The Devil By Name recaptures everything that made the first book great: its bonkers concepts, horrifying violence, and emotional impact.

The narrative encompassing all these strengths is different in The Devil by Name, as it’s five years removed from the first book’s severed hand incident. This new book tackles how society survives and rebuilds on the heels of an apocalyptic event, and its poignant approach to this conversation will undoubtedly leave readers thinking about this sequel long after it’s over. Rosson’s latest is a masterclass in storytelling, and the finale more than deserves its impressive 4.33 Goodreads rating. Unfortunately, it made a slightly smaller splash than the three biggest horror releases of 2024.

3

The Eyes Are The Best Part

By Monika Kim

Most horror readers have heard of Monika Kim’s The Eyes Are the Best Part, which dominated discussions of the genre in 2024. A Goodreads Choice Awards nominee in both the horror and debut categories, Kim’s 2024 novel delivers on the psychological terror and female rage promised by its synopsis. It’s disturbing enough to make readers squirm, but it also contains worthwhile commentary that leaves a lasting impression. Despite her violent obsession, Ji-won’s character is compelling enough to keep readers invested in this story from start to finish.

And once The Eyes Are the Best Part gets into the meat of Ji-won’s story, it’s incredibly hard to put down. Readers will find that they can’t look away as Ji-won spirals out of control, and they may even find themselves cheering her on, despite her obvious moral failings. The strengths of Kim’s novel extend beyond its impressive body horror and engaging main character, with the story’s relationships and supporting cast also offering plenty of substance. The Eyes Are the Best Part is easily one of the top three horror releases of 2024, warranting all the hype surrounding it.

2

We Used To Live Here

By Marcus Kliewer

Another horror debut, Marcus Kliewer’s We Used to Live Here is one of the wildest horror books of 2024 — and nearly the best overall. It’s the type of story readers will be thinking about long after they’ve closed the book, as its mind-bending journey raises as many questions as it answers. That approach may not appeal to everyone, but there’s no denying that We Used to Live Here is a meticulously crafted novel that benefits from making readers question what’s real and what isn’t. After all, its heroine is doing the same, and we’re along for the ride with her.

We Used to Live Here‘s premise — which involves a family visiting their old home, then unleashing havoc on the queer couple living there — is incredibly unique, and the book’s twists are truly chilling. Eve’s characterization and her relationship with Charlie will keep readers invested and hoping for a happy ending, even as it seems less and less likely they’ll find their way home (or at least, to the home they know). We Used to Live Here deserves both of its Goodreads Choice Awards nominations, as it’s the best horror release of the year. It’s second only to the King of Horror.

1

You Like It Darker

By Stephen King

The King of Horror tops the list of 2024’s best new releases with You Like It Darker, as Stephen King’s newest collection is truly something special. It feels reminiscent of King’s early books, leaning into the darker parts of humanity and the supernatural in an incredibly satisfying way. The author’s Cujo sequel, Rattlesnakes, is more than enough reason to pick up this 2024 release. However, stories like Danny Coughlin’s Bad Dream, The Answer Man, and Two Talented Bastids all serve as reminders of why King is such a prolific author in the horror genre.

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While some of You Like It Darker’s stories are more gripping than others, there isn’t a bad tale in the entire collection. Throughout the book, King emphasizes existential horror, exploring everything from mortality and grief to unrealized dreams. You Like It Darker tugs at the heartstrings as much as it delivers on the scares, striking the right balance between the two. The book is one of King’s best releases in recent years, and its Goodreads Choice Awards win in the horror category highlights how well it landed with readers.