Waterstones senior bookseller and author of the haunting gothic thriller So Pretty chooses her favourite creepy, unsettling books.
The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward (General Fiction/Crime)
This book is electrifying. When a young girl goes missing, local man Ted becomes the prime suspect. He is a strange man, reclusive, quiet. He knows no one and no one knows him. Ten years later, frightening secrets begin to surface. Is Ted a murderer? What hides inside the last house on needless street? This is a nerve-shredding novel with shades of Stephen King.
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (Horror/Fantasy)
A wealthy socialite receives a distress call from her cousin claiming her husband is trying to murder her and that ghosts roam through her home. But this is so much more than a simple haunting; something else moves about this dark house. I read this book in one sitting. A menacing blade runs through the story and the prose has an elegance and subtly terrifying power. Think Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca with Guillermo Del Toro’s Crimson Peak.
The Shining by Stephen King (Horror/Fantasy)
This is a classic. You probably know everything you need to about this titan of a book. I don’t scare easily but this really got to me. Fear creeps with this book. It is slow, subtle, you almost don’t know you are afraid until you realise you’ve kept the lights on to go to sleep. It’s superbly done and one of King’s best.
The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters (General Fiction)
Gloriously creepy. This is a gothic ghost story that packs a huge punch. It looks at family trauma and loneliness, and will chill the marrow of your bones.
The Secret History by Donna Tart (General Fiction/Dark Academia)
If you enjoy your ‘creepy books’ sans ghosts, monsters and magic, try this modern classic. It’s the magnum opus for dark academia. It’s the story of a lonely boy who finds himself drawn to a strange band of students whose morals bend frighteningly close to the perverse. This is a hypnotic novel that explores the dark side of human nature and draws fascinating parallels to classical Greek literature. (If you’ve already enjoyed this, check out If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio)
Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier (General Fiction/Gothic Romance)
One of my absolute favourite gothic novels. An atmospheric, claustrophobic setting, mysterious characters who keep their secrets close and writing that is lyrical and quietly unsettling. This is a mighty book. I’ve read it twice and still I know there is more yet to discover inside its pages.
Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh (General Fiction)
This is one of the most challenging books I’ve ever read. It tests its reader, demands their full attention and doesn’t release its claws until the last page. The language is magnetic, spare and beautiful. With some very dark themes, at times I felt uncomfortable reading this. If you like to challenge yourself or you just enjoy weird, unsettling books that make you feel like you have bugs inside your skin, this is perfect.
Endless Night by Agatha Christie (General Fiction/Mystery)
A true favourite of mine. I remember reading this for the first time when I was about fourteen on a camping trip. It’s particularly disturbing for Christie, with a contemporary feel, and I think it holds a great appeal for modern mystery fans, as well as young readers who are new to this iconic author.
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides (General Fiction/Crime)
A sharp and clever thriller about a woman who murders her husband and then never speaks another word. It’s fast-paced and very creepy. I also love the references to Greek Myth.
The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell (General Fiction/Crime)
I sped through this book SO quickly. It’s brilliantly written with a lurking sense of evil that bring your eyes close to the page. Cults, family trauma and twists aplenty. There is also a sequel if you enjoy this gem.
The Bookseller in me always wants find the perfect book for any reader, so I’ve very sneakily added a couple of recommendations for readers of Young Adult and ages 9-12, which I absolutely adore. Something for all tastes.
Miss Peregrines’ Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
Wranglestone by Darren Charlton
The Deathless Girls by Kiran Millwood-Hargrave
Dead Good Detectives by Jenny Mclachlan
Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy
The Monsters of Rookhaven by Padraig Kenny
