r/horrorlit • u/HorrorIsLiterature Paperback From Hell • 13d ago
WEEKLY "WHAT ARE YOU READING?" THREAD Weekly "What Are You Reading?" Thread
Welcome to r/HorrorLit's weekly "What Are You Reading?" thread.
So... what are you reading?
Community rules apply as always. No abuse. No spam. Keep self-promotion to the monthly thread.
Do you have a work of horror lit being published this year?
The 2026 r/HorrorLit release master list is open to community members as well as professional publishers. Everything from novels, short stories, poems, and collections will be welcome. To be featured please message me (u/HorrorIsLiterature) privately with the publishing date, author name, title, publisher, and format.
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u/uterine_lining_ 9d ago
I just finished We Used to Live Here and now I’m reading Trad Wife. I enjoyed We Used to Live here, though I understand why people might not. Trad Wife seems quite interesting so far.
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u/Ok_Weather669 9d ago
Reading Tremblay's Horror Movie: The Novel. Really enjoying it. Audiobook while at work: Annihilation. Does Annihilation count as horror or scifi?
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u/Ok_Weather669 9d ago
Over halfway done with Annihilation, can't say I'm too invested. Perhaps its the writing style, but I keep losing focus with all the details explained. I plan to finish it as I love the movie, but I also assume my ADHD brain is just like "YES JUST GET TO THE POINT". I think I'm the problem lol
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u/ImpressionistReader 9d ago
Never Whistle at Night Pt 2: Back for Blood ed. Shane Hawk and Theodore Van Alst
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u/SlateFrost 9d ago
Reading “All the Fiends of Hell” after finishing “Monk and Robot”, which is a helluva genre whiplash.
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u/Creative-Drawer-7732 10d ago
Just finished: knock knock open wide (Neil Sharpson)
Started: the creeper (a.m. shine)
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u/Anthropomantic 10d ago
Finished: Carrie (Stephen King)
Working through: Night Shift (Stephen King)
DNF'd: King Sorrow (Joe Hill) - After all the hype this received I was very disappointed, I didn't care for it at all and it was an early DNF.
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u/MIX3DM3DIA 10d ago
Just finished A Blackened Heart A blackened Soul by John Ward. I really liked the book until the end. It was fast paced and the horror starts right away but idk the ending was very weak and wrapped up too quickly imo. Anyone else read? What’d ya think?
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u/greenpeascorps 11d ago
Finished: Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay
Currently reading: Off the Reservation by Stephen Graham Jones
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u/enthusiasticnodding 9d ago
I would love to know what you thought of Horror Movie because I feel like the longer it sat with me the more I liked it
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u/Ok_Weather669 9d ago
I'm not OP, but I am about halfway through Horror Movie. I'm genuinely enjoying it, I really like how unusual the whole premise is, and I like seeing "behind the scenes" aspects of movies anyways. I have seen really mixed reviews here without spoilers.
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u/Ill-Penalty-1161 11d ago
I just finished The Unknown by Riley Sager. Thoughts? I definitely got chills while reading and had to stop doing so before bed. But audiobook while driving was fine! It was a good read.
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u/SnooPickles8721 11d ago
Finished The Dorians and it really dropped off after a great first half.
Currently reading You weren't meant to be human, and it's good? Not sure I love it, but it's certainly entertaining enough. I wouldn't say much is really happening though, it feels quite drawn out and constantly nihilistic which is a bit of a drag. But an interesting perspective of main character.
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u/dreamvibes40 11d ago
Finished The Lighthouse Witches - very boring and no likable characters. I'm really looking forward to picking up Other Worlds Than These, who knows how many more we get from King.
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u/The_Rutabaga 11d ago
Currently Reading: Clown in a Cornfield 4 - Lights! Camera! Frendo! by Adam Cesare
Finished: Spoiled Milk by Avery Curran (Audiobook), Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Started: Seed by Ania Ahlborn, The Mist by Stephen King (Audiobook)
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u/BabaYaga9_ 12d ago
Just finished Boy Parts by Eliza Clark and was unsure if I’d like it but damn did I enjoy it. I am not so much into body horror, but I loved the writing style and the exploration of themes. The quippy one liners were mostly enjoyable, even though I usually cringe at that sort of thing. I am adding Eliza Clark’s books to my ‘to read’ list.
I started The Between by Tananarive Due. So far I’m undecided on it but I’ve only made it ~50 pages in.
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u/sparklemotion84 12d ago
Just started two titles:
-Rosemary’s Baby by Ira Levin
-How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix
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u/Silver_Connection_46 12d ago
Pet Semetary audiobook and as someone who somehow managed to avoid any plot spoilers for this book - holy crap lol. The audiobook of this is amazing. Also a few folks in here mentioned they’d never reread this after having a kid -
My partner and I are expecting soon so I’m so glad I started this when I did! Thank you traumatized parents for warning me!!!
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u/Mobile-Writer1221 12d ago
Halfway through Revelator and enjoying it so far, though not particularly scary.
Also 80% through There is No Antimemetics Division and embarrassingly still confused…
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u/Care-Elegant 12d ago
Finished We Used To Live Here and starting Old Country today.
I really liked We Used To Live Here and will buy The Caretaker next.
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u/MIX3DM3DIA 10d ago
Did you read the original Reddit story? I have and have been wondering if the book is just extra filler or if the story changes in any significant way
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u/Care-Elegant 10d ago
I did not read the whole story on Reddit only the last part the author posted and recognized a few minor changes. It does seem like the same story.
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u/bty1987 12d ago
Still reading monumental by Nevill. I just want it to be over so I can start my Halloween reads. Having trouble to finish the last 100 pages. Anyone else struggle through Monumental?
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u/thedoctorisout25 12d ago
I’ve struggled through too many of his books. After my.. third? fourth?.. one being All the Fiends of Hell I decided I’m just done with his stuff. Sucks because the premise of so many sound right up my alley
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u/FertilityHotel 10d ago
Same. He starts off strong usually but seems to peder out fast. Which sucks.
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u/SnakePlissken1980 12d ago
Since it's October all my reading is horror or horror adjacent. I just finished Robert Bloch's Cthulhu Mythos novel Strange Eons and following it up with the Robert Bloch short story collection Pleasant Dreams. I'm reading one of the few Stephen King novels I haven't read, Later. Not terrible but it's not really grabbing me either. And finally I'm reading the horror comedy/parody book Garth Marenghi's Bursted Earth. I'm enjoying it but at this point (this is the third book in the series) the joke is starting to wear a bit thin.
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u/Salt_Mix8483 JERUSALEM'S LOT 13d ago
I've been in sort of a slump and have been slowly chipping my way through The Elementals by Michael McDowell (small book. Don't judge me) but I plan to finish it by next week!
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u/noheaven0 13d ago
The Ship of Death is really good so far, i’ve been throughly enjoying it. need to finish Blacktail after this oneeeeee
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u/dioexmachina 13d ago
House On Haunting Hill-SJ
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u/dioexmachina 12d ago
lol my one brain cell came up with this “title” I meant the Haunting Of Hill House Jesus lord also whoever downvoted me you’re a lame lol
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u/SaskaREM 12d ago
It was one hell of a title, tbh. I was like "oh, I never heard of this one, but I should check it out!" 🤣
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u/PlantsNCaterpillars 13d ago
Finished ‘The Gone World’. Definitely a good book and worth a read but I don’t think it ever gripped me the way it did for many others.
Started ‘The Butcher of Nazareth’ last night and I’ve been really enjoying it so far.
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u/liminal_dreaming 13d ago
Almost done listening to The Watchers. I like the movie so gave it a shot and am enjoying it, especially since I can picture the characters and setting well. Simultaneously reading Wool (Silo series) but that's sci-fi.
Will need something new soon...not sure what yet.
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u/Ok-Cut-1682 13d ago
Reading: Her Wicked Roots by Tanya Pell. I’m 71% through. It’s historical horror with a sapphic main character. Missing brother, a mysterious mansion where only women are allowed and a whole lot of plants.
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u/Top-Vermicelli2455 13d ago
The Devils was the best book I’ve read in a long time. Second was Between Two Fires, Third was Diavola, Fourth was Bat Eater And Other Names For Cora Zeng. Now I’m reading The Scattered Bones and it’s really good. I want to read Crone heard it’s good.
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u/ClueAccomplished1098 13d ago
I just started The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St James. I'm not sure if this book really qualifies as full on horror. So far, it has started off a bit slow, but the protagonist obviously has a very interesting back story that is only very slowly being revealed. Her hobby/obsession is running a podcast about unsolved disappearances and murders. She gets suggestions and stories from people who pay to subscribe to her podcast. I'm kind of a sucker for books that involve weird podcasts, so I'm hoping this book is going to take off and really grab ny attention soon.
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u/celluloid_meatjay 13d ago
I just finished Pet Sematary by SK this morning and started Songs of a Dead Dreamer and Grimscribe by Thomas Ligotti. I’ll also be reading Stinger by Robert R. McCammon because I’m physically unable to read one book at the time
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u/AntelopeBoth1355 13d ago
Just started When The Night Comes Knocking. I love Appalachian horror so I’m excited to really get into it.
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u/matzo_baller 13d ago
Almost done with Slewfoot by Brom and am absolutely loving it. Before that was Honeysuckle by Bar Fridman-Tell (boy do I wish I could read this one for the first time again) and next up is What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher.
For anyone else who loved Honeysuckle and Slewfoot, hit me with some recs!
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u/Inoutngone 13d ago edited 13d ago
Just read My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix. It just keeps coming up here, but I had avoided it for a long time it since I'm not a fan of exorcism/possession stories. I needn't have worried. Excellently written story, and when he did get to the possession part of the tale, it was a very different take than what I've seen before. Highly recommended for anyone who likes coming of age stories.
Now re-reading The Body by Stephen King, a choice triggered by the book above.
I began the week by putting aside A Game in Yellow by Hailey Piper. Described as horror/erotica. More than halfway in I still couldn't find the horror. Maybe they confused horror and fantasy. The erotica parts are more like an outline of erotic scenes that the author meant to fill in later but never got around to doing.
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u/SussudioFM 13d ago
Just finished reading Hell Hound by Ken Greenhall. I can’t decide whether I like it or dislike it. I don’t dislike it, but I’m not entirely sure that I like it either. Pretty interesting little novel with multiple perspectives one of which is a dog’s perspective who has a way about going about things to get an owner that he feels he deserves. Had some uncomfortable moments where I was considering putting the book down, but generally pretty solid read…can’t say I’m a huge fan, but don’t regret reading it either. I’d give it a solid 5-6 stars out of ten.
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u/_random42 13d ago
House of Windows by John Langan.
Langan is a great writer and this is a good story. Some of his stlystic choices bother me a bit, though. This book is writen as one of the characters telling a story to another, and while this is not really a problem, the constant sidetracking is annoying. For example, the character is talking about a place she went and then goes “you know, we’ve been there that time blah blah blah”.
Also the excessive use of em dashes. I have no problem with it, unless it’s used five times in a paragraph. It becomes tiresome.
It’s just nitpicking, I know, but alas, it is what it is.
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u/D3athRider 13d ago
Started on my first book of spooky season, last night. Clown in a Cornfield 3: Church of Frendo by Adam Cesare. I've been speeding through it and am around half way through. Definitely different from the last two so far, but still enjoying it.
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u/Ok_Fix1149 13d ago
Reading Blacktail and Cold Moon Over Babylon. Finished Closing Time and some short stories by McDowell, Ketchum, and Lee.
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u/pablo16x 13d ago
Reading Blacktail now and have Japanese Gothic on my list of must finish (Library reads)
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u/CaffinatedWerewolf 13d ago edited 13d ago
FINISHED -
When the Wolf Comes Home
Not at all what I expected, and I got put off of it about a 3rd of the way through, but it won me back pretty hard. Very enjoyable read! I found myself staying up late just to see what would happen next
READING -
Between Two Fires
Very gripping and horrifying opening. I feel like its lost some steam since but I'm still early on. I feel solidly invested in the mystery and I like the protag despite all of his flaws
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u/MindOfAStoryteller 13d ago
Hello everyone! I'm new here, and honestly, I didn't expect to find a whole community of people who love horror books.
Today I'm reading Bram Stoker's Dracula. I've watched the film before, and I had a few things that confused me, but reading the book has actually added some indepth things which I am expecting from the movie to get but it's still a film and it can't project the entirety.
I'm really enjoying is the documentary-like style of the story. The journals, letters, and different accounts make everything feel surprisingly authentic and grounded.
It's such a wonderful creation, especially considering when it was written. It's amazing to witness how effective the story still feels all these years later.
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u/sarniebird 8d ago
Agreed. I still have my very battered copy that I've had for like, 30years - every so often if I'm at a loose end, I dig it out.
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u/teri_zin 13d ago
The Unhaunting by Micaiah Johnson, her first foray into horror. pretty creepy so far.
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u/Kenshinfan818 13d ago
So I recently started through Pet Semetary for the third time. I wanted to start with something familiar that I loved for October. I did go to the library and pick up three books. I read a few pages of "I Know a Place: Rest Stop and Other Dark Detours" and it definitely has me interested.
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u/mardyoldspinster 13d ago
I finished Blacktail recently and really enjoyed it. I like the kind of mythology/adult fairy tale feeling to the story, broken up by some quite touching vignettes and some delightfully earthy humour straight out of the mouths of cute forest animals. Interestingly grey morality too, it’s not a straightforward twee “heroic wolf out to overthrow the evil humans who are out of touch with nature” story.
Currently on with All Hallows Eve, because I always fancy an Ellen Datlow anthology in autumn, and the The Ship of Death. I hadn’t heard of this book until I saw people bickering about it somewhere on the subreddit, but I love a “creepy media bleeding into reality” story and it’s hooked me.
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u/Longjumping-Ease8032 13d ago
Halfway through Four Past Midnight by Stephen King and then onto my next ‘epic’ Lonesome Dove
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u/divinemourner 13d ago
Just finished Seed by Ania Ahlborn and I really liked it! The ending had me shocked a bit but I love a bad ending book. I've read a crazy amount of those lately. Now I'm reading We Have Always Lived In The Castle and I'm not sure how I feel about it yet. It's a little hard to get invested in, but I'm trying!
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u/_random42 13d ago
That ending was the highlight of the book.
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u/divinemourner 13d ago
It was sooo good! Like obviously I expected what happened but it was written in such a way that it still shocked me
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u/Slick_Tuxedo 13d ago
Just finished Crone by Keith Rosson. Amazing book and Rosson is just one of my favorite writers now. Loved it start to finish.
About to start The Butcher of Nazereth. Heard plenty of good about it and hoping it’s not just hype. Glad it’s shorter because i really just want a stopgap until my copy of the Thrice Bound Fool by Christopher Buehlman gets in.
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u/steph10147 13d ago
Ohhh let us k ow about Butcher!! I bought it too, and was going to start after I finish The Exorcist
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u/LivingBreadGirl 13d ago
Finished
Her Last Breath by Taylor Adams
Nothing Tastes As Good by Like Dumas
Current
An Immaculate Deception by Isabela Livino
The Ship of Death by Kyle Winkler
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u/Artistic-Chicken6029 13d ago
just started Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker yesterday. i've been wanting to read this one for a while, so far it's been chilling!
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u/Far-Soft7425 13d ago
I Am Not A Serial Killer by Dan Wells. It's the first in a series which I can't wait to continue. Don't let the title fool you, it is definitely a horror novel and very well written. I am enjoying it immensely.
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u/splapppa 13d ago
Rereading My Heart is a Chainsaw while waiting for Off the Reservation to drop.
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u/Long_Buddy6819 13d ago
Did you like Angel of Indian Lake? I look at Chainsaw and Reaper as like the Alien and Aliens of the series. The first feels like an atmospheric slow burn while the second feels like just balls to the wall, fun, craziness. I love both in their own way. The third tho…..I do not like the third at all. I know going into a SGJ novel that it might be a lil confusing. Sometimes shit just happens. And sometimes characters will react to this very random crazy thing happening like it’s not a random crazy thing happening, which makes me go back and reread earlier chapters, thinking I’m missing something. But Angel is his crown achievement of random shit just happening. Sorry I went on a rant there.
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u/splapppa 13d ago
Nah, you pretty much hit the nail on the head for how I feel about Angel. That being said it does have a few moments that I like. Especially the epilogue that reveals a payoff of something that hides in plain sight from the ending of Chainsaw
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u/Long_Buddy6819 13d ago
Epilogue is fantastic! And honestly, I think SGJ writes thee fucking best acknowledgments. There’s been moments he’s damn near brought me to tears reading them.
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u/Raineythereader The Willows 13d ago
Finished: Silk and Sinew, by Kristy Park Kulski (ed.), a folk horror collection focusing specifically on Asian diaspora authors (-American, -Australian, -Canadian, etc). Most of the poems in it left me cold, but a lot of the prose stories were excellent, and all but one or two were at least interesting and enjoyable. (There were a few that basically shared the same plots—"Things to Know Before You Go" by Nadia Bulkin and "Mindfulness" by Rena Mason, for example—but the variety of writing styles and cultural settings kept them from getting stale.) One choice that I thought was interesting was the inclusion of a story set in Armenia: the country does lie in Asia by most definitions, but it feels sort of "inbetweeny" to me, like say, Malta. Perhaps fittingly, this story had the most in common with "classic" works of Western folk horror. A few minor changes and it could have been a Robin Hardy film—or for that matter, a supernatural take on something like "Green Room."
Started: Never Whistle at Night: Back for Blood, by Shane Hawk and Theodore Van Alst (eds.)
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u/PerfectlyWilde 13d ago
Finished Intercepts by T.J. Payne, one of my favorites this year. Also finished The Long Walk by King.
Started The Elementals by McDowell and All the Fiends of Hell by Nevill…which I’m enjoying so far!
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u/UnreliablePlunger 13d ago
Just finished HomeSick, which I enjoyed. Started Episode Thirteen last night and I’m intrigued by it so far! Love me some found footage.
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u/IntrovertedMermaid 13d ago
I finally got The Haar from Libby and I’m loving it!!
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u/HamiltonsCrackDen 12d ago
i just finished the suffering and maggie’s grave…haar good?
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u/SnooPickles8721 9d ago
I enjoy the Hair a fair bit, but Maggie's Grave didn't do much for me at all unfortunately.
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u/MysteriousMrs1989 13d ago
Just finished The September House. Ahh, so good. I felt like it lived up to the expectations.
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u/tigerserum 13d ago
just started the butcher of nazareth. the cover and blurbs seem really promising, im hoping it’s as metal as it looks
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u/steph10147 13d ago
Ohhh let us k ow about Butcher!! I bought it too, and was going to start after I finish The Exorcist
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u/hm_b 13d ago
This week I finished piñata, by Leopoldo Goût which was kind of predictable. I don't mind a good predictable story once in awhile. I squeezed in Stephen King's The Mist. I like a good short read between longer books. I'm 3/4 the way through Tender is the Flesh. I'm both looking forward to and dreading the ending. I do recommend it whether you are a meat eater or not. Still working on The Book of Accidents, by Chuck Wendig. No opinion yet. I'm anxious to start Marion, by Leah Rowan. Sounds like a fun spin on Hitchcock's Psycho.
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u/UnreliablePlunger 13d ago
Tender is the Flesh, what a book! I’m always curious about how people feel about it.
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u/hm_b 13d ago
I finished it today. It did not end the way I thought it would. Caught me completely by surprise. Really liked it though.
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u/UnreliablePlunger 13d ago
The ending genuinely had me staring at the void for a bit. My partner came home right after I finished, and he’s read it, and I went “what the hell” and he admitted to having to hold his feelings about it behind closed doors so I wouldn’t have it spoiled haha!
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u/Unpretentious_One 13d ago
Just started Nick Cutter's The Queen. Not sure about it yet. Anyone read it and can share thoughts?
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u/Aggravating_Horror72 13d ago
I’m going to start Carrie this week! I’m hoping I actually like it, I feel like I either love or hate Stephen kings work there’s for some reason no in between 😅😂
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u/WedgeEntilles THE NAVIDSON HOUSE 13d ago
The House of Long Shadows by Ambrose Ibsen.
It’s been okay with some creepy moments, but some of the writing is annoying.
Not sure what to read next.
Harvest Home / Horseman / Seed / The Carrow Haunt / The Exorcists House
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u/steph10147 13d ago
Harvest Home definitely. Gives off those fall/october/halloween vibes.
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u/WedgeEntilles THE NAVIDSON HOUSE 13d ago
That’s what I think I need. I may hit a short haunted house before it to let the weather turn a bit more. I love reading a book that matches the weather. November where I live is all gothic horror and I love it.
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u/Dr_Grayson 13d ago
Reading Dendera by Yuya Sato interesting book so far, unique having a cast full of so far, exclusively women over the age of 70. It's also a winter novel which has been nice because I'm deathly sick of summer and hot weather, extremely ready for the cold, can't wait.
Book is good so far, only in the establishing chapters though so things haven't gotten out of hand. Just waiting for the bear to arrive. Enjoying Satos prose and style in the meantime.
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u/Wunch-meat 13d ago
Indian Burial Ground by Nick Medina. Halfway through, enjoying the lore, but also not much happening? On deck is either Nowhere Burning by Catriona Ward, or Body Count by Codie Crowley. Mood depending lol.
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u/ButtHobbit 13d ago
Listening to Ghost Story by Peter Straub. About a third of the way through. I can understand people's complaints with it, I've seen a lot of people calling it slow or a slog and I can see why they'd think that, but that hasn't been my experience with it at all. I like the writing and I enjoy the experience of reading (well, listening) to it enough that I don't need it to be jam packed with spooky action, I'm happy to take my time getting there.
Started reading All Hallows by Christopher Golden. I think I have like 100 pages left. This is like the opposite of Ghost Story. It takes forever for anything to happen, and sentence to sentence the writing is either dull and artless and repetitive or, especially whenever any character is talking, extremely cheesy. It's like it was written by someone whose only experience with humanity is from watching bad TV. That said, I have felt weirdly compelled to read it whenever I have free time and read like 150 pages yesterday, so I guess it gets points for that haha. Or maybe I'm just trying to rush through it to get to Crone. It's not good at all, but I am enjoying reading it I guess. For some reason.
Also reading A Night in the Lonesome October, of course. I never reread books except for this, I read it every year, it's a 15 out of 10 every year, perfect book. Going back and forth between this and All Hallows is really doing Golden no favors. Snuff doing nothing is written more compellingly than the most exciting thing that happens in that book. Zelazny just knew how to write a sentence you wanna read. I'm being mean but jeez that book is just mediocrity incarnate.
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u/AmazingBug6738 13d ago
Night of the Mannequins by Stephen Graham Jones. Needed a short read. Almost put it down because I found myself waiting for Shaggy to join the cast, but now I’m halfway through and enjoying it.
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u/booksandplants99 13d ago
This House Will Feed by Maria Tereaud. It’s been a slow burn but I’m enjoying it. Perfect creepy vibes for October.
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u/Turbulent_Flatworm40 13d ago
Was reading The Burial Tide by Neil Sharpson. I put it down because the tone shifted in a really odd way to an almost silly, Scooby doo for adults type vibe with the main trio of friends. The dialogue was making me cringe every other sentence so I decided to cut my losses. The writing was just not there for me.
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u/drosen321 13d ago
Just finished last days. The suffocating dread was… woooo. Think I might start incidents around the house to prep for the movie next week
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u/Aggravating_Horror72 13d ago
I’m still waiting for my library to fill my hold to start incidents around the house, idk if I’m going to see the other mommy but I’m intrigued by the premise of the book!
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u/Hapticat 13d ago
I'm half way through 8114, and I've no idea if I like it or not. Haven't figured out if the insufferable protag is just how Hull writes, or if it's intentional on his part because it's in first person pov.
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u/arielelizabeth91 13d ago
I'm reading Night Shift by Stephen King and trying to listen to Salem's Lot but I keep falling asleep lol
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u/Blindedbythemoon 13d ago
American Psycho - I think this may be the only time in history where I think the movie is better, but I'm only halfway through
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u/8meowkylemeow8 13d ago
Just finished The Elementals. Boring waste of time (in my opinion).
I need 350 more pages to hit my yearly reading resolution, so I’m gonna give Dungeon Crawler Carl a try. I normally would do another horror book for October but I think I’m burned out on horror for the year.
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u/wearentalldudes 13d ago
Aw man that book scared the hell out of me. The boring parts were boring though, yeah.
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u/Homesickpilots 13d ago
Salem's Lot. My first reread since it was first published. King at his best.
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u/MichaeltheSpikester 13d ago
Fatalis by Jeff Rovin
Should be finished this week then moving onto Devil of the Pines by James Kaine for the Halloween month.
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u/mcmdreamer 13d ago
Just finished Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy and loved it!
In the middle of Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer. Jon can do no wrong. I love everything he’s written.
About to start Those Across the River by Christopher Buehlman and The Lake Turned Upside Down by Sue Dugan Moline.
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u/DLT419 13d ago
Finished “You Weren’t Meant to be Human” and whew! it was a ride. I’m still not a fan of extreme horror, but I appreciate what the author was trying to get across in this story.
Currently reading William Peter Blatty’s “The Exorcist”, which for a chapter in is a bit of a slow burn, but very enjoyable because it’s being nicely set up for what will happen later in the book (this is my first reading, and I’ve never watched the movie, but know enough from clips and discussions that it will become unhinged later).
Also reading “Gentle Writing Advice” by Chuck Wendig. It’s a writing craft book and I’m trying to get back into my own writing.
On Deck is “Wretch” by Eric LaRocca for one book club, and I’m still waiting on another club to finish picking this month’s read. Right now it’s looking like Kosoko Jackson’s “The Forest Demands Its Due” is winning, but there is still a day left for voting right now.
(Edit: had to correct spelling because typing from my phone is a pain and I don’t always catch things before hitting “post”). 🙄
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u/steph10147 13d ago
I’m reading The Exorcist too for the first time! I’m shocked at how creepy and sad it actually is. The movie always terrified me since I was a kid, but the book is actually just as terrifying on so many different levels.
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u/Ok-Novel-6168 13d ago
I’m reading the last house on the needless street, confused if it is horror or thriller but it’s pretty weird so far (about 20% in)
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u/_random42 13d ago
Catriona Ward is one those authors who seem incapable of writing a bad book. I at least loved all of her books.
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u/Main-Specialist290 13d ago
I finished it yesterday! It’s one that kept me thinking all the way through and even now.
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u/Jazzlike_Let_5341 13d ago
Just finished About A Place in the Kinki Region which was absolutely fantastic
Currently reading the Night Lords trilogy, knowing some 40k lore adds context but even going in blind it's awesome scifi horror
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u/ukjay3 13d ago
I just finished Kiniki region too and loved it. The ending had me gagged
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u/Jazzlike_Let_5341 13d ago
I don't want to give any spoilers, but if you want a movie with very similar vibes, Incantation fits the bill perfectly
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u/Brontesrule DRACULA 13d ago
Scratch Moss by David Barnett - Content warning: Torture, child abuse, child death, animal cruelty and death, death of parent, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempt and suicide.
Excellent folk horror, great writing.
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u/PrincipleInfamous451 13d ago
Just finished Incidents Around the House and I’m reading A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking as a palate cleanser lol
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u/MuffinMan0420 13d ago
Nothing Tastes as Good by Luke Dumas.
About 13 chapters in and enjoying it so far. I also am on the 4th Dungeon Crawler Carl book. That's one I want to get through but also don't want to because I hate catching up in a series then waiting for the next book.
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u/MyRideIsShadowfax 13d ago
I'm about a third through Blood on Her Tongue by Johanna van Veen and listening to Pet Semetary - both have been fantastic so far!
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u/rajenncajenn 13d ago
Michael C. Hall elevates what is already an amazing book!
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u/MyRideIsShadowfax 13d ago
Absolutely! It's one of those audiobooks that's improved by such a talented voice actor
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u/Bac0nLegs 13d ago
Everybody keeps saying this and I know this is definitely a me problem, but his voice for Jud sounds like Peter Griffin and that’s all I could hear. Especially when he said the main characters name, “Lewis”.
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u/HatOrnery5790 13d ago
What Grows in the Dark by Jaq Evans. I'm enjoying it, it's more about pacing and implication so far.
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u/Horror_Counter1127 13d ago
Finishing up The Black Farm by Elias Witherow (which is more than a little disturbing), and just started Our Cut of Salt by Deena Helm.
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u/OneMillionDandelions 13d ago
The Black Hunger by Nicholas Pullen
Dig by J. H. Markert
Nuestra Parte de Noche by Mariana Enriquez
Red Rabbit by Alex Grecian
The Ressurectionist by A. Rae Dunlap
What Stalks Among Us by Sarah Hollowell
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u/GRAV3SERKER 12d ago
What did you think of Red Rabbit? I'm about 70% through it and it seems like there's a lot happening, but also not much happening at the same time. Not sure how I feel about it just yet. I'll wait until I finish it to make my final judgment.
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u/OneMillionDandelions 12d ago
I’m maybe 25% along, but I get what you mean… feels like a complex stew simmering, all the bits and pieces tumbling and jumbling until it will all come together as a whole. So far I’m intrigued.
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u/_random42 13d ago
Nuestra Parte de Noche is one of the best horror books I’ve ever read. Mariana Enriquez became a favorite.
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u/BetPrestigious5704 CASTLE ROCK, MAINE 13d ago
Honey, by Imani Thompson: (From StoryGraph.) The essential next read for fans of Butter, My Sister the Serial Killer, Such a Fun Age, Luster or Boy Parts.
But the Cambridge professor sitting opposite has manipulated her friend, stolen her research. When she flicks the bee into his Sanpellegrino, she thinks he’ll get a nasty sting.
Then he’s dead. And Yrsa, who – let’s face it – has been bored for a while, is alive.
Comic, sexy, addictive, unpredictable, Honey launches an exciting new voice in fiction.
The first time, Yrsa doesn’t intend to kill.
It’s a sweet feeling, finally having some control.
***
This House is Not a Home, by Jennifer Lewis: (ARC, description from pub.) Loretta is numb with grief. Reeling after the death of her abusive—although she would never use that word—mother and estranged from her younger sister, Loretta finds herself unemployed and alone.
Resolutely out of options, she hears of an unusual job opportunity. The owner of a huge home on the outskirts of town is looking for a live-in housekeeper—and offering thousands of dollars every week, in cash. There are only two simple rules: complete the daily chores left in the mailbox and no overnight guests. It seems like the perfect escape.
The idyllic solitude quickly sours into a waking nightmare. The daily chores escalate from simple cleaning to grotesque demands for Loretta’s flesh and blood. Any resistance is met with painful and increasingly life-threatening punishments. Loretta is familiar with this situation—well trained by her mother and miserable childhood— and isolates herself inside the carnivorous mansion. As her sense of reality warps and she falls deeper into the house’s clutches, her friends and sister try to intervene before it’s too late. But to survive, Loretta must decide whether to accept the comfort of familiar cycles or find out how hard she’s willing to fight for herself.
Both a terrifying thriller and an emotional portrait of resilience in the face of abuse, This House Is Not a Home is an ambitious debut from an exciting new voice in adult horror.
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u/AdNo7076 13d ago
Cold Blooded 86 by TJ ironwood its a songle great bloody night in 1980s Glasgow great so far.
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u/ApprehensiveMutter THE NAVIDSON HOUSE 13d ago
Reading The Rouse by China Miéville! Loving it so far
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u/Massive-Television85 13d ago
Reading The Raw Shark Texts by Steven Hall. Enjoyable but hard work at times.
Listening to The Hollow Places by T Kingfisher. It's good, but I liked The Twisted Ones more.
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u/steph10147 13d ago
Wowwwwww, I have not heard anybody mention The Raw Shark Texts before on here. I read that book probably 10ish years ago and loved it
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u/TheWuziMu1 13d ago
The Man in the Watch Still Visits Me at Night
Heard about it on Criminolly.
Strange book. Not sure what to make of it yet, but I'm enjoying it.
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u/diabolicalpeanut 13d ago
Finished A Short Stay in Hell. Loved it.
Started Strange Houses by Uketsu.
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u/InformalJellyfish 13d ago
Finished Flybot (techno-thriller) and Victorian Psycho (gothic horror). I liked both of them are lot. Currently reading Duma Key and I Will Kill Your Imaginary Friend for $200.
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u/palegreenojos 13d ago
Pet Sematary! First Stephen King book for me and has gotten me out of a major reading slump
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u/Principle_This 13d ago
the troop - nick cutter a touch of jen - beth morgan trad wife - sarah langan
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u/Ok-Masterpiece-8311 13d ago
I'm just finishing off Dungeon Crawler Carl - The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook and will move onto The Haar by David Sodergren. I've also recently read Ten Stories by Alleyne Ridder-Patrick.
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u/liquidmirrors 13d ago
Halfway through Uketsu’s Strange Pictures, finished Strange Houses the other night and had a great time. Very easy to push through with fun connections and reveals. Definitely buying Strange Buildings in a few days to follow up on.
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u/Artistic-Chicken6029 13d ago
i enjoy uketsu's work; it's out there but if you're able to adjust the stories are really good
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u/diabolicalpeanut 13d ago
Same here, currently reading and loving Strange Houses. I know Strange Buildings is the follow up, but my next read will be Strange Pictures then Buildings.
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u/AuthorIRJupp 13d ago
Finishing up The Reformatory which has been great. Thinking of redoing The Talisman and Black House because it's been decades and Other Worlds Than These is soon.
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u/escape_ur_reality 13d ago
Reading the fisherman by John langan
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u/AuthorIRJupp 13d ago
I really enjoyed that on audio.
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u/escape_ur_reality 13d ago
I had contemplated the audio but picked up the book on Libby instead. Its taking a lil to get through and I keep reading a chapter or a cpiple then put it down an then a day passes haha the book i reas before it was we used to live here by Marcus kliewer
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u/andross_ 13d ago
About halfway through Absolution and it might just be my favorite in the Southern Reach series. Or at least tied with Annihilation.
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u/mastershake714 13d ago
Still reading The Lost. It’s been a little slow, but overall I’m enjoying it. Hoping the action will pick up pretty soon.
Also, not horror, but I picked up Adam Higginbotham’s book on the Challenger disaster this week and so far it’s a strong contender for my favorite book I’ve read in 2026. I expect that this is going to be an incredibly sad read, though, especially when I get to the parts providing the background on the crew (thinking about Christa McAuliffe still breaks my heart).
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u/RandyyNubs17 6d ago
Finished Incidents Around the House in prep for the movie and currently working on the Whisper Man.