Scary Stories to Read in the Dark

Whenever I find a really great horror novel, I love to read it in the cover of night, when it’s pitch black and I’m all alone. Frankly, it doesn’t even have to be Halloween for me to get into the Halloween spirit. Other than being a book nerd, I’m also a bit of a horror fanatic. I read, watch, write and practically breathe horror. Sometimes I think it’s in my blood–my mother is a huge Stephen King enthusiast. My older sister and I used to watch Child’s Play when we were both toddlers. When I got sick as a kid, my comfort movie was Tremors. So it’s no surprise that I love everything scary, Halloween included. 

If you’re anything like me, reading a bone-chilling story on Halloween is a must, and you’re probably looking for something to read right now. If you’re not, but want to try out something new this Halloween then keep reading, because I’ll be recommending some terrifying stories you should add to your TBR list. 

Either way, here’s a short list of scary stories you should absolutely read in the dark (there’s no other way):

Home Before Dark by Riley Sager

Home Before Dark took the crown for my favourite horror novel of 2020! Truly a masterpiece, this story gave me chills when I read it in the dark. 

The story centers around Maggie Holt, whose whole life has been impacted by an incident that took place twenty-five years ago. When Maggie was a kid, she moved into Baneberry Hall with her parents, a huge Victorian mansion in Vermont. Not even three weeks passed before they fled from the house in the middle of the night. This tribulation was then recounted by her father, Ewan, in his ‘nonfiction’ book called House of Horrors. The thing is, Maggie doesn’t remember a single thing her father mentions in ‘The Book’ (as she calls it), so she doesn’t believe any of it actually happened. Now, as a restorer of old homes and well into adulthood, she decides to return to Baneberry Hall, which she inherits after her father’s death, to renovate it for sale. However, her return is anything but a warm welcome, and things are not as they seem. When she starts experiencing the things her father wrote about in his book, she begins to question whether it was real as he claimed or fiction as she had thought it to be. 

This book may seem like a horror cliche, but trust me when I say it’s one of the most unconventional horror books I’ve read. The narrative itself is so unique–the chapters switch between present day Maggie, and her father’s perspective in ‘The Book’ he wrote twenty-five years prior. The comparison between The Book and what Maggie is experiencing creates a puzzle-like dynamic in which some questions get answered but new questions get asked. Every time I thought I had it figured out, the next chapter revealed a new twist which shook me to the core. The scary scenes were so well written, they left me paranoid at night. 

10/10 rating, period. I couldn’t stop fangirling about this book for weeks, and still can’t. 

Asylum by Madeleine Roux

Asylum, the first book of a trilogy, is an absolutely thrilling horror story. If you enjoyed Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, then this book is for you. Similar to Miss Peregrine’s, the book contains real photographs of unsettling history and abandoned asylums, which add to the thrill of the story. 

The plot centers around Dan Crawford, who decides to attend New Hampshire College Prep’s summer program because he wants to develop long-lasting friendships before heading off to college. However, when Dan arrives at the program, he discovers that the dorm used to be a sanatorium–read: asylum. An asylum that used to house the criminally insane. As he explores the macabre summer home with his new friends Abby and Jordan, they discover a terrifying past and realize it’s no coincidence all three of them ended up there. 

When I first binge-read this series a few years ago, my only regret was reading too fast. The plot and the creepy pictures definitely kept me hooked from start to finish. Definitely re-reading it this Halloween, and you should give it a read too!! I’d give this series a 10/10 as well (the pictures pushed it to a full 10, obviously).

The Haunting of Sunshine Girl by Paige McKenzie with Alyssa B. Sheinmel

The Haunting of Sunshine Girl is the first book of the trilogy based on a Youtube sensation called The Haunting of Sunshine Girl Network by Paige McKenzie. A horror cliche done right, this book is perfect if you want to read a classic haunting this Halloween. 

Like the name suggests, the story centers around Sunshine, who believes her house is haunted as she has been experiencing disturbing paranormal activity. Her mother doesn’t believe her, obviously. However, as the paranormal activity gets worse, she’ll have to face it head on if she wants to save herself and her mother from a fate worse than death. This series was really good, so I’d give this story a 9/10! 

Through the Woods by Emily Carroll

If graphic novels are more your thing, then Through the Woods is the perfect book for you. This is hands down the best horror graphic novel I’ve read. It has the vibe of a dark fairytale, and the illustrations are hauntingly beautiful. 

A compilation of five spine-curling stories present the journey into (and maybe out of) the eerie woods. Like the blurb says, Come take a walk in the woods and see what awaits you there…

This book is 10000/10, no cap. It really is the BEST horror graphic novel I’ve read. 

Classic Tales of Horror by Edgar Allan Poe

Ah, Mr. Poe. If you love the classics, then Classic Tales of Horror is definitely a book you should read (or re-read) this Halloween. Edgar Allan Poe is known as the father of horror, because his tales of terror provided a framework for the modern horror genre to come into existence. Stephen King, H.P Lovecraft and other authors may never have written their horror stories if the stories in this volume didn’t exist. 

This chilling book is a compilation of some of Edgar Allan Poe’s best known stories, such as The Tell-Tale Heart (my personal favourite), The Fall of the House of Usher and The Masque of Red Death. 

Seriously, I’ll never get tired of reading The Tell-Tale Heart. I’d give it an 8/10, the only reason being that normally I’m not a classics person- I rarely read classics (sue me) so the fact that I actually love this book shows how amazing it is. 

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