I know what you are thinking, only 12? Well, truth is there are so many amazing books out there that it was hard to choose. These books are some of the best or almost classics in my repertoire. My favourite genre; Horror, no doubt about it, but not just any horror, I like a book that can portray a accurate or probable to happen. I enjoy reading about characters that might be your neighbours or friends, this is way scarier don’t you think? Well with that being said, here they are, my top picks. Hope you enjoy!
1. It – Stephen King: This is quite a book, its not a book about a psycho clown that kills children… Ohhh sorry I spoiled it, well not quite. Pennywise represents much more than that, he represents evil itself, evil from its roots and yet so real and so human at the same time. Believe me you need to read this book, you might learn a couple of things about human behaviour that might scare you.
2. In Cold Blood – Truman Capote: Are you ready to read about a true crime story, about a family that got murdered in cold blood for no apparent reason? Well, this is just a breve summary, however the book is so amazing and so terrifying as you learn the facts in detail and you enter inside the murderers head, believe me it will make your back hair stand on end. This is just a small taste of human nature, a great read.
3. Silence of the Lambs – Thomas Harris; Im sure you watched the movie, so Im not going to summarise the book, you know what happens. But reading this book is an amazing and terrifying experience, as Hannibal Lecter is such a smart character that getting inside his head while he guides Clarice to Buffalo Bill is quite remarkable. Every dialogue in this book is so smart and thrilling that you can actually feel the tension surrounding this story. A true mind game . 
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4. House of Leaves (La Casa de las Hojas)- Mark Z. Danielewski This is a Haunted House book, but not the kind you are thinking, this beauty gives you a claustrophobia feeling that will go on for days. Interested yet? I must say this is a very interesting book, its format is different from what you are used to and its post-modern style makes it outstanding. It drives you through an existentialist thriller into your inner self, in a peculiar way… oh an by the way is completely terrifying.
5. Dark Carnival – Ray Bradbury: Well what can I say, it is Ray Bradbury, you know it is going to be AMAZING! and yes it is. This is a compilation of stories, and they will give you nightmares. Ray Bradbury is a master of nightmares and this book is just a tiny but powerful taste of that. I must warn you, this is not an easy book to find, but when you find it, you will know you have a gem in your hands.
6. Ghost Story – Peter Straub: Disclosure: if you suffer from your nerves, don’t read this book, it will keep you with your up all night. Here you have The Chowder Society, a group of old men who get together to tell their horror stories, but this stories are no joke, they will come back and chase the characters and then this wicked reality game starts. This book plays with your sense of reality. Whats the worse thing you’ve ever done?… two words; MASTER PIECE. 
7. American Psycho – Bret Easton Ellis: This is one of those books where you will get scared not because of a ghost, but of the true colors of human nature. This book portrays the story of a man who lives in a society full of paradoxes and confusing messages. This is a modern classic, and its quite disturbing, but what’s most disturbing is that these thoughts and feelings may be in the head of your neighbour, or boss, or your own head perhaps. What I loved most is how detailed it is, borderline obsessive, but then again, the character is just like that. 
8. Hell House – Richard Matheson: The Title of this book gives it away, but you don’t know how much this Hell House is actually Hellish (is that a word?) This book walks you through this house, that is rumoured of being haunted, but it is much more than that, this pages will make you realise that psychological thrill is much worse than a bunch of ghosts. Richard Matheson is a master of detail.
9. The Handmaid´s Tale – Margaret Atwood This book is scary because it can become a reality and Margaret Atwood is so convincing that you may panic. This is the story of The Republic of Gilead, formerly known as The United States of America, and in the novel Gilead is ruled by a fundamentalist society where discrimination and misogyny. Women exist in the society only as breeders and for forced labor. Any similarity with reality, is just coincidence… or is it?
You can download it for free on your Kindle Handmaids Tale – Atwood 
10. The Trial – Franz Kafka: This book is… complicated, but then again Kafka is not known for being simplistic. This novel will create an existential horror, the main character is on trial for a crime unknown to him and so confusion and frustration are the best words to describe the feeling you will get as you read these pages. The horrifying part is that he is in the hands of forces he cannot control and an authority that is not willing to explain what is going on and what will happen to him. How many times have you felt like things don’t make sense?
You can download it for free on your Kindle The Trial – Kafka
11. The Complete Tales and Poems- Edgar Allan Poe : Sorry, but there is no possible way to leave out Edgar Allan Poe from a list of Horror Books, he is the master. This is a compilation of his work, you can read the classics like: The Raven, The Pit and the Pendulum, The Black Cat, The Fall of the House of Usher, etc. Really, you can never go wrong with Poe. If you have never read anything from him, this is a reminder that he is amazing and you should definitely read this book.
Download it for free on your Kindle Complete Tales – Poe 
12. The Girl Next Door – Jack Ketchum: This is a story based in a true case, however Ketchum adds a lot of spice to the story and makes it even scarier. It narrates the story of a girl who is kept captive and tortured, the neighbour finds out and is not sure what to do next. Im not going to say more, however this is the kind of book that leaves you wondering what happens inside your neighbours homes. Excellent and Thrilling.
Download it for free on your Kindle. Girl Next Door Ketchum
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