Horror and Thriller Book Recommendations for Spooky Season

The weather is finally getting cooler! I couldn’t tell you how happy I am to be saying that. I am so over the 90-degree weather! It’s finally appropriate to curl up in bed and watch horror movies and read thriller books! Even better, it is supposed to rain tonight! I am definitely not getting any work done tonight, I will be spending all night reading with my curtains thrown wide open so I can watch the raindrops slowly drip down the glass of my window. With this weather, I thought it was the perfect time to talk about some thriller book recommendations.

I only started reading horror and thriller books this past year, and I am already obsessed. It is so fun to be shocked, scared, and thrilled! I am constantly looking for new books to add to my TBR. I haven’t found a book that made me so scared I couldn’t turn the lights out yet, and that is the ultimate goal. But here are a few horror and thriller book recommendations that I have enjoyed on this journey.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. I make a small commission from every purchase made through these links, with no impact on your purchase. Click here for more information.

Tender is the Flesh by Augustina Bazterrica

I wrote a review of this book a couple days ago, which you can read here, but Tender is the Flesh by Augustina Bazterrica is by far the most horrifying book I have ever read. In this novella, animals are no longer edible, so society has started raising humans for slaughter. This book made my jaw drop. But please check trigger warnings before reading, as there is some tough subject matter in this book.

Lock Every Door by Riley Sager

I have been making my way through Riley Sager’s works, and I have been loving them. Sager definitely knows how to put a horror story together, but my favorite has to be Lock Every Door. This novel follows Jules, who has received a job to house-sit at a famous apartment building in New York. She only has to follow three rules, no visitors, no nights spent away from the apartment, and she can’t talk to any of the other residents. These are easy enough to follow, but Jules soon realizes something more sinister might be happening.

The Project by Courtney Summers

I have always had such a fascination with cults, so when I learned about The Project by Courtney Summers, it was quickly added to my TBR. This story follows Lo, who hasn’t seen her sister since she joined a cult. So when Lo gets a chance to have an inside look into that cult, she jumps at the chance. I really enjoyed this read. It wasn’t exactly scary, but it was definitely a thrilling read.

The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones

Classic horror elements are used in The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones to create a suspenseful and tense read. This book follows four men who are haunted by the actions of their past in a horrifying way. The best word to describe this book is ominous. Without any jump scares, this book made me feel creeped out and spooked. A really great read for the cold October nights.

When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole

When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole blends real-world issues with horror in a terrifying mix. Sydney watches as her neighborhood is disappearing for new apartments and facy coffee shops. This is happening to a lot of neighborhoods in New York City, but she soon starts thinking something more nefarious might be happening.

The Sun Down Motel by

The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James was one of the first horror books I read and is still one of my favorites. This story follows Viv, who works the graveyard shift at a motel. But there is more to this motel than meets the eye. With ghosts and murder, this book is a great stepping stone into the horror/thriller genre.

I love when books can create a tense or ominous atmosphere, and so many of these books do just that. They put me in such a mood for Halloween. I am always looking for more recommendations, so comment below with some horror or thriller book recommendations! I would love to have more on my TBR.

Thanks for reading!