The Best Haunted House Book List to Read This Halloween
- Merce Miller
- Aug 27
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 30
Looking for the best haunted house books to give you chills this spooky season? From gothic mansions dripping with secrets to modern thrillers where walls seem to whisper, these stories prove that home is not always the safest place. Whether you’re drawn to classics like Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House or crave modern nightmares like Riley Sager’s Home Before Dark, this list of must-read haunted house novels will keep you turning pages long after the lights go out. This site contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases — at no extra cost to you.
1. "House of Leaves" by Mark Z. Danielewski
This cult classic is part haunted house, part puzzle box, and part descent into madness. When a family moves into a house that is bigger on the inside than the outside, they uncover hallways that stretch into infinity — and something lurking in the dark. Told through experimental formatting and multiple narrators, it’s one of the most unsettling, mind-bending horror novels ever written.
You’ll love it if… You’re ready to get lost in a book you’ll never stop thinking about.
2. "Lock Every Door" by Riley Sager
Jules thinks she’s landed the perfect job as an apartment sitter at a glamorous Manhattan building. But the longer she stays, the stranger things get — residents vanish, rules don’t make sense, and the building itself hides a horrifying secret. A fast-paced thriller that’s as claustrophobic as it is creepy.
You’ll love it if… You want a binge-worthy book that feels like a scary movie.
3. "Come With Me" by Ronald Malfi
After his wife’s sudden death, Aaron follows a trail of secrets she left behind — leading him into a world of murder, hidden obsessions, and ghostly mysteries. Part grief story, part supernatural thriller, Malfi weaves dread into every page as Aaron realizes he may not have known his wife at all.
You’ll love it if… You enjoy slow-burn suspense that builds into gut-punch revelations.
4. "The House Next Door" by Anne Rivers Siddons
A seemingly perfect new home in an upscale Southern neighborhood turns out to be cursed, bringing tragedy to every family that moves in. Creepy, atmospheric, and unsettling, this Southern gothic classic proves that sometimes the most terrifying thing is a house that looks too good to be true.
You’ll love it if… You like horror with a dose of Southern charm and menace.
5. "The Invited" by Jennifer McMahon
Instead of moving into a haunted house, a couple decides to build one — on land with a violent, ghostly history. As walls go up, strange things begin to happen, and the past creeps in with every brick and beam. It’s a clever twist on the classic haunted house trope, dripping with atmosphere.
You’ll love it if… You enjoy ghost stories mixed with folklore and small-town secrets.
6. "Home Before Dark" by Riley Sager
Maggie Holt returns to the infamous “haunted” house her father wrote about in his bestselling memoir. She doesn’t believe the ghost stories — until she steps back inside. A modern gothic thriller full of eerie rooms, hidden secrets, and perfectly timed scares.
You’ll love it if… You love unreliable narrators who keep you guessing.
7. "Mexican Gothic" by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
A glamorous socialite travels to a remote Mexican estate to check on her cousin — and finds a crumbling mansion filled with strange whispers, creeping mold, and grotesque secrets. Gothic horror at its finest, this one is lush, unsettling, and unforgettable.
You’ll love it if… You prefer slow, atmospheric dread over jump scares.
8. "We Used to Live Here" by Marcus Kliewer
When a young couple moves into their dream home, strangers arrive at the door claiming it used to be theirs — and they never really left. What begins as an unsettling visit spirals into a nightmare of paranoia, shifting reality, and sheer psychological terror. Tense and deeply unsettling, this debut makes you question how well you ever know the walls around you.
You’ll love it if… You enjoy psychological horror that feels one step away from real life.
9. "The Haunting of Ashburn House" by Darcey Coates
When Adrienne inherits a crumbling mansion, she hopes it’s a fresh start — until she realizes the locals whisper about Ashburn House being cursed. Strange carvings, sinister shadows, and secrets buried in the walls make this one of Coates’ most spine-tingling haunted tales.
You’ll love it if… You like ghost stories that balance scares with heart.
10. "The September House" by Carissa Orlando
When Margaret buys her dream Victorian home, she’s prepared to ignore the blood on the walls and the screams in the night. But when her husband disappears and her daughter comes to visit, the hauntings escalate. Darkly funny yet chilling, this fresh spin on the haunted house story mixes domestic drama with terrifying supernatural twists.
You’ll love it if… You like your horror with a dash of sharp humor.
Haunted houses never go out of style — and these novels prove why. Each one traps you in its walls, wrapping you in atmosphere, mystery, and bone-deep terror. Whether you love gothic slow-burns or pulse-racing thrillers, these haunted house books are perfect for Halloween and beyond. Just don’t be surprised if you hear a creak on the stairs or a whisper in the dark once you put the book down… And if you want even more chills, explore our favorite paranormal activity books. Happy reading!
