The Creepiest Paranormal Books to Add to Your Halloween TBR
- Merce Miller
- Aug 27
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 29
Not all hauntings are confined to creaky mansions and cobwebbed attics. Some creep out of the woods, ripple up from dark waters, or echo through forgotten estates. These paranormal horror books tap into curses, family secrets, and ghostly forces that refuse to stay buried. Perfect for readers who crave eerie atmospheres and stories that blur the line between psychological chills and supernatural terror, here are three spine-tingling novels that will keep you turning pages long into the night.
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1."Hidden Pictures" by Jason Rekulak
A spine-tingling story about strange drawings that begin to reveal something sinister lurking in the shadows. This book blends mystery, supernatural chills, and psychological tension into one unforgettable read.
You’ll love it if… You like ghost stories with a clever, modern twist.
"The Broken Girls" by Simone St. James
Set in a crumbling boarding school with a history of violence and tragedy, this gothic mystery alternates between past and present as buried secrets and restless spirits refuse to stay hidden.
You’ll love it if… Abandoned buildings give you the creeps.
"The Good House" by Tananarive Due
A family home with a troubled legacy becomes the site of terrifying supernatural events, drawing on Haitian traditions, curses, and the destructive pull of generational secrets. Both chilling and deeply human, it’s a haunted house story with powerful cultural depth.
You’ll love it if… You want a story where the house itself feels alive.
4. "The Children on the Hill" by Jennifer McMahon
Inspired by Frankenstein, this eerie novel blends gothic horror with a modern true-crime feel. It explores a mysterious psychiatric hospital, dark experiments, and the monsters — real or imagined — that children carry with them.
You’ll love it if… You’re drawn to stories about secrets hidden in institutions.
"The Sun Down Motel" by Simone St. James
A roadside motel in upstate New York is plagued by restless spirits and unsolved crimes. Split between two timelines, this chilling story follows those drawn to uncover the motel’s dark history — and the danger that still lingers there.
You’ll love it if… You’re obsessed with small-town secrets.
"Kill Creek" by Scott Thomas
Four horror authors are invited to spend the night in a notorious haunted house as part of a publicity stunt — but the evil inside has other plans. A terrifying, meta take on horror itself, blending gothic atmosphere with unrelenting scares.
You’ll love it if… You want a book that’s both scary and smart.
"A Head Full of Ghosts" by Paul Tremblay
A documentary crew revisits a family whose teenage daughter may have been possessed — or may have been the victim of something far more human. Disturbing, layered, and deeply unsettling, this novel questions reality, memory, and the stories we tell ourselves.
You’ll love it if… You’re fascinated by the mix of media, memory, and madness.
"The Ghost Tree" by Christina Henry
In a small Midwestern town, gruesome murders are treated as a disturbing routine — until two teenage girls stumble upon the horrifying truth behind the killings. Dark forces tied to the town’s history lurk in the woods, feeding off secrets and silence. Creepy, atmospheric, and deeply unsettling, this is small-town horror at its finest.
You’ll love it if… You think the woods are always hiding something sinister.
"The Drowning Kind" by Jennifer McMahon
A natural spring at a rural estate is said to grant wishes — but every gift comes with a terrible price. Told across two timelines, this ghostly, atmospheric novel blends family drama with supernatural horror as generations fall victim to the water’s lure.
You’ll love it if… You’re fascinated by curses that span across generations.
"The Resting Place" by Camilla Sten
A chilling psychological thriller set in a remote Swedish manor where a family’s secrets linger as strongly as the echoes in its halls. When a woman inherits the estate, she uncovers dark truths that refuse to stay buried — and a presence that seems determined to keep them hidden.
You’ll love it if… You’re a fan of isolated, gothic estates filled with menace.
What makes these stories so chilling is the way they weave together human flaws with otherworldly terror — curses born of grief, ghosts tied to trauma, and secrets that refuse to stay silent. If you’re searching for paranormal horror reads that deliver atmosphere, mystery, and genuine scares, The Ghost Tree, The Drowning Kind, and The Resting Place belong on your October TBR.
Want more spooky recommendations? Don’t miss my list of the best haunted house books for classic and modern chills, or check out must-read Halloween books that will keep you up all night. Happy reading!
