There is nothing quite like sitting down to read one of the scariest books on the planet. Horror comes in many forms but when it is on the page it is truly the scariest king. It's worth noting, as you will see in this best horror book guide, the genre isn't just about ghosts and ghouls but can take on many forms of abject terror - from the supernatural to the psychological to real-life fear.

Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf? Not you? Well, we all like to think we’ve grown out of stories that caused us to beg our folks to keep the landing light on. But, in truth, we haven’t.

Literature is awash with scary books. We don’t mean solely stories devoted to the evisceration of helpless maidens or the gouging of innards for the sadistic pleasure of unhinged sociopaths – although they do make things go bump in the night.

No, there are spine-tingling psychological thrillers, novels that depict some future dystopia or books that pull no punches in describing how things really are as miserable as the most cynical old sod would have you believe.

So, without further ado, and with a little fanfare, we present to you our pick of scariest books ever written, the best horror books no matter what kind of horror you are into.

WANT MORE CHOICE? HEAD TO OUR 32 SCARIEST BOOKS OF ALL TIME LIST.

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5. The Haunting Of Hill House By Shirley Jackson

There's been renewed interest in this novel thanks to a Netflix adaptation last year. But Shirley Jackson's classic gothic horror novel is a fantastic read in its own right. It's a twisting and turning ghost story that plays on psychological terror just as much as horror. It's one of those books you'll think about for days (or even years!) after your first read. What's more, famous modern writers including Neil Gaiman and Stephen King credit Jackson with inspiration for their horror and fantasy writing.

4. The Silence Of The Lambs By Thomas Harris

You thought Jonathan Demme’s Oscar-winning adaptation was scary? Prepare for the real deal. Sociopath Dr Hannibal Lecter is even more terrifying on page – his torturous, playful and gripping mind games with FBI trainee Clarice Starling are a master class in suspense and drama. The serial killer Buffalo Bill is no less menacing and it takes a sturdy disposition to emerge from the book unscathed. You have been warned.

3. Hell House By Richard Matheson

Blurbs on books that suggest things like ‘those of a nervous disposition should not read this’, are more often than not marketing hokum designed to intrigue and inspire the potential reader to part with their hard-earned cash. In this case, it’s true.

A marvellous and thoroughly intelligent suspense thriller, Hell House concerns just that – a house that corrupts and destroys all that enter it. Four people try to rid the house of its evil potency with violent consequences. No less an authority than Stephen King declared Hell House to be the scariest haunted house novel ever written.

2. Pet Sematary By Stephen King

If you relish catching a dose of the heebie-jeebies while reading, then this is the book for you. Stephen King himself has declared this his most frightening work, and who are we to argue? Death, insanity and bizarre burial rituals are just a few of the gory themes that pervade this majestic work of horror writing. Those of a fragile bent are advised to steer well clear.

1. The Exorcist By William Peter Blatty

If you thought William Friedkin’s adaptation of The Exorcist was petrifying, just wait until you read the source material. Inspired by real events, Blatty’s story of demonic possession and exorcism cuts right to the quick. When 12-year-old girl Regan MacNeil starts to behave irrationally her mother soon realises that she has been possessed by evil spirits and turns to the church for help. The manner in which the priests Father Merrin and Karras fight to rid Regan of the demon is unforgettable.

READ MORE: 25 MORE OF THE SCARIEST BOOKS REVEALED