There is no better time to lose oneself in the unnerving and scary realm than when the evenings get longer and the air gets crisp. Our well-chosen selection of new horror books will satiate your appetite for the macabre, regardless of your experience with horror or your desire to take a first step into the genre.

This article explores four terrifying stories that will spook you and have you turning pages late into the night. Pull a chair up, turn down the lights, and get ready to discover your next horrifying book. 

You Like It Darker by Stephen King

Stephen King's latest collection features 12 eerie tales of darkness, loss, danger, resilience, and even aliens. Highlights include "Two Talented Bastids," in which an aging author and a famous painter reveal the dark secret behind their skills. "The Fifth Step" is a fast-paced, violent story about a man confiding in a stranger in a park."On Slide Inn Road" presents a family encountering murderers, showcasing King's tension and dark humor. The standout is "Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream," a 150-page crime novella about a man haunted by a dream and an obsessed detective.

This collection is a must-read for horror enthusiasts and loyal King fans, with callbacks to his previous works. 

Woodworm by Layla Martinez

In Layla Martínez's debut novel, translated from Spanish by Sophie Hughes and Annie McDermott, a woman and her grandmother inhabit a cursed house built by a criminal patriarch. Trapped by shadows and haunted by their family's dark past, they face suspicion from neighbors when a boy disappears. Martínez weaves a tale of isolation, anger, and intergenerational trauma as the characters seek justice with the help of spirits,  

The narrative is sharply delivered, delving into themes of class resentment and the lasting impact of evil. The book explores gloom and strangeness, where monsters and ghosts intersect.

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The House That Horror Built by Christina Henry

Harry Adams, a single mother and horror movie enthusiast, lands a cleaning job at director Javier Castillo's mansion, aiming to keep her love for his work under wraps. As Harry struggles to maintain her job amid strange occurrences, including a possessed costume attacking her, she faces mounting financial pressure after learning she must relocate with her son.

While the book celebrates horror films, the story's heart lies in Harry's bond with her son and her battle against personal demons. Christina Henry crafts a tale where eerie occurrences take center stage, but Harry's past and financial woes will haunt readers.

Ghostroots by 'Pemi Aguda

Readers are treated to 12 haunting tales that delve into the complexities of humanity within the backdrop of Nigerian society.

In "Manifest," a young woman experiences a terrifying transformation into her deceased grandmother, portrayed with chilling second-person narration. "Breastmilk" follows a woman navigating breastfeeding challenges amidst marital turmoil. "The Hollow" introduces an architect entangled in the mysteries of a vengeful house with an enigmatic past.

Set in an alternate Lagos where the supernatural is commonplace, 'Pemi Aguda's stories masterfully navigate intricate human emotions. With inventive plots and precise prose, the book establishes Aguda as a significant voice in speculative fiction, promising a captivating reading experience for fans of the genre. 

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