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PREMIUM
Monstrilio
An enthralling debut that packs a heavy emotional punch. Fans of domestic horror like Zoje Stage’s Baby Teeth or Ashley Audrain’s The Push will find a lot to chew on here.
PREMIUM
Piñata
A great choice for readers who enjoy novels where the true horrors of colonization and human-rights atrocities are corrected in gruesomely riveting fashion while retaining the utmost respect to the victims, as seen in the works of V. Castro, Stephen Graham Jones, and Tananarive Due.
PREMIUM
Lone Women
LaValle grips readers with the subtle terror of inevitability, only to hold tight with tenderness.
PREMIUM
A Sliver of Darkness: Stories
Good for fans of short stories and horror, but share also with writers, artists, and creators who can relate to Tudor’s struggles as an author torn between the creative process and real life.
PREMIUM
Claw Heart Mountain
This propulsive story is made even more terrifying in audio and is a must-add to any collection, perfect for fans of Paul Tremblay and Stephen Graham Jones.
Highly recommended for lovers of Southern gothics, readers who like their horror to sneak up on them, and anyone who appreciates the voice of Kingfisher (What Moves the Dead), no matter what genre she’s currently writing.
Cynthia “Cina” Pelayo is an International Latino Book Award–winning and three-time Bram Stoker Awards–nominated poet and author. She talks with LJ about her writing process, writing history, and the horror genre.
PREMIUM
Claw Heart Mountain
Oppegaard wisely keeps the action moving at the speed of an action thriller or a slasher movie, giving the novel a frenetic pace that makes it a fun read, even though his characterizations don’t go beyond their archetypes (spunky final girl Nova, rich and beautiful Mackenna, stone-cold hit man Bannock, etc.).
PREMIUM
Ghostwritten
This delightfully horrific book is also a flex of Malfi’s writing talent, showcasing the marvelous assortment of horror subgenres and character archetypes in his writing toolbox. Share with fans of Paul Tremblay, Stephen King and Joe Hill.
A gripping story filled with ghosts, mystery, and history, this novel has many excellent entry points for a wide range of readers, but especially for those who enjoy creepy retellings of western folklore, as written by authors like Helen Oyeyemi, and books about occult movies, such as Experimental Film by Gemma Files.
The popularity of the Lovecraft Country TV show means that even more readers will be eager for the return of Ruff (88 Names; The Mirage). A great suggestion for fans of novels hat grapple with the racism in stalwart horror tropes, such as Ring Shout by P. Djéli Clark and Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.
PREMIUM
Mothered
Stage’s latest (after The Girl Who Outgrew the World) feels like a nice bookend to her Bram Stoker Award–nominated debut novel, Baby Teeth, an LJ Best Book of 2018. A great choice for fans of intense psychological horror where nothing can be trusted and no one can look away from the emerging nightmare, such as in Now You’re One of Us by Asa Nonami or The Unsuitable by Molly Pohlig.
PREMIUM
Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger
This fun, imaginative, and confident series opener will be a massive crowd pleaser for general audiences, especially for those who enjoy a wide range of popular weird western offerings, from the more historical, like Stoker’s Wilde West by Steven Hopstaken and Melissa Prusi, to those with cosmic elements, such as The Last Storm by Tim Lebbon.
PREMIUM
Sister, Maiden, Monster
Snyder (“Jessie Shimmer” series; Halloween Season), a critically acclaimed indie horror vet, steps boldly into her major-press debut, setting a new standard for readers looking to try cosmic horror. Fans of this subgenre will be delighted, awestruck, and terrified in equal measure, much like when they read Caitlin R. Kiernan or Hailey Piper.
Fracassi, coming off a Bram Stoker Award nomination for his horror short-story collection Beneath a Pale Sky, is on a roll. A violent and original entry into both the cursed-object and writer-descending-into-madness tropes, with palpable fear leaping off the page, similar to The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones and Echo by Thomas Olde Heuvelt.
The big-five-publisher debut by Castro (Out of Aztlan; Bram Stoker Award–nominated The Queen of the Cicadas) will bring her critically acclaimed, honest, sensual, and raw storytelling to a larger audience. Suggest far and wide to fans of unapologetically feminist, thought-provoking, and engrossing horror, such as the works of Carmen Maria Machado and Gwendolyn Kiste.
Full of frights both real and supernatural, the best horror novels of 2022 are a terrifying joy to read.
In this subversion of the classic haunted-house/found-footage story, DiLouie demonstrates his ability to toy with and eventually upend readers’ expectations. What could have been a story full of the typical tropes becomes an unsettling exploration into what lies beyond life, death, and reality itself.
PREMIUM
The Spite House
One part road trip, one part family relationships, and one part haunted house, serve this update on genre staples to showcase the voice of a rising new writer to an audience that adores the classics.
PREMIUM
Such Sharp Teeth
Perfect for listeners who enjoy their horror on the supernatural side with an added smidge of romance to season the tale.
PREMIUM
They Drown Our Daughters
This story, reminiscent of classic gothic horror such as The Haunting of Hill House but with a modern flair, will appeal to a wide range of horror readers. Recommended for fans of Silvia Moreno-Garcia and Jennifer McMahon, or any other reader looking for a creepy and satisfying listen.
PREMIUM
The Devil Takes You Home
Iglesias’s horrifying latest will have cross-appeal for fans of horror and crime. The intense violence may not appeal to all listeners, but this book is an excellent fit for fans of Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Stephen Graham Jones, and S.A. Cosby.
An inclusive and thoughtful collection that will leave listeners with a list of new authors and narrators to seek out.
PREMIUM
Dead Water
The story eventually turns into a taut survival horror, but it is a long slog before listeners get there. An optional purchase for most libraries.
PREMIUM
Black Mouth
This horrific tale will appeal to readers who appreciate coming-of-age stories, found families, sibling relationships, and childhood friends reuniting as adults to defeat a villain from their youth. Share with fans of Stephen King, Ray Bradbury, and Peter Straub.
PREMIUM
Bad Dolls
With whip-smart dialogue and many awkwardly compelling situations, this collection delivers. Recommend to listeners looking for eerie, rather than gory, horror.
PREMIUM
When the Night Bells Ring
Part Weird West horror and part claustrophobic descent into darkness, this book’s double narratives will drag readers into its Stygian depths.
Adding Malerman’s flair for creating sympathetic characters and his brutal descriptions of violence creates a fun and fright-filled ghost story, along with a villain that could easily live and thrive in horror fans’ nightmares. Fans of Thomas Olde Heuvelt, Grady Hendrix, and Riley Sager will be delighted.
PREMIUM
Old Country
This is basically a by-the-book ghost story set in rural Idaho, but VandenHuevel’s and Goglia’s depictions of Harry and Sasha are empathetic enough that listeners will be wholly invested in their story.
PREMIUM
Ghost Eaters
Expect Chapman’s latest to become a horror classic. An exceptional addition to any library’s collection, and a must-listen for fans of Paul Tremblay, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Stephen Graham Jones, and T. Kingfisher.
PREMIUM
Coyote Songs
First published in 2018 and now available in audio, Iglesias’s (The Devil Takes You Home) haunting mix of crime, horror, and magical realism will not be easily forgotten.
PREMIUM
The Nightmare Man
Markert’s (Midnight at the Tuscany Hotel, published under the name James Markert) first horror novel is both a literary thrill ride and a supernaturally satisfying guilty pleasure.
A deeply unsettling, breathlessly thrilling, uncommonly engrossing horror story, rendered in exquisitely atmospheric illustration, and a provocative meditation on what it takes to stay alive, and to stay human, in a collapsing world. This volume collects the first six issues of a 12-issue story.
PREMIUM
Out of Aztlan
Colorful and complex language paired with an edgy tone and mystical plotlines make this an easy choice for acquisition departments. Some good suggestions for read-alikes include Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado, Other Terrors: An Inclusive Anthology edited by Vince A. Liaguno and Rena Mason, and Both Sides: Stories From the Border edited by Gabino Iglesias.
PREMIUM
Bad Cree
Despite some of the genuinely eerie imagery and horror elements, when the book ends, what readers will remember most are the moments these characters shared together, playing cards and talking late into the night.
PREMIUM
A History of Fear
Scariest and most relatable for collections with a young adult readership tackling college in the near future.
PREMIUM
Reluctant Immortals
Fans of gothic horror will appreciate this complex tale, which is ultimately a story about two women drawing strength from each other so they can each write their own stories.
A must-have for any library that will appeal to a broad audience. Hendrix is a best-seller for a reason, and this new novel shows he is only getting better with age. Some excellent read-alikes to recommend are Nothing But Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw, The Invited by Jennifer McMahon, and Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.
PREMIUM
Dear Diary: Run Like Hell
Moore has pulled off a home run with this wonderfully written book. Recommend to readers who like the “Sandman Slim” series by Richard Kadrey and Billy Summers by Stephen King.
PREMIUM
The Creeper
Deliciously eerie, this may get off to a slow start, but it builds intense momentum and suspense in a spooky setting that is so immersive, readers will not be able to shake that feeling of dread and foreboding long after they’ve closed the book and the curtains, for good measure.
LJ’s Horror Review columnist Becky Spratford chats with Sadie Hartmann and Ashley Saywers about their rise from influencers to business owners to anthology editors and more, with the release of Human Monsters.
Khaw’s critical acclaim and popularity are skyrocketing, and this collection showcases exactly why. It allows readers a chance to swim around in their unique brand of intensely unsettling tales, submerging themselves in a larger pool of their beautiful but horrific waters. For fans of the dark speculative stories by Angela Slatter, Nadia Bulkin, and Samanta Schweblin.
PREMIUM
Wayward
This high demand sequel to one of the best and most terrifying books of 2019 will delight fans. Suggest both books to fans of epic, post-apocalyptic, socially conscious horror such as Joe Hill’s The Fireman, Chuck Hogan and Guillermo del Toro’s “The Strain Trilogy,” and Justin Cronin’s “The Passage Trilogy.”
LaRocca is selling his small press titles in larger press numbers, and this might be his best and most accessible work yet. It is a superior example of extreme horror, in the vein of the thought-provoking depravity of Agustina Bazterrica’s Tender Is the Flesh and Kathe Koja’s The Cipher.
The theme of this anthology, coupled with the inclusion of some of horror’s hottest authors, will cast a wide net of interest. Library workers can also count on the table of contents for dozens of further reading suggestions, but it is the stunning cover that will be the MVP for library displays.
PREMIUM
When the Night Bells Ring
Seamlessly blending Western, ancient evil, and climate horror tropes, Kaplan (It Will Just Be Us) has created an immersive, chilling, and compelling tale that fans of Christina Henry and Camilla Sten will devour.
PREMIUM
Where Black Stars Rise
This is an impressive graphic novel from Shammas (Squire) and Enger (Regression) that features life in the diaspora, an inclusive retelling, and a strong, cosmic horror tale. A great option for fans of T. Kingfisher’s modern updates of horror classics and the recent anthology Under Twin Suns: Alternate Histories of the Yellow Sign.
PREMIUM
Tell Me I’m Worthless
This debut is a fantastic and disorienting take on the haunted house trope, but it is also a compelling and emotional story about trauma, fascism, and the hard truth of living an openly trans life in the 21st century.
Fans of the gothic will love how Janz uses well-worn tropes in more modern ways, while at the same time readers of 21st-century horror will gain a new appreciation for the genre’s roots. Suggest far and wide to anyone looking for a fast-paced, fun, and scary read, but especially to those who enjoyed The Hacienda, by Isabel Cañas, or the “Stoker’s Wilde” series, by Steven Hopstaken and Melissa Prusi.
PREMIUM
Desert Creatures
Ultimately, this is a harrowing coming-of-age tale of a girl growing up in a world where not many things are allowed to grow tall and strong.
PREMIUM
The Hollows
Folk horror meets small-town police procedural with a side of revenge and redemption as police constable Ellie and a likable group of ragtag helpers work together to stop the end of the world.
PREMIUM
Gallows Hill
Coates (From Below) tells the kind of chilling haunted-house story that will keep gothic horror readers on the edge of their seats while hiding under their blankets right up to the shocking, terrible twist at the end.
PREMIUM
Motherthing
This debut adult novel from YA author Hogarth (The Boy Meets Girl Massacre) is recommended for horror readers who like to see all of everyone’s issues eviscerated on the table and who won’t mind never again being able to eat chicken à la king after the novel’s disturbing take on it.
PREMIUM
The Dark Between the Trees
Barnett’s debut is uniquely captivating as a series of ghost stories told within a time-jumping mystery. For fans of thrillers and gothic-meets-modern horror, recommend this to readers of Andrew Michael Hurley, Megan Shepherd, Sarah Waters, and EV Knight.
Written by some of the most popular women in horror today, this is a one-of-a-kind anthology and sparkling jewel that will appeal to fans of fantasy, folklore, and feminist fiction.
PREMIUM
The Black Maybe: Liminal Stories
An excellent addition for libraries looking to expand their horror collection with gripping and innovative content.
PREMIUM
All Hallows
The setting and scope are reminiscent of Stranger Things, nearing the point of homage, so a library audience eagerly awaiting the next season will love it.
PREMIUM
It Rides a Pale Horse
Marino is very willing to plumb the depths of human discomfort and nihilistic despair, revealing disturbing images that sear into the brain while showing how art, and sibling bonds, can both create and destroy.
With tangible characters, insightful dialogue, and the horror and painful beauty of discovering one’s truth, Wurth’s debut is must-read horror with a big, bleeding heart.
PREMIUM
Sign Here
A light entry in the collection for the reader who misses when Christopher Moore wrote about vampires.
PREMIUM
Passersthrough
Recommended for fans of literary fiction/psychological horror blends like John Darnielle’s Universal Harvester.
PREMIUM
The Hacienda
The audio production of this stellar debut adds to the innate tension of the book and belongs in every public library collection.
PREMIUM
The Pallbearers Club
While the real horror lurks in the night, Tremblay (Survivor Song) has written a psychological thriller that explores the horrors of growing up, unhealthy friendships, and addiction.
PREMIUM
Friend of the Devil
Narrator Chris Ciulla delivers characters with skill and success, including the deadpan detective, the crabby librarian, and the steroid-obsessed football player. Highly recommended.
PREMIUM
Aurora
Although the audio production is uneven, fans of speculative science in the vein of Michael Crichton, James Rollins, or Andy Weir will be delighted.
A must-add for horror collections. Fans of Grady Hendrix novels and We Ride Upon Sticks by Quan Barry will love this new mockumentary-style novel.
This is a collection to put on prominent display. A must-buy that will lure horror fans and horror newbies alike.
PREMIUM
The Fervor
Katsu keeps the plot and questions moving in this intriguingly complicated horror story that offers many parallels to anti-Asian racism and violence in the U.S.
Worthy of being mentioned alongside his horror contemporaries like Joe Hill, Stephen Graham Jones, and Paul Tremblay, Musolino is a writer whose stories are a dark journey through the shadowy Italian countryside, the depths of human despair, and the heights of imagination.
PREMIUM
Lute
Fans of gloomy British horror will adore Thorne’s novel, with its references to the Shining Ones and other fae creatures. Recommend to fans of Catriona Ward, Sarah Pinborough, and Kristin Cashore.
PREMIUM
Curse of the Reaper
This book is a must for fans of the slasher genre, but it also offers a sickle-sharp critique of the expendability of actors fed into the Hollywood machine.
PREMIUM
Malice House
Readers will love the mystery, mayhem, and terrifying look at make-believe, and the monsters that are dreamed into existence in the process. Recommend to fans of Darcy Coates’s The Haunting of Leigh Harker and EV Knight’s Children of Demeter.
Any library looking to acquire a gut punch of a horror novel that will appeal to a broad audience would do well to add this to their collection. It will also appeal to fans of Mongrels by Stephen Graham Jones and Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado.
PREMIUM
Hidden Pictures
Rekulak’s (The Impossible Fortress) latest is both a mystery and a ghost story, with a strong central protagonist.
PREMIUM
Black Tide
Less a story about the apocalyptic end, this tale is character-driven survival horror that delves deep into the souls of some flawed heroes.
PREMIUM
Dark Observation
With well-researched forays into the World War II era, Cavendish’s latest will appeal strongly to readers who like detective stories set in the past as well as horror fans.
PREMIUM
Full Immersion
Readers of Amor’s latest are in for a creepy, unsettling narrative, with strong shades of Sarah Pinborough. Recommend to those who enjoy films like Inception and Memento.
New key authors are taking possession of the genre by claiming old tropes and making them new; small presses are making huge waves; and the voices of marginalized authors are creating change and energy.
Adrenaline-filled with plenty of shocking moments, the latest from master of horror Jones is an intense, highly entertaining, and deeply personal novel.
PREMIUM
Ghost Eaters
With similarities to the horror movies Flatliners and Bodies Bodies Bodies, minus the humor, Chapman’s story comes to a head as readers begin to understand that Ghost has so much more of a morbid meaning in this enthralling addiction horror tale.
PREMIUM
The Hollow Kind
Davidson (The Boatman’s Daughter) crafts an intricate supernatural story about a family’s history that will leave readers shaken. However, they will have to wade through the novel’s extreme level of detail to reach the conclusion.
LJ talks with Gabino Iglesias, author of The Devil Takes You Home, about publishing, reading, and book classification.
PREMIUM
Daphne
A thought provoking and honest conversation about anxiety wrapped around a Freddy Krueger-esque slasher. For fans of cursed small towns like in Thomas Olde Heuvelt’s Hex, or other fresh takes on the teen slasher like Jessica Guess’s Cirque Berserk.
PREMIUM
Fantasy Kit
A strong collection by an important voice in the genre. It will appeal to fans of the haunted flash fiction collection The Ghost Variations by Kevin Brockmeier and the breadth of scares in the anthology Tiny Nightmares, edited by Lincoln Michel and Nadxieli Nieto.
The violence is brutal and graphic, but the story is also lyrical and staggeringly beautiful. It is an entertaining and thought-provoking book about human truths and the monsters at their core. Suggest to fans of S. A. Cosby and Stephen Graham Jones, who also write stories told by marginalized, sympathetic, and complicated characters in which every detail matters.
PREMIUM
No Gods For Drowning
Piper, a rising star in horror, is announcing her intentions to break through onto a larger stage with this confident and compelling tale that is as fun as it is thought-provoking. Suggest it widely.
PREMIUM
Beneath the Stairs
Fawcett’s debut novel is a haunted house story that spans generations but is anchored by its main protagonist Clare, who is thoughtful, caring, and easily relatable. Perfectly portrayed by narrator Carolina Hoyos, she’s a truly empathetic protagonist who is trying to discover what went wrong in her life as well as Abby’s and who thinks the answers might lie within the Octagon House.
PREMIUM
The Children on the Hill
Will appeal to listeners seeking a spine-tingling blend of psychological suspense and horror; recommended for fans of Jennifer Fawcett, Catriona Ward, and Josh Malerman.
PREMIUM
Sundial
A masterful example of suspense; audiences will love their trip to Sundial, even as the sands shift constantly beneath their feet.
PREMIUM
A Black and Endless Sky
This has some truly disturbing elements of possession and cosmic horror, but the real darkness here has more terrestrial origins.
PREMIUM
Echo
There is enough body horror to turn away the faint of heart, but it’s all worth the shocking yet touching ending.
PREMIUM
Gwendy’s Final Task
The final part of this trilogy wraps up the intriguing character arc of Gwendy, a character brought to life by Chizmar’s and King’s words, as well as the voice talents of Marin Ireland. Fans of King’s “Dark Tower” series will recognize the occasional nods to the mythos, but readers who have never read the books will still be drawn into this story, where the tension comes from Gwendy trying to stay ahead of those after the box and her own deteriorating condition.
PREMIUM
What Moves the Dead
Retold Gothic classics and fungus-themed horror are both having a moment, and Kingfisher’s well-paced, immersive novella will satisfy those seeking read-alikes for Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s Mexican Gothic. Also suggest Moreno-Garcia and Orrin Grey’s excellent anthology Fungi and the nature field horror of Jeff VanderMeer.
This first book from award-winning horror editor Murano’s new independent imprint will leave satisfied readers seeking out more from these authors.
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