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LJ talks with the bestselling authors about their collaboration creating and editing the anthology The End of the World as We Know It: New Tales of Stephen King’s The Stand.
PREMIUM
Fiend
Critically acclaimed for both her horror and thriller novels, Katsu presents a fast-paced story that will unite her fans across genres. Readers hungry for read-alikes to TV’s Succession will be lining up for this one; it also pairs well with the terrifying satire of Sarah Langan’s A Better World.
A terrifying story that will make readers squirm throughout as it demonstrates the power of Chambers’s 130-year-old work. Will be eagerly consumed even by those who are unfamiliar with Chambers, plus fans of the TV series True Detective, T. Kingfisher’s The Hollow Places, or anything by Eric LaRocca.
PREMIUM
Blood Slaves
A debut novel with an original and thought-provoking take on the vampire subgenre. For fans of revenge horror such as LaTanya McQueen’s When the Reckoning Comes or Tananarive Due’s classic “African Immortals” series, as well as alternative history such as The Power by Naomi Alderman.
PREMIUM
Negative Images
A promising and thought-provoking debut that blends horror and science fiction in realistically terrifying ways, reminiscent of Blake Crouch. For fans of the emotionally charged supernatural investigation of Erika T. Wurth’s The Haunting of Room 904 and those who want to revisit the immersive and relentless terror of Josh Malerman’s Incidents Around the House.
PREMIUM
How To Survive a Horror Story
A great example of the popular cozy horror trend, blended with mystery. For fans of stories that are both unsettling and meta, such as How To Make a Horror Movie and Survive by Craig DiLouie and The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton.
PREMIUM
The Library at Hellebore
Engaging, visceral, and a lot of fun. Fans of A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik or I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones will find a lot to enjoy here, and it’s a nightmare come true for those who love Scott Hawkins’s modern cult classic The Library at Mount Char.
Moreno-Garcia’s (The Seventh Veil of Salome) latest is a triumph. For fans of intricately plotted horror that immerses readers in an alluring world, such as The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones or Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth.
PREMIUM
Listen to Your Sister
Viel’s surreal, chilling debut should appeal to fans of Jordan Peele’s films, Rivers Solomon’s Model Home, and Tananarive Due’s The Reformatory.
PREMIUM
At Dark, I Become Loathsome
Fans of extreme horror with a side of character development will love LaRocca’s latest outing.
PREMIUM
Deadline
Part thriller, part horror, and part fantasy, this engaging novel should appeal to fans of Joe Hill, Grady Hendrix, or Dean Koontz.
PREMIUM
Homeseeking
A moving panorama of soulmates caught in the tumult of 20th-century Chinese history. Share with patrons seeking novels about family separation and the Chinese diaspora, such as Kirstin Chen’s Bury What We Cannot Take.
A tale for fans of socially conscious horror, as well as those seeking the grisliness of possession and psychological horror.
PREMIUM
Old Soul
It’s not a true vampire novel, but fans of Dracula and Elisabeth Kostova’s The Historian should find plenty to sink their fangs into.
A must-buy for every library, this is a spectacular tribute to the ultimate epic horror novel of the 20th century.
This book will appeal to horror fans looking for lyrical writing and confrontational self-examination; it feasts on insecurities and fear while reminding readers of their shared humanity. For adjacent reads, see The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw, Maeve Fly by CJ Leede, and Gone To See the River Man by Kristopher Triana.
A bold and exceptional novel from the author of Whalefall. Kraus has taken the classic war story and crafted something completely unique.
Pochoda’s (Sing Her Down) intoxicating feminist retelling of The Bacchae is full of dreamlike prose that flows effortlessly. A great pick for fans of CJ Leede and Cassandra Khaw that begs to be finished in one sitting.
PREMIUM
Mayra
Colored by aching hearts and tenuous memories, this mesmerizing and luscious trip is perfect for fans of Rachel Harrison and Silvia Moreno-Garcia.
Caitlin Starling is the bestselling author of The Death of Jane Lawrence, Last To Leave the Room, and the Bram Stoker–nominated The Luminous Dead. Her upcoming novels The Starving Saints and The Graceview Patient epitomize her love of genre-hopping horror, like her other works spanning besieged castles, alien caves, and haunted hospitals. Here, Starling discusses her latest book, medieval horror, and complicated women protagonists.
PREMIUM
Ten Sleep
A coming-of-age, visceral Weird Western marked by palpable terror and populated by uncanny creatures, in the vein of The Gunslinger by Stephen King, Little Heaven by Nick Cutter, and Sundown in San Ojuela by M.M. Olivas.
PREMIUM
Overgrowth
Grant (“Newsflesh” series) presents another engaging, existentially terrifying, and thought-provoking SF-tinged horror novel. An easy hand-sell for fans of Chuck Wendig’s Wanderers and the novels of Jeff VanderMeer.
Wagner’s (The Deer Kings) latest features a compelling true-crime–meets–“sporror” frame and reads like Jon Krakauer’s Into the Wild meets T. Kingfisher’s What Moves the Dead, with a pinch of M.R. Carey’s The Girl with All the Gifts.
Durbin’s (A Green and Ancient Light) stellar and unique novel combines lots of heart, a plot that replicates the best of classic Westerns, and awesome cosmic horror into one terrifying, thought-provoking, and entertaining package. Recommend to those who enjoyed Lone Women by Victor LaValle.
A brilliantly constructed and thoroughly unnerving fever dream that Starling’s fans will gulp down. It will also appeal to readers nestled in the space where Brom’s Slewfoot, Agustina Bazterrica’s The Unworthy, and Nick Cutter’s The Queen overlap.
PREMIUM
We Live Here Now
Pinborough (Insomnia), the queen of the twist, has another winner with a fast-paced and original update to the British gothic and the stories of Edgar Allan Poe.
A solid anthology from a trusted small press that has recently secured major distribution. Suggest to fans of compelling horror stories that center rage and identity, such as House of Bone and Rain by Gabino Iglesias or The Eyes Are the Best Part by Monika Kim.
PREMIUM
Feast While You Can
Queer possession horror for those seeking an atmospheric and steamy paranormal romance. Recommended for fans of Rachel Yoder’s Nightbitch or Sheri Lewis Wohl’s She Wolf.
PREMIUM
Polybius
Ultimately, diehard ’80s horror fans should want to step into Armstrong’s arcade to play.
This themed anthology lives up to its promise; horror readers will enjoy getting lost in this book. Pair with anthologies edited by Ellen Datlow, as well as Professor Charlatan Bardot’s Travel Anthology to the Most (Fictional) Haunted Buildings in the Weird, Wild World, edited by Eric J. Guignard.
PREMIUM
Memorials
With moments of tenderness and even levity, as well as true terror, longtime horror fans, including newcomers to Chizmar’s works, will enjoy this. Recommended for listeners seeking a sinister mix of folklore, nostalgia, and creeping dread.
PREMIUM
Evil in Me
Rockers who love horror (or horror fans who love rock and roll) should give this tale a listen.
A strong collection both for horror fans who want to explore cosmic horror or weird fiction from the perspective of characters from marginalized backgrounds, or for fans of shows such as The Outer Limits. Readers of books by Victor LaValle and Gabino Iglesias as well as short stories by Clive Barker, Thomas Ligotti, and John Langan will want to seek out more of Iniguez’s work.
PREMIUM
Graveyard Shift
A quick and entirely captivating listen, full of surprises and satisfying character portraits. Though listeners may wish for a more fleshed-out story, they will enjoy this thrilling ride.
PREMIUM
This Cursed House
Enhanced by excellent narration, this stunning, atmospheric debut is as twisty as the family described within.
PREMIUM
Good Dogs
An eclectic werewolf pack leaves the city for freedom to roam in the countryside, only to encounter a monster more vicious than themselves in this quirky ensemble horror. Recommended for large collections.
PREMIUM
Sycamore
Rogers’s (Shards) latest is a win for fans yearning for the heyday of Jim Butcher’s “Dresden Files” series.
PREMIUM
The Darkest Night
A gruesome, spine-tingling collection of holiday horror. Though not for the faint of heart, this is a lot of fun.
PREMIUM
Model Home
A troubling story limning the effects of childhood trauma, grooming, and abuse, this is recommended for fans of Tananarive Due, who also writes strong Black characters encountering supernatural and societal horrors.
A suspenseful, unputdownable folk horror. Listeners will undoubtedly hope Stein plans to narrate the rest of the “Anomalous Phenomena” cases.
PREMIUM
Curdle Creek
Fans of dystopian fiction, especially those who love the Southern gothic tradition, should visit Curdle Creek (but don’t stay too long!).
This is a tense and creepy gothic horror. Fans of Andy Davidson and Cherie Priest will willingly strap in for Knight’s harrowing ride.
A shocking but wholly satisfying fairy-tale retelling. Though Gorman’s debut will appeal to fans of visceral body horror, it is recommended for intrepid non-horror readers as well.
With a bittersweet ending that explores the joys and fears of old age, this story, much like the work of Nick Cutter and Grady Hendrix, is a pitch-perfect blend of horror and heart.
PREMIUM
The No-End House
Not just a book about a haunted house, Bates’s tale is also likely to attract fans of horror video games such as Resident Evil, eager to see if Joe and Helen can beat the game.
PREMIUM
Another Fine Mess
Fans of Jacqueline Carey’s “Agent of Hel” trilogy and other small-town fantasy series or those who loved the Southern charm of Grady Hendrix’s Southern Book Club Guide to Slaying Vampires will love this series that’s full of heart and charm. Readers will look forward to returning to the world of the Evans women and their strange Texas town.
Golden’s writing sings in this novel, as he flexes impressive literary chops that will grip readers’ attention and expertly captures the current witchcraft zeitgeist. As companion read-alikes, suggest John Durgin’s Kosa, Grady Hendrix’s Witchcraft for Wayward Girls, and Thomas Olde Heuvelt’s Hex.
Guignard’s latest speculative/horror collection is full of fantastic stories that fans are sure to love.
PREMIUM
Freakslaw
Fans of stories about characters seeking belonging and their true selves will fall into the world Flett has created. Readers who enjoyed Seanan McGuire’s Deadlands: Boneyard or the anthology Carniepunk will also find much to appreciate here.
PREMIUM
Gothictown
Those who prefer a slow-burn story with an increasing sense of unease will enjoy this book, and fans of suspense novels with a small-town setting could find this a perfect way to try some gothic horror. Read-alikes include The Invited by Jennifer McMahon and The House Next Door by Anne Rivers Siddons.
YA author Baker (The Blood Orchid) writes an adult debut that frightens to the bone, deftly illustrating trauma and paranoia in aching prose and with perfectly timed grim humor. Those who enjoyed Monika Kim’s The Eyes Are the Best Part and fans of Erika T. Wurth, Gretchen Felker-Martin, and Stephen Graham Jones won’t want to miss it.
PREMIUM
The Swarm
Marino’s unsettling tale should attract fans of Ezekiel Boone’s “Hatching” series and other stories where horror arrives on millions of legs.
PREMIUM
Nowhere
Gunn knows how to generate tension, and this trip into the woods should enchant fans of Stephen King’s The Outsider as well as readers of supernatural thrillers.
The secrets under Lake Argen are chilling, the hellhounds and eldritch horrors are adorable, and the romance goes from fated to bitter to sweet in an epic climax. Highly recommended.
Jones (I Was A Teenage Slasher) holds up past atrocities and their impact into the future. Highly recommended for those who enjoy historical horror with family history, such as Andy Davidson’s The Hollow Kind, or for those who loved the anthology Never Whistle at Night.
PREMIUM
The Haunting of Room 904
A ghost story cleverly blended with a mystery, ideal for those who appreciate genre-blended horror and fans of books such as Shutter by Ramona Emerson.
Space horror at its most entertaining. Fans of Caitlin Starling and Jo Kaplan will love the atmospheric chills and visceral horrors of one of literature’s creepiest horror settings.
Demchuk (Red X) and debut author Clark have crafted a grim tale of Victorian London with appeal to readers of classic horror retold from new perspectives, such as Lucy Undying by Kiersten White and Eynhallow by Tim McGregor.
PREMIUM
The Staircase in the Woods
Wendig’s (Black River Orchard) latest is perfect for fans of Black Mouth by Ronald Malfi and The Dissonance by Shaun Hamill.
PREMIUM
The Adventures of Lady Egeria
Anticipating grisly Jacobean theatrics and the gothic novel, this remarkable recovery from the rhetorically rowdy Renaissance is a marvelously heady concoction for adventuresome ink drinkers.
PREMIUM
Nameless Things
Jensen writes a compelling novel that explores interesting ideas and features some very fun and surprisingly gory scenes. Good read-alikes include This Wretched Valley by Jenny Kiefer, the short story “Weeds” by Stephen King, and The Troop by Nick Cutter.
PREMIUM
Skin
While not as well-known as Koja’s The Cipher, this title’s return to print will be welcomed at libraries looking to fulfill the high demand for extreme horror that spotlights depravity in order to reveal human truths, such as in the works of LaRocca, Alison Rumfitt, and CJ Leede.
PREMIUM
Listen to Your Sister
For fans of character-centered, emotional, and thought-provoking horror, such as Ghost Eaters by Clay McLeod Chapman and A Light Most Hateful by Hailey Piper. Viel’s novel also has some serious Dark Matter by Blake Crouch vibes that will draw in a wider pool of readers.
PREMIUM
Dead Writers: Stories
This deeply unsettling and insidious psychological horror collection evokes feelings that will linger with readers, similar to Ananda Lima’s Craft: Stories I Wrote for the Devil or the work of Samanta Schweblin.
A stellar collection for fans of horror that creates connected mythos centered around the horror of a place (see the work of Josh Malerman), as well as for readers who appreciate illicitly alluring, biting short stories that smack them over the head, of the kind written by Sarah Read and Cassandra Khaw.
PREMIUM
Old Soul
Barker’s (The Incarnations) novel offers both sinister ancient evil, such as in Devils Kill Devils by Johnny Compton, and an emotionally resonant, supernatural thriller asking readers to grapple with mortality, akin to Forgotten Sisters by Cynthia Pelayo.
Cassidy’s original and thought-provoking take on the werewolf trope will appeal to fans of fast-paced horror featuring strong characterization, such as classic Dean Koontz, the books documented in Grady Hendrix’s Paperbacks from Hell, and anything by Brian Keene.
PREMIUM
Their Monstrous Hearts
A solid debut to offer enthusiastically to fans of horror framed by dangerous family secrets, such as Midnight Rooms by Donyae Coles, Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, and Now You’re One of Us by Asa Nonami.
This novella has even wider appeal than Bazterrica’s successful debut, Tender Is the Flesh, and it is even more immersive and disquieting, as the apocalyptic climate it describes hits closer to home. Suggest to fans of works as varied as Matrix by Lauren Groff, Pink Slime by Fernanda Trías, and anything by Gwendolyn Kiste.
Fans of gothic literature who don’t mind gruesome deaths will savor watching Winifred go beyond simply eating the rich in this seemingly by-the-book gothic story that subverts some of the genre’s conventions. It already has a film adaptation in the works.
A harrowing work of horror metafiction and grim comedy that should delight horror cinephiles and fans of authors Josh Winning and Brian McAuley.
PREMIUM
William
Coile’s nightmarish cyber-horror thrums with tension and unexpected horrific surprises. Fans of Ezekiel Boone’s The Mansion will want to dive in.
PREMIUM
Nightmare of a Trip
Fans of quirky suburban comedy like Christopher Moore’s work or those who’ve been on vacations from hell may find themselves laughing at and commiserating with the Somersets’ plight.
While some stories resonate more than others, this collection of visceral literary horror haunts and provokes. Recommended for fans of Ananda Lima.
PREMIUM
The Deading
Though it falters somewhat in its execution, this blend of science fiction, body horror, and eco-horror may appeal to listeners seeking an intriguing premise with echoes of Stephen King’s Under the Dome.
Readers will need to leave the lights on as they devour these tales of terror that are sure to delight.
Hendrix offers an utterly engaging commentary on society and why things are viewed as right versus wrong, along with a generous dollop of magic.
PREMIUM
Vanishing Daughters
Pelayo transports readers, blending fairy tales, history, and urban legends with a true sense of fear. This novel will appeal to fans of horror where questions about the nature of a house haunting loom large, such as A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay, and horror novels in which grief and loss feature heavily, such as White Is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi.
An excellent collection perfect for night-time reading and reflective of the environmental terror that fills the news. Read-alikes include The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw, The Marigold by Andrew F. Sullivan, and the “Southern Reach” series by Jeff VanderMeer.
PREMIUM
Our Winter Monster
Ideal for fans of horror like Darcy Coates’s Dead of Winter, this novel is crime fiction blended with horror and psychological suspense. Mahoney (Ghostlove) has created a work that combines a monster story with the claustrophobia of a massive blizzard while also exploring PTSD and its effects on relationships and individuals.
Those who are drawn to explorations of horrific possibilities of the interconnected world, such as Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke by Eric LaRocca, or apocalyptic stories with a social critique, such as the “Newsflesh” trilogy by Mira Grant, will find much to love here.
PREMIUM
The Eyes Are the Best Part
Kim’s appalling portrait of rage, grief, and desire will have listeners squirming in their seats. A haunting psychological horror for fans of Oyinkan Braithwaite’s My Sister, the Serial Killer.
PREMIUM
Sacrificial Animals
Readers of Southern gothic writers like Andy Davidson and William Gay will want to visit Stag’s Crossing and experience its fall.
Essential. With vibrant prose and nuanced characters, Iglesias shows why he is a truly original voice in both horror and crime fiction.
PREMIUM
Blood Like Mine
A terrifying yet tender tale about the lengths to which one will go to protect those they love.
PREMIUM
So Thirsty
Harrison’s many fans will devour her genre-blending latest, a smart, sexy horror with a lot of heart. Pair with Rachel Koller Croft’s We Love the Nightlife.
For fans of Cutter’s descriptions of mutilations and mutations and Grady Hendrix fans looking for something more gruesome, this book breaks a listener’s heart before pulling it out of their chest.
PREMIUM
The Drowning House
A haunting and eerily atmospheric story of regrets, missed opportunities, and the terrible things the tide brings in.
PREMIUM
Wicked Games
A horror novel for splatterpunk fans looking for depictions of violence more than a strongly plotted and characterized narrative.
A listening experience akin to Daisy Jones and the Six as written by Stephen Graham Jones, performed by some of the best voice acting talent in the field.
PREMIUM
Tiny Threads
A slow-burn horror that deftly explores class, race, politics, power, and gender. Recommended for fans of Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s Silver Nitrate and Zakiya Dalila Harris’s The Other Black Girl.
PREMIUM
Haven
This spooky listen is highly recommended for gothic fiction readers and fans of Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House.
Updating the earnest spiritual fantasy of Charles Williams and C.S. Lewis, Blish conjures a startlingly effective hellscape worthy of Hieronymus Bosch.
Christopher Golden pens an atmospheric horror thriller, Sarah Pinborough offers a gothic novel, and Caitlin Starling writes a medieval horror with a touch of fantasy.
This is a must for any library keeping abreast of the current zeitgeist of horror. It will appeal to more literary readers as well, as Chizmar is an expert at his craft. Some good companion books are My Best Friend’s Exorcism by Grady Hendrix, Edgar Cantero’s Meddling Kids, and Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s Silver Nitrate.
M.M. Olivas calls herself a “Chicana-futurist” and has had work published in such outlets as Uncanny Magazine, Weird Horror Magazine, and Apex. Her debut novel, Sundown in San Ojuela, will be published in November by Lanternfish Press. She talks with LJ about her interest in the horror genre, its cinematic connections, and the role of folklore in her novel.
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