Spooky Reading List
1) Modern Gothic & Haunted-House Vibes
The Reformatory by Tananarive Due
A richly researched, deeply unsettling ghost story set in a Jim Crow–era reform school. Due blends historical horror with a supernatural reckoning that feels both intimate and epic. It’s become a steady presence near the top of Amazon’s horror lists, and for good reason: the slow dread is immaculate, and the hauntings hit like a gavel. Amazon
Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery by Brom
Folk horror meets Puritan paranoia in this gorgeously illustrated novel about witchcraft, survival, and nature’s old gods. If you love your chills steeped in moss and moonlight, this delivers. It continues to resurface on Amazon’s horror ranks—especially around spooky season—thanks to word-of-mouth and that lavish art. Amazon
Misery by Stephen King
Claustrophobic, character-driven terror. King’s classic keeps ricocheting back onto bestseller lists because it’s timelessly effective—one setting, two unforgettable characters, a thousand ways to squirm. If you’ve only seen the film, the book’s psychological gears grind even tighter. (A frequent staple on Amazon’s broader “Horror Literature & Fiction” best sellers.) Amazon+1
It by Stephen King
A cornerstone of American horror that swings from summer nostalgia to sewer-dwelling nightmares. The novel’s shape-shifting menace is iconic—and it remains a perennial Amazon horror favorite every October. Amazon
Perfect for readers who: Want creaking floorboards, family secrets, folk curses, and that slow-bloom dread.
2) Supernatural Shockers & Occult Chill
Intercepts by T.J. Payne
Dark science, darker corridors. This indie-breakout chiller marries conspiracy energy with occult aftershocks, and it keeps popping up on Amazon’s U.S. Horror lists, buoyed by relentless momentum from horror-forum chatter. Amazon
Acquired Taste by Clay McLeod Chapman (stories)
Grotesque, witty, and wonderfully icky, Chapman’s recent collection has been buzzing in seasonal roundups. If you like your horror to grin while it bares its teeth, this will be your Halloween hors d’oeuvre tray. (A current media favorite for 2025 spooky-season lists.) Page Six
Wake Up and Open Your Eyes by Clay McLeod Chapman
Chapman also lands on critics’ 2025 “best of” radars with this nerve-fraying title—a reminder he’s one of the genre’s most reliably inventive voices. Great for readers who want contemporary weird with a literary edge. Vulture
Perfect for readers who: Want ritual rooms, cursed objects, and “are we sure we should be doing this?” energy.
3) Psychological Thrillers for Sleepless Nights
The Intruder by Freida McFadden
Freida McFadden dominates U.S. sales charts in 2025, and The Intruder headlines Publishers Weekly’s Oct. 16 list. It’s taut, twisty, and tailor-made for a one-sitting binge—domestic suspense with a scalpel. If you devoured The Housemaid, this is your next insomnia. AP News
The Housemaid (and sequels) by Freida McFadden
A viral sensation that still sticks to Amazon’s Thriller & Suspense pages. Expect whiplash turns, addictive chapter hooks, and the uneasy feeling that the truth is just out of frame. Perfect entry point into McFadden’s twist-machine universe. Amazon
We Are All Guilty Here by Heather Gudenkauf
A tense, secret-soaked page-turner that’s been riding the mystery/thriller charts. It’s the kind of small-town suspense where every neighbor is a suspect, and every memory is a weapon. Amazon
The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden
Another chart-climber: sleek, slick, and mercilessly plotted. If you like your thrillers short-leashed and dagger-sharp, it delivers the dopamine. Amazon
Perfect for readers who: Like domestic dread, gaslighting, unreliable narrators, and “wait, what?” reveals.
4) Big-Ticket Page-Turners (Blockbuster Suspense)
The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown
High-concept puzzles, global stakes, relentless pacing—Brown’s brand of thriller spectacle is back in 2025 and charting on mainstream lists. If you want a cinematic rush between your creepier reads, this is the popcorn bucket. (Featured among top current bestsellers lists.) AP News
Cry Havoc by Jack Carr
Paramilitary stakes with a ruthless pulse. Carr’s latest hits the bestseller rolls and satisfies readers who want tactical grit with their suspense. Think midnight-movie adrenaline in book form. AP News
Perfect for readers who: Want break-neck thrills and high stakes to alternate with their haunted houses and monsters.
5) Witchy, Woods-Born, and Folk-Horror Feels
Slewfoot (yes, again) by Brom
It bears repeating in this category: Slewfoot is the definitive “roots-and-antlers” read for spooky season. The art alone can haunt your coffee table. Amazon
Old Soul by Susan Barker
A literary-tinged haunting that turns memory and identity inside out—one of Vulture’s best horror books of 2025 so far. Put it on your “stare into the middle distance after the last page” list. Vulture
Perfect for readers who: Prefer fog-thick atmosphere, folklore, and tragic magic over jump-scares.
6) All-Timer Essentials (Still Dominating Amazon Every October)
It and Misery by Stephen King
Two kingpins (pun intended) that surge back onto Amazon whenever the leaves turn. If you’re building a spooky shelf from scratch, these are non-negotiables: the balloon and the sledgehammer of modern horror. Amazon+1
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
Critical darlings keep recommending it in 2025, and it’s the gold standard for haunted-house literature: elegant, ambiguous, devastating. Read it with the lights on and the walls listening. Page Six
Psycho by Robert Bloch
A masterclass in psychological horror that still feels razor-fresh. If you think you know the twists from pop culture, the original novel’s voice will still cut you. (A frequent classic named in seasonal editor lists.) Page Six
Perfect for readers who: Want to anchor their TBR with certified legends.
7) Short, Sharp Shocks (Story Collections & Novellas)
Acquired Taste by Clay McLeod Chapman
Macabre tapas: bite-size terrors with a wicked grin. Perfect when you want a full spooky arc in a single sitting, and widely highlighted in Halloween picks this year. Page Six
Best New Horror (Annual Anthology, ed. Stephen Jones)
A long-running series that corrals standout short horror from across the globe. Dip in anywhere; you’ll find something that grabs your ankle. (Current editions and new releases populate Amazon’s horror category pages each season.) Amazon
Perfect for readers who: Like to sample different flavors of fright without committing to a doorstop.
8) Buzzing New(ish) & Not-to-Miss 2025 Titles
Wake Up and Open Your Eyes by Clay McLeod Chapman
On “best of 2025 (so far)” lists, with the author’s signature blend of human tenderness and body-horror bite. One to watch as spooky-season word-of-mouth spreads. Vulture
Round-ups spotlighting 2025 new horror
Several trusted outlets have compiled the year’s standout chillers (great for expanding beyond best-seller mainstays). If you’re hunting for fresh voices and hidden gems, scan these lists before you buy: Vulture’s “Best Horror Books of 2025 (So Far)” and broader 2025 horror roundups. Vulture+2Read Jump Scares+2
9) Fast-Track Thriller Picks from Amazon’s Current Best-Seller Pages
Want something guaranteed “un-put-down-able” tonight? These are appearing right now on Amazon’s Thrillers & Suspense pages:
- The Housemaid by Freida McFadden (and sequels): the queen of “one more chapter” plotting. Amazon
- We Are All Guilty Here by Heather Gudenkauf: secrets, lies, and small-town rot. Amazon
- The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden: sleek psychological menace with an after-sting. Amazon
(If a title’s exact rank shifts hour-to-hour, don’t sweat it—Amazon’s lists are live and update constantly. The books above have been recurring fixtures this season.) Amazon
How to Choose Your Next Scare (Quick Guide)
- In the mood for atmosphere over action? Go Slewfoot, Hill House, or Old Soul for slow-burn unease. Amazon+2Page Six+2
- Need a weekend white-knuckle binge? Try The Intruder, The Housemaid, or We Are All Guilty Here. AP News+1
- Craving classic comfort-horror (with teeth)? Misery, It, Psycho. Amazon+2Amazon+2
- Want short hits between trick-or-treaters? Acquired Taste or the Best New Horror anthology. Page Six+1
- Prefer occult/conspiracy shadows? Intercepts or Chapman’s newer work. Amazon+1
Pro Tips for Spooky Season Buying on Amazon
- Watch the “Best Sellers” pages: Amazon’s Horror and Mystery/Thriller & Suspense lists refresh frequently; checking before you buy can surface limited-time deals and fast-rising hits. Amazon+1
- Cross-reference with Amazon Charts and Editor Picks: Charts reflect what’s selling across formats; Editor Picks highlight critic-fav standouts—use both to balance popularity with discovery. Amazon+1
- Kindle Unlimited? Many horror and thriller best sellers rotate through KU—handy if you binge seasonal reads. Browse the Kindle Unlimited-eligible filters in Horror to see what’s included today. Amazon
Build-Your-Own Spooky Stack (3 Easy Bundles)
- Gothic Night In
Slewfoot → The Haunting of Hill House → Misery. Start with witchy woods, move into haunted halls, finish with knife-edge captivity. Amazon+2Page Six+2 - Shock-Twist Marathon
The Housemaid → We Are All Guilty Here → The Intruder. Expect dropped jaws, unreliable narrators, and a LOT of late-night page turns. Amazon+1 - New-Blood Sampler
Acquired Taste → Wake Up and Open Your Eyes → browse a 2025 roundup for your next pick. Great way to meet emerging voices before everyone else does. Page Six+2Vulture+2
Final Word
This list is “based on” what’s currently moving on Amazon’s Horror and Thriller & Suspense pages, cross-checked against Amazon Charts and current editorial roundups. Because Amazon’s bestseller lists are live and fluctuate by the hour, think of this as a field guide: any of these titles will serve you well this spooky season, whether you crave candlelit gothic, occult unease, or precision-tooled twist machines. Happy haunting—and happy reading. Vulture+3Amazon+3Amazon+3