Stephen King might be the king of horror, but beyond the mainstream, there’s a world of lesser-known horror novels waiting to be discovered. If you’re looking to expand your spooky horizons beyond authors like Grady Hendrix, Paul Tremblay, and Stephen Graham Jones, then prepare to be thrilled. These ten books, often independently published or released by indie houses, promise big scares from authors who deserve your attention.
These hidden gems haven’t benefited from major hype or movie adaptations (yet!), but they deliver unique and terrifying experiences. So, if you’re ready to take a chance on some little-known authors, here are ten horror stories that are definitely worth your time this spooky season.
Maggie’s Grave (2020) by David Sodergren
David Sodergren drew inspiration for Maggie’s Grave from a real witch’s grave in Scotland, the only monument of its kind in the UK. Situated in a field near the village of Dunning, this eerie site became the backdrop for Sodergren’s fictional town of Auchenmullan.
The story unfolds when a group of local teenagers takes an American tourist to see Maggie Wall’s gravestone, inscribed with “Maggie Wall buried here as a witch.” What starts as spooky fun quickly spirals into a bloody nightmare.
Maggie’s Grave is reminiscent of a campy B-movie, packed with laughs and gore. Sodergren visualizes his books as movies, lending a cinematic feel to this folk horror story.[1]
Tidepool (2021) by Nicole Willson
Set in 1913, Nicole Willson’s Tidepool plunges you into a Lovecraftian nightmare by the sea. Sorrow journeys to Tidepool after her brother vanishes during a business trip. The townspeople offer a cold reception, but she’s determined to uncover the truth behind her brother’s disappearance.
When a mangled body washes ashore, Sorrow realizes the situation is more dire than she imagined. With tentacled creatures lurking beneath the waves and deeply buried secrets permeating the isolated town, Sorrow finds herself trapped. The novel builds suspense with chilling atmosphere, eventually erupting into bloody chaos. Willson suggests, “If you like Hammer horror, you’ll enjoy Tidepool.”[2]
The Watchers (2021) by A.M. Shine
A.M. Shine’s The Watchers is set for a film adaptation directed by Ishana Shyamalan and starring Dakota Fanning. Anticipation for the movie could boost the book’s popularity, but for now, it remains a hidden treasure.
After Mina’s car breaks down in rural Ireland, she ventures into the woods for help. As night falls, terrifying screams lead her to a bunker. Inside, she discovers that she and the other occupants are trapped by creatures known as “the watchers.”
The novel explores the mystery of these monsters and their motives. Shine credits Irish mythology as a major influence, stating, “There’s no escaping superstitions growing up in the rural west of Ireland. Every odd-shaped rock or woodland seems to have some dark story behind it.”[3]
The Burn Street Haunting (2023) by Richard Gadz
Releasing on October 31, 2023, The Burn Street Haunting is set in 1973 London. It follows a crook seeking refuge in a rundown boarding house on Burn Street, hoping to evade pursuing criminals. However, his past has imbued him with psychic abilities, making him haunted by an evil supernatural entity.
Is a supernatural force invading reality, or are the ghosts merely in his mind? Gadz offers a fresh perspective on classic ghost stories, with an atmosphere reminiscent of Edgar Wright’s Last Night in Soho, blending ’70s flair with ghostly psychological thriller elements.[4]
Crossroads (2020) by Laurel Hightower
For a quick but intense read, check out Laurel Hightower’s novella, Crossroads. Set two years after Chris’s son dies in a car crash, the story follows her grief-stricken attempts to cope. At his roadside memorial, she cuts her finger, and the blood lands where his body was found. That night, she sees his ghost and becomes consumed with bringing him back.
Hightower explained the emotional toll of writing the novella: “Looking at the idea of losing a child was, and still is, something I don’t want to look at or think of directly. But that helped shape Chris, her experiences, and how she copes.” With this grounding in real emotion, Crossroads dives into gory body horror, exploring the limits of parental love.[5]
At Home with the Horrors (2022) by Sammy Scott
Horror fans who enjoy short story collections should explore Sammy Scott’s At Home with the Horrors. This collection features thirteen short stories and one novella, all centered around things going wrong in a place of safety: home. Some stories evoke the feel of Twilight Zone episodes, while others are reminiscent of Black Mirror.
Examples include “Theresa,” about a woman trapped in a Groundhog Day-style loop where she relives her husband’s murder; “Scared Mary,” about a woman terrorized by her husband’s YouTube scare pranks; and “Something Else Entirely,” where a couple’s cat chases a creature into the woods and returns acting strangely.
Scott’s tales often conclude with a shocking twist, leaving readers feeling deeply unsettled long after finishing the book.[6]
Bones (2018) by Andrew Cull
Andrew Cull has worked in various horror mediums. He directed the film The Possession of David O’Reilly, created the YouTube series In the Dark, and now focuses on writing. Cull says writing novels and short stories makes him happier than he’s been in a long time.
Bones compiles four of Cull’s short stories and a piece of flash fiction, all exploring themes of death and family. These stories are creepy, gruesome, and often heart-wrenchingly tragic.
In “Did You Forget About Me?” a man returns to his estranged childhood home and finds something awaiting him. “Hope and Walker” follows a girl who can hear the dead, and she’s drawn into a crime. “The Trade” is about offerings of dead creatures left at a family’s door. “Knock and You Will See Me” is about a woman who receives notes from her deceased father. And “The Rambling Man” tells of a village sacrificing girls to a beast.[7]
Kill Creek (2017) by Scott Thomas
Kill Creek originated from Scott Thomas’s question: “What would happen if you took horror writers—people who think about the supernatural for a living—and put them through a real, honest-to-God supernatural experience?” The story begins with four horror authors spending Halloween night in a haunted house as a publicity stunt.
Each author specializes in a different style of horror: one writes Stephen King-esque bestsellers, another writes graphically violent tales, another pens literary horror, and the last writes R.L. Stein-style teen horror. Expecting only an atmospheric setting, they soon encounter genuine supernatural events.
Kill Creek combines scares with an examination of the horror genre itself, delving into the reasons writers and readers are drawn to terror. A horror book designed for horror fans, a TV adaptation was in development but has yet to materialize.[8]
Screams from the Void (2021) by Anne Tibbets
For sci-fi horror, Screams from the Void delivers. The book follows the crew of the Demeter spaceship as they collect botanical life from distant planets. However, a vicious alien life form infiltrates the ship.
Mechanics Ensign Reina, our main character, battles the alien while also dealing with her abusive ex-boyfriend, Morven. Tibbets even drew a map of the ship and marked where each death occurred to keep the carnage consistent.
Tibbets said, “We’re dealing with a beast. There’s going to be carnage. I didn’t think it would be fair for the story to shy away from that.” Packed with gore, this space thriller guarantees a horrific and thrilling ride.[9]
They Stalk the Night (2023) by Brian Moreland
Brian Moreland adds a gem to the popular horror trope of small towns harboring dark secrets with They Stalk the Night. The novel takes place in the remote Minnesotan towns of Hellum and Deer Haven, where an oil pipeline construction crew destroys a local ceremonial hut. Dismissing it as mere superstition, they ignore the ominous signs.
The structure and the surrounding cairns were more than just superstition; they contained a bizarre monster. Now released, the monster unleashes a murderous rampage. The story reads like an action-packed horror movie.
With its icy winter setting and hints of Norse mythology, They Stalk the Night creates a rich atmosphere perfect for colder months, blending chills with thrills.[10]
Ready to Discover New Horror?
From Scottish witch graves to Lovecraftian seasides, haunted boarding houses to alien-infested spaceships, these ten lesser-known horror novels offer diverse and thrilling scares. Dive in and discover your next favorite horror author!
Which of these spooky stories will you pick up first? Leave your comment below!
