Haunted houses are a timeless and classic subgenre of horror. Today, we’ve made a list of the best horror books whose stories are set around haunted houses. These are some best Horror books with haunted houses or you can say stories of haunted house. You should definitely check out these books if you like reading creepy stories.
List of Horror Books With Haunted Houses | Stories of Haunted House:
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
A classic of horror literature, this novel doubles as a psychological thriller as well. It follows our four protagonists who enter with a haunted house. There’s Dr Montague, the owner of the haunted Hill House who enlists the help of Theodora, Eleanor and Luke. The events that unfold are simultaneously riveting and spine chilling. This novel is an exemplar of its genre, and its psychological undertones and literary beauty make it one-of-a-kind.
The Turn of Screw by Henry James
This is another classic, and follows a young governess who looks after two weirdly silent and eerie kids – Miles and Flora. She soon begins to notice deathly phantoms, deformed and demented creatures and horrific events unfold near the house. With each passing moment, they seem to draw nearer and nearer. It seems that the evil presence wants the kids. But the governess soon realizes that none of this frightens the kids – they seem to be a part of the horror. This story will make any sane person curl up in their blankets and shiver.
The House of Lost Souls by F G Cottam
This story unfolds at the Fischer house – where a gruesome crime centering around Pandora Gibson has taken place. When four students enter the house a few weeks later, one of them commits suicide and the other three are driven to madness. One of the victims is Nick Mason’s sister and he is determined to find out what lurks in the house that threatens everyone’s sanity. For this, he teams up with the lone survivor of the house, who is dealing with his own demons. Together the fish out Pandora’s secret journal and demonic activities come to light.
House of Leaves by Mark Danielewski
This unique novel follows the story of a family who moves into a new home. They are chilled to find out that the house seems bigger on the inside than on the outside. Now the photojournalist and his wife must be prepared to face the music – their children wandering away and returning with an otherworldly eerie story. There is darkness lurking around and creatures who threaten to disrupt their happiness.
This House is Haunted by John Boyne
This story follows governess Eliza Caine as she lands on the doorstep of Gaudlin Hall in 1867. There she meets the children Isabella and Eustace who seem without either parents or guardians. Late that night, Eliza has a second experience of horror, which tells her that something is definitely amiss. Now she must unearth the deep, dark secrets of Gaudlin Hall and clear the house of its malign presence.
Hell House by Richard Matheson
As the title suggests, this story takes place in the haunted Belasco House, whose secrets many have unearthed but none has returned unscathed. As our four protagonists undertake this task, for a multitude of reasons, a classic and terrifying horror story unfolds. Full of graphic, sexual and paranormal horror, this one defines the haunted house subgenre of horror!
The House Next Door by Anne Rivers Siddons
This gruesome novel follows Colquitt and Walter Kennedy who lead a peaceful life in an Atlanta suburb. But their peace is disrupted when construction work begins next door unexpectedly. A couple wants to move in next door and refurbish the wooden lot with glassy elegance, but there’s something amiss. There seems to be an evil presence around, which saps goodness out of humans. This novel doesn’t deal with the supernatural in a direct, overt way, but it will horrify and terrify you to your bones.
Coraline by Neil Gaiman
This middle grade fantasy horror follows Coraline, whose family shifts to a new home. This new home has fourteen doors – thirteen open and one closed. The fourteenth is barricaded by a brick wall – at least that is what people think. When Coraline accidentally opens it, she is astonished to find a pathway to a house just like her own. But it seems like a different world – one with angels and delicacies. There’s also another father, who wants Coraline to stay with him. But there are other girls who seem trapped, and Coraline must devise a way for them to get out. Written in Gaiman’s dreamlike style, this one isn’t gruesome horror but rather an otherworldly one – but just as spooky.
The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson
This fictional account of a haunted house is based on a true story – there’s nothing more terrifying than that, now, is there? This follows the Lutz family in 1975 as they move into the house where Ronald Defeo murdered his parents and siblings a year before. The crazy and horrific events that follow lead them to vacate the home in 28 days due to the existence of paranormal entities. This novel is sure to spook out even the bravest of hearts.
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