Feature Image Credit: @bookish_kirst Stephen King has the world by a thread with his novels. If you’re anything like us and can’t get enough of those adrenaline rushes that King so creepily weaves together, then these books are for you. Whether you like paranormal activity, or a couple of meddling kids getting into some trouble, you won’t be disappointed with these authors and stories. Maybe don’t read them right before bed—unless the dark and cold nights help bring these stories to life for you. Don’t miss these favorite fantasy thriller cross-genre reads>>

The Hole by Hye-Young Pyun

After a car accident leaves him paralyzed and takes the life of his wife, Oghi wakes up in the care of his mother-in-law. Grieving the death of her daughter and blaming Oghi, she is neglectful of his care and Oghi’s life becomes a living nightmare as he struggles through pain and troubled memories. When his mother-in-law begins obsessively digging holes in the garden, Oghi desperately looks for a way to escape.

The Hunger by Alma Katsu

Katsu’s new supernatural thriller, The Hunger, will take you back to the days of covered wagons and Westward Expansion. As the Donner Party makes their way through the West, they fear that something evil is following them. When members of their group begin to disappear, the others are left to question what kind of dangerous entity is taking them out, who will be taken next and where their journey is really leading them.

The Terror by Dan Simmons

Now a major TV show on AMC, The Terror is a book that Stephen King could not put down. The crew on the HMS Terror hoped to find the Northwest Passage but instead, they stumble upon something sinister and deadly. When the expedition leader meets a horrific death, it’s up to Captain Francis Crozier to lead his men to safety. Battling frigid weather and lurking predators, will the crew reach safety or turn on one another?

Dark Corners by Ruth Rendell

When Carl’s father dies, he inherits a house in a rich London neighborhood. He can’t exactly afford it, though, so he rents the upstairs living quarters to the first person he interviews. Letting Dermot Mckinnon live there was mistake number one. The two following mistakes were keeping the bizarre collection of homeopathic “cures” and diet pills that his father left in the medicine cabinet and then proceeding to sell them. When the friend he sells them to turns up dead, Dermot starts to blackmail Carl, and things only spiral downwards as Carl falls victim to something and someone he cannot escape.

77 Shadow Street by Dean Koontz

Pendleton was built during the Gilded Age. For the past century, it has been the setting of murders, madness, and suicide. Now, whatever evil is within the house has awoken once again. The residents begin to hear phantom voices, shadows flicker across security cameras, and elevators suddenly plunge. As death once again begins to befall the residents of Pendleton, a secret also begins to unravel, a secret that could change humanity.

Heart-shaped Box by Joe Hill

Judas Coyne is a collector of the macabre. He already owns a cookbook for cannibals and a used hangman’s noose. So when he comes across an ad that boasts a ghost for sale, it is right up his alley. In a heart-shaped box, his ghost arrives — supposedly inhabiting a dead man’s suit. And sure enough, an old man emerges and follows Judas wherever he goes, watching and waiting to strike.

Dark Corners by Ruth Rendell

When Carl’s father dies, he inherits a house in a rich London neighborhood. He can’t exactly afford it, though, so he rents the upstairs living quarters to the first person he interviews. Letting Dermot Mckinnon live there was mistake number one. The two following mistakes were keeping the bizarre collection of homeopathic “cures” and diet pills that his father left in the medicine cabinet and then proceeding to sell them. When the friend he sells them to turns up dead, Dermot starts to blackmail Carl, and things only spiral downwards as Carl falls victim to something and someone he cannot escape.

The Lie by Hesh Kestin

Dahlia Barr wanted to change the system from within; that’s why she took the job when the Israeli national police approached her about a position of a government arbiter. She was many things: a mother, a soon-to-be ex-wife, and a successful Israeli attorney. Never did she think she would be the mother of a kidnapped son. When Dahlia’s son, Israeli Defense Force lieutenant Ari Barr, is taken by Hezbollah, Dahlia will have to come face to face with her long and complicated past, and make the one person who holds the key to Ari’s rescue talk.

The Dark Corners of the Night by Meg Gardiner

The Midnight Man is terrorizing Los Angeles, killing the parents of children but leaving the young ones to live with new horrific memories of losing the people they love most. With this brazen killer on the loose, FBI behavior analyst Caitlin Hendrix arrives in Los Angeles to help solve the case. But it doesn’t take long before Caitilin realizes that this serial killer is different from the others she has chased before. As she struggles to keep her personal life from falling apart and keep the case on track, she must come to terms with what she’s willing to do to catch this monstrous killer.

Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero

This is Scooby-Doo meets Stephen King in the year 1990. Years ago, four teenagers solved the mystery of an amphibian monster in Sleepy Lake. Now, the former teen detectives are completely lost. After one of their tragic deaths and the rest running from the demons that haunt them, the man they apprehended all those years ago is released for parole and all these years later, i’s confirmed: they got the wrong guy. This thrilling novel will bring the gang back together again, but can they find the right masked man?

White is for Witching by Helen Oyeyomi

Dover, England has been home to four generations of Silver women: Anna, Jennifer, Lily and now Miranda. The women have a strong bond, one that defies time and space. So when Lily, Miranda’s mother, unexpectedly dies, things start to get weird—well, more weird than usual, as Lily finds herself starving and hearing voices. The Silver family house starts to emit the hostility the town of Dover has towards outsiders. Their lives have changed, and there’s no going back.

Wilder Girls by Rory Power

First the teachers died one by one, then it began to infect the students. Nowhere to run on their island boarding school, cut off from the rest of the world, three best friends are living in quarantine. They say it’s coming from the woods, but it’s seeping into everything as they await a cure. When one of the girls goes missing, Hetty will do anything to find her. She might just learn the darker truth behind their confinement and the life that they’re living at Raxter school. Here are 16 classic thrillers for suspense junkies>>

The Girl from the Well by Rin Chupeco

Creepily suspenseful, this novel follows a Japanese ghost looking for vengeance. If that isn’t enough to get you reading, then how about the line “I am where dead children go”? Okiku has wandered the world for centuries, freeing the spirits of those who have been murdered. It hasn’t brought her peace, though, so she’s still drifting on. Then she meets Tark, and boy-oh-boy does evil just scream his name. Literally, he has to be freed from the malevolence that lives inside of him, but if the demon dies … so does its host. Don’t miss these TV/movie adaptations perfect for thriller lovers>>

Duma Key by Stephen King

When a horrific construction site accident claims Edgar’s arm, his life quickly spirals out of control. He and his wife divorce and he becomes estranged from his children. All he’s left with is a not-so-quiet rage. So he picks up his life in Minnesota and moves to the Florida Keys. There, he meets a unique fella down the beach named Wireman, and they become fast friends. It’s also where he discovers his love, and talent, for art. He begins painting the wildest, most beautiful creations. But he starts to lose himself in his paintings, which may or may not predict events elsewhere. Duma Key is possibly one of the most underrated books of King. It’s beautiful and poetic, and the horror is very much a slow burn of terror. But more than anything, the characters are electric and enthralling.

The Lamb Will Slaughter the Lion by Margaret Killjoy

This urban and paranormal fantasy book will have you gripping for more of its eeriness. Danielle Cain feels like her best friend’s death was not from suicide, but she can’t quite make out what happened. In search for clues, she ventures to the utopian town of Freedom, Iowa. A protector spirit is beginning to switch sides on its summoners and this blood-red, three antlered deer isn’t taking Danielle’s arrival lightly. She realizes fairly quickly that she has to save the town—or at least get out alive.

The Boys of Summer by Richard Cox

In 1979, a massive tornado devastates the city of Wichita Falls, Texas, leaving scores dead, thousands homeless, and nine-year-old Todd Willis in a coma, fighting for his life. When he awakens four years later, the world he once knew is struggling to come through—and his hallucinations aren’t helping. But Todd must start over, and that means making new friends. After a dark summer of firsts, these boys hold a secret that they promise never to speak of again. Twenty-five years later, the same boys, now all grown up, must face their haunting past when their memories refuse to align with reality and their lives are threatened at every turn. It’s either going to bring them together or make them understand the phrase “every man for himself.”

The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay

Seven-year-old Wen and her parents, Eric and Andrew, are vacationing at a remote cabin on a quiet New Hampshire lake. Nothing is ever as it seems though. One afternoon, Wen is catching grasshoppers in the front yard when a stranger appears in the driveway. His name is Leonard and he’s very nice, that is until he apologizes to Wen and tells her that what happens next is not her fault. Three more strangers arrive, and neither Wen nor her dads can see what’s coming. Terrifyingly suspenseful, this is a tale of paranoia and survival that will shatter your fairy tale endings. Check out these favorite LGBTQA+ thriller cross-genre books>>

Doctor Sleep by Stephen King

In this sequel to The Shining, Danny Torrance is revisited as a middle-aged alcoholic trying to put his life back together. After starting the 12-step program, he becomes an upstanding citizen in a small town where he works in hospice care. He still carries a bit of the shine, and with it connects to a girl with possibly the strongest shine of all time. The bad news is a group of supernaturals are after her, and Danny may be the only one who can help her. King has a couple of series, but typically doesn’t stray from the standalone novel, so I wasn’t sure what to expect from Doctor Sleep. I’m here to tell you, it’s worth the read. It was so gratifying to get to reconnect with Danny Torrance as an adult. This was a wonderful follow-up to an amazing story that left me feeling a little more whole and satisfied than the original novel.

Parasite by Mira Grant

Good health is owed to a humble parasite, a genetically engineered tapeworm developed by the pioneering SymboGen Corporation. When implanted, the Intestinal Bodyguard worm protects from illness and boosts our immune system. But the parasites are getting restless. They want their own lives, and they do anything to get it.

The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters

Dr. Faraday is brought to Hundreds Hall to care for a patient. An old home that has belonged to the Ayres family for more than two centuries, the mansion has become dilapidated. Within, a mother, son, and daughter reside. However, Dr. Faraday is about to find out that they are not alone. Something dark and sinister lies within the house, and it may be too late for him to get out.

Confessions by Kanae Minato

Yuko Moriguchi’s four-year-old daughter died on the grounds of the middle school where she teaches. Unable to stay there, she has tendered her resignation, but will first give one last lecture to students she believes were involved in her daughter’s tragic accident. She sets in motion a diabolical plan for revenge.

The Hunger by Alma Katsu

A masterful combination of the historical and the horrific, The Hunger follows the ninety men, women and children traveling West as members of the Donner party. Their journey seemed cursed from the beginning as misfortune after misfortune plagues the group. They also can’t shake the feeling that someone is stalking them. As they make their way into the mountains, something disturbing and hungry awaits them. What to read if your love Ruth Ware>>

Carrie by Stephen King

Carrie White is not your average American teenager. In fact, she’s quite the opposite – she’s quiet, awkward and unpopular, sheltered by her overly religious mother and she has telekinetic powers. When the popular kids play a cruel prank on poor Carrie, she lashes out in a rampage that could only be caused by the works of the supernatural. And no one will ever prank Carrie again. Carrie is King’s debut novel and comes in at just around 200 pages. It’s a perfect read for someone who is wanting the horror and supernatural King can bring but isn’t ready for a 500+ page doorstopper. It’s told through news articles and townspeople accounts of the story, and reminds me very much of a reenactment-type show, but not so corny. This one is really a great book for King beginners.

Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage

A crossover between Gone Girl and The Omen? Count us in. Zoje Stage’s debut novel tells the horrific story of Hanna, a young girl with a twisted mind. Hanna adores her father and dreams of the two of them without her mother. As her mental state begins to darken, Hannah will pull out all the stops to make sure that she gets rid of her mom. Suzette must find a way to control her daughter before she ruins the family forever.

Dead on Arrival by Kiki Swinson

Reese and Dawn are doing everything they can to stay afloat as they struggle with a gambling addiction and infertility. When a friend promises the two a prosperous future in return for help on a project he claims is safe, the couple will find themselves in serious trouble. Participating in illegal human smuggling, Reese and Dawn will realize that their side job isn’t as easy – or as safe – as their friend had initially promised.

Lake Silence by Anne Bishop

In a world where supernatural creatures exist alongside humans, one resort owner will learn that paranormal monsters don’t abide by predetermined human laws. Being pinned for a murder she didn’t and couldn’t have committed, Vicki DeVine must figure out who (or what) the real killer is before the magical forces at work destroy her world forever. Set in Bishop’s world of the Others, Lake Silence is the perfect read for fans of dark fantasy.