Looking for spine-tingling reads that tap into the eerie charm of Appalachia’s rugged, misty hills? From haunted woods and ancient folklore to unsettling small-town mysteries, these spooky books explore the darker side of the region’s history and supernatural lore. Perfect for anyone craving a chilling journey into Appalachian horror, these stories will leave you on edge and hungry for more atmospheric thrills.

Revelator by Daryl Gregory

In 1933, nine-year-old Stella is left with her grandmother, Motty, in the remote Tennessee mountains, where she stumbles upon the family’s terrifying personal god, the Ghostdaddy. Years later, Stella, now a bootlegger, returns for Motty’s funeral and to meet Sunny, a mysterious ten-year-old girl Motty adopted, who holds a powerful connection to Stella’s forgotten past. Revelator is a captivating southern gothic tale that delves into dark family secrets and the haunting legacy of faith.

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This Wretched Valley by Jenny Kiefer

Dylan’s big break was supposed to come from climbing an untouched cliff in the Kentucky wilderness, but seven months later, three mutilated bodies are found, and she is still missing. The remains are disturbingly altered: one a skeleton, another emptied of organs, and the third mutilated with missing body parts. As the mystery deepens, the question remains—were they murdered, victims of cannibalism, or something even darker?

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The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon

West Hall, Vermont, is known for eerie disappearances, including the 1908 death of Sara Harrison Shea, found dead after losing her daughter. In the present, nineteen-year-old Ruthie wakes to find her mother, Alice, has mysteriously vanished from their off-the-grid farmhouse. As Ruthie uncovers Sara’s hidden diary, she realizes she’s entangled in a century-old mystery—and may be the only one who can prevent it from happening again.

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Smothermoss by Alisa Alering

In 1980s Appalachia, sisters Sheila and Angie grapple with personal struggles and mysterious forces in their remote mountain town. Sheila faces relentless bullying, while Angie crafts tarot-like cards with unsettling powers. After two hikers are murdered nearby, the sisters become entangled in a deadly mystery involving blood-stained evidence, stolen money, and a strange man with a woman’s watch. As the threat escalates, the mountain they call home may be their only chance for survival—or their ultimate downfall.

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The Devil all the Time by Donald Ray Pollock

Now a Netflix film starring Tom Holland and Robert Pattinson, The Devil All the Time by is a dark, riveting tale set in rural Ohio and West Virginia from the end of WWII through the 1960s. The novel weaves together the lives of a war-haunted father, a couple of serial killers, and a corrupt preacher, all bound by violence and despair. At its heart is Arvin Russell, an orphaned boy trying to survive a brutal world, in a story that masterfully explores the darkest corners of human nature.

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The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher

Winner of the RUSA Award for Best Horror, this chilling novel follows Mouse as she clears out her late grandmother’s hoarder house in rural North Carolina. While sorting through the junk, she discovers her step-grandfather’s unsettling journal, filled with bizarre entries that start to make sense as strange and terrifying things happen in the nearby woods. Alone with her dog, Mouse must confront these eerie forces head-on—or risk not surviving the horrors lurking around her.

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The Woods All Black by Lee Mandelo

The Woods All Black blends historical horror, trans romance, and revenge in 1920s Appalachia, following Leslie Bruin, a nurse assigned to the isolated township of Spar Creek. As Leslie navigates the town’s prejudices, he encounters a sinister darkness within the local church, targeting a young person for their nonconformity. With violence brewing and the haunted woods closing in, Leslie must confront both human malice and supernatural threats to protect the vulnerable and survive.

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Brother by Ania Ahlborn

Deep in Appalachia, the Morrows live in a secluded farmhouse far from prying eyes, hiding dark secrets in their backyard. Nineteen-year-old Michael Morrow, unlike his twisted family, longs for normalcy and dreams of escaping their violent world. When he meets Alice, a girl from a nearby town, he feels a glimmer of hope, but his ruthless brother Rebel is quick to remind him of the monster he can’t outrun.

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Child of God by Cormac McCarthy

A man released from prison after a false accusation of rape in East Tennessee becomes a haunting figure in the community. As his social isolation increases, his depraved tendencies warp into violence. Tackling issues of morality and social abandonment, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author dives deep into a dark and twisted mind.

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Spookshow by Val Loughcrewe

As horrific creatures descend upon them, and the dead awaken alongside infamous serial killers, a group of longtime friends in the small Appalachian town of Skaversdale is thrust into a relentless nightmare of cosmic terror. Unsettling occurrences begin to plague the town as the anniversary of a gruesome carnival massacre approaches, nearly thirty years later. What they anticipated as an unforgettable night of revelry quickly unravels into chaos and dread.

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Lies on the Serpent’s Tongue by Kate Pearsall

Rowan’s gift, the ability to smell the lies of the person who speaks them, has made her distrust everyone her whole life. Everyone other than her sister, Linden, who can taste people’s feelings. The James sisters have fought their entire lives to keep their abilities hidden in their small town, Caball Hollow, but when Rowan’s rival, Hadrian, shows up on her doorstep needing help, she may have to reveal her secret to save his life and the lives of other people in town. As a strange monster stalks the town, stealing people’s items and altering their memories, it is up to Rowan and Hadrian to find out what is happening, but how can she trust him when she can smell the lies in every word he says?

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