Sure. 'Carrie' by Stephen King is a great start. It's about a high - school girl with telekinetic powers who gets bullied and then takes revenge in a very horrifying way. It's easy to follow and has all the elements of a good horror story.
For beginners, 'Coraline' by Neil Gaiman is great. It's a horror - ish story aimed at younger readers but still enjoyable for adults. It's about a girl who discovers a parallel world that's not as nice as it seems. Also, 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' by Washington Irving is a classic horror short story that's a good introduction to the genre.
Sure. 'Goosebumps' series by R. L. Stine is a good start for beginners. The stories are spooky but not overly terrifying. Another option is 'Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark' by Alvin Schwartz. It has simple yet effective horror tales.
A good one for beginners is 'The Monkey's Paw'. It's about a family who comes into possession of a magical monkey's paw that can grant wishes, but with horrible consequences. It's not overly gory but has a great sense of dread.
You could also start with 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' by Washington Irving. It has a spooky atmosphere with the Headless Horseman and Ichabod Crane. The vivid descriptions of the setting and the superstitions in the story make it an engaging horror story for those just starting to explore the genre.
A good 'x horror story' for beginners is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's a short story that builds up great tension as the narrator tries to convince the reader of his sanity while clearly being deranged. Another one is 'The Monkey's Paw'. It shows how a simple wish - granting object can bring great horror as the wishes go horribly wrong. And 'The Lottery' is also a great start. It has a very normal - looking small - town setting that turns into a nightmare.
A more modern option could be 'The Conjuring' series tie - in novel. It has a clear story line about a family being haunted by a malevolent spirit. The scares are there from the beginning, and it's a good introduction to the horror genre as it has elements of both the supernatural and psychological horror.