You could look into the case of the Manson Family murders in 1969. It was a series of brutal killings carried out by Charles Manson and his followers. Although it's not as old as some others, it's still a very disturbing true story. Another old one is the story of the Hound of the Baskervilles. It was based on local legends in Dartmoor, England, of a huge, demonic - looking hound that haunted the moors.
Sure. 'The Woman in Black' is a great silent horror story. The desolate setting and the silent figure of the woman in black that haunts the marshes create a really eerie atmosphere. It's all about the silences between the strange noises and sightings that make it so spooky.
I'd recommend 'The Shining'. The idea of a haunted hotel where a family is trapped and the father slowly loses his mind is really spooky. The ghosts in the hotel have their own agendas and the way they interact with the family is hair - raising. Also, 'Pet Sematary' is quite disturbing. The concept of an ancient burial ground that brings things back to life in a twisted way makes for a truly spooky read.
Sure. The 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe is a great one. The narrator's descent into madness over the old man's 'vulture - like' eye is truly hair - raising.
Sure. 'Lights Out' is a great choice. It has a lot of bone - chilling ghost stories. Another good one is 'Suspense' which will keep you on the edge of your seat with its ghostly tales.
A classic horror story is 'Dracula'. This tale of the vampire Count Dracula has terrified readers for generations. His ability to transform into a bat, his thirst for blood, and his power over the undead make for a truly spooky read.
The Amityville Horror is another. Supposedly, a family moved into a house in Amityville, New York, and experienced all sorts of paranormal activity. Doors slamming, strange odors, and apparitions. It was later made into a famous horror movie, but the original story was said to be based on true events.
Definitely check out the story of the Baychimo. It was a cargo ship that got stuck in the ice in 1931. Even after being abandoned, it was seen drifting in the Arctic for decades. People who claim to have seen it say it looks like a ghost ship, just floating there all alone.
One spooky short horror story is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's about a man who is driven mad by the old man's 'vulture - like' eye and ends up murdering him, only to be haunted by the sound of the dead man's heart. Another is 'The Monkey's Paw'. A family gets a magical paw that grants wishes, but each wish comes with a horrible and unforeseen consequence. And 'The Yellow Wallpaper' where a woman's mental state deteriorates as she becomes obsessed with the strange yellow wallpaper in her room.
One short spooky horror story is about a girl who moves into an old house. Every night, she hears strange scratching noises from the attic. One day, she decides to go up there. As she climbs the creaky stairs, the air gets colder. When she reaches the attic, she sees a pair of glowing eyes in the corner. She runs out of the house and never goes back.
Sure. 'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens can be considered a ghost story. The ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come visit Ebenezer Scrooge and transform his life. It's a great story for a spooky night as it has that eerie element of the supernatural while also having a moral lesson.