Then there's 'The Wasp Factory' by Iain Banks. It's a disturbing and often overlooked horror novel. The story is about a young man with some very strange and violent tendencies, and it will keep you on the edge of your seat.
One of the best obscure horror novels is 'House of Leaves' by Mark Z. Danielewski. It's a complex and mind - bending horror story that plays with the format of the book itself. The story within the story, about a house that is larger on the inside than it appears on the outside, is both terrifying and thought - provoking.
Sure. 'The Shining' by Stephen King is a great start. It has a simple yet very effective horror concept of a haunted hotel. The characters are well - developed and the sense of isolation and dread is palpable. Another good one is 'Pet Sematary'. It's easy to get into and the idea of the dead coming back wrong is really spooky. 'Fright Night' is also good for newbies as it has a modern - day vampire story that's not too complex but still really scary.
Sure. 'Annihilation' is a great start. It's easy to get into and has a really interesting concept of Area X. The way the environment and the creatures are described gives a strong sense of cosmic horror. Another good one is 'The Fisherman'. It has a slow - build dread and the story is very engaging. You'll be drawn into the mystery of the fishing trip that goes horribly wrong. And 'The Ballad of Black Tom' is also good for newbies as it has a different take on the typical cosmic horror, with a focus on social issues as well as the supernatural.
You could also try 'A Christmas Horror Story' by various authors. It contains a collection of short horror stories all centered around Christmas. This gives you a variety of different horror styles and themes within the Christmas context, allowing you to explore what you like in horror without being too overwhelmed by a long, single - story narrative.
For a horror newbie, I'd recommend 'Carrie' by Stephen King. It's one of his earlier works and it has a relatable protagonist in Carrie, and the story of her telekinetic revenge is both sad and scary. 'The Call of Cthulhu' by H. P. Lovecraft is also great. It's a short story that introduces the Lovecraftian horror elements, like the incomprehensible and ancient evils. And 'Bird Box' by Josh Malerman, which has a unique concept of a world where seeing something can kill you.
One such story is 'The Werewolf of Bedburg'. It's about a man named Peter Stubbe who was believed to be a werewolf in the 16th century. He was accused of various heinous crimes like murder and cannibalism. Another is the story of the 'Gilles de Rais', a nobleman who was rumored to have dabbled in dark magic and committed atrocious acts against children in medieval France.
'Skeleton Crew' by Stephen King has some great short horror stories that are suitable for beginners. King has a way of writing that draws the reader in, even if they're not used to horror. There are stories in this collection that range from the subtly creepy to the more overtly terrifying, so it can ease new readers into the horror genre.
For a horror newbie, I'd recommend 'The Slenderman Tapes'. It's not too overly complex or gory. It gives a good introduction to the Slenderman concept with some spooky moments like strange noises in the background and sightings of the faceless figure in the distance.
For a horror newbie, I'd recommend 'The Haunting of Hill House' by Shirley Jackson. It's a psychological horror that builds tension really well. Then there's 'Rosemary's Baby' which is about a woman's pregnancy with a devil - like child. It's very suspenseful. Also, 'Psycho' by Robert Bloch, which was made into a famous movie, is a great read with its shocking twists.
Some names for fake horror novels could be 'The Unreal Serial Killer of the Small Town'. It gives the chills of a horror story but is not based on real horror. 'The Bogus Poltergeist in the Attic' is another one. And 'The Fictional Demon in the Graveyard' can also be a name. These names are designed to attract horror fans but with a twist of being not - real horror stories.