There's 'The Canterville Ghost' by Oscar Wilde. It's a unique story as it combines humor with the ghostly elements. The ghost in the story is rather comical at times yet still manages to be spooky. 'Ghost - Ship' is also a thrilling one. It tells of a ship haunted by its past and the crew that encounters strange and terrifying things on board.
One classic is 'The Turn of the Screw' by Henry James. It's a very ambiguous and spooky story where a governess believes the children she's taking care of are being haunted. Another is 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' by Washington Irving, with the infamous Headless Horseman. And then there's 'Dracula' by Bram Stoker, which has a very thrilling and terrifying vampire element that haunts the characters throughout the story.
Well, 'Carmilla' is a great thrilling ghost story. It was one of the early vampire stories and has a very eerie atmosphere. Also, 'The Monkey's Paw' is quite well - known. It shows how a simple object can bring about terrifying consequences when wishes are made on it. And 'The Haunting of Hill House' by Shirley Jackson is a masterpiece, with its psychological horror and the sense of the house being alive and malevolent.
Well, 'Murder on the Orient Express' by Agatha Christie is a must - mention. Hercule Poirot, Christie's famous detective, has to solve a murder that occurs on a train. The closed - environment setting adds to the thriller aspect. Also, 'The Big Sleep' by Raymond Chandler. It has Philip Marlowe, a private eye, dealing with blackmail, murder, and a web of secrets in a corrupt city. 'Gone Girl' by Gillian Flynn can also be considered. It has a complex plot with a lot of twists and turns as a man tries to find his missing wife.
They play on our fears. Most of us are afraid of death and the afterlife. Ghost stories bring these fears to the surface. For example, a story about a vengeful spirit coming back from the dead makes us shiver because it makes the idea of death seem less final and more menacing.
Edgar Allan Poe is very famous for his thrilling ghost stories. His works like 'The Fall of the House of Usher' are filled with a sense of doom and the supernatural. Another is M. R. James. His ghost stories are known for their academic settings and slow - building horror. H. P. Lovecraft also wrote some very thrilling and otherworldly horror stories that often involve ancient and unknowable entities.
The unknown element makes super scary ghost stories thrilling. We don't know what the ghost will do or where it will appear. It creates a sense of fear and anticipation.
Scary Christmas ghost stories are thrilling because they play on our emotions during a time when we are supposed to be feeling happy and safe. We let our guards down during Christmas. So, when a ghost story is told, it catches us off - guard. Imagine a family gathered around the fireplace on Christmas night, and then someone starts telling a story about a ghost that haunts the local Christmas market. The thought that something so spooky could be lurking in a place full of Christmas cheer is both exciting and terrifying at the same time.
The atmosphere they create. Dark, cold, and silent settings like old mansions, cemeteries, or abandoned places are common in ghost stories. These settings immediately put us on edge. And when combined with strange noises, like creaking floors or whispering voices, it heightens the sense of horror. It's as if we are transported into a world where the rules of the living don't apply and the dead can have their way.
The sudden scares. They often have a moment where something unexpected and spooky happens all of a sudden, like a ghost appearing out of nowhere. This jolt of fear is what makes them so exciting. For example, in a story where a character is just going about their normal business in an old house and then suddenly sees a pair of glowing eyes in the dark. It's that quick moment of shock that gets the heart racing. Also, the short length means the intensity is concentrated, and there's no time for the fear to dissipate.
The sense of immediacy. Since it's 'last minute', it often catches you off - guard. There's no time to prepare yourself mentally for the scare, so it hits you harder.
Classic elements in manu a ghost stories can be the use of fog. It gives an air of mystery and makes it hard to see what might be lurking. Also, cold spots are common. It's as if the ghosts bring a chill with them. And then there are the haunted objects. Maybe an old doll or a mirror that seems to have a life of its own and is often associated with the ghostly presence.
Some well - known thriller ghost stories include 'Rebecca' by Daphne du Maurier. The presence of the first Mrs. de Winter haunts the new bride throughout the story. Also, 'The Woman in Black' is extremely chilling. It tells the story of a ghostly woman in black who brings death and misfortune to those who see her. And 'The Haunting of Hill House' by Shirley Jackson is a psychological thriller with ghostly happenings that play on the characters' and the readers' fears.