For beginners, 'The Woman in Black' is a good choice. It has a very creepy atmosphere and a haunting female figure that scares the main character and the readers alike. 'Coraline' by Neil Gaiman can also be considered. It's a more modern horror story, with a young girl finding a parallel world that seems wonderful at first but turns out to be very dangerous. 'The Yellow Wallpaper' is another interesting one. It's a psychological horror story that shows the descent into madness of a woman trapped in a room with strange wallpaper.
Sure. 'The Monkey's Paw' is a great start. It's a short story with a simple but very effective horror concept. A family gets a magical paw that can grant wishes, but every wish comes with a horrible price. 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' is also suitable. The headless horseman is a well - known horror figure, and the story has a spooky, atmospheric setting. And 'The Canterville Ghost' which combines humor with horror in a story about a ghost that is trying to haunt a family but often fails comically at first.
Beginning with horror? Try 'The Turn of the Screw' by Henry James. It's a bit of a psychological thriller, with a governess seeing apparitions of the former employees at a manor. 'A Christmas Carol' can also be a starting point in a way. Although it's mainly a Christmas story, the ghosts that visit Scrooge are spooky and it shows how horror elements can be used in different types of stories. And 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' where the transformation between the two personalities is both fascinating and a bit horrifying.
A great beginner - friendly horror story is 'The Yellow Wallpaper'. It's a psychological horror about a woman who slowly descends into madness while being confined in a room with the eponymous wallpaper. It's more about the build - up of psychological terror rather than extreme scares.
Sure. 'The Monkey's Paw' is a great one for beginners. It's a short story that shows how a simple wish - granting device can bring about great horror. A family gets hold of a monkey's paw that can grant three wishes, but each wish comes with a terrible price.
Roald Dahl's 'The Witches' is another good option. It's a bit more on the lighter side of horror but still has its spooky moments. The story is about a boy who discovers the existence of witches and has to stop their evil plan to turn all children into mice. It has Dahl's signature dark humor and engaging storytelling.
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.
For beginners, 'The Call of Cthulhu' is a great start. It's very well - known and has a simple enough plot to follow while still being full of that eldritch horror. It gives a good taste of the genre with its dark and mysterious elements. Another good one is 'The Colour Out of Space' as it is relatively short and easy to understand, but still manages to create a sense of unease and horror.
For beginners, 'The Woman in Black' by Susan Hill is a great choice. It's a relatively short and straightforward horror novel. It has a spooky atmosphere and a simple yet effective plot about a haunted house and a vengeful ghost. Another good one is 'The Silence of the Lambs' by Thomas Harris. While it's more of a thriller with horror elements, it's very accessible. The character of Hannibal Lecter is one of the most iconic and terrifying in literature. And 'Coraline' by Neil Gaiman is also suitable. It's a young - adult horror story that is not too intense but still manages to be creepy with its alternate world and the 'Other Mother' concept.
If you're new to horror novels, start with 'Ghost Story' by Peter Straub. It has elements of mystery and horror combined in a way that is easy to digest. 'Frankenstein' by Mary Shelley is also a good option. It's a well - known classic with a thought - provoking horror concept. And 'Let the Right One In' by John Ajvide Lindqvist. It's a vampire story with a unique twist that can be a great introduction to the darker side of literature.
If you're a beginner in horror novels, 'The Graveyard Book' by Neil Gaiman is a wonderful choice. It's a story about a boy raised by ghosts in a graveyard. It has some spooky elements but also a lot of heart. 'House of Leaves' by Mark Z. Danielewski is also interesting. It has a unique format that adds to the overall sense of unease. It's a bit complex but still accessible for those new to horror.
For beginners, 'The Woman in Black' by Susan Hill is a great start. It has a spooky atmosphere and a simple yet effective plot. Another good one is 'Carrie' by Stephen King. 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 really gets you into the horror genre.
'The Exorcist' by William Peter Blatty is a classic that beginners might enjoy. It's about the possession of a young girl and the attempts to exorcise the demon. The religious and psychological aspects add to the overall horror of the story.