top 10 scariest books ever based on true stories

One of the scariest is 'The Amityville Horror'. It tells the story of a family who moved into a house with a dark past. There were reports of strange noises, apparitions, and a generally malevolent atmosphere. Another is 'Helter Skelter' which details the Manson Family murders. The real - life horror of those brutal killings and the cult - like following of Charles Manson makes it truly terrifying. And 'In Cold Blood' by Truman Capote is also on the list. It recounts a real - life murder case in a very detailed and chilling way.

A very scary one is 'The Mothman Prophecies'. It's about the strange sightings in Point Pleasant. People reported seeing a large, winged creature, and there were also some strange coincidences and tragedies in the area. Another is 'The Bell Witch Haunting' which tells of a poltergeist - like entity that tormented a family. It has some really spooky elements. And 'Ghost Soldiers' is also quite chilling as it details a real - life rescue mission during World War II that had many terrifying moments.

One of the scariest is 'Helter Skelter' by Vincent Bugliosi. It tells the true story of the Manson Family murders. The details of their brutal killings and the cult - like mentality behind it are truly terrifying.

One of the top books based on true stories is 'The Diary of a Young Girl' by Anne Frank. It gives a first - hand account of a young girl's life in hiding during the Holocaust. Another is 'Unbroken' by Laura Hillenbrand, which tells the incredible story of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic athlete who survived the horrors of World War II. 'Into the Wild' by Jon Krakauer is also on the list. It follows the journey of Christopher McCandless who ventured into the Alaskan wilderness.

Well, 'The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks' is a great one. It's about Henrietta Lacks, whose cells were used for medical research without her knowledge. 'A Long Way Gone' by Ishmael Beah is also in the list. It tells the true story of Beah's life as a child soldier in Sierra Leone. And don't forget 'The Glass Castle' by Jeannette Walls, which is her memoir about her rather chaotic and impoverished childhood.

Some of the well - known ones could be 'The Diary of a Young Girl' by Anne Frank. It gives a first - hand account of her life in hiding during the Holocaust. Another is 'Unbroken' by Laura Hillenbrand which tells the incredible true story of Louis Zamperini's survival during World War II. Also, 'Into the Wild' by Jon Krakauer, which follows the journey of Christopher McCandless.

Definitely 'Man's Search for Meaning' by Viktor E. Frankl. It's based on his experiences in Nazi concentration camps and how he found meaning in the most extreme circumstances. Another inspiring one is 'The Power of One' by Bryce Courtenay. It's about a young boy in South Africa who overcomes great odds. And 'I Am Malala' by Malala Yousafzai, which tells of her fight for girls' education against the Taliban.

'Unbroken' by Laura Hillenbrand is also highly regarded. It chronicles the life of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic runner who became a prisoner of war during World War II. His story of survival, endurance, and the strength of the human spirit is truly inspiring.

Then there's 'Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town' by Jon Krakauer. This is a different kind of scary as it delves into the real - life issues of sexual assault on college campuses. It's terrifying to read about how the justice system often fails the victims and how prevalent these crimes are in what should be a safe environment for students.

One of the scariest true stories could be the story of the Amityville Horror. A family moved into a house where a gruesome murder had occurred. They reported all sorts of paranormal activities like seeing apparitions and feeling a menacing presence. Another is the case of the Dyatlov Pass incident. A group of hikers died mysteriously in the mountains. Their tent was cut open from the inside and they were found in strange positions, some with missing body parts. And the story of the Bell Witch in Tennessee. It was said to be a malevolent spirit that tormented a family for years, making strange noises and physically attacking family members.