I really love disturbing books that scare you to the bone. Phycological horror that makes you so uncomfortable is my favorite genre. Looking for some more to read 🤓
Edit: thank you guys for the awesome suggestions! Hopefully I'll be able to extend my library ☺️
by Punksforchumps
30 Comments
Gerald’s Game by Stephen King
The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty
tender is the flesh. it’s dark af.
The Ruins by Scott Smith. When things go bad they go BAD. I read this years ago and it still lives rent free in my head
American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis.
I loved House of Leaves, and it was definitely unnerving. some of it made me roll my eyes a bit, but all of the house stuff is great.
The last housewife
Earthlings by Sayaka Murata.
Crash by JG Ballard.
The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell.
These also happen to be some of my favorites. Disturbing in very unique, well-written, and thought-provoking ways.
The Troop
By Nick Cutter
Although honestly any of these books mentioned are amazing. You all have great taste!!
Some of my choices have already been suggested, so I’ll suggest one that I read recently. It’s called In the Miso Soup by Ryu Murakami. It’s original a Japanese novel, but I read the translation.
It’s pretty short, but it can get gruesome. People say you’ll enjoy this book if you’re a fan of American Psycho.
Wasp factory. Screwed me over.
Whenever this question gets asked, Naked Lunch is the first book that pops into my head. I love disturbing books but couldn’t finish this one.
“Go Ask Alice” when I was about 13. Scared the bejeebers out of me.
Michael Slade does a serious about the Royal Canadian Mounties that involves serial killers that are amazing!
“Flowers in the Attic” or “The Lovely Bones” both gave me nightmares.
[removed]
The Girl Next Door – Jack Ketchum
The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher- I don’t read much horror so this might be light compared to others, but I felt freaked out while reading it and it gave me nightmares 😂
It’s not a scary book but The Discomfort of Evening is by far the most disturbing book I’ve read.
Lasher. I’m sure compared to other books on this list it’s tame, but I could not handle all of the rape and kidnapping and stupid decisions. It was too dark for my headspace. Even when I was younger and life hadn’t gotten so hard yet, I don’t think I would have enjoyed it. I had to stop halfway through.
Saving Noah by Lucinda Berry!
My Absolute Darling.
Last Days by Brain Evenson. Only book I’ve read so far that’s made my stomach churn.
Tampa by Alissa Nutting
Berserk
Man, some of the most disturbing things I have read have come from Anne Rice. The Witching Hour and the subsequent Taltos books, Memnoch the Devil, some of the lesser known Vampire chronicles… The shows are good, but no visual experience can fully cover a work of writing, as you are able to get inside the characters heads and know exactly what they are thinking and feeling. And boy oh boy, Lestat, Armand, Marius, Merrick, Claudia, the Mayfairs, and the whole gang… They are something else. I’ve watched (in my mind) Lestat drink period blood from a mortal’s vagina and rejoice in it, and Lestat going down to the depths of hell only to find out the story we often hear of Satan is quite a different story when it comes from his perspective.
World War Z
Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk… only book where I’ve had to stop reading at some points and give myself a break or two before going back in.
I think Misery by King is a nasty read
Did anyone mention, The Flame Alphabet? Oh shit that’s disturbing but no because of violence or gore, it’s about the lowest you can be reduced as a human being, I’ll say no more
In the miso soup – ryu murakami was one that stuck with me