I'm looking for something scary- but not terrifying. More along the lines of "it will make you think before you fall asleep" and less of "you will never sleep again". Hauntings, witches, or vampire stories, no serial killers or gore. Also, it would be great if the story hooks you pretty quickly. Thanks!
by And_I_Am_Flawed
6 Comments
The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix – book club meta! Softly funny at times, pretty scary at others, but very much what the title says with interesting ponderings on casual misogyny and racism in the 1980s south
The Woman in Black by Susan Hill – like a classic gothic in a haunted house on a swampy English island – yikes! But written in the 1980s so the language doesn’t feel Victorian-dated.
Mate, you need to try ‘Pet Semetary ‘ by Steven King.
in the woods by Tana French-murder mystery
Master and Margarita by bulgakov -devil went down to Moscow (there is a decapitation so I don’t know if that is too gory for you)
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson.
*The Book of Lost Things* by John Connolly
A house with good bones, I found it to be spooky at some times but also had elements of comedy. No trouble falling asleep at night afterwards! I think this fits the vibe you’re going for perfectly