"There is something at work in my soul, which I do not understand.”~ Mary Shelley, Frankenstein
October is officially the spookiest month and the perfect time to brush up your literary horror bookshelf. While most well known horror writers are men...Stephen King, Bram Stoker, Peter Straub, Jack Ketchum...women authors are writing some of the most innovative and terrifying horror fiction today. Here are 5 contemporary horror novels written by women to give you a fright.
The Lost Village by Camilla Sten
Sten’s delightfully dark Scandanvian-set horror focuses on Alice Lindstedt, a documentary filmmaker. Since childhood she’s been obsessed with the tale of The Lost Village, a strange locale where a whole community disappeared, including her grandmother’s entire family. Gathering up a crew, she decides to head to the village to investigate. But from their arrival the crew is haunted by strange occurrences and soon realize they’re not alone. Terrifying stuff.
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
A 2020 Gram Stoker Award nominee, Mexican Gothic marks Moreno-Garcia with her hypnotic and engaging prose as one of the genre's most exciting talents. It’s a twisty horror fantasy. Read Katia’s review here.
When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Sydney loves her neighborhood but hates the ever-encroaching gentrification that’s threatening it. When her community starts disappearing, she uncovers a nightmarish conspiracy that plays into her biggest fears. An unputdownable read that’s timely, horrifying, and utterly vital.
The Deep by Alma Katsu
An eerie, psychological twist on one of the world's most renowned tragedies, the sinking of the Titanic and the ill-fated sail of its sister ship, the Britannic. Brilliantly combining the supernatural with the height of historical disaster, The Deep is an exploration of love and destiny, desire and innocence, and, above all, a quest to understand how our choices can lead us inexorably toward our doom.
The Woods Are Always Watching by Stephanie Perkins
Before college starts, two best friends go on one last trip together—a three-day hike in the woods of a local National Park. As tensions build, what started off as a great adventure soon gets derailed by evil forces. Will their friendship survive the weekend? Will they survive at all?