This isn’t a sex-related post, but it does fit here in the same vein as the Kink Your Kindle posts I do every few months. I was chatting on Twitter with someone in my ongoing quest to find new horror and crime books to read, and they suggested I make a list of what I’ve read recently. You see, I’m really into reading horror. Below are probably all of the horror Kindle books I’ve read in the past six months (though I’ve read some actual paper books too like San Francisco Noir, which is pretty good).
I didn’t write reviews for these, I just provided a one-line snap judgment for each, and added a ‘LE SUCK to ZOMFG’ rating system of sorts. You’ll need to click through to read plot descriptions, but many are zombie, some are serial killers, and most are paranormal/sci-fi in some way or another. What I like isn’t going to be what you like, of course. But, I practically live off a steady diet of other people’s reading lists because discovery is such a challenge.
If you like this sort of thing (horror and crime novels), I hope my list has something for you. These are in order of most recently read.
- The Heretic (Beyond the Wall Book 1) by Lucas Bale MEH
I kept waiting for something to happen. All the women are weak.
- Ghost Road Blues, Bad Moon Rising, Dead Man’s Song by Jonathan Maberry MEH
The first one was good, but needed an editor. Almost too much religion, the slut shaming soured the story, though it has one great strong female character I’d love to see replicated. The writing never improved.
- Supergods: What Masked Vigilantes, Miraculous Mutants by Grant Morrison BIZARRE COOL
Strange but cool nonfiction analysis on hero myths in comics.
- A Wicked Snow by Gregg Olsen GOOD
Enjoyable horror.
- The Beginning of the End (Apocalypse Z) by Manel Loureiro GOOD
I’m definitely reading the next one. Highly unusual angle, plus a cat companion.
- Contamination 1: The Onset (Contamination Post-Apocalyptic) by T.W. Piperbrook GOOD
I won’t be reading the rest because the protagonist is too much of a wuss to be allowed to live, and a bit hackneyed. Strong women though.
- The Shining Girls: A Novel by Lauren Beukes EXCELLENT
Almost too much to take, so vivid. Great female protagonist.
- Zoo City by Lauren Beukes EXCELLENT
Great premise, I loved the character work here, superb story. Unpredictable.
- Season of the Witch: Enchantment, Terror and Deliverance in the City of Love David Talbot MEH
Awful writing, fascinating subject: San Francisco history.
- The Twelve (Book Two of The Passage Trilogy): A Novel by Justin Cronin ZOMFG SO GREAT
As great as the first one. I’m losing my mind waiting for the third book to come out.
- The Passage: A Novel (Book One of The Passage Trilogy) by Justin Cronin ZOMFG SO GREAT
Unpredictable, great writing, great characters, totally far-out apocalypse scenario. Hard to put down.
- Survivor: A Horror Thriller by K.R. Griffiths GOOD
Another good beach read, from a reliably readable and surprising author.
- Broken Monsters by Lauren Beukes EXCELLENT
My introduction to this author; gripping horror mystery with a Hannibal vibe and great female protagonists.
- Panic (Wildfire Chronicles Vol. 1) by K.R. Griffiths GOOD
I’ll definitely read the next one. Beach fare, like tasty horror junk food.
- The Girl With All the Gifts by M. R. Carey ZOMFG SO GREAT
Sets a high standard for literary horror. One of my favorite books of all time.
- Night Chill by Jeff Gunhus GOOD
Holy crap this is a weird book.
- Adrift by K.R. Griffiths GOOD
Vivid horror pulp, twists and turns, perfect for beach reading.
- Descent: A Novel by Tim Johnston GOOD
Really hard to put down, vivid, and it sucks you in.
- White Bones (Katie Maguire Book 1) by Graham Masterton LE SUCK
Starts out promising, becomes predictable, becomes a sappy romance, ends with a hateful the-serial-killer-is-trans twist that made me want to burn the Kindle store to the ground. This author is an asshole.
- Song of Kali by Dan Simmons GOOD
Literary horror that feels like an undertow.
- Working Stiff: Two Years, 262 Bodies, and the Making of a Medical Examiner by Melinek M.D. GOOD
Nonfiction: I read every medical examiner book I can find, and I’m a pathology buff. Enjoyable book for the genre.
- The Killer Next Door: A Novel by Alex Marwood GOOD
No surprises here, but good writing. Almost a MEH.
- Hold the Dark: A Novel by William Giraldi EXCELLENT
Literary horror. I found myself getting lost in this book, and wanting to find another one like it.
- The Son: A novel by Jo Nesbo EXCELLENT
I read everything Nesbo writes. This is a great mystery/crime/horror story; gripping.
- Lizardskin by Carsten Stroud GOOD
Good hardboiled crime novel, usual 50s crime caveats.
- Perfidia: A novel by James Ellroy MEH
I love early Ellroy, and I found this rough and disjointed.
- Acceptance: A Novel (The Southern Reach Trilogy Book 3) by Jeff VanderMeer EXCELLENT
Literary horror, unpredictable to the end. Will give you nightmares. Start with book one.
- Black Water Transit by Carsten Stroud GOOD
Perfect hardboiled crime.
- Husk by Matt Hults EXCELLENT
Great horror, unpredictable. Will keep you up at night.
- Bird Box: A Novel by Josh Malerman EXCELLENT
This premise shouldn’t work, but it does, and it keeps you turning the pages. Masterful literary horror.
- Watchers by Dean Koontz MEH
Formulaic, beach reading. Not exceptional in any way.
- City of Saints and Madmen by Jeff Vandermeer GOOD
Really well written, but not easy to get into. Not sure if I recommend it.
- The Third Bear by Jeff VanderMeer EXCELLENT
Not all stories in this collection are great, but the one that is… is fucking amazing.
- Authority: A Novel (The Southern Reach Trilogy Book 2) by Jeff VanderMeer EXCELLENT
This trilogy is outrageous literary horror. It stained my subconscious.
- Pines (The Wayward Pines Trilogy, Book 1) by Blake Crouch MEH
A chilling mystery that ended up disappointing me with its cliches about humanity and weak ending.
- Annihilation: A Novel (The Southern Reach Trilogy Book 1) by Jeff VanderMeer ZOMFG SO GREAT
Scary, completely fucking weird, lyrical, hypnotic, and reality-warping. Not for everyone.
- The Homecoming (Vintage Crime/Black Lizard) by Carsten Stroud EXCELLENT
I can’t wait for book three, though this has weak spots. Still, I’ll be re-reading parts for inspiration in my own writing.
- Niceville (Vintage Crime/Black Lizard) by Carsten Stroud ZOMFG SO GREAT
Unpredictable, beautifully written crime horror. One of my all-time favorites.
- Discount Armageddon: Book One of InCryptid by Seanan McGuire EXCELLENT
Strange, satisfying action, really great female protagonist who kicks a lot of ass. Not the best writing, but a terrifically fun tale.
- Blackout (Newsflesh Book 3) by Mira Grant EXCELLENT
Not as all-out fucking amazing as FEED, but really great.
- The First Law Trilogy Boxed Set: The Blade Itself, Before by Joe Abercrombie GOOD
I devoured these. They’re not perfect, but if you’re craving Game of Thrones after the season finishes…
If you’re into your spooky horror, then anything by Adam Nevill will get your pulse going (but would recommend starting with THE RITUAL, which is excellent; BANQUET FOR THE DAMNED was so scary for my mother she had to put it down halfway through and refused to pick it up since).
Conrad Williams can write like a mad genius (ONE and THE UNBLEMISHED)
The late, great Iain Banks wrote some wonderful contemporary work (WHIT and COMPLICITY as alternatives to THE WASP FACTORY and THE CROW ROAD) as did the much-missed Graham Joyce (TOOTH FAIRY, THE SILENT LAND and SMOKING POPPY).
III (Three) by Sarah Lotz is getting good vibes
Loved BURIAL RITES by Hannah Kent, based on a real Icelandic murder (a bit like Margaret Atwood’s ALIAS GRACE)
All of Mo Hayder’s Jack Caffrey series, starting with BIRDMAN – and her book TOKYO, which was re-released as the THE DEVIL OF NANKING
As an alternative to Jo Nesbo, I would recommend anything by Arnaldur Indriadson – JAR CITY is sublime. In truth I reckon I’d read this guy’s shopping list. I’d also go for John Ajvide Lindqvist’s LITTLE STAR – mesmerising.
For a hard hitting novel with a hell of a lot of brutal sex in the Hubert Selby Junior vein, try BRASS by Helen Walsh. Amazing. Not an easy read but worth it.
These are just a few of the more memorable I’ve read in recent times. Happy reading.
Read the Odd Thomas series by Koontz. They are awesome. The Anita Blake and Merry Gentry series, both by Laurell K. Hamilton are also very good. And pretty much anything by Stephen King!!