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Are you ready for a good ghost story?
Let’s find out which haunted house novels made Spiritshack’s list of books that have the power to leave you sleeping with the lights on – or not at all!
What Makes A Good Haunted House Novel?
Haunted house novels have long captivated readers with their:
Top Rated
- Eerie settings
- Complex characters
- Unexpected twists that can keep you on the edge of your seat
Whether you’re a fan of gothic classics or modern psychological horror, the books we’ve chosen provide a thrilling escape into the supernatural.
Aside from these elements, true haunted house novels feature scary stories that detail violent or tragic events in the home’s past, which have angered the spirits of the dead who still linger around.
Haunted House Stories: The Classics
“The Haunting of Hill House” by Shirley Jackson
Shirley’s groundbreaking work is often considered the Mona Lisa of haunted house stories. The tale of a young couple, their children, and the strange experiences and terrible forces gathering within the old mansion sets a high standard for the genre.
Best Selling
“The Haunting of Hill House” was a National Book Award finalist, made into two feature films and a play, and is now the inspiration for a Netflix series.
It all starts when four seekers go to Hill House looking for solid evidence of a “haunting.” The longer they stay there, the more powerful the evidence becomes. Will our protagonists make it out safely?
“Hell House” by Richard Matheson
Matheson’s novel about a group investigating the infamous home combines scientific inquiry with supernatural terror. The result is a gripping novel that easily represents one of the best ghost stories ever written. Inspired by Shirley Jackson’s book, this one is regarded as the Mount Everest of haunted houses.
Even the legendary Stephen King himself once said: “Hell House is the scariest haunted house novel ever written. It looms over the rest the way the mountains loom over the foothills.”
“The Shining” by Stephen King
This one needs no introduction to anyone who is an enthusiast about the genre. King’s iconic novel features harsh winter weather sets, a secluded hotel, and a dysfunctional family—a troubled father and a child with supernatural powers. In 1980, it was turned into a movie where Jack Nicholson played the main character.
The Overlook Hotel, inspired by the famous Stanley Hotel, is as much a character in the novel as the young family staying there.
“Burnt Offerings” by Robert Marasco
The characters written by Robert Marasco, Ben, Marian, and their son David, are trying to escape the summer heat of their new apartment building in upstate New York. The book begins when the family moves to a summer house.
The idyllic location feels very relatable for anyone who had a vacation house—until the house shows its malevolent spirit by influencing the troubled family members. The book creates a suspenseful atmosphere that makes it a classic in haunted house literature.
The Modern Masterpieces
“The Good House” by Tananarive Due
A story that blends African American spirituality and classic haunted house motifs, “The Good House” tells one of the best ghost stories involving a family cursed by a powerful spirit. The novel’s exploration of grief and heritage makes it a must-read for absolutely anyone who enjoys horror novels.
Its skilful blend of supernatural elements and intense emotional topics will keep your eyes glued to the pages from start to finish.
“Slade House” by David Mitchell
Every nine years, a mysterious door appears in a narrow alley that invites people inside “Slade House.” Once inside, the locked door prevents anyone from escaping. The primary antagonists in the book are soul carnivores who have consumed many souls from 1979 to 2015.
Fun fact: the plot was developed from a Twitter short story that became viral and blossomed into a horror gem that people say is one of the most terrifying books they’ve read in their lives.
“Mexican Gothic” by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Set against the backdrop of 1950s Mexico, Silvia’s novel combines the allure of a haunted house with the dark history of colonialism. The old mansion atop the hill hides its secrets within its brick wall—quite literally.
The chilling atmosphere and rich, historical undertones make this book a gut-wrenching, mysterious, edge-of-the-seat, yet glamorous novel.
Other Good Reads
“The Amityville Horror” by Jay Anson
Allegedly based on a true story, the novel recounts a married couple and their children’s terrifying experiences over twenty-eight days in their new home. Looking for a fresh start, the Lutz family moves to a house with a dark secret. It’s a house where the previous resident, Ronald Defore Jr., murdered his whole family just a year before the events in the book.
The novel’s claims that the paranormal experiences it describes were real led to many controversies and lawsuits over the book’s truthfulness. Nevertheless, it’s a very interesting read for those who enjoy the genre.
“The Turn of the Screw” by Henry James
In this book, you’ll read about a governess tasked with taking care of two orphans at a remote estate where supernatural occurrences begin to unfold. Due to the unsettling incidents in the house, the governess feels compelled to surveil the children to save them. However, her actions lead to one child’s death and another’s illness.
The book deals with ambiguity and psychological complexity, which makes it another must-read! It uses the method of narrating the story through journal entries, which add a personal and immediate feel to the horror.
“This House is Haunted” by John Boyne
The story is set in Gaudlin Hall, an estate in Norfolk, England, where the protagonist, Eliza Caine, arrives to serve as a governess to two children. There, she encounters several ghosts. And, while some may say this modern story is another cliche horror, we believe it’s a magnificently eerie novel worth a read.
“White is for Witching” by Helen Oyeyemi
The Silver house in the secluded town of Dover, England, carries an air of mystery. This big, old house has secret passageways and a distant wing hiding dark secrets.
The house has been passed down through four generations of Silver women—Anna, Jennifer, Lily, and now Miranda, who has lived there with her twin brother, Eliot, since their father turned it into a bed-and-breakfast.
The Silver women share a profound bond, an inexplicable force that is wonderfully told through the pages of this book. It’s a good fit for anyone into Gothic topics and spine-tingling tales.
FAQs
How can I prepare to visit a real haunted house?
Visiting a real ghost house can be thrilling. Ensure you’re prepared by carrying reliable ghost-hunting equipment like EMF meters and infrared cameras. These tools help detect unusual activity and ensure a safe and exciting experience.
What are some safety tips for exploring haunted locations?
Safety should be your number one priority when exploring haunted locations. Always go with a group, inform someone of your whereabouts, carry a flashlight, and a good camera to record paranormal occurrences.
What is the one best novel I should read?
In this article, we’ve broken down our top 12 books on this topic, and we recommend reading all of them, as they’re absolutely worth it! No one book stands out as the best, although, if you want to play it safe, we recommend sticking to the classics—you can’t go wrong there.
Final Thoughts
As we close this chapter on the scariest haunted houses, it’s hard not to feel a shiver or two, especially when thinking about the dark hallways and secret rooms that make these stories so enthralling. Haunted houses don’t just live in novels—films like The Blackwell Ghost also play on the same themes, blurring the line between fact and fiction and keeping audiences hooked.
And, the well-known setting of this genre makes things so much creepier: a long-abandoned childhood home, the house next door, or the old grandmother’s home that isn’t as empty as it seems. The novels tap into something deeply universal and unsettling.
