4 Free Ebooks to Read in May 2025 for Horror, True Crime, and Paranormal Fans

Put a chill down your spine with these creepy ebooks—free, this month only.

Covers of the four books on this list

Each year, our social media feeds are filled with news of the latest books in horror, true crime, and paranormal.

So many chilling new books come out each year—and our TBRs are often stacked with delectable spooky books by the latest emerging authors. We truly are in a golden age of horror fiction.

But sometimes we're in the mood for something older—books that have stood the test of time.

These are the classics that are the most disturbing. They’re strange and unnerving in uncanny ways—often calling us back to something old and ancient and unsettling.

Every month, we’re bringing you a selection of free ebooks to read that are perfect for lovers of all things spooky, mysterious, gruesome, strange, and macabre.

The Twister

The Twister

By Edgar Wallace

When Lord Frensham is duped in a shady stock scheme, suspicion falls on slick financier Anthony Braid—until Braid points the finger at Frensham’s own nephew.

But when Frensham turns up dead in a suspiciously theatrical “suicide,” it’s up to Inspector Elk to uncover the real culprit.

A sharp-edged mystery of money, murder, and deception.

Inspector French and the Cheyne Mystery

Inspector French and the Cheyne Mystery

By Freeman Wills Crofts

A cryptic letter from the aftermath of World War I puts Maxwell Cheyne in the crosshairs of a ruthless gang—and lands an innocent woman in grave danger.

With time running out, Inspector French follows a trail of clues across Europe, determined to crack the code and stop the criminals before they vanish for good.

A globe-trotting mystery from the golden age of detective fiction.

El Dorado

El Dorado

By Baroness Orczy

As the Reign of Terror grips Paris, the daring Scarlet Pimpernel risks everything to rescue the innocent from the guillotine.

But when his brother-in-law falls in love with the wrong woman, a reckless betrayal threatens to expose the Pimpernel’s identity to his most dangerous enemies.

A thrilling sequel to The Scarlet Pimpernel, full of romance, intrigue, and high-stakes heroism.

The Informer

The Informer

By Liam O'Flaherty

In 1920s Dublin, Gypo Nolan is desperate to escape his bleak life—and turns in his friend, a wanted IRA member, for a handful of cash.

But guilt, paranoia, and the threat of violent retribution close in fast. A haunting tale of betrayal and downfall that inspired the Oscar-winning film.