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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.
Billy Budd
In 1797, young sailor Billy Budd is conscripted into the Royal Navy and serves aboard the HMS Bellipotent, where his innocence and charm quickly win over the crew.
However, the ship's master-at-arms, John Claggart, falsely accuses him of mutiny, setting Billy on a tragic course in this classic tale of good and evil by the author of Moby Dick.
The Annam Jewel
James Waring stands at the brink of seizing the legendary Annam Jewel, a sacred gem few have ever seen, when something grabs his ankle in the darkness.
Thirteen years later, his son Peter Waring, determined to claim his family’s heritage, sets out to retrieve the elusive jewel and marry the woman he loves, Sylvia Coverdale. But Peter is shocked to learn that Sylvia knows more about the gem than he imagined.
Set around World War I, this novel weaves a tale of hate, greed, and revenge spanning generations.
Skin o' My Tooth
In this 1928 collection of twelve classic mystery tales, Irish lawyer and amateur detective Patrick Mulligan takes on the toughest cases, using his sharp intellect, humor, and cynicism to clear his clients' names.
Unpopular but effective, Mulligan isn’t afraid to solve the crimes himself if it means keeping them off the gallows.
Narrated by his confidential clerk, these stories follow Mulligan’s unconventional methods to uncover the truth and ensure justice.
Carnacki, the Ghost Finder
In William Hope Hodgson's 1913 classic Carnacki, the Ghost Finder, occult detective Thomas Carnacki uses a mix of science, ancient rituals, and his Electric Pentacle to investigate supernatural hauntings and battle evil forces.
This collection of chilling tales, including “The Gateway of the Monster” and “The Whistling Room,” has inspired generations of fantasy and horror writers.
