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 books to read that are perfect for lovers of all things spooky, mysterious, gruesome, strange, and macabre.
Red Masquerade
At an auction, charming jewel thief Michael Lanyard is captivated by the stunning Princess Sofia rather than the art on display. Engaged in a fierce bidding war over an impressionist painting with Sofia's menacing ex-husband, Lanyard ends up with the artwork, later realizing it's a forgery. Nonetheless, he has a reason to approach the princess, who is being blackmailed by her ex. Lanyard steps in to help but incurs the husband's enmity, setting the stage for a later revenge plot that involves a woman he's never met but who holds a special place in his heart.
Frankenstein
In Mary Shelley's classic, a "hideous phantasm of a man" comes to life through an unknown, potent force. The "pale student of unhallowed arts" responsible flees in horror, leaving the creature to return to the lifeless matter from which it emerged. However, the monster does not perish; instead, it stalks the man to his bedside, watching him with "yellow, watery, but speculative eyes." Shelley's novel tells the tale of Victor Frankenstein and his monstrous creation, their relentless pursuit spanning from Switzerland to the North Pole. This enduring masterpiece of Romantic literature has haunted readers for nearly two centuries, establishing itself as one of the most enduring horror stories ever written.
The King in Yellow
These ten unsettling stories are filled with nightmarish visions. "The Repairer of Reputations" reveals a deadly chamber near Washington Square Park, offering an escape from life's woes. In "The Mask," a sculptor's liquid discovery turns living things to stone. "In the Court of the Dragon" follows an unnamed narrator's descent into madness spurred by unheard organ music. The most unsettling element is The King in Yellow, a play connecting these tales to a larger universe akin to Ambrose Bierce and H. P. Lovecraft. The play, said to induce insanity, remains shrouded in mystery, mentioning Carcosa, black stars, twin suns, the Yellow Sign, the Pallid Mask, and the King in Yellow, who looms to rule the world in whispers and madness.
Round the Fire Stories
Master of mystery Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes delves into the realm of nightmares in this classic collection of horror stories. Meant to be enjoyed "round the fire" on a cold winter's night, these tales feature grotesque characters, bizarre phenomena, diabolical deeds, and chilling twists of fate. With stories like "The Club-Footed Grocer," "The Brazilian Cat," "The Sealed Room," and "The Brown Hand," this creepy collection offers a spine-tingling journey from the supernatural to the sinister, making it a must-read for fans of the world's greatest detective and his unparalleled creator.
