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.
Pickman's Model
Step into the shadowy world of Pickman, a painter whose horrifying masterpieces got him expelled from the Boston Art Club. But in the depths of his North End studio, where darkness and art entwine, the chilling truth behind his grotesque visions comes to light—one brushstroke at a time.
“A master of macabre fantasy and horror.” —Kirkus Reviews
A Tale of Three Lions
Renowned hunter Allan Quatermain and his son Harry set out on a routine buffalo hunt in the wilds of Africa—but when three lions turn their expedition into a fight for survival, the chase becomes personal. In this gripping adventure from the author of King Solomon’s Mines, the hunters soon find themselves the hunted.
Inspector French and the Starvel Hollow Tragedy
When a devastating fire reduces Starvel Hollow to ashes, it claims the lives of an old man, his servants, and the fortune he hoarded in cash.
With the bodies burned beyond recognition, it seems like a tragic accident—until the supposedly destroyed banknotes start turning up. Inspector Joseph French has his eye on Ruth Averill, the man’s niece, who narrowly escaped the blaze. But was she lucky—or lethal?
As French digs deeper, he unravels a chilling web of arson, murder, and deception.
A Sicilian Romance
Beneath the grand castles of Sicily, dark secrets lurk in the shadows. In the coastal stronghold of Mazzini, sisters Emilia and Julia have lived in quiet seclusion—until their father, the marquis, returns with their brother and a storm of mystery follows. Long-abandoned rooms are suddenly occupied, and danger creeps through the halls.
Meanwhile, the dashing Hippolitus arrives, capturing Julia’s heart—and her stepmother’s jealous gaze. But the marquis has his own ruthless plans for Julia’s future, and in this treacherous game of power and passion, no one is safe.
