The holiday break is the perfect time to curl up with a mesmerizing book, especially one that doesn't demand a huge time commitment. This is where the quick, suspenseful read—like a novella or short novel—shines. Longer than a chilling short story but short enough to devour in a day or two, these titles deliver spectacularly on thrills, chills, and escapism without demanding too much from your schedule.
Whether you're traveling or enjoying a quiet break at home, our selection of quick, chilling reads offers the perfect dose of dark fun. And the best part? If you have an eBook reader with a Kindle Unlimited subscription, many of these titles are available for free!
Amity
A secluded house named Amity is more than just a home; it's a living, twisted entity that possesses its inhabitants across generations, manipulating them toward gruesome destruction.
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Master of suspense Joe Hill delivers thirteen gripping tales of dark, quick horror—including collaborations with Stephen King—ranging from a mysterious plesiosaur discovery to the blood-drenched woods of "In the Tall Grass."
The Circle
Six wildly different teenage girls are mystically drawn to an abandoned theme park only to discover they are the Chosen Ones, each possessing a unique magical power to fight an ancient evil hunting them in this gripping first installment.
Vampire
When Darcy spends her summer with her strange uncle at his gore-filled wax museum, harmless vampire obsession turns deadly as a real bloodthirsty killer begins hunting young girls, with Darcy as the next target.
The Cemetery Boys
Relocating to a tiny, backward town, Stephen finds friendship with a charismatic twin and his group, only to discover their innocent cemetery hangouts are masking a sinister loyalty that may lead them all to a chilling end.
Cuckoo Song
After a mysterious incident, a young girl named Triss awakens to an eerily off-kilter world where her memories are fragmented and leaves crumble from her hair, forcing her to confront strange creatures and a nightmarish truth in the city's underbelly.
Night School
When four high school students sign up for a mysterious 'Night Class' hoping to fulfill their deepest desires—fame, love, or popularity—they discover it might be a dangerous place where dreams come true, or where nightmares are made real.
This Is Not a Ghost Story
Hoping for a quiet summer, Daffodil takes a housesitting job at a secluded mansion only to realize the home is a living entity with a dark, long-ago grudge it desperately needs her to help settle.
No One Else Can Have You
When her best friend is found murdered in a cornfield, small-town teen Kippy Bushman takes inspiration from Diane Sawyer to launch her own hilarious and dark investigation, proving that finding the truth means getting your hands dirty.
The Raven's Tale
Just as seventeen-year-old Edgar Poe prepares to escape his foster family and marry his love, a terrifying and macabre Muse named Lenore appears, threatening to derail his future and lead him down a path of ruin and creativity.
Featured image: Jeremy Bishop / Unsplash
