Flowers are popping up around us and the bugs are buzzing again, but that's not the only fresh news this season. A whole new slate of horror books are hitting shelves!
And what do I love more than horror books? Indie horror books, of course!
These are the presses churning out the most cutting edge, experimental, and downright bizarre horror around. And we simply can't get enough of it.
From an eerie cruise to a harsh look at our true crime obsession, here are our most anticipated horror books from indie and small presses this April!
The Boatman
The cruise ship Maria Calypso has just set out for its next luxurious journey. But those aboard the vessel notice something odd: a man clad in a chic white suit following alongside them in a rowboat.
It doesn't matter how fast the crew steer the ship, The Boatman always keeps pace. And as he follows, sinister peculiarities begin to happen aboard the ship.
What is the price of finding answers? And what's the cost of staying alive?
This book is now available for pre-order, and will be released on April 7th by Bad Hand Books!
Sarafina
In this historical horror novel set during the Civil War, three brothers abandon their posts and set off on a tumultuous journey home. They spend weeks struggling over harsh terrain, dodging bandits and home guard soldiers, starving, ailing, and losing sleep.
Until finally, deep in the darkest woods, they find a home.
In this remote cabin is the beautiful Sarafina and her small son, Titus. The brothers are welcomed in and offered food, aid, and rest.
But the youngest brother gets the feeling all is not wha t it seems. Stumbling upon a creek and a mysterious underground cavern, he starts to think the cabin and the land surrounding it are hiding something sinister.
This book is now available for pre-order, and will be released on April 7th by CLASH Books!
The Haunted Houses She Calls Her Own
In this gorgeous short story collection by Gwendolyn Kiste, 16 gripping tales of resilience, survival, terror, and struggle unfold upon the page. From the weird to the morally complex, these stories peel back the layers of our social structures.
Among the stories featured are "The Eight People Who Murdered Me (Excerpt From Lucy Westenra's Diary)," "The Girls From the Horror Movie," "The Sea Witch of the World's Fair," and more.
This book is now available for pre-order, and will be released on April 14th by Raw Dog Screaming Press!
the bizarre disappearance of bella riley
A reflection on violent transphobia, reckless clickbait, and the sweeping obsession with true crime, this poignant book weaves a tale about identity, small town terrors, and visceral body horror.
This book is now available for pre-order, and will be released on April 30th by Brigids Gate Press!
Want more indie horror? Check these books out:
A Year of Terror: Take a Look Back at the Best Indie Horror Books of 2025
4 Terrifying New Releases from Indie and Small Presses in January 2026
4 Terrifying New Releases from Indie and Small Presses in February 2026
4 Terrifying New Releases from Indie and Small Presses in March 2026
Featured: Annie Spratt/Unsplash
