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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.
Beyond Good and Evil
Beyond Good and Evil, a seminal work in Western philosophy, challenges traditional beliefs and urges individuals to define their own moral codes. Friedrich Nietzsche expands on ideas from Thus Spoke Zarathustra, discussing philosophy, morality, religion, society, and culture in 296 sections and a final “aftersong.”
Rejecting simplistic moral laws, Nietzsche aims to transcend binary judgments, offering a provocative and enduring critique first published in 1886.
A Book of Remarkable Criminals
Benjamin Pitezel's fatal trust in H. H. Holmes led to a gruesome betrayal in 1894. Their plan to fake Pitezel's death for insurance money ended with Holmes murdering him, kidnapping Pitezel's children, and attempting to claim the insurance payout.
Holmes's reign of terror was unveiled, revealing one of the most notorious murderers in American history. This chilling tale is just one of the gripping true crime narratives featured in H. B. Irving's seminal study, capturing the public's fascination with evil and murder.
The New Revelation
Arthur Conan Doyle's journey from staunch materialism to fervent Spiritualism is traced in this treatise. Following his medical education in 1882, Doyle's encounters with Spiritualism astonished him, particularly witnessing esteemed scientists' belief in the survival of the spirit beyond the body.
Personal tragedies, including the deaths of his son and relatives, solidified his conviction in Spiritualism as a divine revelation offering solace to the bereaved.
This work encapsulates Doyle's exploration of Spiritualism, from mediums and seances to automatic writing and trance utterances, culminating in his assertion that this revelation reshapes perceptions of death and humanity's destiny, urging readers not to disregard its significance.