Elizabeth Hand's 6 horror novels that will have you sleeping with the light on
The award-winning author recommends works by Dan Chaon, Shirley Jackson and more
When you make a purchase using links on our site, The Week may earn a commission. All reviews are written independently by our editorial team.
Elizabeth Hand is a best-selling fantasy and horror writer and a three-time Shirley Jackson Award winner. Her new novel, "A Haunting on the Hill," is the first authorized sequel to Jackson’s horror classic "The Haunting of Hill House."
'The Girl in a Swing' by Richard Adams (1980)
A shy Englishman falls for and impulsively marries a captivating, mysterious woman, and the intensity of their erotic relationship leads him to dismiss the terrifying visions he has of his new wife and an unknown child. As a bonus, the novel features perhaps the most frightening phone call in literature. Buy it here.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
'Ill Will' by Dan Chaon (2017)
This is the only novel I have read as an adult that made me afraid to turn off the lights at night. A psychologist is haunted by memories of a horrific event in his childhood — but can his memories be trusted? Satanic rituals, serial killers, and an abandoned funeral home turned drug den feverishly amp up the terror. Buy it here.
'Our Share of Night' by Mariana Enriquez (2022)
Set against the backdrop of Argentina’s Dirty War, this brilliant novel centers on an ancient evil exploited by a cabal of überwealthy families who will stop at nothing to maintain their power and control over the rest of the world. Buy it here.
'The Owl Service' by Alan Garner (1967)
Alan Garner deserves to be better known. This, his best-known novel, is set in remote Wales in the 1960s. Three teenagers unwittingly find themselves re-enacting an ancient Welsh myth of romantic betrayal and ritual violence that has recurred over the centuries. In the legend, one figure dies violently. Will history repeat itself? Buy it here.
'The Weird' edited by Ann and Jeff VanderMeer (2011)
In addition to well-known works by writers like M.R. James, Algernon Blackwood, and Saki, this massive volume collects international writers, including Rabindranath Tagore and Sakutaro Hagiwara, as well as contemporary classics by Stephen Graham Jones, Jeffrey Ford, and Kelly Link. A touchstone for any horror aficionado. Buy it here.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
'We Have Always Lived in the Castle' by Shirley Jackson (1962)
Arguably Jackson’s masterpiece, this New England gothic bores in on the Blackwood sisters, who have been holed up in their decaying mansion for six years. Why? The answer involves mass murder and arsenic in the sugar bowl. The Blackwood family’s tragic history is leavened throughout by Jackson’s inimitable black humor. Buy it here.
This article was first published in the latest issue of The Week magazine in the US. If you want to read more like it, you can try six risk-free issues of the magazine here.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Scott Meslow is the entertainment editor for TheWeek.com. He has written about film and television at publications including The Atlantic, POLITICO Magazine, and Vulture.
-
Italian senate passes law allowing anti-abortion activists into clinics
Under The Radar Giorgia Meloni scores a political 'victory' but will it make much difference in practice?
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Magazine interactive crossword - May 3, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - May 3, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Magazine solutions - May 3, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - May 3, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Sarah Langan recommends 6 women-centric horror books
Feature The horror novelist recommends works by Stephen King, Gillian Flynn, and more
By The Week US Published
-
6 spacious homes for car lovers
Feature Featuring a 14-car showroom in Oregon and a Bentley-style apartment in Florida
By The Week Staff Published
-
6 serene homes in Vermont
Features Featuring a four-level Shaker barn in Hartland and a Scandinavian-inspired home in Stowe
By The Week US Published
-
Amanda Montell's 6 favorite books that will expand your knowledge
Feature The linguist recommends works by Mary Roach, Alice Carrière, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Rowan Beaird recommends 6 compelling books from the 1950s
Feature The author recommends works by Patricia Highsmith, Shirley Jackson, and more
By The Week US Published
-
6 spacious homes with great rec rooms
Feature Featuring a suspended fireplace in Arizona and a marine-themed home in Maine
By The Week Published
-
Recipe: gnocchi di spinaci (spinach gnocchi)
The Week Recommends Forget the potatoes for this gnocchi made of the 'classic combination' of spinach and ricotta
By The Week UK Published
-
Stephen Graham Jones' 6 scary books with deeper meanings
Feature The best-selling author recommends works by Stephen King, Sara Gran, and more
By The Week US Published