Haunted House Books
Over the last few years, I have developed a bit of a thing for haunted house books. Some of them are terrifying and others are more light-hearted fun. I loved all the books on this list.
With so many haunted house books, I wanted to make sure that you had a list of books that are fun, scary, and great. I narrowed down the list so you don’t have to. If you are looking for more like this, you can check out my list of The Best Ghost Books.
These scary haunted house books are the perfect books to keep you up at night. With Halloween right around the corner, I cannot wait to add a little fright to our reading. These haunted house novels will be sure to make you look in dark corners, turn on lights, and lock your doors.
While you may not believe in ghosts or haunted houses, we dare you to read these books without having your heart skip a beat.
The Best
Each colorful block below represents the best book in a subgenre of huanted house books. Click on the arrow to reveal my “best” pick in any category. You’ll also be able to use a page jump to see more books in that section.
Best New Haunted House Book
Starling House by Alix E. Harrow – Click here to read the description and more books in this category
Best Scary Haunted House Book
How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix- Click here to read the description and more books in this category
Best Thrilling Haunted House Book
Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeny – Click here to read the description and more books in this category
Best-Selling Haunted House Books
The Grown Up by Gillian Flynn – Click here to read the description and more books in this category
Best Riley Sager Haunted House Book
Lock Every Door – Click here to read the description and more books in this category
*Haunted House Novels Post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through links result in a small commission to us at no cost to you. Some books have been gifted. All opinions are our own.
Best New Haunted House Books
Starling House
Author: Alix E. Harrow
Year: 2023
Genre: Fantasy
More info: October 2023 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick
Spice Rating:đź’‹
Age Range: 18+
Plot
I read this book from the New York Times best-selling author of Ten Thousand Doors of January and I absolutely loved every minute of it. Opal is a high school dropout who would do anything for her brother Jasper. She is determined to get him out of Eden Kentucky- the small town that is plagued with bad luck.
When Opal finds a job working at Starling House, the home of E. Starling, the author of The Underland who disappeared more than one hundred years ago, it seems too good to be true. The house is steeped in rumors of hauntings and strange things happening. And many of these rumors surround the house’s mysterious owner Arthur Starling.
Why Jackie loves it
This is an adult fantasy book that has a little bit of everything. It is part haunted house book, part fairy tale, part love story, and entirely a fast-paced, page-turning delight.
Find this book in: Haunted House Books / Best Adult Fantasy Novels /Reese Witherspoon Book Club List / Reese Witherspoon 2023
Haunted Ever After
Author: Jen DeLuca
Year: August 2024
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Spice Rating:đź’‹đź’‹đź’‹đź’‹
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Nick Royer owns the Hallowed Grounds coffee shop in Boneyard Key, Florida. He has lived there his whole life. In fact, he is a descendant of the founding families so learning to embrace ghost tourism is a must. Cassie just moved into a house and she definitely is not prepared for the fact that not all the ghost stories in the town are made up. The electricity in her new house is temperamental and the magnets on her fridge rearrange themselves when she is not looking.
As Nick and Cassie get to know each other, Nick wonders if Cassie will stay in Boneyard Key, even if her house has a ghost.
Why Jackie loves it
I love the unique storyline and the loveable characters in this book. The story flowed nicely without needless plot twists. Other than a few spicy romance scenes, this is a sweet ghost romance book.
Find this book in: Adult Fantasy Romance Books / Best Ghost Books / Haunted House Books
Do Your Worst
Author: Rosie Danan
Year: 2023
Genre: Fantasy Romance
More info:
Spice Rating:đź’‹đź’‹đź’‹đź’‹
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Riley’s family has always had an ability to connect with the supernatural so she jumps at the chance to legitimize her family name by breaking a curse on a Scottish Castle.
As luck would have it, Clark Edgeware is coming off a family scandal and is out to prove that the curse-breaker is a charlatan. Now the two are facing off in close quarters, both trying to prove themselves. This paranormal romance is a steamy one with hilarious moments as well! #gifted
Why Jackie loves it
This book was a steamy and funny enemies-to-lovers romance. I love the idea of a curse and Scottish castles! It is a quick and fun read.
Find this book in: Adult Fantasy Romance Books / Haunted House Books
Scary Haunted House Books
How to Sell a Haunted House
Author: Grady Hendrix
Year: 2023
Genre: Horror Thriller
More info: Instant New York Times Bestseller
Age Range: 16+
Plot
When Louise finds out her parents have died, she does not want to pack up their house because of how painful it will be to say goodbye to the two people who loved her the most. She also does not want to ask her brother for help with the house because the two siblings never got along.
When the will is finally read, Louise is shocked but, even more shocking are the strange things that start happening in the house. This is by far the scariest book I have ever read and one of the best horror thriller books around.
Why Jackie loves it
I loved this haunted house book. It completely scared the pants off me. Grady Hendrix does not disappoint! Every one of his books is more terrifying than the last. This book was a pure adrenaline rush from the first page to the last.
Find this book in: Haunted House Book / Thriller Horror Books / Creepy Halloween Thriller
The Sanatorium
Author: Sarah Pearse
Year: 2021
Genre: Mystery
More info: Detective Elin Warner #1 , February 2021 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick
Plot
Oh boy, was this a creepy haunted house book! I wish I had chosen to read it during the wintertime instead of the summer because seeing snow while reading it would have made it that much creepier.
With dead bodies piling up, and a blizzard keeping the guests of the fancy sanatorium-turned-hotel stuck inside, will Elin be able to solve the mystery before she becomes a victim herself?
Why Kirsten likes it
This is such a great blizzard book for mystery book lovers. It is creepy and everything else you want in a thriller and it’s an iconic book to read during a snowstorm!
Find this book in: Fiction Serial Killer Books / Locked Room Mystery / Isolation Book / Reese Witherspoon 2021
The Shining
Author: Steven King
Year: 2008
Genre: Thriller
More info: #1 New York Times Bestseller
One of Time‘s 100 Best Mystery and Thriller Books of All Time
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Jack Torrence is a recovering alcoholic with anger issues. He accepts a job as a winter caretaker at the Overlook Hotel in the hopes of writing his first novel.
He brings his wife and son with him in the hopes of reconnecting with them. Obviously, things go terribly wrong.
Trigger Warnings
Alcoholism, Child Abuse, Violence
Why Jackie loves it
Steven King has a way of finding just the right blend of reality to add to his books to make them truly terrifying. The Shining is no exception. I don’t think there is anyone who has read this haunted hotel book who can think of an isolated cabin as a relaxing retreat ever again.
This book is one of the scariest thriller horror novels I’ve ever read. It is a classic book that shows the descent into madness. It is truly terrifying and a must-read thriller.
Find this book in: Book Set in the 70s / Winter Books/ Thriller Novels About Writers
Thrilling Haunted House Books
Rock Paper Scissors
Author: Alice Feeney
Year: 2022
Genre: thriller
More info: Instant New York Times Bestseller
Age Range: 18+
Plot
This book by Alice Feeney is another great read. Her books always have me turning the pages. This novel starts with Adam and Amelia Wright headed to a weekend away in a remote Scottish getaway to save their marriage. It turns into a locked-room thriller that you will not be able to put down.
Told from the point of view of both Adam and Amelia, it is clear that one weekend away may not be enough to save what is left of their failing relationship. Each year of their marriage, Adam and his wife exchange traditional wedding gifts and she writes him a letter that she will not let him read.
When reading a thriller, you expect twists and turns because that is part of the fun and while I expected a few, some of the ones in this book were completely unexpected!
Why Jackie loves it
I love Alice Feeney as a writer. She never fails to surprise me with her books which is something I love. The twists never feel like they are too much, rather, I feel like I should have known all along!
Find this book in: Locked Room Mysteries / Domestic Thriller Books / Halloween Thriller Books / Hotel Novels
The Paris Apartment
Author: Lucy Foley
Year: 2022
Genre: Thriller
More info: #1 New York Times Bestseller
Spice Rating:đź’‹
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Jess has arrived in Paris to stay with her half-brother, Ben while she gets back on her feet. While he reluctantly agrees to help, he doesn’t answer the door when she shows up to move in.
Soon she gains entry into his apartment and begins the hunt to find out what happened to her brother. With secrets lurking around every corridor and the other residents being shady and elusive, Jess begins to think something sinister happened to Ben.
The first half of this story was a little slow while the character groundwork was laid out, but once the big reveal comes halfway through, I was reading the rest of the chapters at lightning speed. This is the only thriller on our list of books set in France and it’s a doozy! Lucy Foley is always a great pick if you are looking for slow-burn thrillers.
Why Kirsten loves it
The twists and turns in Lucy Foley’s books are always fantastic. I love the way she builds the story. It’s like the slow ride up a rollercoaster before the inevitable drop!
Why Jackie loves it
I was not expecting this book to take the turns it did. I am glad I kept reading- even if the beginning is a little slow. It was worth it in the end.
Find this book in: Haunted House Book / Books set in France / Halloween Thriller Books / The Best Audiobooks of 2022 /
Plot
The Lighthouse children are named after famous murder victims. They live in a creepy house, known as murder mansion to locals, and live an isolated life.
After their father dies, Dahlia and her two siblings return home for the first time since her twin, Andy, disappeared 9 years earlier. When they bury their father, they find Andy’s body already in his family plot.
Dahlia vows that she won’t leave again until she uncovers Andy’s murderer, but the family secrets she unearths might turn her into the next victim.
Why Kirsten loves it
CREEPY THRILLER VIBES ALERT. The premise of this haunted house book is perfect for true-crime documentary fanatics.Â
Find this book in: Domestic Noir / Halloween Thrillers / Serial Killer Books / Best Books of 2023
Best Selling Haunted House Books
The Grownup
Author: Gillian Flynn
Year: 2015
Genre: Thriller
More info: New York Times Bestseller
Age Range: 16
Plot
When a woman pretending to be a psychic is hired to do an exorcism on a house, she learns that she just might believe in the supernatural after all.
It’s only 64 pages, but this Halloween thriller book will keep you up at night.
Why Kirsten loves it
A short and C-R-E-E-P-Y haunted house book, I wanted to put down and continue at the same time.
Find this book in: Best Short Stories / Books about Con Artists / Haunted House Books / Halloween Thriller /Best Short Stories and Collections
The Girl Before
Author: JP Delaney
Year: 2017
Genre: Thriller
More info: BBC and HBO Max 4-part series
Spice Rating:đź’‹
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Emma is looking for somewhere to live so when she finds the house and One Folgate Street, it is perfect. She is unconcerned about the strange rules- like no personal effect like books or pictures. The book is meant to transform a person per the architect.
Jane needs a fresh start and when she finds the house on One Folgate Street she wants to move there immediately. She is unconcerned about the previous tenant who died in the house.
Why Kirsten loves it
The house the story was set in is utterly fascinating. The female characters I loved, but I hated the architect. He was creepy in such a subtle way, but it totally made my skin crawl.
I was compulsively turning pages and staying up late into the night to find out what happened to Emma and Jane. Oh, and the ending was perfection. I can’t wait to see this adapted to the big screen! If you love haunted house books, this is a must-read thriller.
Find this book in: Haunted House Books / Books with Stalkers
Girls of Brackenhill by Kate Moretti
Holy gothic thriller, batman. This haunted house book is literally the stuff of paranormal legend.
Missing girls, ghosts, murder, and a legit creepy castle where it all goes down? Cue images of me staying up past my bedtime as I tried to get over the scary things happening in this book. I had chills a few times while reading and is one of the scarier books on this list of ghost books.
I wish I had a few more answers at the end, but I think that’s part of the point, to leave the reader to decide what they think happens next in this paranormal book.
Riley Sager’s Best Haunted House Books
Plot
Jules is hired to apartment-sit at a ridiculously wealthy building in NYC. But there are strange rules to protect the residents of The Bartholomew – no visitors, no disturbing the neighbors, and no spending nights away from the apartment. There are also some concerning urban legends surrounding the lush residence. Let’s just say I was glad I was not alone while I was reading this creepy tale. If you love Riley Sager books, this one is a must-read.
Why Jackie loves it
Riley Sager is a must-read author for me. I loved this last book, The Last Time I Lied, so I was eager to pick this one up. The story is told via a dual timeline about 4 days apart. I love books that use this as a plot device. It keeps me on my toes
Find this book in: Ultimate Beach Reads 2020 / Riley Sager Books Ranked / Best Horror Thriller Books
The House Across the Lake
Author: Riley Sager
Year: 2022
Genre: thriller
More info: Instant New York Times Bestseller
Spice Rating:đź’‹
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Casey Fletcher is an actress fleeing bad press after the death of her beloved husband. She retreats to the family’s lake house, despite the fact that this is where he husband drowned.
Casey spends her days drinking and spying on the house across the lake. When she saves former supermodel, Katherine Royce from drowning, the two strike up a friendship, it becomes clear that Katherine and her husband are having some serious issues- after all, you find out a lot of things when watching the neighbors all day through binoculars.
Why Jackie likes it
Some points in the story moved slowly for me and at one point, the story nearly lost me. But, I am so glad that I kept reading. There were definitely surprises that I did not see coming. If you like a creepy thriller, this pick from Riley Sager books is for you.
Find this book in: Riley Sager Books Ranked/ Ghost Books / Novels Set on a Lake / Haunted House Books
Expert Tip
Some haunted house books are scarier than others.
- Before you choose your next book, decide how scared you want to be
- Read the descriptions of each book and it will let you know how scary Kirsten and I thought they were
- If you do not like scary books but want to try a new genre, try reading the book during the day rather than at night!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Are all haunted house books scary?
Some of these are scarier than others, that is for sure, but not all the books in this list are scary. In fact, there are a few romances on this list!!!
What is the scariest haunted house book?
How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix is pretty terrifying and the scariest haunted house book I have read.
Related Content
Epilogue:
Is your favorite haunted house book on the list? Which haunted house novels are you planning to read?
Ultimate List of Thrillers
Love Thrillers? This list is curated and carefully divided by sub-genre. These will definitely keep you on your toes.
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